A panel at the University of Jammu in Indian-occupied Kashmir has proposed removing content related to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Iqbal, and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan from its MA Political Science syllabus following protests by a right-wing student group, according to Indian media reports.
The move comes after demonstrations led by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which objected to the inclusion of a chapter discussing Jinnah’s political thought. The group argued that the syllabus portrayed him as a leader of minorities in India.
The ABVP is affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to reports, the review committee — headed by Professor Naresh Padha — has forwarded its recommendations to the university’s Board of Studies, which is expected to deliberate on the proposal.
However, the head of the political science department, Baljit Singh Mann, defended the inclusion of such figures, stating that the curriculum aligns with academic standards followed across Indian universities and guidelines set by the University Grants Commission. He added that the university aims to present diverse perspectives to encourage critical analysis rather than promote any particular ideology.