Chandigarh: After the meeting with Pay Review Committee of UGC got over, all the leaders of teachers from four states held a meeting to chalk out strategy for the future struggle for the teachers.
The meeting was presided over by Sh V.K. Tewari, former secretary general of All India Federation of University and College Teachers Organizations (AIFUCTO). In the meeting Prof. Manjit Singh, Secretary PUTA explained that how the demand for central university status for P.U. is falling prey to the political myopia of the leaders and sought active support to the demand. Sh V.K. Tewari, took a serious note of the dilly-dally approach of the leaders, both at the level of state and central government, and demanded an early solution to the stalemate. Sh Jaipal Singh, President, Punjab Government College Teachers Association questioned the double standard of the government of Punjab. When Punjab state has a central university in Amritsar in its quota how is it going to harm the interest of Punjab if Panjab University out of Chandigarh quota is also made central university, asked Sh Singh.
Both Prof. G.K. Chadha, Chairman, UGC Pay Review Committee (PRC) and Prof Harish Narang, Member PRC visited the site of dharna today. Prof. Harish Narang, Prof of English, and former teacher activist, candidly supported the demand for central university status for P.U. While acknowledging the contribution of P.U. to the world of academics in the region Prof. Narang wished that P.U. was made central university long back along with the other universities of national importance. He hoped that this ‘oversight’ would be corrected without any further delay.
In the meanwhile on the 45th day of the chain fast two teachers, Md. Kalid from DCS and Dr V.K. Singh from the department of Chinese and Tibetan Languages sat on the fast along with three research scholars, M. Ramesh, Amit Bhatia both from the UIPS, and Neeraj Kumar from the A.C. Joshi Library.
