Students take part in a tug-of-war to support Anna at Kargil Chowk in Patna on Wednesday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Aug. 24: Social activist Anna Hazare’s fight against graft in New Delhi is allegedly triggering anarchy in the colleges affiliated to Patna University. The supporters of his crusade are compelling students to take part in their demonstrations, hampering classes.

Students owing allegiance to All India Students’ Association (Aisa) today gave a mass class boycott call in support of Anna. Classes at Patna College, Vanijya Mahavidhyalaya, BN College and various postgraduate departments at Darbhanga House were affected.

Most of the students voluntarily boycotted classes in support of Anna. A few keen to attend classes gave in to peer pressure.

The demonstration of Aisa started at 11am when classes in most of the colleges were over. But their mission was a success as several students voluntarily opted to bunk their classes.

Teachers of Patna University said the academic atmosphere in the university gets affected when such protests are organised because they gift students alibi to bunk classes.

Randhir Kumar Singh, a teacher of Patna College, said: “Protests like the one today (class boycott) spoils the academic atmosphere of the university. The teachers and students are left with no option but to go for extra classes towards the end of the session.”

A senior teacher of Patna University said protests like class boycott have become a regular feature in the university. Just 10 to 12 students organise such protests and actively take part in them. But others also suffer.”

The teacher said the university should deal strictly with such students because classes get hampered because of such protests and the academic schedule goes for a toss.

The university has become a political battleground in support of Team Anna with various students’ bodies staging protests. The ABVP, the students’ wing of JD(U) and AISF are supporting the Anna movement. The NSUI and the students’ wing of the RJD are against the crusade of Anna. They have also staged demonstrations on the campus.

Some students of Patna University today organised a tug-of-war tie under the banner of Youth Against Corruption. Students supporting the stronger Lokpal Bill formed a team. Those against it were in the other. The students supporting the stronger Lokpal Bill emerged winners.