Teachers warn of march to Delhi if demands not met

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, December 28

As the university and college teachers’ strike entered the 25th day, the district unit president of the PFUCTO said they would move the protest to Delhi in case the incumbent state government fails to implement 7th Pay Commission wages.

We are in shock at the non-inclusion of teachers’ demand at various platforms and the matter was no even taken up in previous Cabinet meetings. Examinations have been postponed and if this continues longer, there will be more academic loss of students. Prof GS Sekhon, president, district unit of PFUCTO

The teachers of all prominent city colleges, including DAV College, BBKDAV College, Khalsa College, Hindu College and others, have been boycotting all teaching and non-teaching activities in protests. Today, 100 teachers from city colleges organised a peaceful demonstration against the state government at the GNDU main gate. “We are in shock at the non-inclusion of teachers’ demand at various platforms and the matter was no even taken up in previous Cabinet meetings held. Higher education is been suffering from almost a month and teachers are sitting outside their respective colleges in protest, braving cold weather and fog. Examinations have been postponed, and if this continues longer, there will be more academic loss to the higher education in state. Yet the government doesn’t consider our legitimate demand. It’s unfortunate and tragic,” said Prof GS Sekhon, president, district unit of the PFUCTO.

Since most colleges have declared winter break due to postponement of examinations, the teachers are now sitting on dharna in front of the university’s administrative block and main gate. Sekhon said that they had met PPCC head Navjot Singh Sidhu to discuss the matter. “We met him and submitted our demands. But we did not get a positive response from him. We even met Arvind Kejriwal and we are willing to meet Rahul Gandhi, if need be, to raise our demand.”