Bengaluru, February 26: A controversy at Azim Premji University in Bengaluru continues to escalate after a social media post sparked protests by ABVP activists. Following a complaint from the university’s registrar, the Sarjapur police have filed an FIR against the Instagram page “Spark Reading Circle.”
The protests were ignited by a post from the Spark Reading Circle account, which claimed that a discussion titled “Pre-Kashmir” regarding the Kunan-Poshpora incident would be held on campus.
In his complaint to the police, Registrar Rishikesh stated that the post from the Spark Reading Circle damaged the institution’s reputation and created confusion. The university clarified that no such event was organized and that it had no affiliation with the social media account.
The Sarjapur police reported that the post offended public sentiments, leading activists to enter the campus and create a disturbance. An FIR has been registered against the Spark Reading Circle Instagram account based on the complaint, and further investigations are underway.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) argued that organizing any event on campus without administrative approval could violate university protocols. However, the student council believes that such violations should be addressed through internal processes, like the disciplinary committee, rather than through an FIR.
Those who unlawfully entered the campus and caused physical harm to community members have been granted bail and face bailable charges. Meanwhile, students who organized a peaceful gathering are now facing non-bailable charges under Section 299.
The university actively promotes deep reflection on education, history, politics, and social justice. Students are encouraged to ask difficult questions and view the university as a safe space for open discussions. The administration’s decision to file criminal charges against students for doing just that undermines the intellectual freedom upon which the institution was founded. We respectfully urge the administration to reconsider its decision to pursue criminal action against the students.
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