KU teachers frown at political meet on campus
Faculty members of Kurukshetra University (KU) have lamented the university administration’s decision to allow political rallies on campus premises.
Faculty members of Kurukshetra University (KU) have lamented the university administration’s decision to allow political rallies on campus premises.
On Wednesday, parliamentarians Naveen Jindal (Kurukshetra) and Deepender Singh Hooda (Rohtak) participated at a state-level convention of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), students’ wing of the Congress party.
The function was held near the lawns of the education department on the university campus. Several local Congress leaders were present on the occasion.
A section of teachers said that it was an attempt to politicise the campus as the assembly and parliamentary elections were nearing.
Addressing the gathering comprising veteran politicians and a few youths, both Hooda and Jindal supported the reintroduction of the student body elections in Haryana.
Following widespread incidents of violence, including murders, on various university campuses during the elections days, the then Bansi Lal government had banned the student body polls in 1996.
The two parliamentarians insisted that they supported the strict directions of the Lyngdoh Committee and peace must prevail on the campuses of the educational institutes.
However, the teachers and students said that organising such functions was highly undesirable on the campus.
A senior faculty member alleged that the KU administration worked under pressure of the Congress government.
The teacher, who wished not to be identified, questioned that when student elections were banned in the state then how KU could allow politicians hold a public show.
“In August 2010, KU had set a bad precedent when it allowed an NSUI convention that was addressed by Rahul Gandhi. Later, Indian National Lok Dal leader Ajay Chautala had forcibly convened a rally on the campus. It should be stopped to maintain discipline,” said another teacher on the condition of anonymity.
A woman research scholar said that it was harrowing time for girl students as there was no check on the movement of outsiders inside the campus.
“When the university is not a thoroughfare then what can be the justification for allowing politicians to address rallies on campus? Several unwanted people were seen around the campus and such practice should not be allowed,” said another woman student.
However, a delegation of KU Teachers’ Association (KUTA) welcomed the leaders at their office on Wednesday evening and handed over a memorandum to them demanding grant of five advance increments to assistant professors having PhD degrees without NET at the entry level besides other issues.
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