The hunger strike by students of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) entered the eight day even as the Centre has indicated that a decision to the students’ demand will be taken.
The NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) along with KSU NEHU Unit began their fast on November 5 demanding the removal of vice chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla along with university registrar Omkar Singh and deputy registrar Amit Gupta .
As of today nine members of the protesting students were hospitalised, while four of them have returned to the protest site and five more are still being treated.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today informed that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has assured to find a solution to the ongoing crisis in NEHU.
Taking to Twitter, Sangma posted, “Received a call from Hon’ble Minister Education @dpradhanbjp (Dharmendra Pradhan), for his assurance to find a resolution to the current issue of NEHU. Would like to thank the Hon’ble Governor for his intervention.”
This statement comes two days after Sangma had reached out to Pradhan, briefing him on the “ongoing situation in NEHU” and urging for an “amicable solution” to the issue.
There are indications that Prof. Shukla may be asked to go on a long leave by the Education Ministry and in his place an acting vice chancellor may be appointed.
Meanwhile, Governor Chandrashekhar H. Vijayashankar who is also the Chief Rector of NEHU is likely to call the teachers, staff and the agitating students of the university on November 13 or 14.
Last week, the Governor, while talking with the members of the NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) and Meghalaya Tribal Teachers’ Association (MeTTA) at the Raj Bhavan, assured to find a solution to the crisis.
Prof. Shukla has been missing from the campus since the night of November 9 after his official quarter was vandalised by miscreants. He is currently at an undisclosed location due to security reasons.
However, speaking to India Today NE, Prof. Shukla stated that he is near the university and ‘not missing’.
On the students’ demands for his resignation, he said that he is “always ready to discuss the matter with the students” and questioned, “What is the reason that I should resign?”
The students are adamant that the vice chancellor resigns from his post.
“On our part we don’t want any compromise or say that we want to talk to him,” NEHUSU president Sandy Sohtun said.
Sohtun said the students feel that Prof. Shukla has no right to remain in the university after so many acts of omissions and commissions.
The NEHUSU president also said that the union has sent so many representations to the vice chancellor and also met him several times.
Sohtun also said that he agrees with the saying of the NEHU Teachers’ Association that the act of vandalism in the official residence of the vice chancellor was stage managed so that he gets a chance to escape from the university.
Meanwhile yesterday, the agitating students lodged a complaint with President of India Droupadi Murmu against Prof. Shukla for his absence from duties amidst the ongoing indefinite hunger strike by the students.
