Won't hand over struggle to AAP, says suspended Mumbai professor

Suspended by the University of Mumbai for allegedly misleading newspapers about the state of affairs of the 156-year-old institution, Professor Neeraj Hatekar, a widely respected teacher and Cambridge University fellow, has said he will not only fight his suspension but will also continue to discuss the issue of the university not being open to criticism.

In an interview to Mumbai Mirror , Hatekar has said it was after months of his complaints to authorities not being addressed that he decided matters should be escalated.

Having written to the Vice-Chancellor and other authorities, he got no response. “.. t_he University follows a total culture of silence. We filed several PILs in the High Court regarding the VC’s appointment and other issues. But it was taking too long_,” he is quoted as saying.

The press meet that he called, which eventually led to his suspension, was an attempt top get the V-C to react.

On the Aam Aadmi Party offering its support to the students and professors protesting the suspension, Hatekar maintained that while he wouldn’t want to reject any support, he does not intend to hand over the struggle to any party.

“But our fight will remain our own and we won’t hand it over to someone else,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hatekar has moved the Bombay High Court claiming that the action against him is “patently illegal.”