JOIN USDelhi University has banned student rallies and protests on the campus due to an eve-teasing incident reported during a student party’s rally on Friday.
“In the light of reported incident of eve-teasing and disturbing harmony on the campus during student rallies, DU has decided to ban all rallies and demonstration of any kind on the campus till further notice,” said a notification by the proctor. Eve-teasing incidents were reported by students of Indraprastha College for Women during a rally by the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) on Friday. They approached the vice chancellor on Saturday, demanding action against the party members.
NSUI members denied the allegations, saying no party member teased anyone. “Other parties are conspiring against us because of our growing popularity. We have checked with our members and even the girls. They declined reporting any such incident,” said NSUI spokesperson Amrish Pandey.
“Till now the ABVP has been going steady in DU, so it is trying to defame us by making false allegations,” said Pandey.
NSUI members alleged that DU is trying to curb students’ democratic right to peaceful protest.
Members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad alleged that girls were harassed during the NSUI rally. “Some girls complained to the VC while others kept quiet. There was not a single girl in the NSUI rally on Friday. Some girls went through physical abuse too,” said ABVP spokesperson Rohit Chahal.
“The rally had more outsiders than college students,” said Chahal. ABVP members demanded that DU officials punish the eve-teasers by checking footage captured on CCTV cameras instead of banning rallies on the campus. “There will be a rally comprising only girls on Monday on the campus despite the ban. Girls will protest against the administration’s inconsiderate attitude towards their complaints,” said Chahal.
Members from both student parties said the ban will not affect their election campaigns as according to the Lyngdoh Committee guidelines, only four persons are supposed to campaign with the candidate instead of taking along a huge crowd.