Kalam, Manmohan Urged To Order Probe Into MS Univ Affair

New Delhi, Jun 13 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have been petitioned to order an inquiry into the assault on a student last month over work-- 'allegedly offensive paintings'-- submitted for examination.

Baroda-based Maharaja Sayajirao University's Fine Arts faculty student Chandra Mohan was targetted on May 9 by ''members of a political party'' who destroyed his work and had him arrested.

''This is not an internal matter of the university since it involves outside public intervention in the functions of the university,'' Professors Deepak Nayyar, Romila Thapar and Andre Betaille wrote in a memorandum to Drs Kalam and Singh.

The petition released today urged institution of an independent inquiry committee by the governor-- ''not by the vice chancellor since his actions are being inquired into.'' Prof Shivaji Panikker, Dean, who intervened to protect the student, was suspended by the VC.

UNI