MANUU Student Union Denounces Mandated Closure During Ram Mandir Inauguration

The Maulana Azad National Urdu University’s (MANUU) Student Union strongly criticized the central government’s decision to enforce a half-day closure of public institutions during the upcoming Ram Mandir inauguration ceremony on January 22. In an official statement released on Saturday, the student body expressed its condemnation, denouncing the move as a “blatant attempt to infiltrate and saffronize public institutions, and more specifically, university places.”

According to the statement, the student union believes that the government’s decision poses a threat to India’s secular ethos and challenges the democratic and secular principles enshrined in the Indian constitution. The statement read, “This move is not only a setback to the secular ethos that India cherishes but also poses a significant threat to the democratic and secular principles upheld within the Indian constitution.”

Accusing the government of attempting to transform India into a “Hindu Rashtra,” the union asserted that the RSS-led BJP government is consolidating its influence over educational institutions. They argued that this involves imposing religious observances and eroding the foundational principles that define India.

Expressing concern, the union stated, “We are troubled by the belief that Hindutva ideology is encroaching on the decision-making process of educational institutions.” They emphasized that such encroachment threatens the sanctity of academic institutions, which should foster autonomy, freedom of thought, tolerance, and a pluralistic approach to education.

The student body called upon the university administration to endorse diversity principles, inclusivity, and academic freedom. They urged the administration to resist any attempt to politicize or align the institution with Hindutva ideology, stating, “The sanctity of academic institutions lies in fostering autonomy, freedom of thought, tolerance, and a pluralistic approach to education. Any attempt to politicize or align these spaces with Hindutva ideology is a threat to the idea of the university.”

In a plea for collective action, the union invited the larger student community, faculty, and concerned citizens to join hands in resisting any undue influence that seeks to compromise the secular fabric of educational institutions. They stated, “We call upon the larger student community, faculty, and concerned citizens to join hands in resisting any undue influence that seeks to compromise the secular fabric of our educational institutions.” The union remains committed to upholding the values of diversity, inclusivity, and academic freedom within the university.