Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad staged a mass demonstration near Gate No. 4 of the Arts Faculty, Delhi University, on Thursday against the varsity administration’s undemocratic proposal to implement an indirect voting system in the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections. In this enormous protest, a large number of ABVP karyakartas unitedly gathered to express their dissent against the university administration and to escalate their demand for the withdrawal of the draconian and anti-student proposal advocating indirect voting. Additionally, during the protest, ABVP members, led by ABVP National Secretary Shivangi Kharwal , State Secretary Sarthak Sharma and ABVP led DUSU Secretary Mitravinda Karanwal submitted a memorandum to the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University.
The Executive Council of Delhi University was scheduled to meet today to discuss the recommendation put forward in the meeting held on January 17, which suggested organising DUSU elections through an indirect voting system instead of the current direct voting procedure. Anticipating possible approval of this proposal, ABVP orchestrated a humongous demonstration to express strong discontent against the varsity administration’s autocratic decision and to make it clear that students’ democratic right to exercise their franchise will not be deprived under any circumstances.
ABVP led DUSU Secretary Mitravinda Karanwal stated, “The university administration is planning to adopt an indirect election system in students’ union elections with the malicious intent of weakening and depriving students of their democratic rights. This decision is equivalent to abolishing and suppressing students’ voting rights, which is absolutely inadmissible under any circumstances. ABVP will persistently oppose this move at all levels to ensure that students retain their right to elect their representatives”
ABVP State Secretary Sarthak Sharma stated, “The proposal to implement an indirect election system in DUSU polls is a blatant attempt to crush students’ democratic rights. It is a conspiracy hatched by the university administration to minimize student participation in the democratic process, which is entirely unacceptable to ABVP.If the university administration refuses to withdraw this undemocratic proposal, ABVP will intensify its demonstrations and showcase the strength of the student community. Furthermore, our organization is devoted to waging a valiant battle to protect students’ democratic rights.
ABVP National Secretary Shivangi Kharwal stated, “During the demonstration, we submitted a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University, appealing him to immediately revoke the proposal for an indirect election system. While addressing our concerns, the varsity administration assured us that they would take steps to withdraw all aspects of the proposed indirect voting procedure.
Additionally, they affirmed that in the future, any decision regarding students’ union elections or similar processes would be made in consultation with key stakeholders of the university, including students, student organisations, their representatives, and students’ union officials”
