Ahead of DUTA meeting, Javadekar indicates desire for dialogue

The Delhi University teachers have been on agitation for the past one month protesting changes made in the service rules by the UGC. They have been boycotting evaluation of answer sheets of the annual examination and have also refused to participate in the admission process. 

Last week when Irani visited DU for a function she faced vehement protests from the agitating teachers.Asserting that dialogue is the key to avoid agitations, Javadekar on Wednesday said education is not a subject for  party politics.

 The tenure of his predecessor Smriti Irani has been marred with controversies including the JNU row and protests in Hyderabad University following dalit scholar Rohith Vemula’s death. There have also been allegations by Opposition parties of saffronisation. Speaking to reporters here, Javadekar said he was open to suggestions and consultations with everyone. 

“I am a product of student agitation, so we will always talk with everybody. So with dialogues in place, there will be no necessity of agitation,” Javadekar said. The Extended Executive meeting of DUTA on Tuesday witnessed 42 resolutions in favour of the withdrawal of the ongoing admission boycott out of total 46 received.

 This was reported by DUTA president Nandita Narain at the opening of the meeting. Out of the four colleges namely Maharaja Agrasen College, Swami Shradhanand College, DCAC and Satyawati (Morning) have supported the continuation of boycott. 

The first two colleges did not submit written resolutions. The DUTA general body, which is now meeting on Thursday would take a call on the course of agitation.  “Given the statement made by the Minister, the DUTA should withdraw the strike and allow him some time to address the issue,” said Delhi BJP executive member and associate professor at Maharaja Agrasen College Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari.

 “Through the reshuffle, the PM has sent a message that it does address the grievances of the teachers and DUTA should reciprocate positively,” said Tiwari.