Controversial Sloganeering at JNU Sparks Online Outcry Following Supreme Court Verdict

New Delhi: A video capturing controversial slogans at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has gone viral following the Supreme Court’s refusal to grant bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the high-profile Delhi riots conspiracy case. The footage shows protestors raising inflammatory and objectionable slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, drawing widespread attention on social media.

Protests Erupt Post-Supreme Court Verdict

The Supreme Court, in its verdict on Monday, declined to grant bail to Khalid and Imam under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), stating that prima facie evidence suggested their involvement in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy. Following the decision, left-leaning student organizations at JNU organized protests across the campus. Videos show a large group of students chanting slogans such as:

“Modi-Shah, your grave will be dug on JNU’s soil”

The protests continued into the evening, with participants visibly agitated and raising provocative slogans. The university administration has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident.

Student Organizations Express Views

The JNU Students’ Union staged a separate demonstration near Sabarmati Guerrilla Dhaba, recalling the January 5, 2020, attacks on JNU students, and highlighting ongoing injustices faced by citizens and the judiciary. The union also referenced the Supreme Court’s decision not to grant bail to Khalid and Imam, expressing disappointment over what they termed a denial of justice.

The All India Students Association (AISA) welcomed the bail granted to five other accused—Gulfisha Fatima, Miran Haider, Shifa Ur-Rehman, Mohammad Salim Khan, and Shadab Ahmad—but condemned the refusal of bail to Khalid and Imam as “ironic and regrettable.” Similarly, the JNU Teachers’ Association criticized the university administration and Delhi Police, citing administrative and security lapses, and expressed regret over the denial of bail to the two former students.

Lingering Demands for Justice

Students emphasized that even six years after masked assailants attacked the JNU campus, no one has been held accountable. They accused the RSS and ABVP of conspiring in the attacks and reiterated their demand for justice, stating that the delay continues to deny closure to the university community.