Protests escalated at Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, after students locked the vice-chancellor’s chamber and demanded her removal following remarks in which she called Mughal ruler Aurangzeb an efficient administrator. The vice-chancellor, Sunita Mishra, has since issued an apology, saying her words were misinterpreted.
Anger flared when Mishra arrived at the administrative building; students sealed the gate to her office from outside, chanted slogans, and covered posters bearing her image with black ink. Scheduled examinations in the arts college were disrupted as protesters insisted they be called off. Those leading the protests included Mayurdhwaj Singh, Raunakraj Singh, Milind Paliwal and Pushpendra Singh, who have joined calls for strict action and the removal of the VC to “uphold the honour of Mewar.”
The controversy began at a seminar titled Bhartiya Gyan Pranali: Roadmap for Viksit Bharat 2047, where Mishra reportedly said that from a historical perspective, many kings were efficient administrators, and included Aurangzeb in that list. Critics argued this glossed over his controversial legacy and accused the vice-chancellor of glorification. Mishra countered that her comments were taken out of context and offered a full apology, claiming any hurt caused was unintentional.
Protesters associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad entered the university’s administrative block through the rear gate, breaking glass panes in the agitation. Police were called in to restore order, with Deputy SP Chhagan Purohit among officials who tried to calm the situation. Homes ruled by student groups and political organisations voiced demands for transparency and accountability.
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