Members of Central University of Bihar Struggling Committee (CUBSC) on Sunday convened a meeting at the proposed university site in Gaya and decided to stage a dharna in Patna on March 29 against the state’s move to set up the institute in Motihari.

Vijay Kumar Mithu, the convener of CUBSC, said: “We will stage a dharna at Kargil Chowk in the state capital on March 29. We had planned a bandh in Gaya on March 28 to step up our movement, but postponed it to April 4 in view of the Chaiti Chhath. We will continue with the struggle for CUB in Gaya.”

On Saturday, CUBSC members burnt effigies of the ruling JD(U) and BJP MLAs, including Assembly Speaker Uday Narain Chaudhary. Most legislators in Gaya believe that a central university would anyhow contribute to Bihar’s growth and it hardly matters where it is being set up. Gurua BJP MLA Surendra Kumar Sinha said on Sunday: “Bihar is growing and it does not matter where the central university comes up. The Centre is trying to create a rift between the ruling party and the Opposition by creating confusion over where the CUB will come up. However, anything that is democratically passed will be acceptable by us.”

On the other hand, a meeting of Central University Construction Struggling Committee (CUBCSC), another panel formed to spearhead the agitation in support of CUB in Gaya, was held on Saturday. The meeting was presided over by Sanjay Sahay, the convener of the panel and also a scriptwriter.

At the meeting, it was decided to invite people from a cross section of society, including present and former MPs, MLAs, students, youth organisations, voluntary organisations, Central Bihar Chamber of Commerce, medical associations, Bar associations and farmers to decide the future course of action.