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Thursday, Jul 12, 2007
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Varsity alumni launch signature campaign

Special Correspondent

Seek revocation of Shivaji Panikkar’s suspension

NEW DELHI: The Delhi-based alumni of Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara have started a signature campaign seeking revocation of the suspension of Dean-in-charge of the Faculty of Arts Shivaji Panikkar and legal action against those involved in the vandalism on the campus in May and attack on the National Students’ Festival in Ahmedabad on July 6.

Announcing the launch of the signature campaign under the banner of ANHAD (Act Now for Harmony and Democracy) here on Wednesday, the alumni said they would appeal to the Gujarat Governor, who is also the Visitor of the university, to use his good offices “to right some wrongs and heal some wounds.”

Fearing irreversible damage to the faculty if the prevailing situation continued, they pointed out that the longer it was allowed to fester, the more complex it would become.

“In the current over-heated atmosphere of the Faculty of Fine Arts, where the faculty and the students are divided from each other along ideological lines, there seems no more room for dialogue or for civil disagreement.”

Seek protection

The alumni also demanded protection to Dr. Panikkar and the members of the university agitating on Dr. Panikkar’s behalf.

Letter to Modi

ANHAD has also written to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Minister of State for Home, Director General of Police, and Police Commissioner (Ahmedabad), bringing to their notice the “refusal of the local police to register an FIR on the attack on the National Student’s Festival.

The police registered an FIR on Dr. Panikkar’s complaint about the attack on him when he went to inaugurate the festival, but refused to accept Shabnam Hashmi’s complaint on the damage caused by the miscreants.

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