PM urges Visva Bharati teachers, employees to end agitation

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today appealed to the agitating employees and teachers of the Visva Bharati University at Santiniketan in West Bengal to desist from disrupting normal life and academic activities and withdraw their agitation.

"I have been deeply pained by the turn of events at the Visva Bharati University during the last few days leading to the disruption of academic activities and normal life in the campus," the Prime Minister, who is the Chancellor of the University, said in a statement.

"I appeal to all those who are involved in the agitation that they should desist from disrupting normal life and academic activities and withdraw the agitation. Thereafter, I will ensure that an impartial inquiry is conducted into the circumstances leading to the agitation and the allegations that have been leveled against the university authorities and other concerned entities," he said.

Visva Bharati was declared as a Central University and an institution of national importance by an Act of Parliament in May, 1951. The President of India is the Visitor of the university and the Governor of West Bengal its Rector.

The employees and teachers of the university have been on a relay hunger strike since October 24 demanding an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into alleged irregularities by the Vice-Chancellor.

NNN