On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, AISA released a statement claiming that members of the ABVP warned the university administration that protests would erupt if the panel, titled “Gender Politics and the Media in the Fight for Equality,” went ahead. The discussion was to feature Spark magazine editor Aratrika Dey, Vimochana programme coordinator Alex, and journalist‑author Gita Aravamudan.
According to AISA, the ABVP labelled the invited speakers as “controversial” and used what the student group described as “repeated intimidation tactics” to disrupt what it called a democratic space on campus. The university subsequently cancelled the event, citing security concerns, though it did not issue a public comment when approached by The Hindu.
Abhinandan Mirji, president of the ABVP’s Bengaluru unit, rejected the allegation of threats. “There were internal discussions in our organisation about the event. However, we did not find anything objectionable in it,” he told reporters, indicating that the student wing had no formal objection to the panel’s content.
The cancellation follows a similar episode earlier in the month at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), where the ABVP opposed a documentary screening on imprisoned activist Umar Khalid. After students cited security and logistical issues, the screening scheduled for September 14 was postponed. The ABVP had lodged a complaint with NLSIU and wrote to Union Ministers Amit Shah, Pralhad Joshi and Arjun Ram Meghwal demanding a permanent ban on the screening.
Both incidents highlight a growing pattern of student‑political groups influencing campus events, raising questions about the balance between free expression and campus safety. AISA warned that such intimidation could set a precedent for curbing open debate in higher‑education institutions.