The Opposition Nationalist Congress Get together (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) on March 23 alleged college students of a faculty in Mumbai’s Kandivali space had been pressured to hearken to the speech of Dhruv Goyal, the son of Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who’s the BJP’s Mumbai North Lok Sabha candidate.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Aaditya Thackeray alleged college students’ IDs had been confiscated to pressure them to attend the occasion the place Goyal junior delivered the speech, whereas NCP(SP) MLA Awhad uploaded a video on X through which a scholar may be seen elevating an objection.
Thakur Faculty of Science and Commerce, submit the controversy, mentioned the occasion aimed to encourage college students, significantly first-time voters, to take part within the upcoming normal elections however added “the matter”, probably a reference to college students being pressured to attend, was “under review”.
The faculty additionally accused Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Priyanka Chaturvedi of “disseminating a manipulated video pertaining to the interaction seemingly with political motivations”.
Mr. Thackeray, in his message on X, slammed the Union Authorities and mentioned it was sending a message to the world that it doesn’t want the nation stays a democracy anymore.
“Here, the IDs of the students were confiscated to force them to attend a talk by the son of a BJP candidate in North Mumbai a day before their exams. Because obviously even on passing, under this govt, where are the jobs? Rather waste their time on lectures taken by sons of candidates,” he mentioned mocking the ruling celebration.
Will the principal be suspended for such a horrible act, Mr. Thackeray requested.
In an announcement, Kandivali-based Thakur Faculty of Science and Commerce principal C.T. Chakraborty mentioned the establishment hosted an occasion aimed toward encouraging college students, significantly first-time voters. to take part within the upcoming normal elections.
She blamed Ms. Chaturvedi for the “manipulated video” of the occasion and alleged, “This led to an unwarranted controversy overshadowing what was otherwise a successful and well-received event”.
The engagement and dialogue with Dhruv Goyal had been positively obtained by college students, Ms. Chakraborty claimed within the assertion.
“We wish to clarify that during the post-event interaction, a query was raised by a student on a topic that Dhruv Goyal was not previously acquainted with. The matter is under review by our institution,” the faculty principal mentioned.
The faculty additionally posted a video of Dhruv Goyal apologising to the scholars saying it (taking IDs to get them to attend the occasion) will not occur once more.
Mr. Awhad mentioned he would assist college students in each manner if they’re harassed by faculty authorities over this episode.
“When students protest, revolution begins,” the NCP (SP) MLA added.
In the meantime, Ms. Chaturvedi known as the faculty’s allegation towards her laughable.
In an announcement, she mentioned the faculty had organised an occasion on their campus ostensibly underneath the garb of ‘voter consciousness marketing campaign’ and had invited Dhruv Goyal, son of Union Minister Piyush Goyal who additionally occurs to be the candidate from that constituency, to talk to the scholars.
A voter consciousness marketing campaign can’t have the presence of just one candidate’s member of the family, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief identified.
The scholars objected to being made to compulsorily attend the occasion so that they shared a video on varied social media handles, Ms. Chaturvedi mentioned, including it was extensively reported within the media that their ID playing cards had been taken away to make sure participation.
“They (students) also mentioned they had an exam the next day, which clearly the host of the event is heard stating. I shared a video which was widely shared by media. However Thakur College has accused me of manipulating the video, which is laughable,” she mentioned.
Ms. Chaturvedi wrote to the faculty that the video she tweeted was from a information deal with and never manipulated.
“You have raised a serious charge against me and I can file a defamation (suit) against your institution,” she warned and sought an apology.