Gujarat University VC Claims Ignorance Of Local Culture Might Have Led To Violence Against Foreign Students

Indian journalist Rana Ayyub today took to her social media platform, expressing her dismay over the statement of the Vice Chancellor of Gujarat University on the recent violence against the foreign students at the varsity while they were performing namaz.

Vice-Chancellor Neerja Gupta today said that the namaz could not have been the only provocation for the violence against the foreign students at the campus hostel. The Vice Chancellor stated that the ignorance of local culture by foreign students might have led to the incident, claiming that the foreign students might eat non-vegetarian food and dump the remnants, triggering provocation among the vegetarian people. she further said that the foreign students at the university need to be mentored and culturally sensitised about the food habits and conduct of the local people, Indian Express reported.

Notably, the assumption of Neerja Gupta by which she indirectly justified the perpetrators actions has surprised many. Journalist Rana Ayyub in her post on X (foremerly Twitter) called the Vice Chancellor’s statement as an “expected line.” “The Vice Chancellor of Gujarat University trying to pin the blame on the foreign students who were attacked while offering prayers,” she wrote, sharing news of the VC’s statement.

On expected lines, the Vice Chancellor of Gujarat University trying to pin the blame on the foreign students who were attacked while offering prayers.

“Foreign students at Gujarat University need to be “mentored” and culturally sensitised about food habits and conduct” pic.twitter.com/2FhgrZWLNA

— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) March 19, 2024

The incident happened on Saturday as a group of people allegedly entered the Gujarat University hostel and attacked the foreign students. A video captured by one of the students showed the mob destroying the vehicles belonging to them. Five students sustained injuries and have been taken to hospital.

However, Gujarat police have arrested several people in connection with the incident. An FIR under relevant sections of the unlawful assembly, voluntarily causing hurt, damage to property and criminal trespass has been registered against 25 people.

After the video of the incident went viral on social media, the External Affairs Ministry in a statement assured that the Gujarat government is taking strict action against the perpetrators. Several organisations had condemned the attack on the international students while performing namaz.