Graffiti demanding the release of jailed activist Umar Khalid and declaring “Long Live Naxalbari” appeared on the walls of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi on Saturday, prompting objections from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and a response from the university administration.

The incident came a day after slogans including “Free Kashmir” and “Free Sharjeel Imam” were found on the walls of Jamia Millia Islamia, triggering a separate political controversy.

A JNU official said the administration was examining the matter and would not allow any attempt to disturb peace on campus. University sources added that such graffiti would not be tolerated.

The ABVP's JNU unit accused Left-wing student groups of creating an atmosphere of disruption. In a statement, it alleged that images circulating from the campus showed members of the All India Students' Association (AISA) writing objectionable messages near a portrait of Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar. The organisation called on the administration to identify those responsible and take action.

JNU ABVP president Mayank Panchal said freedom of expression should not be used to justify disrespect towards national figures or damage to public property. Unit secretary Praveen Piyush said the university should remain a space for students of different ideological backgrounds and that its academic environment must be protected.

Why Umar Khalid's Release Remains a Flashpoint

Khalid, a former JNU research scholar, has been in jail since September 2020 in connection with the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 Delhi riots. He faces charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The violence left 53 people dead.

His continued detention and the delay in the trial have repeatedly drawn criticism from student groups and civil rights activists.

The JNU controversy has unfolded alongside the dispute at Jamia, where slogans supporting Sharjeel Imam and Kashmir were found amid student protests demanding the restoration of the university's students' union, which has remained disbanded since 2006.

Imam, also a former JNU scholar, was arrested in 2020 over speeches delivered during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. He faces cases including one linked to alleged inflammatory remarks at Aligarh Muslim University, in which he called for blocking roads connecting the Northeast with the rest of India.

The slogans at Jamia drew criticism from the BJP, including questions over Congress MP Imran Masood's presence at the student protest. The university administration condemned the messages, saying they were detrimental to India's integrity and sovereignty.