Patna: The indefinite strike launched by the members of the Patna University Employees’ Association (PUEA) in support of their 10-point demands continued for the seventh consecutive day on Wednesday without any settlement in sight.
PU vice-chancellor Ajay Kumar Singh invited the PUEA executive to his office chamber to discuss the demands once again with the negotiating committee on Wednesday, but the executive committee members did not turn up.
The university officials and the negotiating committee members waited in vain for the employees for nearly two hours. Hence, no negotiated settlement was made on the demands of the agitating staff. Members of the negotiating committee constituted by the VC included PU registrar Khagendra Kumar, Magadh Mahila College principal Namita Kumari, Patna Training College principal Wasey Zafar, PU law department head Virendra Kumar Gupta and ancient Indian history and archaeology department teacher Dinesh Prasad Kamal.
Earlier, the PUEA office-bearers informed the PU registrar through a letter that the executive members would not attend the meeting convened by the VC on Wednesday afternoon. It was alleged in the letter that as the university officials were not at all serious about the fulfilment of their demands and that show-cause notices were being served to the employees’ association leaders and principals of different colleges for the non-conduct of examinations on scheduled dates, so the employees’ representatives would not participate in the talks.
Meanwhile, the VC told the reporters here on Wednesday that the striking employees were responsible for the postponement of university examinations and playing with the careers of the students. He said despite his repeated appeals not to proceed on strike as their demands were already in the process of being implemented. He further pointed out that the negotiating committee conceded as many as seven of their ten demands and assured the employees of accepting the remaining three financial demands following the govt nod, but the striking employees are firm about continuing their strike.