Holi 2025 celebrations permitted at AMU amid student demands

Amid demands to allow Holi 2025 celebrations on the Aligarh Muslim University campus the administration has decided that students may celebrate ldquofreelyrdquo at the NonResident Students Centre Hall an official said according to PTIA controversy erupted a few days ago after members of a rightwing group accused the university administration of denying permission to Hindu students to organize a Holi Milan function on campus They also demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modis intervention in the matterLater local Bharatiya Janata Party BJP lawmaker Satish Gautam declared that no one can stop anyone from celebrating Holi 2025 inside the Aligarh Muslim University AMU campus He added If any Hindu student faces any problem in celebrating Holi inside the campus then I am there to help himThe matter was triggered when student leader Akhil Kaushal submitted an application to AMU authorities requesting approval for a special Holi 2025 celebration at the NonResident Students Centre NRSC on March 9 PTI reportedOn Friday night the provost of AMUs NRSC Hall Professor Brij Bhushan Singh informed that any student of the university can freely play Holi at the hall on March 13 and March 14In reply to a question Singh said there is an AMU board examination on March 9 He added So I think it would not be appropriate if any student comes here and plays Holi on that day March 10 March 11 and March 12 are working days and there will be classes March 13 and March 14 are holidays and everyone is welcome to play Holi reported PTIEstablished in 1943 the NRSC is a centre for nonresident male students of the university from undergraduate to PhD It is a centre for sports literature hobbies and cultural activities According to the university website NRSC has been a symbol of communal harmony and cultural exchangeAccording to PTI Local Congress leader and former Aligarh MLA Vivek Bansal accused the BJP of deliberately stoking controversy and called it unfortunateBansal who is also an alumnus of AMU shared his personal experience saying We always used to celebrate Holi with friends at AMU and I never recollect any bitterness or opposition on this issue from anyone Then why is the BJP engaging in provocative politics and trying to disturb the peace reported PTIChief spokesperson of AMU Professor Vibha Sharma noted AMU always had a beautiful tradition of holding Holi celebrations and all other festivals in which students teachers and nonteaching staff get together at various locations and share the joy Additionally he said Special permission for any such celebration has never been sought and we have never felt the need for such a formal function It is our continuing endeavour that this spirit of friendship should always continue reported PTIAMU Proctor Mohammad Waseem Ali confirmed on Saturday that the NRSC Hall provost had made the announcement As always the NRSC will be open to all bona fide nonresident students for Holi celebrations on March 13 and 14 he statedWe take great pride in our tradition of celebrating all festivals in the spirit of brotherhood However last year we had an unpleasant experience when some Hindu students requested permission for a special function an official saidDespite our refusal some external antisocial elements who had nothing to do with any bona fide student barged into the campus and started harassing female students near the Zakir Hussain College of Engineering the official addedIt could have led to a serious breakdown of the lawandorder situation on that working day when classes were on Fortunately the crisis was averted Since then we have become increasingly cautious on such occasions the AMU official said reported PTIExpressing happiness over the announcement UP BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said Holi will now be played in Aligarh Muslim University as well Holi is a festival of enthusiasm excitement and colours It seems that some people are busy tarnishing Holi the official statedAligarh Muslim University does not belong to a particular religion Why did the secular community remain silent when Holi was not celebrated in Aligarh Muslim University the official said reported PTI With inputs from PTI