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Journalism of Courage
SURAT, Aug 18: Educational activity continued to be at a standstill for the second consecutive day at the South Gujarat University, with a group of students raising slogans in support of Ashwin Kapadia8217;s reinstatement as vice-chancellor.
Agitating students also burnt effigies of present vice-chancellor Rohit Shelat, Hoshang Mirza, Suryakant Shah and others, whom they accused of conspiring against Kapadia. The students are supported by the non-teaching staff in their demand for Kapadia8217;s reinstatement.
After the demonstration, the students submitted a memorandum to Collector R M Shah, criticising the suspension and the subsequent acceptance of Kapadia8217;s resignation. Though there was police presence in the campus, no force was used today.
While on Monday, the 150-odd agitating students had forced Shelat to leave the administration building, today in the absence of the V-C, the registrar was not allowed in.
Talking to Express Newsline, Vice-Chancellor Shelat said though the agitating students had nothing against him, this was the second day they had disrupted the functioning of the university. 8220;I am not really worried about the situation. Things should return to normal within a couple of days8221;, he added.
Asked what he thought about the non-teaching staff8217;s support for Kapadia, Shelat said he was optimistic that they would resume duties in the university8217;s interest. Matters would become simpler since the official communique revoking Kapadia8217;s suspension and accepting his resignation had reached the university today, he added.
8220;I have kept the collector in the picture all through. But since this is a passing phase, it is most advisable that the authorities exercise maximum restraint8221;, Shelat said.
Shah agreed with the V-C, saying that though the issue was serious, 8220;we ought to be restrained in view of its sensitivity8221;. Use of force would make matters worse, he added.
On the students8217; demands, Shah said, 8220;I will forward their letter to the government and await further directions.8221;
Meanwhile, the agitation has caused a number of admission tests to post-graduate courses to be postponed until further notice. The admission tests of the Master of Labour Welfare and Master of Human Resources Development, scheduled to be held on August 23, have been postponed until further notice.
The entrance test of the Bachelor of Library Science, which was to be held on August 22, has also been postponed indefinitely. A release issued by the registrar said the university would inform students who had filled in forms for these examinations as soon as possible.
