Dr. Ali Khan Mehmoodabad, an Associate Professor and Head of the Political Science Department at Haryana's Ashoka University, was arrested on May 18 in Delhi. Ali was accused of making derogatory remarks regarding 'Operation Sindoor.' A member of the BJP Youth Wing lodged a complaint, leading to his arrest by the police. Additionally, the Haryana State Women's Commission issued a notice to Ali Khan Mehmoodabad.
On May 12, the Haryana Women's Commission issued a notice to Mehmoodabad, claiming his remarks were an 'attempt to defame national military operations.' He was also accused of insulting Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh. Two days after the allegations, Mehmoodabad issued a statement claiming his comments were 'entirely misunderstood.'
How Did Professor Ali Khan Mehmoodabad Insult Female Officers?
India Today TV asked Haryana Women's Commission Chairperson Renu Bhatia about how Professor Ali Khan Mehmoodabad allegedly insulted Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh. Renu Bhatia didn't have a clear answer to this question.
In response, Haryana Women's Commission President stated, "A person can write just a few lines for the army and the nation, but the entire meaning can get lost… You tell me, where doesn’t this get understood? I want to understand. Tell me. I have connections with Kashmir and Srinagar. I know how people live on the border. My brother is a retired Colonel. I understand. We stand together."
When pressed further about the lines from Professor Ali that insulted the army’s female officers, Renu Bhatia said, "Please explain to me what it means when he says the government did this. What does it mean, and to whom was it directed?"
Subsequently, the TV anchor read the notice sent by the State Women's Commission and asked Renu Bhatia to indicate where those two lines were. She replied, "I still say that for the daughters of India, who are ready to take bullets in their chest, to be spoken of as just a face is unacceptable. How can anyone talk like this?"
Once more, when asked about what was so anti-national and anti-women in Professor's statements, Renu Bhatia remained silent and couldn’t provide any answers.
Renu Bhatia stated that she read Professor Ali’s statement regarding Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika, and found it offensive. "Don’t you see it in his Instagram stories? That's why we are hurt, and I'm surprised you don’t see it," she said.
The TV anchor further probed whether talking about mob lynching and bulldozing was anti-national. Again, Renu Bhatia had no satisfactory answer.
Read More: Shouldn't Mehmoodabad be Arrested, but Will He Answer these Questions?
Who is Renu Bhatia?
Renu Bhatia (57) is the Chairperson of the Haryana State Women's Commission and resides in Faridabad. She issued summons to Ashoka University's Associate Professor Ali Khan Mehmoodabad last week and lodged a police complaint regarding his post on 'Operation Sindoor.' This led to Professor Ali’s arrest. Renu Bhatia says she is doing her duty.
She considers Sushma Swaraj as her idol and calls her 'my beloved leader.' Twice a councilor and previously the Deputy Mayor, she is also closely associated with Faridabad MP Krishan Pal Gurjar.
Born in Srinagar, Punjabi Kashmiri Renu Bhatia says, "My home was near Dal Gate, and I have witnessed the atrocities against Kashmiri Pandits. I belong to families who were massacred in 1947, again in 1948, and were troubled in the 1990s in Kashmir. Situations in Kashmir intimately affect me."
Initially a student of Presentation Convent in Srinagar, Renu relocated to Faridabad post-marriage after a stint in Dehradun. She briefly worked as an anchor on Doordarshan in 1992, saying, "It was destiny that led me into politics in 2000 because women felt I could champion their issues. I have been a spokesperson of the party for many years, even though no one else in my family is in politics.
