Insaaf Times Desk
The administration at the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) has blocked a proposed student program, which students say was labeled “anti-government” and banned. The administration reportedly even referred to the activists featured on the program’s poster as “rioters.”
The program was scheduled to coincide with Jatindra Nath Das Martyrdom Day and Political Prisoners’ Day and was to be jointly organized by the Progressive Reading Circle (PRC) and the Fraternity Movement. The poster included the names of several individuals currently imprisoned under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), such as Sharjeel Imam associated with the Shaheen Bagh movement, Gulfisha Fatima, former JNU student Umar Khalid, activist Khalid Saifi, Bhima Koregaon accused Jyoti Jagtap, tribal rights activist Sunita Potom, and journalist Rizaaz M. Siddiqui.
Students alleged that immediately after the poster was released, they were summoned to the proctor’s office and told that the program was “anti-government” and could not be held. On Monday, the proctorial board, Dean of Students, and Deputy Dean summoned students again and reiterated the same decision. Organizers claimed that the administration threatened disciplinary action and increased campus surveillance to prevent the program from taking place.
In a joint statement, PRC, Fraternity Movement, MSF, and NSUI strongly condemned the move. They stated that it exposes the university administration’s “anti-democratic mindset” and constitutes an attack on students’ freedom of expression. They added, “While we remember revolutionaries like Jatindra Nath Das, it is equally important to discuss the struggles of today’s political prisoners fighting against injustice.”
Students also accused the university administration of allowing groups like ABVP to hold programs without restrictions, while other student organizations are denied permission. In contrast, last year, a program called “Sumud,” organized during Palestine Support Week, was also blocked by the administration.
Several students believe these incidents indicate that the campus is gradually being pushed toward “saffronization” and that democratic dissent is being suppressed. One student remarked, “This is not just a program; it is an attempt to eliminate democratic spaces within the university. We must intensify our struggle against this.”
Jatindra Nath Das was martyred in 1929 after a 63-day hunger strike in Lahore Central Jail. Since then, his sacrifice has symbolized the struggle of political prisoners. In this context, EFLU students had intended to use the program to discuss the current situation of political prisoners.
