A notice was placed this week outside the hostel mess of South Asian University (SAU). In which it was told that non -veg food will not be served from the onset of Navratri to October 2. After this order, protest has started in students.

Students say that this decision is an attempt to impose religious practices on the international campus. According to the students, the notice shows that the administration banned non -veg food nine days before Navratri to avoid conflict.

Ban on non -veg food for nine days of Navratri

Students allege that this step reduces their choice of food and separates people who depend on non -veg food in hostel mess. One first year masters student said that this is not just a question of food.

This is an attempt to implement a special cultural and religious criteria, while this university represents India’s diversity and accepts students of all cultures. According to the students, the notice shows that the administration banned non -veg food nine days before Navratri to avoid conflict.

There was a collision between student groups before fish curry in mess

This dispute is reminiscent of violent incidents in the last few months. In February, there was a clash between the student groups over serving fish curry in Mess on Maha Shivaratri. Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested against serving non -veg on the day of Maha Shivaratri and tried to stop it by entering the dining hall.

After this, he clashed with the members of the Mess Committee, in which a woman student alleged that she was wrongly teased. After this incident, SAU ordered an internal inquiry.

Mess secretary Yashda Sawant fined Rs 5,000

In March, the university expelled Bangladeshi doctoral researcher Sudipto Das on charges of indiscipline and fined Mess Secretary Yashda Sawant Rs 5,000. The administration had said at that time that this step was taken to restore the system.

This temporary ban on non-veg food should be taken back- students

Students of South Asian University say that the university should respect their food and diversity rights. Student representatives have demanded from the administration that this temporary ban imposed on non -veg food should be withdrawn and students should be consulted before any such step in future.

This dispute has become the center of new debate over the sensitivity of cultural and religious diversity in the international campus. The university administration has not given any official statement in this matter at present.