Shillong, Nov 8: Following the NEHU vice-chancellor’s “inaction” on the demand for removal of registrar and deputy registrar, protesting students on Thursday burnt effigies of the VC and the two officials and demanded immediate termination of the latter besides resignation of the VC himself.
On Wednesday, the VC made it clear that no government official can be terminated by unilateral decision without conducting any inquiry into the allegations against them. However, the agitating students North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) remained firm on their demand and forcibly locked the main gate stalling all operations in the premier central university.
Students under the banner of NEHU Students Union (NEHUSU) backed by Khasi Students Union (KSU) NEHU unit have been staging an indefinite hunger strike outside the VC’s office. Their key demands include removal of registrar, deputy registrar (academics), officer on special duty (director, College Development Council) and guest house in-charge alleging “illegalities” in their appointment.
Expressing their resolve to continue with the strike, NEHUSU general secretary Toniho Kharsati said, “We are not stepping back on our demands. We will continue this hunger strike till the VC steps down.”
“As you have seen how adamant he is, we don’t know how long we will be able to sit here…Let’s give a direct message to Government of India that the university is for the students,” Kharsati added.
Terming the VC as insensitive to students’ cause, he said, the VC sought 10 days to appoint pro-VCs which is “an indirect message that for next ten days you starve”. “He is not thinking about our future, our health and well-being,” he said.
“Despite knowing the students were not satisfied with his response, this person is going for bookfair, attending all sorts of programmes as if nothing is happening in our institute. This kind of attitude we do not respect, we do not accept,” the student leader stated.
Protesters reject ‘intervention’ by VPP
Sending a strong signal against politicisation of the protests by NEHU students, the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) has asked the Voice of the People Party (VPP), a delegation of which met the NEHU vice-chancellor on Thursday, not to interfere with their demands.
This message was conveyed soon after the VPP delegation led by its finance secretary Danny Langstieh met the under-fire VC Prof PS Shukla and came out together with him to speak to the agitating students.
Upon seeing this, NEHUSU president Sandy Sohtun said, “We demand him (VC) to step down immediately. We don’t want anybody to interfere with our demands.”
“We want the VC to step down. We don’t want anybody to interfere with our demands. Go your own way otherwise we will lockdown the university and you will not get to come out of campus, “he stated. As soon as the VC and the VPP delegation went back to the former’s office, the agitating students locked the VC’s office from outside.
