HK Arts Collage, Ahmedabad on Sunday cancelled its annual festival after students from BJP protested against an invitation issued to Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani as chief guest.
The event at HK Arts College was cancelled after the trust governing the institution refused to provide a hall, allegedly after pressure from Bharatiya Janata Party student leaders, The Indian Express reported.
The annual festival was to be held on Monday, principal Hemant Kumar Shah told Indian Express. “We had invited Jignesh Mevani for the same 15-20 days back after he consented to be the chief guest,” he said.
“We wanted to invite him since he is a former student of the college. However, some student leaders who are from BJP, who did not like this and who are actively associated with Gujarat University, gave threats to the trust and to me, saying they will create ruckus at the function even if there is police presence.”
The principal who resigned following the incident called the incident “murder of democracy”. “Any person is free to voice his/her thoughts,” he said.
“Because of threat calls made by BJP goons, tustees of H.K.Arts college, Ahmedabad I graduated from canceled the annual function where I was invited as chief guest. I Was going to talk about life and mission of Baba saheb Ambedkar. Salute to Principal Hemant Shah who resigned on moral ground. ” Jignesh Mevani said.
