After 15 days, Bodoland Students’ Union Withdraws Indefinite Strike Following Chief Minister’s Assurances

Our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR: The Bodoland Students’ Union (BSU), which has been on indefinite strike in front of the Bodoland University (BU) demanding the immediate removal of caretaker Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof. Hemanta Kr. Baruah and appointment of acting VC first and then permanent VC, withdrew the strike on Thursday after 15 days following the assurance of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to appoint permanent VC at the earliest. The discussion between the Chief Minister and BSU was held on October 1 in Guwahati over the stalemate of BU.

The president of the BSU, Swgwmshar Basumamtary, while talking to reporters at BU, said that the Chief Minister, after holding a meeting with the union on Monday, assured to consider the genuine demands of the BSU. He said the Chief Minister had given an instruction to the Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Government of Assam, to convey the possibilities for the appointment of acting Vice-Chancellor to the Chancellor of Bodoland University. He also said that the Chief Minister had given assurance to appoint permanent Vice-Chancellor within the month of October and also assured to start a political initiative for attaining 12 B status under UGC Act, 1956 for BU.

The student leader said the Chief Minister assured to fill up all vacant key posts like Controller of Examinations, Academic Registrar, Director of College and University Development Council (CUDC), Finance Officer, Librarian, Permanent Registrar and also all vacant posts of Professors soon after the new Vice-Chancellor assumes charge, besides assuring to include all the financial aspects for the development of Bodoland University in the financial budget.

Considering the positive attitude and assurance given by the Chief Minister and responding to his appeal in the discussion, the BSU lifted the strike and will allow classes to be held from tomorrow. BSU also welcomed the forced leave to present caretaker Vice-Chancellor Prof. Hemanta Kr. Baruah issued by Chancellor Prof. Jagadish Mukhi on October 4 till further order, and the decision of empowering seniormost professor Pradip Kr. Patra.

Basumamtary, however, warned that BSU and other student organizations would resume strike if the incumbent VC returned to the university. He also hoped that the assurances of the Chief Minister would be fulfilled soon. On the other hand, the secretary of the Bodoland University Teachers’ Association (BUTA) Rustom Brahma welcomed the initiative of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to resolve the BU stalemate and hoped that all problems related to university would be settled. He said various administrative functions and research works had been affected due to the indefinite strike of the students. He thanked the BSU for withdrawing the strike on Thursday after 15 days.