Pune: Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) witnessed a scuffle on Wednesday evening after student representatives confronted the administration over its alleged failure to hold a promised meeting to discuss restrictions on campus protests.Student organisations alleged that police manhandled students, including women, while escorting the vice-chancellor out of the premises. The university, however, claimed that the students turned aggressive, tried to obstruct the VC’s path, and vandalised his vehicle, forcing the police to intervene to ensure his safety. Uttam Bhajnawale, a senior police inspector of Chatushringi police station, said a university staff member had approached the police to lodge a complaint. The process of filing an FIR was underway at Chatushringi police station, a university official said.The issue stems from a Nov 2 protest by representatives of several left-wing, progressive, and Ambedkarite student organisations on the university campus. They were protesting a circular issued last month, which stated that protests not directly related to the university would not be allowed inside the campus. Following Monday’s protest, the university released a note stating that student representatives would be called for a meeting with management council members to present their side. Although the management council meeting was held on Wednesday, the students were not invited.A senior official from the university said that Wednesday’s management council meeting was adjourned and the students would be invited soon. “Since there was insufficient time to invite all the representatives, we decided to invite them at a later date. This was communicated to the students, but they refused to listen. The students soon turned aggressive and tried to stop the VC when he was leaving the management council meeting. The police stepped in to safely escort the VC to his car. The students resorted to violence and vandalised the VC’s car,” the official said.“Instead of addressing the students’ concerns, the vice-chancellor and registrar chose to leave. When students tried to question them, the police manhandled and assaulted them, including women. The administration has repeatedly issued confusing circulars without taking student representatives into confidence and has failed to honour its promise of a meeting. We will continue our democratic and constitutional struggle until the contentious circulars are withdrawn and students’ rights to freedom of expression and peaceful protest are protected,” said Abhishek Shelkar, president of the University Students’ Struggle Action Committee (SPPU Unit).While VC Suresh Gosavi did not respond to calls, the university said in a statement that ‘if students demand, a positive decision to grant permission (for protests, rallies, and other events) will be taken while implementing the said circular’.
