Delhi school drops JNU professor's pluralism talk after VHP protest on Independence Day
Hours before the Independence Day ceremony, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya cancelled JNU professor Zoya Hasan's address after VHP-linked protesters gathered at the gate, citing a security threat.
Sardar Patel Vidyalaya in New Delhi planned to feature JNU professor emerita Zoya Hasan as chief guest for its Independence Day function, where she would raise the flag and deliver a talk titled “Why pluralism matters.” On the morning of the event, two men claiming to be school security officers told Hasan the address was cancelled because of a threat to her and the students. Parents reported that a small crowd identified as Vishwa Hindu Parishad members had gathered at the school gate, though the VHP denied its members were present and said it approved the cancellation.
Police said they only arrived to assess the situation and had no role in stopping the speech. The president of the Gujarat Education Society, which runs the school, stepped in to present awards, and a virtual address by Hasan has been scheduled for the following Saturday. The Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust and several commentators condemned the move, highlighting concerns over freedom of expression.
Why it matters
The incident highlights tensions over free speech and pluralism in Indian educational institutions.
In this story
