College students, political leaders, and local residents participated in a candle march from Flag Point to Tiranga Park on February 25, protesting the proposed establishment of a deemed university in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The demonstration was organised by the Joint Action Forum, aimed at voicing concerns over the impact of the proposed university on island colleges and students.
Participants, including students from Sri Vijaya Puram, marched peacefully, holding candles to signify solidarity with the cause. Leaders from various political parties and organisations addressed the gathering, calling for reconsideration of the decision and advocating for greater attention to the educational and administrative needs of the islands.
Rakesh Pal Govind, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, openly criticised the party leadership and announced his intention to resign from the organisation within two days. He stated that his faith and engagement with the party had gradually declined over the years. During his speech, Govind expressed strong disappointment, saying he could no longer feel proud of remaining associated with the party under the current circumstances.
Govind further accused the current Member of Parliament of neglecting the welfare and educational interests of Andaman residents. He urged authorities to engage more actively with local stakeholders before implementing policies that directly affect island students and institutions.
Siddhant Rai Sharma, a former member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and youth leader, commented on the issue, stating that bureaucracy limits the power of elected representatives and that MPs have little influence on policy-making despite being the voice of their constituents.
The protest forms part of a movement led by the Joint Action Forum, which has repeatedly raised objections to the proposed deemed university, citing concerns over administrative control, quality of education, and local participation in policy decisions. Organisers emphasised that the candle march was intended to be peaceful and symbolic, highlighting public dissent while maintaining order and safety.
Speakers at the event highlighted the importance of student engagement and community participation in decisions affecting higher education in remote regions. The forum reiterated calls for consultation with local educational institutions and stressed the need for transparent processes to ensure that island students’ interests are not overlooked in the planning and implementation of national education policies.
The march remained peaceful throughout, concluding at Tiranga Park, where participants collectively reaffirmed their opposition to the deemed university proposal and demanded dialogue with government officials to address their concerns.
The candle march represents an ongoing effort by island students, educational stakeholders, and political leaders to influence policy decisions and ensure that higher education initiatives in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands align with local needs and aspirations.
The march concluded at Tiranga Park, where participants collectively reaffirmed their opposition to the proposed deemed university. The effort reflects an ongoing campaign by island students, educational stakeholders, and political leaders to ensure that the existing central university affiliation of island colleges is preserved, preventing the conversion to a deemed university and safeguarding local academic autonomy.
