By Sahid Faris
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has issued a controversial memorandum warning students against raising slogans or organising protests targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and law enforcement agencies on its campus.
The directive, signed by Registrar Mahtab Alam Rizvi and dated November 29, explicitly prohibits demonstrations against “constitutional dignitaries” without prior approval, warning of strict disciplinary action for violations.
The memorandum was released in the aftermath of recent protests organised by student groups, condemning the police firing in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district. The incident, which occurred during a protest against a survey at the Shahi Jama Masjid, resulted in the deaths of six Muslim youth. The university’s decision to crack down on protests has ignited a fierce debate over students’ rights to dissent.
The memorandum stated, “No protests, dharnas, or raising slogans against any constitutional dignitaries shall be allowed in any part of the University campus. Otherwise, disciplinary action against such erring students shall be initiated as per provision of the University rules.”
The document also referred to an earlier directive from August 2022, which similarly required prior approval for protests or gatherings on campus.
The directive has been met with strong criticism from student organisations and civil society groups.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) Jamia chapter condemned the administration’s move, calling it an attempt to stifle democratic spaces within the university.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.
