Jamia VC's 'Mahadev DNA' Remark Sparks Campus Outrage and Protests

A controversial remark by Jamia Millia Islamia's Vice-Chancellor, claiming 'Mahadev's DNA' links all Indians, has led to campus protests and sharp criticism, particularly from the Students' Federation of India. The statement was made during an RSS event, triggering debates on scientific temper and university policies.

The Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, Mazhar Asif, has found himself at the center of a storm following his comments that 'all Indians share Mahadev's DNA,' made at a Yuva Kumbh event hosted by the RSS. The statement, which has circulated widely on social media, has elicited strong reactions and protests on campus.

The controversy began when Asif, in a video, linked Indian identity to Lord Mahadev, asserting that language, culture, and religion notwithstanding, 'the DNA of Mahadev resides within us.' The event already faced opposition from student groups against the RSS's involvement at the university, causing delays and necessitating heavy security deployment.

The Students' Federation of India (SFI) condemned the Vice-Chancellor's comment as 'unscientific' and 'regressive,' stating it undermines the constitutional duty to promote a scientific mindset. They accused the university of suppressing student protests and called for accountability for both the remarks and the crackdown on demonstrators.