Former Delhi University teachers' chief Aditya Narayan Mishra joins Congress party

Aditya Narayan Mishra, who has led the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) three times, has joined the Congress along with several other academicians, warning that India's education system is facing a serious crisis. The move also saw the formal merger of the organisation Academics for Action and Development (AAD) with the party.

Teachers' body veteran enters active politics

Mishra's induction into the Congress took place in the presence of Delhi Congress in-charge Qazi Nizamuddin, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav, AICC Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam and other party leaders. Besides his three terms as DUTA president, Mishra has also served as president of the Federation of Central Universities Teachers Associations.

Congress leaders highlight education concerns

Welcoming Mishra and the other academicians, Nizamuddin said their joining was significant at a time when questions were being raised over the state of education and incidents of violence against students were being reported. He said Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had been consistently fighting for justice for students and that the intellectual contribution of the new entrants would strengthen the Congress.

Yadav said the country's youth and students needed "proper direction and guidance", adding that better leadership was essential to securing the country's future.

Attack on government educational institutions alleged

Gautam said the decision to join the Congress was aimed at protecting democracy, the Constitution and the education system. He said Mishra had consistently raised the concerns of professors and students.

Gautam also alleged that crores of rupees were being spent on BJP-RSS programmes at Delhi University, and said the money could instead have been used to build hostels and prevent incidents such as the recent collapse at Satya Niketan.

New entrant calls for strengthening opposition hands

Mishra said he and his colleagues had joined the Congress to "strengthen Rahul Gandhi's hands". Government educational institutions across the country were "under attack", he said, adding that thousands of schools had been shut down.

"Rahul Gandhi is fighting to uphold government-funded institutions, as well as justice and dignity for everybody," Mishra said. The education system was "crumbling", he said, adding that he and his colleagues had joined the struggle to help pull the country out of the crisis.

Source: The Hindu