SFS puts up ‘objectionable’ cartoons at PU

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, August 6 

Tempers ran high at the Panjab University (PU) campus after members of the SFS, a student political party, put up a poster with “objectionable” remarks, along with cartoons of Hindu god and goddess, at the Department of Laws here today. 

A handmade chart was displayed on the notice board of the department by SFS members to express resentment against the BJP leaders who had supported Kathua and Unnao rape accused. 

The chart was titled ‘Rape Cultures’ and had a cartoon of Lord Ram and Sita with a comment attributed to Sita, stating ‘I am so glad I was kidnapped by Ravan and not by your bhakts’, kicked a controversy that led to a protest by ABVP members who stated that the remark hurt their religious sentiments. 

Posters were put up without any permission, following which, department Chairperson Meenu Pauil issued a notice condemning the SFS move. The notice mentioned that posters were objectionable and hurt the religious sentiments and communal harmony of the university. A warning was issued through the notice, asking the students not to display any such posters on the department notice board. 

“This act is condemnable. This should have not happened in the campus that has a rich heritage of accommodating students from all religions. The SFS members are deliberately hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindus. They do such things for publicity. Even if something happens in any other country, they stage a protest here to attract publicity,” said Vikrant Khandelwal, Zonal Organising Secretary ABVP. 

Meanwhile, contradicting the statement, SFS members claimed that the cartoon was copied from a national daily as ‘sarcasm’. “We just copied the cartoon from one of the national dailies to add sarcasm on the actions of the BJP-RSS. The ABVP is trying to divert the issue to hurt our religious sentiments,” said Harman, a member of the SFS. He did not comment whether the cartoon was used after taking copyrights from the national daily.