Delhi campuses turn battleground of 'nationalism'

Security has been heightened after Delhi University Students Union called for a 'Tiranga march' on Monday.

Security has been heightened at the north campus of Delhi University as the campus prepares to witness a series of marches in the next couple of days. Delhi University Students Union called for a 'Tiranga on Monday even as students of Jawaharlal Nehru University called for a meeting to discuss their next course of action. Faculty from the DU, as well as the JNU, have planned a protest march from Khalsa College on March 1.

The situation inside the DU has been tense ever since incidents of violence broke out in Ramjas campus between students protesting the cancellation of event where JNU's Umar Khalid was scheduled to speak and members of the ABVP.

All hell broke loose last week after ABVP and students of Ramjas College came to blows following the cancellation of an event where Khalid was invited as a speaker. Many likened the situation to the JNU fiasco in 2016. The violence led to massive social media uproar. While Ramjas students accused the ABVP of thrashing the student community, the ABVP accused the students of propagating anti-national ideologies.

Tiranga March

The Tiranga march led by the ABVP aims to appeal to the idea of nationalism with hashtag #March4nation, #IstandwithRamjas and #Istandwithnationalism. The ABVP claims they will be protesting against left-leaning student groups for allegedly supporting those involved in anti-national activities.

Public Meeting

JNU will hold a public meeting on Monday evening to condemn the acts of violence in Ramjas campus and plan their next course of action. Tuesday will see protests from faculty against the ABVP.

ABVP activists shout slogans as they hold a protest against AISA at DU campus in New Delhi on Thursday. Photo credit: Shahbaz Khan/PTI

Social Media Campaign

While Ramjas students started off a social media campaign to say they were not afraid of the ABVP, it soon gathered momentum with students of various colleges coming together to express anger against ABVP for the violence. #Students AgainstABVP trended on twitter with massive support to Ramjas students pouring in.

#StudentsWithABVP

The trend, however, did change with those opposing Khalid's visit taking to Twitter to make #StudentsWithABVP trend. The twitter war continues even as students on both sides prepare to keep their protests alive.

What principal says

Rajendra Prasad, the principal of Ramjas College has appealed to students to maintain calm and not let anyone take away their right to study. In a notice issued to students, the college has promised to take measures to ensure normalcy and safety of students. "I appeal to the students not to get involved in any activity which spoils the name of Ramjas and adopt peaceful modes to deal with any conflict of ideas," the statement said.

OneIndia News