ABVP, NSUI, CYSS clash on last day of DUSU poll campaign

New Delhi, Sep 9: Members of the students' bodies of BJP, Congress and AAP today engaged in clashes with each other on the last day of campaigning for the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) polls and traded charges over the alleged instances of attack and physical assault.

The Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI) alleged that two of their candidates were attacked by members of AAP's students' wing CYSS during campaigning at the PGDAV college in south Delhi while BJP's Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) claimed that NSUI had targeted its volunteers and presidential nominee at two DU colleges.

Meanwhile, the first 'presidential debate' for DUSU polls, that was scheduled for today, was called off due to security concerns following the alleged clashes between the various students' outfits.

Two days ahead of the DUSU polls, which is set to see a triangular contest this year, the allegations and counter- allegations were all rubbished by the students' wings of the three political parties.

"Our volunteers were campaigning along with candidates Pradeep Vijayran and Prerna Singh at PGDAV college when Pradeep was attacked by CYSS workers.

"He suffered head injuries and had to be rushed to AIIMS, where he recieved stitches," alleged Amrish Ranjan Panday, an Indian Youth Congress (IYC) leader. Similar allegations were made by ABVP against NSUI members.

"Our volunteers were attacked by NSUI at Shradhanand College and Motilal Nehru College. They also attacked the car with stones in which our presidential candidate Satender Awana was travelling," claimed ABVP national secretary Rohit Chahal.

While all the three rival camps lodged police complaints over the alleged violence, no FIR has been registered yet. "The complaints have been received. But we are making further inquiries and will be taking action accordingly," senior police officials said.

PTI