Over 15,000 students join ABVP democracy campaign in Delhi
Student leaders from across India gathered to advocate for the respect of electoral mandates and constitutional processes.
More than 15,000 students and representatives gathered in Delhi on Thursday for a rally organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The event was part of the organisation's nationwide ‘Stop Anarchy, Embrace Democracy’ campaign, according to The Tribune.
The rally included student leaders from the Northeast, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Ladakh, Punjab, and Delhi. Participants asserted that political disagreements should be settled through constitutional methods instead of actions that weaken faith in democratic institutions.
ABVP national general secretary Virendra Singh Solanki said that democracy involves honouring the results of elections and the institutions that manage them. He stated that if Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition parties have election-related concerns, they should provide evidence to constitutional authorities instead of making allegations on political platforms.
Solanki added that while dissent is a fundamental right, it should not be used to create distrust in democratic systems. He also remarked that comparing India's democracy to situations in Nepal and Bangladesh is unfortunate.
In a joint statement, the elected student representatives said that while criticising government policies is a legitimate right, questioning electoral processes without evidence can damage public trust. They stated that any real concerns should be handled through legal and constitutional mechanisms.
The gathering included various student leaders, such as Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) president Yash Dabas, Panjab University Students' Union president Ankit Bhidaan, and Gauhati University Students' Union president Manas Pratim Kalita.