Agitation to continue till VC steps down: NEHUSU, KSU NEHU unit
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 7: The NEHUSU and NEHU unit of the KSU on Thursday locked the university’s gates to prevent entry to the campus and also burnt the effigies of the Vice Chancellor, Prabha Shankar Shukla, the Registrar, retired Colonel Omkar Singh, and the Deputy Registrar, Amit Gupta.
The two students’ unions also rejected the VC’s request to call off their agitation and the proposal to form a committee to inquire into the demand for the removal of the registrar and deputy registrar.
The NEHUTA and the KSU-NEHU want the VC to go as the NEHUTA leaders are scheduled to meet Governor CH Vijayashankar to brief him about the prevailing situation in the university. The Governor is expected to visit the university on Friday.
Sources said the VC plans to convene the Executive Council meeting at 11 am on Friday. The students may not let him hold the meeting.
The ongoing indefinite hunger strike of the NEHU and KSU-NEHU entered the third day on Thursday.
NEHUSU general secretary Toniho S Kharsati and KSU-NEHU organising secretary Aiboklang Nongsteng were shifted to Shillong Civil Hospital on Thursday evening due to weakness.
Kharsati and Nongsteng said they would continue with their hunger strike after they are discharged from the hospital.
Another female student of the university, Naphisabet Marwein was also shifted to the hospital.
Earlier, the VC requested the students to call off their agitation for normalcy to return to the university. He also promised to form a committee to study the pros and cons of removing the registrar and the deputy registrar.
In a letter addressed to NEHUSU president Sandy Sohtun, Prof Shukla said he will call a meeting of the Executive Council to form an enquiry committee by November 11. “Based on the finding of the enquiry report, appropriate actions will be taken,” he said.
“I understand that some issues have been raised against these individuals by the student community. The university has some rules and regulations in place to deal with such issues. As a Vice Chancellor, my role is to safeguard those rules and regulations under constitutional provisions,” the VC said.
Prof Shukla further said that he agrees in principle that the Shillong and Tura campuses of the university need Pro-Vice Chancellors for smoother administration. He indicated they could be appointed by November 30 after following the University Ordinances.
Earlier, the agitated students burnt the effigies as many gathered outside the Administrative Block and shouted slogans against the VC. The students were not happy with the assurance of the VC, who came to read a letter to the NEHUSU on forming a probe committee.
The VC also sought ten days from the students to fulfil their demands to remove the registrar and deputy registrar and appoint the Pro-VCs. The students declined to accept the VC’s request.
Addressing the students, the NEHUSU general secretary said they will continue with the total lockdown and indefinite hunger strike until the VC resigns or is removed. “We do not need a VC who cannot take a decision,” he added.
“We want to send a message to the Government of India to either choose the students or an incompetent VC. We will continue to agitate as long as our physical, mental, and emotional health is supporting us,” Kharsati said.