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Swarajya Staff
May 13, 2021, 02:00 PM | Updated 01:59 PM IST
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Hindu students at various British Universities have launched a campaign urging action against the bigoted and derogatory comments of the controversial Hinduphobic faculty Abhijit Sarkar.
A video has been shared on the official Twitter handle of Hindus on Campus, a student-led movement that aims to create a safe space for diaspora Hindus, where two students can be heard demanding strict action against the oxford faculty.
They stated that the bigoted statements put out by Sarkar have compromised a safe space for Hindu students on Oxford university campuses. They also questioned whether Sarkar upheld the values of this prestigious college by making such statements.
Hindu students are delivering flyers at New College, Oxford University, urging action against the bigoted and derogatory comments of Abhijit Sarkar. They ask, does Sarkar uphold the values of this prestigious college? pic.twitter.com/eCtnHrEFw3
— Hindu On Campus (@hinduoncampus) May 12, 2021
Sarkar, a Indian origin history lecturer at the Oxford University, had also led the Hinduphobic campaign against Rashmi Sawant, who had become the first Indian to have been elected the president of Oxford student union.
The hate campaign and targeted online abuse had resulted in the resignation of Samant from the Student’s Union.
Notably, Sarkar had led the charge against Samant, virtually dehumanising her and painting a target on her back. Sarkar who proudly boasts of having broken Saraswati idols has been accused of inciting religious hatred and bullying and harassment of Samant.
Soon after the controversy, Samant came back to India and had to be hospitalised due to stress.
She says that she doesn't feel safe going back to Oxford and that Sarkar's statement emboldened other students to continue their defamatory statements.
@UniofOxford as a former Visiting Fellow at Oxford I find faculty exhibiting views like this overtly against my faith indeed any faith, obscene offensive and probably criminal incitement to hatred. No Vice Chancellor should permit this. pic.twitter.com/kxEwyGsf0k
— Alpesh B. Patel (@alpeshbp) March 1, 2021
At the same time, Sarkar also became involved in a controversy after several of his old misogynistic and vile tweets resurfaced on the internet.