Students protest over iron gates near V-C office at Ambedkar varsity

Ambedkar University turned into a site of spirited protest on Tuesday, as students rallied against the administration’s move to install permanent iron gates around key campus areas, including the Vice-Chancellor’s office, the museum, the IT lab and the canteen.

The demonstration, organised by the All India Students’ Association (AISA), began near the university library, where students gathered under the “protest tree”, raising slogans and singing protest songs. Marching towards the main gate, they called for an immediate halt to the construction and demanded the reopening of spaces they claim are being unfairly restricted.

“Today a protest is being organised in Ambedkar University, Delhi, opposing the installation of iron gates that is being done to syphon off the administration area and the VC Office at the Kashmere Gate campus,” students said.

The dispute dates back to April, when temporary barricades were erected following the suspension of a student who had criticised the Vice-Chancellor’s Republic Day speech. Since then, the university’s main gate has remained closed, forcing students to use a back route that they describe as unsafe due to poor lighting and reported incidents of harassment.

“A large part of an already small campus has remained inaccessible to the students, wherein the student-facing offices have been shifted so that the rest of the administration can be distanced from the students. This barricading has also led to a longer route to the canteen, meaning students have no access to the VC Office and administration area,” said Prerna, AISA president at Ambedkar University.

Students say they noticed construction work beginning on Monday and allege that the university is now installing iron gates to permanently block access to these areas, with the work expected to be completed within days.

Prerna (PhD, women’s and gender studies) and Aameen (PhD, urban studies) met with the university Proctor to press their demands. However, the Proctor reportedly told them the installation of the gates was “non-negotiable.”

Students say they remain determined to continue their protests until the campus is “open and accessible once again.”