Feud to the fore as Youth Congress stages protest on CENTAC issue

One group advocates peaceful agitation and another strident stir

November 21, 2014 10:40 am | Updated 10:40 am IST - PUDUCHERRY:

Members of Youth Congress staging a protest in front of Pondicherry Engineering College at Pillaichavady. Photo: S.S. Kumar

Members of Youth Congress staging a protest in front of Pondicherry Engineering College at Pillaichavady. Photo: S.S. Kumar

A demonstration by Youth Congress against the government on Thursday ended up betraying the groupism plaguing the Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC).

Cadres of Youth Congress assembled here before Pondicherry Engineering College (PEC) and conducted a demonstration against the ruling AINRC Congress government while holding it responsible for alleged irregularities in admissions of professional courses through Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC). They also raised slogans against the government and wanted the Union Government to order an enquiry by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam, PCC president A.V. Subramanian, general secretary M.O.H.F. Shajahan, Youth Congress president M. Ilayaraja were present.

Though policemen were deployed at the site, some activists managed to scale the tall gate of the PEC. In the melee, one group suggested demonstration to be held peacefully while others demanded more strident measures. Supporters of E. Kasilingam advocated measures including blockading the East Coast Road while supporters of Mr. Shajahan proposed peaceful means of protest that did not affect the common man. Heated arguments ensued between the two groups and it took the persuasion of police and senior party leaders to prevent things from going out of hand.

Mr. Ilayaraja said several persons got admissions in the professional courses through CENTAC by producing impersonated nativity certificates. Such impersonation was committed by a few others to get jobs as well. Several youths were affected due to such irregularity.

He sought a CBI enquiry to unearth the truth and bring the culprits to book, especially in the light of reports that the office of the Chief Minister was also involved.

Mr. Subramanian said the ruling party was continuously indulging in irregularities in spheres of governance while calling for a CBI probe into the CENTAC issue.

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