Students, teachers march to 'Save DU' from ABVP

New Delhi: A day after ABVP held its ‘Tiranga’ march in Delhi, scores of students and teachers from Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday gathered at Khalsa College to participate in the 'Save DU march', to protest against last week's violence at Ramjas College.

Many of the assembled did not vow allegiance to any particular political outfit, Hindustan Times reported. The protestors claimed they had gathered there to protect their freedom of expression, and exercise their democratic right to agitate.

With chants of 'Hum honge Kamyab', 'ABVP why so creepy?' and 'Delhi Police why so sleepy?', the protest march crossed Lady Sri Ram College, and further moved towards the Arts Faculty, where it was supposed to culminate.

Read: Ramjas violence: Delhi police receive notice from NHRC over use of excessive force

As it proceeded to reach the Law Faculty, the police tried to intervene and halt the march. However, it soon resumed and was on its way.

Some students even held up copies of the preamble of the constitution to assert their rights to protest.

Waving the Indian flags, students were also seen shouting "This country is ours, not the fiefdom of thugs. This is not a fight between Left and Right, it is a fight against goondas."

JNU's Kanhaiya Kumar and Shehla Rashid also joined the anti-ABVP protest march.

Speaking at the event, Delhi University Teacher’s Association (DUTA) President Nandita Narain said, “We condemn the violence at Ramjas College. It was an assault on the Ramjas students and not about left and right debate, as the media is portraying.”

Tight security has been put in place in view of the march.

Earlier in the day, Delhi University student and daughter of martyr Gurmehar Kaur, who faced much flak for her social media campaign against ABVP, declared that she was withdrawing from the 'Save DU' campaign.

 “I’m withdrawing from the campaign. Congratulations everyone. I request to be left alone. I said what I had to say…I have been through a lot and this is all my 20 year self could take :)” she tweeted on Tuesday morning.

Kaur however urged Left-wing students to continue with the planned protest march today. “The campaign is about students and not about me. Please go to the march in huge numbers. Best of luck,” she tweeted.

She added,“To anyone questioning my courage and bravery.. I’ve shown more than enough. One thing is for sure, next time we will think twice before resorting to violence or threats and that’s all this was about.”

Kaur has been promised security by the Delhi Police after she complained that ABVP cadre threatened to rape her.

The genesis of the ABVP-AISA clash was an invite to JNU student Umar Khalid, facing sedition charges, and Shehla Rashid to address a seminar at Ramjas College on 'Culture of Protests' which was withdrawn by the college authorities following opposition by the ABVP.

This triggered clashes between ABVP and other opposing student groups.