Assam University Authority to meet Students’ Union at Cachar College today 

A week into the protest Assam University Students’ Union members and other agitating students have started to fall sick. Hunger strike in the chilling cold weather has taken a toll on them. Their demands remain the same, revoke the rustication (against Milon Das), withdraw the FIR and the VC must resign.

After seeing the deteriorating condition of the agitating students the vice-chancellor of the university has asked his officials to start a dialogue. As per sources in the University, vice-chancellor, DC Nath had sent four officials to meet the Students’ Union last night. A source close to the development informs that the VC communicated to the students that he will discuss each and every matter in detail once the strike is withdrawn. He even offered to meet Students’ Union president Biswarup Bhattacharjee in person.

The source says that the president of the Students’ Union refused to meet the VC in person and communicated that if the VC or any other representatives from the authority wants to meet the students or the union it has to happen in public. “Biswarup’s concerns were legitimate. What if the VC meets him in person and later alleges that Biswarup manhandled him? He too will get rusticated without a hearing and that is why he denied meeting the VC in person. It is difficult to trust this administration in its current shape,” said a student close to the development.

As per sources, the VC has made a second attempt today and asked the Students’ Union members to meet the authority at Cachar College in Silchar. If sources are to be believed then the union has accepted the invitation and the senior members are on their way to meet the University authority.

A senior officer who is likely to meet the students said he is optimistic that the meeting will bring in a solution marking an end to the ongoing strike.