By Mahmood Asim, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University Student Union election are scheduled to be held on 12 September on Friday. At JNU the much celebrated Presidential debate somehow decides the fate of candidates for the post of JNUSU President.
The debate continues the whole night and is fashion like the US Presidential debate. Candidate has to answer questions from audience and fellow candidates too after they make eloquent speech. This time total number of candidates for the post of the President were seven, comprising of students’ wings of main parties as well as some independent candidates.
Ashutosh Kumar of All India Student Association (AISA) whose party has been in power for last four years since election restarted in JNU under Lyngdoh Committee Recommendation (LCR) reassured students that victory of AISA would be victory of Irom Sharmila’s struggle and all the depressed section of society in JNU and outside.
Counting his party’s achievements of 24/7 library and recognition of Madrasah certificates he appealed to students that “vote for AISA’s vision of politics that has brought social justice and struggle for workers’ rights in the campus”.
CPI (M) student body Student Federation of India (SFI) had a glorious history in students’ union in JNU in the past, but somehow they have lost their sheen. Candidate of SFI Pindiga Ambedkar while delivering his presidential debate reminded the students of achievements of SFI in the past and assured to bring the legacy back if they are voted back.
Left Progressive Front that consists of Democratic Student Federation (DSF), All India Students Federation, Student for Social Justice (SSJ) and several individuals supported Rahila Parveen as their presidential candidate.
Expressing her sympathy to flood affected people of J&K in the very beginning of her speech she attacked Modi government for insufficient rescue operation and criticized AISA for not providing 24/7 health services to the students. She also urged the need of five deprivation points for Muslims in admission. “We condemn the mere rhetoric of AISA to solve the issues of students and promised that we not only carry forward the issues but will solve it if we win,” she said.
It is to be mentioned here that fund collection for J&K flood victims is on the pace in JNU. And even a protest registered at Jantar Mantar against Modi ‘ s verbal announcement of one thousand crore and announced as national disaster but doing insufficient in ground to rescue civilians there.
Akhil Bhartya Vidyarthi Prishad (ABVP) candidate Sourabh Kumar started his speech with Vande Matram and expressed his sympathy to flood victims and saluted the endeavors of Army Jawan involved in rescue operation in J&K.
Criticizing the policies of left organizations he emphasized to get rid of left from JNU. He also described a student of JNU, Hem Mishra who has been arrested allegedly to be involved in Maoists activities and described him as a terrorist. When Election Commission asked him to render an unconditional apology for describing Hem a terrorist the ABVP candidate said, “I would not render apology because I consider him a terrorist till he is acquitted”.
National Student Union of India (NSUI) performance was not different than previous track record. Candidate of NSUI Jogendra Singh Pawar also criticized left and counted his party achievements before the audience to fetch the votes.
Other Independent candidates also made their presence felt in the debate, like every year, but in JUNUSU election traditionally students are seen to be favoring party candidates.