Tezpur University is once again in the news, and this time the students are deeply upset. They say their peaceful protest and hunger strike have been ignored by the university leadership, even as fresh controversy grows around Vice-Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh. Students say their voices have been silenced, while those in power continue to protect each other.
According to information shared with Northeast Scoop , Vice-Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh who is already facing serious corruption allegations allegedly met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently. Sources claim the meeting was not about students or academics, but about making sure the Vice-Chancellor remains in his post at Tezpur University. It is being said that he does not want to be transferred elsewhere.
If true, this raises serious questions. Instead of addressing corruption allegations and student concerns, the Vice-Chancellor appears to be busy building political support. Many students and observers see this as an attempt to cling to power. Rajnath Singh and the BJP leadership, they say, should be standing with students and ensuring transparency not helping a controversial Vice-Chancellor hold on to his position. 
Adding to the suspicion, a Facebook post reportedly made by BJP Delhi Pradesh Media Co-Head Harihar Raghuvanshi, which showed the Vice-Chancellor meeting Rajnath Singh, has now disappeared. The post has been deleted and is no longer visible on social media. For many students, this looks like yet another example of information being quietly cleaned up when it becomes inconvenient.
While all this happens at the top level, the real struggle is on the university campus.
Students at Tezpur University recently went on a hunger strike, demanding that the authorities listen to their concerns. One of the protesting students told Northeast Scoop that the hunger strike began at 11 pm on 28 December and continued until 11 pm on 29 December. For a full day, they waited for a response. But, according to the students, no one from the university leadership came forward to speak to them.
“Students voice silenced yet once again”, that is how many students are now describing the situation on campus. They say that instead of dialogue, they are facing neglect. They feel abandoned by the administration and ignored by the authorities who are supposed to protect their interests.
Students say the university should be a place where young people can speak freely about their problems. Instead, they claim that the Vice-Chancellor and the authorities have chosen silence. There is anger that leaders in the ruling BJP, including Rajnath Singh, seem more focused on helping those already in power than listening to students.
This is why many are openly criticising the Vice-Chancellor. They question his priorities and leadership. They also criticise the BJP leadership for what they see as political shielding. At a time when students are peacefully protesting, they say those in power should be standing with them not appearing to protect a controversial official.
The hunger strike ended without any response from the administration. But the students say their movement is not over. They want accountability, honesty, and respect. They want their complaints heard, not suppressed. They want a Vice-Chancellor who is focused on education and student welfare, not on political networking.
