An RTI has revealed that the Delhi government’s Tourism Department spent ₹1.83 crore on DU Bhajan Clubbing events organised across eight Delhi University colleges.
Earlier this year, Delhi University campuses hosted Bhajan Clubbing events across eight colleges. RTI documents obtained by Newslaundry have now revealed that the Delhi government’s tourism department spent ₹1.83 crore from tourism funds on the DU Bhajan Clubbing programme.
The RTI further revealed that the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) awarded a contract worth ₹1,83,05,200, excluding GST, to Total Multimedia Pvt Ltd to organise the events. The programme was funded through the tourism promotion initiative, ‘Delhi as a Destination’.
An Instagram reel posted by Total Multimedia Pvt Ltd shows Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra inaugurating the event. Speaking at the launch, Gupta said the government chose Delhi University after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about Bhajan Clubbing in Mann Ki Baat, adding, “There could not be a better place than Delhi University.” The government has described the DU Bhajan Clubbing initiative as part of its “cultural renaissance”, saying it combines devotion with modern music and “youthful energy”.
These DU Bhajan Clubbing events were organised between February 10 and 19 across eight Delhi University colleges and the University Stadium. The series began at Ramjas College on February 10 with a performance by the Leela Band, followed by the Raghav Raja Band at Deen Dayal Upadhyay College the next day.
The programme coincided with a politically turbulent period at Delhi University. Five of its eight performances were held alongside the university’s inaugural Delhi University Literature Festival (DULF), which featured television anchors Anjana Om Kashyap, Rubika Liyaquat, Anand Narasimhan and ANI Editor-in-Chief Smita Prakash, along with BJP leader Ram Madhav, Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri and other speakers.
At the same time, the All India Students’ Association (AISA) organised a parallel ‘People’s Literature Festival – Samta Utsav’, calling the official festival “a mouthpiece for regressive propaganda and communal rhetoric”. The parallel festival turned violent after historian Irfan Habib was attacked with a bucket of water and bricks were allegedly thrown from inside the Arts Faculty. Clashes also broke out during AISA’s ‘Adhikar Rally’.
Following the incidents, Delhi University imposed a month-long ban on protests on February 17. The university, however, continued to promote the DU Bhajan Clubbing initiative as part of its cultural renaissance.
According to a report by Newslaundry, Sanjeev Chugh, Public Information Officer at the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), said the tourism department funded the programme to engage Delhi University students and introduce them to Indian culture. According to Chugh, the initiative was meant exclusively for Delhi University’s students and was not open to the general public. “Considering the safety and security of male and female students, this is generally only for students,” he said.
Photo Credit: PTI File Photo
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