The Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad or as you may know it ABVP has been in news for almost a year now due to the various protests and controversies in JNU as well as Delhi University. Recently, the organisation was accused of breaking violence on the DU campus and using muscle power against other groups. However, to say that ABVP alone is polluting the student politics is wrong and in fact, the entire system needs a revamp. Last year, Rohit Vermula from Hyderabad University committed suicide which sparked controversy and protests, it was followed by drama at JNU which made Kanhaiya Kumar an overnight star, then came the Jadavpur University protests, followed by violence in Ramjas College and now, even Pune University jumped in the controversy. So, it’s not just the ABVP but almost every student studying in big educational institutes in India that are either thrilled by the idea of being a ‘rebel’ or are so influenced by movies like ‘Rang de Basanti’ that they want to be the change they always talked out.

However, what they fail to realise in this young age is that their anger and aggression is somewhere being misused against them by the political parties who are using these students as a tool to increase their vote bank and dominance. Why is it that only youngsters are being targeted and not others? It’s simple because they are a soft and easily accessible target. At this stage in life, they could be easily influenced and have the freedom to do things and make choices that a 40-year-old person won’t.

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Even if I keep the political angle aside for a moment, things don’t get any better. The other day, Gurmehar Kaur said in an interview that she wants peace in Universities and colleges and for that, she will hold a protest. Really? I’m not against Gurmehar Kaur or any of her actions but I don’t understand how holding protests or coming on the streets adds to the peace of the Universities! What it does add to, is chaos and more chaos.

In 2009, Anurag Kashyap made a beautiful movie on student politics titled ‘Gulaal’ which perfectly portrayed how students are being misused in the college campuses. Even though it was just a film, it shows you exactly what is wrong with the Indian youngsters these days. Rohit Vermula’s letter last year revealed that he wanted to be a writer but then why was he under so much political pressure that he had to commit suicide? It’s a question that has to be asked because the student leaders cannot continue to mislead other youngsters in the name of freedom of speech.

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Coming back to the DU situation, nobody knows yet, if the left student group started or provoked the violence or if ABVP did. But, what we do know is that it is nothing new. Student groups have always clashed on not just DU campus, but also elsewhere. Such violence is common during union election time when even candidates within a student party use violence against each other. Yes, ABVP is no angel but neither are others.

There is a question that is being raised on the current matter, who would you choose: ABVP or AISA? Well, the answer is none. The reason being, somewhere none of these organisations are actually working for the students and only care about their own motives.