Sri Vijaya Puram, February 15 A 14-hour shutdown was called across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Monday to protest the proposal to establish a deemed university and the planned affiliation of seven government colleges under it, replacing their existing affiliation with Pondicherry University, organizers said on Saturday.
The shutdown, scheduled from 6 am to 8 pm, has been called by the Joint Action Forum Against Deemed University, a conglomerate of over 100 organizations, including travel and tourism associations, hotel and trade bodies, shop owners' groups, transport unions, NGOs, and several political parties, excluding the BJP.
Representatives of the forum said the agitation seeks to protect the academic interests of island students and ensure the continuity and recognition of degrees currently awarded under Pondicherry University. A delegation of the forum is scheduled to meet senior administrative authorities on February 16 to submit a charter of demands, including the withdrawal of the proposed move.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (South Andaman) Shweta K Sugathan said the intimation letter submitted by the Joint Action Forum regarding the shutdown had been rejected, and warned that action would be taken against any unlawful activity.
District Magistrate of South Andaman, Poorva Garg, has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) across the district.
The forum, however, maintained that the shutdown would be peaceful and voluntary, without coercion, and that essential passenger movement would not be affected.
The forum claimed that a majority of islanders opposed bringing the existing government colleges under the proposed Deemed University framework.
The BJP, in a statement, expressed support for the proposed deemed university, stating that it would strengthen higher education opportunities in the islands.