On Saturday, workers of the Bajrang Dal broke into Rishikul Ayurvedic College in Haridwar to protest an Iftar party hosted by some Muslim students on campus.
They charged that having outsiders at the event was part of a conspiracy to destroy the religious sanctity of the city. Haridwar, a major Hindu religious hub, has municipal ordinances limiting such events by non-Hindus. Bajrang Dal office-bearer Amit Kumar alleged that the Iftar party was a move to get outsiders onto the college campus in the name of a religious festival. He referred to Rishikul Ayurvedic College’s rich past as part of Rishikul Vidyapeeth, established by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya and mentioned that students from all over India study there.
Kumar alleged that the Muslim students were involved in an “Islamic Jihad” conspiracy and threatened to escalate Bajrang Dal’s protests if the college authorities did not act within three days.
In turn, Rishikul Ayurvedic College Director DC Singh verified receiving a complaint regarding the event, saying the students had taken the initiative to hold it without the permission of anybody. He further said that the administration intervened and halted the gathering once news of it reached them.
A committee of teachers has been formed to probe the incident and present a detailed report. Even after the protest, police were able to calm down the Bajrang Dal workers, who exited the premises after threatening more drastic action if their demands were not fulfilled.
