On Thursday, SGTB Khalsa College postponed a street play competition after Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) members allegedly told the principal that they could not guarantee security for the event if the script had anti-national content.
The principal, however, denied that the event was postponed under pressure from the ABVP.
“Why do we need a stamp from the DUSU that our event does not contain “anti-national” content? Why can’t theatre groups have the freedom to choose their script without fear,” said Arpita, a 3rd year student.
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‘Can’t guarantee security’
DUSU president Amit Tanwar, meanwhile, said that he had asked the college principal to go through the scripts before they are allowed to be staged. “I have said that any objectionable and anti-national content can create an alarming situation and security for the event cannot be guaranteed,” said Mr. Tanwar.
However, this does not seem to be the first time that the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)-led has targeted events for allegedly being “anti-national”. The most recent instance is that of a seminar at Ramjas College, which fuelled protests and violence on the streets of Delhi University.
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Organisers speak up
Some members from the organising committee confirmed the DUSU threat. They added that the police had also asked them to postpone the event until the situation returned to normal on the campus.
Earlier, the ABVP had stopped a screening of documentary Muzaffarnagar Abhi Baki Hai at DU’s Kirori Mal College. Recently a debate on “Idea of a University” organised by the AISA was attacked at the Faculty of Arts. Activists from Pinjra Tod, a group working towards women’s rights on campus, have complained about harassment while organising protests.
As the elected body, DUSU, which has been represented by members of the ABVP for the past few years, enjoys the backing of a majority of students. It is not often that college administrations challenge them.