Assam govt to bring in Bill to solve women's varsity impasse

The Assam government today announced to bring in a rectifying Bill to solve the impasse in the Assam Women's University where students are agitating over the demand for a permanent vice-chancellor since March 5.

"We are in the process to rectify this issue. We have to repeal the current Act and bring in a fresh Act. We are bringing in a rectifying Bill," Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in the Assembly.

Sarma urged Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami to take initiative to talk to the agitating students to end their indefinite strike at the varsity.

The university is situated in Goswami's constituency of Jorhat.

Goswami assured the House that the Assam Women's University (AWU) will be protected. "Here, only women will win. No BJP, no Congress will win," Goswami said after a stormy debate over the alleged irregularities in the AWU.

Earlier, Sarma and former chief minister Tarun Gogoi traded charges over various issues related to the AWU, mainly regarding appointment of the mentor.

Sarma said the mentor's post was not a part of the Act, which was passed in the House in 2013 during his stint as Education Minister in Gogoi's Cabinet.

Gogoi said the mentor was appointed till a permanent VC is engaged, but even incumbent Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal held meetings with the mentor and did not appoint a permanent VC for the AWU.

Sarma said the government is working on to resolve the issue by taking measures such as turning the AWU into a full-fledged university by appointing a permanent VC.

The AWU has been functioning without a VC and any permanent teaching staff since classes began there in 2014.

Assam Agricultural University's VC K M Bujarbaruah is functioning as the Mentor and all the teachers have been appointed on contract and ad-hoc basis.

Earlier, the Assembly was adjourned for 15 minutes amid the opposition Congress storming the Well of the House repeatedly and forcing the Speaker to reverse his ruling of disallowing Gogoi to speak on the AWU.

Gogoi wanted to clarify his stand after the Question Hour as Point of Order over Sarma's allegations two days ago that the former CM had violated norms regarding appointment of the mentor of the AWU.

Goswami asked him to raise the issue on April 5 or 6, when a general discussion on education will be held.

The Congress members then rushed into the Well shouting slogans.

Sarma arrived at the House at that time and urged the Speaker to allow Gogoi to speak but his plea was turned down. Amid the din, Goswami adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

When the House reassembled, similar scene was enacted and following repeated request by Sarma and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, the Speaker granted Gogoi permission to speak on the issue.