Teachers condemn DU V-C’s remarks at Vigyan Bhawan, demand resignation

The Democratic Teachers’ Initiative (DTI) has strongly condemned the statements made by Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Professor Yogesh Singh during an event at Vigyan Bhawan on September 28, calling them “slanderous” and “authoritarian.”

In a statement, the DTI said, “We strongly condemn the slanderous statements made by the Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University, Professor Yogesh Singh, on September 28 at Vigyan Bhawan.”

The teachers’ group accused the V-C of vilifying women students and student leaders who demand equality and communal harmony. The statement added, “Professor Singh vilifies women students who demand that their hostel gates stay open as long as men’s do, and student leaders who advocate communal harmony as ‘urban Naxals’ - a term now commonly used for polarising the university community.”

Uma Gupta, Associate Professor in the Hindi Department, said, “Professor Singh’s comments reflect a deep intolerance towards democratic voices in the university. By labelling dissenting students and teachers as ‘Urban Naxals’, he is discouraging debate and free thought in an institution meant to nurture them.”

Sandhya Devesan, Assistant Professor in the English Department, said, “The statements by Prof Singh deploy the tone of an authoritarian patriarch, and it is obvious that his voice echoes that of the current political dispensation”, adding that he “infantilises adult students, deeming them incapable of making their own decisions.”

The DTI alleged that the V-C’s remarks mirrored the current political atmosphere. “The V-C’s rhetoric aligns with a disturbing pattern where anyone questioning government policies or demanding equality is branded anti-national.”

The statement added, “It is evident that universities in India have been a primary target of the current government, which has normalised the demonisation of institutions that foster critical thinking.”

The teachers’ body urged Professor Singh to resign for bringing disrepute to the post.