The decision has drawn criticism from student organisations, including the Students Federation of India, which has called for the immediate revocation of the suspensions.
Published May 26, 2025 | 8:31 PM ⚊ Updated May 26, 2025 | 8:31 PM
The institute termed the slogans “content deemed anti-national.”
Synopsis: Seven postgraduate students at the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) in Tamil Nadu were suspended and evicted from their hostel for writing pro-Palestine slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “Jai Bhim” on hostel walls, which the administration labelled as “anti-national activities”. The action has sparked criticism from the Students Federation of India, who argue the move infringes on democratic rights and may be retaliatory due to the students’ prior complaints about administrative irregularities.
The Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, has suspended seven second-year Master of Social Work (MSW) students and evicted them from their hostel, citing defacement of property with pro-Palestine slogans and what it called “anti-national activities”.
The Union government-run institute, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, stated that the students had written slogans such as “Jai Bhim” and “Free Palestine” on hostel walls.
“Following the findings of the Disciplinary Committee regarding involvement in gross misconduct within the hostel premises, specifically, defacement of hostel property with content deemed anti-national, the Competent Authority has taken a serious view of the matter,” the administration said in an official letter addressed to the students.
The students – Sayeedh MA Abbas, Aslam S, Nahal Ibnu Abullai, Syam Krishna, Krishnanand NG, Muhammed Adhil, and Aadithya H Varma – were suspended with immediate effect.
The action, according to the institute, was taken under Clause 2a(l)(1)(b) of Chapter IV of the RGNIYD Ordinance.
They were also evicted from the hostel premises on the same day.
RGNIYD, established in 1993, offers postgraduate and research programmes in youth development and related fields. It currently has over 5,000 students enrolled.
The decision has drawn criticism from student organisations, including the Students Federation of India (SFI), which has called for the immediate revocation of the suspensions.
“The suspension of students for expressing solidarity with Palestine by writing ‘Free Palestine’ on the hostel walls is unacceptable. The Indian Students Union demands immediate revocation of this suspension,” G Aravind Sami, Tamil Nadu State Secretary of SFI, told South First.
“The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with indiscriminate attacks by Israeli forces on Palestinian civilians including women and children, has been widely condemned by the United Nations Security Council and international community.”
He continued: “It is a moral imperative for every conscientious and humane individual to stand with Palestine. In this context, students at RGNIYD expressed their support by writing ‘Free Palestine’ on the walls. Labelling such expressions as anti-national activities is unjustified and an infringement on democratic rights.”
Sami also questioned the motives behind the disciplinary action, pointing out that some of the suspended students had previously raised concerns about administrative irregularities, suggesting the action could be retaliatory.
“This disciplinary action is unwarranted and violates the democratic rights of students within an educational campus. The Students Federation of India strongly opposes these measures,” he said.
“The suspended students have previously raised concerns over administrative irregularities. This suspension appears to be retaliatory. Moreover, the suspension notice was served on a Sunday, a holiday, just before exams scheduled the next day, effectively preventing students from taking their exams. Such vindictive conduct undermines the reputation of the institution and contradicts the principles of student welfare.”
Calling on the institute to reverse its decision, Sami warned that protests would follow if the suspensions were not withdrawn.
“RGNIYD must reconsider and revoke the suspension, uphold democratic freedoms on campus, and allow students to express themselves freely without fear of punitive action.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
