The tug of war continued in Delhi University’s Keshav Mahavidyalaya between the students and the principal as after the students protest, Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested against the principal Madhu Pruthi of the college for banning entries of the students for almost a week, till 19th July. This decision came in response to the interference caused by the student organization in the college business, which was not accepted by the Principal. Unlike other colleges, Keshav Mahavidyalaya was not having an independent body like the student’s union to hear the demands and complains of the students and to act as an intermediary between the students and the administration.
This year the students protested against the college administration with a demand to set up a students union body in college and affiliation with DUSU.After the high-voltage drama,in first week of April, a referendum took place in which 92% of students voted in favour of DUSU and students union.
On the very first day admissions, when ABVP and other student groups set up their help desks in the college, the principal refused to permit them and instead permitted the ones who were without any authorized political ID cards. When the college students showed their dissent for the decision, she allegedly threatened them by saying that the college won’t provide them degrees if they get involved.
A third-year student of the college who wished to remain anonymous said, “We had a history of dictatorship with this principal, but not even the teachers ever raised a single voice against it. In spite of the protests, there has been no response from the College Board, even I am unable to get my NOC for an internship”.
The ABVP held a peaceful protest tomorrow inside the principal’s office over the ban of entries and refusal for setting up the help desks, however, the students are being interrupted by the police from entering into the premise.
Many of the protesters were held by the Police and kept in custody for five hours at Mangolpuri Police Station. Meanwhile, the ABVP workers told the police that the college students have tried to talk to the principal over the issues several times but are being continuously ignored.
College officials,however,blamed the students for getting influenced by a section of students and creating a hostile atmosphere at the campus. “We have never denied holding a student union election but there should not be indiscipline in the name of protests by students,” an official from the college was quoted as saying.
