NSUI, ABVP spar over Delhi govt’s 10,000 student hostel announcement ahead of DUSU polls

The Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Wednesday sparred over the Delhi government’s announcement to construct hostels for 10,000 students, with the former questioning its timing ahead of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections.

The NSUI sought details of the proposed hostels, including their locations, implementation timeline, budget, fee structure and eligibility criteria, and questioned why the issue of safe and affordable student accommodation had not been addressed earlier.

The announcement came two days before polling for the DUSU elections and shortly after the collapse of a five-storey paying guest accommodation in Satya Niketan, in which seven people, including Delhi University students, were killed.

NSUI national president Vinod Jakhar said the government should provide a “transparent, time-bound plan” instead of making an announcement without details.

“Now, just two days before DUSU voting, the government has announced hostels for 10,000 students. Where will these hostels be built? What is the implementation timeline? What budget has been allocated? What will the fee structure be, and who will be eligible?” Jakhar asked.

Jakhar said the organisation was not opposed to the proposed hostels but was questioning the timing, transparency and implementation of the announcement.

The NSUI also alleged that the timing of the announcement raised questions about whether the move was aimed at influencing students ahead of the DUSU polls.

Responding to the criticism, ABVP Delhi state secretary Sarthak Sharma accused the NSUI of politicising the accommodation issue.

“From making reels by hammering the debris at the time of the Satya Niketan tragedy to now questioning the announcement of hostels for 10,000 students, Congress-NSUI has repeatedly sought to politicise issues concerning students,” Sharma said.

He said the NSUI had earlier raised the issue of hostel shortages and was now questioning a decision aimed at addressing the demand.

“Congress-NSUI should answer whether it genuinely wants a solution to students’ accommodation problems or merely wants to keep the issue alive for political purposes,” Sharma said.

Sharma also questioned the Congress’ record on student accommodation, saying the party had ruled Delhi for decades and asking what steps had been taken during that period to provide adequate, safe and accessible hostel facilities.

He said student accommodation was a serious issue and should not be reduced to a political tool.

“ABVP has consistently demanded an increase in hostel capacity and safe, affordable and accessible accommodation for students,” Sharma said.

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Campaigning for the DUSU elections is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday.

Polling for the DUSU elections will be held on September 18, while counting of votes will take place on September 19.