The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has reportedly asked students to remove Instagram videos expressing support for the ongoing Jantar Mantar protests over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and demands for education reforms.
The development comes as student demonstrations continue across the country through rallies, social media campaigns, banners and other forms of expression.
According to students familiar with the matter, the institute instructed those who had posted videos related to the protests to take them down from their Instagram accounts.
One IIT Madras student, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the institute had directed students to remove posts supporting the movement.
"The university asked us to take down the Instagram videos in support of the student protests," the student said.
Another message, reportedly shared among students, stated that the direction had come through the Dean's office.
The message read:
"Guys, we were asked by the Dean to take down the posts related to the Jantar Mantar protests. Our faculty advisor was called. We will be taking down those posts, including the solidarity video. Since you guys had contributed to the video, we thought it was important to let you know."
The ongoing protests began around the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and demands for reforms in the examination system.
The movement has been amplified by the satirical social media platform known as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), created by Abhijeet Dipke. Climate activist and education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk later joined the movement through an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
On July 20, thousands of students participated in demonstrations, including the 'Sansad Chalo' march in Delhi. Similar protests have also been reported in other cities, including Mumbai.
At the time of reporting, IIT Madras had not publicly issued a detailed statement explaining the reported instructions to students or the reasons behind the decision.
The development has triggered discussions on social media over institutional guidelines governing student conduct, freedom of expression, and the role of educational institutions during public movements. However, the institute's position on the matter has not been officially elaborated.
Sources: NDTV