The 62-day-long agitation by students at Calicut University appeared to be moving towards a settlement after Chief Minister Oommen Chandy announced a conciliatory meeting with representatives of the Departmental Students Union (DSU) on Wednesday.
Intervening during the discussion on the notice for an adjournment motion moved by P. Sreeramakrishnan and others in the Assembly on Tuesday, Mr. Chandy accepted a suggestion by Kodiyeri Balakrishnan to seek a negotiated settlement to the accommodation problems of students in the university.
Moving the notice, Mr. Sreeramakrishnan alleged that the university had denied hostel accommodation for regular students while providing rooms for students of self-financing courses. He said this signalled a trend to promote self-financing courses at the expense of regular courses run by the university.
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He said the university had failed to utilise Plan funds and University Grants Commission assistance. Accusing the Indian Union Muslim League of trying to dictate terms in the university, he warned that it would lead to communal mobilisation, destroying the secular character of the institution.
Denying the charges, Education Minister P.K. Abdu Rabb said no regular student had been ousted from the hostel to provide accommodation for self-financing students. Mr. Rabb said the university had earmarked Rs.8 crore for construction of a new hostel.
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Following the Chief Minister’s announcement of the talks with student representatives, the Speaker refused permission to take up the adjournment motion.