MYSURU
A tense argument broke out among research students at the University of Mysuru during a protest on Monday, leading police to intervene and restore calm. Students questioned whether the Researchers Association should participate in a demonstration supporting activist Sonam Wangchuk and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The hunger strike was organised at Gandhi Bhavan auditorium with support from several organisations, including the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti and farmers’ groups. Some research students demanded that Association president Varahalli Anand remove the association banner from the protest. When the request was refused, both sides exchanged sharp words, creating a tense atmosphere inside the venue.
Police officers immediately stepped in to prevent the situation from turning violent. Farmer leaders, Dalit Sangharsh Samiti representatives and other organisers also appealed for peace, but the arguments continued for some time. As tensions increased, some students tried to reach the stage and remove the association banner, resulting in another verbal confrontation with Anand before police restored order.
According to the protesting students, they were unhappy because the association had allegedly not supported their ongoing agitation demanding scholarships for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe research students. Anand defended his position, saying he had extended support to the scholarship protest earlier. Following police warnings, several students left the venue and the programme continued peacefully. The incident ended without any physical violence, but it highlighted differences among research students over the association’s role in public protests and campus issues.