Protests continued at Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR) on Thursday following a controversy over Principal Kanika K Ahuja’s appearance in a video shared by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s official Instagram account, in which she was seen praising the Women’s Reservation Bill. The incident has triggered an ongoing confrontation between students and the college administration, with demonstrations entering their second day.
The unrest began after the video surfaced earlier this week, prompting sections of students to question the principal’s participation in a politically associated communication. While the principal later clarified that her remarks were made in a personal capacity, the issue escalated on campus, with students demanding greater clarity and accountability from the administration regarding the circumstances under which the video was recorded and circulated.
On Thursday, students continued their protest, alleging that several of their concerns had not been fully addressed during discussions with the administration. A third-year student involved in the demonstration said that although a meeting was held with the principal in the college auditorium, not all demands raised by the protesting group were heard, leading to continued dissatisfaction among students.
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The students have also raised concerns over what they describe as restrictions on campus dissent, claiming that the administration has attempted to limit protest activities. Tensions further escalated when some students alleged that the college administration had contacted their parents regarding their participation in the ongoing demonstrations, a move they said was intended to discourage protest involvement.
The principal, Kanika Ahuja, has not issued a detailed public response beyond her earlier clarification that her comments in the video were made in a personal capacity. Meanwhile, the college administration has maintained that internal discussions are ongoing to address student concerns and ensure normal functioning of academic activities on campus.
As the situation remains unresolved, students have indicated that their protests will continue until all their demands are formally addressed. The episode has drawn attention to broader debates around academic independence, student activism, and the boundaries between institutional roles and political communication in educational spaces.
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