After 23 Days of Starvation, AISA Protesters Call Off Fast at Jantar Mantar

For more than three weeks, a small group of AISA (All India Students Association) activists camped out at Jantar Mantar, surviving on water and occasional fruits while demanding the government roll back what they described as "anti‑democratic" policies. The sight of their frail bodies, a lone banner fluttering in the Delhi heat, had become a regular backdrop for commuters and journalists alike.

Yesterday, the silence was broken not by a police raid or a government notice, but by a chorus of voices from across the political spectrum. Prominent opposition MPs – some from the Congress, others from regional parties – together with a handful of well‑known civil‑society leaders, walked up to the makeshift camp and, in a measured tone, asked the students to consider ending their hunger strike.

“We understand your pain, but we also worry about your health,” said one senior MP, his voice wavering slightly as he addressed the gathering. “A protest can be powerful without putting lives at risk.” AISA’s spokesperson, who had been coordinating the fast, listened intently, his eyes flickering between the pleading faces and the thin‑lined faces of the fasting members.

After a brief, emotional discussion, the activists agreed to call off the fast. They gathered their few belongings, shared a modest meal prepared by volunteers, and thanked the interveners for their concern. The decision was met with a mix of relief and lingering frustration – relief that the protesters were safe, but frustration that the underlying grievances remain unsolved.

While the fast has ended, the issues that sparked it – ranging from the controversial National Education Policy amendments to broader concerns about civil liberties – are far from being laid to rest. AISA leaders vowed to continue their agitation through “peaceful, democratic means,” emphasizing that hunger strikes are a last resort, not a preferred strategy.

In the days ahead, opposition parties have promised to raise the students’ demands in Parliament, and several NGOs have pledged legal and medical assistance to the activists. For now, the empty tents at Jantar Mantar stand as a quiet reminder that the fight for student rights in India is still very much alive.