Kanhaiya Kumar taken to AIIMS, others call off hunger strike
Jawaharlal Nehru University’s student union president, Kanhaiya Kumar, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for eight straight days, was admitted to the university’s health centre on Thursday after his blood pressure dropped.
JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar was admitted to the AIIMS on Thursday after his health deteriorated on the eighth day of indefinite hunger strike.
Kanhaiya, along with a group of other students, have been protesting against punishments meted out to them by the university in connection with a controversial event on Parliament attack death convict Afzal Guru.
Some students were rusticated while some were handed fines after a high-level committee probed the event, in which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.
During the day, Kanhaiya Kumar — who had earlier been arrested in a sedition case over the February event and is out on bail — was first taken to JNU’s health centre in a semi-conscious state. Later on, he was referred to emergency ward of AIIMS from there.
Five other students, who were also on hunger strike, withdrew from the protest due to their deteriorating health conditions.
“Kanhaiya’s BP dropped to 56 and his glucose levels also dipped drastically. He has been vomiting since last night. He was taken to the JNU health centre in a semi-conscious state and the doctor warned him of chances of internal bleeding if he continued with the fast,” a statement by the JNU students union said.
“He is now in AIIMS in the emergency ward. We are very concerned about his health,” a friend said.
“The health condition of others is also deteriorating. They have each lost around 4-5 kgs but they will continue till they defeat the administration,” the union had earlier said.
A total of 25 students were on hunger strike since last Thursday. While 5 members of ABVP called off their fast on Wednesday claiming they have an assurance from JNU administration about consideration of their demands, five members from Left-affiliated groups withdrew their protests on Thursday.
In a note to students, JNU vice chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar had said, “Hunger strike is an unlawful activity and a harmful method of protest that adversely affects the health and career of students. The administration urges the students to use constitutional means to put forth demands, if any”.