BANGALORE: Bangalore University (BU) Vice-Chancellor Dr N Prabhu Dev may become the first VC to seek police protection. In an open letter to the press, he has stated that an atmosphere of ‘hate’ and ‘intolerance’ had forced him to visit the university campus with police security on Wednesday. Dr Prabhu Dev told Express that he has not formally applied for police protection. “If things continue the way they are, then I may be forced to seek police protection,” he said. In his letter, he stated, “I hate to go to my office under police protection. It is a blot on the academic values of the university system. But an atmosphere has been created that I cannot go to the Jnana Bharathi campus (JBC) without police security.”The JBC, of late, has seen hundreds of members from the Postgraduate and Research Students’ Forum and Non-Teaching Staff Association holding rallies against the VC’s alleged absence of more than 50 days at the University’s campus. The VC explained that university has three campuses - Central College, Jnana Bharathi and Kolar PG Centre - and that there are no statutes in the Karnataka State Universities (KSU) Act, 2000 that prescribed one single office from which the VC has to function. “Now, I am working from the Central College office as we have to prepare a major project presentation along with a few professors before the University Grants Commission (UGC). Over the last month, an atmosphere of hate and intolerance is pervading in the JBC,” explained Prabhu Dev. He wrote, “One one hand, representations are sent to the media that I am not coming. On the other, about 100-150 students are ready to gherao and ill treat me as soon as I reach office. It is not important where I function from. What is important is how I function.” He added that it was for the public to judge his performance. “The vested interests are trying to destroy the good name of the university. I believe in the path of conciliation and not confrontation. Those who have any issues are welcome for discussion, but please come with an open mind,” wrote Vice-Chancellor Prabhu Dev.
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