Prof’s remarks spread disharmony, hurt sentiments, says Jatheri sarpanch in FIR

The Rai police have registered two FIRs against Ali Khan Mahmudabad, Assistant Professor in the Political Science Department at Ashoka University, based on complaints by Yogesh Jatheri, general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and sarpanch of Jatheri village, and Renu Bhatia, Chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women (HSCW).

Who is Yogesh Jatheri

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Yogesh Jatheri hails from a distinguished Army family. His grandfather, Jogender Singh, served in the Indian Army and his uncle, Major Satya Prakash Verma, was martyred in the 1965 Indo-Pak war after capturing the Sanjoi post. He was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra.

Yogesh’s father served in the Delhi Police, while his elder brother and wife have both retired as Majors from the Indian Army. An alumnus of the Motilal Nehru Sports School, Rai, Yogesh pursued higher education in Delhi, where he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). He entered mainstream politics in 2014 by joining the BJP, previously serving as the district president of BJYM and currently as its state general secretary.

In his written complaint filed on Saturday evening, Yogesh Jatheri said he regularly visits Ashoka University and has known Professor Ali Khan as a long-time faculty member there.

Jatheri alleged that the controversy began during a media briefing on ‘Operation Sindoor’ by Col Qureshi, when Professor Ali Khan reportedly remarked that "the government was bringing Col Sofia before the media just for show-off purposes, while it continued to work against the Muslim community and their religion."

He further claimed that Professor Khan added, "The border tension was the result of some mentally unstable soldiers." Jatheri said these statements were made in the presence of 4-5 individuals.

“These remarks were deeply provocative, especially during a time of sensitive national security concerns between India and Pakistan. He is spreading disharmony and I was hurt by what he said,” Jatheri said in his complaint, a copy of which is with The Tribune.

Jatheri further claimed that the professor had posted similar controversial remarks on his social media platforms regarding Operation Sindoor, further aggravating public sentiments.

“He is trying to instigate people, and this should not be taken lightly. Strict action must be initiated against him,” he said.