DU teachers' front slams Delhi University's statement on student protests

New Delhi: The Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) on Wednesday criticised the Delhi University administration's statement on social media regarding recent student protests, alleging that the varsity had failed to acknowledge the violence faced by students, choosing instead to discredit the movement.

The criticism came after the university posted on its social media account on X, "We see the pain and anxiety of our students. It is unfortunate that vested interests are exploiting their fears instead of easing them. The need of the hour is to calm the situation and reduce their distress, so that they can focus on what truly matters: their studies and their future."

DTF calls DU's statement 'dishonest'

In a press statement, the DTF said the university's response came a day after what it described as "the most brutal violence unleashed by the union government to intimidate protesters and to silence the demand for accountability." "The statement is dishonest, masking its apathy as empathy," the teachers' body said.

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It alleged that while the university claimed to recognise students' pain and anxiety, it remained "silent on both the causes for this pain and anxiety and of the violence suffered by these very students." The DTF further objected to the administration's reference to "vested interests", saying it sought to delegitimise what it described as a "massive protest".

"The statement as a whole shows how universities are being made to surrender their autonomy and independent thinking...," the statement, signed by DTF President Rajib Ray and Secretary Abha Dev Habib, said. Echoing the criticism, DTF Treasurer and Kirori Mal College associate professor Rudrashish Chakraborty said the administration's stand was "shocking, but hardly surprising."

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He accused the university of repeatedly ignoring student concerns, citing "substandard courses", the implementation of the National Education Policy-based Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (NEP-UGCF), examinations conducted during the peak summer and on Eid, and uncertainty faced by students who completed the fourth year of undergraduate studies.

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Chakraborty also alleged that the university had imposed restrictions on congregations and assemblies on campus earlier this year to curb student protests. "This administration owes direct allegiance to the ruling party and the education minister; hence, its statement against the protest of the students is a testimony of its patent anti-student stance," he said. There was no further response from the university administration on the same.