Shastri flays Singh for dismissing Vora

AHMEDABAD, Nov 16: "We must oppose the wrongful dismissal of Gujarat University Vice-Chancellor S B Vora by the Governor," said Pro Vice-Chancellor K S Shastri while addressing an audience taking part in a dharna here on Monday staged in protest against dismissal of Vora on November 9. Shastri is the president of the Gujarat University Area Teachers Association (GUATA) who are opposing the dismissal.

Gujarat University College Management Association, Gujarat University Principals’ Association, Gujarat University Teachers Association and various non-teaching associations attached to the university participated in the dharna. Former Vice-Chancellor M N Desai said, "We have a tradition of solving our problems with dialogue and not by dispute. Most speakers stressed that the university was an autonomous body and the government instead of solving pressing issues like price rise and scarcity of basic items was trying to chase non-issues."

Well-known poet Chinubhai Modi said Governor Anshuman Singh was trying to become God and meddle in university affairs. Many other speakers including former education minister P D Pandhya and Member of Parliament Urmilaben Patel also criticised the Governor for his role in dismissal of Vora.

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Other prominent persons to participate in the dharna were former deputy chief minister Narhari Amin who is also an executive council member, Gujarat Law Society managing trustee Sudhir Nanavati and former Vice-Chancellor M N Desai along with college principals, teachers and non-teaching staff.

National Students Union of India (NSUI) and Mahagujarat Chhatra Parishad (MCP) also took part in the dharna. The student had allegedly even burnt a AMTS bus in protest against the dismissal. Meanwhile, All India Student Organisation (AISO) members shouted slogans against the dharna and condemned the dharna.