Protests at DU over Ram Janmbhoomi seminar, several detained

NEW DELHI, Jan 9: Scores of protesters from various outfits today staged demonstrations at Delhi University’s Arts Faculty against a two-day seminar on Ram Janmbhoomi temple, following which they were detained by police.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy delivered the inaugural address for the seminar titled “Shri Ram Janma Bhoomi Temple: Emerging Scenario” which is being organised by Arundhati Vashishtha Anusandhan Peeth (AVAP), a research organisation founded by late VHP leader Ashok Singhal.

“Elaborate security arrangements were made in Delhi University’s North Campus. Several protesters were detained after they gheraoed the venue and tried to create obstacles,” a police official said.

The protesters including that from left-affiliated student wing’s All India Students’ Association (AISA), Democratic Students’ Foundation (DSF), Students Federation of India (SFI), Congress-affiliate National Students Union of India (NSUI) and AAP’s Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) staged demonstrations outside the protest venue and were detained later.

The protesting outfits had approached the university earlier this week demanding that it withdraw the permission rather than allowing such a seminar alleging it would “communalise” the campus and push “saffron agenda”.

The university authorities have been maintaining that they have nothing to do with the subject of the seminar and the organisation had booked the venue for the event which is available to outsiders for hiring. (PTI)