Students up against Omar on University issue

By Devender Padha

JAMMU, July 25: With the State Government yet to finalize the location of Central University, the scholars and students of the region, under different banners, today continued to hold protest demonstrations in support of the establishment of the Varsity here, in Jammu.

The activists of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) this morning assembled at MAM College and held a demonstration. They were joined by large number of college students, who voluntarily boycotted their classes on the call of ABVP leaders.

The students were addressed by Rajvir Manhas (ABVP, JU president), Yaseer Farooq Khan, Naseeb Ali, Gurdev Singh, Sukhwinder Singh and Zahir Khan.

Later, on the receipt of information about the presence of Minister for Higher Education Abdul Gani Malik at Govt College for Women (GCW) Gandhi Nagar, the ABVP activists led by Suresh Ajay Magotra, State Secretary, moved there and entered the college premises after jumping the boundary walls, as police deployed at the gate didn’t allow them to enter.

Thereafter, the Minister, who was chairing a meeting of college Principals, came out and listened to the students. They asked the minister to clear the mist over the location of Central University and also made it clear that if two Central Universities are opened in the State, then the equal number of IIMs must also be established.

Meanwhile, the ABVP activists torched the effigy of Chief Minister at GDC (Boys) Udhampur in protest against his Kashmir centric attitude. The students of the college also boycotted the classes. Similar, protest was also held in Akhnoor town.

Jammu Justice Movement (JJM) also lead protest demonstrations at several places, including SPMR Commerce College and GCW Gandhi Nagar. At SPMR Commerce College, the students led by JJM leaders torched the effigy of Chief Minister to register their protest.

The students of GCW Gandhi Nagar also boycotted their classes voluntarily and raised slogans against the State Government. The gathering was addressed by Sunil Sharma. Later, in the evening, Pushvinder Singh, Ranjeet Sharma, Sunil Sharma and Vikrant Singh attended a meeting organized by the district administration and expressed their demands related to Central University.

The JJM activists also held a demonstration at Vijaypur in Samba district. They blocked the National Highway (NH) and also burnt the effigy of Chief Minister.

The BJP leader and MLA Jammu West, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta has also criticized the Chief Minister for giving irresponsible statement over the issue of Central University. He termed his statement as an attempt to confuse the galleries in a bid to show that his Govt wants justice for all.

He suggested him to allow the sanctioned Central University to be opened as per the earlier decision and let try to have another one which could be opened at Srinagar. And, also asked to approach the Centre for another IIM for Jammu as well.

The former MLA Sat Pal Lakhotra has welcomed the statement of Chief Minister that his Govt has asked the Centre to sanction two Central Universities in the state but, advised him to establish the first one at Jammu and till then keep the administrative work at abeyance. He was chairing a meeting of Jammu and Kashmir Batwal Community Welfare Association.

Meanwhile, Kranti Dal also held a meeting over the issue and unanimously resolved to stand in favour of establishment of Varsity at Samba. They also welcomed the stand of PDP on the issue.

The State unit of Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP) has also flayed the Chief Minister for adopting discriminatory attitude towards the Jammu region and warned the State Government not to push the people of Jammu for another agitation.

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