NEHU stalemate continues: Prof. N Saha takes over as Acting VC, students to continue hunger strike

Students remain firm on removal of Prof. Shukla as NEHU VC

Shillong, Nov 16: Professor Nirmalendu Saha, the senior-most faculty member at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), has taken charge as Vice Chancellor (VC) in-charge following the decision of Vice Chancellor Professor Prabha Shankar Shukla to go on a 14-day leave on Friday amidst ongoing students’ protest.

VC Shukla’s leave comes a day after the Ministry of Education constituted a 2-member probe panel to investigate the alleged irregularities in the administration and appointments in the university.

However, the protesting students led by the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and backed by KSU-NEHU unit, who have been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past 11 days (as of Friday), have been further irked by the actions of the VC and remain firm in their demand for his ouster from the university. They announced to continue their hunger strike till their demand is met.

They expressed that the constitution of the probe panel, which has been tasked to complete its inquiry and submit its report along with suggestions for corrective measures within 15 days, is a delaying tactic to soften their resolve. “From the student union side, we completely understand that this all is totally an act of nonsense from the Vice Chancellor. Not at all giving the due attention which the student union, which the university requires the most especially at this time of crisis,” NEHUSU General Secretary Toniho S. Kharsati said.

Despite the hunger strike taking a severe toll on the students’ health, with many requiring hospitalizations due to deteriorating health, NEHUSU remains firm in their demand for VC Shukla’s resignation and will not call-off their hunger strike until their demands are met.

“We are not stepping down. We will be continuing with this hunger strike because our demand, that is the removal of the Vice Chancellor, has still not yet achieved. Him leaving this university is not our main agenda or our main concern; our main concern is how he leaves this university,” Kharsati announced.

He said instead of addressing the issues plaguing the university, the VC was scheduled to visit the National Law University (NLU) campus in Shillong for a programme on Friday. “He does not have time to come in our university to address our issues but he is so proactive to go and attend programmes in other university. And now that he has given an official letter that he is on leave, this shows how incompetent, how irresponsible (he is) towards our university, towards our community,” he said.

Meanwhile, the students and the teachers have welcomed Prof. N. Saha’s appointment as the acting VC.

NEHUTA president Prof. Lakhon Kma expressed, “Yes, maybe we are moving in the right direction. Hopefully, this should be the end of PS Shukla in this university. This is the beginning of the end of Prof. Shukla.”

Stating that the teachers are with the students, he further said, “I feel just little bit happy in the sense that finally looks like we are heading towards a permanent and lasting solution, which is to put somebody else in this chair (VC’s chair), (who is) not PS Shukla.”

Voicing his dissatisfaction with the current administration, he criticized Prof. Shukla’s leadership, describing his tenure as deeply damaging to the institution. “He (Prof. Shukla) has abused this chair; he has inflicted so much of wounds on NEHU that it is untenable for him to ever enter NEHU Campus,” he said.

He said the NEHU fraternity was hoping for a better solution in one go, but even these small steps towards the right direction are also a good step. He also hoped that a more responsible person comes in as the new VC for the institute. “When we say a responsible man, we mean he is responsive towards the cause of the students, he is responsive towards the cause of the teachers, he is responsive towards the causes of the non-teaching staff and also, he is responsive towards the society, this society of ours in Meghalaya where he is serving,” he expressed.

In assuming the role of Acting VC, Prof. Saha called for immediate resolution to the crisis and expressed concern over the condition of the students on hunger strike. Having been associated with NEHU since 1980, Saha described the current turmoil as deeply painful. “My first priority will be that students those who are on hunger strike, I request them to withdraw their hunger strike because they are in very bad situation, many of them are in the hospital,” he stated.

He pledged to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students to address the university’s pressing issues within the limitations of his position.

Later, in a joint statement, NEHUSU and Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) NEHU Unit said they remain steadfast in their fight for justice and their demand is clear and uncompromising. While they welcomed the appointment of Prof. Saha as Acting VC, they declared the protest would continue until Prof. Shukla is permanently removed from his position.

“This is not a plea; it is a declaration of intent. Until this demand is met, the ongoing hunger strike will not only continue but intensify… we will not falter, we will not yield, and we will not rest until Prof. P.S. Shukla is gone from this university,” the statement further read.

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