LU VC: Discontent simmering here, situation more like BHU

LUCKNOW: Discontent is simmering among the student leaders of the Lucknow University (LU) over restoration of union polls and poor quality food being served at the central mess.

“The situation on the LU campus is becoming more like that of the BHU. Mischievous students with ulterior motives are trying to spoil the academic atmosphere on the campus. I called them for dialogue on September 22 but many of them refused to disclose their identity. One identified himself as Salman Khan while the other wrote mine and the proctor’s name in the list circulated to them,” LU vice chancellor SP Singh told HT.

He also said the student leaders staging dharna under the banner of the Lucknow University Chhatrasangh Bahali Morcha was illegal. “There is no one leader. We really don’t know who we should speak to. The matter of student union election is sub judice. The matter will come for hearing next month and university will follow the court’s directives,” said Singh.

On Tuesday, the student leaders carried out a signature campaign and intensified their dharna, which had been on for over a week, by turning it into a hunger strike. The university has already called the dharna illegal.

Under the Lucknow University Chhatrasangh Bahali Morcha, student leaders of the ABVP, Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha and a representative of NSUI are jointly sitting on hunger strike.

Flaying the BHU incident, activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Monday burnt an effigy of police and BHU administration at Lucknow University. Left wing student leaders also condemned police action.

“We may pursue different political ideologies but we all want restoration of student union election,” said Anurag Tewari of ABVP.