SFI and PDSU activists staged separate demonstrations here on Wednesday demanding withdrawal of GO Ms. No.17, which they alleged would open the floodgates for private entities to set up universities in the State and monopolise the higher education realm.
Students owing allegiance to SFI set ablaze an effigy of the State government in front of the University PG College opposing the move to allow private universities in the State.
Addressing the demonstration, SFI district president Ch. Ramesh alleged that the State and Central governments were trying to shirk their responsibility of supporting public universities by not sanctioning requisite funds to them.
As a result, public universities in the State are facing resource crunch and dearth of faculty, he charged, alleging that the State government issued the GO to pave the way for setting up of private universities.
“The arbitrary move will take a heavy toll on State universities and undermine the interests of students from underprivileged sections denying them access to higher education,” he said. He demanded that the government should immediately withdraw GO No.17 and focus on strengthening State universities to ensure equitable access to higher education.
In a separate protest, PDSU activists set afire an effigy of the government near the SR&BGNR College in protest against the GO.
PDSU district president M. Suresh slammed the State government for allegedly issuing the GO to implement the Private Universities Bill passed in the Assembly in March last year.
The move will systematically weaken public universities and allow big corporate and private entities monopolise higher education, he charged. PDSU district general secretary N. Azad also took part in the demonstration.
