BJP in firefighting mode over ‘ban’ on ABVP

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 24

With an unofficial “ban” on the entry of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on campuses in the Jammu region, the BJP’s state unit is trying to save its skin.

The party is facing criticism from civil society groups for its failure to protect “nationalist” forces. Highly placed sources said BJP leaders have taken serious note of the attitude being adopted by some elements in the administration to demoralise “nationalist” forces in the state.

“The issue was taken up forcefully before BJP ministers. They were asked to identify elements in the administration hatching conspiracies against nationalists forces,” said a senior BJP leader on the condition of anonymity.

He said the unofficial “ban” on the ABVP on campuses in the Jammu region had been taken up seriously by party leaders and ministers were asked to take up the issue with the PDP, its coalition partner.

The sources said the BJP had decided to take up the issue of debarring the entry of ABVP on campuses in Jammu with Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani.

“The party is under intense pressure to get the issue resolved as early as possible because the restriction imposed on the ABVP is giving a wrong message to society,” a source said.

The sources said following directions from the Sangh Parivar, BJP ministers criticised the Vice Chancellor of Jammu University during Monday’s Cabinet meeting for “gagging” students.

According to the report in a section of the media, during Monday’s Cabinet meeting, which was held to approve Budget proposals, BJP ministers forcefully took up the issue of “dictatorial” and “anti-student” attitude of the Vice Chancellor of Jammu University.

One of the BJP ministers referred to some cases wherein the university authorities had denied permission to the ABVP to conduct its activities on the campus.

BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav today condemned the “obstinate behaviour” of Vice Chancellor RD Sharma to “ban” the ABVP from all educational institutions in the region and said action would be taken.