Guwahati: Assam Congress President and Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday criticised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s stand on the ongoing campus protests in Tezpur University over the alleged failure of the government to support students, faculty and staff.
Reacting to the continuing agitation at Tezpur University, Gaurav Gogoi said he was disappointed by CM Sarma’s response.
Gogoi alleged that instead of addressing the grievances raised by faculty, staff and students, the Chief Minister was “masking the failures” of Vice Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh.
“I am disappointed with the stand of the Chief Minister of Assam regarding the on-going protests at Tezpur University.
Real leadership would have meant that the Chief Minister would have stood with the faculty, staff and students of this prestigious university.
Instead the Chief Minister is masking the failures of the current Vice Chancellor by suggesting a pro Vice Chancellor.
Actually the current Vice Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh is no stranger to controversy as several news articles state.
Back when he was the Vice Chancellor of Patna University in Bihar, there were enquiries about financial irregularities from the office of Principal Accountant General.
It would be best that prestige of Tezpur University should be paramount and a new Vice Chancellor be appointed. Stop using the Universities of Northeast for posting controversial VCs.”
— Gogoi wrote on X this morning.
Gogoi said Tezpur University is one of the Northeast’s most respected central universities, and the situation on campus requires attention from the state leadership.
He argued that ignoring earlier controversies linked to the present VC would only “deepen the crisis” and erode trust among students and staff.
The Congress MP urged the Centre to appoint a new, credible and transparent Vice Chancellor to restore confidence.
He said the government must prioritise academic standards, campus harmony and transparent administration over political considerations.
Gogoi added that universities of the Northeast should not be treated as “posting grounds for controversial VCs,” emphasising that the interests of students and scholars must come first.