With Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections round the corner, the All India Students’ Association (ASIA) launched its campaign demanding action against members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) who have allegedly been spreading violence throughout Delhi University (DU).
‘Disruption, attacks’
Alleging disruption by the ABVP, AISA members said, “Since the beginning of the new session, the ABVP has seemingly adopted a policy to not let AISA members campaign anywhere and has been attacking our students in different colleges.”
Kawalpreet Kaur, the president of AISA in DU, said, “It is shameful that serious offenders from the ABVP, who have been involved in many acts of violence, are now running for tickets. We demand that the Bharatiya Janata Party and the ABVP expel such members on moral grounds.”
Speaking about increasing intervention in matters related to academic events being held in Delhi University, AISA national president Sucheta De said, “It seems that the ABVP is the censor board of our universities. It disrupts and vandalises academic events in the name of nationalism. If the ABVP does not like it, then it attacks us.”
She added, “Our activists from various colleges are not allowed to speak and share their thoughts.”
‘Hooliganism’
Professors present at the press meet also raised concerns about the ABVP’s increasing intervention in academic matters and alleged ‘hooliganism’ on campus.
Sanjay Bohidar, a professor at Shri Ram College of Commerce, said, “The space for debate and discussion is shrinking day by day. I just want to ask whose university is it if not of the teachers and the students?”
Law and order
“DU is a Central university and what can be seen from these instances of violence is that law and order has been taken over by the ABVP. Despite available evidence, no action is being taken against them. We demand punishment for all those involved in instances of violence,” said AISA members.