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HAU student agitation: Govt panel seeks 2 yrs to meet demands, students allege threats
Hisar: The student agitation at Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) entered a critical phase on Saturday as a government-appointed committee held an eight-hour meeting with a 13-member student delegation.
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Despite lengthy discussions, no resolution was reached. According to the students, while the committee agreed in principle to most of their demands, it requested a time frame of three months to two years for implementation and insisted that the protest be called off immediately.
Students alleged that the meeting, attended by education minister Mahipal Dhanda, social justice and empowerment minister Krishna Bedi, Nalwa MLA Randhir Panihar, deputy commissioner Anish Yadav, superintendent of police Shashank Kumar Sawan, and SDM Jyoti Mittal, focused more on ending the protest than addressing their concerns.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, student representatives shared a detailed chronology of events, beginning with the initial unrest on May 12, the baton-charge on June 10, and developments thereafter. They submitted documentary evidence including medical reports, testimonies, and videos to support their claims.
When students pressed for concrete action, the committee responded that the demands could not be fulfilled immediately due to legal and administrative procedures, and that it could take several months to two years.
"We were told to trust the government and end the protest, but we clearly stated that the movement would continue until the demands are actually met," a student representative said.
Students accuse committee of dismissing their grievances
Students claimed that one of the ministers remarked, "You are not innocent. Who gave you permission to protest outside someone's house at midnight?" They clarified that the protest was held outside the official residence of the university vice-chancellor, which is a public office, not a private home, and emphasized their constitutional right to peaceful protest.
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They also alleged that during the June 10 baton-charge, students were unarmed and non-hostile. Security personnel, reportedly without nameplates, filmed them while faculty members dismantled barricades and attacked students.
When concerns were raised about ongoing mental harassment and pressure from the university administration, the committee allegedly responded, "If a student takes an extreme step now, only these 13 students will be responsible."
The delegation condemned the statement as deeply insensitive and an attempt to shift blame.
'Arrogant VC celebrates Yoga Day while students suffer'
Students expressed outrage that vice-chancellor Prof BR Kamboj has neither visited the protest site nor issued an apology. "Instead of acknowledging the trauma caused to students, he's celebrating Yoga Day for his own mental peace while we remain under pressure," they said.
"We don't want a VC who behaves like this."
They also accused the committee of defending the VC and downplaying the June 10 incident. "Rather than acknowledging administrative violence, they accused us of damaging the university's image," a protester said.
Although the committee offered to revisit the protest if demands were not fulfilled within the promised time frame, students called this "a diplomatic deflection".
While some assurances were made regarding scholarships and LDV issues, the committee did not acknowledge the violence or threats allegedly made by the university administration.
Preparations for the planned Student Justice Mahapanchayat on June 24 are in full swing, the students confirmed.
No meeting held on Sunday despite assurances
Students said a follow-up meeting was scheduled for 9 am on Sunday. However, they received a message postponing it to 11 am.
Later, even the 11 am meeting was cancelled without explanation, and no new time was communicated.
Students allege threats of FIR by DC, SP
During Saturday's talks, students claimed they were pressured by the DC and SP with threats of FIRs. "We were told that we could face legal action. If raising our voice against injustice is a crime, then we are proud to be guilty," the students said defiantly. "If peaceful protest against an authoritarian VC is illegal, we will continue committing this 'crime'."
