Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has strongly criticized the Modi government, alleging that it is leveraging respected academic institutions like Delhi University (DU) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) for political propaganda. This accusation follows advisories issued by both universities, cautioning students against participating in protests at Jantar Mantar.
The advisories from DU and JNU warned students that involvement in such demonstrations could lead to significant academic repercussions and legal action. DU's advisory specifically mentioned that protesting could invite legal action and "significantly impact academic progress." Similarly, JNU stated that "violations may invite legal consequences under applicable laws as well as disciplinary action under the university’s code of conduct."
Kharge took to social media, stating, "Students are on ground zero, because the Modi Govt is now using these much-respected universities as propaganda outlets to bully them." He further added that instead of addressing the education system's issues, the government was "denigrating our centres of learning."
The advisories sparked widespread backlash from students, alumni, and opposition leaders. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condemned DU's stance, questioning, "How dare you threaten students for exercising their democratic rights?" He emphasized that those issuing threats would be held accountable.
The broader context of these student protests includes demands for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over recent paper leaks. Opposition parties, led by Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, held demonstrations on Parliament House premises, advocating for a discussion on the issue in both Houses of Parliament. This came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans for a strong bill to implement stringent punishments against paper leaks.