SHILLONG, Jan 21: The NEHUSU has vehemently condemned the recent announcement by the office of the NEHU Vice Chancellor, declaring a half-day university holiday on Monday to mark the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
“The Constitution clearly states that it is a secular Republic, meaning that the state government, public offices, and public institutions — including educational institutions — shall not be religious or have a religious inclination,” NEHUSU general secretary Banpynbiang Riang said in a statement on Sunday.
He stated that the government is not, nor should it be, involved in the aforementioned event because the Indian government is not allowed to promote any one religion over another.
“Therefore, declaring a half-holiday in honour of the occasion is nothing more than a clear affront to the Constitution and the secular ethos of public educational institutions like NEHU. In addition, one cannot ignore the decades-long hate campaigns, inter-communal violence, and bloodshed politics that have taken place in the name of building this temple,” Riang said, while opposing the communalisation of college campuses, including NEHU’s, and the nation as a whole.
“We respectfully urge the Office of Vice Chancellor to refrain from acting as a comprador to the communal agendas of the central government and demand the immediate withdrawal of the notification,” Riang stated.
He warned that the student community will have to impose a university lock-down and not allow any offices to operate until strict measures are taken against those responsible for violating the university’s secular ethos if the notice is not withdrawn and university offices are found to be closed on Monday.
He made it clear that while the organisation does not support or oppose religion or religious views of any kind, it will not put up with the administration forcing any one religion on the campus.
