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JNU Student’s Union Election Results Declared: All Four Seats Won by United Left

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JNUSU (Jawahar Lal Nehru University Students’ Union) results have finally been announced hours after Delhi High Court permitted them to do so.

The results of JNU Student’s Union were announced on 17th September when the Delhi High Court permitted the varsity to declare the results following the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Community. All the four central panel posts have been won by the United Front of Left students group.

The vote-share of United Front of Left student groups All India Students’ Association (AISA), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF) and All India Students’ Federation (AISF) increased to 50.4 percent from 4 percent in the previous year.

Aishe Ghosh of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) won the post of the president by securing 2,313 votes. Manish Jangid from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) secured 1,128 votes. Ghosh belonging to SFI contested under the broader united Left panel. SFI got the post of the President after 13 years.

The post of Vice President has been won by United Left panel’s Saket Moon who secured 3,365 votes, while Shruti Agnihotri from ABVP came second with 1,335 votes. Satish Yadav from the United Left panel emerged as the winner for the post of General Secretary with 2,518 votes while the post of the Joint Secretary has been won by United Left panel’s Mohammad Danish who secured 3,295 votes.

In the previous year also, all the fours central panel positions were won by candidates of the united Left panel. A victory march was conducted within the University campus by the supporters of the United Left panel after the declaration of results.

JNU Student’s Union polls were conducted on September 6, 2019, with a voter turnout of 67.9 percent which was believed to be the highest in last 7 years. The results were to be declared on September 8, 2019, but were delayed till September 17 after petitions were filed in the Delhi High Court by two students alleging their nominations for the election of councillor in the JNUSU were illegally rejected.

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat archives.

Priya Chauhan

[email protected] 

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In Conversation with AISA’s Vice Presidential Candidate – Aftab Alam

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

 

Feature Image Credits: AISA

 

Prabhanu Kumar Das

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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

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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 

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AISA Releases Manifesto for DUSU Elections 2019

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

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

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

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

Under their manifesto, they promise to work for:

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

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

AISA also asked the students to:

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

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

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat Archives

Satviki Sanjay

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Six Policemen Booked For Ill-Treating Faculty of Law Student

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Delhi Police has filed a case against six policemen from Adarsh Nagar police station for allegedly ill-treating a third-year law student from University of Delhi (DU) – Faculty of Law.

A case has been filed against six policemen including an SHO and five other officers of Adarsh Nagar police station after a third-year law student complained of an alleged ill-treatment.

Vijayanta Arya, Deputy Commissioner of Delhi Police (North West) said that an FIR has been registered on the complaint of Pramod Kumar under SC/ST Act and other relevant sections. Investigation has been initiated in the case.

As reported by The Hindu, Pramod Kumar, in his complaint mentioned that on 25th August, around 1:15 p.m., he received a call from Adarsh Nagar police station informing him that three persons including his nephew Amar had been arrested. He alleged that when he reached the station, the police “not only tortured, thrashed and abused him but even used casteist remarks”, Delhi Police said.

He further complained that the police “hit at his private parts” when he inquired the reasons of the arrest of his nephew and 2 other people.

Kumar’s nephew Amar is an accused in a case of Extortion and Arms Act. According to PTI sources, Amar was also earlier booked in March 2019 under POCSO Act and had gone to jail. He was out on bail.

As the news of police’s reported mistreatment reached students, several students from Faculty of Law gathered outside the Adarsh Nagar police station on Saturday night, to protest against the harassment and support Pramod.

Atul Jatav, a student from Faculty of Law, mentioned in his Facebook post that Pramod was “brutally tortured by the SHO and his staff”.

“Riding on their Brahminical masculinity, they attacked him with iron rods targeting his private parts and at the same time lashing casteist slurs against him saying ‘Yeh chamar log law sikhayenge (People from the lower caste will teach us law)‘. It was a classic show of dalit atrocity, but this time by police itself, who are duty bound for the safety and security of these very people”, he wrote.

Amarjeet Kumar Singh, In-charge of All India Students’ Association (AISA) – Faculty of Law said in his press release, “We the students of the University of Delhi Faculty of Law made a gherao of Adarsh Nagar police station from the evening of 31st August 2019 till the morning of 1st September 2019, the police refused to register the FIR, then we sat on dharna there. After five hours of negotiation, the police agreed to register the FIR and finally the FIR has been registered at 4:15 AM on 1st September”, he added.

Singh further accused of alleged discrepancies in the FIR. He said, “There are discrepancies in the FIR. Para (3a) in which time and date of occurrence of offences (is mentioned) and in Para 7 in which the details of ‘known/suspect/unknown accused’ has been kept blank to screen the offenders from legal punishment”

He ended the press release by saying that they “will study the FIR thoroughly and will decide their future course of legal action in the matter as per law”.

Feature Image Credits: AISA- Faculty of Law

Shreya Agrawal

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SFI Calls for Left Alliance for DUSU Elections

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The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) gave an open call for an alliance of all “Left-Progressive” student organisations to fight the upcoming student union polls together.

Students of the University of Delhi (DU) will elect their representatives in the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) on 12th September, which means the various student parties are currently campaigning.

The SFI, amidst this, has given a call for a “broader left coalition” to fight the upcoming DUSU polls. The party gave a lengthy rationale for this call. “We only have our solidarity to resist the politics of money, muscle and arrogance,” the SFI’s statement read. While asserting that the various left organisations have agreed to come together on a common minimum programme, the statement admits that “There can be some confusion flowing from how do we define the progressive forces which can lead to various conceptions of unity also.” Calling for a “unity which would electorally reflect the united struggles of the progressive students in Delhi University,” the statement denounced “the short-cut of the opportunistic electoral alliance by compromising the ideals of progressive student movements”. The statement also said that the alliance would fulfil “aspirations and demands” of DU students to see a “grand left alliance in DU on the lines of JNU.”

Speaking to DU Beat, Sumit Kataria, Vice President of SFI Delhi, said that there are two aspects behind this call given by his party – one, the electoral calculations; two, regarding campus protests. Saying that the SFI and the All India Students’ Association (AISA) – “historically the two major left organisations” in DU – have counted on a diverse voter base, Mr. Kataria pointed out that both parties have had certain colleges as their respective strongholds, and that it would make sense “to combine this influence electorally” to have a higher vote share to go against the incumbent Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). From the voters’ perspective, he said that many students who support both parties “get disillusioned due to the lack of an electoral alliance and end up not voting for anyone.”

Secondly, regarding political activity on campus, Mr. Kataria says that the left parties have organised joint protests on multiple issues. However, he alleged that some of these organisations had taken “sectarian positions” when it came to the DUSU elections.

Has the SFI made similar calls in the past as well? Did it receive a positive response? Mr. Kataria says that while the AISF and the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) have been contesting the DUSU polls along with the SFI as a united panel for the last three years, this panel is incomplete “without some left organisations who have adamantly stuck to their sectarian positions.”

However, parties such as the ABVP seem to be much ahead in the campaigning department. The party has already released a list of potential candidates and can be seen rallying across the campus. Similarly, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) officially launched in campaign through a press conference yesterday – 27th August.

On the other hand, the left parties are trying to come to a common ground for an alliance. It cannot be denied that the ABVP and the NSUI seem to be strategically ahead of the left parties. Mr. Kataria agrees. “We should (have done) that (alliance-making) earlier,” he said. However, he also added that the names of the candidates released by the ABVP were only probables and not the final names. “Discussion on alliance is going on,” he said.

What about the response? Mr. Kataria told us that AISF, AIDSO, and AISA were supposedly discussing the matter among their respective organisations. “Still, AISF most probably and AIDSO will join but from AISA we have not got any satisfactory reply,” he said.

Sources say that the AISA is also closing in on finalising and announcing its candidates for the polls.

We contacted the representatives of ABVP, AISA, and NSUI for detailed responses, but they did not comment by the time of the publication of this article.

Feature Image credits – Jaishree Kumar for DU Beat

 Prateek Pankaj
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AISA Protests for Affordable Public Transport; Clashes with ABVP Disrupt the March

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The march took a political and violent turn when the party reached Kirori Mal College (KMC) where the Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), campaigning for upcoming Delhi University Students’ Association (DUSU) elections, clashed with them. 

The All India Students’ Association (AISA), on 23rd August 2019, held a protest at the University of Delhi’s (DU) North Campus. They were pressing for a higher frequency of busses, concessional metro passes for students, and more affordable public transport.

IMG_7481

The protest was interrupted when AISA reached KMC where the ABVP, then campaigning for upcoming the DUSU elections, clashed with them.

The rivalry was very evident as slogans were chanted from both the parties against each other. “Vande Matram”, “Sachin ke goons” and “Cheen ke dalalo ko ek dhakka aur do” (Give the Chinese brokers one more push) were loudly spoken by the members of ABVP against AISA that led to this confrontation.

The brawl became violent and security personnel had to intervene to keep both the parties separate to prevent injuries.

This also put a halt to AISA touring the entire college and they were forced out of the main gate of KMC.

Madhurima, DU Secretary, AISA, describing the confrontation, said, “Our issues are very simple, it is affordable public transport to curb air pollution still they have a problem with that. When we entered KMC, the ABVP was already present in huge numbers. Moreover, they were not even DU students, but outsiders. They then began with their slogan-chanting and slagging, and attacking our activists.”

She added, “The police were also pro-ABVP and even closed the gates of Hansraj to prevent us from entering. We should all realise that it is a big nexus of ABVP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government, oil corporations, car companies, and corporates that profit greatly by people not using public transport.”

Kawalpreet Kaur, Delhi President, AISA in conversation with DU Beat said, “DU students have been demanding metro concession passes for a long time now, and how Delhi is facing severe air pollution makes way for public transport to be invested in. There are many cities that are providing free public transport. And with metro fares rising continuously, we see people being discouraged to use them. Earlier, we protested for applicability of student bus pass in AC buses. Sadly, even though the pass is applicable, there is an acute shortage of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses.”

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She also added, “AISA is a common student-based association. What affects the students, affects us. So, we know how terrible it is when you miss your classes due to the less frequent plying of busses. This works against accessibility to education.”

Shreya, a member of the AISA, said, “The main aim for this march today is to propagate two issues: to make public transport very affordable for students and to make Delhi less polluted in retrospect, and for the DUSU elections to focus more on student-centric and environmental issues, rather than caste, religion, and nationalism.”

Two years back when the metro fare was increased, it directly affected the student community. Since then, AISA has been protesting against the same. Last year, they protested in front of Delhi’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal’s house, and Prime Minister’s Office for applicability of student bus-pass in red AC buses, and metro concessional pass for students.

They have chosen to protest just before the upcoming DUSU elections, 2019, so the candidates include student-centric environmental and welfare issues in their manifestos which are often ignored.

High deployment of security personnel was seen accompanying the march as it began to prevent riots and control the raging crowd. AISA took their march into corridors of Ramjas College chanting their demands and gather more students.

Witnessing the heat between the two parties, AISA was not allowed to enter the Hansraj College premises.

Kawalpreet Kaur, stating the true aim of these protests said, “We are protesting to pressurise all governments, student associations, and candidates contesting in DUSU election to bring issues like this in light than fighting over statues. The people who have the power to resolve these issues are silent.”

 

Image credits: Noihirit for DU Beat.

 

Chhavi Bahmba

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The Left Protests as Article 35A, 370 are Scrapped

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The lanes near Jantar Mantar and Parliament Street flooded with protestors as the Centre issued the news of the abrogation of Article 35A, and Article 370 which granted a special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

This morning, Home Minister Amit Shah announced in the Rajya Sabha, that Article 35A, and Article 370 which grants the state of Jammu & Kashmir special status are to be abrogated.
As the hours went on, the bill was passed.

The move leaves Jammu and Kashmir as a union territory with its own legislature. Ladakh would also be a union territory, but without its own assembly.

Since 4th August, Kashmir has been under lockdown with a complete shutdown of internet, broadband, and cellular services. Many Kashmiris across the world have said their indefinite goodbyes to their loved ones, unaware of when the ban would be lifted. Fear, anxiety, and paranoia have gripped the valley as news of deployment of thousands of paramilitary forces spreads out. Tourists and pilgrims have been asked to leave the state immediately, in the face of intelligence reports alleging a terror threat.

On 5th August, as the news of abrogation spread like wildfire throughout the University, student organisations took it upon themselves to celebrate, and resist.

As the ABVP celebrated the move near Arts Faculty with sweets and dhol, Left-leaning parties like the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), All India Students’ Federation (AISF) and All India Students’ Association (AISA) gathered around Jantar Mantar to protest against the move. The impromptu protest which was organised within two hours saw hundreds of gatherers with placards, demanding that the Articles be reinstated.
A Kashmiri student who requested to stay anonymous said, “I’m speechless, I don’t know what else to say.”

The protest also saw prominent leaders of the CPI (M), like Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat. As cries of ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ echoed through the Parliament Street, the protesters burnt an effigy in an attempt to defame the Modi government. 

“I was thinking that this might happen since it was a part of the BJP’s manifesto, but deep down, I didn’t want it to happen. It’s only about the territory now, not the people,” said Hayder, a student. 

Due to the communication blackout, students have been unable to reach out to their loved ones. Almost every Kashmiri student remembers the exact time they last reached out to their family.

Residents of Kashmir are yet to find out about the abrogation. 

Speaking to DU Beat, Dipankar Bhattacharya, the General Secretary of CPI (ML) called the move as a ‘constitutional coup’ and ‘a complete travesty of truth and justice’. “I think this is a warning to every Indian of the shape of things to come, and these things are coming conspitarioly, but are coming rather fast. This is an adventurous way of governing. This is a recipe for disaster. It’s a time-bomb ticking away for the rest of India. Just because it was a part of the BJP manifesto and that they won the popular mandate doesn’t mean that the whole of India supports this move,” added Bhattacharya.

Ehthemam, a student of Jamia Milia Islamia called the move ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘illegal’. “The army and state repression has been high in Kashmir, with the cellular and internet shutdowns, it only increases the paranoia over human rights violations in the valley. They want control of Kashmir’s resources which is why they choose to abrogate Articles 35A and Article 370. The abrogation is impractical and will only worsen the conflict.”

Kawalpreet Kaur, the president of AISA, Delhi State added “This is illegal and should be challenged in court. This protest showed us that people aren’t happy with what happened today.”

Kaur declared that the resistance would carry on in the form of another protest march on the 7th of August, from Mandi House to Parliament Street. 

“The curfew will be lifted some day, people will come to know, how long will you repress us for? What happened today was unconstitutional,” said a Kashmiri woman addressing the gathering.

Home Minister Amit Shah has assured the opposition in the Rajya Sabha: full statehood at ‘appropriate time’ after ‘normalcy’ returns.
But for a state which has been militarized for decades, what is defined as ‘normal’? Amidst internet shutdowns and pellet guns, where does the Kashmiri identity go?

Feature Image Credits: Jaishree Kumar for DU Beat

Jaishree Kumar

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