Parents also join in DTU protest
New Delhi: Exactly a month after the protests at Delhi Technological University (DTU) began, the students’ agitation reached a new level on Sunday. Their parents joined in a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar on Sunday and almost ended up taking charge of the situation. They raised slogans, flashed placards and lit candles to demand the restoration of Delhi College of Engineering (DCE). Squatting on the road amidst hundreds of candles, the parents also urged Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi to help save the future of their children. ‘‘We had to finally come out and join the protest because the students have been agitating for a month but to no avail. DTU officials haven’t handled the situation democratically. Our meeting with them on Saturday was also inconclusive,’’ said Raminder Singh, father of a first-year student who had chosen DCE over IIT. He added, ‘‘These students are the brightest of the lot, which is why they could get through DCE. Many of them had chosen DCE over IIT and BITS Pilani. DCE was seen as the second best engineering college after the IITs. But it’s gone.’’ Another parent, Pramod Sultania, whose son studies in first year, said, ‘‘We had to support our children because they are fighting for a cause. DCE had become a brand over the past 69 years. We expect Rahul Gandhi to help them.’’ There were as many policemen on guard at Jantar Mantar on Sunday as there were students. However, nothing could deter parents from raising their voices supporting the students. According to them, the infrastructure on campus is inadequate for students. And since Delhi University lost control over the college, DTU authorities have become answerable to none, they alleged. ‘‘From being a central university college, DCE has been degraded to a state university,’’ said a parent. DTU vice-chancellor had met a few parents on Saturday to urge them to convince students to go back to the classrooms. The classes after the mid-semester exams were scheduled to begin from Monday. However, students have made it clear that they would resume classes only after vice-chancellor P B Sharma stepped down. Praveen Kumar, a student of second year, said, ‘‘The protests were started by fourth-year students. That doesn’t mean the protest will end as they graduate in two months. The students of first, second and third years will take it forward till our demands are met.’’
Neha Pushkarna | TNN
