Chennithala demands "open explanation" from govt

Kochi, Aug 3 (UNI) Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Ramesh Chennithala today demanded that the state government should give an ''open explanation'' to the public on the self-financing colleges issue and arrive at a consensus through negotiations without jeopardising the future of the students.

''The government owes an explantion to the public on the issue and instead of treading the path of ''confrontation'' the state should be open for talks with the managements of the professional colleges and student unions to settle the issue,'' Mr Chennithala said at a press conference here.

He said the government should covene an all-party meeting on the issue instead of having ''secret meetings'' with the managements.

'There should be a social control of education and the poor students should not be denied their right to education,'' he added.

The interests of the minorities should also be protected, Mr Chennithala noted.

A Division Bench of the High Court on July 29 rejected the state government's appeal by upholding the July 18 interim order on admission to 50 per cent management quota for this academic year.

Taking strong exception to the reactions of the Students Federation of India (SFI) on the interim order by the High Court, he said it was against the true spirit of the administration of justice.

''The SFI is threatening everyone including the court. The judges are crticised and verdicts ridiculed. They are destroying the properties of management colleges with impunity,'' Mr Chennithala alleged.

He said the situation was getting serious and the government should act judiciously.

On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on August 20, the party would conduct seminars, exhibitions, blood donation camps and other programmes in the state, he added.

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