A tense situation unfolded at Azim Premji University in Bengaluru after members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) entered the campus to protest against a proposed student discussion programme.
According to a report by Financial Express, the ABVP objected to the event, claiming it contained content that portrayed the Indian Army negatively and was “anti-national,” leading to protests, vandalism, and police intervention.
What triggered the protest?
Citing reports, Financial Express stated that the ABVP alleged that the university had allowed a student group to organise a discussion related to the Kunan Poshpora case.
The case is related to allegations that women in two villages of Kunan and Poshpora in Kashmir were allegedly gang-raped by security personnel in February 1991. ABVP members claimed the discussion was intended to criticise the Indian Army and promote views they described as anti-national.
The ABVP, which is affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, issued a statement before the protest, accusing the university of repeatedly hosting programmes that, in its view, questioned India's unity and integrity and targeted the armed forces. The group also alleged that such events supported Kashmir separatism.
According to local reports, the discussion was led by a reading circle.
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During the protest, some ABVP members allegedly smeared black ink on university signboards and spray-painted walls and signage inside the campus. Videos of the incident went viral on social media.
Security staff reportedly intervened to control the situation as tensions rose.
Police later detained around 25 ABVP members as a preventive measure to avoid further escalation, according to media reports. As an added security step, two platoons of the State Reserve Police were deployed on the campus.
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Responding to the controversy, Azim Premji University in a statement clarified that it had not granted permission for any such programme.
In an official statement, the university said that those who entered the campus were protesting against an event they believed was scheduled to take place, but no approval had been given and the programme did not occur at all.
The university also condemned the disruption and acts of vandalism, stating that such actions were unacceptable and went against the principles of a safe and respectful academic environment.
After the proposed discussion was cancelled, a large number of students gathered inside the campus to protest against the actions of the ABVP. The protest was led by the All India Students' Association (AISA).
AISA leaders accused the ABVP of attempting to suppress free discussion and create fear among students.
Speaking to Financial Express, Aratrika, general secretary of AISA's Bengaluru unit, described the incident as a clash of ideologies and said the ABVP was trying to shut down open academic debate on campus.
In a separate statement, the ABVP alleged that meetings were being organised by Spark, a student group it said was linked to AISA, to spread what it described as anti-national ideas.
The ABVP claimed the proposed discussion aimed to criticise Operation Sindoor and promote Naxal and Maoist ideologies. It argued that such programmes could mislead young students and demanded that the university's official recognition be withdrawn.
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