Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, Jul 25: Several students belonging to Government Women's First Grade College were on Friday July 25 reportedly told by the college principal not to attend classes for participating in a protest organized by the local unit of Students Federation of India (SFI).
The SFI had organized a protest on Thursday July 24 condemning the increase in the number of sexual crimes against women. Several students of the college participated in the protest.
The principal of the college P P Joseph reportedly asked the students who participated in the protest not to attend classes. After the protest, when the students came back to the college, he did not allow them to enter and also instructed other lecturers not to allow them in, it is learnt.
On July 25 morning, when the students came to the college, they were again told not to enter the classes.
Speaking to daijiworld, SFI district president Nitin Kumar who came to the spot said, "The principal is not in the campus and he is not answering the call either. The students have not been allowed inside since yesterday afternoon for participating in the protest."
Madhuri Bolar, a student of Government Women's Degree College, who is also a member of state SFI, said, "Since yesterday the students are out. The principal did not allow them in and even used foul language."
However, soon after the media arrived at the college premises, the lecturers allowed the students to enter the classes.
Principal clarifies
Speaking to daijiworld, principal P P Joseph said that he took this step as the students bunked classes and participated in the protest without his permission.
"Yesterday nearly 400 students bunked classes and went to the protest without even informing me. Moreover, they lied that I had given permission. I received more than 15 calls from parents asking where their children were. When I went to check nobody was in the classrooms. Hence, to teach a lesson so that they do not repeat this in future, I barred them from attending classes," he said.
"When ABVP protested the other day, their leaders came to seek my permission, and I told them that any student who is willing to participate can do so, but they should not use force. However, none of the SFI leaders approached me to seek permission for students' participation in their protest," he said.
"Today they go to protest, tomorrow they may bunk classes and go elsewhere. But I am responsible for them, I have to answer their parents. I am not against the protest, but they should have informed me and sought my permission first," he added.