Members of Hindu right-wing student organisation Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) at Jawaharlal Nehru University burnt a Palestinian flag and chanted slogans in support of Israel during the counting of student union election votes on Saturday.
The saffron-clad students were snatching the Palestine flag from a student before it was set on fire, while simultaneously shouting genocidal slogans.
Student organisations Fraternity Movement, MSF, and AISA vehemently opposed the incident, demanding action against the Hindu right-wing students.
“This act reflects their allegiance to a genocidal regime responsible for the massacre of thousands of Palestinians. Through this Islamophobic and hateful act, ABVP is attempting to incite violence and communal tension on campus. Such actions are a direct attack on the peace, harmony, and inclusive spirit of the university community,” said Fraternity Movement.
It demanded the JNU administration take strict action against this bigoted and provocative act to ensure that the campus remains a safe and democratic space for all.
In a statement, Muslim Students Federation (MSF) said: “We do not seek validation from those who profit from hatred. Burning the flag of a people struggling against oppression does not make you stronger — it only reveals the emptiness of your politics.”
They said: “In the reckless race for political power, hatred has been weaponized. But now it spirals beyond control — threatening everyone, including its creators. MSF-JNU stands unwaveringly against Islamophobia, xenophobia, and all forms of bigotry.”
“We vehemently condemn the abhorrent actions of the ABVP members who burned a Palestinian flag and chanted slogans in support of genocide during today’s election counting. Such behavior is not only morally repugnant but also a blatant incitement to hatred and violence. The deliberate desecration of a national symbol and the glorification of genocide are indefensible acts that violate the principles of humanity and dignity. This display of bigotry and aggression has no place in a democratic society,” read a statement by AISA.
“We stand firmly against all forms of hate, Islamophobia, and xenophobia. We demand that the JNU Administration take immediate action against those responsible, including disciplinary measures and hold them accountable for hate speech and incitement,” the left organisation demanded.
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