A political storm erupted on Saturday, 24 October 2026, after 'Free Kashmir' slogans were found written on the walls of Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi, prompting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to demand an immediate investigation and strict action. In an unusual show of cross-party alignment, opposition leaders too called for a probe — while firmly asserting that Kashmir remains an integral part of India.

BJP Calls Out 'Separatist Mindset'

Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav was among the first BJP leaders to react, labelling the slogans objectionable and linking them to what he called divisive elements. 'These slogans are certainly objectionable. These are the same people who belong to the gang that wants to divide the country. Only people with such a mindset can write such things. The university will investigate the matter and take strict action against anyone found involved,' he said.

Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi went further, alleging that the wall writings — which reportedly also included slogans supporting riot accused Sharjeel Imam — pointed to anti-national elements operating under the cover of student activism. 'Kashmir is an integral and inseparable part of India and will remain so forever. Writing 'Free Kashmir' and slogans supporting riot accused Sharjeel Imam on the university walls proves that some anti-national elements are trying to promote separatism under the guise of students,' Saraogi said.

Congress and Samajwadi Party Back a Probe, With Caveats

Congress leader Udit Raj called for an investigation but also sought accountability from the university administration itself. 'There should be an investigation, and the government should investigate who wrote them. The Vice-Chancellor is also an RSS supporter and a BJP supporter, so the Vice-Chancellor's responsibility should be fixed,' he said. Raj additionally suggested that the Intelligence Bureau (IB) should lead the inquiry, with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) roped in if circumstances warranted.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma drew a sharp distinction between the slogan controversy and the ongoing student agitation for union restoration. 'I will look at these two issues separately. While the BJP may constantly claim anti-nationalism, the issue is something else,' he said, adding that the suppression of student union elections — banned at Jamia since 2006 — was the substantive democratic concern. Verma categorically stated that 'Free Kashmir' was not acceptable even from within the INDIA Bloc. 'Even if someone from the INDIA Bloc uses it right now, it is not correct. Kashmir is, has been, and will remain an integral part of India,' he said.

Verma also pushed back against the BJP's framing, alleging the party was exploiting the incident to conflate the opposition with anti-India sentiment. 'Those who are spreading this rumour are simply members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, trying to portray the INDIA Bloc as being aligned with anti-India forces, which is not true,' he said.

Student Union Strike Enters Day 13

The slogan row unfolded against a charged backdrop: students at Jamia Millia Islamia were on the 13th day of an indefinite hunger strike demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU) and the resumption of student union elections. A protesting student said the union had been effectively defunct for nearly 20 years, with no campus elections held since 2006. 'Restoring the student union is essential on campus because it is our democratic right,' the student said, noting that several political leaders had visited the protesters.

The students emphasised that their agitation was not directed against any particular political party and remained open to support from across the political spectrum. The hunger strike and the slogan controversy are separate issues, though both have now converged to sharpen political focus on the university.

Context and What Comes Next

This is not the first time the phrase 'Free Kashmir' has triggered a national political flashpoint at a central university. In the years following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, similar incidents at institutions including JNU and AMU generated comparable demands for investigation. The BJP's swift reaction this time signals that Kashmir-related campus politics will remain a high-voltage issue ahead of upcoming assembly cycles. Notably, the cross-party demand for a probe — rare in an otherwise polarised environment — suggests that few political formations are willing to be seen as soft on separatist sloganeering, however contested the facts may be. The university administration is expected to respond formally in the coming days.