UP: Ghaziabad college student asked to leave stage over 'Jai Shree Ram' chant, sparks uproar

Ghaziabad: A student of Ghaziabad's ABES Engineering College in Uttar Pradesh was asked to leave the stage by a faculty member after he chanted 'Jai Shree Ram' ahead of his performance during a cultural fest.

The action has sparked an uproar on social media after the video of the incident went viral on Friday.

As per the viral video, a student was seen chanting 'Jai Shree Ram' on stage as a response to chants by the audience. A faculty member was then seen asking the student to get off the stage.

"We are here for some cultural event. We are here to have a good time so why are there slogans? There is no logic in these," Shweta Sharma, the faculty member who asked the student to leave the stage was seen saying to students in the viral clip.
Following the uproar, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Director of ABES Engineering College said that an enquiry committee has been constituted against the teacher while assuring that no action would be taken against the students.

"I came across a video. A conversation between a faculty member and a student has sparked controversy. An enquiry committee has been constituted to look into the same. As soon as the committee submits a report, action will be taken based on its findings. Also, no action will be taken against any student by any faculty. No one will demoralize any student over the incident," Director Singh said while speaking to ANI.
Saloni Agarwal, ACP Wave City, Ghaziabad said that the police are also investigating the matter.
"The police are investigating the matter based on the video. The college has constituted an enquiry committee against the teacher. Further proceedings will be done based on the fact-finding of the committee. The college management has assured that no action will be taken against any student," ACP Saloni Agarwal told ANI.

Mamta Gautham, Associate Professor, ABES Engineering College and one of the faculty members in the viral video in a video statement said that there was no intention to hurt anyone's sentiments.
She asserted herself as a "Sanatani" and "Brahmin" and said that neither she nor her colleague or any other faculty member has any problem with chanting "Jai Shree Ram".

"The student was arguing with my colleague, so I went there and the student was asked to leave the stage. Neither I, my colleague nor any other faculty member has or will have any problem with "Jai Shree Ram" chanting. I am also a Hindu. I am a born Sanatani, a Brahmin. I don't mean to hurt anyone's sentiments," said the professor.

Hindu Raksha Dal workers staged a protest at the college gate raising the slogan of Jai Shri Ram following the incident. They said that the protest would continue until the faculty members responsible for this were expelled from the college.
Further details on the incident are awaited.