‘Momentary reaction’: ABVP defends DUSU secretary, claims teacher ‘misbehaved’

After CCTV footage of Delhi University Students’ Union joint secretary and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) member Deepika Jha slapping a teacher at DU’s Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College (BARC) caused outrage among teachers, ABVP has defended its member and shifted blame on the teacher.

While describing the violence against the teacher as “unfortunate and regrettable”, the ABVP’s state office has claimed in a statement that the teacher had “misbehaved” with students using abusive language and was driven by “political bias”.

For context, the ABVP is affiliated to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The teacher assaulted on Thursday was part of a disciplinary committee looking into a previous case of alleged assault by ABVP against a member of the Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI).

ABVP has demanded that the college administration conduct a disciplinary inquiry against the teacher and has blamed the police for “inaction”.

The statement has drawn criticism from teachers. “Now ABVP is putting all allegations on the teacher who was slapped and defending Deepika Jha. This is unacceptable,” said a law faculty teacher.

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‘Disturbed’ by misconduct, claims ABVP

The ABVP statement makes a litany of allegations against the teacher – "openly smoking", "consuming alcohol" and "mentally as well as physically harassing students within the college premises".

“However, due to the inaction of the police, the professor's continued misbehavior, and a momentary reaction took place, which is indeed extremely unfortunate and not supported by the ABVP in any manner,” says the statement.

It ends with a statement from ABVP state secretary Sarthak Sharma: "Akhil Bharaitya Vidyarthi Parishad has always believed in upholding the dignity of teacher-student relations. Under no circumstance does misbehaviour or disrespect towards a teacher have any place within an educational institution. ABVP deeply regrets this incident. However, when a professor violates the decorum of his position, harasses students out of political prejudice, or indulges in indiscipline, it damages the image of the entire teaching fraternity."

BARC teacher Sujit Kumar was slapped by Delhi University students’ union (DUSU) joint secretary in the presence of Delhi police personnel. Reportedly, the joint secretary barged into the college with 50 students and slapped the teacher. The members also allegedly manhandled several teachers and pressured them to demand the resignation of the convener of the disciplinary committee.

Now, ABVP demands a "fair and impartial inquiry".