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In Conversation with Akshit Dahiya, Presidential Candidate, ABVP for DUSU Elections 2019

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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. 

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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.

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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]

 

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Miranda House Asks ABVP to ‘Go Back’

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The campaigning for Delhi University Students’ elections 2019 took an eventful turn in  Miranda House as Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and All India Students’ Association (AISA) came in to present their manifesto.

On 9th September 2019, Miranda House conducted its official manifesto reading, where it allowed the DUSU candidates to present their manifestos and carry out campaigning in the college. The students of Miranda House gathered in the college auditorium to attend the manifesto reading. However, it did not go as expected.

The Vice-Presidential candidate from ABVP, Pradeep Tanwar, came to address the students and present the manifesto of the party but he was met with chants of “ABVP! Go Back!”. The students of Miranda House led the chants for about seven minutes until the representatives of the party finally left.

Amidst the loud chants, the candidates tried to speak in favour of the party. Tanwar asked the students to let him speak for five minutes but on not being given any chance to speak, the representatives showed their ballot numbers and left.

This was followed by a scuffle between the ABVP members from Miranda House and the other Miranda students where the girls could be heard saying, “nahi chahiye humein ABVP (We don’t want ABVP)”, while the administration tried to control the situation.

ABVP’s departure was followed by AISA’s manifesto reading. When AISA’s Presidential Candidate, Damni Kain, came on the podium, most of the students from Miranda House started cheering for AISA, while, the ABVP members of Miranda House were heard chanting “AISA! Go Back!”.

“Aapka yeh response na ki sirf humare liye encouraging hai, but har us bacche ke liye encouraging hai jo DU ka common student hai; jo university mein sirf padhne ke liye aata hai, aur jo gundagardi ko tahe dil se reject karta hai (not only is your response encouraging for us, but also for every person who is a common student of DU; who comes to DU to study and rejects all forms of hooliganism)”, said Kain in her speech as a DUSU Presidential Candidate.

However, after Kain’s speech was over, an ABVP student member could be heard saying, “Manifesto reading mein manifesto toh bolte hi nahi ho. karne kya aaye the bhaisahab? (You didn’t talk about your manifesto in the manifesto reading. What were you even here for then?)”

As reported earlier, the members of ABVP had disrupted the Tempest’19, the Annual Cultural fest of Miranda House, and had demanded entry, banging and pushing the gate in lieu of then relevant, Hindu College’s V-Tree protest. Hence, the dissent against them came stronger.

Video Credits: Priya Chauhan for DU Beat

Video Caption: Chants of “ABVP, Go Back!” could be heard in the auditorium at Miranda House during ABVP manifesto reading.

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat Archives

Satviki Sanjay

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Priya Chauhan

[email protected] 

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NSUI Alleges Attack on Vice-Presidential Candidate by ABVP

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The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) came under scrutiny as National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) blamed it for attacking their Vice-Presidential nominee Ankit Bharti, three days before the University goes for Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections.

On 9th September, in a violent turn of events that followed a campaign by NSUI in College of Vocational Studies (CVS), their nominee for the post of Vice-President, Ankit Bharti, was was badly beaten up allegedly by members of ABVP. He was immediately rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital for treatment.

NSUI has accused ABVP and its Vice-Presidential nominee Pradeep Tanwar for the attack. Whereas, ABVP denied any such charges. Ankit Bharti, in a video circulated, said, “I arrived at CVS in the morning to campaign where some AVBP goons thrashed me, deliberately entered my car and pulled me out and brawled with me.” showing the scars and wounds on his face and body.

ABVP’s spokesperson, on the other hand, claimed that ABVP was not involved in the incident. Monica Chaudhary, Media-in-Charge, ABVP said, “As far as we got information, the clash happened between Vice Presidential candidate Ankit Bharti and Secretary Candidate Aashish Lamba from NSUI.” The State Media Coordinator of ABVP, Ashutosh Singh, said that this is an attempt by NSUI to malign the image of ABVP because of the immense popularity and support it has been receiving from students of the University of Delhi (DU).

Siddharth Yadav, State Secretary, ABVP in the evening filed a formal complaint against NSUI in Maurice Nagar Police Station for defaming ABVP when only a few days remain for campaigning. The letter mentioned that no ABVP activist was involved in this case and if their party is further dragged in this case, a defamation lawsuit would be filed against NSUI.

Image Caption : The complain filed by ABVP against NSUI citing fake accusations. Image Credits: ABVP
Image Caption: The complaint filed by ABVP against NSUI citing fake accusations.
Image Credits: ABVP

This is the third case this election season when an official nominee has been attacked while campaigning. Previously on 7th September, Aftab Alam, the Vice Presidential candidate from All India Students’ Association (AISA) was injured amidst campaigning in Dyal Singh College, and on 6th September, Shivangi Kharwal, the Joint Secretary candidate from ABVP was injured in Zakir Hussain College. The left-wing student party had also blamed ABVP for the incident while ABVP had blamed NSUI for the alleged attack on their candidate.

Apart for this, the ABVP has also been accused of instigating violence on the last day of filing of nomination forms, due to which many members of All India Students’ Federation (AISF) and Students’ Federation of India (SFI) were unable to file their nomination forms.

In the garb of these accusations, it would be interesting to see how well the saffron-clad student party fares in the upcoming DUSU elections, which is scheduled for 12th September.

Video Credits: NSUI

Video Caption: Ankit Bharti explains the escalation at CVS, where he was allegedly attacked by the members of ABVP.

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat Archives

Priyanshu

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AISA Demands Apology From ABVP Over Basoya Fraud

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All India Students’ Association (AISA) called for an apology from Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for their last year’s original President, Ankiv Basoya, who held a fake college degree. The left-backed association also insisted that ABVP recall their current presidential contestation as atonement for the same.

On 7th September, All India Students’ Association (AISA) released its manifesto for the upcoming Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections. Kawalpreeet Kaur, President of the association’s Delhi State unit, took the opportunity to bring last year’s Ankiv Basoya fraud, back into the limelight.

During the 2018 DUSU elections, the Akhil Bharati Vidyarthi Parishad had fielded Ankiv Basoya’s candidature for the Presidential post. Basoya won the election and assumed the position of DUSU’s President. However, within a couple of months of his appointment, the validity of his College degree was questioned and was later, proven unauthentic. This was followed by Basoya losing his position and being kicked out of the Department of Buddhist Studies, where he was pursuing his Masters.

As reported by The Financial Express, Kaur recalled this embarrassing episode during the Press Conference and insisted on an apology from ABVP regarding the same. “The question is, ‘Will ABVP seek forgiveness?’” Kaur asked. She also added, “The outfit should apologise to the students and not contest the President’s post as a way to seek the students’ forgiveness.”

Kaur also added, “The University has been facing issues of fund cuts and fee hike under the Centre, but the ABVP has kept quiet.” She reinforced that despite having a mandate in DUSU and their party also being in power in Centre, ABVP did nothing to ensure new hostels or colleges were built.

This is not the first time AISA has tried to rally support against ABVP over this incident. Multiple posts across their social media encourage voters to keep cognizance of the episode and demand accountability.

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat Archives

 Prisha Saxena

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AISA Alleges Attack on Vice-Presidential Candidate by ABVP

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The Vice-Presidential Candidate of All India Students’ Association (AISA) was allegedly attacked by members and supporters of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) at Dyal Singh College.

In the University of Delhi (DU), the path of mainstream politics often crosses the town of vandalism, hooliganism, and violence. This time as well, the power play of violence came into play as ABVP has been accused of attacking the AISA Vice-Presidential candidate.

On 7th September, in lieu of the upcoming DUSU elections, Aftab Alam, the Vice-Presidential candidate from AISA, was campaigning in Dyal Singh College’s premises when, as stated by him, the supporters and candidates from ABVP attacked him. According to AISA, both Alam and Madhurima Kundu, DU Secretary of AISA, were injured.

Aftab Alam, Vice President Candidate from AISA and the prime victim explained DU Beat the entire incident, he said, “We used the pass given to us to enter the college, I entered with few of my supporters. I could witness few people wearing the ABVP tag standing in the college as I was entering. They started shouting to me that this Desh Dhrohi (Anti-national) won’t come inside. I was astounded how they could blatantly say that.”

He continued that he ignored them and tried to move ahead. But, one of the guys from the other group came and pushed him, kept both of his hands on his chest and tried to stop him from going inside. To show support, his fellow supporters held his hand and kept on going forward.  However, all the boys from the other end came and heckled him. They repeatedly tried to stop him from campaigning and going into the college building.

He added that, “When all of this chaos was happening, 3-4 policemen from Delhi police were present there. However, they chose just to observe from the side. I told the ABVP goons that I’m a candidate and I’ve been given a pass, as per regulations I’m supposed to enter. They told me, they wouldn’t let me go inside. After constantly asking them why? All they did were stall me by asking me my ID card repeatedly. I would’ve shown them the ID proof if they had any authority, which they clearly didn’t.”

As stated by Alam, the ABVP members even tried to provoke the Delhi policemen by saying “AISA is the one that insults you, we (ABVP) are the one that support you, why are you supporting them?”

He further added, “They pulled me back, they snatched the garlands in my neck and it came to a point where they intentionally tore off my shirt. I could feel their hands strategically placed on my body to tear off the shirt, that’s how I can say it wasn’t an accident. After that, they begun with their chanting, they chanted slogans like ‘Yeh tukde karne walo ko, Bharat se nikalo (Those who want separation, should be sent outside)’ to provoke us and fake nationalist slogans taught to them by RSS like ‘Vandematram and Bharat mataki jai’.”

He went on to state that Madhurima Kundu, DU secretary of AISA, went ahead to defend him, so a girl also came forward from their side. Allegedly, this girl started catastrophically snatching Kundu’s face, which led to her getting severally injured. Apparently, the Delhi police and security personnel was standing right there and just observing all of this.

Alam added, “They didn’t even try to interfere even once, even the lady police personnel did nothing seeing this horrific scene. And when they did act, they acted in pure bias of the ABVP; they started to thrift only AISA members and not them. It came to a point, where on one side there was AISA and on the other there was ABVP with Delhi police in the middle with slogans being chanted from both sides. In all of this aggression, all police did was call by people and observe. In just a few moments, the two candidates of ABVP came to us with more than 50 goons and bouncers. We step aside because they could easily overpower us with their manpower and as soon as they came, the police stepped aside which is evident in the circulated video. All of this didn’t let us in.”

On the other hand, the ABVP has refuted all such claims citing political agenda as an objective behind such statements by AISA. Pradeep Tanwar, the Vice Presidential candidate, ABVP told DU Beat regarding these allegations, “AISA is just finding new ways of campaigning. It’s just pure politics; there is no truth to any of these things. It should be noted, that ABVP candidates came much after AISA being there. They were already present there, and then we came. These are just ways of defaming ABVP.”

This is not the only case where ABVP has been accused of using manpower for unfair purposes in these elections. The candidates of the SFI and the AISF alleged that they were attacked and their nomination forms were torn by members of the ABVP in the North Campus on Wednesday. Those claims were also strongly opposed and refuted by the members of ABVP repeatedly.

In the times where candidates cannot even be touched, let alone harassed, incidents like these raise many red flags. The true desire of each DU student to want free and fair elections often seems like a distant memory.

Feature Image Credits: India Today

Chhavi Bahmba 

[email protected]

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ABVP Alleges Attack on Joint Secretary Candidate by NSUI

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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] 

 

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Veer or V.D. Savarkar: An Ideological Warfare

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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

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ABVP Releases its Manifesto for DUSU Elections 2019

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Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has released their 2019-20 manifesto for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections.

ABVP has released their 2019-20 manifesto for the DUSU elections, with the vision that when the University of Delhi (DU) celebrates its centenary year in 2022, it should be in among the top 200 universities in the world, and must top the NIRF rankings. The manifesto puts emphasis on the 5Ps-

  • Parisar (Campus)
  • Pathyakram (Course)
  • Pravesh (Admission)
  • Pareeksha (Examination)
  • Parinam (Result)

 

  • Parisar (Campus): Demands for state-of-the-art infrastructure and other facilities that are important to support students in higher education.
  1. ABVP initiated a campaign for “Paryavaran Yukt- Nasha Mukt” Parisar.
  2. ABVP demands a plastic-free, smoke-free, and safe and secure campus.
  3. ABVP stands firm on its commitment towards sports students of the University.
  4. New colleges should be opened with state-of-the-art infrastructure.
    1. University stadium, polo grounds and other sports ground should be [accessible] before all students.
    2. Diet rates for sports students should be increased in line with the price index. Attendance relaxation should be given to sports personnel and ECA students.
  • High-class sports’ equipment should be provided to students.
  1. We demand special assistance for sports personnel and ECA students.
  1. New hostels should be opened by the University.
  2. The overall infrastructure of the University should [be] improved and modernised, especially Tagore Hall, and Shankar Hall.
  3. We would also struggle for the establishment of East and West campuses.
  4. We would demand more beds at the university medical centre.
  5. We would try to get the Central and Arts Library fully digitised.
  6. We reiterate our long-standing demand to have one sports complex in the South Campus.
  7. Photocopy, scanner and printer shop should be in all colleges.
  8. We are also dedicated to struggle towards bettering hostel facilities in South Campus.
  9. Room rent control action should be executed most effectively.
  10. Free Wi-Fi services in every Department and college of the university.
  11. We would also demand to provide free computers with internet facility to the students on the college campus.
  12. Sanitation issues in colleges: Good and clean toilets for students in all colleges. ABVP also demands water coolers at every 200 metres at Chhatra Marg.
  13. The University Health Centre card should be issued for all students.
  14. To stop the exploitation of students who belong to outside of Delhi, Coordination Committee of Private Hostel owners, Land Lords and Students should be made.
  15. Open gym in all colleges.
  16. Free education for [the] transgender [community].
  17. Facilities for differently-abled students in all departments and colleges.
  18. Health Wellness Society in all colleges and departments.
  19. Healthy and subsidized food for students in all colleges and departments.
  20. Healthy and subsidized food canteen in North Campus.
  21. Formation of Gender Sensitization and Complaints Committee under DUSU to instil inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community in DU.

 

  • Pathyakram (Curriculum): ABVP envisages that the Du curriculum should be subjected to the 3Rs: Review, Rational Debate, and Representation.

    1. The academic council of DU should have student representation.
    2. Remedial classes for all SC/ST/OBC/Economically weak students.
    3. The Central Placement Cell of the University should be more effective. It should also work in tandem with the Skill Development Department of the government.
    4. Dedicated staff should be employed by the University.
    5. Placement officer in all colleges.
    6. ABVP will try to provide social internship to at least 10,000 DU students in various government and non-government organisations.
    7. We would try to make Post Graduate class available in Hindi medium and provision for Hindi medium exam writing mode as well.
    8. Students should be allowed to choose their Generic Subjects as per their own choice; it shouldn’t be imposed on them.
    9. Effective utilization of MOOCs; credit transfer should be allowed if students wish to do their courses on SWAYAM or other MOOC platforms.
    10. Special departmental classes for training students to take the NET exam.
    11. English speaking classes for needy students should be introduced to make them more confident and employable.
    12. Notes and Reading Materials should be provided in regional languages.
    13. Value-based education through counselling.
    14. NSS, Yoga, and NCC should be offered as elective.
    15. Health and Wellness Society in all colleges for Fit India.
    16. Funding and Social Entrepreneurship.
    17. Effective implantation of EK Bharat Shrestha Bharat Programme.
    18. We would demand to introduce evening classes in every college of the university so that more students can get the chance to study at this prestigious university.

 

  • Pravesh (Admission): ABVP demands to further simplify the admission procedure to get into DU.
  1. One course, One Fee: ABVP will make sure that same fee is charged throughout the University for a Particular Course.
  2. The admission process should be made more student-friendly and priorities of the students should be taken care especially in matters of college and courses.
  3. We also demand to give concessions in admission to the students who belong to the rural background.
  4. Some colleges have introduced few specialised courses without proper infrastructure, we demand from the university authorities to first improve the infrastructure and then introduce new courses.
  5. We would work for the increment in the scholarships for SC/ST/OBC and demand to link scholarship with price index in line with the increase in DA.
  6. We would also try to get the vacant OBC/SC/ST/PH seats in various colleges filled. Various aspects of the fee structure of the university will be analysed so that we can make an effort to make it more equitable and logical.
  7. We would also struggle for scholarships to all SC/ST/PH students.
  8. Admission in sports and ECA quota should be done in a very transparent manner. ABVP supports students’ demands to fix parameters for ECA quota.
  9. Special Admissions drive should be started in all colleges after elections to fill all the vacant seats in all the categories.
  10. University should make inter-college migration policy transparent and clear at the beginning of the admission process.
  11. Centralised Hostel Application Form.

 

  • Pareeksha (Examination): ABVP demands that both admission and semester examinations should be held in a manner that provides students with ample time to prepare.
  1. Generic Electives and Skill Enhancement Courses (SECs) are scheduled on the same day in the morning and evening, which is taxing on students.
  2. Draft datesheet should also be shared with student unions and councils for their feedback.
  3. We demand that the university must start special supplementary examinations for the final year students of all courses.
  4. One-time special chance should be given by the VC to all the students to complete their degree.
  5. ABVP demands student-friendly Internal Assessment monitoring committee and grievance redressal cell.
  6. A review committee should be set up to increase the extra time given to specially-abled students.
  7. Regular Assignments and Exams should happen throughout the semester for continuous evaluation for Internal Assessments.
  8. Students should be given an additional chance to improve their Internal Assessments.

 

  • Parinam (Results): ABVP demands that results be declared on time and without delays.
  1. The university calendar should include fixed fate of result declaration.
  2. By this date, all the colleges and departments should necessarily declare the results.
  3. The results of supplementary examinations should be declared before the beginning of the new session so that the final year students can take admission in the commencing academic year.
  4. If students demand they should be given a chance to view their final exam sheets with a minimum cost if required.
  5. Teachers should not boycott evaluation and make students as a victim of their protest.
  6. All the students should get an online certified copy of mark sheet and also printed mark sheet of all the semesters separately.
  7. The result should clearly highlight the marks scored in different subjects with the bifurcation of Internal Assessment marks.
  8. University should develop a mechanism to expedite the printing and delivery of Degree to the students post their course completion.

 

ABVP has also introduced a manifesto for female students. The party claims that ABVP led DUSU will organise Mission Sahasi 2.0: Making of the Fearless to strengthen the educational facilities, safety, and security for women at the college and university campus, by making the following efforts:

  • Continue with the demand to make North Campus a compact campus.
  • To make girl students more self-confident by organising Self-Defence Training Camps in various colleges and university campus.
  • Try for the provision of police both near every hostel/college and make sure that there are female police staffs present at every booth.
  • Girls Activity Centre should be established, mobile apps for the safety of female students like I Feel Safe should be available to all, and awareness must be spread.
  • Patrolling of PCR vans around colleges and especially around girls’ hostels should be increased.
  • We demand a permanent DUSU office having a welcoming atmosphere, where students can visit any time to raise their problem or suggestion if any.
  • ICC elections should be held in all the colleges and departments in time and complaint box should be present.
  • Restrictions should be made on the entry of outsiders in the college campus.
  • CCTV cameras should be installed in colleges and departments.
  • Each college should have their security team 24/7.
  • Gender Sensitisation camps and programs should be organised by student unions of colleges.
  • Sanitary Napkin Vending Machines and Incinerators should be there in all colleges.
  • Girls Common Room should be made available in all colleges.
  • Proper signs outside male and female washrooms.
  • Female trainers in sports and ECA as per students.
  • Helpline should be introduced at the college level for students being abused on social media websites.

ABVP will be contesting with this manifesto in the DUSU Elections 2019-20 on 12th September 2019.

Feature Image Credits: Janam TV

Shreya Juyal

[email protected]

 

 

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Campus Central

SFI Attacked During DUSU Nominations

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Scuffles, violence and threats are not unheard of during the election season. The nomination day saw its repetition. 

The DUSU nominations were scheduled for the 4th of September. Political parties, supporters and candidates waited in the barricaded Chhatra Marg to file their nominations. 

In the official statement released by SFI, the incident occurred around 2:35 p.m. when they were attacked, and their nomination form torn up in front of gate number four of the Faculty of Arts, North Campus by ‘ABVP goons’. 

The SFI attempted to file the nomination again, around 2:55 p.m. when they were attacked for the second time. With their nomination forms torn up, and unable to meet the deadline of 3 p.m., the SFI couldn’t file their nomination. Only one candidate from the AISF, Alan Paul Varghese managed to escape the violence and submit the form. 

The scuffle resulted in injuries to Vikas Bhadauria, the Delhi State President of SFI and Paramanand Sharma, a visually impaired student. 

Recalling the incident, Utkarsh, the Delhi State Secretariat member of SFI claims that ‘around 20’ people attacked them the first time and ‘over 80’ people attacked them the second time.

IMG-20190905-WA0066

The attacks allegedly continued to the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) where during the presidential debate, SFI members were attacked by the ABVP in the middle of the debate. 

Sources told DU Beat that the SFI were attacked by the same group of people at JNU. 

So far, an FIR has been lodged with the Maurice Nagar Police Station and soon, a writ petition will follow through in the Delhi High Court. 

Allegations from the SFI have always been refuted by the ABVP. Ashutosh Singh, the Delhi Media Secretary of the ABVP said to DU Beat, “No it’s completely false. Only the candidates were allowed to enter the premises and outside the authorised premises lot of police force is present. So it’s completely a false allegation. As we are winning the elections SFI and AISF are trying to defame us.” (sic)

The SFI happens to share a rocky history with the ABVP. This is the third documented attack on the SFI this year. Just a week ago, the SFI held a protest at the Faculty of Arts after three members were attacked near the Vijay Nagar drain. An FIR was lodged in the Model Town police station. 

Feature Image Credits: Jaishree Kumar for DU Beat

Jaishree Kumar

[email protected]

 

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Veer or V.D. Savarkar: An Ideological Warfare

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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]

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