Tired of DU shutdown, students protest at North Campus, boycott online classes

Later in the evening, activists of the SFI alleged they had been detained. However, DCP (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi said, “At around 7.30 pm, on the request of DU authorities, some SFI /AISA protesters were removed from outside the V-C office by Delhi Police and were immediately released when the premises were found vacated.”

“The university administration, in writing, asked for police assistance in getting the premises vacated of the unruly protesters. Adequate number of women police personnel were present. Many protesters had vacated the premises on their own, saving a few who were removed from the said premises. There were no detentions,” he said.

DU Registrar Vikas Gupta, meanwhile, said meetings were being held with principals to work out the modalities for reopening. “We are trying to see when we can open but we will not do it immediately because we don’t want to panic students. We will give at least 7-10 days’ notice. It is not fair to compare JNU with DU, because JNU’s total student strength is around the strength of one DU college. We have around 65% students from outside. Where will they stay? We need to consider all these factors,” he said.

During the protest, students hung an ‘out of service’ placard over the gate of the V-C office compound. The SFI said they would start ‘sadak pe kaksha’ or ‘classroom on the street’ from February 9 until the university reopens.

“It is a message to the administration that both teachers and students want to begin offline classes. If they have any respect left for us, they should open the classrooms immediately,” said Abhishek, co-convenor of SFI DU.

AISA activists said the DU Proctor met them, who “assured that notice for reopening will come up in the evening, but later turned down her promise and said it will take a week”.

Both organisations have given a call for a ‘chakka jaam’ or blocking the Chhatra Marg at North Campus Tuesday.

The ABVP said it would organise a protest outside the Academic Council meeting venue on February 9 over the issue. ABVP state secretary Sidharth Yadav said, “Guidelines have been issued regarding opening of schools and colleges by DDMA. Now, the Delhi University administration should take a decision to open the campus immediately keeping in mind the interest of students. Delhi University has been closed for almost two years and due to this, the quality of education has gone down.”

Students from different colleges also joined the protest. Rusham Sharma, a first-year student from Hindu College, said online classes were only benefiting colleges.

“We are still being charged full fee, including for gardening, etc. Moreover, there is a clear digital
divide where in my class of 45 students, only 20 are able to attend classes. When Ambedkar University, JNU have opened, why can’t DU? Many students willingly boycotted classes today because we want the campus to open,” she said.

Nancy Maurya from Dyal Singh College also participated in the protest. “Is Covid happening only in the DU campus that it can’t be opened? University authorities also don’t want the campus to open because they were bringing in changes with the NEP and the UG curriculum framework and they don’t want to face student protests,” she said.