Police books BJD MLA and leaders amid Ravenshaw University renaming debate

Bhubaneswar, Sept 6: The controversy surrounding the potential renaming of Ravenshaw University in Cuttack has escalated after police filed charges against a BJD MLA and two party leaders for their alleged involvement in a clash during a student torch rally.

BJD MLA Byomkesh Ray, along with party leaders Lenin Mohanty and Akram Khan (also known as Bobby), were charged following the incident on Wednesday. The clash reportedly occurred near the university's main gate, where students claimed they were assaulted by outsiders.

The Malgodown police in Cuttack registered the case late Thursday night based on a complaint from a research scholar in the university’s statistics department. The complaint alleges that the disturbance was caused by external individuals during the rally.

The BJD has strongly refuted these claims, asserting that the rally was conducted peacefully and that no participants entered the university campus. The party denounced the charges against its leaders as baseless.

"The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) strongly condemns the false allegations and FIRs against our leaders Byomkesh Ray, MLA, Dr. Lenin Mohanty, and Akram Khan (Bobby Khan) regarding the recent Ravenshaw University protests," stated the party.

The controversy also brought Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s suggestion of renaming Ravenshaw University, originally proposed on August 31, into the spotlight. He clarified that it was merely his personal opinion.

The debate over the university’s name triggered intense exchanges in the Odisha Assembly on Thursday, with sharp disagreements between the ruling BJP and opposition parties, including the BJD and Congress.