Governor's speech sparks violence in Sanskrit University

Varanasi, Feb 9 (UNI) Five students were injured as police lathicharged violent protestors at Sampoornand Sanskrit University (SSU) campus here this evening over Uttar Pradesh Governor T V Rajeswar's speech pertaining to Sanskrit education during the varsity's 27th convocation.

A student was also detainedby the plice in this connection.

The incident occured when the Governor, also the Chancellor of the University, while delivering the presidential address made statements pertaining to the relevance of Sanskrit education in the modern era, which provoked the students.

In his address, Mr Rajeswar questioned the relevance of Sanskrit in modern and professional era. ''Times have changed now and exclusive Sanskrit eduation is beneficial for those, who only want to become priests or Sanskrit teachers,'' he observed.

The governor said ''if you want to succeed professionally, earn Rs two-three lakh per month or go abroad...you must be proficient in English and not only Sanskrit. Studying Sanskrit only is like living in the era of bullock cart at a time, when the man has successfully made his presence felt on the moon.'' Mr Rajeswar added ''efforts will be made to introduce English as a compulsory subject in the Sanskrit varsity's curriculum.

Agitated students started raising anti-governor slogans and tried throwing chairs on the dias. The national anthem was sung hurriedly and the governor taken out safely amid tight vigil. The students did not stop there and took to street pelting stones just when Mr Rajeswar's motorcade was leaving.

The students continued with the violence, pelting stones in the campus and on policemen. The police resorted to lathicharge to quell the agitated mob, resulting in injuries to five students. A student, Prem Chand Nag, was detained.

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