Student Power Ignites: SFI Demands Democratic Elections at HPU

Shimla witnessed a surge of student activism as members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) launched a fervent protest, demanding the immediate restoration of student body elections at Himachal Pradesh University (HPU). The demonstration culminated in a resolute gherao of MLA Harish Janartha's official residence in Shimla, marking a significant escalation in their long-standing fight for student democracy.

The day began with hundreds of SFI activists gathering at the HPU campus.

Their voices, filled with passion and determination, echoed through the university grounds as they initiated a powerful rally towards the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. Carrying banners and chanting slogans, the students articulated their core demand: the right to elect their representatives, a right they claim has been unjustly denied for nearly a decade.

Upon reaching the vicinity of the Vidhan Sabha, the protestors were met with a formidable police presence.

Despite barricades and heavy deployment, the students pushed forward, eventually converging on the residential area where MLA Harish Janartha resides. The SFI's objective was clear: to directly confront a representative of the government and hand over a memorandum detailing their demands.

However, the gherao quickly escalated into a tense standoff.

Security forces, equipped with water cannons, attempted to disperse the determined crowd. In the ensuing commotion, several SFI members, including key leaders, sustained injuries. The Superintendent of Police (SP) Shimla, Sanjeev Gandhi, confirmed the police action, stating that protestors were detained for attempting to break through security cordons and disrupt public order.

SFI leaders vehemently condemned the police's use of force.

They accused the state government of employing repressive tactics to suppress the legitimate voices of students. Their core argument centers on the importance of student elections as a vital mechanism for democratic participation and addressing student grievances. They highlighted that the ban on student union elections, imposed since 2014 following instances of campus violence, has effectively silenced student representation across Himachal Pradesh.

Speaking on behalf of the SFI, state president Anil Thakur and secretary Ritesh Chauhan issued a strong ultimatum.

They declared that if the state government fails to announce the restoration of student union elections by October 25, the SFI will intensify its agitation across the entire state. Their message was unambiguous: the fight for democratic rights within the university system will not be quelled by police action or government inaction.

The incident underscores a critical debate about student democracy in Himachal Pradesh.

While the government cites past violence as a reason for the ban, student organizations like SFI argue that denying elections stifles healthy debate and prevents students from having a meaningful say in their educational environment. As the October 25 deadline approaches, all eyes will be on the state government's response to these impassioned calls for the return of student power.