The ABVP on Thursday conducted a rally across North Campus in Delhi University to “Save DU” from those who raise “anti-national” slogans on Campus. The rally, attended by thousands of students and ABVP activists, marched from the Arts Faculty via Vishwavidhlaya Metro Station, Khalsa College, SRCC, Ramjas College and back to the Arts Faculty.
ABVP Spokesperson Saket Bahuguna said that the ABVP believes in the freedom of expression but if that freedom is expressed to call for azadi of an integral part of the country be it Kashmir, Bastar or Manipur, the ABVP will be in the forefront to oppose it across the country.
Reacting to students from left-parties accusing them of violence and gundaism, the ABVP launched a picture campaign on placards that they marched with and posters across campus. The graphic images showcased “communist violence” in Kerala and carried photos of people who had been tortured allegedly by communists. The ABVP claimed that for every photograph, they had proof that an FIR had been filed against “communists” for the violence.
Reacting to the photo campaign, Sucheta De President of the All India Students Association (AISA) said the photos show the desperation of the ABVP as they saw the large number of common DU students who were not affiliated to any party march against the violence they perpetrated outside Ramjas College on February 21 and 21.
The ABVP had alleged that “anti-national” slogans has been raised at Ramjas College on February 21 by students who took out a march saying that they have a right to freedom of expression. JNU PhD scholar Umar Khalid had been invited to speak at the seminar organised at Ramjas College on Cultures of Protest but the organisers cancelled his participation after opposition by the ABVP and the Delhi Police said that they could not guarantee safety.
