KARACHI: A day after Sindh University students from the Hindu community were rounded up for celebrating Holi, the National Student Federation is set to display a heart-rending gesture to show solidarity with the minority community.
The student organisation will form a human shield outside Swami Narayan Temple, Light House, in Karachi as people celebrate Holi at the grand temple.
PHOTO: NSF
“If the State cannot provide protection to minority communities, the public has to take a stand,” Central Organiser NSF Khurram Ali told The Express Tribune.
Amid increasing cases of violence and lack of security against their community, many Hindu families from Balochistan and Sindh have decided to migrate to India.
Read: Persecution forces 60 Hindu families to migrate to India
“Previously, members of minority communities used to come out and protest alone but with so much intolerance in society, the general public needs to join minority communities,” Khurram said.
PHOTO: NSF
“This way, all religious groups will stand united and show their dissent against the state.”
Yesterday, Holi celebrations were disrupted at the Sindh University when around a dozen students marking the festival were allegedly roughed up by the varsity’s private security guards with police having to be called in.
Associate Professor Amar Sindhu, who heads the philosophy department, told The Express Tribune that a couple of boys, one of whom had had his shirt torn, came to her complaining about how they had been roughed up. Under the impression that the guards and police may have stopped the students from celebrating Holi, she spoke to the varsity’s security chief Ghulam Nabi Kaka.
Read: Holi celebrations at Sindh University dirupted
Holi, the festival of colours, is a riotous celebration of the coming of spring and falls on the day after full moon annually in March. Revellers spray coloured powder and water on each other with great gusto, whilst adults extend the hand of peace.
Here are some pictures of Holi being celebrated in different parts of the country:
Children celebrating Holi in Karachi. PHOTO: ONLINE
People in Quetta celebrating Holi, also known as the Spring Festival of Colours. PHOTO: INP
A little girl thoroughly enjoys being splattered with colour. PHOTO: ONLINE
Karachi students to form human chain outside temple to protect Hindus celebrating Holi – The Express Tribune
