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Varsity using ‘coercive measures to break our protest’: SKUAST-K scientists

Srinagar: Scientists and teachers of SKUAST-K today accused the varsity authorities of adopting ‘high-handed methods to defeat their genuine demands to sabotage their peaceful and symbolic protest.’

The SKUAST-K Scientists and Teachers’ Association (SSTA) in a statement said that instead of addressing their genuine demands, the university authorities were employing coercive measures to break their peaceful protest programme.

“Our protests are peaceful. We have ensured that our protest programme does not in any way affect the routine functioning of the varsity. But at the same time we want our genuine demands be considered and long pending grievances addressed,” the association said.

The association while condemning the ‘anti-scientist’ approach of the university authorities, said that on Wednesday an uncalled for order was issued by the varsity authorities just to “intimidate” the protesting scientists.

“The SSTA has been raising the demands with administration for last one year,” the association said adding that they were constrained to go on the peaceful protest programme only because of the failure of the authorities to address them.

They said that today when the scientists were on the third day of their symbolic protest of wearing black-bands, the Joint Registrar SKUAST-K issued an order declaring the symbolic and peaceful protest “illegitimate”.

“The SSTA though had responded to false information provided by the Registry vide No.  AU/SKUAST-K/SSTA/ 2020/47-49 dated 04-10-2020, the authorities preferred to ignore the grievances,” it said.

The order issued today speaks of the “undemocratic, unconstitutional and dictatorial policies of the university authorities who are trying to muzzle the association and resort to different tactics”.

Meanwhile, the SSTA appealed to scientist fraternity not to panic as “we are following a disciplined, peaceful, silent and symbolic protest, which is our right guaranteed under constitution of India”.

“Heads of the various divisions, research stations and KVKs who are also part of the SSTA are requested not to follow the dictatorial order and permit the scientists to observe the symbolic protest peacefully,” it said.

Meanwhile, the association has urged the Vice Chancellor and registrar SKUAST-K to address their grievances.

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