Post clashes, Delhi University moving towards normalcy (Roundup)

Some semblance of normalcy crept back to Delhi University on Friday, with more students attending classes even as the Congress-affiliated NSUI gifted roses to students outside Ramjas College - a week after violent clashes outside the college snowballed into a major political row and reignited the intolerance debate.

Ramjas College, which has been the focal point of sustained protests following the February 22 clashes, on Friday saw activists of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) launching 'Gift a Rose' campaign, and handing out roses to students, in their bid to restore peace in the campus.

While the continued deployment of nearly 100 policemen at the campus has ensured peace, the presence of the security personnel is a grim reminder of the violence that left over a dozen people injured.

The clashes between the RSS-affiliated ABVP and the Left-wing AISA erupted following the forceful suspension of an event to be addressed by JNU student Umar Khalid accused of sedition.

Wary of the incident, Shri Venkateshwara College under Delhi University has notified postponing of all its events scheduled in March.

Students and professors said the sustained protests has robbed the campus of its spirit and adversely affected academics.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Vinit Kumar told IANS that nearly 100 police personnel were deployed in the campus post the clashes and that police was in constant touch with university authorities to ensure peace.

Meanwhile, the political brick bats continued both outside and inside the campus.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) met Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal seeking police action against "anti-national" posters in the JNU campus.

After a meeting with Baijal, ABVP national media convener Saket Bahuguna said the Lieutenant Governor has assured them of taking up the matter of "anti-national" posters at the JNU, with the police.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who has been up in arms against the Centre's ruling BJP and the ABVP over the Ramjas violence, fired fresh salvos.

He dubbed the Bharatiya Janata Party and the ABVP as "party of goons and rowdies" and said prevailing situation in the campus has got parents worried about their wards.

He also expressed his unhappiness at the death and rape threats against Delhi University student Gurmehar Kaur, who had launched a social media campaign against the ABVP.

Probing the threats case, Delhi police is communicating on phone and email with Kaur who is now out of Delhi.

Special Commissioner of Police Dependra Pathak told IANS that the efforts are on to nab the culprits and they have sought the help of Google search engine and Twitter's headquarters to track the IP addresses from which the threats were issued to Kaur.

Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi said the government will soon be launching an app for women internet users threatened with physical violence or trolled on social media websites.

She said the 'Women's panic button' with additional feature of 'Shouting App' will become operational by end of March

"As soon as distressed women will press the panic button the mobile phone will activate the 'shouting app' which will alert the nearest 10 mobile phones, where fellow citizens can come for her help before the police arrives," said Gandhi.

--IANS

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