Parties bank on gangster connect
Bhartesh Singh Thakur
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 22
Student parities are emerging in the name of gangsters and those with criminal records are being publicised as supporters on posters of student outfits at Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh. Reason: Name of gangsters adds glamour to a party and instills fear in the opposition. However, the major parties fear that it may spoil the atmosphere in the student elections.
The Students’ Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU), once a force to reckon with, which has given eight presidents to the university, has emerged with posters, claiming support of Lawrence Bishnoi. Two posters featuring Sampat Nehra and Tinu, SOPU presidents of Punjab and Haryana, respectively, claim the support of Bishnoi.
Nehra was allegedly involved in the escape of Deepak, alias Tinu, from the General Hospital, Panchkula, on June 17. Nehra was later named as accused in the Lavi Deora murder case in Kotkapura on July 13.
Bishnoi, who had earlier cut his teeth in SOPU, had coordinated escape bid. He seems to have taken the full control of SOPU now. In 2010-11, he was the president of the DAV unit of the party. Bishnoi is facing more than 20 cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion and snatching in Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Laadi Sidhupur, a SOPU leader at the PU, said, “Bishnoi’s name will fetch votes for us. He is supporting a number of families. Students love him. SOPU has its own vote bank. We will contest the elections and soon announce our panel.” However, he expressed ignorance about posters of Nehra and Tinnu.
“We want peace on the campus. Anti-social elements shouldn’t be allowed. Outsiders’ posters shouldn’t be allowed,” said Vicky Middukhera, president of the Students’ Organisation of India (SOI), Chandigarh. In 2010, Middukhera was booked, along with Bishnoi, for firing at Uday Warring, former president of the Panjab University Students’ Union (PUSU). Later, he was acquitted. “We have nothing to do with SOPU now,” he said.
Manoj Lubana, a leader of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) leader, said people with criminal records shouldn’t be allowed to campaign in the university.
Notably, SOPU was formed in 1997. In 2012, a number of its leaders joined the NSUI following the visit of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. Brinder Dhillion and Dalvir Singh Goldy had joined the NSUI while Robin Brar and Vicky Middukhera joined SOI in 2013.
With support of former SOPU leaders, the NSUI had won the president’s post in 2013 and 2014.
DPS Randhawa, a senator, was one of its founders. Randhawa remained president of the PU student council twice, from 1998-1999 and then from 1999-2000.
Another party formed after the name of a gangster is the Gandhi Group Students’ Union (GGSU). It was named after gangster Rupinder Gandhi. The party has already declared its panel for the student elections.
When asked about using a gangster’s name, Armaan Cheema, president of the GGSU said, “The image of Rupinder Gandhi as just a gangster is not true. He did a lot of social work due to which the party was named after him. We have good presence on the PU campus and city colleges. We won elections in at least four colleges in alliance last year.” A film, “Rupinder Gandhi — The gangster” was also released in 2015. The party contested the elections for the first time in 2014. It had forged an alliance with the Panjab University Students’ Union (PUSU), but lost. In 2015, it contested with SOI. It did not contest the 2016 elections.
