OdishaPlus Bureau
Various student bodies in the state not affiliated to the ruling Biju Janata Dal opposed the Odisha government’s decision to cancel the students’ union elections in colleges and universities in the state. The students’ wings of the RSS and the Congress – Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and National Students’ Union of India respectively – were critical of the government move while the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal, affiliated to the ruling BJD, welcomed it.
The ABVP activists staged a demonstration in front of Higher Education Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo’s official residence here and some of them were detained following a scuffle with security personnel, officials said.
The NSUI also protested against the decision claiming that the ruling BJD canceled the students union polls fearing defeat.
“If the police can smoothly conduct general elections, what is the difficulty in holding students union polls,” asked Itish Pradhan, the NSUI state coordinator. The students’ organizations affiliated to different left parties also opposed the state government’s decision of canceling the students union polls.
The Biju Chhatra Janata Dal vice-president Rajesh Swain said the government should take alternative means to give representation to students as violence erupts many times during elections in campuses.The ABVP termed the move as a planned strategy of Odisha government to stifle the voice of the students.Over 50 ABVP students have been detained by police following protests.
ABVP coordinator, Sanjay Mallick, said, “We strongly oppose the decision to cancel student elections in the State. They should reconsider it after holding a meeting. ”The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) also condemned the decision saying that polls are being conducted in other states.
“This will stop good student leaders from joining State politics in the future. If in other States, the polls are being conducted why not in Odisha. Why can’t police provide protection during elections and prevent violence?” said NSUI coordinator, Itish Pradhan.The Higher Education Department suggested nomination of students’ representatives to various bodies in the institutions, as an alternative to elections.A notification in this regard was issued by the department and copies of which were sent to vice-chancellors of all universities and principals of all government colleges.
“In the larger interest of the students’ community, it has been decided by the state government that student union elections shall not be conducted in state universities and degree colleges, coming under the administrative control of Higher Education Department, in 2019,” higher education secretary Saswat Mishra said.
Instead of holding students’ union poll, the department has decided for the nomination of students’ representatives to various bodies of universities or colleges, said Mishra, who issued the notification.
