A major controversy has erupted in Telangana’s prestigious National Institute of Technology (NIT) Warangal over religious freedom and administrative double standards. National spokesperson of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Dr. Ravinootala Shashidhar has made strong allegations against the director of the institute, alleging that there are separate rooms for Namaz and facilities are given to Christian organizations, but the recitation of only 15 minutes of Hanuman Chalisa was stopped. The spokesperson has also claimed that the students’ phones were confiscated and they were threatened with expulsion from the institute, following which he has demanded the immediate dismissal of the director.
Dr. Shashidhar, while posting on social media platform ‘X’, has described the action of NIT administration as power system and biased. He has written that when the students tried to recite Hanuman Chalisa using their fundamental rights, the administration forcibly stopped them. It is alleged that during this time the administration confiscated the mobile phones of the students so that they could not record the incident or contact anyone. Research scholars doing PHD were intimidated by their supervisors, while other students were threatened with expulsion from the college. Raising questions, the VHP spokesperson said that on one hand arrangements are made for religious programs of minorities, while on the other hand such discrimination against Hindu students is a violation of Article 25 of the Constitution, which gives every citizen the right to practice their religion.
NIT Warangal becomes center of controversy
There was tension between the students and the administration for some time in NIT Warangal, which became the center of controversy. This allegation is not new; there are often clashes with the administration in premier institutes regarding student union activities or religious programs. However, this time the matter has come to light as an allegation of providing selective facilities. There is anger among the student community that if there are not uniform rules for all religions in the same campus then this situation will cause tension. Sources say that this step of the administration is going to hurt the sentiments of Hindu students and if it is not controlled soon, then the opposition may increase further.
Declaration of standing with the students
VHP has announced to stand with the students in this entire episode and has said that if any more fraud happens with the students, then the entire responsibility for it will be on the administration of the institute. The organization has demanded strict action against the director and his immediate dismissal. Now it remains to be seen how the NIT administration responds to these serious allegations and whether it gives any explanation for this ‘bitter’ attitude shown towards the students. At present, this case can give a new turn to the debate on secularism and equality in educational institutions.
