The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu has strongly denied allegations by a Congress parliamentarian that students were warned of fines if they chose not to attend a birthday event organised in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The dispute erupted after the Congress MP claimed that the institute's administration had issued directives implying financial penalties for students who skipped the function, sparking a row that drew attention from both academic circles and political observers.
In a statement released on campus, IIM-Jammu authorities described the allegations as entirely baseless and misrepresentative of the institute's stance. They clarified that the event was optional in nature and no student was compelled or coerced into participation. There was no circular, notice, or verbal instruction directing students to pay any fine or face disciplinary action for their absence, the administration asserted.
The controversy traces back to a gathering organised by students and faculty at the IIM-Jammu campus to mark the Prime Minister's birthday. Reports initially circulated on social media and through opposition channels suggesting that certain students who decided not to attend were informed by institute officials that their presence was mandatory and that non-participation could attract financial consequences. The Congress MP amplified these reports, framing them as an instance of political imposition within an educational space.
However, institute sources emphasised that the event was conceived as a voluntary cultural programme and that student attendance was never recorded or linked to any academic evaluation. No memo or official communication imposing a fine was produced or shared with the media when questioned. The administration further stated that the institute maintains a tradition of encouraging students to participate in diverse events while respecting individual choice.
Political reactions have been swift. While the Congress leadership hailed the MP's intervention as a defence of academic freedom, several student groups and alumnus networks have defended the institute, calling the matter exaggerated. The incident has reignited a broader debate about the appropriate role of political celebrations on Indian university campuses and whether institutions should remain neutral ground free from partisan engagements.
