‘Inciting Students’: Jamia Registrar Blames Congress MPs Imran Masood, Imran Pratapgarhi For Unrest

News india ‘Inciting Students’: Jamia Registrar Blames Congress MPs Imran Masood, Imran Pratapgarhi For Unrest

Last Updated:October 24, 2026, 16:30 IST

Jamia Millia Islamia Registrar Mahtab Alam accused Congress MPs Imran Masood and Imran Pratapgarhi of instigating students during campus protests.

Jamia Millia Islamia Registrar Mahtab Alam on Saturday accused Congress MPs Imran Masood and Imran Pratapgarhi of instigating protesting students, alleging that the leaders had entered the campus illegally and were backing the agitation from outside.

“Absolutely, students from outside have come. They are trying to spoil the atmosphere. Our university is peaceful. You saw that Imran Masood came yesterday. Imran Pratapgarhi came through the back wall, and he broke the lock to get in. So these are illegal people," Alam said.

“We saw the Congress leaders come here. I’m taking Imran Pratapgarhi’s name, I’m taking Imran Masood’s name. A few others like that came there. These were MIM people too. They’re inciting them and backing them from behind," he added.

Alam said the university had complained to the police and sought action against those allegedly involved. He also urged students not to be influenced by outsiders, warning that the agitation could affect the university’s reputation.

“If you are a student, just think for yourselves how far behind our university, Jamia, will fall," he said.

Referring to graffiti featuring slogans including “Free Kashmir" and “Free Sharjeel Imam", Alam said the university condemned the writing.

“We condemn this and don’t support this at any cost. Some people are trying to spoil the atmosphere," he said.

The registrar said students on hunger strike had sought a deadline for restoring the elected students’ union and clarity on when elections would be held. They also demanded that disciplinary action against students considered innocent be revoked.

“I had gone to meet the kids who are fasting. They asked us to give a deadline. They asked us when elections will happen," Alam said.

“The students are ready, but our leaders from outside aren’t ready," he added.

‘Free Kashmir’, ‘Free Sharjeel Imam’ Slogans Spark Row

The controversy erupted on Friday after Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) national spokesperson Vinod Bansal shared photographs on X purportedly showing graffiti reading “Free Kashmir", “Free Palestine", “Free Sharjeel Imam" and “RSS Go Back" on campus walls. Slogans targeting the university’s Vice-Chancellor were also reported.

“It is extremely unfortunate and a deep conspiracy to desecrate the temple of education that slogans such as ‘Free Kashmir’, ‘Free Palestine’, ‘Free Sharjeel Imam’, ‘VC Go Back’ and ‘RSS Go Back’ have been written at the prestigious Jamia Millia Islamia University in the country’s capital," Bansal said.

The VHP demanded that the university administration and police identify those responsible and take action. Bansal also questioned whether people were attempting to turn the university into a “hub of anti-India activities".

Congress MP Imran Masood distanced himself from the slogans, saying, “Those who want to break this movement should understand that Kashmir is an integral part of India. We would even give our lives to keep Kashmir as an integral part of India." He also called for the restoration of the students’ union and questioned the action taken against protesters.

Jamia Students’ Union Protest

Students have been protesting since October 12, demanding the restoration of Jamia’s elected students’ union and an official election schedule for the 2026-27 academic session. The university has been without an elected union since 2006, with the last elections held in 2005.

Students have also sought the withdrawal of disciplinary action against protesters and raised concerns about campus facilities, attendance rules, hostels, scholarships and research stipends.

The agitation intensified on October 17 after university authorities attempted to remove demonstrators from Ghalib Lawns near Gate No. 7. The administration subsequently formed committees to engage with students and draft a constitution for the union. A five-member committee has been tasked with submitting a draft by December 20, but protesters maintain that their immediate demand for an election schedule remains unresolved.

The identity of those responsible for the graffiti has not been established publicly.

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Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a chief sub editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has ...Read More

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