Magazine launch permission was cancelled: DUSU

NEW DELHI: A students’ magazine was launched by the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) on a street in the campus after the university allegedly cancelled the permission for the event at the last moment, the Congressbacked National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) said.

The DUSU vice-president Kunal Sehrawat said he had taken permission to hold the event on Tuesday at the university conference centre. “But when the team went there today, they were told there is no permission. I was granted permission and it was cancelled last moment,” he said.

The NSUI has accused the administration of coming under pressure from Rss-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) to cancel the permission.

“The NSUI-LED DUSU was scheduled to launch the first ever student magazine in DU’S 96-year history today in DU conference centre. Permission was duly taken and the hall was prepared with backdrop last night yet DU administration under pressure from ABVP cancelled permission at the last minute,” said Ruchi Gupta, national in-charge of NSUI.

She said that in order to stand up for freedom of expression, the magazine was launched in protest on the street. DUSU’S secretary Mahamedha Nagar, who is from ABVP, questioned the use of union’s name for the launch of the magazine. “It cannot be called a magazine by DUSU. Why was I, and other members, not in receipt of the magazine. I was never notified about it,” she said.

Nagar refuted allegations that ABVP was behind the cancellation of the event. “The NSUI first needs to explain if they even had a permission to hold the event,” she said.

DU proctor Neeta Sehgal did not respond to calls and text message seeking her response.