Haryana agri university agitation: Female students allege food denial, threaten shutdown on July 2

Indian Express

28-06-2025

The agitation at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU) has intensified, with female students alleging that food services in university hostels were abruptly discontinued. Protesters continued raising slogans late into Thursday night, accusing the university authorities of harassing them.
While the university administration claimed the hostels were vacated as a routine measure following the completion of exams, students asserted they were left without basic necessities.
On Friday, a group of aggrieved female students met senior university officials, alleging that no dinner was provided the previous evening.
PhD student Nikita voiced her resentment to the authorities: 'We are standing hungry in front of you. Why has our food been stopped? What is our crime? On Thursday night, we kept requesting our hostel warden with folded hands that we are hungry and want food. The hostel warden replied that no one would come to talk to you.'
She added, 'We got food at 11 pm after the intervention of policemen. On Friday morning again, our hostel warden announced that she would not allow us food at the hostel.'
The Director of Students' Welfare, Dr S K Pahuja, responded by saying that hostel evacuation was part of a scheduled plan to conduct repairs and renovations.
He added that no academic work was pending for over a month, implying students could return home.
However, Nikita contended: 'We have stayed here earlier too during summer vacations with special permissions and were provided food. What has changed this time? Why has our food been stopped? We have faced a lot of mental harassment. My thesis is due in 10 days. We have already paid a late fee for an extension. How can I go home? Please understand us — we are like your daughters.'
Another student questioned the officials directly: 'Had your daughter been a student here, would she have faced the same treatment?'
Director (Research), Dr Rajbir Garg maintained that the students' claims regarding closure of hostels were false, stating that 'the vacation of hostels for repair work during summer is a standard procedure'.
As tensions continue to rise, students have declared that they will observe a complete shutdown of the university on July 2 if their demands are not met by then.
Former CCSHAU Students Union presidents Inderjit Singh, Virendra Singh Malik and Phool Singh Sheokand issued a joint statement urging the BJP-led state government to address what they described as a 'hostile attitude' of the university administration.
'The news of the administration stopping their food and water at night is disturbing for all sensitive citizens. Such acts cannot be tolerated in any civilised society,' they said.
The university, home to over 1,800 students, has been embroiled in protests for the past 17 days, sparked by the alleged assault on students by university officials and security guards on June 10.
The confrontation arose during a demonstration against changes in stipend eligibility for postgraduate and doctoral students, which the students say is vital for continuing their research.
Students are demanding action against those responsible for the June 10 assault and the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Dr B R Kamboj.
On its part, the university administration has accused students of attempting to storm the Vice-Chancellor's office and residence, and of assaulting security personnel.
Officials also stated that the decision regarding changes in stipend eligibility has been put 'in abeyance'.
70% students failed in varsity exams: Deepender Hooda
In a statement, Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda alleged that the university administration is using every possible tactic at the behest of the government to suppress the peaceful student protest.
'The university released exam results just three days after the final semester exams concluded, failing 70% of students — which is an act of playing with their future,' he said.
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