What Did Arrested Ashoka University Professor Say About Operation Sindoor

Ali Khan Mahmudabad called media briefings by women officers “just hypocrisy”; Haryana Women’s Commission cites communal and gender insensitivity.

New Delhi | May 18, 2025 —
Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a professor at Ashoka University, has been arrested following controversial remarks he made about Operation Sindoor, India’s military retaliation against terror infrastructure in Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack.

His comments, shared on social media, called the media briefings held by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh — the two senior women officers representing India during the initial stages of the operation — “just optics” and “hypocrisy.”

Also Read: No Breakthrough Yet In Hunt For Pahalgam Terrorists Nearly A Month After Attack

The Haryana State Commission for Women took suo motu cognisance of the remarks, calling them “misogynistic,” “undermining to women officers,” and “inciting communal disharmony.”

The briefings in question were part of India’s coordinated military and diplomatic messaging during Operation Sindoor, where Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh appeared alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

Also Read: “If It’s Between Hell And Pakistan, I’d Choose….”: Javed Akhtar’s Take Amid Cross-Border Tensions

Commission’s Stand:

In its notice, the Commission claimed the professor’s remarks attempted to “vilify national military actions” and “question the credibility of women officers” serving in high-stakes defence roles.

Mahmudabad, defending himself on social media, wrote that his remarks were being misinterpreted and insisted they were neither misogynistic nor unlawful.

“My remarks have been completely misunderstood… The Women’s Commission has no jurisdiction here,” he wrote on X.

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He also criticized the ruling party’s supporters for selectively applauding military achievements, while ignoring domestic issues such as mob lynchings and misuse of state power, calling it a “hypocritical narrative.”

Background:

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh have been praised nationally for their composure and representation of India’s strategic and military resolve during the operation. Mahmudabad’s criticism of their role struck a raw nerve amid heightened patriotic sentiment.

The professor’s arrest has sparked debates around freedom of expression, civilian critique of the military, and the boundaries of academic speech in times of national crisis.

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Ali Khan Mahmudabad, Operation Sindoor, Ashoka University, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, Haryana Women Commission, India Pakistan Conflict, Military Briefing, Women in Armed Forces, Academic Freedom, OperationSindoor,