Angered over the setting up of a an Agriculture College instead of a University, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Friday erected its own signboard at the entrance written ‘Central Agriculture University’ at Kyrdemkulai in Ri-Bhoi district.
The action of the KSU was in protest against the government for not setting up the Central Agriculture University in Meghalaya as has been promised few years ago.
KSU activists erased the words ‘Agriculture College’ with a spray paint from the signboard of the Central Agriculture College which was erected at Kyrdemkulai. Later they erected a new signboard ‘Central Agriculture University’ Kyrdemkulai Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya.
The Central Agriculture College at Kyrdemkulai was affiliated with the Central Agriculture University, Imphal.
KSU members put up banners during the protest, which read, “we want university not college, do not dupe us Central government.”
On Friday, the lone Rajya Sabha MP from Meghalaya, Wansuk Syiem raised the issue in Rajya Sabha.
Syiem said that the institute at Kyrdemkulai was inaugurated in 2016 by the then Union agriculture minister with a commitment that the institute will be accorded an independent status of a university.
Lok Sabha MP from Shillong, Vincent H. Pala has also put up a question in Parliament seeking to know from the Centre on the proposed Central Agriculture University in Meghalaya.
The question (No.44) has been listed on June 25.
Pala sought to know the details and present status of the Agriculture University in Meghalaya, and the number of students enrolled in the Agriculture College yearly during the last two years, along with the details of courses.