After organising Iftar party, Banaras Hindu University bans Holi celebrations on campus, revokes order after facing backlash
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India 
27 February, 2023
Case Summary
On 28th February 2023, the Banaras Hindu University at Varanasi issued an order prohibiting students from celebrating Holi inside the campus. The university administration said that action would be taken against those who defy this order. The university administration's decision triggered massive outrage among the students and on social media. People also pointed out that the same Banaras Hindu University had organised an Iftar party last year. However, on Thursday, 3rd March 2023, students defied the ban and celebrated Holi on campus and in individual hostels. A day after, BHU withdrew the order banning the celebration of Holi inside the campus after it faced backlash from students, teachers and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been placed under the sub-category 'Restriction on expression of Hindu identity' under the prime category, 'Restriction/ban on Hindu practices' of the hate tracker. An example of the state-affected prejudicial and targeted orders against the Hindu community would be a government denying the right of a Hindu or a group of Hindus to hold a religious procession owing to the animosity of non-Hindu groups. Denial of the religious right of the Hindus to assuage the non-Hindu group which harbours animosity to a point where it could lead to violence against Hindus is not only a failure of law and order but is a prejudicial order against Hindus, denying them their fundamental rights to express their religious identity. An example of a hate crime against Hindus by a non-Hindu would be a non-Hindu institution forcing its Hindu employees to abandon religious symbols that a Hindu would wear as an expression of faith owing to inherent prejudice against the faith professed by the victim or a non-Hindu group of people restricting a Hindu group from constructing a place of worship simply because the demography of the area in which the temple is being built is dominated by non-Hindus. Such actions are driven by religious animosity and/or prejudice against Hindus and their faith and would therefore be categorized as a hate crime. Here, the Banaras Hindu University administration banned the celebration of Holi for the Hindu students on campus. The year before, the same university had hosted an Iftar celebration for the students of the Muslim community. All educational institutions are required to treat every religious community equally and with respect. BHU's decision can only be interpreted as discriminatory and pandering to the minority community. Further, every individual has the right to celebrate their own festival and restricting someone from doing that can also be considered a prejudicial order denying the Hindu community its fundamental rights. Since the arbitrary action taken against the Hindu students was prejudicial to the rights of Hindus and stemmed from animosity and prejudice against Hindu beliefs, this case is being categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime. It is pertinent to note here that BHU is a government funded entity and therefore, the perpetrator in this case would be the state and establishment.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
State and Establishment
Perpetrators Range
N/A
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
