Impact spreads to Bawal college, 14 pupils take exam

The ongoing students’ strike at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU), Hisar, has begun to impact other affiliated institutions with the College of Agriculture in Bawal witnessing a major exam boycott on Monday in solidarity with the agitation at HAU.

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“Only 14 out of approximately 250 students appeared for the exams that were conducted in two shifts on the college premises. Six students took the exam in the morning shift and eight in the second shift. We urged the students to participate, but very few turned up,” said Naresh Kaushik, Principal of the college, told The Tribune.

Kaushik added that female faculty members were sent to the girls’ hostel to persuade students to appear for their exams, but none of them agreed. Only some girls — accompanied by their parents — took the exam. Similarly, male faculty tried to convince students in the boys’ hostel, but the effort did not succeed much.

The principal asserted that the exam boycott was in direct support of the ongoing protest at HAU, Hisar. He appealed to the students, pointing out that HAU authorities had already accepted all of the protesters’ demands.

Meanwhile, students at the College of Agriculture, Bawal, have been holding their own sit-in on campus. The agitation received a boost with the visit of Indian National Students’ Organisation (INSO) state in-charge Ravi Masit who expressed solidarity with the students.

Masit alleged that the situation in the state resembled a “reign of lawlessness” where university students were being assaulted and female students confined to hostels. “It is unacceptable that male police personnel are entering girls’ hostels without prior notice. This is unethical and intolerable,” he alleged.

INSO district president Yugal Yadav warned that if student demands were not addressed, the organisation would initiate a state-wide protest and enforce a complete shutdown. “We will not tolerate repressive policies being imposed on students,” he said.