ABVP indulged in ‘brazen violence’ in run-up to DUSU polls: Congress

A day before the Delhi University Students’ Union elections, the Congress on Thursday accused the ABVP of indulging in “brazen violence” on campus and said the students will give a befitting reply to their hooliganism.
The Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the RSS-backed ABVP are prime contenders for the union’s top four seats. Voting for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections will be held on Friday.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar alleged that the police and administration also aided the ABVP as it indulged in “rampant violence”. “The scenes seen in Delhi University are very concerning. It is a prestigious university where not only students from the country but from all over the world come and study. On social media, videos of violence are going viral, which is very concerning for parents,” Kumar, who is also the AICC’s NSUI in-charge, said. Noting that the students’ union elections are being held after a three-year gap due to Covid-19, he alleged that the government used the pandemic as an excuse whenever it suited it.
“The nomination date changed from September 12 to September 14. On the basis of Covid, age relaxation has been given of two years to benefit one group,” Kumar said.
“Those indulging in violence are being encouraged… They can do anything. They are given a free hand,” he said.