Student mahapanchayat calls for VC's ouster, serves 2-day ultimatum

Serving a two-day ultimatum, the protesting students of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) announced a complete shutdown of the university on June 27 if their demands were not accepted.

Their demands include the ouster of the Vice-Chancellor, Dr BR Kamboj.

The students' agitation gained strength, with a cross section of society and political leaders attending the 'Students' Mahapanchayat' held in the university today.

The students said they would close all four entry gates of the university and would not allow administrative work on June 27.

Several political leaders, farmers’ unions, and community organisations, including CPM MP from Sikar in Rajasthan Amraram, INLD MLA Arjun Chautala, Congress MLA Aditya Surjewala, JJP youth wing president Digvijay Chautala, farmer leaders Rakesh Tikait, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Gurnam Singh Charuni and former minister Prof Sampat Singh addressed the gathering.

Tikait slammed the government and criticised the administration for its treatment of students. He alleged that the Vice-Chancellor was responsible for the state of affairs and must go. He said if the government tried to use force, farmers from across the country would start a tractor march to Hisar to back the students' stir.

“First, they used batons on farmers, now it is the turn of students. This injustice will not be tolerated and the VC must go,” he said.

Dallewal expressed outrage that students had to risk their lives and suffer injuries over a scholarship issue. He argued that a Vice-Chancellor who could not deliver justice to his own students had no right to the position.

Kaithal MLA Aditya Surjewala accused the government of trying to destroy the future of youth by keeping them distracted with caste and religion. Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni declared that they would stand with students as their guardians and take the baton blows.

Digvijay Chautala declared support for the students' resolution, stating that, “We will stand by whatever the mahapanchayat decides. The government must change its stance and accept all the demands of the students,” he said.

The agitation began on June 11, a day after the students were beaten up by university officials and security guards when they raised the demand of restoring the cuts in scholarships for MSc and PhD students.

319 students appear for exams

The HAU authorities have informed that exams concluded on Tuesday and 319 students appeared for the scheduled exams across various colleges of the university. Dr Rajbir Garg, Director of Research at the university, said students from various colleges under the HAU appeared for their regular exams. He also claimed that MSc and PhD students continued with their research-related work.