Gadchiroli Aug. 19 (District Correspondent) The various social and political organizations in the district staged intensive demonstrations in front of the Gondwana University here this afternoon and registered their protest against the opening of Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Integral Humanism Study Chair in the University.
A large number of workers assembled at the Complex T Point Square and marched towards the University in MIDC area shouting slogans against the Vice Chancellor and the university administration. The march was stopped by the police near the main gate of the University. The slogan shouting continued for about one hour that was followed by a short meeting which was addressed by the leaders of the organizations.
The leaders strongly condemned the university decision to start a study chair in the name of Deendayal Upadhyay ignoring the feelings of the people of the district. The university is deliberately trying to force the particular ideology upon the students and citizens of the district, they alleged and demanded early cancellation of the said study chair.
The leaders also alleged that the vice chancellor Dr. Prashant Bokare has always been working for the propagation of RSS ideology in the university by one way or the other and polluting the academic atmosphere of the university. The VC should therefore be ousted immediately, they demanded warning intensive agitation in the coming days if their demands are not fulfilled.
Prominently present in the agitation were Vinod Madavi and Kunal Kowe of the Adiwasi Yuwa Parishad, Prashant Madavi of Gondwana Gantantra Party, Sandeep Warkhede, senior tribal leader, Ms. Jayshree Yerme, Malta Pudo of National Adiwasi Mahila Federation, Sainath Pungati, Sachin Bhalawi of Gondwana Gotul Samiti, Sudha Chaudhari of Mali Samaj Sangathana, Hansraj Undirwade, Pradeep Bhaisare, Pralhad Raipure of Republican Party, Raj Bansod, Milind Bambode, Pratik Dange of BRSP, Ranjeeta Pendam and many other workers of the different social and political organizations. A huge police staff was deployed around the university premises to maintain the law and order situation.
Later on these leaders addressed a press conference and said that the Study Chair is totally unacceptable to them as it is an encroachment on the tribal culture. The university has enforced this chair on the people of Gadchiroli which will not be tolerated. The secular and progressive minded people will continue to oppose this chair until it is cancelled, they declared.
Meanwhile, the university administration completed the formality of the inauguration of the Study Chair under tight security in presence of the selective people. The citizens without invitation cards were not allowed inside the university gates in view of agitation.
