Tensions Flare at Aligarh Muslim University Over Holi Celebration: Politics of Polarization Ahead of Elections

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is tense now that two student groups have argued over celebrating Holi on campus, although insiders claim the dispute has more to do with the politics of polarization leading up to the Lok Sabha elections.

On Thursday, a group of students applied to the university administration to be permitted to play Holi on March 25 on the campus of Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology. When a different group of students arrived at the proctor's office, they chanted anti-applicant slogans and threatened to stage a protest if the demand was granted.

The applicants, who were Hindus, said that during a fight on Thursday night, the Muslim students attacked them and injured several of them. On Friday, the police filed a case against ten pupils. Later, in an effort to put pressure on the police to detain the attackers, a group of students and BJP activists marched on the Civil Lines police station and staged a dharna.

One of the students who had requested permission to celebrate Holi, Aditya Pratap Singh, stated: "Every year, Holi is performed at several locations on campus, but we were asking for permission to play it at one location in front of the engineering college. Regretfully, the proctor stated that Holi will take place just as it has in the past and that no new location could be designated. Later on, we were attacked by some Muslim students.

Following Friday prayer, Muslim students abstained from classrooms in protest of what they perceived as a "one-sided action" by the government. Student Irfan Ali declared on Saturday that "we will not attend any classes until the university administration makes it clear that it will not allow any gathering on the engineering college ground on March 25."

This newspaper was informed by an AMU member that the altercation between the two groups was planned. A university professor who wished to remain anonymous stated, "It appears to be a disagreement over Holi, but many of us think it is an election-time brawl to send a message across the state and polarize the majority voters."

"Instead than talking about the issue with the proctor, the students became combative with one another. Both of the aforementioned groups lack the authority to make decisions regarding any events that occur on campus. Political motivations appear to have driven both factions, as all individuals involved in conflicts went on to support different Lok Sabha candidates. They have previously done this as well," he continued.

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