High drama as PSI exam candidates try to gherao Kumaraswamy’s car in Dharwad

DHARWAD: High drama prevailed at the Karnatak University here on Saturday when former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy to meet guest lecturers who are on protest for the last 6 days seeking fulfilment of their demands.

As Kumaraswamy was exiting the university, unsuccessful candidateswho had written the PSI recruitment test tried to gherao his SUV and ran behind the vehicle. The driver of the SUV sped away before the crowd could catch up. In the melee, the former CM’s gunman assaulted one of the candidates.

Kumaraswamy, who had earlier met the PSI exam candidates, was visibly upset. Speaking to reporters, he said, “Even before I met the vice-chancellor, I heard the PSI exam candidates. I even asked them if such was their behaviour, how could they become police officers? There are two groups among them — one group which doesn’t want re-exam and another which is insisting on it. I received representations from both sides”, he said.

One of the candidates being assaulted by Kumaraswamy’s gunman.

“Had they come to present a memorandum or behave like rowdies? Somebody had sent an arranged crowd to create a ruckus. Why should I get drawn into it? I have seen such things before. How did they know I was coming her? I heard them out earlier itself, then why did they have to gherao my car later again? The government has said said it will conduct a re-exam. When the legislature meets, we can raise the issue”, he noted.

Referring to the chants of “Modi, Modi” by the PSI exam candidates, he said, “Let them go to Modi.”

Former CM H D Kumaraswamy addressing the media in Dharwad on Saturday.

Regarding the protest by the guest teachers, Kumaraswamy said, “I have spokent to the vice-chancellor and we dicuseed how the issue can be resolved. The teachers have four demands and I have appealed to the V-C to resolve the issue.”