Bengaluru: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has strongly condemned an alleged incident at Krupanidhi College in Bengaluru, where students appearing for the Common Entrance Test were reportedly compelled to remove their Janeu (sacred thread).
In a press note, ABVP described the act as “unacceptable, anti-constitutional and hurtful to religious sentiments,” and demanded strict action against those responsible for what it termed as vitiating the academic environment.
The student organisation stated that such actions reflect a “malicious and dual-minded approach” and warned against allowing educational institutions to become centres of political and religious bias. It emphasised that campuses should remain spaces dedicated to learning, free from ideological or religious hostility.
ABVP further asserted that compelling students to remove their sacred thread is “deeply unfortunate” and an affront to India’s unity and constitutional values. The organisation raised concerns over what it called the Karnataka government’s approach in permitting such incidents within educational spaces.
ABVP National General Secretary Dr. Virendra Singh Solanki, said, “Targeting students’ religious beliefs and symbols within educational campuses is highly condemnable. Compelling students to remove their Janeu is not only a violation of personal liberty but also an attempt to impose a particular ideology.”
He added, “The Karnataka government must understand that education should be inclusive in nature. ABVP demands a high-level inquiry into the incident, strict punishment for those responsible, and concrete measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.”
ABVP reiterated its demand for immediate disciplinary and legal action, stressing that the matter must be taken seriously to safeguard students’ rights and uphold the sanctity of educational institutions.
Background of the issue:
The controversy over removal of janivara resurfaced in Karnataka during the CET after reports from Krupanidhi College, Madivala, on April 23. A student, Anand Sudheer Rao, and others were asked to remove the sacred thread to enter the exam hall. After resisting on religious grounds, he reportedly complied under pressure, raising concerns over dress codes versus religious freedom.
