Various students’ unions of the University of Delhi made full use of the crowd gathered on the first day of admissions as they staged several protests against the DU administration and burnt effigies of the Vice-Chancellor outside admission centres. This was also the first time in years that the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) was seen demanding the rollback of the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP).
The NSUI’s change of stance has come as surprise to many. However, lokesh Chugh, secretary of NSUI said that after carefully analysing the FYUP, the union felt that there were several loopholes. “We are protesting against the programme and will actively make sure it is revoked,” he added. Additionally, sources say that the NSUI will sit on a hunger strike against the FYUP in three-four days.
Meanwhile, on Monday, student unions such as Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), All India Students’ Association (AISA) and All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (DSO) marched through the streets asking for the removal of the V-C. The saffron aligned student union, ABVP was seen to be most active as they went to all 18 admission centres and burnt effigies of the VC. Secretary of the union, Rohit Chahal said that it was high time that the FYUP was revoked.
Maintaining a more sober stance, AISA only held a protest march throughout the North Campus asking for the same cause as the others. Members of the AISA said, “We want FYUP to be removed and it has to be done now. It is still not too late. The university can try and avoid the issue as much as they want but this time it will not go unattended.”
Barring the protest, these student unions were actively present at all admission centres as well and had set up help desks. In the North Campus, most active of all of them were the volunteers of NSUI who were seen managing crowd, manning counters and helping students at all centres.