Shillong: North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Vice-Chancellor A.N. Rai on Monday said he will not bow down to the pressure of the agitating students, who are demanding his removal.

"Stepping down is not an option. I am here as the vice chancellor on the appointment of the President of India and I am honoring it. If the students are against me, they should approach concerned authorities," Rai told the sources. "I am ready to sort any grievances relating to the university," he added.

However, the North Eastern Hill University Students' Union (NEHUSU) and Meghalaya Tribal Students' Coordination Committee (MTSCC) vowed to intensify their stir.

The unions accuse Rai of favoring non-locals in the hiring of lecturers in Mizoram University during his tenure as vice-chancellor.

The students had earlier rejected NEHU's rector and Meghalaya Governor R.S Mooshahary's invitation for talks.

"We will not accept Rai as our vice chancellor for his tainted credentials in Mizoram University and we announce our non-cooperation movement against him beginning tomorrow," Kynpham Kharlyngdoh, chairman of the Coordination Committee, told IANS Monday.

The Mizoram University had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the MSU on September 15, 2009, which specified that six qualified local candidates would be called for interview for recruitment to various posts. However, Rai appointed non-local as lecturers, thus violating the MoU.

The unions also accuse Rai of misinterpreting University Grant Commission's eligibility criteria for the appointment of lecturers.

Earlier, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal had asked Mooshahary to send a central team to Meghalaya to sort out the stand-off between the students and NEHU. The Governor had also apprised President Pratibha Patil about the issue.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma demanded a central team visit the state to sort out the imbroglio.

Earlier, two powerful organizations in Meghalaya - Khasi Students' Union (KSU) and Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) - demanded that a tribal candidate be appointed as the vice chancellor.

Rai was appointed as the vice chancellor of NEHU after Pramod Tandon completed his tenure September 12 this year. IANS