Members of JD(U) students’ wing observe a hunger strike in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Education minister P.K. Shahi’s wish to set up a new varsity bifurcating Magadh University would take time.

Shahi said: “The idea of creating a separate university splitting the Magadh University (MU) is still there. But it will take time because the education department is working on the mechanism of bifurcating MU.”

The minister had last year announced the bifurcation of MU while attending a function at AN College. He had said a separate university would be set up for all the Patna-based colleges affiliated to MU. A year on, hardly anything has moved in that direction.

Students of the city-based MU colleges have to travel all the way to Bodhgaya, the varsity headquarters, for collecting their certificates and other documents. Its bifurcation would ease their hardships.

Around 11 colleges, both government and private, of Patna are affiliated to MU.

The JD(U)’s students’ wing, Chhatra Samagam, is not pleased with the delay in the bifurcation of the university. But its present focus is on regular functioning of the MU’s extension centre at Rajendra Nagar. Its members on Tuesday started a hunger strike in front of the centre, demanding the presence of the vice-chancellor (VC), pro-VCs, registrar and examination controller there thrice a week.

Ranjan Kumar, the president of Chhatra Samagam, said: “Our main demands include regular functioning of the MU’s extension centre so that students do not face problems in getting their certificates and other documents.”

He said: “Setting up a separate university bifurcating MU is also one of our demands. Chhatra Samagam has requested chief minister Nitish Kumar to take up the cause. But at present, our priority is regular functioning of the MU extension centre.”

Several students of MU are in favour of bifurcation of the university. Rohit Raj, an economics student at AN College, said: “If the government has announced to set up a separate university for the colleges of MU in Patna, it should fulfil its promise for the betterment of students.”

MU is the largest university in the state. More than 44 colleges are affiliated to it. It caters to a huge geographical area spread over Patna, Gaya, Jehanabad, Nawada, Nalanda and Aurangabad districts.