Rahul Gandhi's unannounced DU visit causes uproar, university says 'breach of protocol'

In an official release quoted by several media, the university's proctor said, "Shri Rahul Gandhi has done this for the second time... coming to the university without any intimation and information to University of Delhi."

As Gandhi visited the North Campus, the office of Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) was "cordoned off" by the LoP's security cover and none was allowed to enter.

The area was cordoned off for an hour when Gandhi's session was conducted.

The session was held at the DUSU president's office where Gandhi interacted with students belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

The de facto supreme leader of Congress talked about representation, equality and academic justice.

When the session was conducted, even the DUSU secretary was not allowed to enter the office. She was barred from entering into the office by the students' wing of Congress, National Students' Union of India (NSUI).

Criticising the unannounced visit of the opposition leader, the university said as quoted by NDTV, "The DUSU office was cordoned off by security cover and no one was allowed to enter."

"Some students were locked in the room of the secretary, DUSU, and were misbehaved with by NSUI students," it added.

"The university condemns such action and hopes that this does not happen in future," the university further said and added, "Strict action will be taken against students who were involved in this."

DUSU president Ronak Khatri, who is with the NSUI, hit back at the criticism claiming there is no rule where a student's body head needs to seek permission to host a private guest.

Khatri said, "Let it be clearly stated: this visit was conducted peacefully and solely within the premises of the DUSU Office, to which I, as the duly elected President of the Delhi University Students’ Union, am fully entitled to invite any guest. There exists no rule—academic or legal—that compels the President of DUSU to seek prior permission for hosting a private or informal guest interaction, particularly when it does not constitute a public gathering or violate campus security.

"Labeling the visit as “unauthorized” is not only factually incorrect but also misleading and suggestive of administrative overreach. If every visitor to a student’s office must first be cleared by the authorities, then the same rule must apply universally to all staff, departments, and student representatives—something which is neither practical nor reasonable."

Criticising Gandhi's visit, DUSU secretary Mitravinda Karanwal, who is aligned with ABVP, claimed she was denied entry into her own office due the LoP's "VIP protocol".

Karanwal said, "When I attempted to enter my own office, I was told the gates were closed due to “VIP Protocol.” One would assume the Constitution of India didn’t include such footnotes under the Right to Representation. Only after lengthy negotiation was I “graciously” allowed entry—alone. I refused to leave the students behind, especially when many were waiting with issues regarding examination forms and result discrepancies.

"Instead of engaging with students, Mr. Gandhi sipped tea with his handpicked karyakartas in what could only be described as an echo chamber dressed up as a connect session. Meanwhile, students who were forcefully sent outside were being harassed and manhandled—not just by security personnel but under the watchful eye of a party that claims to sell “Mohabbat."

In the 2024 Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, the NSUI made a comeback after seven years, winning the President and Joint Secretary posts.