A video that went viral over the past few days has ignited a major controversy at the Polytechnic campus of Maharaja Sayajirao (MS) University in Vadodara, with allegations of ragging being firmly denied by both the college administration and the students involved. The incident, which came to light on Saturday, has drawn political student wings into a war of words.
The Viral Video and Conflicting Narratives
The widely circulated clip captures a disturbing scene inside a classroom where a senior student is seen slapping a junior student multiple times while also subjecting him to verbal abuse. This visual immediately triggered allegations of ragging on the campus. However, the narrative took a sharp turn when the two students directly involved addressed the media.
They presented a different version of events, stating that the altercation began after the class had concluded. The junior student reportedly kept his feet on a bench, which the senior student objected to. This disagreement quickly escalated into a heated quarrel and the physical confrontation seen in the video. Both students explicitly denied that this was an act of ragging and have since submitted written apologies to the college authorities for their conduct.
Political Entanglements and Demands for Action
The incident rapidly moved beyond the campus walls, attracting the attention of political student organizations. Activists from the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) visited the college to protest and demanded strict action against the senior student seen in the video. They further escalated the matter by alleging that the accused student was affiliated with the rival student body, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
An ABVP representative promptly denied this claim, stating that the individual was not a member of their organization. He added, however, that ABVP would conduct its own internal investigation and take appropriate action if any connection was found. The representative also mentioned that they had requested access to the classroom's CCTV footage to get a clearer picture of the entire episode.
College's Response and the Path Forward
College officials, while addressing the media, confirmed that they are treating the incident with seriousness but echoed the students' stance that it did not constitute ragging. The administration outlined a multi-step approach to resolve the matter and prevent future occurrences.
The officials stated they plan to call the parents of both students to discuss the incident. Furthermore, the college intends to provide counselling to the involved students to address behavioural issues and ensure such clashes do not happen again. This response aims to handle the situation through mediation and corrective measures rather than punitive action alone.
The controversy highlights the sensitive nature of student interactions on campus and how quickly isolated incidents can spiral into larger debates involving discipline, student politics, and institutional responsibility.
