Kathmandu, August 24 :

University teachers today demanded the resignation of Education Minister Professor Dr Mangal Siddhi Manandhar, accusing him of not performing his duty properly. They also announced to resume their 24-hour relay hunger strike to meet their three-point demand.

The varsity teachers had called off their strike after the Education Ministry tabled their demands at the House of Representatives on July 27 following assurance from the government. Speaking at an interaction here today, Professor Dr Hari Prasad Gautam, chairman of the Mahendra Sanskrit University Teachers’ Union, said the minister has to quit for protecting those who had helped suppress the people’s movement. “The minister has not lived up to his word made on July 27, hence he has to quit,” said Professor Gautam.

The university teachers started their protests on July 24 demanding that the government sack the officials appointed during the royal regime. Their other demands include changing the name of the university into ‘Nepal Sanskrit University’ and making Prime Minister the chancellor of the Tribhuvan University.

Educationist Tirtha Khaniya said: “The government is not serious about solving educational problems as it has not taken steps to amend Education Act regarding the appointment of Prime Minister as chancellor and fill the vacancies in the universities,” said Khaniya. TU officials tendered their resignations on May 29 and since then all the administrative activities of the university have remained halted. Purbanchal and Pokhara universities are also facing the same situation.

The teachers had withdrawn their relay hunger strike after Education Minister Prof Manandhar, NC leader Ananda Prasad Dhungana, CPN-UML leader Mahendra Pandey and NC (D) leader Tek Bahadur Chokyal offered them juice.