Karnataka - Bidar   

‘Poverty pushing students towards extremism’

BIDAR: Is weakening of students’ organisations a reason for youth deviating from the mainstream?

Students Federation of India State unit president B. Rajshekara Murthy told The Hindu here on Thursday that students’ organisations had weakened over the years. They have to dedicate themselves and launch a struggle taking up some of the genuine problems of students and curb rising anti-social elements, he said.

Mr. Murthy said that students of present generation were “drawn” towards terror mainly owing to poverty and social inequality among others reasons.

On the ways of establishing contacts with students, Mr. Murthy said: “In hostels, certain persons having links with terror outfits come as guest students. Later, they establish contact with other students and through offering financial assistance to poor students, motivate the students to join them. The youth who have developed hatred against the social set-up are easy prey for them,” he said.

State secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat (ABVP) Ravichandra also felt students’ organisations were not strong in the State.

He said that the organisations have not been able to adjust to the changing needs of the education system, although the student enrolment rate had increased in schools and colleges. Mr. Ravichandra did not find poverty as a factor for youth drifting away.

Mr. Ravichandra said: “Fundamentalist forces in the name of religion brainwash youth and many of them fall prey to the blind beliefs towards a particular religion.”

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