Cow dung on classroom walls: DUSU chief defaces principal's office
New Delhi (PTI): DUSU president Ronak Khatri on Tuesday smeared cow dung on the walls of Lakshmibai College principal's office, escalating a row that ignited after she was caught on video coating classroom walls with cow dung for “cooling” them.
In the video, widely shared on social media, principal Pratyush Vatsala was seen coating classroom walls with cow dung.
"No consent was taken from students for such an initiative," Khatri told PTI Videos while arguing with a faculty member inside the principal's office.
"If you want to do research, do it at your home," he said.
The principal told PTI on April 13 that the faculty-led initiative was part of an ongoing research aimed at exploring indigenous and sustainable cooling techniques.
There was no immediate response from the university regarding Tuesday's incident.
In a post on X, Khatri referenced the principal's viral video and sarcastically said that he and his supporters had gone to "help" her by plastering her office walls as well.
"We have full faith that madam will now get the AC removed from her room and hand it over to students, and run the college in this modern and natural cool environment smeared with cow dung," he wrote.
In defense of her now-viral video, Principal Vatsala on April 13 said it was part of an ongoing research project conducted in porta cabins.
"It is under process. I will be able to share details of the full research after a week," she had said, stressing that misinformation was being spread without full context.
"There's no harm in touching natural mud," she added.
The principal reportedly shared the video in a teachers' WhatsApp group, noting that the indigenous method was being used to cool classrooms in C Block.
"Those who have classes here will soon get these rooms in a new look. Efforts are being made to make your teaching experience pleasant," she wrote.
The administration maintains that the method is part of scientific inquiry into sustainable practices amid rising temperatures in the capital.
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Leaves of policemen won't be approved till normalcy returns: Karnataka HM G Parameshwara
Bengaluru, May 10 (PTI): In view of the prevailing security situation in the country, policemen will not be given leaves, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Saturday.
He said the Chief Minister will hold a special meeting this evening to review the preparedness to deal with any situation.
"We will not approve any leaves or holidays of policemen at this juncture because we don't know when normalcy returns. The Centre will inform us when the normalcy returns. Till such time we have to be alert," Parameshwara told reporters.
He said the state government has to work effectively everywhere especially in the coastal region.
"Learning from our past experience during war, security should be strong in the coastal regions. We have to be alert all along the coastal line, right from Uttar Kannada to Dakshina Kannada," the Minister explained.
According to Parameshwara, there are three layers of security in the coastal area, which are police, security arranged by ports and the Indian Navy.
He also said that Siddaramaiah will chair a meeting with officials of Home and Revenue Department to review the preparedness of the state government to deal with any situation.
The chief minister would review the availability of essential commodities and all other equipments to deal with any crisis that may emerge in the wake of "war like situation" in the country, he explained.
"All the necessary arrangements such as ensuring availability of food grains, essential commodities, water, hospitals and medicines have to be made. It is just a preparation," Parameshwara said.
During the meeting the Chief Minister will also discuss any latest advisory that might have come from the Centre the previous day, the Minister said.
He added that the centre has issued a set of advisories to all the state governments. Accordingly Karnataka government has taken measures.
"We have tightened the security in and around sensitive locations. We have also identified some locations where suspicious activities can happen. We have sensitised all the locations in the state," Parameshwara said.
