Dejagow began the strike at 6 am and lay on a fast for 12 hours, from Sri Vekannaiah Vedike, at Sri Vivekananda PU College premises, Kuvempu Trust in Jayalakshmipuram. Incidentally, it was Dejagow’s birthday too.
Speaking to media, Dejagow compared himself to Dasharatha of Ramayana. He also claimed comparison with a more recent personality, Motilal Nehru, father of Jawaharlal Nehru. Both Dhrutharashtra and Motilal loved their sons, Dejagow observed, defending his jumping to the defence of his son. ‘Dasharatha died after learning about his son Rama going on exile, while Nehru senior preferred to live an ascetic life when his son was jailed” during the Independence movement.
Shashidhar Prasad is facing charges of corruption in the recruitment of faculties during his tenure between 2003 and 2007. Justice Rangavittalachar Commission that had been constituted to probe into the charges, had held Prasad guilty.
“All the recruitments could not have been made without the consent of then Syndicate of the University, followed by the registrar and other officers concerned. When this is the reality, why only my son should be made scapegoat?” Dejagow shotback. He was also contemptuous of those seeking action against his son.
“Do they know the meaning of the word ‘corruption’? It is nothing but a political conspiracy that has been hatched against my family,” Dejagow alleged. If any action was contemplated by the university, he would launch fast unto death, and would write a death note, charging those responsible for raking up the issue of being responsible for his death.
