SRM University Professor Suspended for Criticising Operation Sindoor on Social Media

In a development sparking debate over free speech and national security, a professor at SRM University in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, has been suspended after she posted a critical message about India’s recent military offensive, Operation Sindoor, on social media.

📲 WhatsApp Post Criticising Indian Military Action

The assistant professor, who has been working at SRM since 2012, reportedly posted a WhatsApp status soon after India's cross-border military strikes, saying:

“India killed a child in Pakistan and wounded two people in the early Wednesday strikes. Killing innocent lives for your own bloodlust and election stunts is not bravery and it is not justice. It is a cowardly attack.”

She cited figures from Pakistani authorities, claiming 26 civilians, including women and children, were killed, and 46 others were injured. In a follow-up post, she warned that the escalation could lead to a decade-long economic crisis, including food shortages and further civilian losses.

🏫 SRM University Responds with Suspension

Shortly after the controversial posts surfaced, SRM University suspended the professor, citing “unethical activities” in its official notice. The institution also announced that an internal enquiry committee had been set up to examine her conduct in detail.

Following the suspension, her faculty profile was removed from the official SRM website, and no formal statement has been issued by the university confirming whether the social media posts were the direct cause of the action. However, the timing of the suspension has led to widespread speculation and criticism on both sides of the political spectrum.

🔍 Political Links and Possible Influence

The incident has drawn attention to the political connections of SRM University, which is part of the SRM Group of Institutions owned by T.R. Paarivendhar, the founder of Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK). Paarivendhar was an ally of the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and contested from the Perambalur constituency.

This affiliation has raised concerns that political pressure may have influenced the university’s decision, further fueling an already heated discourse on dissent and nationalism in academic spaces.

🗣️ Free Speech vs National Sentiment

The professor’s suspension has sparked a fierce debate online, with users split between those supporting her right to freedom of expression and others who argue that public criticism of a national military operation during heightened tensions is irresponsible and potentially damaging to national morale.

📌 What's Next?

The university has yet to disclose the duration of the suspension or the criteria of the ongoing enquiry. Meanwhile, academic communities and civil rights organizations are keeping a close watch, as the case raises critical questions about academic freedom, patriotism, and political influence in educational institutions.