Pune college denies caste bias claim after ex-student alleges job loss over verification delay
Pune (PTI): A college in Pune has rubbished a former Dalit student's allegations of caste bias and his claim that it had withheld his job verification, clarifying that it had sent the document to the UK-based employer and he had not lost his job.
Prem Birhade, a former BBA student of Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, had claimed in a social media post that the college failed to send the reference verification to his London-based employer, where he was recently recruited.
The incident invited criticism from NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar, who accused the college of showing "Manuwadi" ideology and harassing the former student.
Birhade, in a video clip, alleged caste discrimination and claimed that when he asked the college authorities to send the necessary verification, they questioned him about his caste.
"I got a job in a firm in London. During the process, the firm sought reference verification from my college. However, the college did not provide the reference verification, and I lost my job. I lost my job opportunity because I belong to the Scheduled Caste category, and I am Buddhist," he had said.
He further claimed that when he contacted the head of the department, she asked him about his caste.
"Later, she told me that, as per the principal's instructions, she would not be able to recommend me. I told her that the college doesn't have to provide a recommendation to the firm. It just has to tell the firm that I studied at the college between 2020 and 2023," he alleged.
Birhade also claimed that the HOD told him he was insincere and irregular during his time at the college.
Shyamkant Deshmukh, the college's vice principal, however, refuted Birhade's allegations of caste discrimination, calling them baseless.
"After completing graduation in commerce, when Prem was going overseas for further education, the college had given him a letter of recommendation. Now, claims are being made that he lost his job, but in reality, he has not lost his job. He was in the process of joining, and the third-party firm sent an email to the college seeking verification on September 30. In that mail, the firm had not given any deadline to furnish the reference verification," he said.
He said that on October 14, the college provided the bona fide certificate and the information sought in the proforma to the firm.
Asked about the delay in response, Deshmukh said the job profile was related to aviation, and since receiving such a mail was new to the educational institute, it took time to respond, as accurate data needed to be furnished.
He clarified that the caste discrimination allegations were unfounded, asserting that more than 50,000 students from all sections of society study at the institution.
NCP (SP) MLA Pawar, in a post on X on Sunday, said, "If the Modern College in Pune fails to verify the documents on time, resulting in a young student losing a job in London, this is not right. Is the Modern College administration attempting to harass the young man, Prem Birhade, with the same mentality that led to the attempt to throw a shoe at the Chief Justice of India?"
He claimed that while the college staff was cooperative, the new principal, who was appointed to the post by bypassing all rules, laws, and seniority, has "Manuwadi" ideology.
"It does not behove the principal to play such Manuwadi games in a college, which has a good reputation and a grand legacy," he wrote.
The college should provide the necessary cooperation to the student, express regret and ensure that such mistakes don't recur in the future, he said in the post, adding that the college should stop indulging in "Manuwadi" politics.
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National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said he will ask for time from Delhi police to appear before them next week, to provide required information as part of the probe into the National Herald case.
He said he will seek time after the ongoing winter session of Karnataka legislature ends on December 19. He will also ask the Delhi police to provide him the FIR copy.
Shivakumar, who is in the national capital, had earlier said that he will appear before the Delhi police on Monday. But, he postponed the plan in order to rush back to Karnataka to participate in the last rites of veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, scheduled later in the day in Davangere.
"I had to go (to appear before the Delhi police), but I have to go back urgently. I'm asking them for time, stating that I will come next week," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"They (Delhi police) have not attached the FIR copy while issuing notice to me. I need FIR copy, because we had already given all the required replies to the ED. I don't know what the FIR says, I only read in papers. They have given notice, I will ask for a FIR copy. I will come next week after the Assembly session."
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, seeking financial and transactional details as part of its probe into the National Herald case.
The notice issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) states that Shivakumar is "supposed to be having vital information" pertaining to the National Herald case registered on October 3 this year, against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In the notice dated November 29, the EOW had asked Shivakumar to appear before it or provide the requested information by December 19 latest.
Investigators have sought details about his personal background, his association with the Congress party, and a complete break up of funds allegedly transferred by him or associated entities to Young Indian.
To a question on meeting AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, amid the ongoing power tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister post, Shivakumar said when he comes to Delhi, he usually meets every one.
"Whether it is Surjewala or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) or Venugopal, I will meet everyone. During lunch yesterday I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have met everyone. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shivakumar was in Delhi to take part in Congress' "Vote Chori" rally on Sunday, and had also participated in the lunch organised by the party for its leaders.
Responding to a question, whether any meeting is planned with leaders today, the Deputy CM said, he and Kharge will be travelling together to Karnataka, to pay last respects to Shamanuru Shivashankarappa.
Asked if he will seek time for a separate meeting with Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the next visit to Delhi, Sivakumar said, "such things will be there between us in the party.... you don't worry."
