NSUI blackens bust of Savarkar installed by ABVP-led DUSU at DU

The NSUI on Thursday said it blackened the bust of Veer Savarkar while garlanding those of Bhagat Singh and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, which were installed by the ABVP-led DUSU at the varsity. The RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad-led Delhi University Students' Union had installed the busts outside the Arts Faculty building on Tuesday.

The Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India and the Left-backed All India Students' Association had criticised the move, saying Savarkar cannot be kept on the same pedestal as Bose and Singh. In a video of the incident, NSUI Delhi wing president Akshay Lakra can be seen garlanding the busts of Bose and Singh and bowing down to them. He then removes the garlands around Savarkar's bust and puts a garland of shoes around it even as he is stopped by security personnel.

The garland of shoes is removed by them but Lakra blackens the bust and then shouts slogans of 'Bhagat Singh zindabad', 'NSUI zindabad'. "How could they put the bust of Savarkar alongside Bose and Bhagat Singh, that too overnight. We had to take the matter into our hands. The university administration has been silent about the issue. The varsity is working at the behest of ABVP," Lakra alleged.

The RSS-affiliated ABVP termed it a "heinous act". "Last night, the humiliation by the NSUI to the statue of Veer Savarkar at Delhi University is a heinous act and such an act for trivial political interests reflects Congress' thinking towards the great freedom fighter of India," said Monika Chaudhary, national media convenor, ABVP.

The ABVP will make students aware about this "negative mindset" of the NSUI and its parent organisation, she said. "In the context of this deplorable act, the ABVP urges the administration to take stern action against those involved in insulting the statue of the freedom fighter," Chaudhary said.

The Delhi University Students' Union president submitted a complaint to Maurice Nagar police station in north police district and demanded the arrest of Lakra, alleging that his "criminal action" could affect the law and order situation not only in the national capital but also outside it. Lakra on Thursday filed a complaint at Parliament Street Police Station alleging that he received threat calls "in the name of ABVP and RSS" to stop his protest against Savarkar statue.

"Few anti-social elements have clearly mentioned their affiliation to RSS and sympathy towards ex-DUSU president Shakti Singh. It has been a traumatising experience since yesterday. The ABVP members mentioned should be held responsible for any mishap and harm caused to me," he said in the complaint. The police confirmed that they have received the complaint and are looking into the matter.

Sources said DU Proctor Neeta Sehgal issued a show cause notice to former DUSU president Shakti Singh on Wednesday demanding an answer within 24 hours on why the bust was installed without permission from the authorities. Sources close to Singh said that he hasn't received a notice till now.

Sehgal said, "The ABVP has assured us that they will abide by their commitment (to shift the busts). Thereafter, whatever is permitted within our rules and regulations, we will do the needful." When asked about the show cause notice to Singh, she said it is part of the varsity's rules and regulations and they will do what is needed.

On Wednesday, the ABVP had said it has instructed its office-bearers in the DUSU to shift the busts to the office till the time the university administration grants permission. Singh's tenure as DUSU president ended on August 21. The Delhi University Students' Union polls will be held on September 12.