Disregarding the opposition from Telangana activists, governor ESL Narasimhan on Thursday appointed noted soil scientist A Padma Raju as vice-chancellor of Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University for a term of three years.
Telangana activists, particularly those from the TRS, have been demanding that a Telangana professor be appointed as vice-chancellor of the university. Padma Raju hails from East Godavari district.
Several Telanagna students staged protests and shouted “VC, go back” while Padma Raju was taking charge of his assignment in the afternoon. Police, who were present in full strength, rounded them up.
The university had been without a head for the last two years with Telangana protagonists insisting that the post should go to a Telangana professor this time. In October last year the board of management of the university had finalised the name of Padma Raju for appointment as vice-chancellor.
But the things did not move forward as there was intense opposition to Raju’s candidature. Telangana students had, on more than one occasion, organised protests on the university campus demanding that Raju should not be appointed as vice-chancellor because he belongs to the Andhra region.
But the government, in pursuance of the decision of the board, forwarded Raju’s name to the governor who, in his capacity as chancellor of the university, issued the notification appointing him as the vice-chancellor. The appointment is for three years from the date of assumption of office by him.