Now Reading: IIT Delhi students told to bow, stand for Vedic chants
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IIT Delhi students told to bow, stand for Vedic chants
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 57th convocation of IIT Delhi on August 8, felicitating nine meritorious students while nearly 3,000 received degrees. The event sparked criticism after The Telegraph reported that…
The Story in Brief
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 57th convocation of IIT Delhi on August 8, felicitating nine meritorious students while nearly 3,000 received degrees. The event sparked criticism after The Telegraph reported that students were told how to bow while receiving medals and were asked to stand during Vedic chants. Security measures included bag checks, a ban on water bottles, and barricades on campus.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the instructions violated Article 28, which prohibits religious instruction in state-funded institutions, and undermined the scientific temper mandated by Article 51A(H). He urged students to resist such government actions.
The Indian Opinion
The row over IIT Delhi's convocation risks being reduced to a clash between tradition and secularism. The real issue is whether state-funded institutions can prescribe religious gestures. The instructions reportedly came from the institute, not the PM, but that does not absolve it of constitutional duty. The test is simple: will the institute explain the basis for these instructions, or will the government clarify its stance on Article 28?
Sources (2): siasat.com, telanganatoday.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
