St Stephens’ College chapel vandalism; Shashi Tharoor dismayed, NSUI protests

Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India on Saturday attacked “right-wing elements” for defacing St Stephens' chapel door with the slogan "Mandir Yahin Banega" (temple will be constructed here), saying such acts reflect an "utterly disgusting mentality" of the persons involved in defacement of structures.

The National Students' Union of India (NSUI), in a statement, also demanded action against the people involved in defacing the chapel door and the cross placed before the graveyard written over with "I am going to hell".

"Both the slogans show the utterly disgusting mentality of the person or persons involved in such defacement of structures inside the college premises from where great noble souls have stepped out and made their own mark in India's history," it said.

St Stephens’ is Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s alma mater. Just last month, Tharoor had visited the college and addressed a packed audience. Tharoor expressed his dismay on Twitter on Saturday, saying: “Dismayed to hear of vandalism at the chapel of St Stephen's College, with "mandir yahin banega" scrawled on the door. Never thought a hate crime would literally darken the doors of my alma mater. The perpetrator must be found and example made of him. Delhi Police”.

NSUI says such acts happen before every DUSU election

The student outfit said that right-wing elements do such acts every year before the beginning of new academic year and campaigning for Delhi University Students' Union election in the University, pointing to last year’s incident at Ramjas College.

"They (right-wing) have tried to polarise the student community on the basis of religion and fake nationalism several times but have failed on every attempt. They will fail again," NSUI said.

"They might still have a base of operation inside Delhi University but they along with their fake nationalism have been completely kicked out by the students and teachers from their hearts and minds and DUSU 2018 will be a testament to this reality."

NSUI mentioned the glorious past of the college which has notable alumni like 26/11 Mumbai terror attack martyr Ashok Kamte, former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, author Khushwant Singh and the present Chief Economic Advisor to the government Arvind Subramanian.

Inputs by NH Web Desk