Panel summons Ashoka varsity professor for remark on social media

The Haryana State Commission for Women (HSCW) took a suo motu cognisance against a public remark made by an Associate Professor of Ashoka University for allegedly disparaging women in the armed forces and promoting communal disharmony.

Renu Bhatia, Chairperson, HSCW, summoned the professor and directed him to appear before the commission on May 14. “The commission takes a suo motu cognisance on the statements made by you on or about May 7, published across public platforms including social media and other digital mean, in relation to India’s military response, ‘Operation Sindoor’ to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam,” said Bhatia in the notice to Associate Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad.

The notice also highlighted the disparagement of women in uniform, including Col Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, undermining their role as professional officers in the armed forces. The notice also mentioned misrepresentation of facts with repeated reference to ‘genocide’, ‘dehumanisation’ and ‘hypocrisy’, thereby attributing malicious communal intent to the Government of India and the armed forces as well as inciting communal distress and attempting to disturb internal peace.

The commission further said attempts were made at vilification of the military action taken and the role of the women officers in response to cross-border terrorism.

The commission sought a written explanation from the professor in the form of an affidavit.

Haryana Tribune