The Bharatiya Janata Party has taken up the matter of student’s body, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, being barred from colleges in Jammu and Kashmir with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. Members of the ABVP, which is affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, have allegedly not been allowed entry into colleges in the state since March. The party, which is in coalition with the ruling People’s Democratic Party in Jammu and Kashmir, raised the issue in a state Cabinet meeting last week, NDTV reported.
However, Vice Chancellor of Jammu University RD Sharma clarified that all student outfits with political affiliations, not just the ABVP, were disallowed from the varsity. “There is no ban on the ABVP, but the university has just followed the rule book by barring all student bodies with political links from carrying out activities on campus to stop them from pushing their agendas,” he said, adding that other all student groups had cooperated besides the ABVP.
The issue became news after the ABVP was reportedly denied permission to organise a blood donation camp inside the Jammu University campus in March. This month, it was reportedly not permitted to hold a meeting at the Government Women’s College in Jammu, where Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, who began his political career as an ABVP activist, was to be the chief guest.
The ABVP was involved in the recent agitation at NIT Srinagar, which ensued after local students celebrated India’s defeat to West Indies in the World T20 semifinal. A senior BJP leader in the state, Kavinder Gupta said the ABVP’s activities in Jammu and Kashmir were “nothing new or adverse” and that barring it from university campuses was “depriving an organisation of its political rights”.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!