Mapusa SDM convenes meeting to resolve issue caused by ABVP protest at St Xavier’s College

MAPUSA: The Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Mapusa has convened a meeting of St Xavier’s College management, Mapusa police and five representatives of the Students Council at 12 noon on Tuesday, to resolve the issue arisen after the ruckus created by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in the college campus on Saturday over non-formation  of students council.

However, both the parties – college management and the ABVP have upped the ante against each other. St Xavier’s College administrator Fr Tony Salema has condemned such unruly behaviour (by ABVP) and has requested all his college students to dissociate themselves from any such unruly activities.    

Meanwhile, former Goa University Students Council chairman Vijay Bhike has condemned the recent ‘shameful activity’ of the ABVP of attempting to instil fear and push its divisive agenda in the prestigious St Xavier’s College, Mapusa.

“Why did those concerned not make any attempt to approach the proper channels and lodge a formal complaint in case of any injustice? From where did these outside elements derive the authority to bulldoze their way into the college and create chaos and pandemonium? Was it the confidence instilled in them by the double engine government?” Bhike asked.

Bhike further stated that the ABVP incident is an attempt to transform the educational landscape of Goa and usher in a culture of “might is right” that runs contrary to the Goan ethos. It is the bounden duty of the State government to set the record straight and indicate by its firm and unambiguous actions that such an atmosphere of lawlessness will not be tolerated.

Rinaldo Rosario, ex-student of DMC College, Mapusa, said, “I feel an elected person has completely misused his powers to disrupt the peaceful environment of a well established institute in Mapusa. As an entrepreneur,  it disheartens me to see the quality of next generation leaders and it stops me or for that matter, any recruiter to recruit this kind of employees, who won’t follow the hierarchy and just agitate for any petty issues.  This will only add to the already increasing unemployment rate in the country, and I strongly condemn the leadership skills of the newly elected GS of St Xavier College, backed by ABVP, showing no respect to teachers.”

Mahesh Nadar, an ex-student of Damodar College, Margao said that the incident that occured at St Xavier’s College, is very disappointing. ”We need to spread this message across loud and clear; we will not encourage such elements in college, or any other educational institution.”

Political analyst Trajano D’Mello said that the unruly, aggressive, abusive and threatening behaviour of a couple of students under the banner of ABVP and the silence of the Chief Minister, who is also the education minister, in this episode even after over 24 hours is questionably shocking. 

Trajano said that the Chief Minister should understand that education is not only imparting knowledge but imbibing discipline and moulding the character of the youth of our State. 

“The recent ABVP delegation which met the Chief Minister wherein he gave an audience promising to resolve educational issues, raises a question whether at the meeting he subtly indicated to push for the installation of the `unethical council’ since council elections were not contested on any banner having political affiliation,” Trajano said.  

He demanded that the meeting called before the Mapusa SDM on Tuesday be not influenced by the ruling powers.

Meanwhile, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Monday defended their protest held at St Xavier’s College, over non-installation of the student council for 2022-23. The ABVP accused the college administration of ‘trying to kill democracy’ by denying holding students council’s installation ceremony. 

Addressing mediapersons, the council general secretary Sahil Mahajan accused the college management of working against democracy and for threatening students against participating in the protest held on Saturday. 

 “It has been two months now but every time we approach the principal, requesting to conduct installation, the same is ignored. We are even not allowed to function as council, since we are affiliated to ABVP,” said Mahajan. 

Mahajan further accused the management of threatening the students to vote against him.