The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) has called for a nationwide protest on 15th April 2025 against the suspension of its activists at Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD), demanding immediate revocation of what it describes as arbitrary and unjust disciplinary action. The suspensions follow a series of student-led protests against ragging on campus, which reportedly led to a suicide attempt. The events have escalated into what SFI terms a full-blown attack on campus democracy and student rights, drawing comparisons to similar repression at other universities across India.

The controversy began when three SFI members—Anan, Harsh, and Nadia—were suspended for raising their voices against an alleged ragging incident. According to SFI, the suspensions were unjustified and aimed at silencing dissent on campus, especially as the students were reportedly advocating for accountability and safety measures following a student’s suicide attempt.

Following weeks of peaceful protests, five more students were suspended by the administration, including elected student union members. This includes Sharanya Verma, Treasurer of the AUD Student Council and Joint Secretary of SFI AUD KG, and Shefali, the current Secretary of the SFI AUD unit. SFI alleges that the suspensions were an act of retaliation for student mobilisation.

On April 11, one of the protestors, Comrade Sameer, collapsed from heat stroke during a relay hunger strike, prompting outrage when the university failed to respond or provide medical assistance. The incident underscored the physical toll of the ongoing protest and the administration’s alleged apathy toward student welfare and dissent.

Later the same day, several students tried to meet the Vice Chancellor to seek dialogue, only to be met with violence. SFI reports that guards and police physically assaulted students with sticks, and female protestors were allegedly groped during the scuffle. In one particularly alarming case, a student councillor was pinned to the ground with a knee on their neck—echoing tactics known for their lethal potential.

The university has accused the students of attempting to assault the Vice Chancellor, obstructing duties, and endangering officials. SFI has categorically denied these claims, calling them defamatory and an attempt to discredit the student movement. The group maintains that their protest was peaceful and constitutionally valid.

SFI believes these suspensions are politically motivated, citing previous instances at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and Jamia Millia Islamia, where dissenting students also faced administrative crackdowns. They allege that such actions are influenced by the broader ideological agenda of the BJP-RSS.

The Central Executive Committee of SFI has declared solidarity with the suspended students and condemned the AUD administration for what it describes as a systematic erosion of democratic space. “This is not just about eight students—it’s about preserving campus democracy itself,” said SFI President V P Sanu.

The organisation has urged students, media, and civil society across the country to rally in defence of student rights and participate in the national protest on April 15.