JNU Students Union President Kanhaiya Kumar called off his nine day hunger strike on Friday after he was discharged from AIIMS. He was admitted in AIIMS on Thursday after his health deteriorated following the indefinite fast. Even though Kanhaiya has ended his fast, other JNU students are continuing with their protest, which entered its tenth day on Saturday.

Former students and faculty members have also joined in solidarity with the students who are demanding the withdrawal of punishments imposed over a dozen people including Kanhaiya and Umar Khalid.

Meanwhile HRD minister Smriti Irani has rejected the demand for waiving the punishments meted out to students.

Terming it a "Pandora's Box" Irani said that these institutions have been granted autonomy to handle administrative matters.

While Kanhaiya was fined Rs 10,000, Umar, Anirban and Kashmiri student Mujeeb Gatoo have been rusticated for varying durations.