AGARTALA: The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) held a press conference here on Monday, where senior leaders launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state over the state of education, while announcing fresh agitation programmes.
All-India General Secretary Srijan Bhattacharya alleged that ABVP-backed Yuva Morcha activists were attacking SFI workers, claiming this amounted to denying Tripura’s students their right to education and free speech. He alleged that school education, once strengthened under the Manik Sarkar government, had since been “destroyed,” citing 360 schools functioning with a single teacher each. Citing the NEET-UG controversy, he demanded Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, claiming the CPI(M) and several other organisations had echoed the demand nationwide.
Tripura State Secretary Srijan Dev said SFI would organise programmes across subdivisions over the next two months against privatisation and the proposed Private University Bill, demanding adequate teacher recruitment and campus security.
West Bengal State Secretary Debanjan Dey alleged that ABVP’s “dominance” had been established in colleges, vowing to continue the fight to protect educational institutions.