Protests at Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi intensified on Friday, October 23, 2026, as students continued their campaign for the restoration of an elected students’ union.

The demonstrations prompted Delhi Police to detain 10 people, including Congress MP Imran Masood, near the university, according to The Indian Express.

Jamia has been without an elected students’ union since 2006, when the body was dissolved. The last union elections were held in 2005.

The students began an indefinite hunger strike on October 12, demanding the restoration of the union and an official election schedule for the 2026–27 academic session.

Masood visited the university to express support for the protesting students but was detained by police. Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi was also detained while travelling to meet the demonstrators and was subsequently released.

Nadvi alleged that police officers pushed and manhandled him during the incident. Videos of his detention later circulated on social media.

Masood questioned why the university had not restored the students’ union, arguing that students should have a platform to represent their interests and participate in decisions affecting campus life.

The university administration has formed a committee to draft a new constitution for the students’ union. However, protesters say the move does not address their immediate demand for an official election timetable.

Students have also called for the withdrawal of disciplinary actions against protesters and raised concerns about academic facilities, attendance rules, hostel conditions, scholarships and research stipends.

Women students also held a march on Friday in solidarity with the demonstrators, reiterating their demand for the union’s restoration.

The protests have been accompanied by controversy over slogans reportedly found on university walls, including “Free Kashmir”, “Free Sharjeel Imam” and “VC Go Back”.

The university administration condemned the graffiti and said it was working to identify those responsible. It also reported that some CCTV cameras in affected areas had been tampered with.

The Press Trust of India said it could not independently verify the authenticity of photographs of the slogans shared online. <Cite refs={[“turn801760view0”]}/>

Before his detention, Masood condemned attempts to use the controversy to undermine the students’ agitation and reiterated that their concerns over representation were legitimate.

Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Sanjay Yadav has written to Jamia Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif, urging the university to restore the students’ union, withdraw disciplinary action against protesters and establish a transparent, time-bound election process.

He also called for dialogue with students and medical support for those participating in the hunger strike.

The protest remains unresolved, with students insisting that the administration announce an election schedule while the university pursues the process of drafting a new union constitution.