JAIPUR: A major controversy erupted on Friday at the University of Rajasthan as the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) staged a protest against a programme linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), marking the second such confrontation on campus in recent months.
The protest comes in response to a seminar on women’s empowerment scheduled at the Faculty of Humanities auditorium, organised under the banner of ‘Marudhara Nari Sangathan’ on Friday evening.
NSUI leaders have claimed that the programme is backed by the RSS and carries ideological undertones inappropriate for an academic institution.
On Thursday, NSUI activists held a press conference inside the campus, accusing the university administration and the Vice-Chancellor of allowing and indirectly promoting such programmes.
They argued that events linked to particular ideologies disrupt the academic atmosphere.
Tensions escalated on Friday afternoon, even before the programme commenced, as NSUI activists gathered at the university’s main gate, raising slogans against the RSS.
Police personnel deployed at the site erected barricades to restrict entry, leading to a face-off between the protesters and the authorities. The activists attempted to breach the barricades and march towards the auditorium, but were stopped at the gate.
In view of the escalating situation, a heavy police force was deployed across the campus to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident.
Vice-Chancellor Alpana Kateja clarified that the university had only rented out the auditorium. “We have no information about any programme being organised by the RSS on campus,” she said.
This is not the first time the university has witnessed such tensions.
A few months ago, an RSS-linked ‘Shastra Pujan’ (worship of weapons) event had sparked similar protests by NSUI, leading to a contentious situation and the arrest of several activists.
Notably, NSUI’s national president Vinod Jakhar had come into the spotlight after being jailed during that protest against the Shastra Pujan event.
Meanwhile, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) defended the event, stating that organising programmes on ideological or social themes is a democratic right.
ABVP leaders said the seminar focuses on women’s dignity and empowerment, and accused NSUI of adopting double standards by opposing only selective programmes.