The crisis at JNU is only getting worse. The teachers’ association which is on strike has said that they will not resume academic activity on campus unless the Vice Chancellor, M Jagadesh Kumar resigns. There have been, indeed several demands for his resignation, coming not only from students but even a veteran BJP leader, Murli Manohar Joshi, Senior Congress leader BK Chandrashekhar and few media houses. Even Economist Amit Bhaduri who was JNU’s Emeritus professor, resigned in the light of the VC’s actions.
The attack by masked goons on the JNU campus left many students including JNUSU President and many teachers injured while several others were left fearing for their lives. All this while the VC took no action and the police looked on.
The University’s administration has gone on the offensive and said that the teachers’ non-cooperation call violates their service contract. In any case, classes could not be held across the various schools in the campus as most students and teachers refrained from attending.
Reportedly, the teachers association delegation led by its president D.K. Lobiyal and secretary Surojit Mazumdar met HRD ministry joint secretary Girish C. Hasur and other officials.
“The atmosphere of insecurity and fear has increased manifold after the (January 5) violence on the campus. The vice-chancellor is not talking to the students or the teachers,” Lobiyal told reporters. “Till the time (those on the campus) feel secure, normalcy cannot return.”
Lobiyal also made it clear that they have only one demand, that the VC be removed, so that academic activity can resume in campus. With him still at the helm, teachers have refused to recommence work. Moreover, exams for the previous semester have not taken place owing to the fee-hike protests of students and starting teaching for a new semester does not make sense.
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