The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad on Thursday asked Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) president Ankiv Baisoya to resign from his post and suspended him from the organisation until the inquiry into his alleged fake degree row is completed.
The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) which had first raised the allegation welcomed the move but said that it was clearly a decision under pressure and not principle.
ABVP national media convener Monika Chaudhary said when the allegations were made, the students’ union had given its stand that Delhi University has all rights to verify documents and must do it to stop all rumours. However, due to the delay by DU in conducting the verification, the decision to suspend Mr. Baisoya was taken to maintain the genuineness of DUSU.
National Students’ Union of India incharge Ruchi Gupta said the action was a face-saving attempt by the ABVP in light of the upcoming HC order on November 20. “The ABVP ably supported by a supine DU administration waited for two months in an attempt to retain the DUSU presidentship instead of asking Baisoya to step down when the matter came to light,” Ms. Gupta said. The NSUI alleged that the ABVP also did not set up any internal inquiry committee even though the media was able to confirm the truth within days from Thiruvalluvar University.
“The decision at this belated hour, when the ostensible two months as stipulated by Lyngdoh Committee guidelines are over, is clearly cynical and cowardly,” said Ms. Gupta.
Lyngdoh guidelines
She added that although, this move by the ABVP appears to be an attempt to retain the DUSU presidentship, the NSUI has already clarified that Lyngdoh guidelines are advisory and the two-month period is also only indicative not binding on DU and that the NSUI demanded fresh elections.
ABVP State Secretary Bharat Khatana said, “The issue is continuously tarnishing the image of Delhi University Students’ Union and also raising a question on the student’s mandate. We request the DU administration to complete the verification process as soon as possible and produce the result in public domain.” He also went on to condemn the delay by DU in the whole process. “If Ankiv [Baisoya] is found guilty, then he must face all the legal actions,” Mr. Khatana added.
The All India Students’ Association (AISA) said the suspension had come very late, after the 60-day period for re-election according to the Lyngdoh guidelines was over.
“This just proves that ABVP has been shielding a fraud. This shows nothing but the explicit understanding between the ABVP and DU administration to keep ABVP in DUSU, continue to violate the possibility of a democratic culture in Delhi University and to keep implementing the anti-student policies of the Modi government,” said AISA secretary Madhurima Kundu.
The High Court on November 12 gave DU time till November 20 to verify Mr. Baisoya’s bachelors’ degree from Thiruvalluvar University in Tamil Nadu.