BHU decides to reopen from Feb 17 after students stage demonstration

VARANASI : The BHU will reopen for final year students of graduation and post-graduation from February 17, said Anand Chaudhary, chief proctor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), on Friday, after a group of students staged a demonstration demanding that the university be reopened for final year students immediately.

Chaudhary spoke to the students and accepted the students’ demand to reopen the university.

He said, “The Banaras Hindu University will reopen from February 17 for final year students of graduation and postgraduation courses. Preparations for it have already been completed.”

Earlier, a group of Banaras Hindu University students staged a demonstration in the university campus demanding that university should be reopened for all the students, and offline classes for the final year students of graduation and post-graduation should be started without any delay.

The students took out a march in the campus to press for their demands and later staged a dharna in the campus.

“When everything is opening up in the country as it used to open before the lockdown, then why BHU is closed till now. We demand that the Banaras Hindu University be opened for all the students immediately, offline classes for the final year students of graduation, postgraduation and MPhil be started,” said Vipul Singh, a student.

The students also demanded that hostel allocation should be started and canteens in the campus and those in hostels should be reopened with immediate effect.

They added that the university administration should inform them when the offline class for BA first, second, third, fourth and fifth semester and MA first, second and third semester will be started, in the university.

The students said that their dharna would continue if the university does not accept their demand.

ABVP submits 5-point memo to VC

Another group of BHU students associated with ABVP submitted a five-point memorandum to BHU vice-chancellor Prof Rakesh Bhatnagar demanding reopening of the university. They also staged a demonstration at the central office, BHU.

ABVP BHU unit convener Adhokshaj Pandey said that there was a nation-wide lockdown due to the pandemic in the country, but now the situation has improved and the country is in a better position. War against corona is in the last stage. Several universities have already reopened, and classes have also started there. Now, BHU administration should start the process to reopen the university so that students do not have to face financial and mental pressure. Another ABVP member said that students living in villages are facing mental pressure since their studies are suffering. The process of reopening university should be started without any delay.