Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday criticised the University of Delhi (DU) over its advisory asking students and faculty members to stay away from protests at Jantar Mantar, saying the warning could have a "chilling effect" on democratic speech and expression. In a strongly worded post on X, Tharoor called the advisory "utterly appalling" and said universities should foster critical thinking rather than discourage participation in democratic processes.
His remarks came a day after Delhi University advised students and faculty members to avoid demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, where the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has been leading protests demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak and other examination-related issues.
The protest, which began on June 20, intensified after July 20, when thousands of demonstrators took part in the 'Chalo Sansad' march on the opening day of Parliament's Monsoon Session. Police used tear gas and lathi-charge to prevent protesters from marching towards Parliament, leading to clashes that left several protesters and security personnel injured.
Compares advisory with pre-Emergency period
Drawing a comparison with the period before the Emergency, Tharoor said Delhi University had never barred students from participating in the Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) Movement.
"Even in the days of the JP Movement leading up to the Emergency, there was no bar by the University of Delhi on students joining any of his protests," Tharoor wrote.
He recalled that members of the students' union cabinet at St Stephen's College, including the late journalist and politician Chandan Mitra, had openly participated in the movement without facing such restrictions.
'Chilling effect' on free expression
Tharoor argued that the university's advisory could intimidate students, particularly those who may not feel able to ignore official instructions.
"If one of India's foremost public universities is allowed to threaten its students and faculty with significant consequences if they attend a protest, it has a chilling effect on democratic speech and expression," he said.
He added that many DU students could fear academic or professional repercussions if they chose to participate in the demonstrations.
"A university is meant to teach critical thinking and independent assessment of issues, not to stifle these very qualities," Tharoor said.
The Congress leader also criticised those responsible for issuing the advisory, saying they were "unworthy of holding any position at an institution of higher learning in a democracy."
Delhi University's advisory
In its advisory issued on Thursday, Delhi University urged students and faculty members to stay away from what it described as "unlawful assemblies or demonstrations" at Jantar Mantar, noting that such gatherings are regulated under Supreme Court directives.
"Dear students and faculty, your safety matters to us," the university said, warning that participation in such demonstrations could result in legal action, pose risks to personal safety and negatively affect students' academic progress and future professional opportunities.
The university also cautioned against misinformation and misleading content circulating on social media and urged members of the university community to follow the law and prioritise their safety.
