The student organization that claims to be the biggest “democratic” student organization in the country is facing serious challenges within the organization. Lately, the sexual harassment case on the National President of Congress student wing National Students Union of India (NSUI) was already an issue that the Congress was dealing with and a bigger blow in the form of resignation from the National Media Head of the NSUI has given another jolt in the organization.
Midrash Mathew the National head of the communication department sent his resignation claiming that the National incharge of the NSUI is not letting him function. In his resignation he further claimed that the way NSUI used to work has disappeared as the leadership changed.
Now if we narrow down the series of events that has been happening in the NSUI since the allegations on the National President of the NSUI got so much of media attention, we can really connect both the events. Nowhere, Mr Mathew has mentioned that he is resigning because of the turmoil in the party but the bigger picture somewhere hints us to come to that conclusion that something is not going well in the NSUI’s arena.
The National Media incharge also claimed that the organization that claims to be the biggest democratic student organization has forgotten its role. It was meant to produce future leaders but the incumbent leadership in the organization does not care about its workers. In his letter he also claimed that the top leadership is afraid to introspect and if people stand against the wrong doings in the organization then they are not promoted the way they should be.
Mathew in his resignation indirectly also spoke about how the currnt leadership is creating barriers and not promoting the ones who are deserving. In his letter addressed to the National incharge Miss Ruchi Gupta, he claims that how there is a lack of space for the young leaders to grow in the organization and in the political arena.
Mathew has also claimed that how the importance of the communication department in the NSUI has been reduced to almost nothing and he holds the top leadership accountable for the same. The media head claims and also tries to tell us that how are they running from their mistakes and are not ready to take questions of any kind. Lack of support and guidance in the NSUI is also what Midarsh addresses in his resignation.
How I see this resignation is that the organization that claims itself to be the biggest and the most democratic organization, is truly not. The doors for becoming leaders in the congress can only be accessed by a few. Either people with deep pockets or people with good connections. The growth of a random student leader in this organization can now be seen as impossible.
Mr Midarsh Mathew’s resignation letter is attached below:
Sir/Madam
My journey with NSUI began 5 years ago looking for an opportunity to work for Congress ideology which I have believed in strongly from my school days. My inspiration to join the Congress ideology was centred around two people Smt Shiela Dikshit and Shri Rahul Gandhi, if the former pushed the development in Delhi through her calmness and tactfulness, the latter wasn’t afraid to challenge his own party to bring about reform. A perfect mix of experience and youthfulness, each having a respectable place. Fortunately, when I joined NSUI, I met and worked with leaders in NSUI who weren’t afraid to be asked questions and were forthcoming in admitting their own faults and weaknesses. This they claimed was due to the self-confidence and truthfulness promoted by Shri Rahul Gandhi through his open-minded approach to situations. These leaders weren’t interested in creating barriers but promoting members and giving them space to grow into future leaders. Now they are no longer in NSUI but have gone to help the growth of the Indian National Congress through their own forte.
When I was shortlisted as the National Media In-charge through the year-long process to become a NOB, I thought I should promote the same standard and quality that would help in the growth of future leaders who could promote the ideology of the party in the times ahead. Although sincere efforts were made by my colleague and me to establish a strong Communication Department (which would branch out till the district level), the efforts seemed to go in vain as there was clearly a lack of support from the leadership for reasons unknown to us. Things over time have gotten worse as there is no relevancy of the communication department.
Our great organization was built on mutual respect for leadership and now it is not the same.
Hence, I am resigning from all posts and forgoing all responsibilities assigned to me in NSUI.
I continue to believe in the Congress ideology and will work for the same as my belief in Shri Rahul Gandhi and his vision remains as strong as ever.
—
Regards
Midrash Mathew
National In-Charge
Communication Department
NSUI
Mailed to us by Mrityunjay Tripathi
Student of Politics & Public Policy| CONVENER THINK INDIA DELHI STATE| R.Fellow PPRC| He can be reached on Twitter: @mritunjay118