NEW DELHI: The real voices of UPSC aspirants protesting in Old Rajendra Nagar (ORN), Delhi, are being overshadowed by student activists from various groups, including the NSUI (National Students’ Union of India), left-wing organisations, and the ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad). These activists join the protests, make statements to the media, and then leave the area. Their involvement appears to shift the focus away from the genuine concerns of the UPSC aspirants living in ORN and other participants. As a result, the actual issues of the local community are not being properly heard or addressed. Notably, the UPSC aspirants are protesting for justice for the three candidates who tragically lost their lives due to drowning in the flooded basement library of a prominent civil services coaching centre in Delhi on Saturday, July 27, 2024.
UPSC aspirants expressed frustration that student activist groups are overshadowing their protest. They reported that these activists join the protests, engage with the media, and then leave, which dilutes their message. Anurag Pandey from Uttar Pradesh, a resident of ORN, mentioned seeing students from JNU participating in the protests, giving media interviews, and then departing quickly. This behaviour, he said, prevents their genuine demands from reaching authorities.
Another aspirant, Sadhna Singh, said that student activists from various organisations blend into the crowd, making it difficult to identify them. They then engage with the media, turning the focus to their own political agendas and politicising the protest. Despite these efforts, Singh emphasised that the protest’s primary aim remains seeking justice for the three students who tragically lost their lives in the basement of Rau’s IAS coaching centre.
Another aspirant, Arun Yadav, from Uttar Pradesh, who resides in ORN, that he witnessed student activists from ABVP, NSUI, SFI, and other groups attempting to hijack their protest. He mentioned that some aspirants clashed with these groups and asked them not to politicise the protest and leave the area. Despite these efforts, a few activists refused to leave and continued trying to push their agendas. However, the aspirants of Rajendra Nagar did not allow them to succeed.
Shikha Swaraj from ABVP said that it is true some SFI members have attempted to politicise the protest for their own benefit, which is not appropriate. She clarified that none of these students are from ABVP, as they do not support such inhumane actions for personal gain.
Vinay Yadav from NSUI said that it is true that various student wings participated in the protest at ORN. However, their intentions are not wrong, as they were also raising their voices to seek justice for the students. He emphasised that it is the duty of student wings to stand up for students and fight for them, regardless of caste, race, religion, or location. He added that NSUI will continue to fight for students.