Mangalore: Refusal to Organize Vivekananda Jayanti - Principal Denies Charges
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Feb 3: Principal of University College, Hampankatta here, has denied charges levelled against him by the students of the college, who had boycotted their classes on Thursday alleging that the principal had withdrawn the permission earlier granted by him to observe Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary at the college premises on February 6.
File photo of protest by students
In a clarification issued in this connection, the principal, Dr Laxminarayana Bhat stressed that he had not refused permission for holding the programme. He termed the statements made by the college students to the press in this connection as 'far from truth'.
"The college administration, teaching staff, and students have consensus in the matter of holding of Vivekananda Jayanthi. This celebration was held last year too. But the students’ union office bearers had placed an additional demand to hold ‘Jago Bharat’ programme along with the birth anniversary. This programme is not only expensive but also has the potential of disturbing harmony among the student community. Permission was denied for ‘Jago Bharat’ for the above reasons, although the students said they would meet the cost of the programme, and threatened to agitate if the administration fails to give permission for the same,” Bhat clarified.
He also dismissed the claim of the students' union that he had earlier given his nod to invite Chakravarthy Sulibele as the resource person for the programme, as false.
At the same time, a number of students who are against this agitation, claimed that a gang of students, under the banner of Akhil Bharat Vidyarthi Parishad, had entered their classes and forced students on Thursday to boycott their classes. They said that a petition signed by students who are opposed to the said protest, and are willing to attend classes, had been submitted to the principal of the college.
In the meanwhile, president of students' union Guruprasad said that the protest will continue till permission is granted for the programme. He was accompanied by secretary of the union Shravan Kumar, joint secretary Ashwini, fine arts club secretary Shivaprasad, and Harinakshi.
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad city unit secretary Chinmayi Rai said that ABVP has been supporting the agitation of the students, and will continue to extend support for the same till an amicable solution is found.