Protests have paralysed the College of Arts and Crafts for nearly two-and-a-half months, but neither the government nor the Patna University administration has the time to listen to the students' demands.

The agitation, which entered its 74th day on Wednesday, has received support from student leaders, politicians, academicians, teachers and activists from across the country, but neither Patna University vice-chancellor Y.C. Simhadri nor education minister Ashok Choudhary has visited the college or taken any concrete step to end the impasse.

Academic activities have come to a standstill.

The students' main demands are removal of principal Chandra Bhooshan Shriwastava, revocation of suspension of eight students, and release of a student leader who is in jail for a month in connection with the agitation.

The beleaguered university administration last month asked principal Shriwastava to go on leave and assured that the eight students - suspended for alleged anti-academic activities - would be reinstated.

The students, however, say the university is doing nothing specific to meet their demands and is trying to muzzle the voice of the agitating students.

"The university administration has failed to fulfil any of our demands," said Mukesh Kumar, a seventh semester student.

He termed the university sending Shriwastava on leave - appointing Arun Kamal as in-charge principal - as "an attempt to protect principal Shriwastava".

"The university administration has stated that suspension of eight students who were allegedly involved in anti-academic activities has been revoked, but the students are yet to get a letter of their suspension revocation from the university administration," Mukesh added.

The trouble started on April 21, when a contractor working on campus allegedly beat up a student, Vishvendu Narayan Singh, over a trivial issue. The students say the principal refused to take action against the contractor and instead suspended eight students who protested.

"Our agitation started from June 1," said Gautam Kumar, another student. "The university, without looking into our demands, went ahead with announcing the examination schedule. Perturbed over the university's lack of concern, one student, Nitish Kumar, tried to commit suicide. But that too failed to have any impact as neither university nor state government took any initiative to solve the impasse."

Students allege - and some teachers, who do not want to be identified, agree - the university administration is trying to save Shriwastava because he is hand in glove with some university officials.

"The college in past two years has received funds for infrastructure development work, for organising art camps and other activities," said Chandan Kumar, a student. "We suspect there is financial mismanagement by Shriwastava in connivance with university officials and the university by protecting Shriwastava is trying to save those university officials."

Students claimed that if Shriwastava is removed and if an enquiry is set up against him, many names and financial irregularities will tumble out.

For even those students who are not really involved in the protests, the agitation has robbed them of classes.

"We are tense about our career, and we fear that the academic session will get delayed," said Chhaya, a seventh semester student.

She pointed out that the practical examination of seventh semester students was to be held in the first week of June, but due to the students' agitation it was postponed to June 13. When students reached the college for the practical on June 13, agitating students didn't allow them to take the test.

Noted alumni of the premier college are also concerned about the state of affairs at their alma mater. Subodh Gupta, art college alumnus and artist of international fame, sent a text message to a supporter of the agitation on Tuesday. "Really sad to see all this, I am so disappointed, students must fight for their right," Gupta wrote.

Sanjay Kumar, another noted alumnus, said: "It is very shameful that students are agitating for such a long period and the university has no time to hear them out."

Asked what the varsity was doing about the issue, Patna University registrar Sanjay Kumar Sinha told The Telegraph: "Behind the students' agitation are some activists and members of some students organisations who don't want the college impasse to end soon."