The manner in which Shiv Sena protested for demanding the ouster of Mumbai University’s Vice Chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh for delay in declaration or results shows that all is not well between Sena and BJP. Despite being an alliance partner of BJP, Sena has always expressed its displeasure over the former’s functioning. Sena is one of the few parties that severely criticises the policies of its alliance partner BJP. Earlier Yuva Sena leader Aditya Thackeray had posted tweets and had demanded the resignation of education minister Vinod Tawde and Mumbai University Vice-Chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh for mismanagement of the Mumbai University.
Ramdas Kadam, state Environment Minister, “I support the stand taken by Aditya Thackeray against Tawde and Sanjay Deshmukh. I can’t ask Vinod Tawde to step down as we are having an alliance with BJP in the state.”
AIMIM MLA, Waris Pathan said, “The government is not serious about the problems faced by students. They should resolve the issue of online assessment soon to ease the woes of students. It is not good to see Sena protesting against BJP with whom they are sharing power in the state.”
“The deadline given to the Mumbai University for declaring results, by Hon’ble Chancellor is over. Yet no results. Shame. This absolute failure by Mumbai University is only an insult of orders of office of Hon’ble Chancellor, but also plays with future of students” tweeted Aditya Thackeray. Shiv Sena supporters took to social media by trending #BogasTavde and protested against the letdown by education minister.
“VC Sanjay Deshmukh should accept the moral responsibility of holding students to ransom and step down. I had held the post of Mumbai university vice-chancellor from 2000 to 2004. There have been delays in announcement of results several times in the past, but this is just unprecedented,” said Bhalchandra Mungekar, former vice-chancellor of Mumbai University.
Sharad Dighe a student of Mumbai University said, “Who will pay the compensation and damages to students? The education minister is only giving excuses about carrying out probe but they fail to take responsibility. Students are the sufferers. Unless MU pays they won’t understand. The money should be recovered from Mumbai University staff’s salary.”
State education minister Vinod Tawde said the government will conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the delay in paper assessment and declaration of results by the University of Mumbai (MU). With members of the state legislative council pressing for action against vice-chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh, Tawde said the government would convey the sentiments of the house to governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who would be a competent authority to take any action.
Tawde said, “I am very much aware that the students are distressed due to delay in declaration of results. An inquiry will be held against the person responsible for the delay in declaration of results.”
Tawde informed the legislative assembly that the tenders for the assessment of the answer sheets were floated only after the exams were over and that an inquiry would be conducted to look at the lapses.
