IIM Jammu Rebuts Congress MP's Claim of Notices Over Modi Birthday Event

The Indian Institute of Management, Jammu has rejected allegations by a senior Congress leader that it penalised students for missing an on-campus event held to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday.

Dr Syed Naseer Hussain, a Congress MP and the party's in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir affairs, said on Saturday that the institute had sent notices to students asking them to explain their absence from the September 17 celebrations and warning of a Rs 500 fine for failing to respond. He shared what he described as a notice on X and questioned why attendance at a prime minister's birthday celebration should be compulsory.

Hussain, who is also a national general secretary of the party, argued that educational institutions should encourage independent thinking rather than require students to attend events honouring political leaders. He said such publicity exercises should be kept away from premier institutes.

A Deepak lighting ceremony was held on the institute's premises on Thursday to mark the occasion.

IIM Jammu pushed back against the claim, saying the Congress leader was misrepresenting an email sent by the students' council as an instruction from the institute. A spokesperson confirmed that the ceremony took place but said attendance was not mandatory. No notice threatening penalties was issued by the administration, the spokesperson said, challenging Hussain to produce evidence.

The spokesperson described the matter as a non-issue being turned into a political one, noting that the email in question carried the signature of the Student Council, IIM-Jammu. The institute, the spokesperson added, organises events of national importance that students may attend by choice, citing a plantation and sanitation drive planned for October 2 where participation will remain voluntary.