NEW DELHI: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), long synonymous with ideological battles and political flashpoints, has once again found itself at the centre of a national controversy after videos surfaced showing students raising what the administration described as “highly objectionable, provocative and inflammatory” slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Reacting sharply, the JNU administration on January 6 condemned the sloganeering and vowed the “strictest action” against those found involved, including immediate suspension, expulsion, or even permanent debarment from the university. The administration has also sought police action, writing to the Delhi Police to register an FIR under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
In a strongly worded statement posted on JNU’s official X handle, the university drew a clear line between dissent and disorder. “Universities are centres for innovation and new ideas, and they cannot be permitted to be converted into laboratories of hate. Freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right,” the statement read, adding, “But any form of violence, unlawful conduct or anti-national activity will not be tolerated under any circumstances.”
According to the university’s complaint to the police, the incident took place on January 5, night at the Sabarmati premises during a programme titled “A Night of Resistance with Guerrilla Dhaba,” organised by students allegedly linked to the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU).
The gathering initially appeared to be a small commemoration of the January 5, 2020, campus violence, with around 30–35 students present. However, the administration alleged that the atmosphere changed dramatically after the Supreme Court rejected the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. Soon after, a group of students allegedly began chanting provocative slogans targeting the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.
The university claimed the slogans were deliberate, repeated, and amounted to wilful disrespect for constitutional institutions, even bordering on contempt of the Supreme Court. Security officials were present at the site and monitored the situation, and the chief security officer has been directed to cooperate fully with the police investigation.
In its communication to the Station House Officer of Vasant Kunj (North), the JNU administration said the sloganeering was “wholly inconsistent with democratic dissent” and violated the university’s code of conduct. It warned that such acts had the potential to disturb public order, campus harmony, and the safety and security environment of the university.
The administration also said that several students, including the current JNUSU president, were identified during the programme. The incident triggered sharp reactions from BJP leaders and Union ministers, who accused the protesters of crossing the line from dissent into anti-national activity.
Delhi Law Minister Kapil Mishra said the sloganeering reflected frustration after the Supreme Court’s decision. “Snakes are being crushed and the snakelets are screaming,” Mishra said, adding that those chanting slogans in support of “criminals, Naxalites and terrorists” deserved severe punishment.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said protesting against a Supreme Court verdict was unacceptable and warned that undermining court orders could weaken democratic institutions. Education Minister Ashish Sood said while protest against government policies was permissible, there must be decorum and respect for the nation.
BJP MLA Karnail Singh accused the protesters of attempting to spread disorder, while party leader Harish Khurana called for strict action against what he termed “anti-national activities.” Union Minister Giriraj Singh went further, alleging that certain opposition parties had turned the JNU campus into a hub for those seeking to “break the country.”
