Left parties come out in support of DUTA

Describing the situation in Delhi University as a “cause for serious concern”, Left parties on Thursday came out in support of Delhi University Teachers Association in their protest against the “arbitrary” functioning and major reforms being pushed by the vice-chancellor.

In a press statement jointly issued by CPI(M), CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP, the Left parties termed the developments in Delhi University as a “cause for serious concern”.

“The teachers have raised a range of objections to the introduction of the semester system for the undergraduate level, a four-year graduation along with the meta college and meta university system. All these are being pushed through in undue haste. Statutory procedures and established democratic academic practices have been subverted,” the statement by Prakash Karat (CPI-M), S Sudhakar Reddy (CPI), Debabrata Biswas (FB) and Abani Roy (RSP) said.

DUTA has been objecting to the “undue haste” in introduction of the semester system for the undergraduate level, a four-year graduation along with meta college and university system, it said.

“The DUTA has been conducting a peaceful protest against these measures. The vice-chancellor and the university authorities have resorted to pay cuts and other coercive measures even when teachers have participated in protests on holidays. This is patently illegal,” it said.

The DUTA has been conducting a relay hunger strike which has now completed 50 days.
The VC has refused to recognise and talk to the DUTA leadership, the parties alleged.

Left parties have appealed to the MHRD “to immediately intervene and ensure that the issues raised by the DUTA are taken up for discussions by the university authorities”.
Left parties demanded “an immediate halt to the coercive steps such as pay cuts” for those participating in the protests or the hunger strike.