Kolkata, March 26 Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS, celebrated Ram Navami at Jadavpur University and near the main campus of Calcutta University, amid tight security arrangements.
At Jadavpur University, activists of the Revolutionary Students Front (RSF) gathered near the ABVP office on campus, during the prayers, and raised slogans alleging attempts to saffronize the university campus, known for its liberal thinking.
An ABVP spokesperson said, "There is no reason to give any importance to the Left outfit, which has no relevance among the present generation of students."
"We chose to ignore the slogans shouted by a few ultra-Left students who have lost all connection with ordinary students and their sentiments. Members of other communities, including Muslims, had no objection to the celebrations," said the spokesperson, Ananta Barui.
"The Left has no respect for our heritage, culture, values, and ethos. They do not respect our religious icons and are only sympathetic to a particular faith. That is their brand of secularism," he added.
University authorities declined to comment on the issue.
The ABVP has been observing Ram Navami on the Jadavpur University campus for the past few years.
At Calcutta University's College Street campus, ABVP members placed an idol of Ram Lala outside the main gate. Around 50 students and some other people offered prayers there.
"This was the first such initiative by the student body of the institution. We went ahead with the puja when the university authorities refused permission," said Barui.
A Calcutta University official said that the institute has no tradition of observing Ram Navami on campus, and hence permission was not given.
However, the ABVP spokesperson objected to this reasoning and said, "If other religious festivals can be celebrated on the campus, why can't we celebrate Ram Navami? Lord Rama cannot be separated from our hearts."
There was a strong police presence outside both campuses.