Pune: Student groups at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), barring right-leaning ones, staged two protests on Monday against the university’s ban on peaceful, its newly imposed strict campus access rules, and alleged ideological discrimination. SPPU had earlier issued a circular restricting protests, rallies, and events not directly related to the university on campus.Students also cited a circular issued in 2024 that reportedly required students to seek permission eight days in advance to hold protests and provided for legal action against unauthorised events. Another major concern among students is restriction to access main building premises. Earlier, students used the lawn behind the Main Building and its corridors to meet, discuss issues, study in groups or engage in other activities. However, access to these spaces has been restricted over the past two weeks.In an official communication to students and the media, the SPPU administration said the contentious circular will be placed before the management council for reconsideration at its meeting expected on Nov 4. “In the meantime, barricades will be removed to ensure that students do not experience any inconvenience. Also, student representatives will be given time to present all our demands to the management council. It is against this backdrop that we appeal to you through this letter to suspend our agitation,” said the statement.Siddhant Jambhulkar from the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) accused the management council of being biased towards right-wing politics. “These very members who deny permission for protests by progressive students allow right-wing events. We will not tolerate this bias. This management council must be dissolved. We shall place this demand before the Governor, who is the chancellor of all state universities,” said Jambhulkar.“The university administration has issued circulars that infringe upon students’ freedom of expression, placing restrictions on their constitutional right to protest and hold demonstrations. Excessive security measures and the installation of barricades have transformed the university’s democratic environment into something resembling a military camp. We will continue our struggle through constitutional and democratic means to protect the students’ freedom of expression,” said Abhishek Shelkar, university student struggle action committee (SPPU Unit) president.Abhishek Shinde, from SFI said students met the vice chancellor on Monday evening where they spoke about the ‘barracks-like’ atmosphere created by the installation of barricades across the university main building and other areas which the VC promised to remove.Prajyot Gaikwad, Samyak Vidyarthi Andolan vice-president said students were not opposed to maintaining discipline on campus. “However, discipline should not be used as a pretext to suppress the voices of student organizations. Protesting for student-related issues is not a crime,” he said.“The university administration must realise that students are not merely individuals who sit for exams and earn degrees; they are conscious citizens of this nation. Raising one’s voice against injustice, asking questions, and protesting through democratic means are the constitutional rights of students. The administration should not attempt to confine the voices of students within a framework of restrictions,” said Hansraj Khune, Republican Vidyarthi Sena city president.
