NEW DELHI, July 8: The Madhya Pradesh government has intervened into the complaints of a private college having fined some hostellers for arranging a gathering without permission for group recital of “Hanuman Chalisa.”
Reacting to the management of Vellore Institute of Technology at Kothri Kalan, about 60 kilometres from Bhopal, having penalised some hostellers for arranging a gathering without permission — for a group recital of Hanuman Chalisa — the government said there would be no fine. “Where will students recite Hanuman Chalisa if not in Hindustan,” said Home Minister Narottam Mishra speaking to reporters in Bhopal on Friday.
The management of the private college had said the students can otherwise pray as they please, but no group event was permitted even inside hostel rooms without permission. Around 20 students had gathered, and the college fined seven of them ₹ 5,000 each.
The minister said, “The issue isn’t what it’s being seen as. It was just that there were complaints about noise. Some students’ parents had also called up the college officials.” “We’ve told the college there will be no fine. They should make students understand the issue. I have also told the District Collector to inquire,” he added.
(Manas Dasgupta)
