Hundreds of DU students raise their voice against violence

NEW DELHI: Hundreds of students from Delhi University came together to promote the ‘Let Love Triumph Over Hate’ campaign on Monday, to protest against hatred and incidents of violence against young couples who defy communal barriers, promote self choice of marriage.

“Not only individuals who enter into inter-community marriages, but quite often one member of the family and, in some cases, entire communities find themselves at the receiving end of the worst forms of ‘punishment,’ including murder and gang-rape,” said Prasant Mukherjee, Secreatry, Student Federation of India.

He also said that taxation of sanitary napkins under luxury products (cosmetics) also exposes the patriarchal mindset.

“Derogatory remarks against women ministers and officials of the government is not new. But what is to be underlined is some hardliners believe that women are meant to do household work and raise children, and to earn for family is a man’s task,” he added.

Another student Vikas Bhadauria said incidents of communal violence and hatred have increased manifolds in India in recent times.

“The idea of a secular, democratic republic is under attack by the very forces ruling at the centre. The idea of those who are leading the regime in this country is an idea which wages war against the constitutional values itself,” said another protestor.

Professor Sapna Chamadia and women’s rights activist Jagmati Sangwan addressed the gathering over self choice of marriages, while ‘Abhivayakti’ performed a street play to raise awareness on the issue.