Delhi University Slams Rahul Gandhi’s Surprise Visit to Campus, Cites Breach of Protocol
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s unannounced visit to Delhi University’s North Campus on Thursday triggered a sharp response from the university administration, which termed it a “breach of institutional protocol” and accused the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) of misbehaving with students during the event.
The incident occurred at the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) president’s office where Gandhi interacted with students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) to discuss issues of representation and academic equality.
The Delhi University administration condemned the visit in an official statement, saying the hour-long session disrupted the functioning of key student offices. “The DUSU office was cordoned off by security personnel and no one was allowed to enter. Even the DUSU secretary was denied access,” the university claimed.
Officials also alleged that some students were misbehaved by NSUI members during the visit. “Strict action will be taken against students who were involved in this,” the statement said.
DUSU President Ronak Khatri, affiliated with the NSUI, refuted the allegations and defended the visit. “There is no rule that requires the DUSU to seek permission to host a private guest. The event was peaceful and held entirely within the DUSU office premises,” he said.
Khatri called the university’s statement “politically motivated and biased,” alleging that the administration was trying to curb the autonomy of the student union. “Labelling the visit as unauthorised is factually incorrect and misleading,” he added.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which holds several posts in the DUSU, also criticised the visit, calling it a “photo-op” and a “staged event.” The RSS-affiliated student body claimed their members were deliberately excluded from the interaction.
“This wasn’t a genuine student outreach but bad theatre,” ABVP said in a statement, accusing Gandhi of engaging only with NSUI members in an “echo chamber setting.”
The controversy has sparked intense debate online, with the hashtag #RahulAtDU trending on X (formerly Twitter). While Congress supporters praised Gandhi for engaging with marginalized student communities, critics questioned the transparency and legality of the event.
Some DU students expressed discomfort over the political tension on campus. “We’re here to study, not be part of political showdowns,” a second-year student said on condition of anonymity.
Rahul Gandhi has made several unannounced visits to educational institutions in recent months, often drawing mixed reactions. In 2023, his impromptu visit to Hyderabad University also sparked similar protests from rival student bodies.
Delhi University, one of India’s oldest and most prestigious institutions, has long been a hub of student politics, with rival student wings like NSUI and ABVP frequently clashing over campus issues.
