College mag withdrawn as Hindu outfits protest 'anti-Hindu'

Authorities of an Engineering College at Kothamangalam near here have withdrawn a college magazine following protests by some Hindu outfits alleging that its contents were anti-Hindu.

Announcing the decision to withdraw the 2017-18 magazine, authorities of the Mar Athanasius College of Engineering said certain remarks in the magazine were against the ideas and views of the college.

Right wing outfits alleged that the magazine had carried articles targeting the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple and Hindu belief.

The Christian management of the college has allowed publication of articles hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus, they alleged.

Leader of Hindu Aikyavedi, K P Sasikala had taken out a protest march at Kothamangalam recently seeking withdrawal of the magazine and action against those responsible for publishing such articles.

She claimed that no articles relating to controversies surrounding other religions were included in the magazine and only the Hindu faith was attacked.

Rhwithwik M S, a student leader who was part of the editorial team of the magazine, said it discussed issues including the Supreme Court judgment permitting entry of women of all age groups into the Lord Ayyappa temple from a "progressive point of view."