A large number of students marched from Khalsa College to Arts Faculty in Delhi University on Tuesday in protest against the Ramjas College violence.
The students held placards which read as, “This march is not about the Left or the Right. It is about what is wrong and what is right.” They also used songs, poetry and slogans to pose questions on “hooliganism in the name of nationalism”.
The protesters said that despite the “FightBackDU” campaign being supported by activists from Left-affiliated parties, the DU Teachers’ Association, JNU Teachers’ Association, JNU Students’ Union and contingents from Jamia Millia Islamia, Ambedkar University and IP University, among others, the movement had no leaders.
“The ABVP-led DUSU is re-moulding our own truth with their version of it. Let us rise above our immediate identities and condemn violence on the campus,” said students of Ramjas College.
Parties back students
Political leaders including Yogendra Yadav of Swaraj India, Sitaram Yechury of the CPI (M), D. Raja of the CPI and Pankaj Puskar of the AAP addressed the students.
DUTA president Nandita Narain alleged that the attack at Ramjas was planned so that the agenda of granting autonomy to several colleges of the university could be pushed through while everybody was busy condemning the violence. JNU’s Kanhaiya Kumar, who addressed the rally, said he had joined the march as a student who wanted university campuses across the country to be free of violence.
ABVP claims innocence
The ABVP, meanwhile, said the violence at Ramjas had been provoked by “outsiders”. They have called for a counter-protest on March 2 against entry of “outsiders” on campus. DU students have decided to take out another march from Mandi House to Parliament on March 4.
