New Delhi: The protest by women students of Jamia Millia Islamia over insects allegedly found in hostel food entered its third day Saturday, with protesters alleging that the administration had failed to honour assurances given to them earlier.The protest, led by residents of J&K Girls’ Hostel, began Thursday night and continued till around 3am Friday. Students had demanded immediate cancellation of the contract of the current mess vendor, deployment of only women staff in the mess and protection against retaliatory action against protesters.The administration then gave them a written assurance that the vendor’s contract would be terminated with immediate effect and agreed to the other two demands, following which the protest was called off.The university earlier said the process to remove the vendor would take some time as the existing contractor would need to shift his stocks and utensils.However, students alleged that the administration later reneged on the assurance, claiming that the contract had not been cancelled and another person from the same team had been appointed as manager. Students also alleged that their names and roll numbers were taken down Friday afternoon before they were served meals, raising fears of retaliatory action.The protest resumed Friday and continued Saturday, with women students from other hostels joining the agitation and male students also extending solidarity.The university denied the allegations that it had failed to honour its assurances. “Issuing a tender for a mess contractor in a govt institution has a due process that needs to be followed. We have fast-tracked the process and, as an interim arrangement, are arranging food from another vendor for the students,” chief public relations officer Saima Saeed told TOI Saturday.Protesting near Centenary Gate, students raised slogans such as “Paise poore lete hain, khana ganda dete hain”. Friday night, they stayed at the gate, defying the hostel curfew, and alleged that the lights at the site were switched off. They switched on their phone flashlights and banged plates in protest.Meanwhile, the main entrance to the hostel remained locked Saturday, students said, sharing a video of the locked gate. They later entered through another gate and were not stopped, they said.A protester said students were worried about their sessional examinations beginning Monday. The delay in resolving the issue is increasing pressure on protesters to call off the agitation, she alleged.
