Students and teaching faculty of Hassan University, facing the threat of closure, staged a protest on the university campus near Hassan on Monday. They demanded that the State government retain the university for the benefit of students from the Hassan district.
The Cabinet sub-committee, headed by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, has recently recommended the closure of nine of 10 new universities, including Hassan University.
The students and faculty boycotted classes, raised slogans against the government, and stressed the need to retain the university that came into existence in March 2023. The protesters said that the university was set up in Hassan considering the low admission rate in higher education in Hassan district.
But if it was closed, many students might not take up higher studies. Those who wish to pursue higher education might have to travel to other districts, said the protesters
They also threatened to intensify the protest if the government went ahead with the proposed plan.
The agitation was led by student leaders – Pushpavathi, Ashok, Prem Kumar, and others.
