Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Wednesday staged a protest at an event organised by the Faculty of Social Work of the MS University in Vadodara where a professor Zubair Meenai from Jamia Millia Islamia University was one of the speakers. The event, titled “Respecting diversity through joint social action” was held at the IG Patel Seminar Hall to mark the 74th Foundation Day of the Faculty, where ABVP members cornered faculty dean Bhavana Mehta, seeking a response on why “a communist known for making anti-India comments” was invited for the event. Vice-Chancellor VK Shrivastava and Director of Development Support Centre Sachin Oza were also present at the event. While ABVP members argued with Mehta over the invitation extended to Meenai, warning that persons with “anti-India mindset” should not be invited to the University, officials of the Communications Department of MSU said that the seminar was held as scheduled. Mehta was unavailable for comment. Later in the afternoon, ABVP members also clashed with students of the Arts Faculty in the canteen of the campus. Officials of Sayajigunj police station intervened and detained four students even as some students were injured.
