Several young students joined the protest organised by Delhi BJP at Jantar Mantar demanding relaxation in the cut-off marks in admission to Delhi University (DU) colleges for students passing out higher secondary exams from schools in the national capital.
The protesters claimed that the local students are denied an opportunity to get admission in Delhi colleges due to the limited number of seats - a majority of which are taken over by outsiders due to the high cut-off rates.
They demanded a relaxation of four per cent in cut-off marks for Delhiites.
Addressing the students, Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel said, “BJP is in favour of a new admission policy in which all the students who have passed out class 12 from Delhi should get atleast four per cent relaxation in cut-off marks for admissions in DU.”
“This can be implemented immediately in Delhi government-run colleges, but the current Congress government in the city lacks the will to implement it.”
“I am going to take up this issue with the newly appointed lieutenant governor with whom I would be meeting on Monday,” he said.
The shortage of seats in Delhi colleges is also because Delhi government failed to open a single new college during the last 15 years.
BJP youth wing president Gaurav Khari asserted that “relaxation in admission is important as not all students can afford to study in private colleges which are expensive.
“Their only hope is to study in a DU college. But due to acute shortage of seats and no preference being given to them, they lose out on the chance to have higher education.”
He also suggested opening of atleast 15 new colleges, starting evening classes in morning colleges, opening chapters of prestigious colleges in neighboring cities and states as some of the measures to reduce pressure of students from other states on Delhi University.
The party said currently more than 1.3 lakh students are passing out of Delhi schools, however, less than 10,000 seats in DU colleges.
There are 54,000 seats for undergraduate seats in DU colleges.