The 185-year-old Oxford Union is a very prestigious organisation that has had famous presidents, including the recently-assassinated Benazir Bhutto.
Newly-elected president disqualified from office because of foul play LONDON: The 185-year-old Oxford Union is a very prestigious organisation that has had famous presidents, including the recently-assassinated Benazir Bhutto.
However, a newly-elected president has been disqualified from office because of foul play. Krishna Omkar, a 23-year-old PhD student from New Delhi, was accused of breaking the union’s strict rules over campaigning by his rival, Charlotte Fischer.
Omkar is studying sociology at Merton College and was friends with Fischer until they broke up over inviting British National Party leader Nick Griffen and the right-wing author David Irving to speak at the Union. Fischer, a Jew, wanted the invites to be withdrawn, but Omkar said they should be allowed in the interest of free speech.
Omkar won the election for the presidency for the summer term in November beating Fischer by 959 votes to 658. However, 21-year-old Fischer, who studies modern history and politics at Balliol College, complained of foul play.
She claimed that Omkar had held a meeting for 30 people in a hired room on the eve-of-the-poll, which was contrary to union rules that disallows electioneering. She also claimed that the Delhite sent e-mails soliciting votes.
At a series of lengthy university tribunal hearings, Omkar claimed his meeting was simply a party, but the tribunal report noted that as ‘no alcohol was present this was not a party’.
In the ruling the tribunal condemned Omkar as ‘arrogant’ and a ‘brash newcomer to the university’, he was stripped of the right to the presidency, and uniquely banned from every running again.
Omkar’s supporters complained that Fischer had unfairly brought in a London barrister to represent her. She expected to be named president by default, but the tribunal ordered a new election.
Fischer then walked out of the contest and returned home to Orpington in south London after alleging union officials sent her bullying and sexual text messages. The battle will come to a head next month at an appeal hearing for Omkar.
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