On March 8, 2021, students of Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch (BSCEM) organised a peaceful demonstration on the ocassion of International Working Women’s Day at Delhi University’s arts faculty. It was organised to draw people’s attention towards the brutal rape cases in Gurhmandi and Butana and to extend solidarity with the victim’s families.
The BSCEM had invited the family members of the rape survivors, activist Nodeep Kaur and her sister Rajveer Kaur, to address the crowd on the ocassion. However, things took an ugly turn when members of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) ambushed the site of the demonstration and demanded that it be stopped.
According to The Telegraph, the ABVP supporters, under the leadership of DU Students’ Union joint secretary Shivangi Kharwal, asked whether the organisers had taken permission from the authorities before organising the event.
Soon after, a scuffle broke out between the demonstrators and the ABVP members leading up to the detention of four members of the BSCEM, who were later released. The demonstration, thereafter, was brought to a halt as the ABVP members became violent and threatened the safety of those present.
Posters at the demonstration. Photo: Shireen Khan.
A student reading the pamphlet distributed by the BSCEM. Photo: Shireen Khan.
Students and supporters listening to Kusum, the mausi (maternal aunt) of the Gurhmandi rape victim. Photo: Shireen Khan.
Nodeep Kaur and her sister Rajvir Kaur at the demonstration. Photo: Shireen Khan.
Siddharth Yadav, state secretary of the ABVP.
Members and supporters of the BSCEM started sloganeering when members of the ABVP threatened to shut down the demonstration. Photo: Shireen Khan.
Members of the ABVP clash with the police. Photo: Shireen Khan.
Former DU Teacher’s Association president, Prof Nandita Narayan in a heated discussion with the police. Photo: Shireen Khan.
Shireen Khan is a student of M.A. Mass communication at Jamia Millia Islamia.