DIBRUGARH, Sept 23 � Youth icon Rahul Gandhi, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary�s visit to Dibrugarh University here was marked by protest by students of the University, who waved black flags and raised anti Gandhi slogans on his arrival at the Rang Ghar auditorium this afternnoon. Students also hurled black flags at the Congress leader while he was leaving the venue after the programme.
The Post Graduate Students� Union of the University had announced to boycott Gandhi�s interaction programme yesterday evening as they were not informed about the visit of the political leader. The students� community also took offence at the fact that the Vice Chancellor Dr K K Deka had allegedly organised the programme on his own and had not consulted the recognised students� body of the University.
�Moreover, when we have been demanding resignation of the Vice Chancellor for his high handedness since past two and a half months, how can we attend his programmes,� Lurinjyoti Gogoi, All Assam Students� Union (AASU) central executive member from the University unit said. Stating that Rahul Gandhi�s visit to the University was politically motivated, the student leader said educational institutions should not be used for poltical
purposes.
It needs mention here that the Rang Ghar auditorium was filled with students from Assam Medical College and other nearby colleges. PGSU claimed those attended were members of National Students Union of India (NSUI). Only some fifty students from the University attended the interaction programme. What transpired in the programme could not be gathered as media was denied entry into the venue.
Earlier, the police forces had tough time controlling the agitating students minutes before the arival of the Congress leader. The students were making bids to gain entry into the auditorium campus to stage protest. The SPG had ordered locking of the gates of the auditorium campus as the tension was building. One Ranjan Bora, a protesting student undergoing course in Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Application injured his left hand during police jostling.
Earlier, Rahul was accorded a warm welcome at Dibrugarh�s Mohanbari Airport by local NSUI leaders and Youth Congress leaders, and a group of State ministers, besides Dibrugarh MP Paban Singh Ghatowar and MLAs from the district.
Meanwhile, the students of the University gheraoed the Vice Chancellor yet again after the departure of Rahul Gandhi and asked him to explain why he was bringing in politics inside the University. They also demanded explanation why students of the University were not invited for the interactive programme. Vice Chancellor was still in a meeting with the students at the auditorim during the filing of this report.
