Ahead of JNU elections, ‘I love Muhammad’ graffiti and posters spark tension at campus; taken down by university | Delhi News
NEW DELHI: Graffiti and posters with “I Love Mohammad” written on them surfaced at several places in Jawaharlal Nehru University on Wednesday night. It was taken down overnight so that no problem occurs on the campus. University security officials said efforts are on to identify those responsible.
The slogan has been at the centre of controversy in several parts of the country in recent weeks. Officials said the appearance of similar graffiti on the campus was being treated seriously, given its timing and its potential to cause unrest. The posters surfaced ahead of the JNUSU elections, tentatively scheduled for Nov 4.JNUSU president Vaibhav Meena, affiliated with ABVP, said: “Such slogans should not be written on university campuses after it triggered violence and protests in some states. Freedom of religious expression is respected, but if something has the potential to trigger communal disharmony, such things should not be pasted in public places, least of all university campuses.”The ABVP unit of JNU condemned the incident. “An attempt has been made to communalise a university like JNU, which embraces a diverse culture. This act not only tarnishes JNU’s reputation nationwide but also disrupts the harmony on campus,” it said.There was no statement from the Left groups.