On 15 November, the ABVP in Lucknow University disrupted AISA’s public meeting against the communal ‘love jihad’ campaign, which was to be addressed by AIPWA national secretary Kavita Krishnan. Prior permission had been taken by AISA – with the Lucknow University Proctor board clearly stating that they had “no objection” to the meeting. AISA had been running a spirited campaign against ABVP’s communal hate, violence and riot mongering, specifically exposing the communal bogey of the ‘love jihad campaign’ in UP and elsewhere. This campaign had been receiving a good response from common students of Lucknow University. The ABVP, angered by AISA’s spirited campaign, stated on the day before the proposed public meeting that they would not allow the meeting, going to the extent of threatening and intimidating AISA activists. They also put pressure on the LU proctorical board to cancel permission for the meeting. AISA however decided to go ahead with the meeting.
What followed was an open display of patriarchal violence, lumpenism and fascist assaults on freedom of expression. Goons affiliated to ABVP stormed into the venue of the public meeting, tore AISA banners and flags, disrupted the talk, and told the AISA activists present that they would not allow ‘wrong’ and ‘immoral’ speakers like Comrade Kavita to express their opinion. They also claimed that any meeting against love jihad would not be allowed, because it was “against Indian culture”. ABVP continued to threaten and intimidate the women activists present, even as several girl students stated ABVP creates fear among women. ABVP raised threatening slogans saying, “Desh hai pukarta, pukarti hai Bharati; Khoon se tilak karo, goliyon se aarti”. There was a not a single woman student with them, and one of them declared, as they attacked AISA, that ‘khap panchayats hamara seena garva se ooncha karti hain, aap unke khilaf bol nahin sakte’ (khap panchayats make us swell with pride, we won’t let you speak against them). ABVP activists also tried to manhandle AISA leaders and Comrade Kavita.
After the meeting was disrupted, AISA led a protest march across the University against this fascist disruption and violence. Several common women students supported the protest, pointing out that recently at a dance competition organised by Lucknow University, girls who were performing dances had male students throwing coins and flowers at them. While ABVP was fine with that disgusting display of patriarchal ‘culture’, they were disrupting a peaceful talk, several women pointed out.
