BENGALURU:Over 3,000 students from various government agricultural colleges in the state, who were on an indefinite protest for the last six days against private universities offering agricultural courses, withdrew their agitation on Tuesday.
This decision of the students came after the intervention of Chief Minister H D Kumarswamy.The CM convened a meeting with Vice-Chancellor of University of Agriculture Sciences (UAS) Bengaluru, and Agriculture Minister Shivashankar Reddy on Tuesday evening, which was attended by student representatives. “As the CM assured us of conducting an inquiry into the issue and amending the Karnataka State Universities Act, 2000, to stop setting up of private universities in the state offering agricultural courses, we have decided to call off the strike,” said V Ramesh coordinator of Agri Students’ Association.
On Tuesday, around 3,000 students took out a rally demanding that the government close down a private university located at Doddaballapur. They said that the university was an engineering varsity, but was offering over 34 courses, including agricultural degrees. “The university is admitting students without conducting any entrance test... it doesn’t maintain quality while imparting education. We demand that the government shutdown the university,” said a student.
Interestingly, the CM who was travelling from his house in JP Nagar to his home-office Krishna, saw the protesting students near Town Hall. He stopped his car and spoke to the students. After speaking to the students, Kumaraswamy said, “I just saw the students here and stopped my vehicle to speak to them. I will find a solution to the issue after discussing with the minister concerned,” he said.
The Chief Minister, however, after his meeting with the VC and the minister, directed the minister to conduct an inquiry and submit a report. He also assured the meeting of amending the Act in the ensuing Assembly session.