Rahul Gandhi Slams DU Advisory Asking Student To Stay Away From Protests

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday criticised Delhi University (DU) over its advisory asking students to stay away from protests at Jantar Mantar, accusing the university of threatening students for exercising their democratic rights.

In a post on X, Gandhi questioned the university’s move, saying, “How dare you threaten students for exercising their democratic rights?” He also warned that the university would be held accountable for its actions.

His remarks came a day after Delhi University issued an advisory urging students to avoid “unlawful assemblies” and demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, where protests demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan are underway.

What The Advisory Said

In its advisory shared on social media, DU said participating in such gatherings could invite legal action, pose risks to students’ personal safety and affect their academic progress and professional opportunities.

The university also cautioned students against fake and misleading content being circulated online and urged them to prioritise their safety and comply with the law.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) issued a similar advisory on Friday, asking students to avoid gatherings at or around Jantar Mantar. The university also warned that irresponsible use of social media could lead to legal action as well as disciplinary proceedings under its code of conduct.

The advisories come at a time when campuses across the country are witnessing heightened discussions around student participation in public protests and freedom of expression.

Criticism From Opposition And Others

The advisories have drawn criticism from several quarters.

Actor and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt said students’ safety would be better protected by allowing them to express their views rather than suppressing their voices.

Congress MP and Delhi University alumnus Deepender Hooda also criticised the advisory, questioning the university’s reference to Supreme Court directions and asking which ruling had declared demonstrations at Jantar Mantar as “blanket unlawful.”

Similar Advisories By Other Institutes

Earlier this week, IIT Roorkee issued an advisory reminding students, faculty and staff not to participate in political movements or make public statements on political issues without prior permission from the institute.

Following criticism, IIT Roorkee clarified that the communication was not a new directive and is issued every year at the start of the academic session under its existing conduct rules.

Separately, an IIT Madras student claimed that the institute’s Dean had asked students to remove Instagram posts expressing support for the Jantar Mantar protests. The institute has not officially responded to the claim.