Union Home Minister Amit Shah did not mention the recent violence at Lovely Professional University (LPU) during his Jalandhar rally on Wednesday, despite the issue becoming a major law-and-order concern in the region.
Shah's speech largely focused on drugs, the AAP government, Punjab's development and the BJP's 2027 election agenda. He announced December 31, 2029, as the BJP's deadline to make Punjab free of 'Chitta' if the party comes to power.
However, there was no mention of the LPU violence, the protests, the damage to university property, the highway blockade or the ongoing police investigation.
The silence was notable because LPU Chancellor and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal was present behind Shah on the stage during the address. Mittal had joined the BJP earlier this year after leaving the Aam Aadmi Party.
The LPU unrest began after an unverified allegation involving a female student spread on social media. The situation escalated into violent protests, vandalism and a blockade of the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway. The university suspended classes for 10 days, while police formed a Special Investigation Team to investigate the allegations and the subsequent violence.
The issue has also entered the political space, with BJP leaders targeting the Punjab government over law and order, while other political voices have raised questions about what triggered the violence. At the same time, the facts surrounding the original allegation and the events leading to the violence are still being investigated.
Against this backdrop, Shah's decision not to address LPU or the broader law-and-order situation stood out during a rally held in Jalandhar, close to the university.
