Students from the North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU – NEHU Unit) have decided to allow classes to resume from Tuesday. However, they made it clear that their protests would continue, with an indefinite two-hour sit-in demonstration planned until their demand for the removal of Vice Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla is met.
In a press briefing, NEHUSU General Secretary Toniho Kharsati said that their primary demand is for the removal of the incumbent Vice Chancellor. “It has been nearly a month without physical classes at the university. While we are committed to the well-being of the students, we cannot afford to jeopardize their futures over the leadership of an incompetent VC. That is why the NEHUSU and KSU have decided to resume classes from December 3,” he said.
The student bodies had also requested that the Vice Chancellor In-charge, N. Saha, call for an emergency meeting to discuss the academic calendar to ensure that the university functions smoothly moving forward.
“Our assurance for normalcy will be guaranteed only if Prof. Shukla does not return to NEHU. However, if we receive any indication from the VC’s office that he intends to resume his duties, the student unions will not hesitate to take further action to prevent his entry into the university,” Kharsati warned.
The student leaders emphasized that their protest will be intensified with daily sit-in demonstrations from 3 pm to 5 pm, a symbolic show of their ongoing fight. “We want to send a clear message to the public that our movement is far from over. We will keep it alive by continuing our sit-in demonstration every day, and we will not stop until the VC is removed. While we are committed to maintaining peace, we will not back down,” Kharsati asserted.
The ongoing protests highlight the deep unrest among students, faculty, and stakeholders regarding the leadership of Prof. Shukla, and the tension is expected to persist until a resolution is reached.
