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Student politics at the prestigious University of Delhi (DU) college Shaheed Bhagat Singh College (Morning) took a bizarre turn when the annual elections to the Students’ Union were marred by unprecedented violence that ended with a student sustaining an injury in his head.

The fiercely contested elections of 12th September witnessed a violent ruckus when the victim, Jatin Sahu’s head was bashed by a Presidential candidate, Vikas Nagar. At around 12:30 p.m., Nagar, along with his team, entered the canteen to campaign for the elections. Sahu, who supports Sandesh Kumar (another Presidential candidate) started campaigning for him, due to which the Nagar team got intolerant and resorted to violence. A video shot at the scene of incident wherein Sahu is blaming Nagar for the attack has been making rounds.

Interestingly, after only six hours of the incident, Jatin Sahu can be seen taking his statement back, and saying, “It is all sorted now.”

It is a shame that such incidents are becoming more and more common with every passing year. In 2017, the campus witnessed violent uprisings in Ramjas College. After Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Hyderabad Central University, DU’s Shaheed Bhagat Singh College (M) has become the new battleground for violent politics.

Ramesh* (*name changed) a third-year student of B.A. (Hons.) Political Science states, “How can someone just change their statement in six short hours after getting their head bashed? Clearly, he was pressured to do so.”

Sandesh Kumar quotes, “It is a shame to have witnessed such an incident. Clearly, the opposition played petty politics that led to such a violent act. I refuse to believe the statement released hours after the incident. If I win the elections, I will address this incident with serious gravity.”

Both, Jatin Sahu and Vikas Nagar were unavailable to give a quote.

“The college is guided by the values of ethics, integrity, national integration,” the College maintains. Yet, sadly, the administration has not taken a single step against the person responsible. It is high time to address such incidents with the seriousness they deserve as college is the ground that lies the first brick to change the politics of the country and clearly India needs leaders that can save the country from the turmoil it is facing.

 

Feature Image Credits: Hindustan Times

Bhagyahree Chatterjee

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After a tumultuous day of tensions , the DUSU election results were announced, with ABVP’s Akshit Dhaiya elected as the DUSU President and ABVP’s Pradeep Tanwar winning the post of Vice President, NSUI’s Ashish Lamba securing the post of Secretary, and ABVP’s Shivangi Kharwal winning the post of Joint Secretary.

 

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The counting took place in Community Centre, Kingsway Camp. The counting began after a delay of almost two hours as opposed to the scheduled timing of 8.30 am as the candidates turned up late, news agency PTI reported.Around 2:20 p.m, ABVP was leading on all the four posts.

 

 

 

 

The voting turnout was recorded at 39.90 per cent this year, over four notches down from the last year.Last year, the election saw a 44.46 per cent voter turnout. The polling for four positions of  ended amid allegations of Electronic Voter Machine (EVM) malfunctioning. More than 1.3 lakh students were eligible to cast their vote this time. As many as 144 EVMs were used for Delhu University Students’ Union polls and 137 were used for college union polls. Polling began on 12th September 2019 for morning colleges at 9.30 a.m .and ended at 1 p.m, while in evening colleges it commenced at 3 p.m. and ended at 7.30 p.m.

 

National Students Union of India (NSUI) issued an official complaint against the candidates of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for visiting the Jhandewalan Mandir on Sunday, 8th September 2019 and posting about the same on social media.

The National Students Union of India (NSUI) recently condemned its opponent, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for adopting the practice of religion and religious symbols for the purpose of political campaigning which stands in direct violation of the Lyngdoh guidelines which all students contesting the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections are supposed to abide by, in order to not encounter direct disqualification.

In 2005, the Supreme Court decided to set up a committee to ensure measures that would hamper disruption caused by college elections. Following the order of the Supreme Court, a panel was set up by the ministry of Human Resource Development headed by the then Chief Election Commissioner, J.N Lyngdoh for the same, limiting the democratic functioning of the Student Unions and was called The Lyngdoh Committee.

The Lyngdoh guidelines clearly state that:

“No candidate shall indulge in, nor shall abet, any activity, which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic, or between any group(s) of students.”

According to the allegations made by NSUI, the following four candidates of Akhil Bhartiya Vidya Parishad (ABVP), Akshit Dahiya (President nominee), Pradeep Tanwar (Vice President nominee), Yogit Rathee (Secretary Nominee) and Shivangi Kharwal (Joint Secretary Nominee) along with Professor Manu Kataria of Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Science (State President of ABVP Delhi) were sighted using religious symbols for their campaigning. Later, a Facebook post was uploaded by the Presidential candidate Akshit Dahiya in which they visited a famous temple in Delhi wearing religious garments while making an appeal to vote for them, which disregards the Lyngdoh guidelines for social media campaigning as well.

Apart from this, under the Delhi University Act, any Professor under the paid role of Central Government is not allowed to display their political affiliation in public but sources have also proclaimed that Mr. Manu Kataria endorsed candidates for the DUSU election, hence violating the Delhi University Service Rules.

As per sources, NSUI has registered a formal complaint on the issue and made a request to the Election Officer to constitute a Grievance Redressal Hearing against the violators under the Lyngdoh guidelines and withdraw their nomination at the earliest as it is against the norms of free and fair elections.

Shri Akshay Lakhra, NSUI Delhi State President stated, “NSUI will ensure no polarisation of University takes place. ABVP already used cheap rhetoric this election by illegally putting up the statue of a highly controversial figure Damodardas Savarkar. When the move failed, they retorted to further downgrade cheap theatrics of using religion as a tool to safeguard their defeated campaign. Delhi University students are not going to be fooled by such rhetoric of ABVP again after the fake degree issue, and would give a sounding reply to them in upcoming student union elections.”

Following this news, the students of University of Delhi didn’t take it as a surprise that candidates do not follow the guidelines established for running a campaign, they believe that the Lyngdoh Committee is not a solution to strengthen or improve the prevailing conditions of student politics and DU stands as a classic example of its failure in limiting money and muscle power politics.

Feature Image Credit: ABVP Media

Avni Dhawan

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On 5th September 2019, DU Beat conducted an interview with All India Students’ Association’s (AISA) Vice Presidential candidate, Aftab Alam to know him and his perspective regarding the upcoming Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections.

To the common student, DUSU feels like an unapproachable political entity, what will you and your party do to ensure accountability to the students of Delhi University?

Sabse pehle toh aap ye baat janiega ki DUSU ka matlab hai Delhi University Students Union, yani hamm 3 lakh baccho ke liye 4 bacche chunke jaate hai unke representative hokei aur hamm usi hi chunav ka taiyaari kar rahe hai. Yaani hamm log unn baccho ka vote leke aage pohonchte hai. Aur itna hamm ye bata na chah rahe hai aapko ki aapne kaha ‘connection kis tareeke se hoga, connection ke liye aap agar union mai apne bagal ke bench ke ucche hue bacche ko union mai pohonchaeyenge, agar aap union ko itna suljha hua rakhenge, itna suljha hua rakhenge ki woh BMW, Mercedes aur bade bade audi se bees bees lakh rupay, eke k crore rupay deke agar jeet ke waha pohonch aaye toh bilkul sadharan baat hai ki woh keval aur keval apne rutbay ke liye , apni shauharat ke liye uss post pe gaya hai ki woh 3 lakh baccho ka representative hai bas uss vekti ko use zyada aur kuch nahi chahiye. Hamm aapko yahi batana chahte hai ki grounded bacche, aapne bagal ke seat se uthe hue bacche ko agar aap bhejte hai, jiske paas shayad utna paisa na ho lekin agar aap uss bacche ko bhejenge toh itna connection hoga ki jo baccha bohot door ke college mai hai aur usse office tak bhi jaana hai toh ek baar call siraf karde toh shayad woh union member khud uske paas chala jay eek din waqt nikalke, ho sakta hai ki bohot busy ho, lekin aisa bhi nahi hai ki iss tareeke se jo ground se utha hua vekti hoga woh ground pe kaam karna hi pasand karega. Toh aap agar grounded aur aap agar AC ke car mai baithne wale Mercedes walo ko agar aap chunenge toh kabhi nah woh ground mai rehna seekha hai na kabhi woh ground mai rahega. Toh iss tareeke se ek connectivity jo hammne bataya aur jisse agar hamm in future vice president bannte hai toh bohot se cheezo ko hamm layenge aapne taraaf se saal bhar ke bheetar jiss wajeh se jo student aur union ke beechmai jitna connection paida ho ki number ka intazaam kiya jayega jisse continued student aapna koi bhi takleefo seedha union tak seedha connect karpaeyaga aur union ko complaint likhwayega aur usspe jald se jald karwahi ki jayegi, iss tareeke se bohot se kadam jo in future hamm khud personally AISA ke taraf se aur hamm milke ispe vichaar karenge, vichaar karne ke baad kuch aise kadaam uthayenge jisse bohot zyada connection tayaar ho baccho ki dooriyaan kamm ho aur ek phone karei, toh hamm log ground se uthei hue ki itne door tak college jaye aur unki takleefo ko suljhaye.

 

The incidents on Old Gupta Road and Hindu Rao Hospital highlight security concerns for those living in the  north campus, what steps will you take to ensure safety and security on campus?

Ek baat hamm aapko batatei hai ki aisa hai ki Delhi University goondo ki university bana di hai. Yaha chattraye keval padhne ke liye aate hai aur isse pehle hamm aapko thora aur samjhaate hai thora sa ki jo chunao hai, woh chunav keval chattra sangh ka chunav hai . Yaani haamm jis politics mai hai woh keval student politics hai, lekin hamm jis politics mai hai usse kya bana diya hai aaj ke samhei mai, ki student politics ko bana diya hai vidhan sabha, tantagri aur aneek chetriye ke rajneeti se bana diya gaya hai. Lekin agar chettriye rajneeti mai agar aap dekhiye toh jo baccha university ka na hai woh bouncer, badei badei bouncer, vishaal vishaal bouncers toh itne saarei jeev agar aa rahe hai toh ye toh sadharan baat hai ki ek ke baad durghatnaye karenge, jaise law faculty mai abhi teacher ko kuch din pehle maar diya, bohot maara gaya, unhe toh parambaati nahi hai ki kis tareeke se kis tareeke se aap bina dekhe ki woh ek teacher hai, ek adhyapak hai aur unka haat todd dena. Unhe toh maalum nahi kyunki unhe shayad kabhi padhayi nah ki ho jaise farzi degree walei, jaise baadmei pta chalta hai ki farzi degree wale bhi bohot hai. Toh iss tareeke se une ye bhi nahi maalum ki respect ek professor ki kitni badi cheez hoti hai ki student ke liye kitni badi cheez hoti hai toh usse mukhyode se ek study hi hai, padhai hi hai, uska mukhyode se rajneeti nahi hai mukhyode se padhai hai , padhai ke baad rajneeti hai toh aap agar pehle padhai karne aaye hai toh aap janenge ki respect kya hai. Mai aapke sawaal mai aata hu, sawaal yahi hai ki kiss tareeke se hamm log karenge toh baat ye hai ki agar humari union , hamara pehla nazr union mai pohonchta hai aur agar mai khud pohonchta hut oh sir iss tareeke se ki ye kamzori kaha se shuru hui, ye kamzori shuru hui prashasan se, prashasan ko agar jheel diya jaeyga , prashasan dheeli rahegi toh toh bohot ekdum sadhaaran cheez hai ki ye gunde issi tareeke se kabu payenge. Kyunki aap dekhiyega aap jante bhi hoyenge ki prashasn itni kamzor hai inki ki agar bohot bheer jama hoti hai toh prashasan darr jaati hai. Kamre mai khudko lock kardeti hai, agar prashasan ko bohot had ke level mai tight karenge,agar ek aisa veyakti aayega joh prashasan ko na daraake prashaasan ko uss tareeke se daraye jo aapka joh kaam hai woh aap dhangse karenge, jo gunda gardi, iss gunda gardi pe control karenge toh agar hamm inn sab cheezo pe kadam uthayenge toh sadhaaran si baat hai ki ye cheez khud bah khud khatam hojayegi.

 

How inclusive do you think AISA is in terms of minority and LGBTQIA+ representation?

Hamari party peechle varg theekai, aur jinnko dabaya jaa raha hai jitni bhi cheese hai, inn sabhi cheezon ko hamari party saath leke chalne waali hai sabko ek samaan maanti hai.Party kehti hai ki aap party mai bade ho, chote ho sab kehte hai ki aap hamme comrade kehke bolei, hamei saathi bolei, aur agar ham saamne wale ko saathi bolenge toh saamna khud ko aapne aap ko safe feel karega aur apna feel karega. Iskeliye hamari party sabko ek saath chalne wali party hai sabko ek samaan bananei wali party, sabko ek nazariye aur ek ucchai se dekhne wali party hai

 

Campaigning every year uses up a tremendous amount of paper for pamphlets, posters etc which then leads to litter on campus, what is your say on the matter?

Do baatei hai, ek toh ye hai ki jis tareeke se paper, paper ek cheez hai ki bina paper ke aap 52 colleges nahi cover kar sakte, ek toh yeh hai. Magar uss cheez ko toh control mai toh rakh hi sakte hai. Prachaar karna hai toh aap control kijiye jis tareeke se hamm har ek college mai jaa rahe hai, jab hamm ek ek paper haath mai pakda rahe hai bina udaaye toh hamm unse yeh keh rahe hai ki isse phenkiyega nahi zameen pe, isse dustbin mai mat daliega, iska joh sahi use hai uss use mai hi chalayega, isse barbaad mat kariega aur logon pe matt faekiega, toh hamm ye bataana chah rahe hai aapko ki hammne woh paper ko udaaya nahi, keval har bacche ke haath mai eke k paper pakraya. Jitna istemaal karna hai utna paper ka istemaal kiya, jisse ek paper faaltu use nahi kiya. Magar Delhi University ke chunav mai hota kya hai, annaya party uss paper ke saath, chahe woh law facully mai ghusse ya kisi college mai ghusse ya road pe chale toh usse iss tareeke se bade bade gadiyon mai 500 paper ki gaddiyon ko itni door udaati hai ki woh paper ka twice ya thrice, teen se chaar gunna lagbhag barbaadi hai uska. Jitna aapko paani peena hai, utna hi glass mai bhariye, usse extra agar aap paani bhadenge toh woh paani barbaad hojayega, toh woh hi cheez hai jitna aapko use karna hai , ussi hisaab se aap baccho tak pohonchaye. Anaya party ke muqable hamm usse 4 guna bacha lete hai uss paper ko aur hamm apna kaam bhi kar rahe hai aur apne aap ko waha tak pohoncha bhi rahe hai.

 

Delhi University was recently declared an Institute of Eminence by the Union Government which entitles DU to a payment of a 1000 crores over 5 years, however,  the trend in 2019 in DU has been of increasing fees and hostel rates, why do you think this is so? And what will your party do to reduce fee hikes and hostel rates?

Itna budget honei ke baad bhi, Delhi University Vice Chancellor sahab kehte hai ki unka governing body alag hai, jitney bhi colleges hai unki governing body alag hai unke ye words hai ki unke governing body alag hai toh uss hisaab se chale. Accha hamm aapko batatei hai ki governing body alag hona aur uska university of delhi mai affiliated hona, joora rehna dono alag alag cheez toh nahi hai, theekai. Aap ki jadhei kaha hai? University mai hai na , fundings aapko kaha se mil aa rahi hai, university se mil aa rahi hai na, har ek college ko kaha se funding pohonchaye ja raha hai? University se pohonchaye jaa raha hai na, jis taal se hostel mai kamiya hai, lekin uske bawajut jo bacche hai unki fees bara di  hostel mai. Hammne jab graduation 2016 mai shuru ki thi, toh mainei khud B.A programme ke liye 6000-7000 diye thei, aur iss saal jab final year hammne complete kiya toh jab naye bacchii aaye, toh unke muh se jab suna kuch baccho ke muh se unnei kaha ki 14000-15000 ussi deshbandhu college se kiya. Yaani mainei keval usko 6000-7000 mai complete kiya aur saamne jo aaya 3 saal baad woh baccha uska dugna pay kiya toh hamm ye keh rahe hai ki bacche ye jhael rahe hai, 98 percent lane ke baad bhi . magar uske peeche kaaran kya hai, hamm chup hai, union chup hai . Aap jab tak bolenge nahi, aap jab tak ladenge nahi aap apne haqq ke liye nahi ladenge, aap jab tak bhagat singh nahi banenge toh shayaad aapke saath sarkare aise hi karegi. Sarkaare toh manmaani hi karte hai , sarkaaro ka kaam hai manmaani karna. Magar yahi hai, iske peeche sacch yahi hai ki hamme bolna hoga, union mai aane ke baad agar hamm ladenge nahi. Union ka kaam kya hai? Laddna , apne haqq ke liye laddna , kisi aur cheez ke liye laddti nahi union . Agar union nahi ladegi aur nahi khadi hogi toh kis tareeke se kaam chalega? Toh yahi hai ki hamm jab tak ladenge nahi , jab tak ladenge nahi sarkaaro se, tab tak sarkaaro se manmaani chalte rahegi. Hammei uss manmaani rokna, aur union mai aane ke baad , ham jis union mai aajayenge vice president post pe, toh ham isse judei rahenge, kaam karte rahenge.

 

The overriding perception of University politics is that It involves dirty politics, strong-arming, and violence. What has your party done to prove this perception wrong during this campaigning period, and what does it plan to do to reduce these perceptions in the future?

Ye bohot accha sawaal hai, ham miss sawaal pe ye batana chahte hai aapko ki aisa hai ki ye jo bees se pandra saal, ya bees saal, ya shayad panchees saal hi utha lijiye jabse ye badi badi partiya aaye ye DUSU ke chunav mai aaye. Toh inke joh vichaar dharaaye hai woh sabinhi ki ho sakti hai, aur shuru se jab bacche aaye, inke mann mai student politics aapne kabhi nahi utaara, aappne chattra rajneeti kabhi nahi utaari, Baccho ke mann mai keval aapne itna utaara ki gunddalog hai. Kyunki, dekhiye , ek baccha jo shuru se dekhta hai, ham ek chote se bacche ka example lete hai, ek ghar mai ek baccha hai, chota baccha hai woh jis mohol mai paida hoga , jis mohol mai palega badega woh waisa hi dekhega aur waisa bhi aage hi bolega sochega aur karerga. Ussmei woh saare gunn aajayenge uss tareeke ke. Toh ek baccha school se iss university mai aaya sunnte bohot pehle se, 20 saal 25 saal pehele se , ki ussne bees pachees saal lagatar dekhe aur jo halaat dekhe hai yaha pe tohh unnke dimaag mai woh darr paida kiya gaya. Shuru se darte raha. EK example le lijiye, JNU ka example lelijiye, JNU mai woh darr nahi hai, woh darr ka mohol nahi hai, gunda log nahi hai waha. Gunda log agar hota waha pe toh iss tareeke se toh waha pe khulke aam chattra ki jeet na hoti, shayad Mercedes BMW wali kisi ki jeet hoti, shayad 25-30 lakh ek crore kharch karne walei, pool party karane wale ki hi jeet hoti. Toh yaane ki yaha pe shuru se aam chattra toh kabhi jeeta nahi, iss tareeke se ground level ka, hamm jaise chattra kabhi jeeta nahi , hamara party jaisa aa nahi paaya , gundelog shuru se hi control karta raha. Iss tareeke se, bilkul issi tareeke se shuru se aapne mohol create kiya, mohol create kiya toh baccha logon ke mann mai darr bana aur woh aman taal tak chale. Jab tak hamm jaise sanghkarti aur hamari party jaise sanghkarti yaha khadi hai, tab tak hamm log unn baccha logon ko iss darr se azaad karne mai aur darr ko samjhaane mai, ki inse darr ne ka zarurat nahi hai, iss darr se nikalne ke liye bas yahi aap logon ke saath ek tareeka hai ki aap gundalogon ko mat suniye, gundalogon ko vote deni ki zarurat nahi hai. Ek baar bas ek aam chattra, ek aam panel ko , ek aam party ko jeetakei dikhaye aur inhe bata dijiye ki ye university kisi paise wale ki jyagir nahi hai, ye university gundo ki jyagir nahi hai, ye bouncers ki jyagir nahi hai, BMW Mercedes waalo ki jyagir nahi hai. Ye university jo hai, aam chattro ki jyagir hai, aam chattro yaha pe khulke saas le sakte hai, aap logon se darega nahi , 100 gunde aap leke aajayenge firr bhi. agar ek baar bhi aisa hota hai toh mai batata hu aapko aur mai vada karta hu aapko ki Delhi University Students Union aur DU ka mohol badal jayega , ye darr khatam hojayega aur jo bacche darr rahe hai ab uss din ye sochenge ki failaane jo thei, failaani party jo  thi , woh jeet gayi inn gunda logon ke beech mai toh shayad hamm bhi jeet jayenge, hamm  bhi aam chattra hai, hamm bhi jeet jayenge inn gundalogon ke beech mai , toh hare k aam chattra khara hoga laddne ke liye, hare k aam party khade hogi laddne ke liye to hiss tareeke se hamm logon ke dimaag mai jo bithaya gaya hai, jo baccha logon ke dimmag mai darr, woh darr khatam kiya ja sakta hai.

 

The Lyngdoh Committee lays down 5000 rupees as the maximum expenditure amount,  how does your party maintain it?

Mai chunav khud ladd raha hu, mai aapko bata sakta hu ki lyngdoh committee ki joh rule hai, woh 5000 ka hai, aur apan baat hai ki 5000 koi student ke liye bohot bari rakam hoti hai chunav laddne ke liye. Aur jo rule banaya gaya woh soch samajhke banaya gaya ki aapno itni ki hi bheetar laddna hai, yaani ki aap student politics mai hai, na ki aap prashasan ka chunav ladd rahe hai, ye log crore rupay kharch kar rahe hai, pool partiya kara rahe hai theekei iss tareeke se logon se vote le rahe hai, toh ye koi tareeka nahi hai. First year mai jab hamm log bhi aaye thei, toh hamm logon nedekha tha pool partiya karai gayi thi, uss saamei mannu bhai aagaya tha aur bacche logon se vote liya gaya tha. Toh hum batatei hai ki hamari party ne kaise maintain kiya hai. Humlog iss tareeke se maintain karte hai iss cheezo ki ek toh hamare jeetne bhi candidates hai, ham 4 candidates jo kharei hai sab ek normal family se aate hai aur ghar se support milta hai toh wohi hamm log ka mahinei ka, hamm apna batatei hai mahinei ka , hamei 7000-8000 ruppees mahina milta hai, ham waise hi door hai lucknow se . yah ape rehte hai room leke. Ussi 7000-8000 per mahinei mai, utne se, hamei ghar waalo ne koi support nahi kiya , utne se apna hamm log ki party jo hai hamm saath aake thora khaana khaa liya milke , thora sa das das rupay distribute karke rickshaw leliya, gaadi lena itna woh hai nahi ham logon ke paas ki hamm lg gaadi khareed paaye, das das gaadiyaan ghuma paaye, E rickhaw leliya, zyada door hua toh chalo distribute karke 50 rupppes ya 40 ruppeees hamm logon ne e kola book karliya, door jaana hai, doosre college. Toh iss tareeke se kar karke hamm logon ne ye samajhliye zyada se zyada kheeech ke bhi jayega toh toh per candidate 5000 hi jayega ya usse bohot hi kam hi rahega agar shayad aap ek hisaab lagaye toh , 3 din ke campaing, 4 din ke campaign mai toh. Iss tareeke se hamm log maintain karte hai

 

Which element differentiates you from the other contenders for the post of VP?

Vice President post pe hammei nahi maalum ki hamare saamne jo ladka khada hai woh kaisa hai ya kya hai ya kyu hai.log tarah tarah ke baatein karte hai aur mai personally candidates se nahi mila hu . magar, mai apna batata hu ki unse alag mera kya ho sakta hai haan ye ho sakta hai ki agar mai vice president post per aha hut oh mainei jitney apni 3 saal ki journey dekhi hai , jitney kamiyan jo jo mujhe sahi nahi laga graduation ke time pe woh shayaad har  ek vyekti ko nahi chahiye hoga, jitno ne time bitaya, har ek bacche ko , aane wale har ek bacche ko chahiye hogi ki jo jo mainei bitaya jo jo apne se mainei chaha, woh mai, mai ye hi chahta hu ki jo mainei chaha woh joh mera aane wala baccha log hai jo abhi chal raha hai wph pedh na pai paye, toh mainei woh cheese aankhon se dekhi hai na shayad doosre ne bhi dekhe ho , ya usne iss cheez pe vichaar na kiya ho mujhe nahi maalum hai. Lekin firr bhi mai usse inn logon se alag iss liye ho sakta hu kyunki mere pe jo beeta hai mai jaise ek example deta hu, bohot chota sa example hai ki jab mai graduation jab mainei complete kiya toh usmei kya hua ki hammse kaha gaya ki jaaye aur print nikal aaye apne poore spreadsheet aur semester ka result ka, aur laiye aur aake jama kar dijyiye aur kal le jaiye. Toh hamm ye soch rahei thei ki hammne pehli class jab school mai diya, fees liya tha usne , doosri se dasvi tak bhi, dasvi ka jab board aaya toh board walon ne bhi hamei diya marksheet aur ek toh twelveth walo ne bhi hamei marksheet dia firr lekin graduation jo hamne kiya aur woh bhi hammne itne bade university se kiya , delhi university, yaane ki desh ki sabse badi university toh hammei uss university ne hamei marksheet nahi diya, 20 ruppee ka marksheet minimum to minimum, ye chote chote cheese jo hai, choti choti cheese, ye sochne ki baat hai , 20 ruppee ka khaata itna bada nahi hai lekin sochne ki baat hai ki woh marksheet nah dene ka kya karaan hai , aisa kya tha ki nahi diya, fees mai include kar sakti thi woh 20 ruppee ko, sab de saktei thei. Ye jo fees itna badaya gaya hai uss hisaab se toh aane wale baccho ko de, hamme na de, hamm log toh isi se padhe hai. Toh inn sab cheese ko, ye cheezei aage bhi chalte rahengi, mai inn choti choti cheezon mai badlaav lana chaata hu, hamari party inn choti cheezo mai badlaav lana chahti hai, hamare party se koi bohot barei agendas nahi hai , hamari party aam chattra ke liye lagi hai, aam chattra ke liye ladd rahi hai, badlaav ke liye laddi hai jaise metro pass ke liye laddi thi, ladi hai aur ladti rahegi aur jeetege bhi. Issi tareekei se hamm log chattro ke support mai jitni bhi choti choti cheezei hai unnn sab cheez ke liye ladenge , mai inn saari cheezo pe kaam karunga aur mai inn cheezo ke liye jo jo mere pe beeta hai , ye mujhe unn logon se alag  banata hai ki mainei ye sab cheez jhela hai, teen saal aur chauthe saal mai shayad mujhe masters mai jhelna padega. Mujhe milei ya nah milei, mujhe nahi maalum, lekin agar mujhe milei toh mai inn sarre cheezo mai kaam karunga.

 

Last year, there were allegations of EVM tampering against ABVP, also to be noted, the EVMs were privately supplied and not by the Election Commission,  how will you ensure that incidents like this don’t occur this year and how do you plan to make sure elections are held fairly?

Jawaab dete hai, jawaab do tareeke se diya hai, ye aisa bhi hai ki sarkaar unnke, huq maaaran unnke, jeetne bhi neta hai unnke, hamei nahi maalum par shayad EVM bhi shayaad unki, agar aisa hai toh ye baat nischit hai ki aap loktantra ko khatam kar rahe hai aur loktantra ko bachaane ki zimidari hare k rajneek ko hai shayad unki himmat nahi rehta ki karei . apne aap ko sahta mai rakhne ke liye ki delhi university ka chunaav apna ladka log ne jeeta hai toh hamm log satta mai hai toh jeet gaya iss tareeke se apna naam bananei ke liye . Toh hamari party, agar aisa kuch bhi hamm logon ko lagta hai to hiss cheez pe hamm log din bhari khade rahenge, jadei rehenge aur ladte rahenge , uss din ladenge aur uss din aap log dekhenge hamm log kya situation paida karte hai huqumat kea age jis din hamm logon ko chunaav kea as paas aisa pta chala ya aisa kuch honei wala hai toh ham aisa situation paida karenge hamm ladenge aur prashasan ko batayenge , prashasan se poochenge aur prashasan ko majboor kardenge iss cheez ke liye agar aisa kuch hai toh hamei turant jawaab de

 

In 2017, DU colleges were given autonomy, which could lead to privatization of DU’s constituent colleges, are you for or against this and why?

Privatisation ki against hi hona ya na hona ye shayaad ek baat hai ki hamm nahi hai  ya hai. Hamari khayal se shayad woh log bhi nahi hoenge privatisation ke support mai kyunki agar university ko agar private kardiya toh chunaav band hojayega magar unki sarkaar toh private karne mai tuli hui hai . Agar ye reliance ko dediya jaaye toh kya reliance yah ape chunaav karne dega sochne ki baat hai ki reliance ke haath mai dediya jaye toh. Magar unhe shayad ye baat nahi maalum hogi, unke aas paas log jo keh rahe hoenge, unke aas pas log ke baat mai haan mai haan mila rahe hai. Accha ab mai jawaab dene chahta hu aapko ki hamm log support mai hai ki nahi, hamm log support pe nahi hai, hamari party kabhi bhi aisi cheezo ke support mai kabhi khadi nahi hui . hamm log hamesha, hamare party ne hamesha , hamesha hammne aise cheeze ka virod karte rehenge. Jab private honei wala tha tab bhi hamare party ne virod kiya tha, bohot bhaari tareeke se virod kiya tha. Aane wale future mai agar ye karte hai toh hamm log bohot bhaari tareeke se virod karenge kyunki private hoojaane ke baad jo aam baccha , BPL category ka baccha, PWD category ka baccha, jitney bhi category aate hai jismei gareeb bacche hotei hai, unn baccho ko shayaad kabhi na padhne ka naseeb nahi hoga delhi university jaise university mai woh shayaad apne aap se bohot chote se college mai padhaayi karke aur bhale 99 percent lele,100 percent lele woh kabhi sapna nahi dekh paayega aur hamm log ne 85-90 leke hamne jo sapna dekha tha ki hamm log padenge aur hamm logon ne itne kam paisa mai graduation karliya. Toh iss cheez pe ham log aane wale sameh pe virod karenge ki hamara aane wala baccha log hamesha apna sapna dekhe Delhi University mai padhne ka, bhale paisa uske paas kamm ho.

 

 

Feature Image Credits: AISA

 

Prabhanu Kumar Das

[email protected] 

On 5th September, 2019, DU Beat conducted an interview with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s (ABVP) Vice Presidential candidate, Pradeep Tanwar to know him and his perspective regarding the upcoming Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections.

Pradeep Tanwar, is a graduate in B.A. Programme from P.G.D.A.V College. He’s currently pursuing his masters in Hindi from Deshbandhu College. He has been a part of ABVP since 2015, and believes his true interest lies in politics and solving students’ problems.

What are the main issues you and your party will focus on for DUSU 2019? 

The main issues we will focus on are:

  1. Metro concession pass: it’s unfair to ask a student who comes from a middle-class family to spend so much on travelling. Our biggest fight is for metro concession passes.
  2. Hostels in South Campus: Except Venky (Sri Venkateswara College), there aren’t a lot of colleges that have hostels in south campus. We will work to establish these hostels.

To the common student, DUSU feels like an unapproachable political entity, what will you and your party do to ensure accountability to the students of University of Delhi?

I, along with other ABVP members, have went to each college to personally listen to the problems of students and solve them. Students get help from ABVP from the time they get their admission done to the date of their farewell. I will personally organise campaigns in each college to listen to students.

The incidents on Old Gupta Road and Hindu Rao Hospital highlight security concerns for those living in North Campus, what steps will you take to ensure safety and security on campus?

Of course, we’re working towards making campus safer. We’ve made a committee to look into this, and asses the cases to make campus student-friendly.

Campaigning every year uses up a tremendous amount of paper for pamphlets, posters etc., which then leads to litter on campus, what is your say on the matter?

These are how elections take place, it has become a method by all parties. ABVP doesn’t do littering as we’re always fighting for a clean campus.

University of Delhi (DU) was recently declared an Institute of Eminence by the Union Government which entitles DU to a payment of a 1000 crores over 5 years, however,  the trend in 2019 in DU has been of increasing fees and hostel rates, why do you think this is so? And what will your party do to reduce fee hikes and hostel rates?

It’s the staff and other people involved who are using this money for their own benefits. We’re working constantly towards fighting fee hikes. We protest or petition, but we always get success for students. Deshbandhu College had raised its fees, we had protested there with the students.

The Lyngdoh Committee lays down 5000 rupees as the maximum expenditure amount, how does your party maintain it?

We always manage our campaigning under the budget. We follow all rules of the committee. ABVP works all year round so we don’t require high campaigning.

Which element differentiates you from the other contenders for the post of Vice President?

What differentiates me, is my affiliation to ABVP. Students will vote for me as ABVP is the only party that works year-round for the students on a ground level, unlike other parties.

Last year, there were allegations of EVM tampering against ABVP, also to be noted, the EVM’s were privately supplied and not by the Election Commissions, how do you plan to make sure elections are held fairly?

You ask this question to us on every meeting. I would like to inform that ABVP follows the rules of Lyngdoh committee very well. At this point, all other parties are non-existent and then they use these dirty tactics making politics intimidating for all.

IMG_3775

ABVP Panel

President: Akshit Dahiya, Ballot No.1

Vice President: Pradeep Tanwar, Ballot No. 5

Secretary: Yogit Rathi, Ballot No. 3

Joint Secretary: Shivangi Kharwal, Ballot No. 4

Feature Image Credits : ABVP

Chhavi Bahmba

[email protected]

 

On 5th September, DU Beat conducted a telephonic interview with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s (ABVP) Presidential candidate Akshit Dahiya ahead of Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections 2019, to shed light on his opinions and views.

Akshit Dahiya is currently a first year L.L.B. student at Faculty of Law, University of Delhi (DU). He’s also a graduate in B.Sc. Physical Sciences from Ramjas College, and a silver medallist in bodybuilding from University of Delhi (DU). He became a member of ABVP in 2016.

What are the main issues you will focus on as a presidential candidate? 

Being a sportsperson, I strongly feel about encouragement of sports in University of Delhi (DU). Outside if you notice, all the students who win medals are of universities. Hence, I have a dream that in 2024 Olympics, it should be DU students representing India. 

The other thing is DU special buses, I come from a very low metro connectivity area, so transportation from my home to the varsity became a task. That’s why, we would start these buses by making petitions. 

There have been recent cases like the one on Old Gupta road or near Hindu Rao Hospital that seriously question the safety of students. Have you done anything to ensure the safety of students studying and living there? 

We’ve already taken various steps. I did my entire campaigning on bi-cycles. I took 100 bi-cycles from college to college. I had two motives for it, one was of Green Delhi, it’s shameful for all, how we’re not contributing as individuals towards this issue. The other is, the scheme of closed campus. A lot of cars are driven in campus making students prone to accidents.

What are the few highlights of the ABVP manifesto for DUSU Elections, 2019? 

Even though we’ll have an entire manifesto announcement, few points are: 

  1. Metro Concession passes: Metro is raising their fares constantly making it very expensive for a normal middle-class student of DU to travel. 
  2. Scholarships in University: ABVP is the only group that allotted 50% of their entire budged towards giving scholarships to sportsmen, PWD candidates, and Economically weaker students.
  3. Holiday homework: All the students sit idle for the two months till 20th July until classes start. We’ve taken a target that will we provide 10,000 students with internships in summer vacation. 

How inclusive is ABVP towards LGBTQIA+ students? Will they receive adequate representation? 

It should be noted, that in our manifesto we have mentioned that we want free education for Transgender and the entire LGBT community. 

DUSU seems an unapproachable entity to the common DU student. Will you take any steps for making it more student friendly and less intimidating? 

I was never part of student politics earlier. I was a studious student. So, I’m well aware of the thought process of sports and study-oriented students and I will run a cycle of schemes and programmes to bring them to DUSU. Already ABVP-led-DUSU has done events like “She the Change” to increase the involvement of women and we will continue this even for cultural society members, and sports students as well. 

IMG_3773

Lyngdoh Committee has kept 5000 as maximum expenditure for campaigning. How do you and your party abide by it? 

Our entire party follows this thoroughly as ABVP works on ground level and each student gets affiliated naturally. We work under those INR 5000 per candidate very easily. 

Campaigning for DUSU often leads to littering in campus by all political parties. What steps have you taken to avoid this? 

Our motive this time is Clean Campus. We will follow it in depth and thoroughly till the end. There is no way ABVP supports this. We have ensured that the campus had cleanliness. It’s just the other parties that don’t work all year round and then need heavy campaigning to win, unlike ABVP. 

In 2017, many DU colleges proposed to be given autonomy, which could lead to privatisation of DU’s constituent colleges, are you for or against this, and why? 

My opinion and what steps ABVP will take regarding this will only be revealed in our press conference soon.

Last year, there were allegations of EVM tampering against ABVP, how will you ensure that incidents like this don’t occur this year and how do you plan to make sure elections are held fairly?

The issue of EVM tampering came because on the post of secretary there were only eight candidates and yet votes had been given on a ninth ballot as well. 

It shouldn’t be situated with us, as NSUI won the post of secretary making it evident as to who tampered EVMs. For us, democracy is above all. We have never engaged in undemocratic acts like these.

University of Delhi was recently declared an Institute of Eminence by the Union Government which entitles DU to a receipt of INR 1000 crores over 5 years, however, the trend in 2019 in DU has been of increasing fees and hostel rates, why do you think this is so? And what will your party do to reduce fee hikes and hostel rates?

We have worked a lot against fee hikes for students. Citing a few examples, there was Rajiv Gandhi Girls’ hostel which had increased its fee manifold, ABVP went there to protest and accomplished the goal of reducing their fees for students. At Ramanujan College, after they increased their fee by 100%, we protested there for the same. 

In the end, I would just advise all the students to come and vote. We’ve struggled a lot in history to achieve voting rights for students. They should vote as this time elections will be held on the ideology of nationalism.

IMG_3774

ABVP Panel 

President: Akshit Dahiya, Ballot No.1

Vice President: Pradeep Tanwar, Ballot No. 5

Secretary: Yogit Rathi, Ballot No. 3

Joint Secretary: Shivangi Kharwal, Ballot No. 4

Feature Image credits : ABVP 

Chhavi Bahmba

[email protected]

 

In July, 2019, the Allahabad University replaced the 96-year-old Student Union with a Student Council. Running on the same track, in October 2018, the Odisha Government notified that the Students’ Union polls will not be held in five major universities and 35 colleges due to violence . On June 7, 2017, the West Bengal government issued an order that replaced the term student union by student council . Although the Lyngdoh guidelines are mandatory for all colleges and universities and its first clause says that elections must be held in the institutes, but many universities like the Banaras Hindu University and Osmania University do not have a student body and elections have not been held since long. Out of the total 789 universities, only 50 or 60 universities are properly conducting student election . The mandatory elections norm continues to be violated by several
universities across the country.
However, student elections will take place this year in Maharashtra’s 11 state universities and affiliated colleges more than a quarter century after they were banned in 1993 by the then Congress government of M Sudhakar Rao Naik. The decks have been cleared for holding the student union
elections in Bihar universities after a gap of almost three decades in August ,2012.
The states and universities authorities take all the decision arbitrarily on the serious issue of students politics .The authority gives two grounds – first violence and second violation of Lyngdoh Committee. There are violence and hooliganism in the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha Elections as well. If Election Commission can conduct free and fair election in Baster and Kashmir then why
authorities are failing to conduct it in campuses.
So on the ground of violence, administration can’t deny electoral right. Actually, student politics need to be systemized with the law and order . Even, Indian parliament has failed to address and readdress student election problem. In spite of the fact that most of the famous and established
leaders come from student politics.
Presently, student election is being regulated in India by the judicial order not by any executive or legislative order . After the Supreme Court in University of Kerala v. Council, Principal’s Colleges, Kerala & Ors., (2006) 8 SCC 304, (referred to as “University of Kerala 1”) case , Lyngdoh Committee
was formed in 2006 by the HRD ministry to suggest reforms in the student union elections at the college/university levels. It was argued that these were becoming places of political tensions escalating into violent encounters between students. Under the leadership of J.M. Lyngdoh, it submitted its report to the Supreme Court of India on May 26, 2006. The Supreme Court on
September 22nd of the same year issued an order directing the college/university to follow and implement the committee’s recommendations. Lyngdoh Committee aimed at making elections cleaner, non-violent, and curbing the use of money and muscle power in the elections. In the
committee ,there were . Mr. J.M.Lyngdoh, Retd. Chief Election Commissioner (Chairman), Dr. Zoya Hassan, Professor Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Dr.Daya Nand Dongaonkar (Secretary General of the
Association of Indian Universities). Justice Markandey Katju and Ashok Kumar Ganguly held the order of Lyngdoh committee report as legislative order.
Lyngdoh Committee aimed at making elections cleaner, non-violent, and curbing the use of money and muscle power in the elections but it has failed on all fronts. There is a long list of recommendations, which are flouted in every elections, like the Committee explains that (6.6.1) the maximum permitted expenditure per candidate shall be ?5000, clause 6.7.5: No candidate shall be
permitted to make use of printed posters, printed pamphlets and 6.7.9: clause says that during the election period the candidates may hold processions and/or public meetings, provided that they do not, in any manner, disturb classes and other academic and co-curricular activities of the
college/university. Lyngdoh prohibited political parties from contest election and said that only
independent candidates can contest. The Lyngdoh also confused student council and student union.
Sections 6.1.2 and 6.2.1 of the Lyngdoh committee reports that only universities with a small
campus and fewer students, like JNU and Hyderabad University, should be allowed to form their
student unions via direct elections. The Allahabad university administration’s scrapped the Union
into council on this basis. The model Student Union differ from student counselling on fundamental
structures. Various positions of this council including President and Treasurer will not be elected by
students but nominated by the head of that specific institute. The Class Representatives will vote
and choose it’s General Secretary instead of direct elections. Basically, this body would be stripped
of its political voice or ability to reconcile under a banner to raise demands of the students. It would
be limited to organize cultural events and other such activities.
In reality Lyngdoh has failed and students politics needs major intervention by the Parliament.
Students politics needs a valuable legislation to scrap the Lyngdoh like National Student Union Act.
Instead an idea of one nation one election should be implemented in all the university. Election Commission of India should conduct elections instead of the university authority.
In reality, students politics is not only important for students but it is in national interest. Without the strong students politics Indian democracy can not run energetically. The democracy needs aware citizens , movement , intuitional awareness and those who can resists for their right .The students politics has all these character.
The youth is largest stake holder in Indian politics .The largest identity has its own challenges .

Without the integration of youth, Indian democracy can’t survive .The Indian parliament is one of the oldest parliament(in terms average age of parliamentarians) in a young country like India. The present day politics has excludes youth from politics as they think it to be highly nepotistic and filled
with unnecessary money-muscle power. This can be corrected through student politics . It is one of the easiest way through which a marginalised can become a leader. The philosopher likes of Plato as well as contemporary thinkers including American philosopher Martha Nussbaum have emphasised the need for political consciousness among the youth, which student politics create. Nussbaum has
written in her work, Cultivating Humanity: A Classical Defense of Reform in Liberal Education, “It would be catastrophic to become a nation of technically competent people who have lost the ability
to think critically, to examine themselves, and to respect the humanity and diversity of others .”
The Indian youth have the capacities to take democracy in their hands .He has capacity to
revolutionise the people like international students movement . The Vietnam War Protests – 1966-1969 , Anti-Apartheid – 1976 and Tiananmen Square Protest – 1989 ,these three student protests that changed history of the world. Even, Indian student movements have had some successful movements like, indian freedom struggle ,1977 Sampoorn kranti JP movement and 2011 Anti
corruption movement .
In the first week and second week of September,2019 ,Asia’s biggest Students Union election would be happening in the Jawahar Lal Nehru University and University of Delhi. Let’s celebrate youth democracy and demand to regulate the law of National students union election and open the door
of youth into politics .
Raja Choudhary
(Former DUSU Presidential candidate and student of Faculty of Law , University Of Delhi . He is also the author of a book titled ‘Ayodhya’)

The student outfit alleged that the attack on its Joint Secretary candidate, Shivangi Kharwal, happened while she was campaigning in Zakir Husain College. 

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, in a press release dated 6 September, alleged that Shivangi Kharwal – the party’s candidate for the post of the Joint Secretary in the upcoming Delhi University Students’ Union – was “brutally attacked by political goons in league with [National Students’ Union of India], on the premises of the University’s Zakir [Husain] College.” 

The press release quoted Ms Kharwal, “the victim of this malicious attack,” as saying that the attack was borne out of the NSUI’S “desperation owing to their sense of foreboding, regarding the uncomplimentary electoral denouement approaching them with inexorable certainty.” She said that the alleged attack reinforced the “misogynistic disposition of the NSUI.” She was also quoted as saying that she will file a complaint with the police “in a little while.” 

While speaking to DU Beat, Siddharth Yadav, State Secretary of ABVP Delhi, told us that while Ms Kharwal was campaigning at Zakir Husain College, suddenly slogans of “ABVP Murdabad, SUI Zindabad” were raised. He alleged that around 40-50 people with sticks had gathered outside the college gate from where the candidate had entered. “The NSUI unit inside the college was in direct coordination with the people outside, which included some locals, few gundas and few of their sympathisers,” Mr Yadav said. 

Mr Yadav further said that Ms Kharwal did not want to get into a conflict with the alleged attackers and she decided to end her campaign in the college and leave. However, Mr Yadav further alleged that when Ms Kharwal was leaving, the car that she was in was attacked. “People with stones and sticks and what not attacked the cars and even a few of our women supporters were tried to be held back. They were stopped from entering the car,” he said. 

However, NSUI refuted the allegations. Saimon Farooqui, National Secretary of the student party, said, “When ABVP starts losing, they put fake allegations. NSUI was nowhere involved in the entire incident. ABVP’s candidate and [its] members brutally thrashed the students of Zakir [Husain] College last year and this year too, they were planning to do the same which wasn’t acceptable to the students. This resulted in students drawing them out of the college. All the students were ID card holders of Zakir [Husain] College. No one belonged to NSUI.” 

We contacted Ms Kharwal but could not get a comment from her on time. 

However, this does not seem to be a standalone incident; the DUSU elections, scheduled for 12 September, have seen multiple instances of alleged scuffles and violence till now. Almost all parties have accused each other of creating violence or attacking their candidates and supporters some or the other time. 

Feature Image Credits: India Today

Prateek Pankaj 

[email protected] 

 

On 7th September 2019, All India Students’ Association (AISA) released its manifesto for the 2019 Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections at a press conference held in the Press Club of India. The panel consisted of Damni Kain, the Presidential candidate, Aftab, the Vice-Presidential candidate, Vikash Kumar, the Secretarial candidate, Chetna, the Joint Secretarial candidate and Kawalpreet Kaur, Delhi State President.

In their press release, they called out Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for last year’s election fraud regarding Ankiv Baisoya and demanded an apology. Kawalpreet Kaur, Delhi State President, said in the conference, “Agar ABVP mein thoda sab hi sharam hai, thoda sa bhi moral rightness hai, ABVP should not contest elections this time and should apologize to the DU students for what they did last year.” 

The manifesto also said that ABVP has constantly spread terror in their campus, where it has indulged in violence against the professors and students. “From threatening professors in the syllabus making committee to illegally setting up the statue of Savarkar in Arts Faculty, the ABVP has continuously resorted to unprecedented violence on students,” read their press release.

They raised questions regarding new colleges, improvement of infrastructure, fee hikes, anti-sexual harassment and gender sensitization committees, north-eastern societies and the overall development in the University. “In spite of having their government at the center, In spite of winning the elections with a full mandate, they haven’t worked for the students at all,” added Kawalpreet Kaur.

Under their manifesto, they promise to work for:

  • More hostels, Rent Regulation Act and against the PG-Broker Mafia.
  • Students Metro Concessional Passes, more DTC buses, and university special buses.
  • Gender sensitization cells, active anti-sexual harassment committees, and equal opportunity cells.
  • Better infrastructure, standardized canteen rates, improved laboratories and reduction in fees.
  • Campus democracy, academic freedom, and pro-students initiative.

They also talked about their achievement of affordable transportation which made the DTC Bus Pass valid in AC buses and led to the Delhi government announcing of 1,000 More DTC buses in Delhi. Vikas Kumar, the Secretary Candidate, said in their press release,“ AISA has fought long and guaranteed AC bus passes even when we were not in the union, if elected we will guarantee metro Concessional passes for all students.”

AISA also asked the students to:

  • Vote against ABVP’s serial violence on campuses
  • Vote for alternative politics in DUSU
  • Vote for academic freedom
  • Vote for quality and affordable higher education
  • Vote for a gender-just DU campus

Damini Kain, the DUSU presidential candidate, said, “Rather than fighting with us and for us, DUSU members have fought against us. It is only the movement led by us, the common students and professors which has saved DU in these difficult times. Students have to vote to save the idea of the university which is known for its debate and discussion if the avenue for it will be closed then only fear will loom on campus. Violence free campus is an important part of our manifesto.”

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat Archives

Satviki Sanjay

[email protected] 

 

The University of Delhi (DU) saw controversy
unfold over Savarkar, from demands to
rename the Delhi University Students’ Union
(DUSU) Office after V.D. Savarkar, to the
installation of a pillar with his bust, along
with those of Subhas Chandra Bose and
Bhagat Singh in the campus. The ideological
warfare about his thoughts continues to be
controversial.

As the DUSU elections approach, the
University is grappling with the Savarkar
Statue Controversy. The illegal installation
of the bust, followed by its removal,
reveals the ideological tussle between the
different schools of thought.
An extremist in his thoughts, Savarkar
was an Indian Independence activist who
rebelled against the British rule through
revolutionary means, and was imprisoned
due to his anti-coloniser activities.
Following a failed attempt to escape
while being transported from Marseilles
in France, he was sentenced to two life
terms of imprisonment, and eventually
landed in the cellular jail or Kala Pani.
Savarkar has been always been at the
eye of the storm, for being viewed as a
“coward” since he wrote letters to the
British, pleading to be released from the
torture of the cellular jail.
Being an atheist, he believed that
Hinduism was a political identity having
a powerful moral force. While in prison,
Savarkar wrote the work describing
Hindutva in which he defined that all
people descended from Hindu culture
as being a part of Hindutva, including
Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs. The noted
journalist, Manu Joseph, recently opined,
“The erasure of Savarkar by intellectuals
1.0 was so complete that at the end of it
all, he was not even a villain. He was not
mentioned in textbooks even as one of the
accused in the assassination of Mahatma
Gandhi. Savarkar’s insight was that
Hinduism was a powerful political identity
that does not require gods, or even the
cow actually, whom he did not love very
much, and that Hinduism is a fundamental
genetic force in all Indians. In this way, he
invented Hindutva.”
The very fact that the revolutionary
ideas of Savarkar remain to be missing
from our mainstream reading and
textbooks, does not allow the discussion
on his extreme views in the freedom
struggle movement through Hindutva.
Vaibhav Purandare, in his book The True
Story of the Father of Hindutva reveals
Savarkar’s professed hatred for Muslims.
In his early years as a revolutionary,
Savarkar asked Hindus and Muslims to
get along, but eventually, he wished to
subdue Muslims.
Earlier this month, on 12th August, the
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)
demanded the DUSU Office be named
after Veer Savarkar. Following this, the
ABVP and DUSU installed the busts of
V.D. Savarkar, Subhas Chandra Bose,
and Bhagat Singh outside the Faculty
of Arts in the North Campus and faced
criticism, followed by the attack on the
statue and smearing black colour on
the bust by the National Students’
Union of India.
Shakti Singh, the outgoing President
of DUSU, said, “Since the beginning
of my term, I was requesting the DU
administration for establishing the statues
but never got a reply from them. The
left-wing forces and the Congress party
have always defamed Veer Savarkar.
So, I wanted that this issue should be
debated so that the youth can know about
his contribution to the freedom struggle
of the country.”
Madhu Prasad, former Professor of
Philosophy, Zakir Hussain College said,
“Bhagat Singh believed that the country
won’t get freedom unless there is equality.
However, the current scenario in this
country does not allow debate, discussion,
and dissent, and idolising Savarkar is
against the essence of freedom.”
While he worked upon reforming
and revolting the colonial rule, his
extreme positions on Gandhi, Hindu
Rashtra, and Muslims bestows him with
political exclusion.

Feature Image Credits: Prateek Pankaj for DU Beat

Sriya Rane

[email protected]