Dalit NSUI student running for DUSU post assaulted by ABVP?

In a recent incident, Ankit Bharti, the Vice President candidate of NSUI was brutally beaten up, allegedly by a group of ABVP activists, including the organisation's Vice President candidate Pradeep Tanwar. In three days, the students of the University of Delhi will face their Students' Union polls. As the election dates are approaching, multiple allegations of assault have been raised against ABVP, the student political organisation that dominated DUSU 2018-19. 

"The incident occurred at around 1 pm, at the College of Vocational Studies, where Ankit was campaigning. He was beaten with sticks on his head," says Akshay Lakhra, Delhi state president, NSUI. "They (ABVP) are using their money and muscle power to win the elections. Even a lot of teachers are campaigning for them," he says. 

The NSUI has also called this incident a result of ABVP's anti-Dalit mentality. "ABVP does not want Dalit students like Ankit to contest the DUSU elections. After seeing the support that Ankit Bharti received, they want to create an atmosphere of fear among the students of Dalit community by adopting the path of violence," says the organisation in a statement. 

ABVP, at the same time, has denied all the claims. They have even filed a police complaint seeking appropriate action. "The clash happened between NSUI's Vice-Presidential candidate Ankit Bharti and their Secretary candidate Ashish Lamba. ABVP was not involved in the incident," says Monica Chaudhary, ABVP media in-charge. 

Previously, activists of AISA and SFI had also alleged being assaulted by ABVP activists. ABVP had denied all claims.