Gargi College Students Tell Rahul Gandhi: ‘Police Were There, But No One Stopped Them’ — Recount ABVP Gate-Breaking Incident

Students from Delhi University’s Gargi College gave a first-hand account of the recent ABVP row to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, describing how members of the student organisation allegedly broke through the college gate and entered the campus despite a police presence outside.

The conversation, which Gandhi shared on X, also covered the women’s reservation bill, caste inequality, the country’s colonial past, and the ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur.

‘They Broke the Gate, Tore Shirts and Entered’

Recounting the April 17 incident, students told Gandhi that a large group of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members, along with Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) president Aryan Maan, allegedly forced entry into the college after being denied access under rules governing men’s entry into the premises. “A lot of people from ABVP broke our gate and entered into the premises,” one student said.

Another described how the situation escalated after a male staff member asked the group to move from the entry and exit gate reserved for faculty. “At which the ABVP guys got so offended that they broke the gate. They tore shirts and entered our college,” she said. What unsettled students most was the police response or the lack of it.

“It was scary because there was a police van which was standing outside. And despite there was a whole lot of police over there, they couldn’t stop them,” a student said.

How It Started

According to the students, the row began a day earlier, on April 16, when the Joint Secretary of DUSU entered the Gargi College premises carrying a flower garland and allegedly “disrespected” the college principal.

The students said the incident was connected to the college’s student council elections. A candidate reportedly backed by the ABVP had contacted the principal and faculty members regarding the electoral process. “They weren’t very encouraging of whatever her decision was,” one student said.

Also Read:Harbhajan Singh Security Withdrawn By Punjab Police After BJP Switch

The students also noted that Gargi College does not encourage canvassing or campaigning and has no affiliation with any political party.

Rahul Gandhi on Gen Z and Women’s Reservation

Sharing the video on X, Gandhi wrote: “Gen Z is our future. Gen Z women will lead the way. It is our duty to open every door for them…The future of our country is in safe hands.”

The discussion also turned to the women’s reservation amendment bill, which failed to pass in Parliament. Gandhi questioned both the timing and the substance of the legislation.

“In 2023, Modi ji said we will do women’s reservation. The entire Opposition supported it,” he said, noting that its implementation had been tied to the next census.

“Now suddenly they brought this Bill, but actually it’s not women’s bill…it’s delimitation,” Gandhi said, arguing the bill was designed to redistribute seats in favour of northern states at the expense of southern and north-eastern ones.

“They want to settle the southern, north-eastern states, and the main northern seats get more seats,” he said, calling the move “dangerous.”

“If you change the number of seats in India without very carefully taking into account the consequences you will risk war between the south and the north,” Gandhi warned.