Chandigarh: OP Jindal University in Sonipat, Haryana, has stirred controversy once again by hosting an event featuring anti-Hindu rhetoric and calls for the destruction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. On February 7, the Revolutionary Students’ League (R.S.L), associated with the Communist Party of India (Maoist), organized an event titled “Ram Mandir: A Farcical Project of Brahmanical Hindutva Fascism” at OP Jindal Global University. During the event, left-wing students affiliated with the organization reportedly advocated for demolishing the Ram Mandir and replacing it with a mosque.
The event organizers argued that the concept of the Ram Mandir has been linked to hate crimes against Muslims and Dalits across India, along with a broader trend of saffronization in educational institutions. They pointed to the January 22 ceremony marking the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla at the Ayodhya mandir, which they claimed exposed the alleged brutality and anti-people nature of the ‘Brahmanical Hindutva fascist regime.’ In promotional material for the event, the Revolutionary Students’ League urged attendees to read the controversial book “Fight Brahmanical Hindutva Fascism” by Varavara Rao, who is facing accusations related to the Bhima Koregaon case.
Excerpts from Rao’s book highlighted in the article cited incidents such as the killings of Mohammad Akhlaq, Prof. M M Kalburgi, and Yakub Memon, attributing them to what was described as the prevailing situation under BJP rule. The article also mentioned past controversies involving OP Jindal Global University, including allegations of academic harassment and providing a platform for anti-Hindu and antisemitic views. These controversies include instances such as a professor allegedly harassing students by displaying their dating app profiles in class and another professor making anti-Hindu comments during a lecture on Palestinian history.
Additionally, the university faced backlash for screening a banned BBC documentary critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and for controversies surrounding the syllabus of its Political Science course, which was criticized for its portrayal of Hinduism and the Indian state. These incidents have fueled criticism and raised questions about the university’s handling of sensitive issues and its commitment to academic integrity and diversity of thought.
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