By IANS
Lucknow : Even as students went on rampage and resorted to arson in several parts of the state to mark their protest against the Uttar Pradesh government’s ban on students’ union elections, serious students and a large number of parents welcomed the decision.
Meanwhile, taking serious note of the protests that culminated into tearing and defacing of her posters and hoardings that dot the skyline all over the state, Chief Minister Mayawati has ordered a crackdown on protestors.
“I will not allow lawlessness and vandalism on the university and college campuses. Those indulging in violence will be dealt with severely,” she declared in an official statement.
What has come as a shot in her arm was the opposition to unions by a large chunk of students, who consider unions a “major source of nuisance on the campuses”. However, owing to the fear of the muscle-power of students’ union leaders, rarely is anyone willing to go on record.
“What a relief it is going to be sans unions on the campus”, remarked a 20-year-old undergraduate student of Lucknow University.
“At least it will keep alive the academic environment that the present vice chancellor R.P. Singh had really taken pains to restore after years,” a student of M.Sc. (Physics) told IANS on condition of anonymity.
“I was reluctant to even think of seeking admission in Lucknow University essentially because of the badly vitiated campus atmosphere but sadly I failed to get admission elsewhere so I had no option,” said Sandeep Rastogi, a post-graduate studentin humanities.
Ashish Pandey was yet another student who dared to condemn the students’ unions openly. “All the union leaders are interested in is to get the votes of common students to win elections which do no good to those who join universities and colleges to pursue academics,” said the research scholar.
On being contacted, several parents too welcomed Mayawati’s move to ban union elections in colleges and universities. “Nothing could have been better than banning unions in universities and colleges that have turned into nurseries of vandalism and politics,” said V.K. Yadav, the father of a Lucknow University student.
Santosh Sharma, whose son has just joined a well known local college, said: “Mayawati has kept her word about bringing an end to the goondagardi let lose during the previous regime under Mulayam Singh Yadav who was largely responsible for encouraging lawlessness on the campuses.”
A large number of Lucknow University teachers too were in favour of the ban. “The ban is being opposed only by those who have vested political interests. The present vice chancellor had to really fight it out to restore an academic environment on the campus and the ban on union elections will help to establish a real semblance of order,” observed Nishi Pandey, a professor of English and member of the university’s proctorial board. She claimed that most teachers had welcomed the government’s decision.