CPI(M) Leader John Brittas Urges Presidential Intervention in JNU Hunger Strike

New Delhi, October 18 (Daily Kiran) : John Brittas, a member of the Rajya Sabha from Kerala representing the CPI(M), has reached out to the President of India, urging intervention in the indefinite hunger strike initiated by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students on October 3, 2026.

In his letter, Brittas requested the cancellation of expulsion orders against elected student union representatives and the withdrawal of objectionable provisions from the Chief Proctor’s Office regulations. He also highlighted the need to address long-standing grievances from the student body.

In a separate correspondence to the Education Minister, Brittas expressed concern over the deteriorating health of the hunger strikers and the impact of prolonged disciplinary actions on democratic participation within the campus. He called for immediate discussions with university administration to ensure student welfare and a swift resolution.

Brittas shared a video on the social media platform X, featuring remarks from renowned political scientists Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt. They emphasized that democracies do not fall due to military coups or foreign invasions but rather through the internal erosion of democratic processes when elected leaders misuse laws and constitutional institutions to maintain power.

He pointed out that the first step in this concerning trend was the introduction of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Service Conditions, and Tenure) Bill by the central government in December 2023. When this bill was presented in the Rajya Sabha, it faced strong opposition, with Brittas warning that its passage could have disastrous consequences. Two years later, the issues raised at that time have proven to be alarmingly accurate, and he views the current struggle to reclaim democracy as a direct result of that legislation.