Student and teacher bodies launched back-to-back protests on Saturday amid heavy security, as DU in its Academic Council discussed the University Grants Commission’s directive to do away with the four-year undergraduate programme.
The programme was implemented last year in a bid to reform Delhi University’s academic programme.
Police resorted to water cannons and lathicharge to contain student activists who tried to break through the barricades.
On other occasions, cops videotaped every negotiation – a call for peaceful march – with the student and teacher groups to keep as evidence.
Two Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and four National Students’ Union of India members got injured during the scuffle with police. Police also detained five ABVP members.
“While our volunteers were peacefully carrying out protest all throughout, the police force from the order of university admin tried to manhandle,” said NSUI spokesperson Amrish Ranjan Pandey.
After a year of protests and demonstrations by various student and teacher associations and change in guard at the Centre, the UGC on Friday had issued an order for rollback of FYUP.
Various groups marched to DU vice chancellor’s office, one after another, where the academic council was underway.
“The activists broke two series of barricades and continued to march forward. As soon as they reached gate number one, where other organisations were also protesting on one side, ABVP activists tried to enter the VC office. They were stopped by water cannon and mild force,” said the Delhi state secretary of ABVP Saket Bahuguna.
Delhi University Teachers’ Association also staged a protest outside the VC office, demanding that UGC’s letter should be complied with.
“The letter was not circulated in the council meeting. This is an order and they have directed DU to report compliance,” said a member of the teacher body Vijya Venkatraman.
Pro-FYUP campaigners also carried out demonstrations. A group of first year students under the banner of SaveFYUP also performed a street play to highlight how the new programme has transformed them into all-round personalities.
“We are stakeholders as well. Why is nobody asking us?” said a student of DU’s Maharaja Agrasen College Ansh Goyal. The students held placards saying: “DU VC – Talk to Us”.
A group of ad hoc teachers also showed solidarity with university’s decision to sustain FYUP. “Under FYUP there are more vacancies than ever,” a protester said, demanding regularisation of jobs.