The relay hunger strike by students and faculty members of National Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management turned into a tense stand-off on Thursday evening as a large police contingent was deployed on the site.
The students and faculty members made it clear that they will not call off the strike unless the Director, Chinnam Reddy, quits or is removed from the position.
The students began the relay hunger strike on Wednesday demanding removal of the director near the main gate of the institution at Gachibowli after the talks failed.
“We were given an assurance that the government would require two days to act on our demand. That’s why we began the strike on Wednesday,” said Viswanath Reddy, a fourth-year student of NITHM, which is affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University. Some of the fasting students fell ill and were moved to a hospital for emergency care.
“The faculty members are instigating the students as we are implementing rules to set standards for workload which is making many of them uncomfortable. Some of the students of the fourth year are worried that they would have shortage of attendance and would be penalised,” said Mr. Chinnam Reddy.
NITHM offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in hospitality and tourism sector and is a Schedule 10 institution under the A.P. Reorganisation Act-2014. Wading into the fray, Congress leaders alleged that Mr. Chinnam Reddy was appointed and is being shielded by the government as he is related to Seri Subhash Reddy.
“He has disturbed the academic schedule and we fully back the striking students. Their career is at stake,” said M. Krishank, a Congress leader.
