Says it had nothing to do with ‘Voice of Devendra’ elocution competition to be organised at its campus; student organisations and the National Student Union of India (NSUI) of the Congress party protested against the advertisement that mentioned the university organising an elocution competition termed ‘Voice of Devendra’
Savitribai Phule Pune University. FILE PIC/COURTESY SPPU
A notice about an elocution contest named ‘Voice of Devendra’ at Savitribai Phule Pune University has been withdrawn as student activists and student unions affiliated with political parties protested, alleging that the event is nothing but the promotion of an individual leader or political ideology.
On Tuesday, student organisations and the National Student Union of India (NSUI) of the Congress party protested against the advertisement that mentioned the university organising an elocution competition termed ‘Voice of Devendra’, allegedly linked to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. “Political activities should be kept off campus. If at all someone wants to hold any events, it should be educational, informative and based on merit, and not to promote any particular leader or ideology,” a student union leader said while addressing the media.
Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rohit Pawar said on X that the university administration seems to have forgotten that it should not become part of a political agenda. Taking a dig at the university for planning such an event, the grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, Rohit said, “The entire nation is watching the Election Commission of India function as if it is a part of the BJP. If educational institutes are also going to fall in the same line, then whom can we trust? Instead of engaging in political personality worship, universities would do better to focus on improving academic quality and strengthening the voice of democracy.”
Speaking with the media, university officials denied having any direct connection with the event and announced that the notification regarding the competition has been withdrawn. “The university has not organised the competition. It is a Nashik-based organisation that had planned the event. We have withdrawn the notification for the same,” a university official said. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT) camp, Congress and other Opposition parties objected to the programme and slammed the move of turning the university campus into a political stage.
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