Lathi charge on students: Won’t engage in talks till VC quits & officials are arrested: HAU students
The committee, led by the university’s director of research, Rajbir Garg, visited the protest site at gate number 4 and urged students to begin a dialogue.
Students at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Hisar, continued their protest for the ninth straight day on Wednesday, refusing to engage in talks with a three-member committee formed by vice-chancellor BR Kamboj.
The committee, led by the university’s director of research, Rajbir Garg, visited the protest site at gate number 4 and urged students to begin a dialogue. However, the students firmly stated they would not hold discussions until two university officials are arrested and vice-chancellor Kamboj resigns over the alleged lathi charge on protesting students on June 10.
During the interaction, students accused the administration of attempting to divide them along caste and regional lines, but maintained that they remain united.
“The university administration wrote to the Hisar deputy commissioner accusing 19 students of preventing others from taking exams and forcing them to join the protest. This is a clear attempt at divisive politics directed by the vice-chancellor,” a student representative said.
Students also questioned the committee about several incidents from the night of June 10, including why security guards allegedly assaulted a student, why the campus lights were turned off during their protest outside the VC’s residence, and why senior officials like the registrar and the chief security officer were seen chasing demonstrators.
A female student alleged that hostel lights, which usually go off at 7.30 pm, were turned off earlier that night and that some faculty members have been calling girl students for talks as late as 11 pm.
In a letter to the Haryana chief secretary, the students accused 18 faculty members of harassment, intimidation, and discriminatory behavior during the protests.
“Faculty members are trying to divide students into Haryana and non-Haryana groups. Male staff visiting girls’ hostels at night has created an environment of fear and psychological distress,” the letter read.
Committee head Rajbir Garg acknowledged that the students were upset and said the committee would return on Thursday to resume talks. “This deadlock must end for the university to function smoothly,” Garg said, adding that 153 students had taken their exams on Wednesday, and 120 MSc and PhD students carried out research work. He alleged that “some anti-social elements” were trying to exploit the protest, but did not specify how many students had skipped the exams that began on June 16.
Meanwhile, former Hisar MP and Congress leader Brijendra Singh visited the protest site and extended his support to the students. “Such an attack on students cannot happen without the VC’s knowledge,” he said, adding that he has informed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi about the matter and that the party will raise the issue in Parliament.
