Sena, Wilson back teacher

A day after activists from National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) paraded Professor Vilas Athawale of Wilson College, the issue gained political overtones with the Shiv Sena sternly warning the NSUI against such mischief.

Sena leader Sanjay Sawant accused NSUI of blackmailing Wilson. “The NSUI wanted a piece of the admission pie and are raking up a dead issue,” he said. He said that the Sena and its student body would oppose such “hooliganism”.

Abhijeet Panse, president of the Bhartiya Vidyarthi Sena, gave Athawale a clean chit. “We have looked into the matter. We have spoken to all concerned and didn’t find any truth in the allegations against Athawale.”

Wilson College conducted a press conference to denounce Friday’s incident. Principal VJ Sirwaiya said that NSUI was arm-twisting the college for a certain number of seats. He dismissed NSUI’s allegations as malicious and said the matter had been settled to the girl’s satisfaction in August 2005. The college will take up the matter with the Congress high command.