Canvassing ABVP candidate stabbed in college canteen

University officials have said that disregard for the university election norms combined with “poor police response” were responsible for this incident. Principal Bhatt admits that identity cards of the students who entered the college for campaigning were not checked, as per rules. K.P. Bhatt says: “We were relaxed since things were going on peacefully and did not foresee such an incident”.

Moreover, in their complaint to Aggarwal, ABVP students have alleged that the police response to the incident was delayed. According to Ravi Prakash Tripathi, ABVP vice-Presidential candidate: “We were being stopped from entering the college and these people followed us around shouting slogans favouring Sanjay Choudhary, an NSUI candidate. We told the only constable standing on guard outside the college that he should accompany us inside since there were chances of violence. But he ignored us”.

NSUI has denied allegations that the incident was instigated by them. Terming it as the “high-handedness of ABVP” they have claimed that these attacks are politically motivated. “Our candidates are as busy as the others campaigning for themselves. Why should they beat up other candidates every day?” says Dharmendra Tomar, spokesperson for NSUI. According to Sinha: “Students from LSF have said they were being threatened over the phone to withdraw one of their candidates”. LSF students recently sat on dharna outside Sinha’s office, demanding police protection during campaigning.

As parties defend their actions, election norms continue to be flouted. Yesterday, officials had to stop an ABVP rath yatra. Every day, posters are ripped off college walls and reminders sent to candidates to adhere to the rules. Officials are also in touch with the police to ensure that the September-11 DUSU elections go off peacefully.