Irked over the State Government’s recent decision to change the name of the University to Maharshi Valmiki Doon University, Doon University students continued their protest on the second consecutive day at University campus on Tuesday. They have decided to boycott their classes for three more days as part of protest against the decision and now they would organise candle march to seek public support.
A delegation of students met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Tuesday and requested him not to change the name of Doon University. However, CM Rawat refused to accept the students’ demand. Earlier, dozens of students assembled outside the university campus and staged protest against the decision to change the university’s name to Maharishi Valmiki University and called it a political stunt. later they locked the University main gate forcibly by raising anti-government slogans.
Sanjeev Chamoli, one of the protesters, alleged that the Congress led State Government should not use Doon University for the sake of political gains. The decision will not be accepted at any cost and demanded that the decision should be revoked immediately. “Our protest called ‘The name shall stay, the name will stay’ will continue on Wednesday and students will carry out candle march from Gandhi Park to Clock Tower in support of our demands on Wednesday evening. The State Government will have to withdraw its decision otherwise we will intensify our protest in the state capital,” he added.
Tulika Diwan, another protester said that students were nothing against Maharshi Valmiki, but only they want the original name of the university to stay. According to her, the university was already famous with its name and the students felt proud and emotionally attached with it and change of name would not be helpful for them in any manner. “We strongly criticise the trend by various political parties to name and re-name the educational and other institutions to further their narrow interests. Congress Government’s decision to change Doon University’s name as a political one will do nothing to help the already established university.”
The agitation will be intensified if the decision is not rolled back, she added. Among those participated in the protest were Aditi Rawat, Shriq Rajput, Ajay Chaudhary, Ramita, Gambhir Gunsola, Shailendra Kumar and many other university students.