Stany Bela

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Oct 14: Following a protest staged by a small group of students at St Agnes College regarding the examination schedule, local MLA Vedavyas Kamath has faced widespread public criticism over what citizens and community leaders describe as immature interference and an irresponsible handling of the situation.

The controversy began when a handful of students demanded that examinations scheduled during the Dasara period be deferred. Clarifying its stance, the college administration explained that the timetable strictly adhered to the approved academic calendar, with no exams falling on gazetted public holidays. The draft schedule had been circulated on September 11, providing students a 15-day window to raise objections. Since no formal grievances were submitted, the final schedule was released on September 26. Nevertheless, to address student concerns and preserve a peaceful, harmonious academic atmosphere, the management voluntarily rescheduled the papers originally set for October 19 and 22.

Despite other colleges within his constituency conducting exams during the same period, MLA Kamath intervened selectively, directing blame squarely at the St Agnes management for holding exams during the festival. Critics noted that rather than resolving the matter calmly, his rhetoric risked giving the administrative issue a communal overtone—a tone that persisted during his subsequent press briefing.

The MLA’s actions have drawn sharp reactions across civil society.

"The MLA has demonstrated sheer irresponsibility in the St Agnes protest. Rather than resolving petty disputes, he seems eager to add fuel to the fire to score political mileage through polarising rhetoric. We witnessed a similar pattern during the St Gerosa incident. He must rise above this mindset and treat all sections of society equitably," said Neeraj, a local businessman.

Echoing similar concerns, Ganesh Shenoy, an IT professional, questioned the legislator’s focus on governance and said, "If you look at Mangaluru South’s development over his tenure, the track record is thoroughly disappointing. He appears preoccupied with divisive politics while the city’s core civic infrastructure suffers. Citizens are struggling daily with traffic bottlenecks, poor roads, street lighting, and erratic water supply. Not a single landmark project has materialized under his leadership."

Educationist Dr Suchitra Nayak also called out what she described as selective outrage. She said, “A public representative should represent every citizen, not just a single section. Instead of counseling the students constructively, he encouraged demonstrations at the institution’s gates over a settled issue. Ironically, other colleges where he holds official affiliations are conducting examinations without interference. Why this glaring double standard?"

Several parents and local residents have voiced similar dismay, alleging a recurring pattern where minority-run educational institutions are disproportionately singled out. Citizens have urged the elected representative to abandon divisive tactics and instead direct his energy toward urgent civic issues and the holistic development of Mangaluru.