The North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU), along with the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) NEHU Unit, has informed its decision to continue an indefinite hunger strike, demanding the resignation of Vice Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla. This follows a Ministry of Education order establishing a two-member independent committee to investigate alleged administrative failures at NEHU. Despite this move, student leaders have voiced dissatisfaction, calling the government’s response inadequate.
NEHUSU General Secretary Toniho S Kharsati remarked, “We received a notification from the Ministry of Education announcing the formation of a committee to address the issues we’ve raised. However, this decision does not align with the demands of the students. Our hunger strike from day one has focused on the removal of the Vice Chancellor, and we will continue until the government acts decisively on this demand.”
Concerns were also raised about the composition of the committee, which excludes any local representatives, Kharsati said, “It is disappointing that the government has not appointed anyone familiar with NEHU’s unique history and the challenges faced by this university. The presence of a local member would have brought much-needed insight into the university’s and region’s needs.”
The students’ leader message remains clear: “Until the government meets our demand to remove the Vice Chancellor, we will persist with this indefinite hunger strike, regardless of any committee formed. Our primary demand remains the resignation of the Vice Chancellor.”
The students’ frustration was visibly demonstrated, as earlier protestors locked the university gates and burned effigies of Vice Chancellor Shukla, Registrar Omkar Singh, and Deputy Registrar Amit Gupta, citing alleged mismanagement and incompetency. As tension mounts, students and faculty members alike are amplifying calls for change in the university’s administration.