IIT professors should rethink hunger strike: Sibal

New Delhi, Sep 22: HRD Minister Kapil Sibal on Tuesday, Sep 22, said it was not proper for IIT professors to restore to hunger strike and asked them to 'rethink' on their planned agitation.

Speaking to reporters, Kapil Sibal said, "We always dream that the IITs should produce Nobel Laureates. We do not expect our prospective Nobel Laureates to go on hunger strike. They should be hungry for knowledge."

Sibal said the government has "never interfered" with the autonomy of IITs "but the pay system has to be regulated because we are answerable to Parliament. So we have to have some eligibility condition for entry and promotion in faculty. They are opposed to eligibility. This is unfair."

Sibal said he did not think that it was right for the IIT professors to take such step. "They should rethink," he said expressing hope that they would not resort to such an action.

Over 1,500 professors and other faculty members at 13 IITs will go on a hunger strike on Thursday, Sep 24. They have given an ultimatum to the government to resolve by Oct 1 the "anomalies" in the pay scales.

OneIndia News