Activists protest in Guwahati on Monday over the varsity downgrade plan. Picture by Manash Das

Guwahati: Assam Congress Legislature Party on Monday sought Governor Jagdish Mukhi’s intervention to stop Dispur from downgrading Assam Women’s University (AWU), Jorhat, into a technical institution.

The state’s biggest students organisation, All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), also called a statewide protest on March 28 and decided to send 5,000 letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention into the stalemate.

A delegation, led by leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia, met Mukhi and told him that the BJP-led government “seems to have made AWU an ego issue”.

The students of AWU have been boycotting classes and organising protests opposing Dispur’s move to protect their university from downgrading and seeking appointment of a vice-chancellor. Various organisations have lent support.

Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad, Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti, All Tai-Ahom Students’ Union, Brihottar Asomiya Yuba Manch and Sonowal Kachari Students’ Union on Monday organised protests in different parts of the state in support of the AWU students.

The university was established in 2013 with the chief minister as its chancellor and the vice-chancellor of the Assam Agricultural University as its mentor. Classes have been held regularly since 2014 and two batches of alumni have already graduated.

The Congress told Mukhi that Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal had earlier attended the university court meeting and promised to support it in every manner to develop it into a standalone university. “It is extremely unfortunate that in recent times, the state government has neglected to pursue any development work for the university and also paid scant heed to the hopes and aspirations of the students,” a memorandum submitted to Mukhi said.

AASU general secretary Lurin Jyoti Gogoi said education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was also education minister when the bill on AWU was placed in the House.

“The Congress government failed to appoint a vice- chancellor or make AWU a full-fledged university. But the students should not be victimised. The BJP-led government came to power promising changes and it should fulfil the remaining work of the university,” Gogoi said.

RAJIV KONWAR Telegraph India