Student Federation of India (SFI) activists will protest the excessive fee hike to the tune of 100 to 150 per cent by the Pondicherry Central University and ban on political activities inside the campus during the expected visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the campus on June 30.
SFI all India general secretary Ritabrata Banerjee told on Sunday that “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be welcomed in a befitting manner when he visits the university on June 30.”
When asked for the details, the student leader said, “Let that remain as a surprise”. PM is expected to inaugurate the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asian Regional Cooperation (UMISARC) and the silver jubilee campus of the university. The PM would also address a convocation at JIPMER on June 30.
Banerjee, who is here for a local SFI unit meeting, said that his organisation had been on the forefront of struggles for democratic and political rights of the students in universities and private educational institutions in the country.
Pointing out that the Pondicherry University has “banned” students’ political activities, he said the issue would be raised in parliament by the SFI all India president and Member of Parliament P K Biju.
He added that SFI delegates had already met HRD Minister Kapil Sibal and urged him to ensure students’ democratic rights inside the campuses.
Banerjee said the All India SFI conference would be held in Madurai from September 4 to 7, where they would discuss the UPA government’s policies of “centralization” and “Commercialisation” of education.
He alleged that Congress lacks political will to “spend more money on education”, and are now welcoming foreign universities.