On 5 January, Monday, the Supreme Court of India declined to grant bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the larger conspiracy case linked to the anti-Hindu Delhi riots. While examining the matter, the court observed that the material placed before it made out a prima facie case against both accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. This judicial decision immediately became the trigger for protests on the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where left-wing student groups gathered to oppose the verdict.

Following the court’s refusal to grant bail, a series of aggressive and offensive slogans were raised inside the university premises, directly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Protesters were heard chanting “Modi-Shah, teri kabar khudegi JNU ki dharti par (Modi-Shah, your graves will be dug on JNU soil)”, along with “Ambani-raj ki kabar khudegi JNU ki dharti par (The reign of Ambani will be buried on JNU soil)” and “Adani-raj ki kabar khudegi JNU ki dharti par (The reign of Adani will be buried on JNU soil)”. These slogans, among others, reverberated across the campus and quickly drew public attention due to their violent and threatening nature.

In addition to personal attacks on national leaders and business figures, slogans were also raised against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The chants reflected deep hostility toward these organisations and were aimed at expressing anger over the Supreme Court’s ruling. Reports indicated that the protest was not spontaneous but organised, with participants openly challenging the authority of the judiciary through their sloganeering.

According to multiple reports, the controversial protest unfolded outside the well-known “Guerilla Dhaba” within the JNU campus. Alongside the threatening slogans, demonstrators also shouted chants criticising the apex court’s decision itself. Those involved in the protest were identified as members of various left-leaning student groups, including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF), and the All India Students’ Association (AISA), organisations that have a long-standing presence in campus politics.

As reported by NDTV, JNU Students’ Union Joint Secretary Danish and Secretary Sunil were present at the site of the protest. They were seen alongside several students affiliated with left-wing organisations, lending the demonstration an official student-union presence and further amplifying its visibility within and outside the campus.

Such incidents are not isolated, and similar actions have been witnessed repeatedly at prominent educational institutions under the banner of protests or demonstrations. During the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) agitation, Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, was targeted with comparable slogans inside Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). In 2020, a video from the campus went viral in which a radical mob could be heard chanting “Yogi, your grave will be dug on AMU soil”. Following the circulation of the video, the incident was formally reported at the local police station.

A similar controversy surfaced again in 2022 at Banaras Hindu University, where walls on the campus were reportedly defaced with anti-Hindu graffiti after an Iftar gathering. The graffiti included statements such as “Kashmir to bas jhanki hai, poora Bharat baaki hai (Kashmir is only the beginning, whole India is still there)” and “Brahman teri kabar khudegi BHU ki dharti par (Graves of the Brahmins will be dug at BHU campus)”, sparking outrage and concern over the growing pattern of hate-driven expressions within university spaces.

Likewise, JNU itself witnessed a disturbing episode in 2022 when graffiti targeting the Brahmin and Baniya communities appeared across parts of the campus. The messages carried explicit threats and intimidation, including “Brahmin-Baniya, we are coming for you,” “We will avenge,” “Brahmins leave the campus,” “Brahmins leave India,” “Now there will be blood,” and “Go back to shakha,” along with other equally offensive statements. These repeated incidents have raised serious questions about the misuse of protest culture and the safety of students within institutions meant for learning and debate.

For reference and wider context, reports related to these developments have been covered by outlets such as NDTV and documented court proceedings available through the Supreme Court of India’s official website, highlighting the legal background and the events that followed the verdict.

The slogans raised at Jawaharlal Nehru University soon drew sharp political reactions, with leaders calling the incident a serious reflection of a deeper problem within sections of campus politics. Ajay Mahawar, a BJP MLA, strongly condemned the developments and warned about the long-term consequences of allowing such thinking to take root.

Reacting to the slogans, Ajay Mahawar stated “Anti-national elements have become entrenched in many places in country, so it may take time to eliminate them.” He further underlined that while addressing such issues may not be immediate, the state cannot afford complacency, adding “However, terrorism and anti-national mindsets cannot be allowed to exist in India.” His remarks reflected concern over what he described as the growing normalisation of radical expressions in educational spaces.

The issue was also taken up by leaders of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, who questioned both the intent and implications of the sloganeering. **Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) leader Manish Chaudhary raised pointed questions about the targets of the slogans. He asked “Who's grave are they going to dig – SC which gave the order, PM Modi or the Constitution?” His statement directly linked the slogans to what he described as an open challenge not just to political leaders but also to the judiciary and constitutional framework.

Adding to the criticism, Praveen Piyush, the ABVP JNU Secretary, strongly rejected the portrayal of those involved as ordinary students. Speaking on the abusive slogans raised by left-wing groups, he said “They are not students; they are left-wing extremists and extremist organizations.” His comment underscored the ABVP’s position that such incidents go beyond dissent and reflect organised ideological extremism operating within the campus.

Together, these reactions highlight the widening political and ideological divide surrounding campus protests, with leaders asserting that freedom of expression cannot extend to threats, intimidation, or slogans that undermine democratic institutions and national integrity.