Delhi: AISA-ABVP clash at Amebdkar University during freshers' meet

Supporters of Left-backed All India Students' Association (AISA) and RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) clashed on Friday during an orientation programme for new students at Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD). In a statement, AISA alleged that its activists were attacked by ABVP members during the orientation for first-year MA Political Science students. The outfit claimed the incident took place after faculty members had left the venue, when its members were interacting with freshers.

According to AISA, a member of ABVP allegedly assaulted AISA activists and threatened them with violence if they continued with their political activities in the department. The outfit also alleged that campus security personnel arrived late and failed to intervene in the altercation, asking AISA members to stop recording video. AISA claimed that the scuffle had its origins in recent notifications issued by the university administration, including one requiring prior permission for gatherings on campus, alleging the measures were aimed at curbing democratic student activities.

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"The assault on Aameen, one of the AISA activists, who is recovering after a 23-day hunger strike for student rights, shows the complete moral and political bankruptcy of ABVP," AISA leader Jigyasa said in a statement. A video of the altercation shared by AISA on social media showed members of both organisations engaged in a heated argument graduating to a physical scuffle.

In its turn, ABVP accused AISA of starting the confrontation and trying to disrupt its welcome helpdesk set up for freshers. ABVP said its volunteers had set up a helpdesk to assist freshers with academic and campus-related queries, as part of its annual outreach programme. In a statement, it alleged that AISA activists approached the helpdesk, made provocative remarks, and tried to remove it forcibly. "Creating a confrontation, generating controversy, and then portraying themselves as victims appears to have become a modus operandi of AISA," the outfit alleged. There was no immediate response from the Ambedkar University on the scuffle.