India - Allahabad university: Union president invites prominent journalist to campus, ABVP on hunger strike

The Indian Express

Allahabad university: Union president invites journalist to campus, ABVP on hunger strike
The ABVP leaders, who hold significant posts in the union, sat on an indefinite hunger strike on Tuesday outside the residence of AU Vice-Chancellor R L Hangloo demanding cancellation of the seminar.
Written by Lalmani Verma
Lucknow
Updated: Jan 20, 2016, 10:28

Written by Lalmani Verma | Lucknow | Updated: January 20, 2016 10:28 am

THE ONGOING tussle between Allahabad University Students’ Union (AUSU) president Richa Singh and RSS’ student wing ABVP have led to fresh trouble on the campus. Richa has invited senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan as chief speaker for a national seminar being held on the campus on Wednesday.

The ABVP leaders, who hold significant posts in the union, sat on an indefinite hunger strike on Tuesday outside the residence of AU Vice-Chancellor R L Hangloo demanding cancellation of the seminar.

The seminar, on ‘Democracy, media and freedom of expression’, would be presided over by Hangloo.

Late Tuesday, Richa sent an email to the President, the Prime Minister and Union HRD minister, informing them that if any untoward incident happened on Wednesday, then ABVP members of the student union would be responsible for the same.

She claimed there was imminent danger that the student leaders would attack her, other organisers of the event and the speaker.

“Most shocking is the role of the vice-chancellor, who has refused to take responsibility of our security… He has forced me to write a letter that I am conducting this event at my own risk and whatever happens tomorrow is not his responsibility,” Richa added, seeking that the HRD Ministry directs the V-C to ensure security on the campus.

Earlier in the day, ABVP leader and AUSU vice-president Vikrant Singh said, “There are two reasons behind our protest. First, the union president did not consult us before planning the event. Secondly, Siddharth Varadarajan is a controversial man, who used to write pro-naxal and anti-national articles. Richa has invited a person who has a communal mindset while she herself had earlier opposed campus visit of BJP MP Yogi Adityanath last year, calling him communal.”

Richa, however, maintained that Varadarajan, founding editor of The Wire, is a noted and unbiased journalist and ABVP leaders should read his articles before objecting. “ABVP leaders are opposing the seminar only to settle scores as she had opposed Yogi Adityanath’s visit to the campus last November,” she said, adding that she did not discuss preparations for the event with other union members because “they too hold several events on campus without consulting her”.

Claiming that she was being targeted by ABVP members of the union for being a girl, Richa said: “ABVP members are targeting me because they cannot tolerate a girl as president. They create obstacles and make sexist remarks. A girl was elected after 128 years… they want to create an atmosphere where no girl can dare to contest in future.”

She further alleged that AU administration was intolerant towards women and not concerned about their safety. “I have moved a proposal for installing CCTV cameras on campus. But ABVP members are opposing the proposal and the AU administration is sitting on the proposal,” she claimed.

Richa added that the university has not taken action against AUSU general secretary Siddharth Singh and vice president Vikrant for allegedly assaulting her on November 19 despite an FIR being lodged. Vikrant, however, alleged that Richa was taking the “advantage of being a woman”.

AU Proctor Dr N K Shukla said, “Union members often organise events on campus and our job is to maintain law and order and peaceful academic atmosphere… We are keeping a watch on the situation, as the union members are sitting on hunger strike. No decision has been taken on their demands so far.” The proctor also denied allegations of intolerance against women on campus.
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