Ramjas strike enters day two

NEW DELHI: More students of Ramjas College joined the ongoing hunger strike against the new hostel admission policy on Wednesday.The students said two of their batchmates have beentaken to hospital as they fell ill after sitting on fast since Tuesday. Thestudents are protesting against the new admission policy whereby senior studentswill not get admission to the hostel by automatically, but it will be based ontheir academic performance. Previously first-year and second-year hostelstudents were assured of their seats in the second and third year,respectively.The college administration termed the agitation asunfair and refused to go back on its decision to change the hostel admissionpolicy. The number of students on hunger strike grew to 18 onWednesday. The agitating students claimed that two of their class mates havebeen shifted hospital as they fell ill after sitting on the fast since Tuesday.The students are protesting against the new admission policy whereby seniorstudents will not get automatic admission - it will be based on their academicperformance. Previously first-year and second-year hostel students were assuredof their seats in the second and third year, respectively."We have been denied admission without prior information. Such policies should be declared in advance. I am a hosteler for last two year. Hostel accommodation should be give to the needy and who are from far off areas," said a third-year BCom (H) student, Saurabh Singh.Meanwhile, the college authorities remained unmoved, claiming that the hostel facility is "not a right but a privilege for the students." "The rules set down will be followed in letter and spirit. Students for far off places are given hostel accommodation so that they have a secured stay and perform well academically. How can they justify the privilege if they don't study? Moreover, in the first year we admit students based on merit. So why should second and third year admissions be exception?" said the principal of the college, Rajendra Prasad.