Ranchi: A day after BJP-led students’ groups prevented annual fests at two premier educational institutes — St Xavier’s College and Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS) — JMM on Wednesday launched an attack on the ruling party, accusing it of being selective in banning cultural shows and college fests on the pretext of jawans who were martyred in the recent terror attacks in Pulwama JMM also questioned the role of Ranchi University vice-chancellor Ramesh Kumar Pandey in interfering in the affairs of an autonomous college. Alleging that Pandey buckled under the pressure of right wing groups, JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharjee demanded governor Droupadi Murmu to issue a show cause notice to the vice-chancellor.“Where was BJP’s nationalist sentiments when the organisers went ahead to hold Itkhori Mahotsav, a three-day annual cultural and religious fest in Chatra since Monday?” Bhattacharjee asked.“Why was BJP silent when another reputed institute, BIT Mesra , held its annual festival from February 14-17? What happened to BJP’s desh bhakti when RMC mayor and other officials took part in a gala cultural show in Morhabadi on February 17? Why did Prime Minister Narendra Modi not stop his Hazaribag rally where he announced sops like giving Rs 2,000 for a mobile phone scheme to farmers? Or why did the administration or BJP leaders didn’t stop Bharat Rang Mahotsav at Mohrabadi?” Bhattacharjee asked at a gathering of mediapersons here on Wednesday.“St Xavier’s college or XISS was targeted only because it is a minority college,” Bhattachrjee alleged. He said BJP and its student bodies are spreading tension by attacking institutes of reputes in the name of martyred jawans and national mourning. “The saffron party is using sacrifices made by the jawans to spread tension in the society,” he said.Questioning the role of the RU V-C, Bhattacharjee said, “He (Pandey) must explain under whose pressure, he came to office on a holiday (Ravidas Jayanti) and issued directives to St Xavier’s College to stop the fest. This is unbecoming of a V-C and we demand the governor, who is also the chancellor of the university, to show cause him and put him under suspension till he gives a satisfactory answer.”Pandey couldn’t be reached for his comments despite repeated attempts as phone remained switched off till the filing of this report.BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo , who on Monday had met Pandey, asking him to cancel the annual fest of St Xavier’s College, refuted JMM’s charges. “One shouldn’t read it on religious or caste lines. We had gone to request the V-C of Ranchi University to postpone/cancel the fest because a day before St Xavier’s College authorities had promised to cancel their cultural events but didn’t do so,” said Shahdeo.“As far as Itkhori fest is concerned, its entire format has been changed and the programme began with offering condolences to the martyrs following patriotic devotional songs. As far as cultural programmes in Morhabadi is concerned, I wasn’t aware of it,” he said.

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