Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Congress has strongly criticised the arrest of Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, calling it a case of “manufactured rage” and a glaring example of the Modi government’s alleged double standards on free speech. Mahmudabad, who heads the political science department at the university, was arrested over social media posts seen as critical of Operation Sindoor and the government’s handling of communal tensions.
Congress calls arrest a targeted act
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera stated that Mahmudabad’s only “mistake” was expressing concern about violence and communalism in India. “His other mistake is his name,” Khera said, suggesting the professor was targeted due to his identity. The arrest followed complaints by the Haryana State Commission for Women, and a local court granted police custody for two days. Khera pointed out the irony that Mahmudabad was jailed for opposing violence, while BJP leaders like Vijay Shah and Jagdish Devda, who allegedly demeaned the armed forces, faced no legal repercussions.
Free speech and intellectual dissent under attack
Khera and other Congress leaders said this was part of a broader pattern of suppressing intellectual voices. Mahmudabad had shared thoughtful but critical posts discussing media optics, the treatment of Muslim citizens, and the dangers of warmongering. In one Facebook post, he praised Col Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh but urged consistency in defending the rights of lynching victims and other minorities. Another post warned against glorifying war, calling out rising communalism and referencing the humanitarian toll of modern military conflicts.
Congress backs Mahmudabad, accuses BJP of intimidation
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge issued a strong statement defending Mahmudabad, condemning what he called the “vilification and unlawful arrest” of academics and dissenters. Kharge linked the arrest to a broader trend that began with trolling the family of a martyred naval officer and escalated with offensive remarks by BJP ministers. “Democracy should stand tall,” he said, asserting that national unity does not mean blind acceptance of government actions. He accused the BJP-RSS of labelling any voice of pluralism or professional integrity as a national threat.
