Student organisations Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Students Federation of India (SFI) held separate protests at Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) on Saturday. The protests took place ahead of the university's Executive Council (EC) meeting.
According to The Tribune, ABVP activists burned an effigy of the Vice-Chancellor and carried out a symbolic funeral procession. This was done to express their anger over several student issues.
Clash with police during ABVP protest
A minor scuffle broke out between police personnel and ABVP activists during the protest. The clash happened when police tried to remove the activists from the protest site. No injuries were reported in the incident, as per The Tribune.
Student demands behind the protests
ABVP activists demanded that the university authorities roll back the increased fees. They also asked for adequate bus services for students and restoration of scholarships. These demands were raised during the protest outside the university campus.
SFI also staged a separate protest on the same day. Both student organisations were active ahead of the Executive Council meeting, pressing for their demands.
Our Take: Student protests highlight real issues
In our view, the protests by ABVP and SFI show that students are deeply unhappy with the university's decisions. Burning an effigy and clashing with police is extreme, but it reflects genuine frustration over fee hikes and lack of basic facilities like bus services. The university administration should take these demands seriously. Ignoring student concerns only leads to more tension on campus. A dialogue between students and the Executive Council would be a better way forward.
