CampusProtest – Clashes Erupt During Student Demonstration at Delhi University
CampusProtest – Tension flared at Delhi University’s Arts Faculty on Friday evening after a protest led by Left-affiliated student groups descended into confrontation. The demonstration, organised to mark “All India Vanchit Adhikar Divas,” called for changes to University Grants Commission regulations to address caste discrimination on campuses. What began as a gathering focused on policy demands soon turned into a bitter face-off between rival student organisations.
Student groups present at the site offered sharply differing accounts of how the situation escalated, each accusing the other of intimidation and violence.
Rival Groups Trade Allegations
Members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), which is linked to Left politics, alleged that their supporters were subjected to threats and caste-based slurs during the protest. According to the organisation, tensions rose when members of a rival student body confronted the demonstrators, leading to heated exchanges that later spiralled into physical scuffles.
AISA representatives claimed that some of their members were targeted and harassed, prompting them to approach the local police station to file a First Information Report. They maintained that the confrontation did not end at the protest site and that further aggression occurred outside the police premises.
Claims of Police Inaction
In a statement issued after the incident, AISA criticised the response of law enforcement authorities. The group alleged that police personnel failed to disperse what they described as an aggressive crowd. According to the statement, even when officers attempted to move people away, the group regrouped and returned.
The organisation also claimed that individuals against whom complaints were being filed were allowed entry into the police station, while those supporting the complainants faced restrictions. AISA further alleged that inflammatory slogans were raised during the unrest and that women participants were subjected to verbal hostility.
Police officials have not publicly detailed the sequence of events, and it remains unclear whether any arrests have been made in connection with the clashes.
ABVP Raises Counter-Complaint
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which is affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party, rejected the allegations and levelled accusations of its own. In a separate statement, the organisation claimed that a woman journalist covering the protest was assaulted by Left-backed activists during the commotion.
According to ABVP leaders, the journalist, who runs a YouTube channel, was present to report on the demonstration and asked questions to participants. The organisation alleged that she was surrounded, pushed and physically mistreated after posing queries that some protesters found uncomfortable.
Delhi State Secretary of ABVP, Sarthak Sharma, said the incident reflected what he described as the “intolerant” behaviour of certain Left-affiliated student groups. He claimed that video clips circulating on social media show members of these groups engaging in misconduct toward the journalist. Sharma added that he had learned the journalist had filed a police complaint regarding the matter.
Broader Debate on Campus Climate
The confrontation has intensified an ongoing debate about campus politics and the atmosphere within higher education institutions. Student organisations across ideological lines have frequently clashed over issues ranging from academic policy to broader social questions.
The immediate trigger for Friday’s protest was the demand that the University Grants Commission amend its regulations to ensure stronger safeguards against caste discrimination. Activists argue that structural reforms are necessary to make campuses more inclusive. Critics, however, contend that confrontational tactics undermine constructive dialogue.
As investigations continue, university authorities are expected to review reports from both sides. The episode underscores the deep divisions that often surface during politically charged events on campus.
Delhi University has not yet issued a detailed statement on the incident. Meanwhile, student groups from across the spectrum have called for accountability, with each side urging action against those they hold responsible.