New Delhi, November 1:

At least five students and private security persons were injured and a debate in the run-up to student union elections was unceremoniously stopped at the Jawaharlal Nehru University here after students clashed following a debate on Lord Rama’s existence.

The presidential debate — which is widely considered the basis for getting elected to the varsity student union — was halted for the first time in recent history.

“The Bahujan Samaj Front presidential candidate demeaned Lord Rama during the debate and when we (ABVP) asked him about his faith in Ram, he said ‘Ram is a Saitan’. Then we dragged him out of the podium,” said Manoj Kumar, Akhil Bhar-atiya Vidyarthi Parishad veep.