HAU agitation: Abhay Chautala demands withdrawal of FIRs, arrest of accused employees

As the agitation at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, entered its ninth day, INLD president Abhay Singh Chautala visited the protest site on Thursday to extend his support to the students.

Chautala demanded the immediate removal of the Vice-Chancellor, withdrawal of FIRs against protesting students and arrest of university staff and professors allegedly involved in the June 9 violence.

Addressing the students at Gate No. 4, Chautala said, “I haven’t come here to give a speech but to stand with you in your fight for justice.”

Recalling his own student days at HAU, he said voices were suppressed even then, but unity forced leaders like Bhajan Lal to take action.

“The administration today is using force instead of dialogue. Never before have professors and students been made to confront one another.”

Calling the lathicharge on students “inexcusable,” he said, “The Vice-Chancellor has ruined the student-teacher bond. Those named in FIRs must be arrested.”

Chautala also criticised the cut in scholarships, saying, “Scholarships should be increased, not slashed. They are the right of deserving students.”

He announced a contribution of Rs 1 lakh to support the protesting students and encouraged them to form outreach committees to mobilise support across universities.

“This is not a political protest. It’s a struggle for student rights. If you remain united, the VC will be forced to apologise,” he said.

“Remember, the government tried delay tactics during the farmers’ protest too, but they had to bow eventually.”

Earlier, former Congress MLA Rao Dan Singh also visited the protest and called the incident “shameful.”

“The administration has failed. Beating students — especially by professors — is unacceptable. The BJP is trying to divide this movement on caste lines, but here, all are students first.”

Singh urged the government to act swiftly and resolve the crisis. “If the university is facing financial strain, let the state government intervene. But don’t punish students for it,” he said.

“This is not just a protest. It’s a battle for the future of the next generation.” Both leaders stressed the need for justice, accountability and protection of student rights.