Wardha, Maharashtra - In a move that has sparked accusations of political suppression and caste-based discrimination, ten students from Dalit and OBC communities at Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya (MGAHV) in Wardha have been evicted from their hostels for 14 days following a spontaneous celebration of the left-wing victory in the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) elections.

The university administration, citing the students' chants of "Sorry Sorry Savarkar" and other anti-RSS slogans as "disrespectful to the dignity of great personalities," suspended them from hostel accommodations on November 11, and lodged a police complaint even before an internal inquiry could conclude.

The affected students, all affiliated with progressive student outfits like the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and Ambedkarite groups, describe the action as a blatant violation of their constitutional freedoms. They were simply expressing joy over the JNUSU results on November 6, when left-leaning alliances triumphed, a development seen as a rebuke to right-wing influences on campuses nationwide.

What Happened on the Night of November 6?

One of the affected students, Dhananjay Singh, who is also the president of the university's NSUI, told The Mooknayak, "There was no planned rally or anything orchestrated. We were just eating in the mess, and when the JNUSU news broke, the excitement bubbled over naturally. We walked from one block to another, chanting in high spirits, but it was all contained – no noise pollution, no one stopped us, and certainly no one felt disturbed," Singh said.

He alleged that the backlash originated from Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) supporters on campus, who filmed the event and escalated it to the administration. "They turned a moment of shared political joy into a weaponized complaint," he added. According to insiders, the students chanted slogans like "Sorry Sorry — Savarkar," "RSS ka chhota bandar — Bal Narendra - Bal Narendra," which angered ABVP supporters and led to the complaint.

The university's swift response has drawn sharp criticism for bypassing due process. On November 7, Procter Dr. Rakesh Kumar Mishra issued show-cause notices to six students, labeling their actions an "unauthorized assembly" and an affront to "national icons." By November 9, a formal complaint was filed at the local police station, prompting calls to the students and summoning them for questioning – though no FIR has been registered yet.

Another affected student, Rakesh Ahirwar said that upon receiving the notice, he responded to it, stating that the basis for issuing the notice was unclear and baseless. Rakesh said, "We did not insult any great personality, nor did we engage in any derogatory sloganeering. And we did not form any gathering; the word 'gathering' is wrong because we were just a few walking companions."

Rakesh further said, " All of us students have always endeavored to maintain a proper and peaceful environment for study and teaching in the university premises. Moreover, we have some democratic rights, which we have inherited from the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, in whose name this university was established. And we are all students who follow his ideals."

The University's arbitrary action without inquiry

Undeterred by the students' detailed rebuttals, which argued that the notices were "vague and baseless," the administration proceeded to suspend all ten from their hostels effective immediately, until November 25. The order, signed by Dr. Mishra, invoked Ordinance 12.2, Clause 06, accusing them of "parading through the hostel premises while chanting slogans that demean the dignity of great personalities, thereby disrupting the peaceful and academic environment of the university."

The suspended students have been given strict instructions not to enter the campus during this period, to follow discipline, and to cooperate in the investigation. Additionally, a committee has been formed to investigate the entire matter, which will conduct a thorough probe of the incident. The students said that following the university's complaint, they received calls from the police station, and all went to the station; no FIR has been registered yet. The suspended students have vacated the hostel and are facing difficulties in making temporary arrangements. The first meeting of the investigation committee was held on November 12 at 4:30 PM, yet evicting them from the hostel and filing the police complaint before the investigation report has been termed as 'harassment' by the students.

The 10 suspended students are associated with Rajguru, Chandrashekhar Azad, and Sukhdev hostels, whose names are Dhananjay Singh (M.A. Social Work), Ashwini Sonkar (B.A. LL.B. Honours), Kaushal Kumar (B.A. LL.B. Honours), Brijesh Sonkar (B.A. LL.B. Honours), Karnveer Singh (B.Ed. M.A.Ed. Integrated), Rakesh Ahirwar (Four-Year Undergraduate Japanese), Dharmendra Kumar (Four-Year Undergraduate Japanese), Manish Chaudhary (M.S.W.), Satyendra Rai (B.A. LL.B. Honours), and Abhijit Kumar (Four-Year Undergraduate Political Science).

In this peaceful campus of Gandhi Hills, debates on political polarization and administrative suppression have now erupted. The students allege RSS shakhas are held daily in this university. Students with differing political ideologies are suppressed upon expressing dissent. It is noteworthy that student union elections are not held in this university, but organizations like AISA, AISF, NSUI, and Ambedkarite groups are active to protect student interests and sympathize with the affected students on this issue.

The Mooknayak reached out to Proctor Dr. Rakesh Kumar Mishra and Vice-Chancellor Kumud Sharma seeking the university administration's perspective on the incident, but neither had responded as of publication.

AIOBCSA Condemns Suspension, Demands Fair Probe

The All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA) condemned the arbitrary and discriminatory suspension of students. Speaking with The Mooknayak, Kiran Gowd, National President of AIOBCSA stated," The university administration’s decision to suspend these students and involve the police even before the completion of the inquiry reflects a deeply undemocratic and vindictive attitude." He further stated that the organisation stands in solidarity with the affected students and demand immediate revocation of suspension orders against them, withdrawal of the police complaint and assurance of safety, an independent inquiry committee including representatives from SC/ST/OBC student bodies and faculty. and accountability and disciplinary action against officials responsible for harassment and misuse of authority.