<p>Members of student groups of the Congress, BJP and AAP clashed at least thrice on Wednesday, leading to organisers of a debate call off the event in the evening.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The debate was scheduled to take place among candidates on the eve of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) poll. <br /><br />Congress’s student wing National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) alleged that two of their candidates were attacked by supporters of the BJP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and AAP-affiliate Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) during their campaign at PGDAV College in Nehru Nagar. <br /><br />“Our candidates were hit by iron rods. ABVP volunteers and brother of a CYSS presidential candidate were involved in the attack,” said Amrish Ranjan Panday, an Indian Youth Congress leader.<br /><br />“The attack left NSUI’s vice-presidential nominee Prerna Singh with a fractured hand while our presidential candidate Pradeep Vijayran suffered head injuries. He got 10 stitches on his head,” he said. <br /><br />The ABVP on the other hand, accused the NSUI of targeting its volunteers and presidential nominee. <br /><br />Both the ABVP and CYSS denied allegations levelled by the Congress affiliate. <br />Meanwhile, in two other incidents, ABVP candidate Satender Awana’s car was attacked reportedly by NSUI supporters while his brother was assaulted with a brick at Swami Shraddhanand College. <br /><br />Talking about the attacks, Delhi State Secretary Saket Bhauguna, said: “CYSS attacked NSUI and spread rumours about ABVP’s involvement.” He added that Satender’s brother had to be rushed to the hospital. <br /><br />All the three rival camps have lodged police complaints over the alleged incidents. But, no FIR has been registered so far. <br /><br />Claiming that his debutant student party was not involved in any of the alleged incidents, CYSS president Anupam Kumar said: “We do not resort to use of money and muscle power. These are gimmicks to defame us ahead of the polling day. The NSUI, too, dismissed the allegations against it as mere “rumours”.<br /><br />Later in the day, organisers of the first presidential debate for DUSU elections called off the event, citing security concerns.<br /><br />A total of 35 candidates are in the fray for the four posts of president, vice-president, general secretary and joint secretary. <br /><br />Last year, the ABVP swept DUSU polls, winning all four seats.</p>
<p>Members of student groups of the Congress, BJP and AAP clashed at least thrice on Wednesday, leading to organisers of a debate call off the event in the evening.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The debate was scheduled to take place among candidates on the eve of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) poll. <br /><br />Congress’s student wing National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) alleged that two of their candidates were attacked by supporters of the BJP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and AAP-affiliate Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) during their campaign at PGDAV College in Nehru Nagar. <br /><br />“Our candidates were hit by iron rods. ABVP volunteers and brother of a CYSS presidential candidate were involved in the attack,” said Amrish Ranjan Panday, an Indian Youth Congress leader.<br /><br />“The attack left NSUI’s vice-presidential nominee Prerna Singh with a fractured hand while our presidential candidate Pradeep Vijayran suffered head injuries. He got 10 stitches on his head,” he said. <br /><br />The ABVP on the other hand, accused the NSUI of targeting its volunteers and presidential nominee. <br /><br />Both the ABVP and CYSS denied allegations levelled by the Congress affiliate. <br />Meanwhile, in two other incidents, ABVP candidate Satender Awana’s car was attacked reportedly by NSUI supporters while his brother was assaulted with a brick at Swami Shraddhanand College. <br /><br />Talking about the attacks, Delhi State Secretary Saket Bhauguna, said: “CYSS attacked NSUI and spread rumours about ABVP’s involvement.” He added that Satender’s brother had to be rushed to the hospital. <br /><br />All the three rival camps have lodged police complaints over the alleged incidents. But, no FIR has been registered so far. <br /><br />Claiming that his debutant student party was not involved in any of the alleged incidents, CYSS president Anupam Kumar said: “We do not resort to use of money and muscle power. These are gimmicks to defame us ahead of the polling day. The NSUI, too, dismissed the allegations against it as mere “rumours”.<br /><br />Later in the day, organisers of the first presidential debate for DUSU elections called off the event, citing security concerns.<br /><br />A total of 35 candidates are in the fray for the four posts of president, vice-president, general secretary and joint secretary. <br /><br />Last year, the ABVP swept DUSU polls, winning all four seats.</p>
