Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 23: Agitating students of University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET) and ABVP activists, who are demanding restoration of UIET to Jammu University, today gheraoed the Minister of State for Education, Priya Sethi when she visited JU campus in connection with a function here.
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The agitating students blocked the Minister’s official vehicle, which was not allowed to move out. In an attempt to pacify the slogan shouting students, the Minister came out of the vehicle and sought to explain that she was not part of the Cabinet, which had decided to take over control of UIET from JU.
However, the MoS announced her support to the cause of the students and said that she would take up the matter with the senior Ministers seeking reversal of the Cabinet decision on UIET.
The incident took place as soon as the Minister came out of the conference venue. UIET students, their parents and ABVP activists tried to stop her seeking explanation behind the Government move of taking over control of UIET and eroding autonomy of Jammu University.
Sensing possible trouble, the Minister preferred to leave the venue and slipped into her official vehicle. However, the agitating students gheraoed the vehicle following which the Minister came out and stated that she was not fully aware of the matter as the decision on UIET was taken by Cabinet.
The protesting students and ABVP activists earlier took out a protest march in the university premises, from the Mathematics Department to Brig Rajinder Singh Auditorium where MoS Education was scheduled to arrive.
They were raising slogans against the Government for taking no cognizance of their demand for the last 20 days. They were also critical to the elected representatives from Jammu, who did not visit the protest dharna despite their chain hunger strike in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s Secretariat for the last eight days.
A number of students from various departments of Jammu University also boycotted their classes and joined the protesters for extending their support to the demand on UIET.
Parents of UIET students were also participating in the protest.
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