Itanagar: The fight for a regular director in the North East Regional Institute of Science and Technology (Nerist) here escalated on Thursday and Friday, when eight students of the institute initiated an indefinite hunger strike to protest against the Centre's "negligent attitude".
The students' union of Nerist, under the aegis of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU), had launched the agitation on Tuesday, demanding immediate appointment of a regular director for the 34-year-old science and technology institute.
Nerist has been functioning without a regular director for the past four years.
The students on Friday also burnt the effigy of Union human resource development minister Prakash Javadekar and minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju in front of the university gate to register their protest.
The agitating students are Ige Riram, Karli Lollen, Dikkar Taji, Taw Hari Tara, John Tamin, Rakesh Roy, Rupam Khargharia and Kipa Tacha. The students also claimed that more would join if the HRD ministry fails to appoint a full-time director at the institute.
Taking note of the agitation, state BJP president Tapir Gao on Friday said his party would join the democratic movement if the institute does not get a head within a week.
"We have come here to express solidarity with you and your just demand," Gao told the students, adding that he had spoken to Javadekar and chief minister Pema Khandu before reaching the campus.
"Javadekar ji said Nerist will have a permanent director within a week," Gao said.
State BJP general secretary Jarpum Gamlin and state secretary Doni Nich also reassured the students. The students have, however, decided to carry on with the agitation.
Also extending their full support, AAPSU president Hawa Bagang appealed to the ministry to end the crisis in the greater interest of the students.
Banta Natung, the president of the Nerist students' union, said the institute has suffered because of the lack of a permanent director.
"Our institution's ranking has slipped from among the top 20 to below 100 in the country," he said.
Rijiju, while interacting with reporters here on Thursday evening, expressed concern over the students' protest.
"During my last visit to Nerist, the ministry had informed me that the new director could be appointed by December 2017. On that basis I had assured the students," Rijiju said.
"The matter got stuck in the search-cum-selection committee for various reasons, including the cumbersome process according to the laid down rules and regulations," he said, and added that nothing could justify the delay of many months.
"I sincerely apologise to the Nerist fraternity on behalf of the ministry," Rijiju said.
