New Delhi: After a section of students claimed that the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) officially organised an iftar event on April 27 and burnt the vice-chancellor’s effigy, varsity officials refuted the claim and slammed the protests as an attempt to disturb the peace and harmony of the campus.The event was organised at the University’s “Mahila Mahavidyalaya”, according to NDTV. It was attended by Sudhir Jain and other staffers of the varsity and the college.In protest, some students claimed that this was the first instance of the university hosting an iftar event and recited the “Hanuman Chalisa” outside the vice-chancellor’s house on Wednesday evening.“Iftar party was officially organised in university for the first time. All expenses were borne by University. We’ll not allow organising iftar parties officially” a student claimed, according to NDTV.UP | Students burn the effigy of Vice-Chancellor in BHU after he organised an Iftar party, yesterday“Iftar party was officially organised in university for the 1st time. All expenses were borne by University. We’ll not allow organising iftar parties officially” said a student pic.twitter.com/hbi1VllzUP— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 28, 2022BHU spokesperson Rajesh Singh, however, said that organising iftar was not new and slammed the anti-iftar protest as an attempt to disturb the peace and harmony on the campus.“Festivals of all religions are celebrated on the campus. The Roza Iftar was organised at the women’s college after a gap of two years and the VC was invited as the head of the university, he said. The iftar was not conducted by the administration, he confirmed.Even in the past, VCs have participated in similar parties, the spokesperson said. “Attempts to spoil the environment on such issues is condemnable,” Singh said.In a statement, BHU’s public relations officer said, “Students from all around the world come to BHU and study in an all-inclusive atmosphere in the varsity, where one finds no scope of any form of discrimination on any basis.”A number of festivals are organised and celebrated in the university with members of the BHU fraternity participating with mutual love, respect and harmony, the statement said. The vice-chancellor attended the iftar organised in Mahila Mahavidyalaya on April 27 at the invitation of students and faculty members of the MMV. Several other senior officials of the university were also present.Iftar could not be organised for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the statement said. “The tradition of organising iftar in BHU dates back to more than two decades. These iftars wereattended by subsequent vice-chancellors over the years in the capacity of head of the BHU fraternity and as per their availability on the campus. Attempts to disturb the peace and academic atmosphere of Banaras Hindu University are unacceptable and condemnable,” the statement said.There shouldn’t be any confusion or misinformation about 2 things:1. #Iftar wasn’t organized by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sudhir K Jain. Students & teachers invited him & he attended as head of #BHU fraternity.2. Tradition of organizing iftar in BHU dates back to over 2 decades. https://t.co/4hUlL6UxE2 pic.twitter.com/jmGNlssvEl— Chander Shekher Gwari (@CSGwari) April 28, 2022For those who aren’t aware, Vice-Chancellors in the past have also attended #iftar organized in the campus. Here are some pictures:Prof. Lal ji Singh in 2013Prof. Vinay Singh in 2014 (Officiating Registrar)Prof. D. P. Singh in 2010 pic.twitter.com/iar1GeDwKH— Chander Shekher Gwari (@CSGwari) April 28, 2022In a separate incident, after some “anti-Brahman” slogans and others related to Kashmir surfaced on the BHU’s campus wall.While varsity officials said the slogans were the handiwork of the Bhagat Singh Chhatra Morcha, the student outfit strongly denied the allegation.Kapri, the chief proctor, said the members of the Bhagat Singh Chhatra Morcha, whose name was written under the slogans, have been identified by the university administration and action will be taken against them.The student body, denying its involvement, asked the university to investigate the matter and take strict action against those involved in it.(With PTI inputs)
