Students can play Holi freely on campus on March 13 and 14: AMU amid ‘permission’ row
A controversy erupted a few days ago after members of a right-wing group accused the university administration of “denying permission” to students of a particular community to organise a ‘Holi Milan’ function on campus.
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Earlier, BJP MP from Aligarh Satish Gautam and former Aligarh mayor and BJP leader Shakuntala Bharati also warned the university against preventing students from celebrating the festival.
AMID DEMANDS from some groups for “allowing” Holi celebrations on the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campus, its administration has clarified that students can play Holi “freely” at the Non-Resident Students Centre Hall, a senior official said on Friday.
A controversy erupted a few days ago after members of a right-wing group accused the university administration of “denying permission” to students of a particular community to organise a ‘Holi Milan’ function on campus.
On Friday evening, the provost of AMU’s NRSC Hall, Prof Brij Bhushan Singh, told mediapersons, “Students who wish to celebrate Holi within the campus can do so freely on March 13 and 14.”
Earlier, BJP MP from Aligarh Satish Gautam and former Aligarh mayor and BJP leader Shakuntala Bharati also warned the university against preventing students from celebrating the festival.
A student leader, Akhil Kaushal, also submitted an application to AMU authorities requesting approval for a special Holi celebration at the NRSC on March 9.
In reply to a question, Prof Singh said on Friday that there is an AMU exam slated for March 9.
“So, I think it would not be appropriate if any student comes (here) and plays Holi on that day. March 10, March 11 and March 12 are working days and there will be classes… March 13 and March 14 are holidays and everyone is welcome to play Holi,” Singh said.
Wasim Ali, Proctor at AMU said earlier regarding the student’s application, “All festivals including Holi, Diwali, Eid and others have been celebrated within the campus for the past several years. Then why is permission needed to hold a Holi Milan function? AMU has never discriminated (against) students on the basis of religion. Thus, we will not allow a new tradition within the campus.”
Local Congress leader and former Aligarh MLA Vivek Bansal, however, accused the BJP of “deliberately” stoking controversy and called it “unfortunate.”
Bansal, an alumnus of AMU, said, “We always used to celebrate Holi with friends at AMU and I do not recollect any bitterness or opposition on this issue from anyone. Then why is the BJP engaging in provocative politics and trying to disturb the peace?”
BJP MP from northeast Delhi, Manoj Tiwari, said students “have the right to celebrate the festival regardless of caste and creed.”
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