PANAJI
Goa Police on Saturday lathi-charged National Students Union of India (NSUI) activists and detained some of them, after they resorted to a protest march towards the Chief Minister’s residence in Altinho to push for online exams for third year students pursuing degree courses in Goa University.
The police stopped the protesting NSUI activists at the Panaji Church Square and lathi charged them to disperse the crowd. Some of the detained activists were later released by police.
Condemning the police action on NSUI activists, NSUI President Naushad Chowdhari said the BJP government did not allow students to protest in democratic way.
"The BJP has proved that it has no concern towards the student community and targets them if issues are raised. This should not happen in democracy,” said Chowdhari.
"Many students have tested positive for Covid and the third wave is on the surge. In this dangerous situation, we demand that the government conduct online courses and cancel examinations in offline mode,” said Chowdhari.
Chowdhari has warned that students will boycott examinations en masse if the government does not listen to their demand and continue to hold examinations in the offline mode.
“When professors are holding meetings in online mode to decide about examinations, why are examinations conducted in offline mode,” asked Chowdhari.
“Online classes should be restarted to stop the spread of the virus. Exams should be conducted in online mode. Colleges are starting from Monday and so the State government should take immediate decisions,” said Chowdhari.
Chowdhari showed media persons the Covid reports of over 20 students from colleges who had tested positive and these included students who have been double vaccinated.
“How will these students answer their exams,” asked Chowdhari.
