Sri Vijaya Puram, July 22: Security was tightened outside Lok Niwas, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor, on july 21 evening as the Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC) staged a protest in support of the ongoing student agitation in Delhi while reiterating its demand for a review of the Deemed University arrangement in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Police erected barricades at key entry points leading to Lok Niwas and deployed additional personnel to regulate movement and maintain law and order during the demonstration. Around 25 to 30 Congress workers participated in the dharna, which concluded peacefully under police supervision.
The protest was organised to express solidarity with students protesting in the national capital over education-related issues and to press for reconsideration of the Deemed University model introduced in the Islands.
Addressing the gathering, ANTCC president Rangalal Halder alleged that students’ concerns had remained unresolved despite more than seven weeks of protests.
“Our students do not want this arrangement. Their demands have remained unaddressed despite 51 days of continuous protest. I appeal to the administration to change its approach and relieve students of this hardship,” Halder said.
He said the Congress Party would continue its agitation until the students’ demands were addressed and claimed that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi had extended support to the movement.
The Congress also raised concerns over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including NEET and CBSE, contending that repeated controversies over paper leaks had shaken the confidence of students and parents. Party leaders demanded greater transparency and accountability in the conduct of public examinations.
During the demonstration, Congress leaders also criticised the handling of recent student protests in Delhi, alleging that police action had been used against demonstrators and describing it as indicative of a wider crisis confronting the country’s education system.
The Deemed University issue has emerged as one of the principal concerns of a section of students in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in recent weeks. Student groups have been opposing the transition from affiliation with Pondicherry University to the Deemed-to-be University arrangement, arguing that the move could adversely affect academic standards, degree recognition and future employment prospects. The administration has maintained that the transition is aimed at strengthening higher education in the Islands by providing greater academic autonomy and expanding educational opportunities.
Reiterating the party’s stand, Halder alleged that the transition had been implemented despite opposition from students and urged the administration to reconsider the arrangement through dialogue with stakeholders.
“The movement will continue until the students’ demands are fulfilled. We will organise further protests as required and continue to stand with the students,” he said.
Several Congress leaders and workers participated in the demonstration, reiterating the party’s support for the student movement and indicating that further protests would be organised if the issues remained unresolved.
The protest concluded peacefully, with police maintaining security around Lok Niwas until the demonstrators dispersed. No untoward incident was reported.
