Patna: The newly elected representatives of Patna University’s student union were sworn in on Tuesday — but the ceremony was marked by a dramatic protest, as General Secretary-elect Saloni Raj refused to take the oath, citing the ongoing closure of university hostels.
Standing on stage at the swearing-in event, Saloni declared she would not assume office until the hostels, shut for nearly a year, were reopened. “I have come here to be the voice of the students, not to polish the chair,” she said. “If I take the oath today, it would be an injustice to my brothers. I stand with them.”
Saloni’s protest drew support from students in the hall, many of whom voiced their backing vocally. Meanwhile, other elected office bearers — including President Maithily Mrinalini, Vice President Dheeraj Kumar, Treasurer Saumya Srivastava, and Joint Secretary Rohan Kumar — proceeded with the oath-taking.
Saloni, who contested as an independent candidate, secured 4,274 votes, winning by a margin of 2,375 votes. During her campaign, she had emerged as a prominent voice on student issues. In one incident, following an alleged attack on her friends, she had defiantly challenged authorities in a video that was widely circulated on social media.
Hostels across Patna University have remained closed since May last year, after the university administration ordered their evacuation in the wake of the murder of Harsh Raj, a student of BN College. The decision, issued via notification by the Registrar, cited safety concerns and followed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) raid on five university hostels. Despite extensive searches and ID checks, no arrests were made.
“The university did not nominate me. I was elected by the students,” Raj said. “I went door-to-door asking for votes, not to the Vice Chancellor for a favour. This is my brothers’ fight and I am with them. We will continue to protest until the hostels are reopened.”
The administration has not commented on the protest or the current status of hostel accommodations.
