Ganesh temple construction at Bangalore University sparks campus protest by students, faculty
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The students and the faculty at Bangalore University (BU), Jnanabharathi campus staged protests on Wednesday, September 7, and Thursday, September 8 against the construction of a new Ganesha temple inside the university in replacement of an old one being demolished due to road widening work, stated a report in The New Indian Express
The students said that despite the opposition from the Registrar and the Vice Chancellor, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is hellbent on constructing the temple inside the university premises.
There was already a Ganesh temple earlier en route to Mallathahalli on Mysore road on the university's Jnanabharathi campus. However, the university had to demolish the temple due to the widening of the road.
It was proposed that the temple should be shifted to a different location inside the university premises. Some students expressed their opposition to this and tried to obstruct the construction of the foundation of the temple.
The students said that according to guidelines given by the United Grants Commission (UGC), the university is a place to pursue education and not to practice religion. The BBMP is trying to "saffronise the university" and is spending money on the temple, said the students.
Students and faculties involved in the protest were allegedly called 'mischiefs' by the BBMP officials. The teachers' council demanded the suspension of the officers who insulted the faculty and also the engineers for carrying out unauthorized work on the university campus.
