DUSU election: AISA candidate refuses to criticise armed Naxal movement

AISA’s candidate for President, Aghi Gyan, is a first-year student who is a surprise choice by the party, given his premature number of years spent in college.

He speaks initially about engaging in dialogue around campus on LGBTA+ rights, and normalising the campus and make an easier space for students to thrive on campus.

When asked about the armed Naxal-Maoist movements in the country against the State, Abhi Gyan explicitly says he supports the ideological battles being fought here, but could not give us a straight answer on whether or not he supports the militarized methods being used here to express dissent against the state.

When asked about the issue of sexual harassment and assault on campus, Abhi Gyan denies the need to form a committee on this in AISA—owing to his belief that the entire party is based on the ideology of preventing such instances on campus.

He tells us about the AISA-CYSS alliance and specifically points out that this was a coalition that came with its fair share of shortcomings. “Ideological differences exist, which is why we are calling this an alliance, and not a merger,” he said while referring to CYSS’s violation of Lnygdoh guidelines.