Phase-Wise Agitation Begins
Jamalpur, Munger: The demand for the construction of Munger University’s administrative building and campus in Jamalpur has gained momentum, with local residents staging a one-day fast in protest on Sunday. The demonstration took place near the Jubilee Well in front of the electricity office. The event was organized by the Munger University Jamalpur Nirman Sangharsh Samiti, with the participation of several social, political, and student organizations.
The program was presided over by Prof. Shyam Dev Bhagat and coordinated by the committee’s convener, Sai Shankar. During the protest, participants voiced their demand in unison, emphasizing that Jamalpur offers ample land, historical significance, strong connectivity, industrial identity, and a secure environment—making it an ideal location for the university campus.
Landowners Ready to Offer Hundreds of Acres
During the protest, Vasudev Puri, President of the Jamalpur Chamber of Commerce, and member Sanjeev Kumar alias Bablu stated that 30-40 acres of land is insufficient for a university campus. They highlighted the need for several hundred acres to establish a full-fledged campus. The local landowners (raiyats) in Kesopur, Faridpur, and Indrukh have expressed willingness to sell their land at the government’s circle rate for the campus construction.
Reference to Major Universities
Speakers cited examples of major universities to justify their demand. Milred Sydney Kamal Lal, President of Lions Club Jamalpur, and Shivlal Rajak, convenor of the Indian Red Cross Society Jamalpur, pointed out that large universities require extensive land areas. They noted that Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is spread over 1,300 acres, while Govind Ballabh Pant University spans a massive 11,000 acres. They urged the government to consider Jamalpur’s strategic advantages and allocate substantial land for the campus.
Political and Social Support for the Movement
The agitation also garnered support from political figures. Rajesh Raman alias Raju Yadav, Kanhaiya Singh, Saurabh Kumar, and Murari Prasad pledged their full support, stating they were ready to fight for the campus construction at any level.
Agitation Marked by Cultural Unity
The one-day fast coincided with the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the beginning of Chaitra Navratri, symbolizing communal harmony. Organizers declared this demonstration as the first phase of their agitation, vowing to continue the struggle until their demands are met.
Massive Public Participation
The event witnessed the presence of:
Ravindra Kumar Ravi, Nageshwar Yadav, Arjun Bihari, Bam Bam Yadav, Brahmadev Chaurasia, Vinod Mandal, Master Pranav Mishra, Prem Kumar, Mohammad Rais, Vinay Yadav, Chandan Kumar, Valmiki Sharma, Prahlad Kumar, Alok Kumar, Sanjay Raut, Siddheshwar Nath Vishwakarma, Bindeshwari Das, Gorelal, Animesh Chaurasia, Ashish Shah, Rupesh Kumar, Neeraj Kumar Paswan, Vimal Shankar Vishwakarma, Sushil Jalan, Ritesh Garg, Mantu Mandal, and Shivam Maskara, along with hundreds of other people.
Report – Nihal Dev Dutta