Students Of Jamia Millia Islamia University Protest Against Right Wing Activists Raising Communal Slogans

The controversy over the portrait of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah reached Jamia Millia Islamia University campus. The Indian Express reported that on May 8, a group of 20-25 people reached the University campus and chanted communal slogans.

The protest took place near Gate 7 of the campus. The group raised slogans like ‘Jinnah premi desh chhodo’ (Jinnah lovers quit the country) and ‘Hindustan ko darana bandh karo’ (stop threatening India).

An RSS member, Rahul Tiwari, who claimed to be a postgraduate student of the University was among those who led the march. His Facebook post read “Jin bhi bandhuon ko Jinnah ka samarthan karna hai evam Jamia ke Hindu vidyarthiyon ko dhamkana hai, aaj shaam 6 baje Jullena Evergreen Sweets aaye, unki sutayi ka poora bandobast rakha gaya hai.” (All those who want to respect Jinnah and threaten Hindu students, come to Jullena Evergreen Sweets at 6 pm. We are prepared to beat you up.)

Rahul Tiwari told The Indian Express that the part about beating students up was written sarcastically but he admitted that he did start the protest. ABVP, the student wing of RSS, condemned the slogans. “Such communal slogans should not have been raised. We condemn this,” said Asif Aftab, Jamia ABVP unit secretary.

Media Coordinator Saima Saeed said, “These unidentified people didn’t enter the campus, only marched on the road and crossed a university gate.”

Angry students

By night the Jamia campus became filled with students protesting and demanding action against the slogan shouters. An online campaign was started by many students. With placards in their hands, the Hindu students came forward and said that they don’t support ABVP and feel safe in Jamia with the hashtag #IAmWithJamia and #WeAreOne

Hindu students of Delhi's prestigious Jamia Millia Islamia send a very clear message to those trying to spread hate. Pose with placards, "I'm a Hindu, I am safe in Jamia"#WeAreOne #IStandWithJamia campaign pic.twitter.com/wUdxsFAHnN

— SaahilMurli Menghani (@saahilmenghani) May 9, 2018

On May 3, students of Jamia had staged a protest march against Hindu Yuva Vahini and its hand in the ruckus at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) as well as high-handedness of the Uttar Pradesh Police. Hundreds of students, including some from AMU, participated in the stir.