Students boycott classes in over 70 Haryana colleges

Students of over 70 Haryana colleges boycotted classes Saturday and enforced a "bandh" over issues like safety of girl students, restoration of student council elections and academic reforms, a student leader said.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's student body Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad had called the strike in over 70 colleges across the state.

"Our demands are: Safety for girl students in and outside the college premises, restoration of student union elections and change in the academic semester system," Satiah Judola, ABVP department coordinator told IANS.

He said eve-teasing incidents are increasing in and around college campuses. Two girl students committed suicide because of eve teasing in Rohtak district a few days ago.

"Students want total security for girl students and we have submitted a letter to Gurgaon DSD college principal R.K Yadav regarding our demands," Judola said.

He said 11 government colleges in Faridabad, Palwal, Mewat, including three in Gurgaon, also remained closed.

ABVP state committee member Daljeet Yadav said the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led government does not want to give students their rights. Students also burnt an effigy of Hooda.

Students want the ban on student union body elections, imposed in 1996 during late chief minister Bansi Lal's regime, to be lifted.

Lal had also banned sale of liquor in the state. Students said if it could be lifted within a few years, then why is the ban on student elections not being lifted.