VKSU Senate meeting postponed amidst protest by students, police resort to lathicharge

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara : Senate meeting of Veer Kuer Singh University (VKSU), Ara,  started amidst pandemonium on January 23, 2019, in the administrative block on the university campus. Student leaders were demanding cancellation of meeting alleging the VC had not inducted five students into the Senate. Shen the university authorities failed to pacify them, police resorted to lathicharge in which over a dozen student leaders were injured and were admitted to nearby hospitals.

In view of the students’ protest, the VKSU administration changed the venue of Senate and the meeting resumed. Former Chairperson, Bihar Legislative Council, Awadhesh Narayan Singh, was also present at the meeting along with others but the  students soon brought him out of the meeting hall and staged demonstration before the meeting venue raising slogans against the VC, VKSU. The VKSU administration stopped the proceedings. Later, the students went on rampage and damaged varsity property.. They entered the VKSU Guest House and allegedly misbehaved with the VC and former Chairperson, Bihar Legislative Council, Awadhesh Narayan Singh.

Finally, the Senate meeting was postponed in view of aggressive agitation by the students. It was for the first time since foundation of the VKSU that the Senate meeting was postponed.

Vice-Chancellor, VKSU, Nand Kishor Sah, said that the VKSU had made all arrangements for the Senate meeting and added that election to Syndicate and Finance Committee will be held soon.

Amit Kumar, President, Student Union, VKSU, claimed that the Vice-Chancellor Nand Kishor Sah had on January 21, 2019, promised to induct five students, who had won the students’ union election, to the Senate but he went back at his words. Pappu, Bhojpur District president, All India Student Association (AISA), wondered why they were invited to the meeting when there was no provision for the students in the Senate. Manish Kumar DulDul, National Students Union of India (NSUI), said that  the budget proposed to be tabled at the Senate meeting, is against the interest of students. Bheem Yadav, RJD leader, VKSU wing, said that the officials of the VKSU had cheated the students.

Awadhesh Narayan Singh expressed concern over police lathicharge on the students and condemned it. He said that students are like their children and added he is trying to normalise the situation through dialogue with students.