Govt to form panel to reintroduce student elections: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced on Wednesday that the Karnataka government plans to reintroduce student elections in the state, which were banned in 1989 following incidents of violence.
He revealed that a committee would be formed to examine the issue and propose the next steps for reinstating the elections.
Speaking at a Constitution Day event organised by the Karnataka Congress, Shivakumar emphasised the importance of campus elections in fostering leadership. “Recently, (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to me and Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) asking us to think about restarting student elections,” Deccan Herald quoted Shivakumar as saying.
“I’m announcing today that we’ll form a small committee and seek a report on this,” he added. Student elections were banned in 1989 after a series of violent incidents in Karnataka, which led to the disappearance of student bodies affiliated with political parties from college campuses.
Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress president, said former student leaders will be “brought together to study the pros and cons” of bringing back campus elections. “There were many criminal activities taking place back then. We’ll see how we can conduct (student) elections by regulating such criminal activities,” said Shivakumar.
Reflecting on his own experience as a student leader, Shivakumar recalled his time at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College. Shivakumar recalled that during his final year of college, his political activism earned him a ticket to contest his first election in 1985 from the erstwhile Sathnur constituency. At just 23 years old, he ran against H.D. Deve Gowda but lost the election.
He lamented that the spirit of student leadership has faded over time. "College elections have stopped. Many of us came through student leadership. Those elections were like a big movement,” Shivakumar added.
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Former India hockey coach Michael Nobbs dies
Melbourne (PTI): Former Australian hockey player Michael Nobbs, who coached the Indian men's team at the 2012 London Olympics, has died after a prolonged illness.
He was 72 years old and is survived by his wife Lee Capes, a former Australian women's international and daughter Kaitlin, who is a current Hockeyroos star.
"Hockey Australia extends its deepest condolences to Michael’s family, friends, former teammates, players and all those whose lives and careers were shaped by his contribution to hockey. He will be remembered as a proud Kookaburra, a respected professional, and a servant of the sport," Hockey Australia said in a statement.
Nobbs represented Australia as a defender, playing across the half-back line and at fullback, and was renowned for his reliability, fitness and professionalism. He earned 76 international caps for Australia between 1979 and 1985, scoring one goal, and was a member of one of the strongest eras in Australian men’s hockey, said Hockey Australia on its website in its tribute.
Nobbs was an integral part of the Australian teams that competed at the 1981 Hockey World Cup in Bombay and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
While part of a generation widely regarded as one of Australia’s finest, he consistently held his place through hard work, discipline and trust earned from teammates and coaches, Hockey Australia wrote.
Nobbs took over the coaching of the Indian men's team in 2011 after it had failed to qualify for the Beijing Games in 2008. While India were brilliant in the qualifiers, the team finished last at the London extravaganza which also expedited the Australian coach's sacking.
Apart from India, Nobbs also coached Japan.
