Elected representatives and activists resolve to fight to retain Hassan University

Hassan Lok Sabha member Shreyas M. Patel has assured the people of Hassan that he will make efforts to retain Hassan University in the city and is ready to take a delegation to meet the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and others in this regard.

Mr. Patel spoke at a round-table meeting convened by progressive groups of Hassan on launching a struggle to oppose any move to close the university. Recently, the Cabinet sub-committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar favoured the closure of nine universities, including Hassan University, set up in 2023.

Mr. Patel said that the government had not taken a decision to close the university. The matter was still under consideration. “There is no need to worry. We will fight to retain it, keeping aside all political affiliation,” he said.

JD(S) MLA for Arkalgud A. Manju felt that there had already been a delay in responding to the issue. The government might decide to merge Hassan University with Mysuru University. “However, we will make all efforts to retain the varsity”, he said.

Kannada Sahitya Parishat district president H.L. Mallesh Gowda stressed the need for strengthening State universities. “If the State universities were closed, the private universities would grow stronger, and with that, people from poor backgrounds would lose access to higher education,” he said.

The participants of the meeting resolved to intensify their protest to retain the university in Hassan. They decided to put pressure on the State government against any move to close the university.

Hassan University Ulisi Horata Samiti president Y.S. Veerabhadrappa, journalist R.P. Venkateshamurthy, Dharmesh of CPM, H.K. Sandesh of DSS, writer Rupa Hassan, poet Ja.Na. Tejashree, activists H.R. Naveen Kumar, M.G. Pruthvi, Ahmed Hagare, and others participated in the meeting.