University of Savitribai Phule in Pune rescinds announcement for 'Voice of Devendra' competition following opposition from NSUI.
University Withdraws Elocution Competition Amid Political Protests
The Savitribai Phule Pune University has withdrawn a notification for an elocution competition titled "Voice of Devendra" following protests by student activists, including the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), who accused the event of promoting a political ideology.
The competition, initially announced on the university's National Service Scheme (NSS) website on August 5, was organized by the Swarambh Foundation, IFELLOW Foundation, and Nashik Pratishthan. However, some outfits assumed that the NSS wing of the university was holding the event.
The topic of the elocution competition was 'Developed Maharashtra', which was inspired by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. NSUI members claimed that the university and the NSS wing are implementing the BJP's hidden agenda through the competition.
NSUI leader Akshay Kamble stated that they registered a protest against the competition, and the NSS wing withdrew the notification after facing opposition. The NSS coordinator, Dr Sadanand Bhosale, confirmed that the university was not organizing the competition.
NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar tweeted on August 12, 2025, that the university's double standards are evident in withdrawing the notification issued by the NSS. He also wrote that this issue of implementing political agendas is not just restricted to one competition and promised to expose all such politically driven agendas by the end of this month.
The opposition political figures criticized the university for becoming part of a political narrative, urging it to focus instead on academic quality and democratic values rather than "hero worship". They argued that the university's original purpose of promoting social service and national integration, as per the National Social Service (NSS) wing, was being compromised by such activities.
Members of the NSUI staged a protest in the university, demanding that the notification be revoked. They alleged that the event aimed to promote an individual leader and push a specific political ideology, which they argued should remain focused on educational and merit-based events without political agendas.
This article is auto-generated from an agency feed and has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team.
[1] University withdraws elocution competition following protests[2] NSUI opposes elocution competition, accuses university of implementing BJP's hidden agenda[3] Elocution competition titled "Voice of Devendra" withdrawn by Savitribai Phule Pune University[4] Student activists protest against elocution competition promoting political ideology[5] Rohit Pawar criticizes university for implementing political agendas
- The demand for education and self-development at the Savitribai Phule Pune University should be prioritized over politics, as the university's focus on academic quality and democratic values is being compromised by the implementation of political agendas.
- The withdrawal of the elocution competition titled "Voice of Devendra" by the Savitribai Phule Pune University highlights the need for general news to scrutinize educational institutions, ensuring they don't become platforms for promoting political ideologies.
