NEW DELHI — A major political controversy has erupted following advisories issued by leading academic institutions, including Delhi University (DU) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), urging students to refrain from participating in demonstrations at Jantar Mantar.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi sharply criticized the university administrations, warning officials against threatening students who exercise their constitutional and democratic rights.
University Advisories & Institutional Mandates
The advisories from central universities cite safety concerns, Supreme Court directives, and academic discipline amid ongoing national protests surrounding examination integrity:
-
Delhi University Caution: DU urged students and faculty to stay away from regulated assemblies at Jantar Mantar, warning that participation in unauthorized demonstrations could result in legal action, safety risks, and disruptions to academic progress.
-
JNU Code of Conduct: JNU issued a similar statement requesting its academic community to abide by Supreme Court guidelines on public demonstrations and exercise caution on social media, warning that violations could trigger disciplinary action under university bylaws.
-
Wider Campus Restrictions: Similar advisories were reported at IIT Roorkee—which clarified that its political neutrality guidelines are standard annual conduct rules—and IIT Madras, where student representatives were reportedly advised to remove protest-related posts from social media.
Political & Public Response
The restrictions have drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers, alumni, and prominent public figures who argue the directives stifle democratic expression:
-
Rahul Gandhi’s Statement: Targeting university authorities on social media, the Leader of Opposition questioned the intimidation of students for exercising democratic rights, stating that administrative officials “will be held accountable when the time comes.”
-
Parliamentary Opposition: Congress MP and DU alumnus Deepender Hooda condemned the advisory as misleading, challenging the legal premise that demonstrations at Jantar Mantar constitute a blanket “unlawful assembly.”
-
Civil Society Reactions: Film director and actor Pooja Bhatt publicly opposed the advisories, emphasizing that suppressing student voices poses a greater threat to their development and safety than peaceful political participation.
