Three NSUI workers, Vijay Pal Kudi, Viyona Jat and Koshin Khan, climb on top of a water tank near Gandhi Nagar station to stage a protest over the non-restoration of students’ union elections and the police lathi-charge on demonstrators at Jantar Mantar, in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Thursday, July 30, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Three National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) leaders protesting atop an overhead water tank in Jaipur for the restoration of student union elections on Friday (July 31, 2026) announced an indefinite hunger strike, saying they would survive only on water until the government gives a concrete assurance on their demand.
The protesters — Vijaypal Kudi, Viyona Jat and Koshen Khan — climbed the water tank near the Tonk Phatak bridge near Gandhi Nagar Railway Station at around 8 a.m. on Thursday (July 30) and have been up there since.
Vijaypal Kudi told PTI that they have around five litres of water with them.
“We have no food now. We had brought some food and a rope with us so that, if required, food could be pulled up from below. But we have now announced an indefinite hunger strike and will only take water,” he said.
He said a police officer talked to them last night and assured them that he would arrange a meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister.
“We told him that we want concrete steps. Without concrete assurance from the government on restoring student union elections, we are not going to come down,” Mr. Kudi said.
Mr. Kudi said the three have not been to the toilet since yesterday.
“We have been consuming less considering the challenges of attending to nature’s call. We have not relieved ourselves since yesterday, and that is a challenge. We are under control as of now, but as time passes, let’s see how we handle this situation,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Gandhi Nagar) Narayan Bajia, who held talks with the students last night, told PTI that efforts to persuade the students to come down are going on.
“We are in touch with the students and trying to convince them to come down,” he said.
NSUI spokesperson Ramesh Bhati said his colleagues were forced to embark on a hunger strike since there was no communication from the authorities on their demands. Workers of the Congress-affiliated outfit are demanding the restoration of student union elections, which were suspended a few years ago.
The protesters have been sitting on a circular outer maintenance walkway of the elevated water tank, behind the safety railing, with banners of their demands.
Published – July 31, 2026 04:29 pm IST
