New Delhi— A 45-day continuous student protest at Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya in Wardha has escalated into a major confrontation after police booked six protesting students. The All India Students’ Federation has strongly condemned the move, accusing the university administration of opting for police repression instead of democratic dialogue.

The crisis deepened on August 21 when an FIR was registered at Ramnagar Police Station at around 1:00 a.m. against six students, including AISF Joint Secretary Rahul Kumar Thakur, Rajesh Sarthi, Niranjan Oberoi, Shivpujan Pasi, Ramchandra, and Rakesh Ahirwar.

The late-night police action followed a tense incident on August 20, where students attempted to initiate an open dialogue with the Vice-Chancellor regarding long-standing academic grievances.

During this confrontation, protesting student Rakesh Ahirwar sustained a leg injury after coming into contact with the Vice-Chancellor’s vehicle. AISF has vehemently demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident, alongside the immediate withdrawal of the criminal charges against Ahirwar and his five peers.

The police action marks a boiling point in a Satyagraha that began over a month and a half ago. Students have been staging peaceful protests outside the administrative building since July 8, driven by a host of unresolved academic and welfare demands.

Protesters assert that all democratic avenues were exhausted before they launched the strike. A collective memorandum bearing the signatures of approximately 250 students and research scholars was submitted to the Vice-Chancellor on July 3, but the administration reportedly shut the doors of the administrative building rather than opening a channel of discussion.

The agitating students have laid out a comprehensive list of fundamental academic demands. Chief among them are the completion of the stalled 2022 PhD admission process, the initiation of fresh PhD admissions, and the restoration of the Department of Women's Studies and the Department of Cinema Studies to the main campus by the 2026–27 academic session.

Additionally, the protesters are pressing for the reopening of discontinued diploma programmes, urgent recruitment to fill teacher shortages, and the repair of non-functional computers in the research laboratory. They have also raised vital student welfare issues, including the provision of quality food in the university mess and adequate books and research journals in the library.

The unresolved 2022 PhD admissions remain a critical point of contention. The process was abruptly halted citing "unavoidable reasons" after written exams and departmental interviews had already taken place, leaving numerous candidates in academic limbo. Students are questioning why no concrete timeline has been established by the Executive and Academic Councils since March 2025.

AISF claims the recent FIR is not an isolated incident but part of a recurring pattern of student repression. They allege the university frequently weaponises suspensions, expulsions, and show-cause notices against dissenting voices, citing prior disciplinary actions against ten students merely for shouting slogans.

The student body has also raised alarms over perceived administrative instability and political interference at the institution. The university has witnessed multiple leadership changes since 2023, transitioning from former Vice-Chancellor Rajnish Kumar Shukla to Acting Vice-Chancellor Bhimrao Maitri, and currently to Prof. Kumud Sharma, appointed in 2025.

Protesters highlighted the tenure of former Vice-Chancellor Shukla, which they claim was marred by public controversies, alleged administrative irregularities, and questions regarding his reported links with the RSS. AISF insists that academic institutions must prioritize merit, transparency, and constitutional values over ideological patronage.

Declaring that asking questions and demanding accountability are not crimes, the students remain resolute. Emphasizing the university's Gandhian legacy, AISF affirmed that suspensions and FIRs will not silence their movement, vowing to continue their Satyagraha until their demands are met with concrete, written administrative decisions.