HAU Students Continue 21-Day Protest, Threaten Campus Shutdown

Students at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) in Hisar are continuing their determined protest for the 21st consecutive day, refusing to end their demonstration until their demands are fulfilled. The protesters have given the government an ultimatum to respond by 4 pm on July 1.

The students are demanding the immediate removal of the Vice-Chancellor and strict action against university officials who were allegedly involved in an attack on students on June 10. If they don't receive a satisfactory response by tomorrow evening, the students have warned they will completely shut down all four university gates starting July 2.

Congress leader and AICC national secretary Prafulla Gudhade visited the protest site on Monday to show solidarity with the students. He assured them that the Congress party considers supporting the students as their moral responsibility. "We will raise this issue in Parliament and also bring it to the notice of Rahul Gandhi," he promised the demonstrators.

However, university officials are trying to find a peaceful solution. Dr Rajbir Garg, Director of Research and chairperson of the Coordination Committee, explained that the Vice-Chancellor has no direct involvement in issues like scholarships or Land Donation seat allotments, which are handled by various university bodies and the Academic Council. 

Dr Garg mentioned that a government-appointed committee is already investigating the students' concerns and several meetings have been held. He warned that external elements might be influencing the movement and invited students for open dialogue to resolve the matter through mutual discussion.