Rampur, India – In the sweltering heat of July, more than 100 people sit cross-legged on woven mats, chanting slogans and waving the Indian flag in a small town in northern India.

About 200km (132 miles) from New Delhi — where student-led protests over education reforms recently compelled a federal minister to resign — students, alumni and local residents have launched an indefinite sit-in. They are protesting a proposed plan to demolish 38 of the 40 buildings that make up Mohammad Ali Jauhar University.

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The university, named after a prominent freedom fighter who resisted British colonial rule, was established by veteran Muslim politician Azam Khan in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur district. In 2003, Khan created the Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which went on to found the university three years later.

On July 15, at the height of demonstrations led by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the Rampur district administration ordered the demolition of most of the university’s structures, alleging widespread violations of building regulations.

Officials claim that only two buildings — including a planned medical college block — were constructed with proper approval. The remaining “unauthorised” structures, they said, must be removed by August 5. Failing that, authorities warned they would carry out the demolitions themselves and recover the costs from the institution.

Earlier this week, the state administration announced an interim stay on the order, though it stopped short of clearly stating whether the demolitions were fully suspended.

Vice Chancellor Zaheeruddin clarified that the stay merely postpones the deadline.

“The August 5 timeline set by the Rampur Development Authority will not apply for now. However, we are seeking a definitive ruling that cancels the demolition order entirely,” he said.

‘Stop the demolition’

For nearly 3,000 students enrolled in a wide range of programmes across the 250-acre campus, the directive has come as a shock.

Since mid-July, students and alumni have maintained a peaceful sit-in outside the university’s main gate, demanding the order be withdrawn.

“If sustained protests can force a minister to step down, why can’t similar pressure compel the Uttar Pradesh government to halt this demolition?” asked Usama Tayyab, a 2019 graduate.

Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state with roughly 240 million residents, has been governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2017. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a Hindu monk known for his hardline views, has frequently faced criticism over policies perceived as hostile toward Muslims.

Azam Khan, 77, the university’s founder and lifelong chancellor, has long been an outspoken critic of the BJP. A founding member of the Samajwadi Party, he has enjoyed strong backing from many of the state’s 38 million Muslims as well as significant support among disadvantaged Hindu communities.

Khan studied law at Aligarh Muslim University in the 1970s, where he emerged as a dynamic student leader. He later entered politics, challenging the dominance of a former royal family in Rampur — a district where Muslims account for nearly half the population, according to the 2011 census.

Beginning his legislative career in 1980, Khan served 10 terms in the Uttar Pradesh assembly, held ministerial posts, and was elected to both houses of India’s Parliament. The creation of Jauhar University further elevated his stature as a leading Muslim political figure in northern India.

His prominence, however, also drew political opposition.

‘Vendetta politics’

After taking office in 2017, the Adityanath administration filed nearly 100 cases against Khan, accusing him of offences ranging from land encroachment to forgery and hate speech. Many of these cases are connected to the university.

Khan spent more than two years in jail before being granted bail in 2022. In 2023, he, his wife Tazeen Fatima and their son Abdullah Azam Khan were convicted in a case involving forged birth certificates.

In May this year, Khan received a two-year sentence for remarks made during the 2019 general election campaign, along with a conviction in a separate tax-related case.

His supporters argue that the charges are politically motivated, an allegation rejected by the state government.

Samajwadi Party parliamentarian Javed Ali Khan described the demolition order as “politics of revenge by a government that does not prioritise education.”

He pointed out that the university was founded by Azam Khan, had its foundation laid by party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, and was inaugurated by former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. “It is also a minority institution, which makes it an easy target,” he said.

Mulayam Singh Yadav passed away in 2022. His son Akhilesh now leads the Samajwadi Party and is aligned with a broader opposition coalition.

BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi defended the demolition notice, stating it followed due legal process. He accused the Samajwadi Party of engaging in “appeasement politics” and insisted that illegal construction cannot be protected.

‘Girls will never get another chance’

Opposition to the proposed demolition has intensified across Rampur, a district ranked near the bottom in literacy among Uttar Pradesh’s 75 districts.

According to Chief Proctor Gulrez Nizami, women make up nearly half of the university’s student body.

Iqra, a final-year law student, said safety concerns influenced her decision to enrol.

“Our families trusted this environment. They believed it was secure for women,” she explained.

She fears that if the university is torn down, many female students will be unable to continue their studies elsewhere. “Our parents may not agree to send us to distant institutions. This place gave them confidence.”

Although authorities have organised counselling sessions to help students transfer, Iqra said many are unwilling to leave.

More than one-third of the university’s students are Hindus, underscoring its diverse enrolment.

Chandni Diwakar, a first-year paramedical student, said she has never felt excluded. “Despite its minority status, the campus feels inclusive. I have always felt welcome here,” she said during the protest.

The Rampur Development Authority (RDA) maintains that its action stems from a report identifying regulatory breaches. Officials say only two of the 40 buildings meet approval standards.

Vice Chancellor Zaheeruddin disputes this, arguing that the university’s location came under RDA jurisdiction only in September 2024, long after construction was completed. Therefore, he contends, retrospective approval cannot be required.

He emphasised that all academic programmes have been cleared by relevant government bodies and described the demolition order as an infringement on the constitutional right to education.

Authorities counter that the alleged violations cannot be regularised under current law, leaving demolition as the only option.

‘Police coming to our houses’

The university has legally challenged the demolition directive as demonstrations continue.

“If peaceful protest works elsewhere, why shouldn’t it work for us?” asked Usman Ali, a law graduate. “We are determined to defend our institution.”

He also alleged that police have visited students’ homes to pressure families into persuading them to withdraw from the protest.

Over the weekend, several opposition lawmakers joined the demonstrators in solidarity.

In recent years, India has witnessed a rise in demolitions of homes, businesses and places of worship. Rights advocates argue that these drives disproportionately affect Muslims, while authorities maintain they are enforcing laws against illegal encroachments.

Some academics suggest the issue extends beyond regulatory compliance, pointing to broader political and social tensions surrounding minority institutions and inter-community engagement.

Back in Rampur, graduate Abdul Kaleem Ansari drew comparisons between their protest and the recent student movement that led to the education minister’s resignation.

He expressed surprise that national conversations about reforming education have not addressed the threat facing a functioning university just a few hundred kilometres from the capital.

“The future of thousands of students is uncertain,” he said. “We are still searching for a path forward.”