After facing rout at students' union elections in left-dominated Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) is trying hard to make its presence felt in the communist citadel by showcasing gruesome pictures of the murdered RSS workers and brutal violence unleashed in Kerala, allegedly, by the left cadres.
These pictures were displayed at one of the JNU's famous protest site -- the Sabarmati Dhaba this evening and a signature campaign was also organised in solidarity with the family members of the victims. The ABVP is mobilising students for its “Chalo Kerala” rally on November 11 in Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram. The ABVP alleged that the murders in the CPI(M)-ruled State are 'political' under patronage of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Political experts viewed that among the reasons for ABVP's defeat in JNUSU election is the coming together of even those left student parties who are principally opposed to each other, only to defeat the right student wing.
ABVP's JNU official release said that about 80 students from JNU will be going to Kerala which may be considered as quite sizeable number from a university like JNU. However, quite a low footfall of students at Sabarmati Dhaba in the ABVP's picture exhibition and signature campaign tells a different tale.
While Simone Zoya Khan, vice-president of JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) alleged that the ABVP is just spreading 'misinformation' in the campus and works only for furthering the cause of RSS-BJP rather than of student community. “The ABVP in campus does not function for the students cause. They have always taken the side of administration and have never stood or fought for the students,” said Simone.
While, apolitical students said that in order to gain ground in JNU, the ABVP must give the impression that it can vehemently oppose the JNU administration fighting for the student issues. They said that JNU administration is usually considered working at the behest of the BJP-led Central Government and in that scenario if ABVP leaves an impression of having aligned with JNU administration, then that would mar its political prospects in JNU.