03 December,2010 07:16 AM IST | | Vatsala Shrangi
Outfit representing a minority ethnic group at Delhi University alleges it was prevented from holding a cultural event at an auditorium despite paying Rs 15,000 to a student leader
The matter at hand raises two concerns - that of corruption and prejudice. Members of a northeastern students' organisation have alleged that the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) duped them of Rs 15,000, after they were not allowed to convene a function at an auditorium inside the varsity.
Carry on: NSUI's sole winning candidate at the DUSU election Akshay
Kumar and his supporters celebrate. file pic
Not only that, the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) has claimed that it was discriminated against for representing a 'minority'. The outfit alleged that DUSU Joint Secretary Akshay Kumar, who they had approached for getting the auditorium booked, did not do the needful and later refused to refund the money.u00a0
"Akshay told me that he does not know anything about it. He will have to check with the other members. He wasn't taking our calls. It has been a month since we gave him the money," said Thomas, treasurer, Kuki Students Organisation (KSO).
Seeking justice
The organisation has now approached the Registrar and Proctor of Delhi University, against the DUSU leader. "Akshay Kumar had been approached on November 6, 2010 for Youth Cultural Festival. He promised an allotment of the hall and took Rs 15,000. But then he did not give us the allotment as promised," stated the complaint written by Letkhomang Haokip, President KSO.
Thomas also accused the student leader of making fun of them, calling them outsiders. "Whenever we approached them, they would mock us and treat us as outsiders. On occasions, when I spoke with Akshay, he would laugh at me saying that he couldn't understand what I was saying and asked me to bring an interpreter the next time," alleged Thomas.
No show
The complainant added that he later realised Akshay had not even booked the hall and was bluffing them. He said that it surprised him to have had to face prejudice for as simple a thing as booking a hall at Delhi University. Thomas was promised the reservation of Shankar Lal Hall by the Joint Secretary of DUSU, which is located in the campus and falls under the control of Delhi University.u00a0
The Kuki Organisation had requested for the auditorium to host a Youth Cultural Programme which is held every year since the organisation came to existence in 1992.
The Kuki youth cultural programme was held at Shankar Lal Hall last year. This year, they could not have the venue till the last moment.
The organisation had deposited a sum of Rs 15000 for the allotment of the hall for the programme to be held on November 6, 2010. But, the booking was not confirmed even till November 4. Finally, they could not have the auditorium and had to look for an alternate venue, which was very difficult at that hour as it was the festive season and November 5 was Diwali.
'I deny everything'
When contacted, Akshay Kumar said, "They had withdrawn themselves and told me that they had to change the choice of venue at the last moment. I do not know about the money and will have to check it with the DUSU as it is deposited with them. If what they are saying is even partially true, I will get it refunded."
However, Thomas refuted Akshay's statement and said that they had waited for many days and tried to contact him time and again.
"I also tried to approach the V-C, but he was not available on the day when I visited the campus," he added.u00a0
"I am not aware of the issue as of now. I would check the records to see if there is any such complaint. I would take serious action against the culprits, if any," DU Proctor Gurmeet Singh assured MiD DAY.u00a0
| Blasts from the past |
| >>u00a0In October 2009, Pushpam Sinha - an IIT Delhi PhD scholar - killed and burnt Ramchanphy Hongry, a Naga teenager, after she reportedly ignored his advances. |
| Special People |
| Kukis are an ethnic group that spread throughout the Northeastern region of India, Northwest Burma and Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. In Northeast India they are present in all the states except Arunachal Pradesh. This dispersal across international borders is mainly attributed to the British colonial policy. According to Lt. Colonel Shakespeare the term 'Kuki' has a definite meaning and include Aimol, Chothe, Chiru, Koireng, Kom, Purum, Anal, Lamkang, Moyon, Monsang, Gangte, Vaiphei, Simte, Paite, Thadou, Hmar, Zou etc. GA Grierson in Linguistic Survey of India, 1967 stated that the tribes connoted by Kuki are able to understand another's dialect. |
| Youth Fest in limbo |
| MiD DAY had earlier reported how Youth Nexus, the Delhi University student fest usually held in the later half of December, is under threat. Organisers of the three-day-long carnival have a major hurdle to overcome. The University Polo Grounds, where the event is held every year, are still to be retrieved from the Organising Committee of CWG 2010. The site, along with Sports Complex ground, St Stephens and Khalsa College grounds, are the four sports fields amongst the eight that were taken over as training grounds for CWG.u00a0 As per university officials, all of these sports grounds had to be handed over to respective colleges by October 20. The deadline has come and gone but the grounds are still lying vacant in the custody of the Games committee. |
| More security sought |
| The shocking incident of abduction and rape of a young Mizo woman in the early hours of Wednesday has created a sense of fear, particularly among the North-East communities living in different parts of the Capital. They have sought increased police presence in these localities at night. |
| Easy prey |
| MiD DAY had recently reported how the manager of a renowned Chinese restaurant and bar - Wow Restaurant and Bar - allegedly molested a girl from the northeast inside the eatery on August 29, 2010 for watching television during duty hours. |
