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

ABVP

Browsing
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

shreyaj@dubeat.com 

 

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

prachin@dubeat.com

 

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

shreyaj@dubeat.com

 

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

prabhanuk@dubeat.com

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

kriti01hanna@gmail.com

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
anandis@dubeat.com 

 

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

prabhanud@dubeat.com

 

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

National Youth Day: ABVP Organises various celebrations in Delhi

By

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) celebrated the National Youth Day at different locations in Delhi, including Faculty of Arts (University of Delhi) and Mukherjee Nagar. It commemorated the 157th birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and organised several competitions and programmes including a Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) awareness session. 

ABVP celebrated Swami Vivekananda’s 157th birth anniversary as the National Youth Day. In remembrance of the great saint it organised programmes at various locations  which included Faculty of Arts (DU), Mukherjee Nagar, and Kalkaji.

In the forthcoming week, ABVP will be organising various symposiums as well as recreational functions like painting competitions and art exhibitions, highlighting based on Swami Vivekananda’s life.

It also held a CAA awareness session, Shri Prafulla Akant, National Joint Organising Secretary, ABVP spoke about busting myths surrounding CAA. “Students, today, must brave the rough-hewn road to success. They must be wary of the political opportunists intending to waylay unsuspecting students and retard their career progression by exploiting them for their partisan political ends. The students must avoid palavers and judiciously engage in debates on consequential issues to achieve a meaningful denouement”, he said in the press release.

As a tribute to Swami Vivekananda at Delhi University’s Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, Shri Sriniwas, National Joint Organising Secretary, ABVP, said, “There is an impending need for a contemporary construction of Swamiji’s thoughts. He was an ingenious thinker with a unique appraisal of India’s intractable problems and devoted a sustained effort towards discovering native solutions for the same. His exceptional ideas that form the bedrock of modern India, still continue to inspire millions to choose the path of selfless service towards the nation.”

At the programme being held at Faculty of Arts, Sidharth Yadav, Secretary, ABVP, Delhi, said, “Swamiji’s endeavours and his missionary zeal to foreground the veritable truth about India’s unique history and culture served to raise India’s stature in the eyes of the world. He was one of the few original thinkers of modern India whose ideas will continue to provide thought-leadership to posterity.”

In a wreath laying ceremony held at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Durgesh Kumar, President, ABVP-JNU, said, “It is imperative to keep alive the right to dissent in campuses across the country. In today’s polarised atmosphere, one that has split the student community into half, it is equally important to pursue dialogue and deliberation for solving contentious issues. Our temples of learning must not become havens for partisan political adventures. JNU needs to embrace Swamiji’s ideas for the root and branch eradication of centrifugal forces from our beloved campus.” His comments come after the recent violence allegedly caused by ABVP activists. While students at JNU have been protesting over the fee hike issue, the violence has escalated the political tensions.

 

 

Feature Image Credits: Anonymous

Sriya Rane 

sriyar@dubeat.com

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

Shakti Singh, Former DUSU President Joins BJP 

By

Shakti Singh, former President, Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU), has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Singh, who contested the Student Elections through the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) is likely being involved in the BJP to reach out to the youth regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). One of the top BJP leaders commented to The Daily Pioneer, “Singh is very likely to contest Delhi Assembly elections from Timarpur Vidhan Sabha constituency.”

Amidst massive student protests around University campuses, Singh’s association with the BJP comes along as a rather significant move to student bodies. Confirming his joining in BJP, Singh says, “University campus has taken different shape nowadays, it is required to convey that youth is not standing with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress only, but with BJP also.” He also claimed that youth were contributing to the process of the Country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

As reported by Outlook, Manoj Tiwari, Minister of Parliament (MP), BJP, welcomed Singh, and said that the resolve of a new India was to be realised through young leaders like him.

As the Delhi Legislative Assembly Elections approach, the conflict amongst political identities flourishes. Singh congratulated and applauded BJP MP’s effort in installing the first air purifier in Delhi, and also questioned the AAP’s failure for public health in lieu of emergency every winter season. He stated, “Delhi people have faced a lot under the tenure of Arvind Kejriwal. Why the public is bound to inhale polluted air and drinking polluted water.”He furthr added, “Before free water and electricity  providing clean air should be the genuine effort of any ruling regime.”

Singh had won the post of Vice President in DUSU Elections 2018, and was later promoted to the post of President after the Presidential candidate Ankiv Basoiya resigned over a fake degree row. He then presided as the President for year 2018-19.

Feature Image Source: Shakti Singh

Anandi Sen

anandis@dubeat.com 

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

Forget Pooja, but ABVP, what is this behaviour?

By

As student protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act engulfed Delhi University too, members from Akhil Bhartiya Vidya Parishad (ABVP) raised their ugly head.

 

If you are following the news lately, you know what’s happening all over the country right now. The internet shutdown on North-Eastern states has been lifted only today but since the last week, protests in solidarity with these states have been progressing in full swing. Even though the causes have slightly altered with the student protestors expressing rage against the communal nature behind the CAA, the north-east states (especially Assam and Meghalaya) have been protesting mainly against illegal immigrants.

Yet their enemy is the same, the ruling government.

Clearly the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) backed ABVP supports the Bill as it has been passed under the ruling government’s tenure. Well, they are entitled to their opinions but then in the past few days, they have been trying to force their opinions on others. Ah, this is something which wouldn’t surprise people as this is what makes most of the ABVP leaders (or goons) famous (infamous).

The day before yesterday, when protestors gathered at Arts Faculty for a peaceful protest against the police brutality observed in Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University, ABVP leaders like Ankita Biswas (the president of ABVP’s Hindu College unit) and members like Rahul Choudhary were caught on camera assaulting the protestors. They want to paint these protests as ‘communist’ just because many AISA (All India Students’ Association) and SFI (Students’ Federation of India) members had participated in the demonstrations.

But as per first-hand accounts, no Leftist propaganda is being shared over here. The students are coming together just to protest and express their displeasure at the government. But again, the ABVP unsurprisingly remain adamant with their false claims.

Just take into account Gaurav Chanana’s open proclamations of violence on his Whatsapp stories. Chanana is a zonal coordinator for the ABVP and two days back, he wrote ‘DU mei communist ki safai pichle 5 ghante se chal rahi hai…aap bhi aaye’ (which translates to ‘Communists are being beaten up in DU since the last 5 hours…You’re also requested to join’).

He followed it up yesterday by sharing a report by The Quint detailing the extent to which student protestors in Delhi have been injured and hospitalized. Chanana proudly claims, ‘Yeh hai ABVP ke sher, Agli baar DU mei aane se pehle 10 baar sochna, rashtra vidhrohiyo’ (‘This is the might of ABVP’s lions. Next time, think 10 times before entering DU, you anti-nationals’).

Yesterday in fact, ABVP started its own counter-protest ‘in support of CAA’ at 12 noon (even though they wrote 12 am on their poster, yes that happened). When the protest by other students, and AISA/SFI members against the CAA started in Arts Fac, ABVP tried shouting more and more to show their might but to no avail. So, what did they do?

Of course, they used force.

Prominent incidents that got captured on video include ABVP members pulling out people from the protest at Arts Faculty and demanding them to take out their ID cards (with the police standing nearby and nodding to this). Now, in order to just protest or put forward opinions in a gathering, we need an ID card?

The ABVP person in the forefront in this video was Akshit Dhaiya, President of the Delhi University Students’ Union. A counter-view has been given by some people (some of whom are ABVP supporters themselves) is that he just pulled this student out of the crowd and asked for his ID card for the student’s ‘own protection’. This seems like a very conveniently worded excuse.

The last straw to ABVP’s notorious actions yesterday was another video which was shared yesterday (the cover image of the article is taken from it) where a male student (who has requested us not to share the video) is surrounded by two male ABVP members on a bench. With threatening voices and words, they demand to know the student’s stance on the CAA. Then they go on asking if he was in the protest against CAA, and if he was, then why.

Alas! It’s ABVP which is the dominant party in DUSU and despite these instances of hooliganism, they continue to say that DU stands in solidarity with the Citizenship Amendment Act. Just come to North Campus’ Arts Faculty or Campus Law Centre and you’ll figure out how much DU is actually supporting the Act!

But despite this continuous goonish behaviour, the protestors in DU stand undeterred and continue to take their stand.

The irony is that back in the 1970s, the ABVP itself engaged in large-scale protests against the authoritarian regime of PM Indira Gandhi. And now, look how the tables have turned.

 

Featured Image Credits- Pinjratod

 

Shaurya Singh Thapa

shauryat@dubeat.com

 

 

Keep Reading
By