NEW DELHI — A political controversy erupted a day after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) organised a Path Sanchalan (march-past) at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) as part of its Vijayadashami Utsav, with the organisation.
The event was held on Saturday, with RSS karyakartas participating in the programme in their full uniform, known as Ganvesh, and taking part in the march across the university campus.
The march drew criticism from the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), as leaders from both parties raised concerns over the RSS programme on the university campus and its potential implications for the academic environment.
Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao criticised the development, alleging that the RSS’ presence at JNU could create tensions and affect the functioning of the institution.
He also raised concerns over the possible impact on students and the campus atmosphere.
Speaking on the issue to IANS, Rao said, “Students, the new system is being adopted to counter the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). Previously, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) was there. Now, RSS has come into the picture. This is a really very dangerous situation; a law and order problem will be there. RSS means fundamentalist. They want only Hindu; they don’t want Muslim, they don’t want Christian, they don’t want other communities. So, in JNU, it will start. Automatically, education will spoil, and all students, anytime, chaos will be there.”
AAP MP Sanjay Singh also commented on the march, saying that programmes of this nature take place when the government extends protection and support to those organising them.
“Now, look, when the government provides protection, all kinds of programmes take place. So, they are also doing their own programme. They have the protection of the police and the government everywhere,” Singh told IANS.
