SHILLONG, Nov 4 � For the fourth day, the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) remained paralysed with students and staffs boycotting classes demanding the removal of its vice chancellor Prof AN Rai.
Students today burnt effigies of the VC and the search committee which recommended the appointment of Prof Rai to the President of India. The students again shouted slogan against Prof Rai and demanded that he step down from his post.
The students for the fourth day also locked down the University gate. Staffs and teachers of the university stayed away. On Tuesday evening, students took out a candle light procession and shouted slogans outside the VC�s residence.
The students say they won�t budge from their demand and want a tribal VC appointed instead. �No buses were provided for the day scholars to attend classes when the boarders were informed that classes would be held from today. This shows that the university is not serious in solving the issue,� Micheal Lawai, general secretary of NEHU students� union said.
The fight, another student said, is not against any individual, but against the system. The student asked why the Chief Rector and Governor RS Mooshahary was not taking interest in having a dialogue with all concerned in solving the problem.
Meanwhile, David Syiemlieh Controller of Examination and a prospective candidate for the VC�s post said, he wants a dialogue with the students and other stakeholders to solve the impasse.
�With exams round the corner such agitations would only hamper studies. The research scholars are especially being affected with the ongoing agitation and this would have a long term repercussion,� Syiemlieh stated. He appealed to the students to come forward for talks in a cordial manner to solve the problem.
The Human Resource Ministry recently sent a three-member team to the State and held discussions with the Governor, students and other government officials. They are likely to submit a report to the ministry soon.
