Press Release, 30.10.2012

Teachers have joined elected member of the Academic Council, Mr. S.K. Sagar on the DUTA Indefinite Relay Hunger Strike which has entered 21st day without a break since it was started on 10 October 2012. Prof. Dinesh Singh has proved to be the most insensitive person to ever hold the office of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi. More well-known and learned persons who have held the office in the past had never displayed such insensitivity and were not afraid to engage with the grievances raised by the teaching community. In fact, the University had an enlightened tradition of the Vice-Chancellors coming out to meet protesters. The present incumbent, Prof. Singh is weary of facing questions and entering into any dialogue. This unprecedented decline in civilised and academic interaction combined with completely arbitrary manner in which policy decisions are being thrust has united teachers, students and karamcharis to fight for restoring  academic and democratic functioning in the University, where every academic decision must be based on debate and scrutiny. The joint action programme of 26th October 2012 where the DUTA, DUCKU & DUSU came together in protest has shown to the Vice-Chancellor what the University community thinks of him. The university administration's response is to resort to even more despicable moves to create divisions. The undignified subterfuge of the administration has brought together all sections of the University community and strengthened their resolve to thwart arbitrary and academically destructive measures by the Vice-Chancellor.

On 31st October 2012, as part of this united movement teachers, students and karamcharis will come together at 3.30 pm at the site of the Indefinite Relay Hunger Strike, Gate No.1, University of Delhi. They will carry on their protest through songs and march in the university culminating in the burning of the effigy of the Vice-Chancellor. The DUTA officebearers had a meeting with the DUCKU President and other officebearers to work out the details of the joint programme today. They resolved to continue agitational programmes jointly against the Vice-Chancellor.

The DUTA appeals to students, teaches and karamcharis to join in large numbers at 2.30 pm on 31 October.

S.D. Siddiqui, Secretary                                                      Amar Deo Sharma, President