AMU does U-turn, grants permission to hold Holi celebrations after facing backlash from Hindus over initial refusal
Aligarh Muslim University student Akhil Kaushal stated that “On February 25, AMU students had written to AMU VC seeking permission to organise the ‘Holi Milan’ program on March 9. Permission was denied.”
Expressing their anger over the denial of permission to celebrate Holi within the campus, Hindu students protested in large numbers against Aligarh Muslim University which denied permission for the Holi Milan event. Venting their anger, the students stated that the same AMU organises Iftar parties and celebrates other Muslim festivals.
Hindu Students protest in large numbers against Aligarh Muslim University which denied permission for the Holi Milan event , the same AMU which organises Iftar parties and other Muslim festivals. pic.twitter.com/DNToWT20zG
— Viक़as (@VlKAS_PR0NAM0) March 6, 2025
In wake of the mounting pressure and facing severe backlash, the proctor of AMU issued a statement in which he has clarified that the Holi celebrations will take place in the AMU campus. AMU’s proctor, Prof. Mohd Wasim Ali, stated, “The university never puts any restrictions on celebrating any festival, be it Holi, Diwali, Eid, or any other festival…All the students on the campus celebrate their festivals with all the rituals. On 13th and 14th March, the NRSC club has provided its hall to celebrate Holi. All the students are completely free on the campus to celebrate Holi. A wrong narrative is being set that they need permission to celebrate Holi. As there is no restriction, the students don’t need any permission…”
#WATCH | Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh | AMU's proctor, Prof. Mohd Wasim Ali, says, "The university never puts any restrictions on celebrating any festival, be it Holi, Diwali, Eid, or any other festival…All the students on the campus celebrate their festivals with all the rituals. On… pic.twitter.com/KAqFyv9qNC
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 8, 2025
Earlier, local BJP MP Satish Gautam openly came out in support of Holi celebrations in AMU. He categorically said that “no one can stop anyone from celebrating Holi inside the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campus”. “If any Hindu student faces any problem in celebrating Holi inside the campus, then I am there to help him.”
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh | On AMU denies permission for Holi event, Aligarh MP Satish Gautam says, "In AMU, Hindus are completely free to celebrate Holi. There is no restriction. Last year, when Hindus celebrated Holi, they were beaten up. Today, when they went to seek permission… pic.twitter.com/ONuPXo0rM4
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 7, 2025
Rift in Congress over Holi celebrations in AMU
The Congress party seems to be divided over the issue with regards to the Holi celebrations at AMU. Local Congress leader and former Aligarh MLA Vivek Bansal blamed the BJP of “deliberately” stoking controversy and termed it “unfortunate”.
However, Congress leader Sandeep Dixit openly came out in support of having Holi celebrations at AMU.
"AMU administration has no right to stop Holi celebrations. It should be allowed to celebrate on campus. Every person has right to follow religious festivals as per traditional practices"- Sandeep Dikshit
He is another Right man in Wrong Party….after Shashi Tharoor. pic.twitter.com/6tZxN57PJu
— BhikuMhatre (@MumbaichaDon) March 7, 2025
He categorically said, AMU administration has no right to stop Holi celebrations. It should be allowed to celebrate on campus. Every person has right to follow religious festivals as per traditional practices.