Indian professor arrested for comments regarding Operation Sindoor

SONIPAT: An associate professor at Ahsoka University was arrested on Sunday for his comments regarding the Operation Sindoor press briefings.

Ali Khan Mahmudabad, who is the head of the university’s political science department, was arrested after the general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Yuva Morcha in Haryana, Yogesh Jatheri, filed a complaint. The complaint regarded comments Mahmudabad had made, that the Haryana State Women’s Commission framed as being misogynistic and disparaging towards the women officers who led the Operation Sindoor press briefings.  

“I am very happy to see so many right-wing commentators applauding Colonel Sophia Qureishi but perhaps they could also equally loudly demand that the victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing and others who are victims of the BJP’s hate mongering be protected as Indian Citizens,” Mahmudabad wrote on Facebook.

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Prior to his arrest, a notice from the women’s commission claimed that Mahmudabad’s comments undermined Indian women officers. Mahmadubad took to twitter to respond, stating that “the screenshots attached to the notice make it clear that my remarks have been completely misunderstood and that the Commission has no jurisdiction whatsoever in the matter.”

“My entire comments were about safeguarding the lives of both citizens and soldiers. Furthermore, there is nothing remotely misogynistic about my comments that could be construed as anti-women.”

India’s Supreme Court has agreed to hear Mahmudabad’s plea, with the bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih saying the matter would be listed for hearing on Wednesday or Thursday of this week.

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