Students to Continue Protest After College Hours till the Demands are not Met: JAF
Sri Vijaya Puram, Feb 16: The General Call Off by the Joint Action Forum Against Deemed University, supporting the students of seven higher educational institutions in the Islands received an overwhelming response from the citizens. For the first time ever, the General Call Off was respected even in the Nicobar District, where shops remained closed for the entire day.
After a successful demonstration of General Call Off in the islands, the Joint Action Forum Against Deemed University (JAF) today called a press conference, wherein the members appreciated the various organisations, associations, political parties and the general public for their support in safeguarding the future of the students.
Adv. Rakesh Pal Govind, Convenor of the JAF while addressing the scribes said that the protest is not over. After the successful General Call Off demonstration across the islands, the protest by the students has been temporarily called off. However, the students will continue to sit on a demonstration from 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm after the college hours, till their demands are not met. The demonstration will be either in front of the respective colleges or in front of JNRM, as per the convenience of the students.
JAF also clarified that they do not want the studies of the students to be disrupted and have requested the students to continue with their classes.
The JAF will be approaching the Hon’ble Hight Court tomorrow taking up the matter against establishment of Deemed University in the islands. The Forum also expressed that a representation will be prepared by JAF on behalf of the students, which will be submitted to the representatives of the Political Parties to raise the issue in the next session of the Parliament.
After the successful General Call Off supporting the sentiments of the students, the JAF expected that the A&N Administration will re-think on their move for establishing a Deemed University in the Islands. The Forum also expected the Member of Parliament to come forward and support the students’ cause irrespective of what his party opines.
Though the A&N Administration has assured that the current batch will be continued under Pondicherry University, but our fight is for the future and will remain till the demands are not met, added the JAF.
MP Seeks Urgent Intervention of Prime Minister and Home Minister on Students’ Agitation for Central University in A&N Islands
Meanwhile, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament has sought urgent intervention of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and the Hon’ble Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, regarding the ongoing students’ agitation in the Islands demanding establishment of a Central University in place of the proposed Deemed-to-be University.
A release from the MP Office said that the MP had earlier raised this long-standing demand of the students and Islanders vide his letter dated 09.12.2025, which was subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs for necessary action. However, no decision has been communicated so far.
Due to non-response from the Government and in view of the forthcoming semester examinations for the academic year 2025–2026, students of all seven Degree Colleges across the Islands have been on peaceful agitation since 3rd February 2026. On 16th February 2026, a complete Bandh was observed across the A&N Islands demanding declaration of a Central University. Shops, establishments, transportation services, hotels and restaurants remained closed across the territory. Such a total shutdown is unprecedented in the history of the Islands and reflects widespread public support, said the release.
The MP again brought the matter to the notice of the Prime Minister’s Office on 12th February 2026 and personally met the Hon’ble Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, on 13th February 2026 seeking urgent intervention. A separate letter was also submitted to the Hon’ble Home Minister on the same day.
On 14th February 2026, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray interacted with the Chief Secretary at the Secretariat along with a delegation of students. During the meeting, no positive assurance was given. Instead, the students were cautioned about possible imposition of law and order measures. Subsequently, an order dated 15.02.2026 was issued by the District Magistrate, South Andaman, declaring the students’ agitation as unconstitutional.
At present, around 6,000 students along with their parents are continuing their strike at the premises of Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya (JNRM), Port Blair, pressing their demand for a Central University. Despite the seriousness of the situation, no representative from the A&N Administration or the Lt. Governor’s office has engaged meaningfully with the students. Further, no effective recommendation appears to have been made by the UT Administration to the Central Government for early resolution of the issue.
The MP expressed serious concern that if the matter is not addressed urgently, there may be deterioration of law and order, including extreme steps by distressed students who have been protesting day and night in open spaces without shelter since 3rd February 2026.
The gravity of the situation is evident from the fact that several young party leaders and PRI members have resigned from their posts in protest. The political atmosphere has also become sensitive following a statement made by BJP State President Shri Anil Tiwari on 15.02.2026 in favour of the Deemed University during a Union Budget function held in the presence of Hon’ble MoS Shri George Kurian, which reportedly intensified public sentiment and contributed to the success of the bandh.
In his communication, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray has urged the Central Government to take a positive decision to establish a Central University in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, similar to the model adopted for Ladakh. He has further requested that, until the Central University is established, affiliation of all colleges in the Islands may be continued with Pondicherry University, as earlier proposed in his letter dated 09.12.2025.
He has appealed for immediate intervention and issuance of suitable assurance so that the ongoing dharna and protest by the students can be called off peacefully.