SHILLONG, Nov 10: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to intervene and find an amicable solution to the ongoing NEHU imbroglio.
“Briefed the Hon’ble Minister Education @dpradhanbjp ji on the ongoing situation in NEHU and urged him to find an amicable solution to this issue,” the chief minister posted on social media.
Amid the ongoing strife that has crippled NEHU’s functioning, Vice Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla has reiterated his willingness to address all concerns raised by students and appealed to them to engage in constructive dialogue.
The VC proposed an urgent meeting of the Executive Council (EC), originally scheduled earlier but delayed due to restrictions. He urged students to allow the EC meeting to proceed on Monday, enabling him to take immediate action on pressing matters, including the appointment of a Pro-Vice Chancellor and forming an inquiry committee to review the appointments of the Registrar and Deputy Registrar.
The NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU), however, reiterated their stance of refusing any invitation for dialogue or ending their protest until the VC resigns.
Academic activities at NEHU have been disrupted for the past six days.
Students have been on a hunger strike and have locked the institute’s gates, demanding the removal of the VS.
Alleged irregularities in the appointment of the registrar, a deputy registrar, and other “incompetent” teaching and non-teaching staff are among the reasons behind the agitation. The protesters are demanding the termination of these employees.
Headmen’s body expresses concern
The Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Ka Bri u Hynniewtrep (SNBSH), a conglomeration of headmen, has expressed anguish and uncertainty over the ongoing agitation in NEHU.
In a statement issued on Sunday, SNBSH general secretary RL Blah said there can never be smoke without fire, referring to the decline in the academic quality of the university and its rank sliding down to the lowest levels.
“Thus it would not be wrong for laymen like us to think that the management had failed in it task to uplift the prestige of the institution, thereby affecting the future of our young and budding students on whose shoulder the future of the families, the society, the state and the nation lies,” he said.
He urged the state government to take active steps and not leave the university to its fate.
“I would appeal to the Governor to take note of the situation and apprise the concerned authorities of the Union government to settle the dust at the earliest,” he said.
“The Synjuk is in solidarity with all the immediate stakeholders, especially the agitating students, and we urge the Vice Chancellor to take moral responsibility and accept the position of leadership with greater responsibility,” he added.
