A scuffle broke out between ABVP and AISA students at Banaras Hindu University when slogans against Hinduism were raised at BHU’s Singh Dwar. It has been alleged that some All India Students’ Association (AISA) members, who were part of the ongoing protest at BHU’s Singh Dwar, were promoting an anti-Hindu agenda.
The scuffle took a violent turn as the two groups physically clashed with each other after the provocative slogans were raised. The situation persisted for nearly one and a half hours in front of police and university officials from the Proctorial Board.
AISA-affiliated students taken into custody
In response to the growing anger among ABVP students, the university administration took AISA-affiliated students into custody, as they were seen disturbing the university’s peaceful environment with their continuous anti-national activities on campus. Abhay Singh, a member of ABVP, stated that students from outside are consistently engaging in anti-national activities and are running the atmosphere of the university.
While the ongoing protest at BHU revolves around opposition to the division of the university, AISA is allegedly pursuing its hidden agenda. ABVP’s Sakshi Singh accused several people sitting at Singh Dwar for the past two days of having no connection to BHU but still engaging in protests and disrupting the university environment.
BHU students have held a meeting to provide support against the proposed division. It was decided that on Monday, a massive march will be organised by university students and professors at 2 p.m., starting from Vishwanath Temple and concluding at Malviya Bhawan. The students stated that their protest will continue until they receive a written assurance that no boundary wall will be erected at the university.
According to students at Kashi Hindu University, a community meeting was held in Vishwanath Temple’s precincts. In this meeting, it was decided that the BHU community, including former teachers, staff, and students, will march from Vishwanath Temple to Malviya Bhavan in opposition to the BHU’s division and for women’s safety assurance. They plan to demonstrate unity with BHU by gathering under the BHU flag and Mahamana’s image in this march.
Former BHU student and BJP IT cell member Pushpendra Singh stated that they are planning a massive rally in the campus. More than 5,000 students and professors are expected to participate. Several WhatsApp groups have been created for this movement, bringing together thousands of people and delivering the message to all concerned.
Former VC: Proposal to grant IIT status was rejected
The proposal regarding the boundary wall between IIT-BHU and BHU has sparked outrage across the campus. A “Save BHU” campaign is spreading on social media, with numerous WhatsApp groups formed with thousands of participants. Meanwhile, former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Panjab Singh, stated that he was not wrong in rejecting the proposal to grant IIT status to BHU-IIT, which was presented more than 15 years ago. He highlighted that his main concern was to secure an adequate budget so as run the institution effectively. Engineering education would be upgraded, but BHU’s prestige would remain intact even after IIT status was granted. He reiterated that he did not make any compromises. However, the pressure was so immense that it happened anyway. Prof. Singh warned that erecting a boundary wall would not prevent such incidents and that measures should be taken to ensure that both IIT and BHU remain an integral part of each other.
Support from Science Institute Director
In addition to student support, professors at BHU have also started voicing their opposition to the boundary wall. The directors of various institutes, including the Director of the Institute of Science at BHU, Prof. AK Tripathi, have expressed their concerns and pledged to prevent the construction of the boundary wall. Some former students have even stated their intention to take legal action against the wall construction.
ABVP carries forward its history by playing a positive role in preserving the unity of BHU and safeguarding its academic and cultural heritage. Their efforts to address these concerns through peaceful means and by raising awareness demonstrate their commitment to the well-being of the university. It has garnered support from both students and faculty members who share their concerns about the boundary wall and the division. This collective effort fosters a sense of solidarity among the BHU community.
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