Presidency University Vice Chancellor forms committee to talk with students
Kolkata: Presidency University Vice Chancellor Anuradha Lohia formed a seven-member committee to hold talks with the agitating students, who vacated her chamber on Tuesday after occupying it for four days even as she ruled out quitting office.
"The elected union leader told me that they (agitating students) don't wish to discuss with me. So we have decided to set up a seven-member committee, which would comprise six heads of departments and the dean of students as member secretary," Lohia told reporters here.
"The committee will give me a report after seven days from now about what had been the discussion with them, what they want, what can be done and what can't be done. It will also have grievances of students, their recommendations and also how best we can implement the solutions that they have suggested," she said.
Lohia said if the students want any further administrative clarification, a committee recommended by this committee will be formed. Administrative officials such as the registrar, the controller of exams, finance officers and assistant registrar would be its members.
The students, who gheraoed the VC for 26 hours since Friday evening alleging police assault during Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's visit to the campus, had occupied her office chamber for four days saying that they will gherao her chair until she resigns. The students vacated the VC's office today.
"When she came in the morning she forced her way inside and so we did not create any hustle. If she is already occupying the office then what is the point of gheraoing her chair? " Trisha Chanda, general secretary of the students union, told PTI.
The student's softening stance came after both the state government and Lohia made it clear that she was not going to put in her papers.
"My inbox is full with messages from people I dont know. Messages which have requested me not to resign. I will not stop at petty matters. Let them (agitating students) express themselves. They are very young.
"We don’t give them enough creative outlet maybe. Its alright. Five years down the line they will be very embarrassed," Lohia said.
