UAS students boycott exams opposing privatisation

Students of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) boycotted their semester exams protesting the government's move to privatise agricultural universities in the state.

Over 1000 students are taking part in the protest in various agricultural colleges across Karnataka.

The 14-day protest by the students is said to continue till the government acts on their demands.

"We won't call off our protest till the government acts on our demands. Our parents have been threatened by the government to quell our protest," said Ramesh, a student leader at GKVK, Bengaluru.

Starting Monday (June 25), the second and fourth semester exams are scheduled go on till July 6.

"The university must reschedule our exams. They might have made all arrangements, but no student will attend the exams. The university will be forced to reschedule because of zero attendance," added Ramesh.

Apart from GKVK, Bengaluru, the students of agricultural sciences colleges in Raichur, Dharwad and Shivamogga have also boycotted their exams.

Registrar AB Patil said, "Including supplementary students, none of them have attended the exam. So Vice-Chancellor (VC) will chair the meeting and take decision on rescheduling the exam."