Call it a Lyngdoh factor or Akhilesh Yadav effect, this time the student leader pre-poll rowdyism at Lucknow University (LU) and its associated colleges is much more subdued than what it used to be in 2006 and before.
So far there has been no major incident of group clash among student leaders, as it used to happen earlier.
Whatever little incidents took place on the campus were mainly done by the small-time student leaders only to make their presence felt on the LU campus or to gain media attention. Senior LU teachers too feel that the campus is much more peaceful than what it was when the student union was in existence in the past. The police records also back their claims. The records stated there were over 50 student leaders with criminal cases against him during 2005 student union poll. This time it is restricted to only six student leaders who have cases registered against him. And only two student leaders among them have serious criminals offences registered against them. “May be they are scared that if they will not be able to contest the poll if they got involved in any type of violence as per Lyngdoh recommendations,” says Pawan Agarwal, Lucknow University proctor. He recalled, “The major violence was reported on the day when the student poll was conducted in 2005.”
Another senior teacher requesting anonymity said, “Student polls earlier were a major challenge for a law and order and academic environment of the university campus. Some rowdyism has been reported on the campus recently but still the things seem to be under control”. He said the teacher earlier used to fear before initiating any action against the student leaders, as they used to have patronage of senior politicians.The teacher said many of the student leaders also had serious criminal cases against them, which used to worry teachers about their safety.
{{/usCountry}}Another senior teacher requesting anonymity said, “Student polls earlier were a major challenge for a law and order and academic environment of the university campus. Some rowdyism has been reported on the campus recently but still the things seem to be under control”. He said the teacher earlier used to fear before initiating any action against the student leaders, as they used to have patronage of senior politicians.The teacher said many of the student leaders also had serious criminal cases against them, which used to worry teachers about their safety.
{{/usCountry}}Sub-inspector (S-I) Janardan Pratap Singh, LU police outpost in-charge, however, said, “Most of the old student leaders have vanished from the campus during the past six years. And we have not allowed the existing ones to cause nuisance on the campus”. “The strong message from chief minister Akhilesh Yadav not to tolerate violence in the students’ poll also helps us control them,” he added and said, “The police have prepared the list of all active student leaders on the campus. We have even collected their personal details and criminal record”. He said the police were keeping an eye on their activities and the report would be sent to senior police officials and the LU authorities recommending action against student leaders if found involved in criminal offence.