A dispute has erupted at Nirmala College in Muvattupuzha, Kerala, after a request by Muslim students for a designated room to offer namaz was rejected by the college administration, leading to allegations of extremism from the BJP.
The controversy began when a group of female students from the Muslim community requested a room for prayer. When their request was denied, other students reportedly surrounded the college principal, Father Kannadan Francis.
Father Francis explained that the college had received a complaint about the use of a common room for namaz. He noted that a mosque is located just 200 meters from the college and that male students are permitted to pray there. However, the girls’ request to use a college room for their prayers was turned down because they claimed they were not allowed at the mosque. Father Francis stated, “We have told them the college cannot allow a room for prayers.”
The principal mentioned that the students who made the request were not affiliated with any specific student organization.
On Sunday, BJP state president K Surendran claimed that the demand was driven by “extremist elements” and accused the Left and Congress of supporting the request. He questioned, “Do colleges run by Muslim management provide prayer spaces for students from other religious communities? If Muslim groups are creating trouble in colleges, BJP will offer protection.”
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Muslim Students Federation (MSF) have distanced themselves from the issue. SFI state president K Anusree emphasized that the organization supports secularism on campuses and stated, “We are not associated with the demand raised at Nirmala College.”
