Minister vows to end Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University stir

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Agriculture Minister K. P. Mohanan has initiated steps to end the agitation at the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and bridle Vice-Chancellor Dr. B. Ashok, who has been accused of being autocratic.

He has held conciliatory talks with Kerala Veterinary University Teachers Association and Teachers Organisation of Veterinary University Kerala as well as students and sought two weeks’ time to settle the issues.

“The minister is keen to solve the issue which has bogged down the KVASU. Since the minister is also the pro-chancellor of the KVASU, he can intervene in the issue. The minister has agreed to stop the irregular appointments with immediate effect,” said a source.

There was an allegation that Dr T. P. Sethumadhavan, who was serving as a senior veterinary surgeon in the animal husbandry department, was posted the director of entrepreneurship in the scale of a senior professor with double his previous salary violating the norms of the UGC .

SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan has rejected the allegation that he has supported Dr Ashok.

“I have hardly made any communication with Dr Ashok recently and you can check my call list,” Mr Vellapally told DC.

“The allegation that I am supporting Dr Ashok has been triggered by vested interests to tarnish my image.”

Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan has also changed his stand on Dr Ashok after realising that he was misled.