Haryana: HAU students stick to VC removal demand; threaten to close varsity gates on June 27

Hisar, Haryana: Students protesting at Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) in Hisar on Tuesday reiterated their key demand for the removal of Vice Chancellor B R Kamboj and threatened to close all gates of the varsity on June 27 if this condition along with others are not met.

The "Chhatar Nyay Mahapanchayat" protest, held outside gate number 4 of the university amid an ongoing two-week-long agitation, saw participation from opposition leaders, farmer unions, student organisations and employee bodies, all extending support to the students.

Despite several rounds of talks with a committee formed by the state government last week, the students have remained firm on their stand, alleging that the VC ordered a recent lathicharge on protesting students and that his continuation in office would impede a fair probe.

"The Mahapanchayat decided that if the government does not resolve our demands by June 26, then on June 27, we will close all gates of HAU," a protesting student said while adding, "We will observe a 'chakka jam' in the university".

Students have also demanded the arrest of the university's chief security officer and others involved in the alleged attack during a June 10 protest over changes to scholarship rules, which left several students injured.

Last week, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini constituted a four-member committee to hold discussions with the students, who allege that they were assaulted by university security during peaceful protests demanding the rollback of revised scholarship eligibility norms for postgraduate students.

The government-appointed committee comprises Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda, Public Works Minister Ranbir Gangwa, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Krishan Kumar Bedi and Nalwa MLA Randhir Panihar.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, who addressed the Mahapanchayat, said the issue could only be resolved by removing the vice chancellor.

"We are with the decision taken by the students' committee, which seeks the removal of the VC. What happened with the students of HAU is wrong. If HAU guards and teachers beat up students, then what kind of justice is this," Tikait asked.

"The agitation will continue until the VC is removed," he added.

Political leaders, including Indian National Lok Dal leader and MLA Arjun Chautala, Congress MLA Aditya Surjewala and JJP leader Digvijay Singh Chautala, and BKU (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni, who were also present at the Mahapanchayat, also extended their support to the protesting students.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also backed the students and spoke to them via a video call.

Meanwhile, the committee members said while they agreed to most of the students' demands, the insistence on removing the VC was being fuelled by "political forces".

"Some political forces are misguiding them," Bedi said.