Casteist slogans raised in Haryana’s Ashoka University, videos emerge

Chandigarh: Footage emerged from Haryana’s Ashoka University showed a section of the students shouting casteist slogans along the corridors, mostly targeting at Brahmins and Baniyas, NDTV reported.

Videos of students coursing along the university corridors shouting slogan surfaced on Twitter, causing widespread protest, according to the report.

After the videos cropped up the university stated that it "attaches great value to freedom of expression and vigorous debate, but it also attaches great importance to mutual respect".

Ahoka University, came into being in 2014, further said that ‘The University will take all measures necessary to ensure that peace and harmony in the campus is not disturbed.’

Students were reported to be shouting “We need caste census", and "Brahmin-Baniyawaad”.

Former Infosys Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Mohandas Pai responding on social platform ‘X’ wondered about the situation at the university, asking why there was so much hatred’.

Later the university took to X saying that it "deplores expressions of hatred directed against any individual or group".

‘Ashoka University's Guidelines on Protecting Freedom of Expression have clearly laid down that such freedom of expression is not unlimited and enjoins respect for the rights and sensibilities of others. This is essential to preserving the spirit of community at Ashoka. Actions that make the atmosphere intimidating, threatening or hostile to individuals or groups are therefore regarded as serious offences and are subject to University disciplinary procedure,’ the statement read.

The students at Askoka University are known to have been keeping low profile quite unlike at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia MiIlia Islamia, or Delhi University.