By CJP Team
Uttarakhand is currently grappling with escalating communal unrest, primarily fueled by right-wing outfits capitalising on recent “mosque disputes” in both Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The state’s inaction in preventing these tensions –in fact state functionaries have encouraged these –has emboldened hate offenders, allowing divisive agendas to gain traction. There is a growing perception that the state government indirectly supports this narrative, contributing to the polarization of communities. Attacks and violence against Muslims have surged as a result.
Huge protest erupts over namaz: Roorkee, Uttarakhand
In Roorkee, students at Quantum University ignited protests by chanting “Jai Shri Ram” in response to a video that had gone viral, showing a woman offering namaz on campus. This incident has become a flashpoint, epitomising the rising anti-Muslim hatred within the state. In the video, a large crowd of students can be seen vocally expressing their disagreement, chanting the slogan “Jai Shri Ram” as they gather in opposition to the woman’s act of offering namaz.
Reports indicate that the protesting students were in contact with the right-wing outfit Rashtriya Bajrang Dal, raising concerns about the influence of extremist groups on educational institutes. This connection highlights how external pressures can exacerbate divisions within educational institutions, turning a place of learning into a battleground for ideological conflicts, fueled by right-wing outfits across the state.
While reacting to the incident of Quantum University, senior advocate Sanjay Hegde wrote on social media platform X, that “These students have effectively devalued the employability quotient of the alumini of this university.”
This story was originally published in cjp.org.in. Read the full story here.
