Vandals struck Delhi University’s St Stephen’s College and defaced the door of the chapel with ‘Mandir Yahin Banega’ graffiti on Friday.
‘Mandir Yahin Banega’ refers to a socio-political slogan which is used in reference to construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
The vandalism was not restricted to the chapel door, a cross located outside the chapel was also found defaced with words ‘I’m going to hell’ along with an ‘Om’ symbol.
Students Union President Sai Aashirwaad said inflammatory quotes like ‘Mandir Yahi Banega’ were found written on the chapel’s main door, while an ‘Om’ symbol along with the words ‘I’m going to hell’ was found on the cross behind the chapel on Friday.
“The messages, however, were removed on Saturday,” he said.
The college administration had announced preparatory holidays for students from 28 April, with only those having practical exams still attending the college.
The vandalism controversy comes in the wake of Muhammad Ali Jinnah portrait row in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
On Friday, internet services were suspended in Aligarh district in the wake of unrest after groups clashed with each in Aligarh Muslim University over Jinnah portrait row.
Tension prevailed in Aligarh and students continued with their sit-in at the university’s Baab-e-Syed gate, where they had clashed with the police on Wednesday.
The row started after local BJP MP Satish Gautam wrote to AMU Vice Chancellor Tariq Mansoor raising objections to the portrait.
Objecting to the portrait, the Aligarh MP asked the Vice Chancellor to explain the presence of the portrait adding that after India’s Partition, there is no justification for displaying the picture of Pakistan’s creator.
In the letter, the BJP leader said that he wanted to know under what circumstances the portrait of Jinnah was still placed in the university.