New Delhi, May 18 – The Congress party has accused the Narendra Modi-led government of displaying "double standards" on freedom of speech following the arrest of academic Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a professor at Ashoka University, over social media remarks deemed critical of the government's handling of recent military actions and internal policies.
Mahmudabad, who heads the political science department at the prestigious private university, was taken into custody by Haryana Police on Sunday. The arrest stems from comments he made regarding Operation Sindoor, an Indian armed forces’ strike against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in early May, in retaliation for the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Charges and Detention
Two FIRs were filed against the professor under stringent laws, including charges of endangering India’s sovereignty and integrity. He was remanded to two days of police custody after being produced in court on Sunday evening. The Haryana State Commission for Women filed a late-night complaint leading to one of the FIRs.One of Mahmudabad’s legal counsels, Kapil Balyan, confirmed the arrest and added that the charges relate to a social media post that authorities claim could incite disharmony or question the military narrative.
Congress Condemns Arrest
Reacting strongly, Congress spokesperson and head of media and publicity, Pawan Khera, called the arrest a "brazen assault on dissent" and pointed to a "worrying pattern" under the Modi administration.Khera further alleged that Mahmudabad was being targeted for his identity, stating, “His only mistake is that he wrote this post. And his other mistake is his name.”
BJP Ministers Face No Action
Congress also drew comparisons with recent remarks made by Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda and Minister Vijay Shah, which were seen as controversial for allegedly "demeaning" the Indian Army.Devda was accused of saying the Indian Army "bows before Modi", while Shah issued an apology after making religiously charged comments regarding the Pahalgam attack and the religion of terrorists involved, controversially referencing Col Sofiya Qureshi.
Freedom of Speech or Criminalisation of Dissent?
Mahmudabad had earlier defended his remarks, stating they were being “misunderstood” and asserting his right to freedom of speech. In one post, he criticized “optics” in government communications, urging real change to accompany televised briefings by officials like Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.He also questioned the silence on mob lynchings and “arbitrary” demolitions, suggesting a lopsided sense of justice and protection under the current regime.
A Legacy Targeted?
Congress noted that Mahmudabad comes from a respected diplomatic lineage. His grandfather, the late Jagat S. Mehta, was India’s Foreign Secretary from 1976 to 1979 and served under then External Affairs Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.The arrest has triggered a wave of criticism from academic and civil society circles, with many seeing it as a stark indicator of the shrinking space for intellectual freedom in India.
