Tezpur University Protests Intensify with Hunger Strike Demanding Action Against VC

Escalation of Protests at Tezpur University

Tezpur, Dec 15: The situation at Tezpur University has escalated as students and faculty members initiated a nine-hour hunger strike on Monday, urging the Union Ministry of Education (MoE) to take immediate action against Vice Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh.

The hunger strike commenced at 9 am outside the university's entrance, organized by the Tezpur University United Forum (TUUF), which represents students, faculty, and non-teaching staff involved in ongoing protests.

According to TUUF, the purpose of the strike is to demand prompt action from the MoE, which has been perceived as neglecting the community's frustrations amid ongoing protests and repeated requests.

Protesters have accused the MoE of a prolonged silence despite their continuous demonstrations and appeals for intervention.

Debasish Bhuyan, a student involved in the protest, expressed, “We are here because we have not received any updates from the Ministry of Education, despite their promises made over a week ago.”

He added, “We will remain here until 6 pm, hoping our concerns reach the authorities who have overlooked us for too long.”

Students and faculty members participating in the protest on December 15 (Photo: AT)

The hunger strike was deemed necessary after the MoE failed to fulfill informal commitments made during a visit to the campus on December 6.

Rajen Das, another protester, stated, “A team from the Ministry, led by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, visited us on December 6, but no results followed. They assured us of a response by December 9, yet we have heard nothing.”

As the protests mark their 86th consecutive day, students noted that various forms of agitation have been attempted without any tangible results.

“Today marks the 86th day of our protests. We initially expressed our concerns through music, but no one listened. By refusing food, we are symbolically rejecting the impositions placed upon us,” said Deepronil Roy, a student protester.

Faculty members joining the hunger strike emphasized the gravity of the situation.

Vivek Kumar Mehta, a faculty member, remarked, “I view this hunger strike as a cleansing process. Just as living beings stop eating to heal when unwell, we are trying to restore the health of our university through this action.”

The protesters reiterated three main demands: the immediate removal of Vice Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh, a fair and impartial high-level inquiry, and the immediate placement of the VC on administrative leave.

They warned that if the MoE continues to delay action, the protests will escalate, asserting that the responsibility for restoring order lies with the central government.

Despite the appointment of Dhruba Kumar Bhattacharyya as the acting Vice Chancellor amid the unrest, protesters argue that the fundamental issues remain unresolved.

Opposition parties have previously called for a time-bound CBI inquiry, while the Chief Minister has advocated for dialogue over protests.

With inputs from various sources