An unscheduled visit by Congress leader and LoP Rahul Gandhi to the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) office on Thursday sparked protests and political friction on campus, with the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) describing the event as a theatrical stunt and accusing Gandhi of undermining elected student representatives.
According to Delhi University proctor Rajni Abbi, Gandhi arrived at the DUSU office without informing university authorities and stayed for nearly an hour.
“Today, Rahul Gandhi came to University of Delhi without any information to the authorities. He stayed in the DUSU office for almost one hour,” Abbi said in a statement, noting that security cordoned off the area during his visit. “Rahul Gandhi has done this for the second time.”
She added that DUSU Secretary Mitravinda Karanwal, affiliated with the ABVP, was prevented from entering her own office by National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) members, who were reportedly accompanying Gandhi. The proctor warned of strict action against those responsible.
'Rejected actor crashing a student play'
Karanwal echoed these concerns, saying, “I was blocked from entering my office due to VVIP protocol.” She accused Gandhi of bypassing student representatives and using the campus for political optics.
“It was a staged photo-op,” she said, accusing the Congress leader of treating the student union office like “a rejected actor crashing a student play.”
The ABVP, which holds multiple posts in the DUSU, also issued a sharp rebuke of Gandhi’s visit, calling it an attempt to hijack student platforms for political gain.
The organisation criticised what it called “VIP-style interference” and questioned the Congress party’s sincerity towards youth participation and democratic engagement.
'University's reaction politically motivated'
DUSU President Ronak Khatri, a member of NSUI—the Congress’ student wing—defended the visit, arguing that as the elected president, he does not require university approval to host guests in the union office.
“The university’s reaction is politically motivated. This is an attempt to interfere with student autonomy,” Khatri said.
The controversy echoes a similar incident earlier this year in Bihar’s Darbhanga, where Gandhi’s interaction with college students without prior administrative clearance led to two FIRs being filed.
Thursday’s incident has further deepened the divide between student organisations ahead of the upcoming academic season, with both sides accusing each other of politicising campus spaces for partisan agendas.
(With inputs from ToI)
According to Delhi University proctor Rajni Abbi, Gandhi arrived at the DUSU office without informing university authorities and stayed for nearly an hour.
“Today, Rahul Gandhi came to University of Delhi without any information to the authorities. He stayed in the DUSU office for almost one hour,” Abbi said in a statement, noting that security cordoned off the area during his visit. “Rahul Gandhi has done this for the second time.”
She added that DUSU Secretary Mitravinda Karanwal, affiliated with the ABVP, was prevented from entering her own office by National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) members, who were reportedly accompanying Gandhi. The proctor warned of strict action against those responsible.
'Rejected actor crashing a student play'
Karanwal echoed these concerns, saying, “I was blocked from entering my office due to VVIP protocol.” She accused Gandhi of bypassing student representatives and using the campus for political optics.
“It was a staged photo-op,” she said, accusing the Congress leader of treating the student union office like “a rejected actor crashing a student play.”
The ABVP, which holds multiple posts in the DUSU, also issued a sharp rebuke of Gandhi’s visit, calling it an attempt to hijack student platforms for political gain.
The organisation criticised what it called “VIP-style interference” and questioned the Congress party’s sincerity towards youth participation and democratic engagement.
'University's reaction politically motivated'
DUSU President Ronak Khatri, a member of NSUI—the Congress’ student wing—defended the visit, arguing that as the elected president, he does not require university approval to host guests in the union office.
“The university’s reaction is politically motivated. This is an attempt to interfere with student autonomy,” Khatri said.
The controversy echoes a similar incident earlier this year in Bihar’s Darbhanga, where Gandhi’s interaction with college students without prior administrative clearance led to two FIRs being filed.
Thursday’s incident has further deepened the divide between student organisations ahead of the upcoming academic season, with both sides accusing each other of politicising campus spaces for partisan agendas.
(With inputs from ToI)
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