Kanhaiya's program cancelled due to security reasons, clarifies VC

Kalaburgi: Vice-Chancellor of the Gulbarga University has clarified that they had to cancel the programme of former JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar due to security reasons and there was no pressure from the Governor.

“We had concerns over the security of the campus, considering which, I took the decision to cancel the programme.

There was no order from the Governor,” Vice Chancellor Parimala Ambekar was quoted speaking to ANI.

It may be recalled that the Gulbarga University administration had cancelled an address by former JNU student union leader Kanhaiya Kuma just hours before the scheduled event. The police had also imposed section 144 of CrPC in the area as a precaution against untoward incidents.

The issue of granting Kanhaiya permission to speak at the university had been contentious from the beginning. In fact, the permission for Kanhaiya’s speech was earlier withdrawn on Sunday following pressure from ABVP, Ram Sene and other right-wing groups. But it was given again on the next day after the university administration met with Left and Dalit student groups.

Following the cancellation of the event influential Andola Mutt seer Siddalinga Swamiji had reportedly called the cancellation of Kanhaiya’s address a victory for Hindus and said that they wouldn’t let the university to turn into another JNU.

Speaking on the issue, Karnataka Deputy CM CN Ashwath Narayan, who also holds the Higher Education portfolio, said, “The university is not a place to discuss politics. These are places for learning.”