‘The situation has become an issue of individuals rather than interest of students’
Shillong, June 5: Chief minister Conrad K Sangma has expressed his gratitude to the Central government for its intervention into the affairs of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), paving way for a new administrative system in place.
“I would like to thank the Central government and all ministers for intervening at the right time. I had couple of meetings at different level but overall the process has been kind of moving forward,” Sangma told reporters on Wednesday.
“The Academic Council took place which is now been approved, the Executive Council took place which has then approved the (appointment of the) new Pro Vice-Chancellor and we are seeing the new administrative system taking shape,” he added.
Sangma said he is happy that the interest of the students is being taken as top priority.
He, however, said what was disturbing is the fact that the entire situation was becoming an “issue of individuals” rather than the interest of the students.
“I am happy to see that everybody now has put the students’ interest in front and now they are moving forward and not having to compromise or anything but please realise the students’ benefits cannot be compromised.”
The chief minister also reiterated that the state government is always there to facilitate the process and bring in a kind of a coordination but ultimately it is NEHU and the central government that has to really work on resolving the issues at a permanent level.
Assuring all required support from state government in this regard, he said, “We are doing our best and I’m happy to see that we are seeing some kind of normalcy, I should say, in terms of administrative work.”
The chief minister, however, refused to comment on the stand of different groups including students in the NEHU crisis, saying, “I am not talking in terms of situation as there are always concerns… there are always stands that the different groups are having…”
He expressed concern over the adverse impact on students, saying, “It’s the students that are important, directly and indirectly. NEHU has more than 70,000 students that they impact.”
On the demand for removal of the NEHU vice-chancellor Prof PS Shukla, Sangma said, “It is the Central government and the NEHU that has to take a call. We have expressed our point of opinion, we have shown what we thought would be a way forward…”
