New Delhi, October 4, 2025
The Students' Federation of India (SFI), a prominent left-leaning student organization at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), has launched a scathing attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for conducting an unpermitted 'Path Sanchalan' (route march) on campus during Vijayadashami celebrations, branding it a "brazen violation" of university protocols and a deliberate attempt to impose right-wing ideology on a space synonymous with progressive dissent. The incident, which unfolded peacefully but under heavy security on October 2, has reignited longstanding tensions between leftist student groups and RSS affiliates like the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), drawing accusations of administrative complicity and fueling calls for stricter event regulations at India's premier public university.
The RSS march, a hallmark of the organization's annual Vijayadashami observances symbolizing the triumph of good over evil, involved around 200-300 swayamsevaks (volunteers) marching in disciplined formations through key campus areas, including the central academic complex and near the Periyar Hostel. Participants carried saffron flags, lathis (sticks), and banners emphasizing national unity and cultural heritage, culminating in speeches at an open ground. The event was framed as part of the RSS's year-long centenary celebrations, marking 100 years since its founding in 1925, with similar processions held across Delhi and other cities. Organizers claimed it was a "cultural and apolitical" tradition to foster discipline and patriotism among youth, with over 300 participants noted in reports from the JNU leg.
However, SFI's JNU unit swiftly condemned the procession as unauthorized, asserting that the RSS failed to secure formal prior permission from the university's Dean of Students (DoS) or Chief Proctor's office, as required under JNU's event guidelines for external groups. "The RSS did not take prior permission from JNU for holding the march," SFI stated in an official release, describing it as an "assault on education and the collective memory of this campus." The group accused the administration of turning a blind eye, alleging it echoed a pattern of favoritism toward right-wing activities while stifling left-leaning protests. SFI Secretary Priya Sharma further elaborated in a campus address: "This is not just a procedural lapse; it's a calculated infiltration by the Sangh Parivar to saffronize JNU, undermining its legacy of anti-fascist struggles from the Emergency to the fee hike agitations."
The backlash has led to a flurry of counter-accusations among student factions. The All India Students' Association (AISA), an SFI ally, joined the fray by alleging ABVP orchestrated "communal propaganda" during the event, including the burning of effigies that escalated into minor scuffles. ABVP, in turn, hit back, claiming leftist groups like SFI and AISA were guilty of "hypocritical intolerance" and had themselves flouted rules during past rallies. "SFI's outrage is selective politics ahead of JNUSU elections; our Dussehra observance was peaceful and inclusive for Hindu students," ABVP Joint Secretary Rohit Singh retorted, dismissing demands for punitive action against RSS participants.
This is not the first time such an event has stirred controversy at JNU. A similar RSS 'Path Sanchalan' in October 2023 drew immediate ire from left groups, who sought the Vice-Chancellor's intervention after over 100 cadres paraded with saffron flags and sticks, holding a meeting on campus grounds. Back then, SFI and others labeled it a "saffron parade" threatening JNU's secular fabric. The 2025 iteration, amplified by the RSS centenary—featuring nationwide march-pasts and high-profile endorsements, including a Vijayadashami video message from actor Sanjay Dutt praising the organization's "100 years of dedication to the nation"—has only heightened the stakes.
JNU's administration has maintained a low profile, with the Chief Proctor confirming the event "concluded peacefully under monitoring" but avoiding specifics on permissions. Sources indicate RSS shakha convenors provided informal intimation on September 30, citing the procession's non-political intent, though formal written approval—mandated at least 48 hours in advance—is standard protocol. The university's recent history of ideological flashpoints, including the 2016 sedition controversy and 2019-20 fee protests, has left it vulnerable to perceptions of bias under a Vice-Chancellor seen as aligned with the ruling BJP. Just last May, SFI condemned the VC for alleged RSS sympathies in a separate row over campus policies.
As Dussehra festivities conclude with enhanced security across Delhi—amid unrelated tensions like the Bareilly violence over a provocative poster—JNU remains a flashpoint for national debates on campus autonomy and politicization. SFI has scheduled an emergency general body meeting for October 6 and plans a delegation to the University Grants Commission (UGC) demanding audits of external event approvals and expulsion clauses for protocol violators. "JNU is a fortress of dissent, not a playground for majoritarian agendas," SFI urged in its call to action.
With the academic year underway and winter protests on the horizon, this episode underscores the deepening fault lines in India's higher education landscape. Student leaders from across the spectrum emphasize dialogue, but as one anonymous JNUSU member quipped: "In JNU, even festivals march to the beat of ideology." Updates on administrative inquiries and potential escalations are anticipated soon.
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