SILCHAR, Sept 10: Irresponsible and indecisive moves by the Assam University authority has virtually prepared a ground for student unrest in this premier institution. ABVP had already staged a dharna and road blockade twice in front of the University entrance demanding student body elections to be conducted before pujas, as announced, and subsequently postponed by the University authority.
Sources said, on Wednesday, ABVP cadres also burnt the effigy of vice chancellor Prof Tapodhir Bhattacharjee. It is to be noted that the University authority had earlier declared that direct election of the students’ union would be held on September 10, but, due to some unknown reason they subsequently retracted from the decision arguing that formal approval for holding election from the Ministry of Human Resources Development had not yet been received.
On this, the ABVP countered explanation questioning how come the University authority could declare the election date without formal approval from the concerned ministry, as claimed by the University. Dr Alok Sen, the acting Registrar, had reportedly admitted that it was their fault. But, sources indicated that the University authority had actually bowed down to the NSUI, the student wing of the Congress.
University authority, however, assured that the election would be held after the puja vacation. But ABVP countered that after the puja vacations, students would not be able to attend the election as they would be busy for their exams. ABVP suspected that the NSUI might take the advantage of the situation to get their candidates elected.
Meanwhile, NSUI in a press statement bounced backed with the allegation that the ABVP, with vested interest, is planning to vitiate the academic environment of the University. NSUI district president Mehboob Ahmed Barbhuiya claimed, the ABVP has no organizational base in the University as they had failed to form an unit in the university.
Welcoming the University’s decision to hold direct election for the first time, the NSUI leaders said they demanded creation of three additional posts for smoothening student participation. NSUI had sought the intervention of the district administration apprehending that the ABVP has allegedly hired some outsiders to create law and order situation inside the University campus. (Source – Sentinelassam)