Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Dec 28: A circular issued by the Karnataka government on December 19, asking colleges in Dakshina Kannada to keep tab on students from Kerala has triggered a fresh controversy.

The circular was released hours before the anti-CAA protests turned violent in Mangaluru and is signed by the joint director, department of collegiate education, Dakshina Kannada at the behest of deputy commissioner.

The opposition launched an attack at the ruling BJP, calling the circular ‘discriminatory’.

Anti-CAA protests in Mangaluru (file photo)

Mangaluru, famed as Karnataka’s education hub has a large number of students from Kerala, pursuing their education here. It is estimated that among the one lac students pursuing education in Mangaluru, 20 per cent are from Kerala.

Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh said the joint director of the department of collegiate education made a mistake while drafting the circular. She defended that the circular intended to ‘stress on the safety of Kerala students’.

Deputy CM CN Ashwath Narayan, who holds the higher education portfolio, also defended the move stating that it was a ‘precautionary measure' and to issue the same was decided by the officials.

Meanwhile, MLC Ivan D’Souza called the circular shocking and shameful. “This is sheer discrimination. This is for the first time such a circular has been issued in the district. This indicates that BJP government is ‘directly involved’ in suppressing public voices,” he told media.

He also said that he will raise the issue in the next legislature session.

Meanwhile, educationists have raised apprehensions. “This could take a hit in the number of Kerala students opting to pursue education in Karnataka. The district is already being portrayed to be ‘communally sensitive’ and the circular which is targeted at Kerala students shows Mangaluru in bad light,” the educationist says.