Meghalaya: Lord Ganesha’s idol removed from NIT campus after protest from JSU

SHILLONG | OCTOBER 1, 2019:

An Idol of Lord Ganesha was removed on Monday by the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Meghalaya following a protest from local organisation in the Christian-majority State.

Earlier, on September 23, the idol was ceremoniously installed in the campus and later after three days of its installation, the Jaintia Students' Union objected and said that the idol could undermine the institute's secular fabric and incite communal sentiments among the students and staff belonging to other faiths.

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The students' union suggested that the idol should be replaced by a renowned personality from the field of science, humanities or literature.

NIT Meghalaya's Director B.B. Biswal declined to comment but a faculty member confirmed the removal to respect local sentiments.

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NIT Director had earlier justified the installation of the idol at a common passage of the renovated office rooms of the institute. The spot, he said, had been cleaned and some staff members suggested an idol of a deity would prevent people from making the place dirty again.

Source: TH