ALLAHABAD: The ongoing agitation by the student leaders against the Vice-Chancellor of Allahabad University, Prof Ratan Lal Hangloo, dominated the celebrations on the campus at the foundation day of the University, on Sunday.
While the varsity authorities were celebrating the day at the event held at the Senate Hall of the Arts campus of AU, the student leaders protested inside the hall in their own unique way. The student leaders, clad in black attire, sat on the floor just in front of the main stage, silently marking their protest.
These student leaders, which included several of the former president of AU student union like Richa Singh, Rohit Mishra as well as the sitting president of AUSU, Avnish Singh Yadav. They held placards in their hands which mentioned handwritten messages for the teachers present on the hall. Some of the posters read, 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, shikshakon ko Sammati do Bhagwan' etc.
As the programme ended, the student leaders stood up and started singing the bhajan Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram. "We want to awaken the consciousness of the teaching faculty members of our institution who are somehow not coming out openly against the VC despite the fact that they know what Prof Hangloo has done is wrong and he should step down", said national secretary of ABVP and former president of AUSU, Rohit Mishra.
The student leaders have decided to take out a candle procession in support of their demand on Monday evening. The procession would start from Women Hostel gate and will end at Shubash crossing of
civil lines. The student leaders have requested students, teachers, employees and denizens to come forward and join them in their silent protest.
Prof Ranjana Kakkar resigns
Meanwhile, chairman of the governing body of SS Khanna Girls degree College, a constituent college of AU, Prof Ranjana Kakkar has resigned from her post.
In her resignation letter, she says, "In view of my publicly stated position criticizing the present VC and the AU administration for its recent policies which include the extension of certain benefits and discretionary advantages to constituent colleges that are not consistent with established norms, rules and procedures, as enshrined in the statutes and ordinances of the University, I find that my personal stand in the matter and my position as chairperson of the Management Committee of the SS Khanna GIRLS' Degree College may come into conflict and become mutually irreconcilable. " As such, I do not consider it proper or ethical to continue as Chairperson any more, and therefore, wish to be relieved of that office", she writes.
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