Campus Times | Lucknow

Lucknow University remains tense as expelled students continue their indefinite sit-in protest against the alleged fee hike and disciplinary expulsions. The ongoing agitation, centered at Gate No. 1 of the university, has drawn increasing attention with the participation of political leaders and former student representatives.

Students including Prem Prakash Yadav, Ashish Shukla, and Prince Prakash have been leading the demonstration. They are demanding the withdrawal of the revised fee structure and the reinstatement of expelled students, along with permission to appear in upcoming examinations.

The protest gained further momentum when several political and student leaders joined the sit-in in solidarity at the protest site, including former Minister and ex-MLC Rajpal Kashyap, former Uttar Pradesh president of the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha Digvijay Singh Dev, Samajwadi Party state secretary and former minister C.L. Yadav, National Secretary of Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha Atul Shukla, and National Vice President Mahendra Kumar Yadav.

Speaking at the site, Kashyap alleged that students were initially raising their concerns over increased fees through democratic means but were subsequently expelled, calling it an attempt to suppress their voices. He stated that such actions violate students’ rights and freedom of expression. He further urged the university administration to immediately roll back the fee hike and revoke the expulsions of the student leaders. Digvijay Singh Dev strongly criticized the government and university administration, alleging that education is being made increasingly expensive in a planned manner to push students from poor, farmer, laborer, backward, Dalit, and marginalized communities away from higher education.

C.L. Yadav also extended support to the protest, emphasizing the need for accessible education and urging authorities to reconsider the fee structure in the interest of students. Atul Shukla stated that the government has failed to provide employment opportunities to youth and is now taking away educational opportunities as well. Mahendra Kumar Yadav added that every attempt to silence students and intimidate them will be met with democratic resistance, asserting that education should not be commodified and students rights must be protected at all costs.