Congress leader and the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday made an unexpected visit to Delhi University, to which the university has strongly objected.

The university’s Proctor, Professor Rajni Abbi, in a statement, said that this was the second time that the Congress leader arrived without prior intimation to the authorities.

In an official press release from the proctor’s office, the university condemned the visit and highlighted a series of incidents that occurred during his stay.

“Today Rahul Gandhi came to University of Delhi without any information to the authorities. He stayed in the DUSU Office for almost one hour. During this time, the DUSU [Delhi University Students Union] was cordoned by security cover. Rahul Gandhi has done this for the second time for coming to the University without any intimation and information to University of Delhi,” the release stated.

The university also alleged that several students were locked inside the DUSU Secretary’s room and were “misbehaved with” by members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress party. The DUSU Secretary herself was barred from entering her office during the visit, the release stated.

“The University condemns such action and hopes that this does not happen in future. Strict action will be taken against students who were involved in this,” the release further said.

Rahul Gandhi, during his visit, interacted with students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes at the Delhi University’s North Campus, focusing on issues of representation, equality and academic justice, news agency PTI reported.

Earlier in May 2023, Rahul Gandhi had similarly visited a Post-Graduate Men’s Hostel of the university without prior announcement when he interacted and had lunch with the hostel residents. Days after his “sudden” visit, the hostel provost issued a notice to him stating “such a conduct from a leader of a National Party who has Z-plus security is beyond dignity”.

BJP CALLS THE VISIT ‘PHOTO-OP’

The BJP, taking jibe at the Congress leader’s visit, said that he turned the campus into a circus for a “surprise photo-op”. BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya alleged that the campus, caught off guard, was thrown into chaos.

Malviya shared a video clip of a woman angrily questioning Rahul Gandhi on X, and wrote: “But amidst the staged optics, the real moment came when angry students confronted him — demanding answers about his remarks on Pahalgam, questioning the intent behind casting aspersions on our security forces and Operation Sindoor.”

“At a time when the entire nation is united behind our brave soldiers, the Congress would do well to remember: India is watching. And it won’t forget these games,” Malviya added.