Mangalore: Varsity MCJ Students’ Agitation Gain Strength with Support from All Students’ Union
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (RS/SB)
Mangalore, Jan 20: The Mangalore University Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) students’ continuing protest against lecturer M P Umeshchandra gained strength with students from other departments joining hands on Wednesday January 20.
As the students of MCJ continued their protest against their lecturer M P Umeshandra at the main entrance of the varsity, meanwhile on Wednesday the students from other departments of the varsity extended their support to the protest by staging a dharna in front of the administrative block of the varsity. The students holding dharna demanded justice to MCJ students and vowed to carry on the support until the demand is met.
Following the all students’ protest, in-charge vice chancellor of the varsity K K Achar called for a meeting of all the student leaders and requested the students to wait until the syndicate meeting scheduled for Saturday January 23.
Speaking to press persons, K K Achar said that the student leaders have been requested to suspend the agitation till the syndicate members of the university take a decision on the MCJ lecturer at the meeting on January 23. The MCJ students too have been requested to put off their planned indefinite fast, he said adding that without the syndicate’s decision we cannot arrive at any conclusion. The student leaders too have been conveyed of the fact, he added.
On request by the vice-chancellor and the decision of the student leaders, the student protestors from the other departments suspended their agitation until the results of the meeting to be held on January 23. The MCJ students decided to continue the protest until the lecturer’s removal and informed media that the decision to go on indefinite fast has been postponed until the decision of the meeting arrives. They added that the indefinite fast will be taken up on Monday January 25 if the decision of the meeting is against the interest of the students.
According to a girl student, the current situation is the result of negligence of the varsity administration towards the complaints by the students for past several months. The in-charge VCs statement that the lecturer concerned is not available for discussion as he is on leave is confusing for he is available to media, she added hinting at the whole affair being fishy.
Kishore, MA student said that former VC’s silence in this regard has led the situation to the proportion it stands today. We are positive that syndicate’s decision will be in students’ favour, if not the protest will last until the lecturer’s removal. We have decided that we are not in favour of him teaching us again, added Santhosh, another student.
The MCJ students began protesting against the lecturer on Monday January 18 demanding his removal alleging that he harassed students in the name of religion and caste as well as snarled derogatory remarks against upper class. The total strength of MCJ students is 42 out of which four have decided to remain neutral.