Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has come to the aid of the students at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) in Hisar, who are protesting against revised scholarship policies and the reduction of reserved seats for Land Donor Village (LDV) candidates. The students’ demonstration, which started on June 10, grew more intense after news of a police baton charge that injured many of them. In a video chat with the students, Kharge encouraged them to maintain their protest peacefully and guaranteed them that their issues would be addressed in the next Monsoon Session of Parliament. 

During the video conference, Kharge asked the students for a comprehensive explanation of the updated scholarship criteria, which allegedly caused many qualified students to lose their financial aid or have their scholarship amounts cut in half. The students stated that hundreds of students were impacted by the previously eligibility criteria being altered haphazardly. He was also told that their peaceful sit-in had been violently broken up by security forces, who were said to be acting under administrative orders, leaving several students hurt. Kharge, who questioned the Vice Chancellor’s role and asked who had authorized the lathi-charge on protesting students, expressed disappointment at the use of force. 

Kharge told the students that the Congress party was steadfastly behind their demands, reiterating their political support. He requested that they compile a complete report on all the modifications to scholarship rules and submit it to him, promising to present it in Parliament. He also urged them to trip Delhi to speak about the matter in person so that their opinions may be included in national policy debates. 

The students’ demonstration broke out when the university administration implemented changes to the eligibility requirements that significantly reduced scholarships. Students from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds were also incensed by the decrease in reserved LDV seats. The demonstrators claim that these changes have jeopardized fair access to education, particularly for those who depend on financial aid to pursue higher education. 

Students congregated in front of the Vice Chancellor’s office on June 10 as the protest grew stronger. The situation worsened when protesters were reportedly dispersed with batons by security forces. Almost twenty students were hurt, and Dipanshu, one of them, submitted a formal police complaint against several university officials, such as the chief security officer and registrar. The administration, however, rejected any misconduct and stated that students had attempted to forcibly gain access to the Vice Chancellor’s office and had attacked security personnel. 

The university administration stated in an unacknowledged news release on June 16 that it had fulfilled all student demands and that examinations would recommence on June 17. It also cautioned that disciplinary measures would be taken against anyone who tried to interfere with academic activities. The pupils rejected the assertion, labeling it unauthentic and anonymous. They reiterated that their protest would persist until their demands were formally recognized and met, and they charged the university with making threats rather than taking real steps to settle the issue. 

The scenario elicited intense political responses. Arjun Singh Rana, a former HAU professor, called for a CBI investigation into the use of force against students and the Vice Chancellor’s prompt resignation. He pointed out systemic flaws in the university’s governance and mentioned cases of administrative corruption and capricious tenure extensions as examples of the worsening scholarly atmosphere. 

On June 15, Randeep Singh Surjewala, the Congress general secretary and former member of the HAU Senate, went to see the hurt students in Hisar. He denounced the reductions in scholarships and the use of police force, and he charged the central and state governments with methodically undermining public universities. Budget cuts of more than ₹5,000 crore to the University Grants Commission and over ₹1,000 crore to state universities have left universities like HAU desperate for money and using self-financing methods, which have a disproportionate impact on students from disadvantaged backgrounds, according to Surjewala. 

He also reiterated that Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge are closely keeping an eye on the situation and will keep interacting with the students. Surjewala condemned the BJP-led administration for its indifference to student issues and for advancing policies that erode education. 

The students are now looking forward to official communication and tangible actions following Kharge’s promise that the matter will be discussed in Parliament. The protesting students continue to be unconvinced, insisting on accountability for the violence against them as well as a reversal of scholarship policies, even though the university maintains that the issue has been resolved. 

The issue at HAU has now transformed into a political flashpoint, with the future of hundreds of students at stake and national leaders intervening. The upcoming days are predicted to be important as the students get ready to extend their battle beyond the campus and into the public eye.