CHANDIGARH: Lovely Professional University (LPU) founder and BJP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal has alleged that the violent protests on the university campus were part of a “highly organised conspiracy” aimed at destabilising Punjab, saying the incident had implications beyond the university.Mittal, who is also LPU’s chancellor, said the unrest was triggered by false rumours circulated on Reddit about an alleged rape and death of a female student. He claimed preliminary inquiries found that no such incident had taken place.“The rumour spread via the Reddit platform is completely false. Initial inquiries have confirmed that no such incident ever took place. It was done to destabilise LPU,” Mittal told news agency ANI.He said a similar episode had occurred at Chitkara University in Rajpura a day before the LPU protests, with unverified claims allegedly circulated through the same social media platform.“A day earlier, something happened at Chitkara University… and then it happened at LPU… The same medium was used at both places, and similar things were said,” Mittal said, adding that it needed to be investigated whether the alleged conspiracy originated inside or outside Punjab.
‘Conspiracy to destabilise my Punjab’
Mittal said the violence, vandalism and theft at LPU had caused significant losses and affected students and staff, but said his concern extended beyond the university.“I am afraid that what happened may not be against LPU alone, and may not be against Ashok Mittal alone. This conspiracy may be against my Punjab. This is a conspiracy to disturb and destabilise my Punjab,” he said.He also referred to Punjab’s border with Pakistan while speaking about the possibility of outside involvement.“We know that Punjab is a border state and shares its boundary lines with Pakistan. Pakistan continues to disrupt peace within our nation in some way or another,” Mittal said.He said the episode should therefore be viewed as a matter of security for Punjab and its residents, rather than only as an incident involving LPU.
MiG-23 videos draw Mittal’s ire
Mittal also condemned videos showing people climbing onto and dancing on a decommissioned MiG-23 fighter aircraft installed as a memorial near LPU’s main gate after being gifted by the Indian Air Force.“There is a MiG-23—gifted to me by the Air Force—stationed at the main gate as a memorial. You may have seen videos where people climb onto it and dance. Attempts are being made to demoralise our armed forces, and national security is being compromised,” he said.The protests erupted after social media posts alleged that a female student had been sexually assaulted and had died by suicide. Students gathered on the LPU campus seeking answers, security measures and action from the university authorities.The agitation later escalated into vandalism, arson and damage to university property, while a stretch of the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway was blocked.The university subsequently suspended physical classes for 10 days and postponed mid-term examinations. The local administration also temporarily restricted internet access around the campus.Authorities are investigating the origin of the social media posts and possible involvement of outside elements.(With agency inputs)
