Nishar Mohammed & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar. 5:The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) may launch a nationwide protest if the concerns of students in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands regarding the proposed Deemed University are not addressed, NSUI President Mr. M.A. Sajid said during a press conference held this evening.
Mr. Sajid informed the media that he had recently returned from a four-day visit to New Delhi, where he met several national leaders to discuss the ongoing student protests in the islands.
He said that during his visit he first met NSUI National President Mr. Vinod Jakhar, who assured him of complete support for the students of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. According to Mr. Sajid, the national leadership of NSUI stands “1000 percent” with the students protesting against the Deemed University proposal.
Mr. Sajid said that Mr. Vinod Jakhar is expected to visit the islands soon to personally meet students and understand their concerns. During the visit, he plans to travel across various districts and colleges—from Diglipur to Campbell Bay—to interact with students and the public regarding the issue.
The NSUI leader also said that he submitted a letter from the Joint Action Forum to the office of Mr. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, at his residence at 10 Janpath in New Delhi.
Another letter from the Joint Action Forum was also submitted to Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, seeking their intervention in the matter.
Mr. Sajid stated that the issue must be raised in Parliament and appealed to the lone Member of Parliament from the islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, to take the matter seriously.
He pointed out that when Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi visited the islands in 2018 and addressed a gathering at Netaji Stadium, the idea of establishing a Deemed University was first announced. Mr. Sajid said that at that time as well as today, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray has been the Member of Parliament representing the islands.
He stressed that as the elected representative of the people, the MP should raise the issue in Parliament and engage with the central government, including the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and the Education Minister, to resolve the matter.
According to Sajid, the priority should be to ensure that students are able to return to their classes and continue their education without disruption.
He warned that if the government fails to address the concerns of the students and withdraw the proposal, the NSUI would organize a large protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, bringing together students from universities across the country—including Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University—to raise their voices in support of the students of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Earlier in the press conference, senior Congress leader TSG Bhasker also spoke on various issues concerning the islands.
The press conference concluded with ANTCC spokesperson Tamil Selvam welcoming all media representatives and thanking them for their presence and continued support in highlighting public issues.
