EC poster to encourage voting vandalised at GIPE, draws ABVP ire

NOTA refers to the ballot option of ‘None of The Above’ that voters can choose while voting.

According to ABVP, who staged a protest outside the institute on April 11, this was a “call to disrupt democracy by anti social elements”.

Harshwardhan Harpude, an ABVP activist said, “Even when democracy is being celebrated across the country, such incidents of wrongdoing are happening in colleges and the administration supporting them is very shameless. Urban naxalite ideological movements are active in this national institute (GIPE) and anti-national activities are becoming quite common.”

State secretary Anil Thombe said, “ABVP strongly condemns the disturbing display by leftists at Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics. This blatant disregard for democracy reveals the ulterior motives of the Communist agenda against the people, prioritising their own interests over the welfare of the masses in a respected educational institution.”

A team from the Deccan Gymkhana police station visited the spot after information about the incident was received.

An officer from the police station said, ” A banner titled Democracy Wall was put on the institute campus to create awareness about the electoral process. Some people used spray paint to strike out the word democracy and wrote ‘NOTA 24’ and ‘Inquilab Zindabad’.”

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Sandeep Singh Gill said, “After the incident was brought to our notice, a team from the local police station visited the spot. The matter was reported to the Flying Surveillance Team set for the election process and the concerned Assistant Returning Officer was appraised about it. They are now looking into it. Based on the findings, either ARO or the local police will initiate further action.”