A day after an ABVP poster on the Presidency University campus featuring an image of Swami Vivekananda was found defaced with offensive words scribbled on it, the RSS-affiliated outfit staged a protest on Wednesday blaming the SFI, a charge denied by the Left-wing student organisation.
SFI controls the Presidency University students' council with no elections held in the past few years.
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad functionary Swadhin Haldar said around 200 members held a protest in front of the university's College Street campus, alleging that slogans demanding "azadi" (freedom) were being raised at the institute and photos of spiritual leaders like Swami Vivekananda were being desecrated.
"Swami Vivekananda's photo was torn and derogatory words such as 'throw out garbage' were scribbled on it. We will not rest unless those behind this sacrilegious act are brought to book," Haldar said.
A member of the SFI Central Executive denied its involvement in the alleged defacement, asserting that the Left-wing student organisation holds Swami Vivekananda in high esteem.
He also alleged the ABVP might have staged the desecration to make inroads in the Presidency University.
"SFI is deeply patriotic. The whole episode is part of the ABVP's agenda to target a seat of liberal thought, values and democratic principles," he said and demanded the Presidency University authorities initiate a probe into the whole episode.