Colleges across Himachal Pradesh were closed Monday following a one-day strike call by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) youth wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Over 100,000 students in 150 colleges have been affected by the shutdown.
ABVP’s national secretary Umesh Dutt said the education shutdown was being observed private and government colleges across the state.
“The call for the shutdown was given following the failure of the government to take action against the deputy commissioner of Mandi,” Mr. Dutt told IANS.
ABVP activists have been accusing Deputy Commissioner Onkar Sharma for misbehaving with a member of their wing on October 11 and have been demanding action against him since then. On Saturday, the activists were caned by police when they staged a protest in Mandi at a function where Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal was present.
“The state government is shielding the deputy commissioner,” alleged Mr Dutt said. “We want action against him,” he added.
The ABVP also accused the ruling BJP government of promoting private educational institutions and universities in the state.
Inspector General of Police for Law and Order Pardeep Kumar said, “No incidents of violence have been reported from anywhere in the state so far.”
