KOLHAPUR, February 9: The agitating Shivaji University employees have threatened to resort to an indefinite strike from Monday, adding a twist to the impasse that currently has engulfed the campus.The Shivaji Vidyapeeth Sevak Sangh (SVSS) had intensified its campaign against vice-chancellor D N Dhanagre at a meeting with the university management council members three weeks ago by accusing him of being responsible for an untimely death of Sangh leader V R Patil. In a letter to Chancellor P C Alexander and Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, the Sangh has demanded removal of Dhanagre.
The university management council, meanwhile, has requested the union not to go on strike as most of their demands have been accepted.
The Sangh recently came out with a booklet mounting criticism against alleged administrative lapses and has demanded a further inquiry. The Sangh is also pressing for an inquiry into the university squandering huge amounts in renovating a bungalow allotted to the pro-vice-chancellor N BPatil.
They lost Patil in the battle and now would only settle the matter by removing Dhanagare, SVSS spokesman Shrikant Shinde said. Dhanagare, who kept himself away from commenting on the issue publicly during the 13-day mourning after V R Patil's death, refuted all the SVSS charges while speaking to the The Indian Express.
The demand for his removal was not a sequel to V R Patil's demise, Dhanagare maintained, making a point that the demand was always there in all the agitations on the campus since September 96. ``A lobby is active against me right from the day I came here. A few corrupt elements are provoking the sentiments of the university employees who are otherwise cooperative.''
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
