The debate over the existence of Lord Ram and the Ram Setu has started influencing the youth politics in the country now. The most-awaited event of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union elections, the presidential debate, lasted hurriedly on Thursday when Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad activists turned upside down the Jhelum lawns venue. They protested against the insulting comments made by a presidential candidate against Lord Ram during the presidential debate.

According to the report, the candidates for the post of JNUSU president delivered their speeches on Thursday midnight. After the speeches, the cross-questioning round started and ABVP’s presidential candidate Amit Singh asked the Bahujan Students’ Front candidate Raghunath Prasad Saket about his party’s pamphlet containing disparaging comments about Lord Ram.

Bahujan Students’ Front is the student wing of Mayawati’s BSP. During his answer to the question, Raghunath allegedly made some more offensive remarks against Lord Ram and ABVP activists allegedly hurled bottles, slippers and stones on the podium. Two candidates and four security personnel were injured in the brawl. The police immediately reached at the site and controlled the situation.

Amit Singh, ABVP’s presidential candidate for the post of JNUSU president, said:

Raghunath hurt the religious sentiments of not just ABVP but all Hindus. It is a shame that the so-called secular parties did not protest against his remarks. What followed his remark was justified. The students could not take this insult to Lord Ram. Had anything been said against any Muslim prophet or B. R. Ambedkar, it would have resulted in the same reaction. If standing up for Lord Ram makes us communal, then so be it.

It happened for the first time in the recent history of JNU that the presidential debate, commonly known for its intellectual discussion, was halted in this manner. The elections are to be held on Friday.

Read