The heads of various educational institutes in the city will meet higher education minister Dilip Walse-Patil on Saturday to request the government to make a law regarding attacks on the institutes.
After four attacks on educational institutes in four days by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) members, heads of the educational institutes held a joint press conference on July 17 to condemn the attacks. S B Mujumdar, founder-director Symbiosis Society, V D Karad, founder-director, Maharashtra Institute of Technology (MIT), Tarita Mehendale, president of Shree Chanakya Education Society which runs Indira Institute, Rahul Karad, executive director, MIT, Vidya Terawadekar, principal director, Symbiosis, Vishwajeet Kadam, secretary, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Prachee Jawadekar, director, Indira Institute of Management and Somnath Patil of D Y Patil Deemed University were present.
Alleging that students from outside the state were given preference, MNS started its agitation. MIT, Indira Institute, Raisoni institute and Bharati Vidyapeeth were attacked. The institute heads pointed out that it was time to make laws to stop attacks on educational institutes. “We have sought an appointment with Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh also,” said Yerawadekar. Karad said every institute in the city admits students according to the norms set by the Supreme Court and policies drawn by the state government. Such acts of violence could divert several students who come to Pune not only from Maharashtra but also from different parts of the country to other places, he said. Former Union Minister and president of Vanrai Mohan Dharia has condemned the attacks. “It is possible that Marathi people living in north India could face repercussions of such attacks. It will be a threat to the integrity of our country,” said Dharia.