Agartala (Tripura) [India], February 15 (HBTV): The idol of a Hindu deity Saraswati that’s being considered “vulgar” has kicked up a row in Tripura.

Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad staged a protest at the Tripura Government College of Art and Craft on Wednesday over purported vulgarity of an idol of Goddess Saraswati being worshipped in the college’s premises. 

Members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated student body ABVP protested against the idol of Goddess Saraswati placed in the government institute at Lichubagan. They claimed that it was "vulgar" and contrary to the spirit of Indian culture and religious sentiments. They are understood to have compelled the institute’s authorities to drape the idol in a saree. 

Dibakar Acharjee, joint secretary of the ABVP unit of the state, said the organisation strongly opposes any such initiative by educational institutions, hurting religious sentiments.

"As we all know, today is Basant Panchami and Goddess Saraswati is worshipped all over the country. In the very morning, we all got news that in the government art and craft college, the idol of Goddess Saraswati was sculptured in a very wrong and vulgar way. We instantly reached the location and stated our protest. We bound the college authority to stop the worship there and forced the students to rap a saree on the idol. We strongly protest against this type of initiative in any educational institution," he said. 

He further demanded Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha take strict action against the college’s authority. 

"It's our demand to the CM Dr Manik Saha to take strict action against the college authority and dismiss the principal too," he added.     

(ANI) This report is from a syndicated news feed. It has been edited for clarity.