The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) held a press conference on July 30 in Rajender Nagar, New Delhi, to address pressing concerns following the tragic drowning of three students in the waterlogged basement library of Rau’s IAS Coaching Institute. The incident, which occurred on July 27, has sparked ongoing protests from students demanding immediate action.
Present at the press conference were ABVP National Secretary Shivangi Kharwal, ABVP National Media Convener Ashutosh Singh, ABVP Delhi State Secretary Harsh Attri, ABVP Delhi State Joint Secretary Ashish Singh, and UPSC aspirant Yuvraj.
ABVP leaders demanded that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) conduct a comprehensive safety audit of all coaching centers and make the findings public. Highlighting the severity of the issue, ABVP Delhi State Secretary Harsh Attri stated, “It is tragic and unforgivable that three students lost their lives due to drowning in the basement library of Rau’s IAS Coaching Institute. This incident is not an accident but a brutal murder by the negligence of the Delhi Government, MCD, and their nexus with the coaching mafias.”
Attri further emphasized the need for a regulatory body to oversee safety norms in coaching centers, address high rents in the Rajender Nagar area, and tackle illegal constructions. He expressed solidarity with the protesting students seeking justice for the deceased.
ABVP National Secretary Shivangi Kharwal recounted a similar incident from a year ago when a fire broke out in a coaching center in Mukherjee Nagar due to a short circuit. “The Delhi Government has not learned anything from that incident. Now, three students have lost their lives due to the corrupt practices of the Delhi Government, corrupt MCD, and the nexus of coaching mafias,” Kharwal said. She called for an immediate investigation, noting that the Municipal Councillor of Rajender Nagar herself runs a coaching institute in her residence’s basement, which is illegal and has faced no action.
Kharwal also addressed accusations against ABVP, stating, “Some leftist students are spreading fake videos depicting ABVP members eating food and consuming beverages at the protest site, attempting to tarnish our image. We have filed a complaint at Maurice Nagar Police Station demanding action against these perpetrators.”
UPSC aspirant Yuvraj shed light on the overcrowded conditions in classrooms, saying, “Ideally, there should be 50 students in one classroom, but more than 350 students sit in my classroom every day. The nexus between brokers, coaching mafias, and coaching centers has led to skyrocketing rents in Rajender Nagar, exploiting students from all parts of Bharat.”
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