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Sit-in will last from 9am to 5pm daily until VC is removed

SHILLONG, Nov 20: The North-Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and the NEHU unit of the Khasi Students’ Union on Wednesday decided to temporarily suspend their indefinite hunger strike following demands from various quarters.
The decision came on the 16th day of the hunger strike and after their meeting with the members of North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) and Meghalaya Tribal Teachers’ Association (MeTTA-NEHU) in the presence of Vice Chancellor in- sue Prof. Nirmalendu Saha.
NEHUSU President Sandy Sohtun announced the decision to the teachers, students, non-teaching staff and members of civil society who had been waiting outside the premises of the university’s administrative building. staff.
He said that even though they have decided to suspend their hunger strike, they will not leave the place and will organize a sit-in demonstration from 9 am to 5 pm every day until Vice Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla is removed.
“We will wait for the Union Ministry of Education to take action based on the report submitted by the internal committee of NEHU. If the ministry fails to meet our demand, we may resume our hunger strike or take other measures,” Sohtun warned.
He added: “We will not remain silent but continue to raise our voices if the report of the two-member inquiry committee (set up by the ministry) is not in our favor.”
He said the university’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Carol Mukhim had also advised them not to continue the hunger strike due to the deteriorating health condition of many protesting students.
Sohtun said it was not easy for him as a leader to see students participating in the hunger strike being taken to hospitals or health centers.
Meanwhile, NEHUSU general secretary Toniho S Kharsati said the battle is not easy as they are pitted against the incumbent VC who is adamant.
Kharsati said the VC never inquired about the health of the agitating students and said he (VC) has gone ‘underground’ and is trying to avoid his responsibilities.
“We want to make it very clear that we do not want Professor Shukla to return to university,” the student leader said.
He called on the students to continue their support and work together to help restore NEHU’s image.
The indefinite hunger strike was formally temporarily suspended with the congratulations of the leaders of NEHUSU and KSU’s NEHU unit by the VC in charge, senior professors, CMO in charge and civil society members including NESO Chairman Samuel Jyrwa.