A controversial incident during the vote-counting process of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) elections on Saturday has errupted outrage across the campus, as members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) were reportedly seen burning a Palestinian flag and chanting pro-Israel slogans.
The incident, which unfolded near the counting venue, has drawn criticism from several student organisations and observers, who have denounced the act as Islamophobic and inflammatory, especially amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza that has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives, many of them women and children.
According to reports from Maktoob Media, ABVP members set the Palestinian flag ablaze while expressing vocal support for Israel. The act is being widely interpreted as a provocative political statement and has deepened ideological rifts within the university community, where left-leaning student groups have consistently voiced solidarity with Palestine.
The Fraternity Movement condemned the flag-burning, calling it an endorsement of Israel’s military campaign, which they described as genocidal. “This act reflects their allegiance to a regime responsible for mass killings. It’s a hateful provocation aimed at inciting communal discord on campus,” the group said in a statement.
Echoing similar concerns, the All India Students Association (AISA) labelled the act “a glorification of genocide,” and called for accountability. “Such behaviour is morally abhorrent and incites hatred. It represents a desecration of national identity and humanity,” the statement read.
The Muslim Students Federation (MSF) also condemned the incident, stating, “Burning the flag of an oppressed people does not demonstrate strength, but highlights the hollowness of one’s politics.” The group reaffirmed its commitment to opposing Islamophobia and all forms of discrimination.
The incident has intensified campus tensions and placed pressure on the university administration to take disciplinary action. It remains to be seen how the authorities and broader student body will respond in the days .
