Celebrations roll out on campus

Celebrations broke out at the campus after Delhi University Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh said the university has decided to roll back the four-year undergraduate programme.

A large section of student and teacher groups, belonging to various political hues, had intensified their demand for scrapping of FYUP.

Following the standoff between the University Grants Commission and DU, on Friday morning, the Delhi University Teachers’ Association and employee union and student groups marched from the Arts Faculty to VC’s house demanding his resignation.

Chaos reigned in at the university campus after student outfits tried to break past police barricades. The agitators, however, switched to a celebratory mode after the university decided to finally revert to the three-year degree format – paving the way for commencement of the admission process.

Teacher and students groups like Delhi University Teachers’Association (DUTA), Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU), All India Students Association (AISA) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) – against the FYUP – welcomed the move.

“We have been struggling against FYUP and the autocracy of DU VC Dinesh Singh for an year now. Finally, due to the constant struggle of the student community, the Vice Chancellor has accepted the demands of students. This is a victory of the students' movement, of democracy and of justice,” said Delhi State Secretary of ABVP Saket Bahuguna.

The programme had run into major opposition from several student and teacher groups, including those affiliated to the ruling BJP. “The current stand of UGC is worth appreciating in this struggle. We thank them and also the HRD ministry for actively pursuing the cause of the students,” Bahuguna added.

Student activists said the unity across political lines is unprecedented in the history of DU. “The rolling back of FYUP has come after a year-long movement of students and teachers. After obdurately refusing to accept the directives of UGC, the DU VC finally agreed to start admission to the three year courses,” said Sunny Kumar of AISA.

Amidst drum beatings and celebrations over comprehensive rollback of FYUP, some teacher groups called for the need to protect students’ interests.

“Even the UGC order to DU was sympathetic towards BTech students. The statutory bodies of the University should delink this program from FYUP and take a fresh decision on it,” said Inder Mohan Kapahy of National Democratic Teachers’ Front.