Pondicherry university VC clicks pictures with students in ‘Modi once more’ T-shirts, draws ire
The Students Federation of India (SFI), leading the students' council in the campus, alleged that the Pondicherry Central University VC Gurmeet Singh was trying to saffaronise the campus.
In Short
- Students say the VC has violated code of conduct
- The picture was allegedly shared by many ABVP members on social media
- SFI says an attempt is being made to saffronise the campus
Pondicherry Central University Vice-Chancellor Gurmeet Singh has come under fire after he allegedly attended an event organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
The Students Federation of India (SFI), leading the students' council in the campus, alleged that the VC was trying to saffaronise the campus.
On February 27, the university along with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) organised a lecture programme in the campus. Dr. G Anirban Ganguly was invited to deliver a lecture on 'Government Policies, Transformation Initiative, their impact and Future Direction'.
Some of the students, citing Ganguly's RSS background, said that many students affiliated to the ABVP had also come for the lecture.
These students were dressed in T-shirts that read "Modi Once more".
Following the event, ABVP students invited Ganguly for a photograph with them. Vice Chancellor Singh, who was present at the function, also posed for the photograph.
ABVP's 'picture-perfect' claim
Later this photograph was allegedly shared on social media handles of ABVP students claiming that VC has extended his support to them and their campaign for PM Modi.
Following this various students organisations including the Students Federation of India (SFI), Ambedkar Students Association (ASA), Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) and various other students organisations registered their protest against the VC.
The SFI alleged that the vice chancellor and university administration has violated the code of conduct by attending an event organised a students organisation to start a social media campaign for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
SFI unit president Uvais CP told India Today TV that they strongly condemns VC's act.
"University administration does not support any kinds of political activities inside the campus. We the SFI are functioning within a limited space. However the administration always seems have special considerations to the ABVP. In fact, most of the senior officials are very close to the Sangh parivar," he said.
Students upset
It is not just the SFI that is upset with VC's action. Other students are also upset with the growing influence of right wing forces within the campus.
A student from the campus who did not want to be named said the VC is accountable for his action.
"Some months ago, we held a protest here against administration trying to saffronise the campus. In the meeting with students representatives, VC cleared his position that he will not allow any kind of politics inside the campus," the student said.
"Surprisingly, ABVP is the only party which gets permissions to do whatever they want in the name of cultural events inside the campus. But now VC just did the opposite of what he said to us. As a person holding a high position of this university, he is accountable to explain what he did," the student added.
Saffronisation is the need of the hour: ABVP
However, students affiliated to the ABVP have come out in defence of the vice chancellor.
A former secretary of the ABVP in Pondicherry university said that safforanisation the "need of the hour" as it will help improve the quality of institutions. The post also claimed that they would go to any extent to saffaronise the campus.
Pondicherry University Vice-chancellor Gurmeet Singh is yet to respond to the communication from India Today TV seeking his version of the incident.