Gurugram: Kurukshetra University has drawn sharp criticism after its security head directed department heads to submit information on Muslim students, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned visit to the Haryana town on 25 November.
Students and teachers of the university called the move discriminatory profiling that violates constitutional safeguards.
The move comes weeks after investigators said a group of doctors was part of a “white collar” terror module that was behind the 10 November blast near Red Fort in New Delhi.
The university’s directive—issued by its Chief Security Officer Dr Anand Kumar on 21 November—seeks names, roll numbers, class details, hostel and room numbers, contact details and permanent addresses of Muslim students.
“This is to inform that the Hon’ble Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Kurukshetra on 25 November 2025. In view of this event, the Police Department has requested necessary Muslim student-related information,” the email by Kumar to department heads states, seeking cooperation to “maintain security” and “ensure smooth coordination and safety arrangements”. This data is to be submitted exclusively in Excel format, the email says.
Dr Kumar Saturday told ThePrint that the request originated from the Police Post at Gate 3 of the university. “I have been asked by the police to provide data of all Muslim students in view of the impending visit of the Prime Minister on 25 November. I am collecting the information, so that I can provide it to the police,” he said.
Sub-Inspector Vinod Kumar, in-charge of Gate 3 Police Post, defended the request, saying: “In view of the PM’s visit, we are not taking any chances. We will get the antecedents of all Muslim students verified.”
The request triggered accusations of racial profiling.
Avinash Yadav, state president of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), strongly condemned the move, saying the targeting of minority students was “uncalled for and highly reprehensible”. NSUI, Congress’s student unit, was contacting minority students and would ensure its members stood with them, he added.
Sukhdev Bura, state secretary of the Students Federation of India (SFI), described the directive as “unconstitutional and an attempt to divide the student community”.
“This is not the first time that a Prime Minister is coming to Haryana. Several PMs, presidents and governors have visited Haryana, even Kurukshetra. It has never happened that the police are collecting information about Muslim students. This is the communal agenda of the RSS and the BJP, which is responsible for the university’s move,” Bura alleged.
A teacher at Kurukshetra University, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed this was the first time such a “blatant email” seeking details of Muslim students had been received.
Vikas Siwach, president of the Haryana Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation (HFUCTO), called it discriminatory. “If you have suspicion of any kind against someone, go ahead for the verification. However, to target students of the Muslim community in particular, is highly discriminatory and must be stopped,” he said.
Kurukshetra superintendent of police Nitish Agarwal did not respond to repeated calls for comment till Saturday evening. Deputy superintendent of police (headquarters) Sunil Kumar, however, denied any such orders had been issued.
PM Modi is visiting Kurukshetra to participate in an event to mark the 350th anniversary of the martyrdom of ninth Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur Ji and attend the ongoing International Gita Mahotsav. The PM is also scheduled to tour the newly established Mahabharata Anubhav Kendra, an immersive museum, and inaugurate a Panchjanya conch installation.
None of the events are on the university’s campus.
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