Students from Delhi University participated in a conversation with Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress member Rahul Gandhi recently, where they discussed the ABVP row, women reservation bill, ethnic tensions in Manipur and more.
During the chat, students from DU’s Gargi College recounted the recent ABVP row, with some saying they felt “threatened” when members were allegedly forced onto their campus. “A lot of people from ABVP broke down our gate and entered the building,” a student said.
They added that the ABVP members sat outside the entry and exit gate of the college’s professors and felt “humiliated” when they were asked to move. “A male faculty member tried to get them out of the gate. Then the ABVP men felt so insulted that they broke the gate. They tore off their shirts and entered our college,” said a student. Regarding the police personnel at the site, another student said “they did not stop” the ABVP members.
“It was scary because there was a police car parked outside. Even though there were a large number of police there (sic), they couldn’t stop them,” she said.
What is an ABVP incident?
Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) president Aryan Maan and several members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) allegedly entered Gargi College forcefully on April 17.
The members forcibly entered the building after being denied entry on the basis of rules surrounding men entering the building.
The incident was related to the student council elections, during which one of the competing candidates allegedly called the DUSU president during voting, claiming the process was unfair.
During the conversation with Rahul Gandhi, the students said that Gargi College does not encourage ‘voting’ and ‘campaigning’ and has no affiliations with any political party. They stated that a candidate, said to be backed by the ABVP, had approached the principal and faculty members regarding the elections. “They weren’t very encouraging about whatever her decision was,” one student said.
The students said the incident began on April 16, when the joint secretary of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) entered the Gargi College premises “with a wreath” and “disrespected” the principal. They said the dispute escalated the next day when ABVP members reached the gate of the college building.
“Gen Z women will lead the way”: Rahul
“Generation Z is our future,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, sharing a video of his conversation with the students.
“Generation Z women will lead the way. It is our duty to open all doors for them… The future of our country is in safe hands,” he said in a post on X. The students spoke about the country’s colonial past and class inequality.
The recent Women’s Reservation Amendment Bill, which failed to pass the test in Parliament, was also discussed, with Rahul questioning the timing and nature of the bill. “In 2023, Modi ji said we will make reservation for women. The entire opposition has supported it,” the Lok Sabha ji said, adding that its implementation has been stalled until the next census is conducted.
“Now they have suddenly brought this bill, but actually it is not a women’s bill… it is a demarcation bill,” Rahul said.
The congressman said: “They want to settle the southern and northeastern states, and the key northern seats will get more seats,” describing this as “dangerous.”
“If you change the number of seats in India without considering the consequences very carefully, you will risk a war between the South and the North,” Rahul said, adding that the states would question the reduction in the number of seats.
