As the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) election was scheduled to take place on 12th of September, candidates of student wings of political parties and their supporters took up the task of making a mark in the city quite literally. As far as the eyes could see, pamphlets and posters were scattered on roads and in the college grounds, urging students to either “join ABVP” or “vote for NSUI”. Not an exaggeration, I would say that Delhi’s walls have been plastered with posters.
Even the threat of punishment or disqualification does not rattle candidates. Among the rules that govern students’ union elections is the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act 2007, which says anyone who “defaces any property in public view by writing or marking with ink, chalk, paint or any other material, except for purposes of indicating the name of the property owner, will be punished”. The act says that the guilty will “be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to Rs 50,000, or with both”.
Despite this act, you will confront yourselves with the names of BJP-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Congress- affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) candidates scribbled on walls in huge bold letters and on posters pasted across metro stations’ walls, college campuses, under bridges and even hospital buildings in different parts of the city.But beyond posters, which are plastered on the walls, is the problem of litter. To save time, student candidates drive past colleges and litter the road with fliers.
Isnt it sad, while PM Preaches Swachh Bharat, but DUSU Sees Littering as Most Effective Campaign Tool.
