Lucknow University professor heckled over Kashi temple-mosque issue

In the video, Kant said that his voice was suppressed because he is a Dalit. Professor Ravi Kant Chandan said his statement was edited out and a clip shared suggesting he was hurting Hindu sentiments.

Lucknow University professor heckled over Kashi temple-mosque issue

Lucknow University associate professor was heckled by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's student wing for his comments on the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque controversy in a debate hosted on a social media platform. A video showed several students raising slogans against the professor, demanding action against him for the comments during the debate.

The student group was seen raising slogans like "Desh ke gaddaron ko...goli maaro s***** ko (shoot dead traitors)" in the video that is now making rounds on social media. The protest emerged after Lucknow University Associate Professor of Hindi Ravi Kant quoted a story from a book called "Feathers and Stones" by Pattabhi Sitaramayya,  about why Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi was demolished by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb during the debate.

He further said that he could not corroborate the story independently, as the story in the book stated that a rape had happened inside the temple when Aurangzeb was passing through Varanasi. Professor Ravi Kant Chandan said his statement was edited out and a clip shared suggesting he was hurting Hindu sentiments

"He has a communist mindset and this is a disease. He used his post to comment on Hindu traditions. He commented about Kashi Vishwanath temple yesterday. What is this mentality that tries to divide society?" a student leader from ABVP was filmed saying during the protest at Lucknow University, as reported by NDTV.

In the video, Kant said that his voice was suppressed because he is a Dalit. 

"I made a statement quoting a story from a book about how the mosque came to be constructed in Varanasi. That statement and the reference to the book were edited out and a clip was shared suggesting I was hurting Hindu sentiments. I had no such intention. I was merely referring to a story, not even a factual account," the professor said.

"Despite this, students of the ABVP and outsiders came here and raised objectionable slogans. With the help of the police, I spoke to the students and asked them to see the whole clip and expressed regret if anyone's sentiments were hurt. I did post the incident on Facebook. I am a Dalit and follow the values of Baba Saheb's Constitution and I feel my voice is being suppressed, being from this community," the professor said in the statement.

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