Vadodara: A controversy has erupted after a student from MS University of Baroda’s Faculty of Arts performed to the Hindi song Dhak Dhak Karne Laga at an event organised by the ABVP. The video of the dance performance was widely shared by the Congress and its student wing, NSUI, which termed the performance “abhadra” (indecent) and against “sanskar”. The student has now come forward on social media to present her side, stating that the video was circulated without her consent and turned into a political tool.

In a video statement, the girl appeared visibly shaken and teary-eyed while clarifying her stand. She said, “Hello, Jai Shri Ram. I am making this video because the dance I performed at the MSU Culture Fest went viral. Due to this, many people are saying that I have spread obscenity in the ‘Sanskari Nagari’ (cultured city) of Vadodara, even though I was wearing a simple, normal saree… Yes, my selection of the song may have been wrong, and I apologise to all of you for that. However, this is not such a massive issue that such an uproar should be created, as if I have committed treason.”

Watch | A female student of MS University – whose dance performance at an ABVP open-stage campus event was shared widely by Congress and NSUI with a press statement labelling it as ‘abhadra’ and against ‘Samskar’ – has come forward to present her side on social media, with tears… pic.twitter.com/1H1EnlbEiS

— DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) April 13, 2026

“I do not know the people from ABVP or NSUI. I did not realise that dancing to a Bollywood song at a cultural fest would create such a stir; if I had known, I would never have done it. Those from NSUI who spread this did not think about my mental health or what I would go through hearing these things about myself. Is this the first time a girl has danced to a Bollywood song?” she added.

“Only I know what I am going through right now. I just want to say that if you post a video, please think about the girl first. I was not wearing obscene clothes; I was wearing a simple saree and presenting my art on stage. I am a normal student and have danced before; I didn’t think dancing to a Bollywood song would lead to claims that I have ‘violated traditions’. If you are all so cultured, then you should stop listening to Bollywood songs as well,” she further said.

The student further stated, “It seems that instead of focusing on many other issues in the country or in Vadodara, people just want ‘mirch masala’ (sensationalism), which is why they targeted a girl… They put logos on the video saying ‘obscenity is being spread’ without thinking about me or asking for permission to post my personal video. You have simply used a girl as a tool to target the opposing political party. Again, I am really sorry that my song selection was wrong, but I did not do anything so serious that I deserve such severe criticism at such a large scale. Thank you.”

Amid the growing controversy, serious concerns have been raised over how the video of a young student is being used as a political tool by Congress and NSUI in their political battle with the RSS, BJP, and ABVP. The video, reportedly shared without the girl’s consent, has been amplified by political leaders and organisations, exposing her to widespread scrutiny and backlash. Notably, Congress leaders have indicated plans to circulate the clip door-to-door in Gujarat, while national-level figures such as Ragini Nayak and Srinivas BV have shared it extensively on social media.

The incident has also raised questions about moral policing, as the girl performed to a song from the 1992 film Beta, which had been certified ‘U’ (Unrestricted Public Exhibition) by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The song in question has also been a major hit, garnering millions of views across platforms.

However, State Congress spokesperson Nishant Rawal said, “An incident has come to light that is embarrassing the cultural city of Vadodara. ABVP, a sister organisation of the BJP, which claims to work for students’ upliftment, organised a programme at MS University. The name of the programme was ‘Sanskar’. In a programme with ‘Sanskar’ in its name, a girl wearing a saffron saree is performing to an indecent song, and ABVP workers are applauding her. This is a very shameful incident.”

“The Indian National Congress condemns this incident, and our workers, who are currently in the field, are going door to door to show this video to the public and reveal what they call the real identity of the Bharatiya Janata Party, RSS, and ABVP. These people are only fake Hindus, a party with fake Hindutva. They seek votes in the name of Hindutva, but their organisations do not understand its culture. Now the public should be aware,” he added.

Meanwhile, ABVP, in an official statement, called this a “violation of a student’s dignity and privacy,” terming it deplorable.

“The event, unnecessarily dragged into controversy, was purely cultural in nature, where students from different states showcased their respective traditions, folk dances, and artistic expressions. Official highlights of the program confirm that the sole purpose was to propagate cultural expression and student participation. Unfortunately, a limited and contextless clip from this program was misleadingly shared on social media by Congress leader Srinivas B.V. Subsequently, this video was widely circulated in a coordinated manner by Congress and NSUI workers with vested interests.”

The ABVP further said, “What is even more serious is that the video of the concerned student was shared without her consent, leading to abusive comments, character assassination, and mental harassment. Congress leader Ragini Nayak, despite being a woman herself, made inappropriate remarks on the video and contributed to its viral spread, further intensifying the misinformation.”

“Turning an innocent student into a subject of public ridicule and mental harassment, and completely disregarding her dignity, personal identity, and future, is not only condemnable but also against the most basic standards of social and political conduct. This incident exposes a troubling mindset within Congress and its affiliated organizations, which appears to repeatedly engage in such behavior,” the ABVP added.

“Using a few seconds of a student’s video as a tool for propaganda demonstrates that these elements, losing political relevance, are willing to go to any extent for momentary attention. Even more concerning is that serious allegations of exploitation of women have frequently surfaced within Congress organizations themselves. This raises serious questions about their sensitivity and accountability regarding women’s safety and dignity. Now, even ordinary students are not safe from such a malicious political agenda,” the press statement said.

The ABVP sought accountability and a public apology from all individuals involved in this serious row, along with appropriate action by the authorities against those responsible.

As the controversy grows, Samarth Bhatt, National Executive Council (NEC) Member of ABVP, in a series of tweets highlighted how NSUI is “using a woman’s video as a political tool, ignoring her own voice and context.”

“This was a cultural fest at MSU. Students performed across styles, from traditional to contemporary. Attires varied, as in any open campus event,” he said.

Calling out NSUI, Bhatt stated, “This is narrative politics, not student representation. From a civilisational lens, Hindu society evolves with time but holds one core value—the dignity of women: respect, not objectification. Ironically, those claiming to be progressive are using a woman’s video as a political tool, ignoring her voice and context. That is objectification in a different form.” DeshGujarat