Rajasthan University terms RSS event row ‘unnecessary’ amid calls for release of NSUI workers

Reacting to the recent violence allegedly over a Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) event, Rajasthan University clarified that it conducts all kinds of programmes and termed the controversy over the Vijayadashmi event “unnecessary”. Meanwhile, the former school education minister Govind Singh along with others is demanding the release of arrested National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) workers.

Condemning the arrests of Vinod Jakhar and others over charges of vandalism, the Indian National Congress (INC) state president Dotasra said that it’s an assault on democracy and urged the Rajasthan government to keep politics away from educational institutions.

“Educational institutions are centers of knowledge, discourse, and positive ideology. It is unfortunate that the BJP government has turned them into hubs for its political agenda and repressive policies. Suppressing voices of dissent is a direct attack on the soul of democracy. I demand from the Rajasthan government that the arrested NSUI workers be immediately released and ensure that educational institutions are not made victims of political interests,” the minister said in a post in Hindi, while targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

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Rajasthan University statement

In an official statement, the university clarified that it has hosted programmes representing all ideologies in the past including Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle which is related to the opposition. Lamenting the incident, the university asserted that some political figures are trying to tarnish its reputation.

“The concept behind the establishment of universities has been to foster the churning of diverse ideologies. Rajasthan University has hosted programmes representing all ideologies in the past. Meetings of the Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle, a Congress affiliate, have also been held on the university campus,” it said.

Expressing its stand on the series of events, RU went on to say, “On September 30, 2025, a holiday at the university, space was provided on campus as per rules for the Vijayadashami program on the request of a regular student of the university. Any controversy over this is unnecessary and unexpected.”

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Stating itself to be the largest and the most prestigious university in the state, RU said that having an 'A+' grade from NAAC, it is committed to the moral upliftment of its students. “Some political figures have attempted to tarnish the university's image nationally, which is completely unbecoming and contrary to its dignity,” the university remarked.

Ruckus over RSS event

The student wing of the Congress protested against the RSS's Vijayadashmi event at the university amid heavy police presence. When the event was about to commence, they allegedly tore a poster of the event and ended up in a confrontation with some RSS volunteers. The police used force to disperse the protesters.

The RSS event was held later in the corridors of the campus due to rain. Several workers of the student outfit, including its president, Vinod Jakhar, were arrested during the confrontation.

Demanding action against the police personnel and blaming the university, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said that the violence perpetrated by the RSS and the police against NSUI activists at Rajasthan University is the fault of the university administration and asked why the university allowed RSS to conduct a weapons worship ceremony on campus. "The university administration and the vice-chancellor are clearly acting under pressure from the RSS," he said.

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Leader of opposition in the Rajasthan assembly, Tikaram Jully, said that it was unfortunate that the BJP government was trying to politicise educational institutions.

AICC general secretary and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot also condemned the action against NSUI activists. "It is unfortunate that educational institutions are being turned into centres of political activity. RSS's programme of weapon worship at Rajasthan University, intended to politicise the campus, was inappropriate," he said.