the goan I network
PANAJI
State BJP-backed panel was on Monday elected unopposed to Goa University Students Council (GUSC) with Urvesh Umesh Redkar Velingkar as the Chairman of the nine-member executive committee for 2017-18.
While Nishikar Pundalik Raut Desai has been elected as the General Secretary, Shambhavi Krishnaprasad Gadgil is elected as the Lady Representative.
The other members are - Sandesh Galaya Palconda, Dattaprasad Vinod Desai, Joseph Sebastiao Lobo, Krishna Atmaram Gawas, Sumedh Athalye and Balkrishna Thali.
Addressing a press conference after being elected unopposed, Urvesh Velingkar said, "Of the 63 University Representatives (URs) which were eligible, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) managed to secure support from 53 of them and get elected unopposed."
"There are various issues we want to address mainly drugs and crime against women. We will keep a close watch to see that these two issues don't reach college and university campuses. We would request students in all colleges that if they have any issues, they can directly or through their URs approach us", he said adding, "We will also approach higher ups in the govt to see that all possible security measures are adopted for safety of students." Following protests, a delegation of all the students' wings was called by the vice-chancellor. After a short meeting, the delegation, addressing media persons alleged political interference in GU elections.
"We had come with a delegation to meet the vice-chancellor but we were earlier not allowed to meet him and manhandled by the police force which was deployed. This is misuse of the government machinery. They do not want open elections and also do not want to scrap elections", said Riteish Rawal of NSC.
Referring to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's address to UCRs and UFRs at the State Legislative Assembly Complex last week, he said, "This is a clear evidence of political interference as State BJP's office bearers were present at the meeting. Since last three months we were demanding for an open election because of political interference. The CM of the State is involved in students' elections and this is the end of democracy."
The State Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) has, however, refuted political interference in the GU election process, stating that the elected UCRs and UFRs wanted to meet Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Addressing media persons at State BJP headquarters, Former GUSC Chairman Siddhesh Naik said, "Initially everything was peaceful three months ago. Only when UCR elections were held and Delhi University elections were held, the demand for open elections cropped up. This went to such an extent that students' wings which had no connection with GU elections, started making demand for open elections."
"With the beginning of colleges for the current academic year, BJYM too began with its work in all colleges. We managed to get 179 UCRs elected unopposed. When UFR elections were held, we managed to get 53 elected unopposed successfully", he stated.
