Surprise appearance of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at Delhi University’s North Campus on Thursday has triggered controversy, with the university condemning the event and student groups exchanging sharp barbs over protocol, politics, and purpose.
The unscheduled meeting took place at the office of the DUSU president, where Rahul Gandhi met students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to hear their grievances about academic justice and representation. The visit was, however, opposed vehemently by the administration, calling it a “breach of institutional protocol.
According to a university statement, Gandhi’s presence, lasting nearly an hour, disrupted campus functioning. “The DUSU office was cordoned off by security cover and no one was allowed to enter,” the statement noted. ABVP claimed that members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) denied the DUSU secretary access to her office. Furthermore, the university alleged that NSUI students misbehaved with some students and promised strict action against those involved.
DUSU President Defends Invite of Rahul Gandhi
DUSU president Ronak Khatri, who is a member of the NSUI, vehemently denied the university’s allegations. According to him, there is no regulation demanding prior clearance to welcome a private guest. Khatri replied that he hosted the visit peacefully within the DUSU Office compound and exercised his entitlement to invite any guest.
Rahul Gandhi barged into DU unannounced, turning a peaceful campus into a political circus. But the real drama? Students confronting him over his disgraceful Pahalgam remarks and disrespect towards our forces!
He left embarrassed without answering!! pic.twitter.com/Ty7ppyVsR6
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) May 22, 2025
He termed the university’s press release as “factually incorrect” and “administrative overreach,” pointing out that the visit did not breach norms of security and did not disturb public activity. He asserts that political motives are driving an attempt to strangle independent student rule.
ABVP Joins Fray, Calls It A ‘Photo-Op’
Moreover, the RSS-supported Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which currently holds several seats in DUSU, termed the event as “bad theatre” and a mere “photo-op.” In its press note, ABVP further claimed that the organisers limited the interaction exclusively to NSUI members and, therefore, called it an “echo chamber,” arguing that it denied broader student representation.
With emotions running high, the episode has fueled discussions around political liberty within university territories, student body autonomy, and institutional appropriateness.
