Guwahati: Three leaders of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) brought their indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar to an end on Monday after several Opposition parliamentarians and civil society members appealed to them to continue the movement without risking their health.
The students broke their fast by accepting water from a delegation comprising veteran actor Shabana Azmi, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha, actor Prakash Raj, activist Yogendra Yadav, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, and CPI(M) MP Amra Ram.
The fast was organised in support of nationwide protests seeking action over alleged irregularities in public examinations and pressing for wider reforms in higher education.
Members of the delegation praised the students’ commitment and advised them to take the campaign forward through public mobilisation and political engagement instead of continuing the indefinite fast.
Addressing the students, Manoj Jha said Opposition parties would take up the issues of examination-related accountability and education reforms during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Following the discussions, AISA leaders announced that they were ending the hunger strike but would continue their movement for education reforms and student rights through protests and parliamentary intervention across the country.