Despite trying every trick at its disposal, the Delhi University Administration failed to prevent the 24 hours Hunger Strike of the DUTA Executive and elected members of the AC and EC, as well as the One-day Token Strike of teachers, from being a resounding success. Staff Associations of various colleges have been leading their teachers under colourful banners to the pavilion-site of the Hunger Strike outside the VC’s office since 9 am when the Strike officially began. Over a thousand teachers have already registered their solidarity and presence at the site and more are expected to arrive through the evening. The Hunger Strike will continue round the clock till 9 am on the next morrow.
All elected teachers’ representatives have spoken out in a united voice of anger against the VC’s cynical indifference and insane persistence in attacking the DUTA and all other democratic organs of the University. The building unrest in the University is made evident by the fact that the Delhi University Colleges and Karamcharis Union (DUCKU) also continued with their dharna next to the DUTA pavilion in order to press for its demands as well as express its support and solidarity for the DUTA Strike.
Newly appointed Education Minister of the Delhi Government and a one-time DUTA activist, Smt. Kiran Walia, also came to the DUTA pavilion to express her support and addressed the large gathering of assembled teachers and DUTA activists. She openly questioned the VC’s credibility and criticized his apathy towards collective bodies of students, teachers and karamcharis of the University. She appealed to the VC to immediately meet the DUTA leadership and start addressing the confidence-deficit within the University. She shared the DUTA’s viewpoint that the unwillingness, on the VC’s part, to start appointments for the 4000 vacant teaching positions is not only destructive but also shows the scant regard that the VC has for talented young teachers and researchers. She promised to report against his excesses in the State Assembly and also expressed the will to ensure that the colleges managed by the Delhi Government will start appointments of teachers.
P K Biju, MP from the CPI (M) and member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on HRD, also criticized the high-handed attitude of the VC and appealed to the teachers to carry on the struggle till the VC is forced to abandon his stubborn ways and enter into civil dialogue with the elected body of teachers. Biju pointed out that the VC has been emboldened by the anti-people education policies of the Government but assured the teachers that their voices of protest and sustained struggles will eventually defeat his narrow and single-minded agenda of corporatization in the University and the contract mode of employment.
Meanwhile, teachers in colleges and departments across the University observed the Strike successfully despite threats of administrative action and pay cut. Teachers have spontaneously reacted in anger against the assault on democratic rights and spaces and risen to the call of the DUTA. Slogans against the VC and songs of struggle rent the air as the site of the Hunger Strike wore a festive look throughout the day. Even as the Hunger Strike continues, the DUTA has sent out a strong warning to the VC to abandon his arrogant stance and start behaving in a manner that would befit an academic officer, failing which, the DUTA will be forced to launch a full-fledged struggle against the Administration.
S.D. Siddiqui, Secretary Amar Deo Sharma, President
All elected teachers’ representatives have spoken out in a united voice of anger against the VC’s cynical indifference and insane persistence in attacking the DUTA and all other democratic organs of the University. The building unrest in the University is made evident by the fact that the Delhi University Colleges and Karamcharis Union (DUCKU) also continued with their dharna next to the DUTA pavilion in order to press for its demands as well as express its support and solidarity for the DUTA Strike.
Newly appointed Education Minister of the Delhi Government and a one-time DUTA activist, Smt. Kiran Walia, also came to the DUTA pavilion to express her support and addressed the large gathering of assembled teachers and DUTA activists. She openly questioned the VC’s credibility and criticized his apathy towards collective bodies of students, teachers and karamcharis of the University. She appealed to the VC to immediately meet the DUTA leadership and start addressing the confidence-deficit within the University. She shared the DUTA’s viewpoint that the unwillingness, on the VC’s part, to start appointments for the 4000 vacant teaching positions is not only destructive but also shows the scant regard that the VC has for talented young teachers and researchers. She promised to report against his excesses in the State Assembly and also expressed the will to ensure that the colleges managed by the Delhi Government will start appointments of teachers.
P K Biju, MP from the CPI (M) and member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on HRD, also criticized the high-handed attitude of the VC and appealed to the teachers to carry on the struggle till the VC is forced to abandon his stubborn ways and enter into civil dialogue with the elected body of teachers. Biju pointed out that the VC has been emboldened by the anti-people education policies of the Government but assured the teachers that their voices of protest and sustained struggles will eventually defeat his narrow and single-minded agenda of corporatization in the University and the contract mode of employment.
Meanwhile, teachers in colleges and departments across the University observed the Strike successfully despite threats of administrative action and pay cut. Teachers have spontaneously reacted in anger against the assault on democratic rights and spaces and risen to the call of the DUTA. Slogans against the VC and songs of struggle rent the air as the site of the Hunger Strike wore a festive look throughout the day. Even as the Hunger Strike continues, the DUTA has sent out a strong warning to the VC to abandon his arrogant stance and start behaving in a manner that would befit an academic officer, failing which, the DUTA will be forced to launch a full-fledged struggle against the Administration.
S.D. Siddiqui, Secretary Amar Deo Sharma, President
Comments
Post a Comment
You can enter feedback / suggestions here.