Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) student wing Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) allegedly coerced Delhi University’s administration into cancelling the launch of a magazine produced by the students here, at the last moment on Tuesday.
Joint Secretary of All India Congress Committee, Ruchi Gupta, told NewsCentral24x7, “We wanted to launch a quality magazine produced by the brilliant students of Delhi University. It is inconceivable that any right-thinking person could be against such a venture.”
After the ABVP president allegedly stormed the DUSU’s office with guns, the magazine was launched in protest on the streets under police protection.
“ABVP are goons, not students. They need to be booted out of universities,” she added.
National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) claimed that the conference centre of DU was pre-booked for the launch of the magazine and all the necessary permissions were duly taken.
NSUI-led DUSU magazine launched in protest on the street after DU canceled permission for launch event at last minute under pressure from ABVP. pic.twitter.com/TsmOz4WK8m
— NSUI (@nsui) July 31, 2018
Commenting on the difference in the ideology of two student wings, Gupta said, “The events of today showcase the battle between the ABVP and the NSUI and our conception of the idea of the university. The NSUI sees universities as spaces to develop critical thinking, better citizens. ABVP and BjP see universities as places to advance their political agenda.”
Senior editor Siddharth Varadarajan, Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Gowda, academic Apoorvanand and NSUI -in-charge Ruchi Gupta were invited for the launch.
Later in the day, Gowda took to Twitter and said that he was “undaunted” by ABVP’s actions and “will fight back against BJP’s attempts at curbing liberty”.
I was invited to speak on ‘Freedom of Expression’ at DU & launch a student magazine DYOUTH. But seems @ABVPVoice got it cancelled.
Undaunted, we launched it demonstrating what this freedom really means. We will fight back against BJP’s attempts at curbing liberty. @guptar pic.twitter.com/arD5xNP9y4
— Rajeev Gowda (@rajeevgowda) July 31, 2018