Students should not become political tool by joining ‘cockroach’ protest: DU official

Amid nationwide CJP-led protests, a senior university official urged students not to participate in demonstrations, saying they should not become a "political tool".

3 min readUpdated: Jul 24, 2026 02:27 AM IST

The CJP has called for nationwide protests tomorrow (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

University students should not become a “political tool” by participating in the ongoing CJP-led protests, Rajni Abbi, Director, Delhi University South Campus, told The Indian Express, saying it is advised that students stay away from the agitation as it has, in its view, “turned into a political exercise.”

On Thursday, the university issued an advisory on X, urging students and faculty to stay away from Jantar Mantar, where the protests are being held. “Dear students and faculty, your safety matters to us,” the post said, warning that “any unlawful assemblies or demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, which are strictly regulated as per the directives of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, may invite legal action.” It said participation in such activities could “pose serious risks to students’ personal safety and significantly impact their academic progress and professional opportunities,” and urged students to prioritise their safety and comply with the law. The university also cautioned that “a significant amount of fake and misleading content is being created and circulated to fuel the situation.”

On the participation of DU students in CJP protests, Abbi said, “We do not want our students to become a ‘political tool’. Our students have nothing to do with the ongoing agitation. Even if they wish to express solidarity, we want them to understand that participating in such protests can have consequences. FIRs and other legal proceedings are serious matters, and students are young and often do not fully appreciate their implications. It might lead to difficulties in getting opportunities in the future,” Abbi said.

“They should carefully assess the nature and trajectory of any agitation before deciding to participate. What may have begun as a movement for reforms has now, in our view, turned into a political exercise and even a spectacle. There should certainly be reforms wherever they are needed, but the agitation has now become political,” Abbi added.

She added that the university routinely counsels students to prioritise their education and act responsibly. “During the orientation programme, we generally communicate the importance of nationalism, discipline and responsible citizenship to our students. As educators, we consider ourselves their guardians, and we advise them to stay away from such agitations and focus on their education and future,” Abbi said.

The remarks came a day after DU, in a post on its official X handle, said: “We see the pain and anxiety of our students. It is unfortunate that vested interests are exploiting their fears instead of easing them. The need of the hour is to calm the situation and reduce their distress, so that they can focus on what truly matters: their studies and their future.”

The statement comes amid nationwide protests led by the CJP over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and demands for greater transparency and accountability in the examination system. The protests have drawn thousands of students and young aspirants across the country. In Delhi, demonstrations earlier this week escalated into clashes after police used tear gas and lathis to disperse protesters, leading to detentions and the registration of criminal cases against several participants.

Vidheesha Kuntamalla

Vidheesha Kuntamalla is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She is known for her investigative reporting on higher education policy, international student immigration, and academic freedom on university campuses. Her work consistently connects policy decisions with lived realities, foregrounding how administrative actions, political pressure, and global shifts affect students, faculty, and institutions. Professional Profile Core Beat: Vidheesha covers education in Delhi and nationally, reporting on major public institutions including the University of Delhi (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia, the IITs, and the IIMs. She also reports extensively on private and government schools in the National Capital Region. Prior to joining The Indian Express, she worked as a freelance journalist in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for over a year, covering politics, rural issues, women-centric issues, and social justice. Specialisation: She has developed a strong niche in reporting on the Indian student diaspora, particularly the challenges faced by Indian students and H-1B holders in the United States. Her work examines how geopolitical shifts, immigration policy changes, and campus politics impact global education mobility. She has also reported widely on: * Mental health crises and student suicides at IITs * Policy responses to campus mental health * Academic freedom and institutional clampdowns at JNU, South Asian University (SAU), and Delhi University * Curriculum and syllabus changes under the National Education Policy Her recent reporting has included deeply reported human stories on policy changes during the Trump administration and their consequences for Indian students and researchers in the US. Reporting Style Vidheesha is recognised for a human-centric approach to policy reporting, combining investigative depth with intimate storytelling. Her work often highlights the anxieties of students and faculty navigating bureaucratic uncertainty, legal precarity, and institutional pressure. She regularly works with court records, internal documents, official data, and disciplinary frameworks to expose structural challenges to academic freedom. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 & 2025) 1. Express Investigation Series JNU’s fault lines move from campus to court: University fights students and faculty (November 2025) An Indian Express investigation found that since 2011, JNU has appeared in over 600 cases before the Delhi High Court, filed by the administration, faculty, staff, students, and contractual workers across the tenures of three Vice-Chancellors. JNU’s legal wars with students and faculty pile up under 3 V-Cs | Rs 30-lakh fines chill campus dissent (November 2025) The report traced how steep monetary penalties — now codified in the Chief Proctor’s Office Manual — are reshaping dissent and disciplinary action on campus. 2. International Education & Immigration ‘Free for a day. Then came ICE’: Acquitted after 43 years, Indian-origin man faces deportation — to a country he has never known (October 2025) H-1B $100,000 entry fee explained: Who pays, who’s exempt, and what’s still unclear? (September 2025) Khammam to Dallas, Jhansi to Seattle — audacious journeys in pursuit of the American dream after H-1B visa fee hike (September 2025) What a proposed 15% cap on foreign admissions in the US could mean for Indian students (October 2025) Anxiety on campus after Trump says visas of pro-Palestinian protesters will be cancelled (January 2025) ‘I couldn’t believe it’: F-1 status of some Indian students restored after US reverses abrupt visa terminations (April 2025) 3. Academic Freedom & Policy Exclusive: South Asian University fires professor for ‘inciting students’ during stipend protests (September 2025) Exclusive: Ministry seeks explanation from JNU V-C for skipping Centre’s meet, views absence ‘seriously’ (July 2025) SAU rows after Noam Chomsky mentions PM Modi, Lankan scholar resigns, PhD student exits SAU A series of five stories examining shrinking academic freedom at South Asian University after global scholar Noam Chomsky referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an academic interaction, triggering administrative unease and renewed debate over political speech, surveillance, and institutional autonomy on Indian campuses. 4. Mental Health on Campuses In post-pandemic years, counselling rooms at IITs are busier than ever; IIT-wise data shows why (August 2025) Campus suicides: IIT-Delhi panel flags toxic competition, caste bias, burnout (April 2025) 5. Delhi Schools These Delhi government school grads are now success stories. Here’s what worked — and what didn’t (February 2025) ‘Ma’am… may I share something?’ Growing up online and alone, why Delhi’s teens are reaching out (December 2025) ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
CJP Protest

Loading Recommendations...

Aug 13: Latest News

Live Blog