Row over Rahul Gandhi's DU campus visit 'without intimation'

The ABVP, which has a few seats in DUSU, charged Gandhi with gatecrashing a democratic space and orchestrating a photo-op

On Thursday, the university came out with a strongly worded statement protesting the Congress leader's sudden visit to North Campus, terming it a violation of institutional procedure and an interference in student self-governance.

"Shri Rahul Gandhi has done this for the second time. visiting the university without any intimation and information to University of Delhi," stated the proctor's office in an official statement.

Earlier in the day, Gandhi, now the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, met students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes at the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) office. The session focused on representation, equality, and academic justice.

The university, however, called the visit disruptive.

The DUSU office, the statement said, was cordoned off by security for close to an hour, keeping others out. The university averred that this prevented the operation of a critical student body and further stated that DUSU secretary Mitravinda Karanwal was also kept out of her office.

"Some students were locked in the secretary's room, DUSU, and were misbehaved with by NSUI students," the release alleged.

It threatened "strict action" against involved students and hoped "this does not happen in future."

DUSU president Ronak Khatri, who is with the Congress-supportive NSUI, retaliated strongly.

"Let it be made very clear: this visit was made peacefully and entirely within the confines of the DUSU Office to which I, the duly elected President of the Delhi University Students' Union, am entirely entitled to invite any guest." "}.

"There is no academic or legal rule which requires the President of DUSU to obtain prior approval for inviting a private or informal guest interaction, especially if it is not a public meeting and does not breach campus security," Khatri stated.

Calling the university's assertions "factually incorrect", he stated the press note was "politically motivated, tone biased, and goes against the democratic and autonomous nature of functioning of the student body."

The ABVP, which controls some seats in DUSU, charged Gandhi with gatecrashing a democratic platform and conducting a photo-op.  

DUSU secretary Mitravinda Karanwal, who is with the ABVP, stated, "Only after much negotiation was I 'graciously' permitted inside — by myself. I would never leave the students behind."  

The ABVP termed the incident "bad theatre.

"Arriving uninvited, overruling elected voices and using a student union office like one's own drawing room is not leadership — it's theatre," the statement added. "Rahul Gandhi coming to DU is like a failed actor gatecrashing a student play — no part, no invitation, just loud entrance and adverse reviews."

It also alleged that Gandhi spoke only to handpicked NSUI members "in an echo chamber" rather than conducting an open discussion. "Is this the Congress party's definition of women empowerment? Of youth outreach? Of democratic values?" 

The BJP escalated the criticism. IT cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted a video of a woman asking Gandhi questions as he walked by.

"But through the photo ops, the moment of truth came when irate students confronted him — seeking explanations for his comments on Pahalgam, questioning the motivation behind throwing dirt on our security personnel and Operation Sindoor," he tweeted in a post on X. "At a time when the whole country stands solidly behind our gallant soldiers, the Congress would do well to remember: India is watching. And it won't forget these games."

BJP spokesperson Pratyush Kanth stated: "Today at Delhi University, a storm of student anger engulfed the campus as angry youth confronted Rahul Gandhi, making him answer for his sensitive statements on the Pahalgam attack.". They asked for the reason behind his words, which they believed undermined the integrity of our courageous security personnel and questioned the triumph of Operation Sindoor, a mission that strongly proved India's unshakeable commitment towards defeating terror. India's youth are making it loud and clear: they will no longer be quiet when national security is in question and political interests are given priority over patriotism.

This is not the first confrontation for Gandhi with a university administration. Last week, he organized a similar outreach camp at an Ambedkar hostel in Bihar's Darbhanga without prior permission. Two FIRs were lodged against him and more than 100 Congress workers.

Gandhi had been issued a notice by the provost of Delhi University's PG men's hostel two years ago about his 'sudden' visit to the hostel in May, 2023. Congress leader Gandhi had gone to a Post-Graduate Men's Hostel of the university, spoken to a few students and eaten lunch with them.