A skit performed by undergraduate students at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, that claimed to give a modern and comic spin to Ramleela has triggered anger on social media, prompting the students to apologise.

The AIIMS Student Association issued an apology on Sunday after video clips of the skit performed in the hostel quadrangle on the occasion of Dusshera drew widespread social media condemnation for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

“On behalf of the students, we apologise for the conduct of this skit which was not meant to hurt anyone’s sentiments,” the association tweeted. “We will ensure that no such activity takes place in the future.”

A postgraduate doctor and senior resident at AIIMS said the skit was only an amateur effort by undergraduate students to have some fun on the occasion of Dusshera through what they believed was comedy.

“It was enacted within the hostel premises and was never intended for public dissemination,” the senior resident said. “But someone posted it on social media and what happened thereafter reflects the times we are living in.”

Many attacked the students via social media. One person tweeted that the AIIMS students had made fun of the Ramayan in a “brutal way”.

Another tweeted: “Getting ranks and joining (a) reputed institute is just evidence you are studious and not evidence for your culture, upbringing…”Taking note of the matter, the AIIMS administration held a discussion with the students, an official said.

“The students realised the sensitivity of the issue and apologised through a tweet. They have assured that such an incident won’t recur,” the official said.

He said the skit was not part of any official activity or event of AIIMS and the students had organised it on their own.