Bengaluru, Feb 25 (NationPress) Following police intervention concerning the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members amidst vandalism incidents at the esteemed Azim Premji University, the organization sent a formal correspondence to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. They are urging decisive action against the All India Students Association (AISA), its associated SPARK group, and the university itself, claiming that the campus is hosting activities that promote anti-national sentiments.

Abhinandan Mirji, Secretary of ABVP’s Bengaluru Mahanagara unit, asserted that educational institutions, envisioned as hubs of excellence and nation-building, are being misappropriated to conduct events that advocate anti-national ideologies.

He alleged that AISA, through its affiliated SPARK organization, has been orchestrating gatherings that purportedly disseminate anti-national propaganda and cultivate harmful viewpoints among students regarding the nation’s unity and integrity.

The ABVP further accused certain events organized under SPARK of depicting Indian soldiers unfavorably, inciting discussions related to Kashmir’s potential separation from India, and criticizing military initiatives. They argued that such actions foster extremist ideologies and strive to sway the youth against national interests.

The ABVP has called for immediate measures, including a ban on AISA and SPARK’s activities within the university grounds. They are also pressing for an investigation into the students and organizers involved, alongside rigorous disciplinary and legal repercussions if any transgressions are uncovered.

Furthermore, the organization has demanded that the recognition of Azim Premji University be revoked if it is found to facilitate activities harmful to national unity.

Mirji emphasized the necessity for educational institutions to concentrate on academic superiority and nation-building, urging authorities to prevent campuses from becoming venues for activities that could threaten national integrity.

Protests erupted at Azim Premji University in Sarjapur on Tuesday night after ABVP members accused a student group of attempting to host an “anti-national” seminar concerning Jammu and Kashmir.

The university clarified that it had not sanctioned any such event.

ABVP activists reportedly breached the campus by forcefully opening the gate, chanting slogans, and staging demonstrations both outside and within the university premises.

The demonstrators damaged property, defaced the university's main signage with ink, and spray-painted graffiti stating “Ban SPARK” on campus walls. They also called for disciplinary action against the event's organizers and demanded a ban on the student collective.

This controversy reportedly arose from a program allegedly organized by the student group SPARK to commemorate the anniversary of the Kunan Poshpora incident of February 23, 1991.

The ABVP contended that the proposed seminar was derogatory towards the Indian Army and promoted separatist ideologies. Protesters also claimed that the event depicted Jammu and Kashmir as distinct from India.

Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara defended the police's actions against ABVP members on Wednesday, affirming that the government will not tolerate disruptions to academic activities or allow individuals to take the law into their own hands.

Former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP MLA C.N. Ashwath Narayan stated that Azim Premji University is a respected institution that has significantly contributed to education, and its involvement in developing the country’s education sector is commendable. However, he insisted that groups like SPARK, linked to the All India Students' Association (AISA), should be prohibited from operating in universities, and such programs must not be allowed in the future.