Aligarh: Protests at Aligarh Muslim University have entered a third week, with students demanding the immediate restoration of students’ union elections, suspended since 2018. The sit in began on January 19 after repeated appeals to the university administration failed to produce any concrete action.
Students say the continued absence of elected representation has weakened campus democracy. They argue the administration offered no clear timeline even after the end of the Covid period. Protesters describe the delay as a denial of basic democratic rights and a violation of long standing university norms.
The agitation has gained momentum, with participation rising each day. A student from the Architecture Department has begun a silent fast to support the demand for elections. Former AMU students and public figures have also expressed solidarity, adding pressure on the administration.
Tensions rose on January 31 when Jammu and Kashmir MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi was stopped from entering the campus during a planned visit to meet protesters. Students held Vice Chancellor Naima Khatoon responsible for the decision. Protesters described the move as an attempt to block dialogue and suppress dissent.
Students recalled assurances given during an earlier protest in August, when the administration promised elections by December 2025. January 2026 passed without any announcement of an election officer. Protesters described the delay as a broken commitment.
The protesters cited Lyngdoh Committee guidelines, which direct universities across India to hold regular students’ union elections. They questioned why AMU remains an exception while institutions such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, the University of Delhi, and Banaras Hindu University continue student polls.
Students also highlighted the historic role of the AMU Students’ Union in shaping national leadership. They named Dr Zakir Husain and several former ministers and parliamentarians as products of the union.
As the protest continues, students insist campus democracy and institutional legacy depend on immediate action.
