New Delhi: Delhi University’s late evening tweet from a day ago, urging its students to stay away from Jantar Mantar where the Cockroach Janata Party’s call for the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has galvanised thousands to turn up in protest, has not gone down well with the populace. Public anger at a famed university known for politically-minded students being asked to stay away from a protest, however, has not stopped the Jawaharlal Nehru University from issuing a very similar advice.After a brutal crackdown by police on protesters who attempted to walk peacefully to the parliament, for the past five days, authorities have shut down key central Delhi Metro stations, the internet in key areas and also access points to the protest site.Nonetheless, young people have turned up in large numbers.On July 23, the Delhi University posted in tweet on X:“Dear students and faculty, your safety matters to us. Please note that any unlawful assemblies or demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, which are strictly regulated as per the directives of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, may invite legal action. Such activities can also pose serious risks to students’ personal safety and significantly impact their academic progress and professional opportunities. Accordingly, all students are urged to stay away from Jantar Mantar and to prioritise their safety and compliance with the law. Furthermore, you are advised to exercise caution as a significant amount of fake and misleading content is being created and circulated to fuel the situation.”The tone of the message, which said that participation “may invite legal action” and the way it aimed to purportedly come from a point of caring for students’ safety, did not impressive social media users.“Sharam kar lo. Angrezon se bhi gaye guzre ho tum! (For shame. You are worse than the British),” wrote comedian Varun Gover.“I don’t understand how, as an educational institution, you’re asking your students not to exercise their constitutional rights,” an X user wrote.Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has been vocal in favour of students in these protests, decried this in no uncertain terms.“How dare you threaten students for exercising their democratic rights? Please note, you are the ones that will be held accountable when the time comes,” Gandhi posted on X.Lawyer Sanjay Hegde wrote of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s own past. “Do you as a university where the Prime Minister allegedly spent his undergraduate days, fighting the emergency and its aftermath, seriously want to deny students the chance of understanding and participating in entire political science?”Another lawyer, Kawalpreet Kaur, who had been a DU student activist from All India Students’ Association, wrote that such messages will not have their intended effect.“As a DU alumnus, I can confidently say that DU students will show up in support for fellow students. If anything, benevolent diktats like this will only encourage more students to participate.“Also, how can a public university justify surveillance of its own students? Since when has peaceful protest become unlawful? Instead of intimidating students, you should uphold the values of free expression which you are established for.”Early today (July 24), Jawaharlal Nehru University also posted something similar on X. The message said:AdvisoryAll stakeholders of JNU’s epistemic community are advised to act responsibly and prioritize their personal safety. In accordance with the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India’s directions on public demonstrations, you are requested to refrain from participating in or visiting gatherings at or around Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.Please exercise responsibility on social media. Violations may invite legal consequences under applicable laws as well as disciplinary action under the University’s code of conduct.You are also encouraged to uphold the values of academic responsibility and responsible citizenship.“After DU, it’s JNU. If Modi-Shah think that this will deter students, then they are mistaken,” wrote Congress’s Ruchira Chaturvedi.“Which Supreme Court directions ask you to refrain from peacefully protesting? Another level of bootlicking and that also, a public university built on ethos of free speech and expression,” Kaur wrote on the JNU update.Several pointed out the irony of JNU being known for its spirit of freedom and its students’ acute political awareness and presence.