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