Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Feb. 16: In response to the general call off, the people of Diglipur assembled at the Children Park this morning and staged a protest against the government’s proposal to de-affiliate seven govt. colleges in Andaman from the Pondicherry University and convert it into a “deemed-to-be university.”
As per report, the people of Diglipur especially parents of students and leaders of political parties, farmer union, auto-rickshaw union were seen to gradually assemble under the shed at the Children Park situated opposite to the Assistant Commissioner’s Office, Diglipur and started a protest.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Biplab Mondal, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Sitanagar said that “deemed-to-be university” is not in the interest of the students in any respect. Quality of education will be reportedly compromised if the “deemed-to-be university” is introduced, he alleged. He further said that the administration should reconsider the proposal and initiate discussions with the central authorities about the matter seriously. Shri Mithun Das, Pradhan, Ram Nagar strongly opposed the Andaman Administration’s proposal to de-affiliate seven govt. colleges from the Pondicherry University and convert it into a “deemed-to-be university” as NSCBHLI (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Higher Learning Institute) under the society act. He said that it was the brainchild of the former Principal of DBRAIT to introduce a “deemed-to-be university” as NSCBHLI under the society act. He said that the administration has impaired the cooperative societies formed by the unemployed younts of these islands by denying the award of works to them, while the administration is showing much initiative to introducing a “deemed-to-be university under the society act and which reportedly exposes the administration’s real intention, he alleged.” Introduction of a deemed-to-be university under the society act is going to reportedly impact the value of degrees and compromise on quality of education, he added. Mr. Kamal Halder, President, Farmer Union Diglipur heavily criticised the decision of the administration on de-affilliation of the colleges of these islands from the Pondicherry university and introduction of a deemed-to-be university. He said that his union is standing in solidarity with the students’ demands of continuation of the affiliation with the Pondicherry university and against the deemed university. He said that the union has reportedly unanimously decided to keep the vegetable market closed today to register their protest against the deemed university. Smti. Alpana Mondal, Ex-Pradhan, GP Subhashgram and a BJP leader said that they assembled at the dharna site for common cause of the students, and irrespective of political entity and difference of opinion, every body should come forward to extend their support to the students who have been sitting at dharna site for last couple days, while the administration hasn’t reportedly shown any initiative towards resolving the genuine demands of the college students. Shri Pradip Das, ZPM, R.K. Gram constituency and an active youth leader of the INC lashed out at the government’s proposal to de-affiliate seven govt. colleges from the Pondicherry University and convert it into a “deemed-to-be university. Voicing his strong opposition to the proposed move, he further said that it is reportedly a pre-planned and vested interests of the administration to wilfully introduce the deemed-to-be university in Andaman, and which will undeniably be an attempt for a dilution of academic standards currently maintained under the central university system. It is reportedly the divide and rule policy of the Andaman administration so that the administration may fulfil its intention and autocracy.
Security personnel were deployed on campus to maintain order, though the demonstration reportedly remained largely peaceful.
The dharna ended at around 01:00 p.m. and then a five-member delegation met the Assistant Commissioner, Diglipur and submitted a memorandum outlining the students’ demands signed by the participants of the dharna urging the administration to reconsider the proposal and initiate discussions with the central authorities.
