Sena to protest VJTI acronym use

The Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Sena, Shiv Sena and Yuva Sena have decided to protest on Monday against the Director of VJTI for not using the full form of the institute's name on their banner during a convocation ceremony on February 23.

Sena, its youth wing and the Rajya Shikshak Sena, a teachers union at VJTI, consider the use of the acronym instead of the full version, 'Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute', as an insult to Veermata Jijabai, mother of 17th century Maratha king Shivaji.

According to sources from the institute, the banner used in convocation ceremonies every year mentions the full name of the institute. But this year, when the staff members gave a draft of the banner with the full name to Director Dhiren Patel, he asked to use the abbreviation.

Dr Manisha Kayande, Sena spokesperson, said, "This is an insult to a great woman who gave birth to a leader like Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj. We will protest at the VJTI campus and demand an unconditional apology."

Director Patel, said, "People cannot read the whole name from a distance because it has a smaller font. Hence, I asked to use the abbreviation."