People's Democracy

 

AGITATION IN AMU

 

SFI Condemns Authorities’ Callousness

 

THROUGH a statement issued from New Delhi on November 25, the central executive committee (CEC) of the Students Federation of India (SFI) has expressed concern over the callous attitude of authorities in the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) where for the past several weeks students have been agitating for defending their democratic rights. Despite the intensive agitation by the students, the AMU administration has refused to have student union elections, which has been suspended for the past four years. The hunger strike and various protest measures launched by students could not bring any change in the callous attitude of the administration which is violating with impunity the right of students to organise themselves. The attempt of the university authorities is to crush the democratic rights of the students and to depoliticise the campus, leading to anarchy and violence. The past experiences of the AMU campus are indicative of the damage which the absence of a vibrant student politics can cause.

 

The SFI CEC has also criticised the HRD ministry and the UPA government that have shown no sensitivity despite the repeated demands of the students to intervene to safeguard their constitutional right. It comes as no surprise as the track record of the UPA with regard to the protection of student rights all over India, is no better.

 

Condemning the undemocratic and authoritarian attitude of the AMU administration, the SFI has demanded immediate holding of the student union elections and protection of the democratic rights of AMU students. It has extended its whole-hearted support to the struggle of the AMU students to uphold and exercise their democratic rights.