The Goalpara College unit of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) in Lower Assam’s Goalpara district demanded action against two teachers of the college.
The AASU unit sought action against the teachers as they are holding positions in Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a right-wing students’ organization.
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The two teachers are Dr. Hemanta Kalita, head of the Philosophy department and Dr. Dhananjoy Medhi, an assistant professor of the Geography department.
Kalita is the state vice president (Rajyik Upo Pramukh) and Medhi is the district head (Zilla Pramukh) of ABVP.
ABVP is a all India students’ organisation affiliated to the Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
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In a letter submitted to the principal of the Goalpara College on Saturday, the AASU unit condemned both the teachers for their involvement with the ABVP.
The AASU unit demanded action from the college authority against the two college teachers.
“We don’t want teachers to get involved in students’ affair,” Bedanta Kashyap, Goapra town president of the AASU.
“If they want to participate in politics they should first quit their jobs,” said Kashyap.
Jitumoni Bhuyan, district secretary of AASU said, “We have been demanding that the educational institutions should be free from politicians’ involvement.”
“Students must have their own choices, free from outward political interference.” Bhuyan added.
Meanwhile, talking to Northeast Now, Dr. Hemanta Kalita, state vice president (Upo Pramukh), ABVP, said, “Holding posts by teachers are permissible in ABVP.”
“In fact, most of the district heads or Zila Pramukhs are teachers all over India. Even our state head, Sailen Gogoi, is also a college teacher,” he added.
“When a teacher leads a students’ organisation it strengthens the bond between the two and helps students prevent from indulging in anti-social activities,” said Kalita.
He added, “ABVP is an organisation with different ideologies unlike AASU. Our organisation never stages demonstration in the streets.”
Saying that they are always ready to abide by government norms, Kalita said, “However, there is no rule probably framed so far preventing the teachers from holding such portfolios.”
Dhananjoy Medhi, Zila ABVP Pramukh of Goalpara district and an assistant professor at the college, sensed a conspiracy in the allegation.
“It is a political conspiracy beyond doubt,” he said.
Talking to Northeast Now, Dr. Subhash Barman, the newly-appointed principal of the college, said, “It is a sensitive matter.
“I will have to discuss in details with the authority concerned before taking any decision,” added Barman.
The confrontation between these two powerful organisations is not new in the state.
Last year, in several college elections in the state, the ABVP came in direct confrontation with the AASU and played a dominant role.
AASU sources alleged that the ABVP has powerful backing from the BJP government itself.