Latest
DU Beat – Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper
Tag

ABVP

Browsing
Uncategorized

Abvp to Hoist National Flag at 1 Lakh Places; Plans to Form Committees to Aid Implementation of NEP

By

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) issued a press release Monday. The release outlines its plans for the country’s 75th anniversary of independence, as well as its own 75th anniversary in 2022-23. Education sector related issues and the formation of committees to aid in the implementation of the NEP were also discussed.

In a press release dated 9th August 2021, student organisation Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) announced its plan to hoist the National Flag at 1,28,335 locations across the country on 15th August 2021- India’s Independence Day. They have also planned to work on internships, Tiranga marches, social media campaigns, short films on forgotten warriors, and so on.

Sidharth Yadav, the National Media Convenor of ABVP, said “We plan to engage the entire young community with the celebration. In Delhi, we are hoisting at 647 bastis. A big number of students from DU have volunteered and the experience they are getting while visiting these bastis is already heart-warming. I am sure that we will be successful in taking the celebration to the last man in the line and also develop a perspective amongst University students.”
Bharat Sharma, ABVP’s Delhi Media Convenor, added “until now, flag hoisting has largely been a government ritual. We intend on taking it to the masses.”

Furthermore, the organisation has decided to form a committee in each state. This committee would make recommendations to the governments, administrations, and universities for ensuring timely implementation of the National Education Policy.

The organisation is also celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2022-23. In light of the celebration, the ABVP has decided to take on large-scale campaigns. A one-day National Executive Council meeting was held on August 1, 2021, in Bhopal via a virtual and physical medium. In this meeting, the organisation passed two resolutions and an appeal.

The first resolution referred to the problems in the education sector during the Covid-19 period. They have also demanded a solution from the Central and State Governments. The second resolution discussed the country’s current situation and called for action. The council has decided to expand the ‘Parishad Ki Paathshala’ activity nationwide. They have also decided to establish the ‘Ritumati’ campaign for women’s health and empowerment as an amplitude across the country.

Read also: ABVP Meets G. Krishnan Reddy; Talks on Increase of NSDs & Tribal Upliftment

Feature Image Credits: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad

Sandhini Goyal
[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

ABVP Submits Memorandum to UGC Committee

By

Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) substitutes a nine-point memorandum to the University Grants Commission (UGC) based on suggestions provided by students. 

 

On 23rd April 2020, in a press release, ABVP revealed that it has submitted a nine-point memorandum to the UGC Expert Committee based on students’ suggestions. The party took detailed suggestions from students from various institutions of higher education in Delhi to draft the memorandum. The institutions include- Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Ambedkar University, and the Delhi Technological University, amongst others. The suggestions were taken via Google Forms regarding the issues that are being faced by the students during the COVID-19 lockdown and reached out to over 3000 students. The questions were regarding the conduct of examinations in online mode, internal assessments etc, seeking their opinions and suggestions.

The suggestions offered to the expert committee were based on the student replies to these questions. The nine points that were made are:

 

  1. The ABVP insisted upon refusal by the student community regarding the adaption of online examinations and insisted that all further decisions regarding the issue be taken after considering the stakeholders.   

 

  1. Priority is given to the examinations for final year students. These exams should be held after the lockdown is over, and not online. 

 

  1. The course content for final year students’ exams should be reduced. Only the course covered by in-class lectures should be considered. 

 

  1. The exams should be conducted at a time decided after considering the lockdowns is all states, so that outstation students can safely and comfortably travel back to their campuses. 

 

  1. Due to the fact that final year students would have to safeguard future options after the exams, priority should be given to them.   

 

  1. In case of extension of the lockdown further, examinations for 1st and 2nd-year students of Undergraduate courses and 1st-year students of Postgraduate courses be shifted to future semesters, with the number of papers being evenly distributed. 

 

  1. Online submissions should not be made compulsory. Students should be given an option for offline submissions. 

 

  1. ABVP requests that universities should relax the eligibility criteria as far as possible after deliberation with stakeholders to facilitate admissions for final year students and students joining after 12th boards. 

 

  1. Teachers and students should also be appealed to go the extra mile to complete their academic programs.  

 

Sidharth Yadav, State Secretary, ABVP Delhi, stated in the press release that, “The situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented. These are tough times and no such decision that augments the hardships being faced by students must be taken. The recommendations that we have submitted today to the University Grants Commission’s Expert Committee have been arrived upon after detailed deliberations and discussion with students. The suggestions offered by students have been attached with the memorandum. We have rejected the idea of online examinations and we hope that any decision taken by the government will take into account the welfare of students.”

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat

 

Shreya Juyal

[email protected]

 

Keep Reading
By
Coronavirus

ABVP Releases Questionnaire for Students on Conduction of Exams

By

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) introduced an online Google form soliciting opinions of students with regards to conduction of their postponed examinations, some of which shall later be added to a memorandum scheduled to be submitted to the authorities.

Amidst the shutdown of universities across the country and the indefinite postponement of semester examinations in lieu of the coronavirus-induced national lockdown, Akhil Bharatiya Vidya Parishad Delhi came out with a press release on 16th April 2020 announcing the release of a “Student Opinion Form” for students of universities across Delhi including University Of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Lal Bahadur Shastri Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Ambedkar University with an aim to collect concrete suggestions and opinions regarding the evaluation of their internal assessments and conduction of semester examinations.

This new initiative has been termed as the “Padhega Bharat, Badhega Bharat aur Jeetega Bharat” (India studies, India grows, India wins) campaign. After compiling the opinions and selecting a few notable suggestions, ABVP intends to add them to a memorandum which is due to be presented to the University Grants Commission and the Ministry Of Human Resource Development shortly.

Stressing on the necessity of this initiative due to recent developments such as the possibility of examinations shifting online, Sidharth Yadav, State Secretary, ABVP Delhi came out with a statement, “The pandemic has adversely affected the student community. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the resumption of normal civic life, reopening of campuses, conduct of internal assessments and conduction of semester examinations. The semester examinations have also been kept in abeyance. Since students are the primary stakeholders, their suggestions concerning the issues that can influence their academic progress, especially the possibility of organizing web-based semester exams merit specific inclusion on our memoranda.”

The fifteen-point questionnaire includes simple close-ended questions like “Have you ever given any internal exam/project/assignment during the coronavirus pandemic or prior?”, “Are you comfortable giving online assignments/assessments?”, “What online platforms do you use?” and also opinion-based open-ended questions like “Suggest a method for internal assessment during lockdown” and “In your opinion how should the semester exams be conducted?”. Most of the questions seem to seek the students’ opinions on the possible shift of internal and external assessments to online platforms.

“This new initiative was needed as this is an unprecedented situation. The questions are thoughtful and will surely help in revealing the views prevailing among students”, opined a first-year student of the University Of Delhi, on the condition of anonymity.

The link to the “Student Opinion Form” can be accessed through ABVP Delhi’s social media accounts.

Feature Image Credits: Akhil Bharatiya Vidya Parishad via Twitter

Araba Kongbam

[email protected]

 

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

ABVP and DUSU Introduce Online Remedial Classes Amidst Indefinite Lockdown

By

Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) have collaborated to launch online remedial classes for all students of the capital. 

In a press statement released on Tuesday, 31st March 2020, ABVP and DUSU announced initiatives to launch online remedial classes for all Delhi students. The organisations, recognising the grave academic losses occurring to the student community of the capital region due to the COVID-19 pandemic spread and lockdown, have decided to launch these remedial classes for all resident students of Delhi. Under this platform, all registered students will be able to access these classes.

This initiative involved not just students from the University of Delhi, but also students From Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamilia Millie Islamia (JMI), Indraprastha University (IP), Ambedkar University, as well as other registered colleges. Any student registered as a resident of Delhi can access this initiative. With the use of e-mail, voice notes, and online classes, the organisations plan to deliver the initiative of remedial classes to help students. The organisations also stated that a digital copy of all the course material will be made available to download.

47ce93a0-bf32-40b3-a23b-141d641cd4e7

Featured Image Credits: Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)

 

“The national capital, being an education hub, has been affected by the ongoing lockdown. As a consequence, the student community has suffered in terms of loss of thousands of hours of classroom instructions, no access to public libraries, and the absence of functional alternatives. It is to address these significant problems that ABVP Delhi and DUSU have brought together more than 80 professors and teachers from eminent institutes like Delhi University and JNU, who will provide online guidance to students in more than twenty different disciplines. Students from DU, JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia, IP University, Ambedkar University, and others can register themselves to join these online remedial classes. Doubts of the students will be cleared via e-mail, voice notes and discussions during online classes. Course materials would also be made available in the digital form,” the press release stated.

3b22c7f0-8899-4bb3-9ac1-c7b239fc97f2

Featured Image Credits: Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)

 

Sidharth Yadav, State Secretary, ABVP Delhi, said, “ABVP activists and volunteers have responded to the lockdown in more ways than one. Distribution of ration and similar essential goods among the stranded students, prompt medical assistance, appeals for the forbearance of rentals have been some of our initiatives. Online remedial classes add another dimension to our comprehensive response to this crisis. As a sincere representative of students, our efforts to assist the student community and the larger society will continue with the same momentum throughout the lockdown.”

“Distance learning and social distancing seem to be the only way out in these trying times. While we are thankful to the professors and scholars who have agreed to guide the students, we would request the varsity administration to institutionalize similar efforts for maximized scope and reach. We are endeavouring to provide a wide spectrum of e-learning resources and would urge the students to join these in large numbers. More instructors, courses, and study materials will be added as and when required,” Akshit Dahiya, President, DUSU, also stated.

The capital has been put under lockdown as per the orders of the government to prevent the spread of the pandemic, with educational institutions being shut down indefinitely until further orders.

 

Featured Image Credits: DU Beat Archives

Shreya Juyal

[email protected] 

 

Keep Reading
By
DUB News

DUSU, ABVP Protest Against Alleged Invalidity of Law Degree

By

Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) organized a joint protest to address the issue of the prospective validity of their law degrees. This issue concerns three centers of the Faculty namely the Campus Law Centre, Law Centre I and Law Centre II.

On December 4, 2019, The Bar Council of India had stated that the approval or recognition of Delhi University’s Campus Law Centre, Law Centre I and Law Centre II, that provide three-year degree course in Law, would last only till the academic year 2016-17. This suggested that only the students who have taken admission till the academic year 2016-17 will have a valid degree in law for the purpose of enrolment as an advocate in any state Bar Council. The administration has not yet come out with any official clarification which has created a sense of panic and anxiety among the students.

Another issue about which the students are concerned is regarding the tender for printing of case materials which has not been issued midway into the ongoing semester. This has caused incalculable loss to students as printed textbooks remain out of bound and has specifically harmed students belonging to the marginalized and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of the society, many of whom cannot access the case materials even in the digital form.

In the light of the recent events, the students have also raised the issue related to granting extremely low or bare minimum marks to the examinees. The protesting students have demanded that the evaluation parameters should be made transparent and model/sample answers be provided to them so that the students can judge for themselves, the requirements of the examinations. The students have also demanded for their result to be declared without any further delay.

In a press statement, Akshit Dahiya, President, DUSU, said, “Being a student of law at one of the three centres, I completely relate to the grievances of the protesting students. While the fog regarding the issue of the Faculty’s recognition has engendered widespread fear, the unavailability of case materials, being the primary requirement for learning at the Faculty has left the student community helpless and infuriated. We will continue to support this agitation until this basic requirement, the absence of which is disproportionately affecting the marginalised and EWS students, is fulfilled immediately.”

Vinayak Sharma, Convener, ABVP North Campus said, “The administration by failing to fulfil its basic duty to seek timely approval from the Bar Council of India has created widespread fear and panic among the Faculty’s student community. As long as any plausible explanation is not forthcoming, we will continue to struggle on behalf of thousands of such students whose careers have been brought on the edge of the precipice because of the administration’s ineptitude.”

A delegation of protesting students called on the Dean of the Faculty of Law and presented a Memorandum in respect of their demands. While the delegation received assurances regarding the immediate fulfillment of two demands – namely, an official notification regarding the recognition status of the Faculty of Law, as well as the issue of tender for printed case-materials, two other demands – namely transparent evaluation parameters and the declaration of semester results were promised to be discussed by a Committee of teachers to be constituted shortly and consequently met as soon as practically possible.

Image Credits: DU Beat Archives

Prachi Nirwan

[email protected]

 

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

NSUI Incorporates ABVP’s Entire North East Cell, ABVP Denies Claims

By

In a recent press release, National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) revealed that they have incorporated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s (ABVP) entire North East Cell along with other students from the party’s Delhi Unit. Hoewever, ABVP has denied all these claims. 

In a press release sent out on 13th February 2020, NSUI revealed that it has incorporated the ABVP’s entire North East Cell along with other students from ABVP’s Delhi Unit into their party. The students were incorporated via a formal incorporation event that took place at the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) office on 13th February 2020 at 1 pm. The incorporated students had protested against the ABVP’s Pro-CAA stance which violated Constitutional underpinnings of India, and were severely affected by their former party’s role in campus violence across Delhi, and spread of communal hatred during recent elections and therefore, decided to join NSUI in a large number. “NSUI welcomes them equivocally into our fraternity and would enlist more students in upcoming days who are discontented with the divisive politics of right-wing groups,” NSUI stated. The students joined NSUI at the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) Office premises in presence of NSUI National Secretary and Delhi State In-charge, Nikhil Kamble, NSUI National Co-ordinator, Manish Kumar, DUSU Secretary for 2019-20, Ashish Lamba, and others. The 15 students who were present today took the decision under the leadership of the Delhi University Northeast Cell In-charge (Secretary), Sheikh Raisa Tabasssum, ex-ABVP Northeast Cell Joint Secretary, Vishnu Parna Dutta, ex-ABVP Joint Secretary, Liza Gogoi, ex ABVP Cultural Secretary, Aditya Deka and others who joined the NSUI fraternity.

At the press conference, ex-ABVP members strongly and adamantly expressed their discontent at the divisive and communal agenda of ABVP, and insisted that they could no longer support their violence streaks along with attacks on female students.

“NSUI welcomes the students equivocally into our fraternity and would enlist more students in upcoming days who are discontented with the divisive politics of right and left-wing groups. Several students from Delhi University ABVP Unit have contacted NSUI and would like to switch their political affiliation after the indiscreet spread of hatred by Sangh Organisations in recent Delhi Elections. Students of Delhi have denounced their hatred and we welcome them all to join the largest secular, democratic and constitutional abiding student organisation of India,” Nikhil Kamble further stated.

Sidharth Yadav, State Secretary, ABVP-Delhi, said, “The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad is the largest student organization in the country. Over time, it has emerged as the most sincere representative of students across the nation. By way of its inherently plural outlook and approach, specifically in Delhi University, ABVP has been working actively towards mainstreaming of students from the North-East. It is with this spirit of inclusivity that the organization continues to provide platforms to students from varied cultural backgrounds resulting in a diverse pool of activists in Delhi University and elsewhere.

While ABVP supports internal difference of opinions, it must be recapitulated that the decision pertinent to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act has received a unanimous welcome, including by our activists hailing from the North-Eastern states.

The news of resignation of some students from the North-East put up by a local digital portal is completely misleading. Out of the names mentioned therein, while only a handful were loosely associated with our organization, none of them were office-bearers. Our organizational structure is completely transparent and all declarations pertinent thereto are made during the annual state-specific conferences. All our activists and office-bearers from the North-East have declared their uniform support for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Therefore, the exaggerated claims of mass defection of disgruntled ‘ABVP’s North-East Cell’ members are completely baseless.

While ABVP is committed towards maintaining a vibrant and democratic atmosphere on campuses, the role of certain student-outfits, specifically NSUI, in attempting to vitiate the environment of peace and harmony on campuses must be foregrounded. Slanderous posts are being circulated online with the intention of dragging ABVP’s name through the mire. An outfit whose parent organization had mercilessly crushed student-dissent during the Emergency and continues to do the same till date has no right to call us communal. It would be instructive for NSUI activists and office-bearers to urge the higher-ups in their parent political outfit to mend their dictatorial mien and not suppress dissenting voices across campuses in Congress-ruled states.”

The ABVP has recently been under fire for their involvement in various violent acts across universities’ campuses which has been condemned by various student organisations, and have been open about their pro-CAA stance.

 

Feature Image Credits: NSUI

 

Shreya Juyal

[email protected]

 

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

Political Parties and DU: Thoughts to Consider

By

As many students finish their first semester in Delhi University (DU), the country is faced with a major political crisis which has divided India. At this time, should you join a student political party?

DU is an extremely political campus, with all colleges having some or the other form of student representation, with a wider Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) which represents students from most of the DU colleges. Some of the major student political parties present in DU are the Right wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which is affiliated to the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), which is affiliated to Congress, All India Students Association (AISA) which is associated with Communist Party of India ( Marxist-Leninist) ( CPI-ML), and Students’ Federation of India which is associated with Communist Party of India (Marxist) ( CPI-M).

Many first years would have been told when they joined DU to stay away from politics by their parents, fearing the incidents of violence which come to play in DU politics. The political crisis in the country started by the passing of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), which many opposed due to its openly islamophobic and communal nature and came out on the streets to protest against it. On the other side, groups have come out in support of this act.

Before joining a political party in a spur of the moment decision, one must try to consider what the party stands for. Joining a party just because you want to express dissent or because those around you are joining is not the right option, while these parties might give you the space to dissent and information about protests, it is important to know the ideologies that the party that you want to join, stands for. This can easily be done by reading the manifesto of the party.

Most parties can be easily joined by filling out a form on their website or by looking for their representatives on campus. If you do decide to join one, remember that you get to choose your level of participation. Being in parties will also open you up to learning more about the idealogies and the people behind them. Do not be discouraged by those telling you not to join, if you believe it is the the way to express yourself politically, then these organizations are the best way to go for it.

Feature Image credits: Noihirit Gogoi for DU Beat

Prabhanu Kumar Das

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Daulat Ram College

Komal Sharma Files a Complaint in NCW

By

Komal Sharma, student of Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi (DU), who was recognised as one of the ‘masked woman’ in an image of the JNU violence has now registered a complaint in the National Commission for Women (NCW).

Komal Sharma, student of Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi (DU) was allegedly believed to be one of the masked women after her picture surfaced all over the Internet, along with Screenshots of her confessing to the crime, after one of the students of the University identified her. This is also followed a sting operation to affirmate Sharma’s crimes.

The DU student accused the news channel of falsely incriminating her during one of their sting operations, by attaching her name with the masked woman which appeared in an image of the JNU violence. Declaring the channel’s attempt as an attack on her dignity, she filed a complaint against the reporter and the director in the National Commission for Women (NCW). The Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad member said that the channel never approached her for any sort of clarification or confirmation about the same and hence, has requested the commission to look into this matter.

Siddharth Yadav, ABVP member, said,” Komal Sharma is not the masked woman she has not been identified by anybody, the media has been spreading news about her without any evidence.”

He further informed of Sharma writing a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and has herself proposed to participate in the investigation process. As, told by Yadav the NCW has issued letters to the media houses and the commissioner of police.

Sharma was allegedly recognized by the police as the woman having her face covered with a blue scarf, dressed in a checkered shirt and carrying a stick in her hand, in a video and image of the violence that spread on the JNU campus on 5th January. As per the police her mobile phone was switched off since Saturday.

Feature Image Credits: National Herald

Kriti Gupta

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

ABVP’s Game Play With Anti-Left Posters at North Campus

By

ABVP-led DUSU slams the Left for 5 January JNU violence and anti-CAA protests with hoardings all over North Campus. ABVP and NSUI exchange words regarding no official meetings, securing permission and wasting union budget. 

University’s North Campus has been covered with hoardings put by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP)  led Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) blaming the Left for the January 5 violence inflicted at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). They have also blamed the Left for protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. 

 Akshit Dahiya, President, Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) has accepted that the provocative hoardings have been installed by the ABVP. “They (the Left) are speaking about breaking India and slogans and banners seeking freedom for Kashmir have sprung up at their protests. There are attempts to project students’ protest in a negative way,” said Dahiya. 

The DUSU sits on an unbalanced note as three of the members are affiliated to ABVP while the post of Secretary comes from a rather different ideology; led by the Congress-led- National Students’ Union of India (NSUI). Dahiya added that three hoardings have been put up near Law Faculty after attaining the required permission from authorities. The hoardings have messages such as “CAA ke naam par desh jalana bandh karo” (stop burning the country in the name of CAA) and “Left attacks JNU,” carrying pictures of ABVP members injured in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) January 5 violence and those injured due to anti-CAA protests all over the country. One of the hoardings also shows mob pelting stones.

However, the National Students’ Union of India slammed the rather cheap move by ABVP. Ashish Lamba, Secretary of the DUSU questioned the ABVP’s decision to put up such posters as there was no official DUSU meeting regarding the same. Dahiya countered the claim by stating that DUSU Executive Council which comprised 15 members, including the four DUSU office-bearers who came to the conclusion with the consensus of 10 members.  

The Delhi President of NSUI, Akshay Lakra, criticised the wastage caused by ABVP-led DUSU of the Union’s budget. Accusing the ABVP in indulging in dirty left-right politics in free university spaces, Lakra continues, “Despite being exposed many times by media and JNU students, ABVP still hasn’t accepted its defeat in its own propaganda. The NSUI strongly condemns any sort of hate campaign run by political parties on university campuses. It’s high time that we restore peace and harmony on campuses,” he said. To counter this claim, Akshit Dahiya, DUSU President, denied using the budget for putting up the hoarding rather the Executive Council contributes 200 INR per member. 

January 5, 2020, went down quite unfortunate on JNU as masked men and women barged into the campus with weapons, vandalising and injuring people as the Delhi Police observed in silence. Media debated and conspired to blame the Left for inflicting violence on the left, thus perpetuating the idea of ‘Left Terror’. However, within a few days, Pinky Chaudhary of Hindu Raksha Dal took to video to claim responsibility for the merciless attack on unarmed students. In the video, Chaudhary says, “For several years, JNU has been a bastion of communists and we will not tolerate it. Hindu Raksha Dal, Bhupendra Tomar, Pinky Chaudhury take the responsibility of what has happened in JNU…all of them were our volunteers. Those who cannot do such work for Mother India don’t have the right to live in this country.” The violence instigated on students was deadly as over 30 injured students and professors were admitted to AIIMS Trauma Centre on the night of 6th January. 

Featured Image Credits: Jaishree Kumar

Anandi Sen
[email protected] 

 

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

Pro and Anti CAA Protestors Clash at Public Meeting outside RLA College Gate

By

The students of Ram Lal Anand College (RLA) had organised a public meeting on the 14th of January 2020 against CAA-NRC-NPR which was allegedly disrupted by members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

On the 14th of January 2020, concerned students of the College had organised a public meeting outside the RLA gate. The event witnessed Sucheta De and Jitendra Meena as speakers. Manik Gupta, a second year student of History Honours from the College, and a member of All India Students’ Association (AISA) states that they had ensured to follow all the formalities, including getting permission from the Delhi Police.

He further goes on to describe how ABVP tried to disrupt the meeting, He says “Around an hour or half an hour before the public meeting, the President of our college who is affiliated with ABVP, Gulshan Kumar, started going class to class and telling people that the public meeting did not have any permissions and telling students that aap sabhi ko pitwana chahte hai ( They want you to get beaten up) and tried to discredit the public meeting.”

Manik also states that there were further attempts to derail the public meeting after it had begun. He states that during the meeting “South Campus ka saara ABVP aagaya” (All the ABVP members of South Campus came) and they started shouting slogans such as “DU ko JNU nahi banne denge” (We won’t let DU become JNU), “we support CAA”, and “ Delhi Police Zindabad”. He also states that that some ABVP members started disrupting the meeting by asking stupid questions to the speakers.

The organizers eventually had to tell Jitendra Meena to go back due to concerns over his safety because of the atmosphere of fear which had been created by the ABVP. The Public Meeting however still went on, despite the efforts of ABVP, with a preamble reading and singing of the National Anthem. Manik also alleges that he was threatened later by ABVP goons who told him “ab parcha bata toh peet denge” (We will beat you if you distribute pamphlets).

Siddharth Yadav, the State Secretary of  ABVP was reached out for comments, but he refused for the same, citing that he did not have full knowledge of the situation and will update DU Beat later.

Gulshan Kumar,  President of RLA Students’ Union stated on Manik’s claim “ From the morning Manik campaigned in classes and said it is a public meeting by the students. But they invited the national president of AISA. So it was just to fulfill the political agenda and misguide the students. I went into the classes to clarify that students union and the college administration is not involved in such kind of meeting. The students union wrote a letter to the SHO of South campus to maintain the peace. But by making the public meeting a political meeting the meeting was itself disrupted. Manik said the students of RLA were in the meeting and outsiders of ABVP came and disturbed the meeting but I have video evidence that students of RLA were in favour of CAA and the so called public meeting of AISA president was witnessed by outsiders.” He goes on to say that as an elected representative he believes in peaceful protests but his first responsibility is the safety of students. He also shows a letter as proof sent by the SU to the SHO to maintain peace on campus.

 

Feature Image credits: India TV

Prabhanu Kumar Das

[email protected]

 

Keep Reading
By