Collegians forced to listen to speech of Union minister Piyush Goyal's son, claim Oppn MLAs
Mumbai, Mar 23: The opposition Nationalist Congress Party (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday alleged students of a college in Mumbai's Kandivali area were forced to listen to the speech of Dhruv Goyal, the son of Union minister Piyush Goyal, who is the BJP's Mumbai North Lok Sabha candidate.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray alleged students' IDs were confiscated to force them to attend the event where Goyal junior delivered the speech, while NCP(SP) MLA Awhad uploaded a video on X in which a student can be seen raising an objection.
Thakur College of Science and Commerce, post the controversy, said the event aimed to encourage students, particularly first time voters, to participate in the upcoming general elections but added "the matter", possibly a reference to students being forced to attend, was "under review".
The college also accused Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi of "disseminating a manipulated video pertaining to the interaction seemingly with political motivations".
Thackeray, in his message on X, slammed the Union government and said it was sending a message to the world that it does not wish the country remains a democracy anymore.
"Here, the IDs of the students were confiscated to force them to attend a talk by the son of a BJP candidate in North Mumbai a day before their exams. Because obviously even on passing, under this govt, where are the jobs? Rather waste their time on lectures taken by sons of candidates," he said mocking the ruling party.
Will the principal be suspended for such a horrible act, Thackeray asked.
In a statement, Kandivali-based Thakur College of Science and Commerce principal CT Chakraborty said the institution hosted an event aimed at encouraging students, particularly first time voters. to participate in the upcoming general elections.
She blamed Chaturvedi for the "manipulated video" of the event and alleged "this led to an unwarranted controversy overshadowing what was otherwise a successful and well received event".
The engagement and dialogue with Dhruv Goyal were positively received by students, Chakraborty claimed in the statement.
"We wish to clarify that during the post-event interaction, a query was raised by a student on a topic that Dhruv Goyal was not previously acquainted with. The matter is under review by our institution," the college principal said.
The college also posted a video of Dhruv Goyal apologizing to the students saying it (taking IDs to get them to attend the event) won't happen again.
Awhad said he would help students in every way if they are harassed by college authorities over this episode.
"When students protest, revolution begins," the NCP (SP) MLA added.
Meanwhile, Chaturvedi called the college's allegation against her laughable.
In a statement, she said the college had organised an event on their campus ostensibly under the garb of 'voter awareness campaign' and had invited Dhruv Goyal, son of Union Minister Piyush Goyal who also happens to be the candidate from that constituency, to speak to the students.
A voter awareness campaign cannot have the presence of only one candidate's family member, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader pointed out.
The students objected to being made to compulsorily attend the event so they shared a video on various social media handles, Chaturvedi said, adding it was widely reported in the media that their ID cards were taken away to ensure participation.
"They (students) also mentioned they had an exam the next day, which clearly the host of the event is heard stating. I shared a video which was widely shared by media. However Thakur College has accused me of manipulating the video, which is laughable," she said.
Chaturvedi wrote to the college that the video she tweeted was from a news handle and not manipulated.
"You have raised a serious charge against me and I can file a defamation (suit) against your institution," she warned and sought an apology.
The regime is sending out a message to the world on a daily basis, that they don’t wish the country to be a democracy anymore.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) March 23, 2024
Here, the IDs of the students were confiscated to force them to attend a talk by the son of a bjp candidate in North Mumbai… a day before their exams.… https://t.co/amiHuH5RQn
Hope these students aren’t suspended for speaking up! https://t.co/IG0dtf1Iln
— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) March 23, 2024
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Strictest action promised after students forced to remove sacred thread at Bengaluru CET exam centre
Bengaluru (PTI): Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner Jagadeesha G on Monday said the government has decided to take the “strictest possible action” against those responsible for allegedly forcing some students to remove their ‘janivara’ (sacred thread) before entering the venue of the CET exam last week.
He said a committee of senior officials constituted to inquire into the incident reported that, prima facie, it appears the students were “intentionally” made to remove the ‘janivara’.
The city police have already booked three staff members of a private college in Bengaluru for allegedly forcing some students to remove their ‘janivara’ before entering the venue of the Common Entrance Test (CET-2026) last week.
Similar incidents last year in Shivamogga and Bidar had triggered controversy, following which the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) issued clear directions not to force students to remove any religious identification or symbol during exams.
“Despite KEA taking measures such as appointing dress code officials and providing training on dos and don’ts to prevent such incidents from recurring after last year’s cases, there has been a dereliction of duty this time,” Jagadeesha told reporters here.
“To take strict action against those responsible, an FIR has been registered, and arrests have been made. An inquiry has been conducted by senior officials, and those responsible have been suspended,” he added.
Stating that the inquiry report has been submitted at the district level, he said it will be forwarded to the government.
Based on the findings, it has also been decided that KEA will not conduct CET exams at the institution where the incident occurred, he added.
“The strictest possible action is being taken by the district administration and the government,” he added.
The deputy commissioner had constituted a committee headed by the additional deputy commissioner to investigate the incident and submit a report within two days.
“Exams have been held at several centres across the state, and nowhere else has this issue occurred. If students were forced to remove ‘janivara’ at this centre, it appears that it was intentional. We have taken it seriously,” he said, adding that strict action has been recommended to ensure such incidents do not recur.
Noting that senior officials were appointed for the inquiry, the DC said that after a thorough investigation and verification—which included statements from students, the school principal, exam observers, CCTV footage, and documents—it prima facie appears that students were intentionally made to remove the ‘janivara’.
“We are recommending strict action. The government has also ordered a detailed police investigation, and an FIR has been registered in connection with the incident,” he added.
