PUNE: Representatives of a student union staged a protest against Satyanarayan puja organized at the
Fergusson College on Friday, citing that it was an educational institution and not a religious place.
Student representatives of the
Janata Dal (United) reached FC around 10.30am and expressed reservation against the puja. They also claimed that the college was encouraging blind faith. The ABVP and
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti supported the institution for performing the puja.
Some students claimed that the Satyanarayan puja was being conducted in the college in the month of Shravan for the past 40 years. On Friday, a message on a black board invited people for prasad of the puja at the college.
A representative of the JDU said, “The college gets government aid and the state has issued a notification, stating that no religious activity should be conducted in the educational institution. The college is violating the law.”
Kuldeep Ambekar, the student representative of the JDU said, “We approached the principal, Ravindrasinh Pardeshi, and questioned him why the institution was running a religious agenda in the college. We asked him why they did not declare holiday on ‘Pateti’ or why they did not celebrate other festivals. Why are they following a particular religion?”
In astatement, Pardeshi said, “The non-teaching staff has been organizing the puja for the past 40 years. We shall speak to the management and check with the government notification regarding this and take a decision.”
The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and the ABVP in a statement said the puja was a part of the tradition of the college.
Fergusson College, Pune
