New Delhi, October 17, 2007.

Dr. Udit Raj, Chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations while addressing media persons in the Press Club of India, New Delhi said that Rev. Valson Thampu, the Principal of St. Stephen's College, Delhi University is being victimized for standing against British Merit and Elite Hegemony and for advocating Social Justice. The yardstick of merit set by British Empire was to produce clerks and officers who follow the commands of British majesty. Such people were to have cramming power and knowledge of English. This merit did not include integrity, capacity for hard work, honesty and humility. The institutions built and created by British continued after independence but we did not re-orient and change as per our need to produce scholars and researchers who could be creative and original. Dr. Udit Raj said that the Chairman of National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, Mr. M.S.A. Siddiqe is harassing Valson Thampu. When Valson Thampu was member of the Commission, he applied for leave to become OSD in St. Stephen's College; the Chairman sanctioned the leave but then stopped his salary and allowances from 21st May, 2007. Valson Thampu joined the Commission on 6th December, 2004 and continued till 11th September, 2007. While he was serving St. Stephen's College, he kept attending the meetings of Commission. Yet the Chairman of the Commission kept on harassing him by serving notices and objections. Valson Thampu did not draw salary from St. Stephen College till he resigned from the Commission. He took up the assignment of OSD in St. Stephen's College with permission of Chairman, then why was he denied his salary and allowances?

Dr. Udit Raj said that Valson Thampu is being harassed by lobbies of two persons, the Chairman of Commission Mr. Siddiqe and former Principal Anil Wilson and castiest elites. Though Anil Wilson is a Christian but during his long foothold in the College, only 6 out of 78 teachers and professors were from Christian community. One can imagine the commitment of Anil Wilson, for which he was appointed. However, in order to retain the post of Principal, he surrendered the interest of minorities. Though he may be a Christian but his philosophy was and is against social justice and the minorities. Europe and US are producing scholars and scientists not because of British merit but by giving equal opportunities, searching creative minds, pooling people from different backgrounds etc. Harvard University is Mecca of knowledge and in its medical faculty 50% intake is through affirmative action (reservation). Valson Thampu deserves to be congratulated for having done great social justice and for re-orienting St. Stephen College to the need of hour. He provided 15% reservation for SCs and STs and 10% for Dalit Christians in admission from this year onward. Anil Wilson and M.S.A. Siddiqe are engineering complaints against Valson Thampu to the members of governing body and Supreme Council of St. Stephen's College so that he is forced to stop the Caravan of social justice. They are instigating media and faculty members against him. The only crime Valson Thampu has done was to provide reservation to SCs/STs and Dalit Christians. His second mistake is that he has not obliged Anil Wilson and M.S.A. Siddiqe by giving admission to their recommended candidates.

If the harassment of Valson Thampu is not stopped, we will be forced to launch agitation against Anil Wilson and M.S.A. Siddiqe. Dr. Udit Raj urged that HRD Minister, Shri Arjun Singh, Vice Chancellor of Delhi University should immediately intervene in to matter so that justice is done to Valson Thampu.

Swami Agnivesh of Bounded Labor Liberation Front also appealed to Human Resource Department, Delhi Univeristy and University Grant Commission to stop harassment meted out to Rev. Valson Thampu.