Mangaluru : Even before the proposed student union elections are officially implemented, political tensions have erupted inside a prominent college in Mangaluru. A confrontation between activists of National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) turned the campus of University College Hampankatta into a tense zone on Tuesday.
The issue began after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced in the state budget that student union elections would be reintroduced in colleges across Karnataka. The budget also included a proposal to set up student Indira canteens in educational institutions. Although the decision is yet to be formally implemented, the announcement itself triggered political reactions among student groups.
Soon after the announcement, NSUI members celebrated inside the college campus by bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets. The student leaders also raised slogans praising Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar.
However, the celebrations did not go down well with ABVP activists, who strongly objected to what they called “political activities inside an educational institution.” ABVP members accused the Congress-backed student group of turning the campus into a political stage and disrupting the academic environment.
The disagreement soon escalated into a heated argument between the two groups. As tensions mounted, ABVP students staged a road blockade outside the college gate, protesting against what they described as the misuse of campus space for political sloganeering.
During the protest, ABVP activists raised slogans against the college administration and demanded action against Principal Ganapathi Gowda. They alleged that the principal had allowed political slogans to be raised within the campus, which they said violated the neutrality expected in an academic institution.
The situation became tense for a while as students from both sides engaged in verbal confrontations. Security personnel and college authorities intervened to calm the situation and prevent further escalation.
Responding to the allegations, the principal clarified that permission had only been given for distributing sweets on the campus and that the administration was not aware that political slogans were being raised during the celebration.
However, the explanation failed to convince the protesting students. ABVP members insisted that strict action must be taken to prevent political activities from disturbing academic life.
The principal later assured that a detailed report on the incident would be submitted to the Vice Chancellor of Mangalore University for further review.
The incident has raised concerns among parents and educationists, as tensions surfaced even before the student union elections have formally begun. Many observers fear that political rivalry between student wings of major parties could intensify across campuses if adequate guidelines are not put in place.
