SPPU protest: The accidental rise of New Socialist Alternative outfit | Pune News

“We are a group working at the ground level for democratic socialism and are against capitalism, casteism and patriarchy. We have Marxist leanings and are influenced by Trostky’s thoughts,” he said.

Youvraj, an erstwhile engineer and IT professional and now a full-time worker for the group, was instrumental in setting up the outfit, which has since voiced its opinions in various forums on issues affecting youth, workers and students in the city.

“Our participation in protests is incidental and this is the first time we have received this kind of media attention. We organise cultural activities with workers, study groups for students and discussions and debates on socially relevant topics for the youth,” Youvraj said.

The student-wing affiliated with the New Socialist Alternative is called New Students and Youth Federation (NSYF). It was a registration drive for this group that was underway on the campus of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) when the attack on four of its student members occurred on November 3.

Youvraj, along with SFI state president Somnath Nirmal, handed a letter to the SPPU Vice Chancellor on November 8 on behalf of the Progressive Students’ Action Committee. The letter demanded prompt action against political groups responsible for violence on November 1 and 3, action on other incidents of vandalism and promoting democratic participation of students in decision-making positions.

NSYF released a statement that said, “”Students should realise the character of the atrocities of ABVP and BJP, and rise against the curbing of the voice of democracy and freedom in college and university campuses.”

“We are against all authoritarian regimes, unfair control over media among other things. Passion, struggle and resistance form a big part of our organisation’s core values,” Youvraj added.