The YUVA unequivocally condemns the violent disruption of our peaceful Pre-Diwali celebration, Jyotirmaya 2024, which was intended to bring students together in the spirit of festivity and unity. This was an event where students were simply exercising their constitutional right to practice and celebrate their religion. Yet, in an appalling display of intolerance, certain groups on campus attacked the gathering, chanting divisive and anti-India slogans such as “Palestine Zindabad” and “Allahu Akbar.” These acts go beyond simple protest—they represent a disturbing pattern of extremism and radicalization within the student body, and an outright assault on the cultural and religious rights of Hindus in India.
The sight of students peacefully celebrating Diwali, a festival of light, being confronted with aggression and hostility from those opposing Hindu traditions is unacceptable. What is more shocking is that this is happening in Jamia Millia Islamia, a centrally funded institution, in Delhi—the capital city of Bharat. The violent behavior of these radicalized students not only disrupts campus harmony but also raises serious concerns about the freedom of the majority community to celebrate their festivals without fear of backlash.
This act of violence, accompanied by the audacity of raising pro-Palestinian slogans on a Hindu religious occasion, amounts to nothing less than an attempt to undermine India’s unity and trigger religious division on campus. It is alarming that such anti-India rhetoric is being normalized within educational institutions, where academic discourse should prevail, not violent extremism or political posturing.
Hindus celebrating their festivals on their own campus should not be seen as a provocation but a right guaranteed under the Constitution of India. The hostility shown by these Islamist elements—those who actively oppose Hindu celebrations—suggests a deeper, more sinister agenda aimed at undermining India’s secular fabric and promoting intolerance under the guise of political dissent. We must ask ourselves: in a nation like Bharat, where Hindus are the majority, why are students made to feel unsafe for celebrating their cultural and religious traditions?
Furthermore, it is unacceptable that in the capital city of India, where Hinduism is the majority faith, we witness such blatant disregard for religious freedoms and acts of intimidation from radical elements. The slogan-chanting in support of Palestine during a Hindu festival is not just a diversion from the event’s purpose but also a direct provocation and an anti-national act.
We call on the university administration and government authorities to take immediate and decisive action against these radical elements who use violence, intimidation, and divisive politics to suppress the cultural expressions of the Hindu majority. Failure to address this issue will only embolden such groups, who are determined to challenge the peace and harmony that India stands for. These repeated instances of violent opposition to Hindu festivals—be it Hanuman Jayanti, Ram Navami, or now Diwali—are unacceptable.
YUVA urges the authorities to ensure that the religious freedoms of every community, especially Hindus in their own land, are upheld. There must be accountability for those who disrupt peace and seek to tarnish India’s unity by promoting extremist ideologies. We cannot allow such forces to threaten the very foundation of Bharat, a nation built on mutual respect, religious tolerance, and cultural coexistence.
