The Federation of Central Universities Teachers’ Associations (FEDCUTA) condemns the dangerous emerging pattern of extreme violence being unleashed by the Police at University campuses in the capital city and against their students and teachers, the latest instance of which is the atrocities unleashed at Jamia Milia Islamia today.
Before this, in recent days protesting students at JNU as well as teachers of Delhi University have had to face lathi charges, teargas, water cannons, etc., the sole purpose of which has been to prevent them from exercising their democratic rights to peaceful protest.
Protests at Jamia Millia Islamia had been called today by the Jamia Teachers’ Association and by students against the CAB. A march to Parliament was blocked by the Police who inflicted untold violence on the protesters in the process. injuring several of them. Reports are that many have also been detained.
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The FEDCUTA is of the firm view that teachers and students of Universities have constitutionally guaranteed rights to form associations and to protest on issues related to the education system as well as in their capacity as citizens of the country. It is the responsibility of the State to ensure that they can exercise these rights freely and the state itself using force repeatedly to prevent citizens from protesting does not augur well for India’s democracy, even more so when these happen against University communities.
