"No Labs of Hate": JNU's Crackdown on Student Protest

"No Labs of Hate": JNU's Crackdown on Student Protest

Jawaharlal Nehru University has declared it won't tolerate "labs of hate" after students allegedly shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah during a campus protest. An FIR (police complaint) has already been filed, and punishments like suspension, expulsion, or permanent debarment are being considered.

What Happened

The protest was held to mark six years since the 2020 Delhi violence and was organised by student activists under the banner "A Night of Resistance." What started as a remembrance event turned into controversy when slogans critical of the government were raised. The university administration quickly condemned the incident, insisting that freedom of speech can't extend to hate or unlawful activity.

The Fallout

Police have registered a case against dozens of students, whilst investigations continue. Student voices defend the protest as legitimate dissent, but the university insists that provocative slogans cross the line. The clash reflects a deeper struggle: how far can free speech go in India's universities before it's branded as hostility or "anti-national"?

Why This Matters

This episode isn't just about slogans. It's about the shrinking space for dissent, the tension between authority and activism, and the future of universities as places of debate.

JNU's warning—"no labs of hate"—is a powerful phrase, but it also raises a crucial question:

When does dissent become hate, and who gets to decide?