ABVP national convention row: NSUI meets PS higher education

Members of National Students Union of India (NSUI) on Tuesday met the principal secretary of higher education department in Bhopal to complain against allotment of government college campus for holding a four-day national convention of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in Indore later this month.

INDORE: Members of National Students Union of India (NSUI) on Tuesday met the principal secretary of higher education department in Bhopal to complain against allotment of government college campus for holding a four-day national convention of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in Indore later this month.

Large sheds are being erected on the premises of Government Arts and Commerce College for ABVP meet to be held between in Indore later this month. (HShankar Mourya/HT file)

The 62nd national convention of the ABVP is slated to be held at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Arts and Commerce College from December 24 to 27, and about Rs 115.06 crore have been sanctioned by the district administration through Janbhaagidari Yojana to give a facelift to the college for organising the event.

A Public Interest Litigation was moved before the Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court to look into the matter earlier this month, following which the court asked the state for an explanation regarding the same. NSUI is planning to become an intervener in the case.

“Unaware about the issue, the principal secretary Ashish Upadhyay has told us that he will write to additional director in Indore and college authorities to see their stand in allotment of government college campus,” said Vipin Wankhede, president of NSUI state unit.

“How can the government and higher officials do not know about the event? They are in fact funding public money for organising the event,” Wankhede said, adding, Article 14 of the Constitution of India guarantees equality before law, the state cannot favour any particular entity by funding it.

“ABVP was given permission to use college campus, classrooms and furniture for five days. Will this not disturb academic activities in the campus?” Wankhede asked.

However the state’s ABVP unit has rubbished NSUI’s claims and said that the conference has nothing to do with political agenda and its sole motive is to create awareness among students about the current education scenario in the country.

More than 6,000 ABVP members are likely to participate in the event. Yoga guru Ramdev is expected to be the chief guest of the event.