Godiyal accuses BJP of intimidating & arresting Cong supported candidates in student union elections

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun

Pradesh Congress Committee president Ganesh Godiyal has accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of misusing the police and administration for intimidating and arresting the leaders and workers of Congress-backed student organisations in the student union elections in the colleges of Uttarakhand held on Tuesday. In a statement, Godiyal said student union elections are an important means of democratic values, freedom of expression and student political participation in universities and colleges. He alleged that the BJP government, anticipating its possible defeat in the student union elections, attempted to pressure the leaders and candidates of Congress-backed student organizations.

Godiyal said the BJP government has now extended its tendency to use government machinery for political purposes to university and college student union elections. Police presence in student union elections should be for fair and peaceful conduct, not to protect the interests of any political party, he said.

The PCC president warned that if the misuse of the police and administration to influence student union elections continues, it will strongly oppose it democratically and launch a state-wide movement to protect student interests and democratic rights. “The Congress said the BJP government should understand that the police force cannot suppress student voices. Students will respond with their right to vote and oppose any attempt to undermine democracy,’’ he said.