Assam: “No question of apologising,” says Minister Ranoj Pegu on Dibrugarh University row

Guwahati: Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu on Thursday said he would not apologise over the controversy surrounding his interaction with students from Dibrugarh University, asserting that he had not made any remarks disrespecting the Assam Movement and that the issue raised by the students had already been resolved.

Speaking to reporters, Pegu said he had listened to the concerns raised by the student delegation and had agreed to their demands during the discussion. However, he alleged that the students continued to argue and insisted on immediate results.

“They came to meet me, and I agreed to their demands, but even after that, they did not want to leave. They kept insisting that they wanted an instant result,” the Minister said.

Pegu said the meeting took place late at night, between 10 pm and 11 pm, making it difficult to take immediate administrative decisions.

“I could not speak to the Vice Chancellor because he was not well. So I called the registrar and spoke with him regarding the matter,” he said.

According to the minister, the students remained outside his residence and continued the discussion even after he tried to explain the situation.

“They were still adamant even after talking with me and tried to agitate the issue by arguing further,” he said.

Pegu added that the matter was eventually resolved the next morning through a teleconference with the university authorities.

“The issue was sorted out the next morning through a teleconference,” he said, adding that students need not resort to protests to get their issues addressed.

“There is no need for protest. Even if they send me a WhatsApp message, I will try to resolve the issue,” the minister said.

Responding to allegations that he had made remarks about the Assam Movement, Pegu denied the claim and said the students had provoked him despite his clear explanations.

“There is no question of apologising. I have not said anything against the Assam Movement,” he said.

The controversy stems from an incident on Tuesday night when a delegation from the Dibrugarh University Postgraduate Students’ Union (2025–26) met the minister at his residence in Dhemaji to discuss issues related to fee concessions and admission policies at the university.

During the meeting, the student representatives demanded restoration of the 50% fee concession for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. They also urged the government to ensure free admissions across departments, particularly in five-year integrated programmes.

However, the students later alleged that the meeting did not yield the outcome they had expected. According to the delegation, the minister dismissed their demands and made remarks they described as insulting and dismissive.

Student leaders also claimed that during the discussion the minister referred to the Assam Movement and reportedly said that despite years of agitation the movement had not achieved much. They argued that such remarks amounted to an insult to the martyrs of the movement.

Meanwhile, the Dibrugarh University Postgraduate Students’ Union launched a 36-hour hunger strike on Wednesday over admission-related concerns, a recent fee hike and the alleged remarks made by the minister. Led by union president Asish Bhushan Gogoi and general secretary Madhurjya Bora, the protesting students staged a sit-in outside the main gate of the university and burned an effigy of the education minister, demanding a clarification and a public apology.

Amid the ongoing agitation, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said discussions on the issues raised by the students should take place only after the protest phase concludes.

“When a protest is going on, there is no requirement for immediate discussion. Once the protests conclude, discussions can take place after 15 to 20 days,” the Chief Minister said.

“Right now, protests are underway and therefore people should allow the process to continue. Dialogue can happen once the situation becomes calmer,” he added.

Earlier, Pegu also reiterated that the state government remains committed to implementing the fee-waiver scheme as well as the special 50% fee waiver for self-financing courses at Dibrugarh University.

“The Government of Assam remains firmly committed to implementing the Fee Waiver Scheme and the Special 50% Fee Waiver for self-financing courses at Dibrugarh University in both letter and spirit. All concerned are requested to carefully go through the guidelines,” Pegu wrote on X.

Addressing concerns over reimbursement delays, the minister also emphasised the need for timely submission of Utilisation Certificates (UCs) by colleges and universities.

“Colleges and universities must ensure that Utilisation Certificates (UCs) are submitted well in advance of the close of the financial year. UCs submitted towards the end of the financial year are difficult to process and may lead to delays or lapses in reimbursement,” he said.