Mangaluru city MLAs accused of sowing seeds of communal discord among students

Ivan D’Souza, Congress MLC, and A.C. Vinayraj, spokesperson of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), on Thursday accused Mangaluru City MLAs D. Vedavyasa Kamath and Y. Bharath Shetty of sowing the seeds of communal discord among students using a matter related to St. Agnes College.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Mr. D’Souza alleged that Mangaluru City South MLA Mr. Kamath had prior information about the October 12 protest called by a section of St. Agnes College students, seeking postpone of examinations scheduled during Dasara.

“As a responsible MLA, Mr. Kamath should have immediately intervened and prevented the students from coming onto the street. He failed to do so and instead made Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) to intervene and communalise the matter,” the MLC alleged

He said, “The relation between the college and students is that of mother and child. Mr. Kamath vitiated the college atmosphere.”

Dr. Shetty, MLA, Mangaluru City North, Mr. Kamath and BJP MLC Kishore Kumar Puttur went to police station and gave false statements to sow seeds of communal discord among students.

Mr. Kamath made a false statement that an Assistant Commissioner of Police slapped a student for shouting ‘Bharath Mata Ki Jai’, Mr. D’Souza alleged.

Mr. D’Souza said that he was pained over the allegation made by Mr. Kamath against him and district in-charge Minister U.T. Khader that they were responsible for the police “high handedness” during the protest.

Mr. D’Souza said he and Mr. Khader were in Delhi on Monday. “Mr. Kamath called Mr. Khader and me over phone on Monday around 11 a.m., after the ABVP activists were taken away by the police from the protest site. Then Mr. Khader had a long discussion with Police Commissioner and the college principal for an amicable resolution of the matter. Sad to hear baseless allegation made against us,” said Mr. D’Souza.

Mr. D’Souza said for long he has been fighting for the cause of students and claimed he played a prominent role in the State government issuing orders for holding students’ union elections in colleges.

“I would have been happy if the MLA had taken action to ensure that holidays are declared by all institutions during Dasara. Instead, the (BJP) legislators targeted an institution run by minority community,” he said.

At a separate press conference, Mr. Vinayraj said elected representatives should behave responsibly when dealing with matters related to educational institutions and should not indulge in politics. Indulging in communal politics on education campuses is very dangerous.

He accused the BJP legislators of hatching a conspiracy which resulted in students protesting in front of the college.