Nearly 300 research scholars sat on a 12-hour-long hunger strike at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) on Friday in protest against the detention of their peers in New Delhi.
Calling the detentions “unconstitutional”, the scholars demanded a hike in the stipend and raised slogans against the authorities.
“Our fellow research scholars were not causing any ruckus. It was just a silent protest march but police treated them as criminals. When thousands of miscreants are spared, why treat us so badly? Don’t we have the right to put forth our demands peacefully,” a protester asked.
Presently, junior research scholars are paid a stipend of Rs 25,000 while seniors get Rs 28,000. “How can we make ends meet with this money? We run out of money towards the end of each month,” a senior research scholar said. Gaurav Solra, general secretary, students council, IISc, chipped in: “When peace was not disturbed, was it necessary for the authorities to act like that?”