Protesters at Daulat Ram turn against each other

NEW DELHI: A protest over alleged bad infrastructure in Delhi University’s Daulat Ram College (DRC) turned into an argument between Delhi University Teachers’ Association

NEW DELHI: A protest over alleged bad infrastructure in Delhi University’s Daulat Ram College (DRC) turned into an argument between Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) and student outfit Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members.

HT Image

Both sides accused each other of misbehaviour. They filed separate complaints with the police.

The protest was against the chairperson of the college’s Governing Body, who allegedly did not allow any action to be taken to improve dilapidated buildings.

“Local police was present( at the protest) and controlled the situation. AB V Pin its complaint alleged that a few of the people present in the protest raised anti-India slogans with regard to Kashmir. DUTA alleged that ABVP members called them Naxals,” deputy commissioner of police (north) Madhur Verma said.

DUTA president Nandita Na rain alleged that Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) president Satender Awana and his associates manhandled teachers and used objectionable language.

“He made absurd allegations that these teachers are supporters of Kanhaiya, give pro-Pakistan slogans... When we protested against these allegations, Awana started catching some by their collar,” Narain said.

Awana said, “At the V-C’s office, the DUTA came suddenly and started saying that we are politicising the issue. There were people among them who were also present in the JNU videos but the moment I pointed at them, they escaped in the crowd. Some raised anti-national slogans,” he said.

DRC teachers’ association condemned the “unruly behaviour.” A DRC teacher said, “It was a protest against bad infrastructure and fee hike. The claim that objectionable slogans were raised is absurd.”

DR C Governing Body chairperson Suneeta Sudarshan denied the allegations and said “College principal Savita Roy is not doing any work despite the GB sanctioning grants for various works”.