Shillong, Nov 9: Vice-Chancellor of the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, on Saturday has yet again made an appeal to the agitating students to call-off their ongoing agitation and engage in open dialogue.

However, the agitating students of the NEHU have outrightly rejected the invitation of the Vice Chancellor for talks and maintained that they will be ready to come to the negotiating table only after his stepping down as the head of the institution.

The university has been put under total lockdown following the ongoing indefinite hunger strike led by the North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and backed by the Khasi Students Union (KSU – NEHU Unit) demanding the resignation of the VC and termination of services of the Registrar and Deputy Registrar.

Meanwhile, more students have been hospitalized as the hunger protest completed 90 hours.

In a statement, Prof Shukla reiterated his willingness to address all concerns raised by students, stating that he remains deeply committed to the well-being of NEHU’s students and the advancement of the institution.

Expressing his concern for the health and welfare of the students, Prof Shukla highlighted his previous attempts to reach out and communicate with them, emphasizing that he holds no animosity toward them and wishes only for their success and development. “I am here to resolve all the issues raised and meet the demands put forth by the students in a fair and transparent manner,” he said. Despite his efforts to engage with the students, Prof. Shukla reported that he has been confined to his residence, restricted from fully accessing the campus, which he described as a distressing situation.

As a crucial step to address the students’ concerns, the Vice-Chancellor has proposed an emergent meeting of the Executive Council (EC), initially intended to be convened earlier but delayed due to restrictions. He has urged students to permit the EC meeting to proceed on November 11, 2024, which would enable him to take immediate action on pressing matters, including the appointment of a Pro-Vice-Chancellor and the formation of an inquiry committee to review the appointments of the Registrar and Deputy Registrar.

Speaking to reporters, NEHUSU general secretary Toniho Kharsati said, “We don’t have anything else to talk to the VC of NEHU. Now, our main demand is that the VC should immediately resign.” He also reiterated the need to terminate the services of the Registrar and Deputy Registrar for their alleged “incompetency”.

He claimed that though the students of NEHU have been on hunger strike for more than 90 hours at the main entrance of the Administrative Block yet the VC has not been willing to come and talk or ask about their health and well-being.

“Therefore, our main agenda of protest is that the VC should first step down and only after that will we be ready to discuss our other demands. Students no longer have confidence in the VC. Hence, we want him to leave NEHU,” Kharsati said.

“After the resignation of the VC and after he leaves the university, we will come to the negotiating table,” he added further.

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