A controversy has erupted in Kerala after students protested against the denial of permission to perform ‘namaz’ at Nirmala College, a church-run institution in Muvattupuzha. The BJP and Catholic church organizations opposed the students’ protest.

On Friday, some students alleged that non-teaching staff had prevented girls from offering Friday prayers inside a room at the college. A video showed students claiming they were repeatedly stopped from praying and demanded an apology from the principal.

The BJP criticized the protest, accusing some of attempting to create issues in Hindu and Christian-run institutions. BJP state chief K Surendran claimed extremists, supported by the Left and Congress parties, were behind the incident.

The BJP statement described the demand for a separate prayer area as part of an agenda, citing similar incidents in Kanjirappally and Erattupetta as part of a conspiracy to incite religious unrest in colleges.

Meanwhile, the SFI, the student wing of the ruling CPI(M), denied involvement in the protest and accused sangh parivar organizations of falsely blaming them. The SFI emphasized maintaining secular campuses and warned against allowing religious rituals in educational institutions.

The Catholic Congress, linked to the Syro-Malabar Church, condemned the protest and suggested that students be allowed to pray at nearby mosques but rejected the demand for a prayer space on campus for women.

BJP leader P C George also criticized the protest, questioning whether Muslim colleges would permit prayer spaces for Hindus or Christians.

Source: PTI

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