‘Pen down’ in IT-BHU against quota move
STUDENTS OF Institute of Technology in Banaras Hindu University on Wednesday went on a three-day ‘Pen Down Movement’ to protest the Union Government’s proposal to enhance reservation in Central-Government funded institutes.
Wearing black ribbons on their arms, a large number of students gathered at the Director’s Office and declared a boycott of all classes, labs and examinations from today to Friday, with an aim to spread this movement nationwide and creating mass public opinion against the law. The students of this premier institute are of the view that this reservation policy would weaken the education system across the country and therefore it should not be introduced at any cost.
“We are doing this with the sole motive of voicing our protests against the unwelcome interference of politics in the education system. This move overlooks the effect on the standards and reputation of premier institutes like the IITs, IIMs, AIIMS and others by weakening their intellectual strength”, said the students in a letter forwarded to Dean of IT, Prof JN Sinha here today, adding “the admission of students, who do not meet the standard required is not only unjust for the students of the general category but it also deprives meritorious students of standard education in the country”.
“The decision will leave good brains with no option but to flee the country and study in other countries”, apprehended the students, adding “all we are trying to say is that let merit decide, not caste that who should be admitted and who should not. We are not against any caste but are only against the government’s move of creating quotas. We see this as th government passing its failure onto us. They failed to provide good education at primary level and are now making the quality of higher education suffer”, lambasted the students.
{{/usCountry}}“The decision will leave good brains with no option but to flee the country and study in other countries”, apprehended the students, adding “all we are trying to say is that let merit decide, not caste that who should be admitted and who should not. We are not against any caste but are only against the government’s move of creating quotas. We see this as th government passing its failure onto us. They failed to provide good education at primary level and are now making the quality of higher education suffer”, lambasted the students.
{{/usCountry}}“We are in favour of justice to all but this should be provided by giving good quality, free primary education and not by providing reservation. We want people to join us in our efforts. As this decision has been taken to garner votes from a large vote bank, no political party will oppose it. There is no other way to make government take back its decision than a mass uprising. We also request for the support of college administration”, said the students.
Interestingly, the entire agitation was led by an OBC student of BTech. first year, Keshav Kishore. He said that if the government continued to grant reservations in this manner, then after 10 years or so, the students of general category would be admitted on reservation basis. He said that this move of the Union Government would deepen the gap between different communities in the country. Ankita Gupta and Manvendra Saxena were among other students who decried the proposal of Union Government to enhance reservation. Chief proctor of BHU Prof SK Singh and Dean of Students Prof VK Kumra along with members of the proctorial board and security personnel were present to monitor the situation.