The ABVP, a student organization in Uttar Pradesh, is currently in a state of conflict with the state government. The organization’s members took to the streets to protest a statement made by Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar. Demonstrations and protests took place late Tuesday night as tensions boiled over. The heart of the matter lies at the Shri Ram Swaroop Memorial University in Barabanki. Students at the university had been voicing concerns about the law course, and the ABVP’s response to this situation provides the context for the current events.
The ABVP, aligned with the BJP, had its origins in the Ramswaroop University in Barabanki. On September 1st, students participated in protests, focusing on the LLB course’s recognition and the suspension of ABVP activists. The students claimed that the university has been running the law course without receiving accreditation from the Bar Council of India (BCI) since 2022. This, they argued, was jeopardizing their educational future.
During the morning of the 1st, LLB students and ABVP members peacefully protested, despite heavy rain. They reported that the university administration involved the police as the crowd grew. The situation worsened when the police used batons to disperse the protesters. Students were trying to meet with the Vice-Chancellor to address alleged irregularities at Ramswaroop University. Clashes broke out between students and police, leading to injuries for at least 25 ABVP members. In addition, five police officers, including CO City Harshit Chauhan, sustained minor injuries.
The baton charge greatly angered the students. They accused the police of brutality and claimed that external individuals, allegedly directed by the university administration, attacked the students. The situation escalated further when angry students and parents prevented District Magistrate (DM) Shashank Tripathi and SP Arpit Vijayvargiya from visiting the injured students at the hospital. The crowd chanted slogans and demanded swift justice.
Later that night, ABVP activists protested outside the DM’s residence, with effigy burnings and a march to the SP’s office. The protest continued well into the night.
The situation was further exacerbated by Minister OP Rajbhar’s comments, who voiced his support for the police’s action, which angered the students.
Rajbhar justified the police action, noting that the country operates on the foundation of the constitution and the rule of law. He then advised the students to consult with the relevant authorities. He went on to say that the police are within their rights to take action against those who engage in “hooliganism”.
The ABVP’s anger increased after the minister’s comments. On Tuesday night, students protested outside the residence of Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar in Lucknow. Students directed slogans at both the minister and the government. The protests included the burning of Rajbhar’s effigy, with demonstrators climbing the gate of the residence, shouting slogans against the government and the police.
To quell the protests, the police intervened, leading to clashes and the detention of some activists. The detained were sent to Eco Garden.
These events have created political tensions. CM Yogi has responded by taking action. He ordered immediate action, including the placement of three police officers on line duty due to the lathi charge. CO City Harshit Chauhan of Barabanki was removed. Action was taken against Kotwali police station in-charge RK Rana, SI Gajendra Singh, and Constable Vinod Kumar. Additionally, the government appointed IG of Ayodhya range Praveen Kumar and Barabanki Commissioner Rajesh Kumar to investigate the incident.
Pushpendra Bajpai, the Awadh province secretary of ABVP, stated that they demand strict action against the university administration and the officers responsible for the alleged actions. He also stated that the movement will continue until the injured students receive justice. ABVP and other student organizations are demanding the dismissal of the university’s Vice-Chancellor, reinstatement of the expelled students, and a clear determination regarding the recognition of the law degree. They also warned that the protests would escalate if their demands are not met.
Vice-Chancellor Vikas Mishra stated that the incident was caused by external elements, not the students. He also said that the protest started because two ABVP-linked students were suspended for indiscipline. Mishra stated that the university has BCI accreditation up to 2023 and has submitted an application for renewal.
The Vice-Chancellor alleges that ABVP activists, many of whom were not students, shut down the main gate of the university when approximately 7,000-8,000 students were inside on Monday. He said this caused panic, leading parents to rush to the campus. This resulted in a confrontation between local people and ABVP activists, but the university’s faculty and law department students were not involved.
