THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan has demanded the immediate intervention of Governor H R Bharadwaj to quash what he called the illegal action of the Calicut University of awarding land to private trusts and community organisations. He demanded the expulsion of the varsity Vice-Chancellor and dissolution of the UDF Government-nominated Syndicate and a comprehensive inquiry into their activities aimed at both ‘alienating valuable properties and promoting privatisation.’ In a letter sent to the Governor, who is the Chancellor of the varsity, Achuthanandan said that 10 acres of land of the varsity had been gifted to Grace Education Trust headed by Panakkad Hyderali Shihab Thangal. It is meant to establish a self-financed college and shopping complex and convert it into a permanent centre of IUML, he alleged. Three acres of land situated near the National Highway has been handed over to an organisation headed by the father-in-law of Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty to set up a badminton court.Moves are afoot to gift 30 acres of land to an organisation named Olympic Association controlled by the relative of Panchayath Minister M K Muneer. All these actions were initiated when an earlier decision of the varsity Syndicate not to grant land for any organisations was existing, the Opposition Leader pointed out in the letter. Achuthanandan said that the Vice-Chancellor had even imposed a ban on agitations inside the campus by availing a court order citing that he had threats to his life. Employees are being subjected to threats and show cause notices are being issued for no reason, so as to demoralise the work force. Amidst all these happenings, the Syndicate which met last month, gave the approval to start 37 self-financing colleges, Achuthanandan said. Only by removing the present Vice-Chancellor and electing a new Syndicate and Senate in a democratic manner could the issues be resolved, the Opposition Leader said and urged the Governor to initiate steps in this regard.
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