Gujarat: Principal who asked pupils to join BJP quits

RAJKOT: The acting principal of a Bhavnagar college who had asked the students to become BJP members resigned from her post on Monday, following protests by Congress workers and NSUI members. She was subsequently sent on leave by Bhavnagar University until an inquiry in the matter was completed.
Ranjan Gohil, acting principal of N C Gandhi and B V Gandhi Mahila Arts and Commerce College, had issued a notice to all students on June 24.The notice said, "All the students should bring their passport size photo to register as page committee members in BJP."
The notice said that those students living in the jurisdiction of Bhavnagar Municipal Corporation are eligible to become members. "To join the membership campaign of the BJP, all the students should come to the college with their mobile phones from tomorrow," the notice read.
This notice by Gohil who teaches political science created a controversy after it went viral on the social media. She withdrew the same notice on Monday morning by issuing a rejoinder that said: "I did not get instruction from anybody for issuing such a notice. The notice was issued by my misunderstanding and I withdraw that notice by this notification."
On Monday afternoon, Congress workers and NSUI members protested before the vice-chancellor of Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University and demanded strong action against the acting principal. When contacted, vice-chancellor M M Trivedi said: "I called all the trustees of the college and asked them to conduct an internal enquiry in this matter by forming a committee. The acting principal was sent on leave till the committee completes the inquiry in order to see that she does not tamper with the evidence."
Dhiren Vaishnav, a trustee of the college, said: "This college is a non-political educational institute and we do not endorse her act. She herself resigned from the position when she realised that she made a mistake."