JNUSU hits out at JNU administration over cancellation of Umar Khalid book event

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) has strongly criticised the university administration for cancelling permission to hold a discussion on a book by former student Umar Khalid. The event, scheduled at the university’s auditorium, was scrapped after the administration said the organisers had not disclosed full details of the programme.

Khalid, who was a PhD scholar at JNU and a key figure in the 2016 sedition controversy, remains a polarising figure on campus. The cancellation has reignited debates over freedom of expression and the space for dissent in India’s academic institutions.

Administration cites procedural lapse

The JNU administration said the auditorium booking was cancelled because the organisers violated rules by not sharing complete information about the event. Officials familiar with the matter said the request lacked clarity on the panelists, topics, and the book’s content.

“Permission was withdrawn as per existing norms,” a university official said, without elaborating. The administration has not yet issued a detailed public statement explaining the specific omissions.

The move comes months after similar cancellations of events involving politically sensitive speakers at other universities, raising concerns about a broader pattern of curbs on campus discourse.

JNUSU calls it an attack on academic freedom

JNUSU leaders termed the cancellation “arbitrary and undemocratic”. They argued that the university’s action sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the institution’s ethos of open debate.

“This is not about procedures. It is about silencing voices that the administration finds inconvenient,” a JNUSU representative said. The union has demanded that the administration restore the booking and issue a written explanation for the decision.

Students and faculty members have expressed mixed reactions. Some support the administration’s strict adherence to rules, while others see it as capitulation to political pressure.

ABVP claims credit

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS, has claimed responsibility for the cancellation. In a statement, the ABVP said it had alerted the administration to the event’s “objectionable content” and demanded its withdrawal.

The ABVP’s claim has intensified the political row. JNUSU accused the ABVP of “bulldozing” academic events through pressure tactics, a charge the ABVP denies.

This is not the first time Khalid’s name has sparked controversy at JNU. His 2016 involvement in events around Afzal Guru’s hanging anniversary led to sedition charges, which are still pending in court. His book, which explores themes of dissent and state power, has been a flashpoint among right-wing groups.

Broader implications

The cancellation has drawn attention from civil liberties groups and academics across the country. Some have called for a transparent policy on event permissions at central universities, to prevent ad hoc decisions that invite political interpretations.

Others argue that universities must balance security concerns with the constitutional right to free speech. The JNU administration, for its part, has defended its decision as purely administrative, not political.

As the row continues, the university’s internal mechanisms for appeal remain unclear. The organisers have not yet announced whether they will challenge the cancellation or reschedule the event at a different venue.

What happens next could depend on the university’s response to JNUSU’s demand for a review. For now, the campus remains tense, with both student groups digging in their heels.