A controversy has erupted at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) after Bangladeshi students posted abusive comments on social media, calling the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) an extremist organisation and making vulgar remarks about Indian women.
The post, which quickly went viral, has led to protests by Hindu students at the university, with many demanding that the Bangladeshi students involved be expelled. The students who made anti-Hindu and anti-India remarks against the country and its people have been identified as Shamyul, Rifat Rehman and Mahmood Hasan Arafat.
Shamyul, Rifat Rehman and Mahmood Hasan Arafat. | FPJ
Offensive Post Criticises ISKCON & Targets Hindu Women
The controversial posts included one student calling ISKCON a "radical Hindutva organisation" and demanding its ban. Two other Bangladeshi students posted indecent and obscene comments about Indian women, further escalating tensions. One student also made a derogatory remark about the "trend of eating cow dung" in Uttar Pradesh.
FPJ
A post, shared on Facebook, read, "We demand that ISKCON be banned. I hope the reason is clear to everyone now. I repeat, ISKCON is a radical Hindutva organisation. We have no conflict with ordinary Hindus. Our conflict is with Radical Hindutva."
FPJ
Hindu students, including Akhil Kaushal, Hitesh Mewada, Puneet, Piyush, and Rohit, have lodged a written complaint with the Proctor of AMU on Tuesday night regarding the posts. They argued that these students were not only insulting ISKCON but also promoting anti-India rhetoric and fueling violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.
Accused Student Responds To Allegations
When FPJ reached out to accused student Shamyul, he responded with having no clue about the accusations. "What kind of threat are you referring to? Currently, I'm in Bangladesh, and as an ex-student of AMU, I always felt safe in Aligarh, considering it my second home," he said.
He claimed that their account was hacked three months ago, leading to the vulgar posts "My ID, Sa Mi UL, which has been hacked for the past three months. The hacker posted vulgar content there. Thank you for informing me; I'll clarify this with the AMU administration immediately," he added.
University’s Response & Investigation
Deputy Proctor Prof. S Nawaz Zaidi responded to the protests, stating that the allegations against the Bangladeshi students would be investigated thoroughly. He emphasised that the university would take appropriate action only after a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Protests Erupt as Students Demand Action
The offensive content, which many students and social media users deemed inflammatory and disrespectful, ignited widespread anger, particularly among Hindu students at AMU.
As per Akhil Kaushal, they have organised protests, calling for disciplinary action against the students responsible for the post. Several students lodged formal complaints with university authorities, urging them to take strict action against those involved.
AMU student Akhil Kaushal has put forward three key demands for action against the Bangladeshi students involved in the controversy:
1. Immediate suspension of the students involved.
2. Deportation of the students back to Bangladesh.
3. Cancellation of their student visas.
The protestors also demanded that the university investigate all foreign students, monitor their social media activity, and ensure that anti-India content is not being posted. They burned posters of the President of Bangladesh, waved the Indian flag, and raised slogans of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram."
The incident has further sparked a debate over the presence of Bangladeshi students and their conduct on Indian campuses.
