Even as the students of Government Music and Dance College took to the streets expressing concern over the misuse of their college premises for private purposes by politicians and organisations, arrangements for the 10-day Dasara festival celebrations to be organised in the college ground are going on at brisk pace.
On Saturday evening, hundreds of the college students, along with children and senior citizens, staged protests demanding that the government intervene and save the college from outsiders, who they alleged are disturbing the college activity in the name of religious events.
The ground was used for several religious and private events, including the Ganesh Utsavs by Doondi Ganesh Seva Samiti which had set up tallest idols last two years.
“The ground looks like a garbage bin rather a college premises in the aftermath of the recent event whose organisers left it to stink. It is being misused in the worst manner by politicians. This is not at all acceptable,” said V. Satyanarayana, a 3rd year singing student of the college.
“Despite our requests not to hold any such events, they are going ahead with the support from ruling party politicians. The college is losing its sheen due to these events”, said another student. The protesters said they were not against worshipping the Gods, but only the events that turn the college into bad shape.
When contacted, college principal K.S. Govindarajan said though it is against the rules to lend a college ground for religious events, they are forced to give away owing to recommendations.
He said that the ground was left in a bad state after the recent event, and the organisers had paid the last year’s rent only recently.
Mr. Govindarajan said the events were also affecting the new admissions into the college and the number came down in recent years.
There are about 730 students pursuing various courses in the college at present.
