A day after the Karnataka political crisis spilt on to the Mumbai University campus, the vice chancellor (VC) ordered an investigation to determine if permissions were given for the detention of Congress leaders at the Kalina rest house. On Thursday, representatives of several political outfits registered their protest at a meeting with the VC against the alleged detention of three MLAs inside the campus, which they claim was illegal. The VC categorically denied that any permission was issued by him or his office.
Among those who attended the meeting were Mathew Anthony, State secretary, All India Professionals’ Congress; Rubin Masceranhas, joint secretary, Aam Admi Party (AAP), Maharashtra; Aamir Kazi, Mumbai secretary, All India Students’ Federation; Mahesh Samant, general secretary, Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), Maharashtra, the student wing of AAP; and Shailesh Pachpor, CYSS university president.
They alleged that the police had hijacked the campus. “One of the pathways to the varsity was shut and no one was allowed to enter it. Several journalists were also stopped by cops. They had to push their way through the gate,” they said.
The Mumbai Police had detained former Mumbai Congress presidents Milind Deora and Sanjay Nirupam, and Karnataka minister D.K. Shivkumar, who had come to meet 10 rebel Congress JD (S) MLAs in Mumbai. The VC said since he was not present, the deputy vice chancellor or the registrar need to be asked about it. But neither of them had issued any permission, he said.
Mr. Anthony said ‘a state of undeclared emergency’ prevalent across India had entered the campus, where young minds are trained in the principles of democracy and the Constitution. He said, “It is a pity that a young Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is driving this insane madness in Mumbai for silly political gains.”
Mr. Samant said free access for students on campus was compromised by “allowing police and vested political interests a free run”, creating a tense atmosphere. “The safety of the campus should not have been compromised for a totally unrelated and irrelevant activity,” he said.
