Karnataka: Students gherao VTU office demanding results

Students and ABVP protested demanding results of previous semesters. They also demanded resolving other problems bothering engineering students. Sept 1 is statewide bundh of all engineering colleges in the State. VTU regional office director Gayatri Reddy said a meeting will be held on Friday and issues sorted.

The students and Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat (ABVP) activists gheroed Vishveshwaraya Technological University (VTU) regional office on Wednesday demanding announcement of results of previous semesters and cancelling year back system, reported Kannada Prabha.

The students are agitating since 6 months demanding results but the VTU is showing utter disinterest in the issue.  This has resulted in harming the future of 3.5 lakh engineering students. Due to delay in results the engineers are not able to apply for any job, the protesters said.

The fee has been doubled from Rs 650 to Rs 1270 all of a sudden without any indication causing hardship to poor students. It should be reverted. The year back system for final year students must be cancelled.  Year back system for non-CBSC students must be cancelled. Valuation and revaluation process should be speeded up and results should be announced immediately were some of the demands of the students.

The students and officials were engaged in serious argument but the officials were unable to provide answers to the questions posed by the students.  Hence the students raised slogans and seized the VTU office. ABVP executive secretary Sunil Kumar and coordinator secretary Jayaprakash and others participated in the protest.

ABVP coordinating secretary Sunil Kumar said a bundh of all engineering colleges in the State has been called on Sept 1 demanding action to resolve the problems of engineering students. Estimated 4 lakh students are expected to participate in the agitation, he said.

Responding to the protest VTU regional office director Gayatri Reddy said a meeting will be held at VTU on Friday and the issues will be discussed and decisions taken.