Nearly 350 students of the Mumbai University, under the banner of Save MU campaign, protested outside the varsity’s Vidyanagri campus in Kalina on Sunday afternoon. These students have now given an ultimatum of two days to the MU authorities to revoke the suspension of professor Dr Neeraj Hatekar. “The university security and police personnel posted outside the venue of the convocation ceremony held at the sports complex in the Vidyanagri campus stopped us half a km from the venue. We then staged a dharna outside the entrance. If they fail to revoke the suspension by January 14, we will go on a hunger strike,” said Amol Kale, a student. Other student organisations, too, have come out in support of Hatekar and the issues that he raised. The Students Federation of India (SFI) had appealed to renowned scientist Dr Raghunath Mashelkar to not attend varsity’s convocation ceremony on January 12. Mashelkar, however, sent a letter to vice-chancellor Rajan Welukar stating: “Just a few days ago, I had undergone a cataract surgery on my right eye. I am scheduled to undergo another intervention tomorrow evening and hence, have been advised to cancel all my public engagements for at least a week.” Senior teaching faculty of Mumbai University also participated in the protest on Sunday. Some prominent names included Reetu Diwan, head of the department of Economics and Dr Abhay Pethe, Professor (Vibhooti Shukla Chair) of Urban Economics and Regional Development of MU. “During the term of the current V-C , there were instances of people being suspended till an inquiry is on. Till the time the suspension is in effect and inquiry is going on, Hatekar cannot leave Mumbai, cannot attend office and will get only half of his salary. Hatekar is an excellent academician and I believe that the suspension was unfair and illegal,” said Pethe. Bombay University and College Teachers’ Union (BUCTU) has termed the suspension as illegal, improper and unjust. C R Sadasivan, President, BUCTU, said the suspension should be withdrawn immediately. dipti.sonawala@expressindia.com
