The Delhi government’s tourism department spent Rs 1.83 crore on eight Bhajan Clubbing events organised across Delhi University colleges in February, according to an RTI obtained by Newslaundry.

The Rekha Gupta government has described Bhajan Clubbing as a “cultural renaissance”, saying the programmes, which blend devotion with modern music and “youthful energy”, have transformed college campuses. The expenditure was booked under the tourism promotion initiative “Delhi as a destination”.

The events were organised between February 10 and February 19. The first was held at Ramjas College on February 10, featuring the Leela Band, followed by Raghav Raja Band at Deen Dayal Upadhyay College on February 11.

On February 12, performances were held at Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma (ARSD) College by the Indian Music Collective and at Shaheed Sukhdev College by the Sadho Band. The following day, Rahassya Band performed at Shyam Lal College, while Keshavam Band performed at PGDAV College.

Keshavam Band returned for another performance at the University Stadium on February 16, before the final event was held at Shivaji College on February 19, featuring the Sam Band.

Clubbing allowed, protests banned

The events coincided with a politically turbulent fortnight at Delhi University.

Five of the eight programmes were held during the university’s inaugural Delhi University Literature Festival (DULF), organised from February 12 to 14. The official festival featured television anchors Anjana Om Kashyap, Rubika Liyaquat, Anand Narasimhan and ANI chief Smita Prakash, along with BJP leader Ram Madhav, Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri and other speakers.

At the same time, the All India Students’ Association (AISA) organised a parallel “People’s Literature Festival – Samta Utsav”, calling the official event “a mouthpiece for regressive propaganda and communal rhetoric”. The parallel festival was marred by violence after historian Irfan Habib was targeted with a bucket of water and bricks were thrown from inside the Arts Faculty. The following day also witnessed clashes around AISA’s ‘Adhikar Rally’. Days later, on February 17, Delhi University imposed a month-long ban on protests.

Even as protests were prohibited, the university continued to highlight the “youthful energy” of Bhajan Clubbing events.

According to the RTI, the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) awarded the execution of the eight events to Total Multimedia Pvt Ltd for Rs 1,83,05,200 (exclusive of GST).

An Instagram reel posted by the agency shows Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra inaugurating the event. At the launch, Gupta said: “When Modi Ji spoke about this (Bhajan Clubbing) in his Mann Ki Baat, we were wondering where in Delhi could we do this. There could not be a better place than Delhi University.”

Why the tourism department funded these events

Speaking to Newslaundry, DTTDC Public Information Officer Sanjeev Chugh said the events were organised to engage DU students and introduce them to Indian culture.

“Well, this is done for the people of Delhi. DU has students and this is done to engage them, to tell them of our culture. That's why these venues were chosen.”

Asked how the events furthered the objectives of the tourism promotion initiative under which the expenditure was booked, Chugh reiterated that they were intended for Delhi’s students. When asked whether the events were open to the public, he said: “These were not open to the public. Considering the safety and security of male and female students, this is generally only for students.”

An invitation for the event held in Ramjas was reviewed by Newslaundry. It required prior registration and was only open to students and faculty members.

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