Things turned tense at Delhi University's Keshav Mahavidyalaya when hundreds of students, who have been protesting over their demand to hold a referendum to affiliate their college under Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) since the last two weeks, locked down the college gates on Thursday. The agitating students were seeking an appointment with the principal.
After a high-voltage drama, Principal Madhu Pruthi agreed to meet the students and assured them to conduct a referendum for the purpose shortly and signed the memorandum submitted by the students. "On behalf of the college, I, Principal of the College state that our college shall try to get referendum for union from students before practical exams. However, if due to any unavoidable circumstances this may not happen, then the same shall be done positively before end of this academic session provided no indiscipline is observed in the campus by the students," Purthi said in a letter issued to DUSU vice-president, Kunal Sehrawat.
Calling it a first-step towards raising their voice at the campus, students said they have struggled a lot to reach here. "We started this movement in February and collected signatures of 813 students supporting the DUSU affiliation. But, the administration rejected it saying that they could be unauthentic. Then, we collected 516 id-cards from students to prove our point and wanted to meet the principal, to which she denied," said Mukesh Raman, a third-year student.
Several students also alleged harassment by the administration for holding protests at the campus. "Yesterday, when we were observing a sit-in outside the principal's office, the administration called in the police to harass us," said a second-year student.
College officials, however, claimed that a section of students were provoking the rest and creating hostile atmosphere at the campus. "We have never denied to hold a student union election but there should not be indiscipline in the name of protests by students," an official said.
