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The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Thought police: on a professor's arrest
In an unconscionable act, a professor of political science at Ashoka University, Ali Khan Mahmudabad, was arrested on Sunday by the Haryana Police after two separate first information reports (FIR) were registered against him in Sonipat. These FIRs were over his social media posts in connection with Operation Sindoor. The first message analysed the strategic reasons for India's Operation Sindoor as it had to tackle a Pakistan regime — led by the military — that has sought to hide behind non-state actors while promoting terror in India. It also noted how the empanelment of Muslim military officers in India's press briefings showcased the pluralist vision of the country, even though this was in contrast with the communal reality that Muslims face in many parts of India in recent years. The second post condemned the 'blind bloodlust for war' by some netizens following the ceasefire, while arguing that only the world's military-industrial complex benefited from war and that both Hindu and Islamic scriptures emphasised that patience and restraint are virtues in conflict. There is nothing objectionable in his posts that were lucid and patriotic calls for an inclusive India and evinced an understanding that India has been forced to target terror-hubs in Pakistan by removing the distinction between terrorists and the larger terrorist infrastructure backed by Pakistan's military regime. The Haryana Police's move was based on complaints by office-bearers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Yuva Morcha and the Haryana State Women Commission Chairperson Renu Bhatia, which said that the posts were disparaging to women in uniform and attributed malicious intent to the Indian government. This is plainly false, and there should have been little basis for the Haryana Police to have acted on these complaints, if they had cared to read and understand the clear messages in the posts. It is also alarming that the arrests have been made on charges that are related to endangering the country's sovereignty and integrity, and promoting enmity between different groups — akin to the charges of sedition levelled against dissidents in the recent past. Too often, and very wrongly, the charge of sedition has been used by law enforcement agencies across India to quell dissent and the professor's travails are symptomatic of a pernicious trend in recent years, especially in States ruled by the BJP. His arrest is also a reflection of the worsening state of academic freedoms, where critical understanding and reflections in institutes of higher education on the policies and the actions of the state and governments have been frowned upon and even criminalised in some cases. On Monday, the Supreme Court of India agreed to urgently hear the professor's case against his arrest. The Court must reiterate the importance of the freedom of expression and come down heavily on law enforcement agencies that misuse powers to slap serious charges related to sedition, on frivolous grounds.
Scroll.in
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Ashoka University students demand professor's release, call arrest ‘wrongful'
A day after Ashoka University Associate Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad was arrested, his students described the action as 'wrongful' and demanded his release. Mahmudabad, the head of Ashoka University's political science department, was on Sunday remanded to police custody for two days for his comments about the press briefings on Operation Sindoor. In a statement shared on social media by Arpita Das, who also teaches at the university, the students from Mahmudabad's course – Banish the Poets – said his arrest violated 'not just academic freedom, but…very principles he taught us and stands for'. @Mahmudabad 's students this semester have written a beautiful and strong message in solidarity with their beloved professor. The class was called Banish the Poets. Have a read! Faculty and students, we all stand in solidarity with him. — Arpita Das (she/her) (@arpitayodapress) May 19, 2025 The students stated that Mahmudabad 'never expressed any disrespect for the nation or the Constitution, nor did he ever teach us such disrespect'. Throughout the course, 'professor Khan lectured on love, consistently emphasising secular values such as reason, compassion, justice, and freedom of thought as the foundation of meaningful dialogue', they added. Demanding his release, the students said the university should stand by him, 'for him and the ideals he embodies, we harbour hope'. Case against the professor Mahmudabad has been booked in two cases for his comments about the media briefings on the Indian military operation against terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir initiated in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam attack. One of the cases was filed based on a complaint by Yogesh Jatheri, the general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Yuva Morcha unit in Haryana. The second case was filed on the basis of a complaint by Renu Bhatia, the chairperson of the Haryana State Women's Commission. Mahmudabad faces charges under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to acts prejudicial to maintaining communal harmony, making assertions likely to cause disharmony, acts endangering national sovereignty and words or gestures intended to insult a woman's modesty among others. On May 8, in a social media post, Mahmudabad had highlighted the apparent irony of Hindutva commentators praising Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who had represented the Army during the media briefings about the Indian military operation. 'Perhaps they could also equally loudly demand that the victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing and others who are victims of the Bharatiya Janata Party's hate mongering be protected as Indian citizens,' he had said. Mahmudabad had said that the optics of the press briefings by Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh were important, 'but optics must translate to reality on the ground otherwise it's just hypocrisy'. The Haryana women's panel had accused the professor of attempting to 'vilify national military actions'. Renu Bhatia said that he ignored the panel's summons on May 14. She further said that when the commission visited the university on May 15, he did not appear before it. Mahmudabad, however, said that he only exercised his fundamental right to freedom of speech in order to promote peace and harmony. The professor maintained that his remarks had been ' completely misunderstood ' by the commission and that its notice failed to highlight how his posts were 'contrary to the right of or laws for women'. On Monday, the Supreme Court accepted a request for an early hearing of a petition by Mahmudabad. Advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned the case before a bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih. Sibal told the court that cases were filed against the professor for 'an entirely patriotic statement' on the operation by the Indian armed forces.
New Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Channi ‘missing' no more! MP puts rumours to rest
It has been around 10 months since Charanjit Singh Channi got elected as a Member of Parliament from Jalandhar. But it seems like he can't catch a break. Posters declaring the former Punjab Chief Minister 'missing' were plastered across the city by his political detractors recently. BJP Punjab's Yuva Morcha put up such posters in localities up and down the Jalandhar Cantt Assembly segment. The controversy blew up further as former MP and saffron party leader Sushil Kumar Rinku shared similar posters on social media. Channi shrugged off the criticism, quipping, 'I hope that engaging in such activities helps BJP leaders get some publicity.' Wow! Punjab government employees available on phone 24x7 Do you feel bugged if you get a work-related call beyond the office hours? If yes, count yourself lucky in case you don't work for the Punjab government. The state has ordered its employees to remain available on their mobile phones at all times, including on public holidays. They have been forbidden from switching off their phones. Sources say it was the Personnel Department that issued these instructions. Besides, administrative secretaries of the departments concerned have been asked to ensure compliance with the directions. The urgency of certain administrative tasks has been cited as the reason behind the move. The revolving door of Punjab's Vigilance Bureau The recent suspension of Punjab Vigilance Bureau Chief Director SPS Parmar — a 1997 batch IPS officer — by the AAP-led Punjab government has raised eyebrows. After all, it is the third time in just three months that the vigilance bureau chief in the state has been shown the door. Parmar had taken over from G Nageshwar Rao, an IPS officer of the 1996 batch, who was given his marching orders in just a month after assuming charge. Before that, in February, Varinder Kumar — who belonged to the 1993 batch of IPS — was transferred. Kumar, who was appointed as the VB chief in May 2022, is yet to get any posting, though he is set to retire on July 31. Harpreet Bajwa Our correspondent in Chandigarh hsbajwa73@
Gulf News
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Gulf News
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya ties knot with singer Sivasri Skandaprasad
Bengaluru: Bengaluru South MP and BJP National Yuva Morcha President Tejasvi Surya tied the knot with artiste Sivasri Skandaprasad at a private resort on Kanakapura road on the outskirts of Bengaluru on Thursday. Sivasri is a Tamil Nadu-based Carnatic singer and Bharatanatyam artiste. The family has kept the marriage ceremony intimate. Close friends and well-wishers from political and other fields were invited to the ceremony. Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Railways V. Somanna, BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai, former BJP MP Pratap Simha, In-charge of BJP's National Information and Technology Department Amit Malviya, BJP Karnataka President B. Y. Vijayendra and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Family sources stated that pre-wedding rituals were held on the evening of Wednesday. The "mangalyadharna" ritual was held between 9.15 a.m. and 10.15 a.m. in the 'Tula Lagna'. Following the wedding, the ceremony to welcome the new bride will be held at the residence of Tejasvi Surya. Family sources confirmed that a reception has been planned on March 9 from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm at Gayathri Vihar in Palace Grounds in Bengaluru. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar and other dignitaries from national politics are invited to the event. Sharing the pictures of the wedding, Karnataka BJP President Vijayendra stated, "Participated in the wedding ceremony of BJP Yuva Morcha National President and Member of Parliament for Bengaluru South, Tejasvi Surya, along with our MLAs and leaders, and conveyed our best wishes." "As a dedicated party worker and a successful organiser representing Karnataka in the Lok Sabha, Tejasvi Surya is embarking on a new journey of married life with South Indian artist Sivasri. On this special occasion, we extend our heartfelt wishes for a blissful and joyful married life for the couple," he stated. Sivasri is a bio-engineering graduate from SASTRA University. She is a student of Sanskrit and holds a Master's degree in Bharatanatyam from the University of Madras. She also pursues painting and modelling hobbies. Sivasri has represented India globally and delivered cultural performances. She is the daughter of Mridangam maestro Seerkazhi J. Skandaprasad. She shot to fame after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took note of her rendition of Lord Ram. Prime Minister Modi wrote on X, "This rendition by Sivasri Skandaprasad in Kannada beautifully highlights the spirit of devotion to Prabhu Shri Ram. Such efforts go a long way in preserving our rich cultural heritage."
