Non-veg not allowed as Hansraj College follows Arya Samaj philosophy: Principal

Hansraj College principal Rama Sharma Wednesday refused to withdraw an order discontinuing nonveg food in the hostel and canteen despite widespread criticism and asserted the DU constituent college follows Arya Samajs philosophySpeaking to PTI Sharma also claimed that 90 per cent of the students are vegetarian and they had earlier protested over nonveg food being served in the hostelHansraj Colleges decision to discontinue serving nonvegetarian food at its canteen and hostel after it reopened following the pandemic in February last year has drawn sharp criticism from several quartersThough students claimed that no notice was issued in this matter Sharma clarified that a notice was issued and the hostel prospectus mentioned that no nonveg food will be served at the hostelWe are not going to withdraw the notice regarding nonveg food It is an Arya Samaj college We have our philosophy and that is why we wont serve nonveg food We conduct havan regularly We follow our rules It is written in the hostel prospectus that nonveg food will not be served in the hostel she told PTIWe dont ask St Stephens college to conduct havan We dont interfere with Khalsa College rules Then why are we being questioned We dont say do not eat nonveg food We just simply ask dont bring nonveg food in college Sharma addedThe principal claimed that nonveg food was never served in the canteen and it has been discontinued in the hostel after informing studentsEarlier vegetarians and nonvegetarians used to sit separately Now they can sit together and eat Students had protested earlier about the canteen serving nonveg They said the same utensils are being used and some students had apprehensions she addedAlso Read PM Modi has replaced politics of privileged with prominence to people NaqviThirdyear student Alok Sharma who resides in the hostel had earlier alleged that the college stopped serving nonvegetarian food abruptlyWe were not informed about any such order I dont think any order was issued This is unfair We are living away from our family and we need proper food he said This is kind of a backward move There should be freedom in what we want to eatA group of students affiliated with the Students Federation of India SFI has called for a protest at Hansraj College against the discontinuation of nonvegetarian food and termed it an attempt at saffronising the campusThe SFIs Hansraj College unit in a statement said frustration is brewing in campus against the ban on nonvegetarian food The protest will be held outside Hansraj Hostel on January 20 it saidThe SFI alleged that there have also been instances where the Hansraj administration confiscated eggs from students who brought them to the hostelIt claimed a survey was conducted within the Hansraj hostel and was found that almost 75 per cent of students were nonvegetarians as against the college principals claim that 90 per cent of students were vegetarians the SFI addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever