Rajasthan: NSUI leaders to meet Deputy CM as student union stir intensifies

Three student leaders who climbed a water tank in Jaipur to protest for the restoration of student union elections in Rajasthan are set to meet Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister Premchand Bairwa on Saturday, even as the agitation across the State gains momentum.

The protesters, affiliated with the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), had climbed the tank near Tonk Phatak in the Gandhi Nagar railway station area on Thursday. They came down late Friday night after nearly 40 hours, following assurances from a government delegation.

Student leaders Vijaypal Kudi and Viona Jat said the government has been given a seven-day ultimatum to decide on their demands, which include holding student union elections in universities and colleges. “If our demands are not met within the stipulated time, a bigger agitation will be launched,” they said.

The leaders also demanded that no cases be registered against protesting students and sought a public apology from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged lathi-charge on youths at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. They said the government has assured them of facilitating a meeting with Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Deputy CM Bairwa to discuss the issue.

On Friday, a large number of students and NSUI workers blocked Tonk Road, causing traffic disruption for about an hour. Police later cleared the road and detained 11 protesters for breach of peace. Senior Congress leaders, including Tikaram Jully and MLA Rafiq Khan, also reached the protest site and urged the students to end their agitation, assuring them that their demands would be raised at an appropriate forum.

Separately, student leader Shubham Rewar has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past 10 days over the demand for restoration of student union elections. He has been admitted to Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, where his condition reportedly deteriorated on Saturday. A team of doctors is monitoring his health as concerns grow among supporters amid ongoing agitation across the State.

The protest comes amid a broader debate on student representation in higher education institutions. Student union elections have been suspended in Rajasthan for several years, with successive governments citing administrative and law-and-order concerns. Activists argue that such elections are essential for nurturing democratic values and addressing student issues.

The meeting between NSUI leaders and Deputy CM Bairwa is being seen as a potential first step towards a resolution. However, the student leaders have made it clear that they will not relent until their demands are fully met. The government, for its part, has maintained that it is open to dialogue while emphasising the need to maintain public order.

As the agitation continues, all eyes are on Saturday's meeting and the government's response to the seven-day ultimatum. The outcome could determine whether the protest escalates or finds a negotiated settlement.