Ram Mandir Ceremony: IIT Bombay allowed ‘Shobha Yatra’ on Sunday, says Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle

NEW DELHI: The Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC) has claimed that the Indian Institute of Technology has allowed to organise a ‘Shobha Yatra’ on the campus. The event will be organised tomorrow. The APPSC alleged that the institute administration is peddling “lies” regarding the event.

APPSC on X, formerly known as Twitter, said, “IIT Bombay administration is clearly lying to the media that they haven't given permission for the ‘Shobha Yatra’ and no official event is happening. The students have received an official invitation mail today for the Shri Ram shobha yatra. Why these lies?”

The students’ body also shared an invite email to join the ‘Shobha Yatra’ on the X. The mail has allegedly been received by IIT Bombay students. The mail read, “It is a pleasure to inform you that a ‘Shobha Yatra’, a procession, will take place on Sunday, January 21, starting from hostels 12/13/14, passing through the hillside near Shri Hanuman Mandir and culminating in Shri Padmavati Mandir. This yatra will feature children dressed as characters of Ramayan and will be accompanied by traditional instruments. The yatra will start from the hostels at 4 pm and will conclude at the Padmavati Mandir around 7.30 pm.”

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The APPSC added that a banner announcing a series of events over the weekend leading up to the main event (Consecration of Lord Ram idol at Ayodhya Temple) on Monday. The banner mentions that a ‘Shobha Yatra’ and a ‘Deepotsav’ will be held on Sunday and a ‘Sundarkand Path’ will be conducted on Monday. The live telecast of the Ayodhya event will be held on Monday, the student’s body said.

The APPSC mentions in a statement that IIT bombay authorities have said that these (events) are not an official and no permission has been granted. IIT Bombay had recently come out with interim guidelines announcing that it would "remain apolitical in all its endeavours" and has been using it to censor academic talks and gatherings on the campus, the APPSC said.