SHILLONG, Nov 10: The NEHUSU and the NEHU unit of KSU on Sunday reiterated their decision not to end their indefinite hunger strike and total shutdown of the university campus until and unless Vice Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla resigns.
Addressing the research scholars and students before the protest rally organised by the Research Scholars’ Forum (RSF), NEHUSU finance secretary Ymphaidien Sutong said there is no way to end this ongoing protest since they have lost their confidence in the VC.
He said the ranking of the university dropped from the top 100 because of the arrogance and failure of Prof Shukla. “He has done nothing in his three years as the VC,” he added.
According to him, the protest by the students yielded some positive results as the VC assured them to appoint the pro-vice chancellors on the two campuses in Shillong and Tura within 10 days time.
Sutong said the VC reacted to the protests after failing to appoint the pro-VCs during the three years of his tenure. “Sadly, we students have to protest to fulfil our demands, which is an indication of the sorry state of affairs of the university,” he said.
He said the issues the present body of the NEHUSU is raising are the same that the previous body had raised.
“We do not want every new body of the NEHUSU to pursue the old pending issues. Whatever we have raised will have to be resolved now,” he said.
The NEHUSU finance secretary said the students are not the only sufferers because the VC has not bothered to address the issues raised by both NEHUTA and NEHUNSA.
Meanwhile, RSF leader Superior Syngkli said they are organising the protest rally to support and motivate the agitating students who are on an indefinite hunger strike. “We are supporting their demand for the resignation of the VC,” he said.
He said the NEHUSU has been raising their issues before the administration since the forum is not a recognised body of the university.
The RSF president said they are facing problems since it will take a month just to sign their fellowship form.
He added that they would have to wait for eight months to get their registration number, which is unacceptable.
Syngkli said the VC has made many empty promises whenever they raised certain demands through memorandums submitted to him.
He said most research scholars staying in the hostels are facing problems such as a lack of potable water despite the assurance that the water filters would be changed every three to six months. “The university lacks basic facilities,” he said.
The RSF president also said the present VC has failed to conduct the annual convocation for three years. “I am sure the convocation will not be held this year,” he said.
“We know that they will not invite the previous batches of students to the convocation since only the current students will be asked to attend. As research scholars, we would want to receive our degrees in presence and not in absentia,” he said.
Some 100 research scholars took part in the protest rally which started from the NEHU Science Cluster to the official quarters of VC in support of the ongoing indefinite protest of NEHUSU.
Members of NEHUSU and NEHUTA along with students of the university took part in the protest rally.
The research scholars joined the movement to stand up against injustice and the ever-worsening system taking NEHU down.
Out of the six agitating students who were hospitalised, one has been shifted to the NEIGRIHMS as his health condition had deteriorated while five others were discharged.
Four of them are again taking part in the indefinite hunger strike and only a female student, Naphisabet Marwein returned home on the doctor’s advice.
