Vandalism writ large on base of Swami Vivekananda statue
The statue, which is covered in a saffron-coloured cloth, is located at the varsity's administrative block.
New Delhi: Objectionable messages were found written on the pedestal of a yet-to-be-unveiled statue of Swami Vivekananda on the JNU campus on Thursday. There was no immediate reaction from the varsity’s administration over the incident, which came to light after a video went viral. The statue, which is covered in a saffron-coloured cloth, is located at the varsity’s administrative block.
Representatives of JNUSU denied their involvement in the incident and said they will issue a statement soon. The incident, which came to light after a video of the messages at the statue’s base went viral, triggered a blame game between the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Left-backed JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU).
Heeraman Tiwari, dean at the JNU’s school of management, said that he was shocked to see the “vandalised” statue and the writings at its base.
“Shocked beyond belief & with tears in my eyes: went there to express my horror & perhaps to meditate what kind of JNU students would vandalise the statue of #SwamiVivekananda ji, an inspiration & icon of our youth. Notice the marks on the left shoe of the statue. Ashamed, once again (sic),” he tweeted.