BHU Students End Protest, Sanskrit Department Reopens

A group of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) students protesting against the appointment of a Muslim professor at the Sanskirt department called off their ‘dharna’ on Friday. However, they said that they will not attend classes ore appear in examinations. “We have given ten days' time to the BHU administration to accept our demands which include shifting Professor Feroz Khan to another faculty. If our demands are not fulfilled, we will revive our agitation on a larger scale," warned Shubham Tiwari, one of the protestors.

Students at the Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vigyan (SVDV) have been opposing the appointment of Dr Feroz Khan as an Assistant Professor. The students were of the view that Kahn would not be able to teach rituals (Karam Kand) as he is a non-Hindu. However, the varsity has maintained that Khan will not be removed as his appointment was according to rules set by University Grants Commission (UGC).

Earlier on Thursday, the university had announced that classes at the Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vigyan would resume, indicating that the stir by students has been called off. But the protest by the small group continued for some hours on Friday, till an announcement by the agitating students themselves.

The group had insisted that a Muslim cannot teach Sanskrit, a stand opposed by other students. On Friday, the RSS too said it did not agree with the students.