The North-Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) has condemned the recent notification from the Office of Vice-chancellor which declared a half day university holiday on the occasion of inauguration of Ram temple in Ayodhya.
“The Constitution of this country conspicuously declares this country to be a Secular Republic. Which means that there shall be no religion or religious inclination of the State-Government, Public offices and Public institutions which includes educational institutions,” stated the NEHUSU.
The Union pointed out that the event Is neither undertaken by the government nor should it be undertaken by the government, as the government of India must not involve itself in the promotion of any particular religion.
“Hence, this declaration of holiday for the occasion is nothing but a direct assault on the secular ethos of public educational institutions like NEHU and the Constitution itself. One must also not forget the decades of hate campaigns, communal violence and politics of bloodshed that has occurred in the name of construction of this temple,” reminded the NEHUSU.
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Expressing resistance against communalisation of university campuses like that of NEHU and the country as a whole, the NEHUSU refused to accept the unconstitutional and communal acts by the university Administration. It demanded immediate withdrawal of the notification by the Office of Vice Chancellor. It also appealed to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor to restrain itself from “acting like a comprador to the communal agendas of the Central Government”.
“If the Notice is not withdrawn and University Offices are found to be closed on Monday (22.01.24), the student community will have to enforce a university lock-down and not let any offices to function until stringent actions are taken against those responsible for violating the secular ethos of the university,” asserted the NEHUSU.
The Union also made it clear that it is not in favour or against any religion or religious beliefs. “But it shall not tolerate the imposition of any particular religion on the university by the administration. Long Live Secularism! Down with Communalism!,” stated the NEHUSU.
