The Democratic Teachers Front on Tuesday issued a statement condemning the Delhi University’s notification declaring June 29 as a working day despite the Eid-ul-Zuha holiday and calling on the university administration to reverse its “very sectarian” decision.
The Valedictory Function of DU’s Centenary Celebrations, slated for the next day, June 30, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the primary guest, has caused Delhi University to declare June 29 to be a working day.
The university also noted on Tuesday that staff who want to attend the festival on June 29 are excused from working.
Abha Dev Habib, secretary of the Democratic Teachers Front, responded strongly to it, “We just saw this notification and it looks very sectarian and its approach is not acceptable and therefore we have issued a statement saying that it should be withdrawn.”
“It is one thing that those officers or those people who have been given a job are requested to come and compensated later, but to say that, you know, all employees will have to come and, only those will be excused who are celebrating this festival. They have not even been able to say it, Eid. So I mean, we could only read it in this manner, that it is completely sectarian,” she said.
Here’s what statement says
The Democratic Federation of Teachers added in a statement that June 29 has been declared a national holiday in India and is required for Id-ul-Zuha celebrations.
Habib responded when questioned about the exemption of employees indicated in the notification for June 29, “Everything has to be looked at in a context and the way things are in the country. I mean, if we are really wanting to be secular if we want to be democratic, we need to be a little more careful on this. You are basically saying that this is a festival of few and those who can. So, can a Hindu employee say that I celebrate Eid, will they be questioned later? But all these are things which come to my mind given the things which are happening in the country.”
In response to a question concerning their next moves, Habib stated, “We always take decisions collectively that I cannot say but I think the university should think.”
When this circular has been cancelled, she claimed in an interview with ANI, the DU will truly be referred to as a “university”.
When asked if the front had discussed this with the vice chancellor, Habib responded, “No, we do not call the Registrar or the Vice Chancellor. I don’t think that they will entertain phone calls over this. It is for them to apply their mind on this”.
“Writing the letter is a protest. It is not to say that the Prime Minister cannot come. I mean, we have no business in that. But what we are saying is that there is a gazetted holiday. It is well-announced. It is not that suddenly the university has realized that there is a holiday and they needed 24 hours more for the situation. They already knew it from the very beginning. Doing this is a policy of exclusion and also in some sense, you are labelling and saying that those who want to celebrate this festival and what is this festival? Can’t you even name that festival?” she remarked further.
Vikas Gupta, Registrar, Delhi University reacting to the statement issued by teachers front said, “This is wrong. Depending upon our requirements, we have declared that the university will function on June 29. The people who wish to take participate in the festival have been exempted. This order is applicable only to the university and not to the colleges. If any teacher from the college is making an issue out of it, there is no need for it. And depending upon our requirements, we have called the employees to the office.”
“Gazetted holidays do not mean that you will not function. If you go with thier understanding then everybody will stay at home on gazetted holidays. There are requirements and the persons are bound to work. I don’t think that we have done anything wrong,” he added.
“For the employees who would come on June 29 or a holiday, the university would adequately compensate them by giving a compensatory leave which they can avail anytime,” he further added.
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