Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Delhi, has expressed serious concern over the grave allegations circulating on social media against Anas Khan, an NSUI office-bearer associated with Delhi University’s Ramanujan College. According to the alleged WhatsApp messages being circulated publicly, Anas Khan is accused of offering to take female fresher students of the college, reportedly including students aged 17–18, to concerts and provide them with travel and other facilities in exchange for spending time with certain men and facilitating financial benefits in return. If the authenticity of these messages and allegations is established, the matter would constitute a serious concern involving the dignity, safety and autonomy of female students. ABVP demands a fair, transparent and time-bound investigation into the entire matter, followed by the strictest legal action if the allegations are proven.
This is not the first time that serious allegations of misconduct against women involving individuals associated with NSUI’s senior leadership have become a matter of public concern. In 2018, Firoz Khan, the then National President of NSUI, faced allegations of sexual harassment levelled by a woman office-bearer. The Congress leadership constituted an inquiry committee in the matter, following which Firoz Khan eventually resigned from his position. Despite such previous incidents, if effective accountability for the safety of women is still not being ensured within NSUI, the student wing of the country’s principal opposition party, the Congress, it is a matter of grave concern.
ABVP Delhi State Secretary Sarthak Sharma stated, “The purpose of student politics should be to ensure a safe, respectful and fear-free environment for every student, particularly female students, across educational campuses. It is deeply unfortunate that while some individuals make tall claims about women’s safety on political platforms, serious allegations are emerging against office-bearers associated with them, including allegations of attempting to lure female students through financial inducements into questionable activities. Women’s safety is not a subject for political posturing; rather, it is the moral and organisational responsibility of every student organisation. Any attempt to exploit the dignity of a female student for personal gain, political influence or financial inducement is unacceptable under any circumstances.