Pune, 12 August 2025: Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has become the centre of a political storm after a debate competition called “Voice of Devendra” triggered allegations of political glorification.
The event, linked in name to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, was initially announced by the university’s National Service Scheme (NSS) department but quickly drew protests from student groups and political parties.
NSUI, Youth Congress, and other student organizations accused the university of promoting personality worship and politicizing education. Protesters gathered outside the NSS office, raising slogans like “Save Education, Save University, Save Democracy” and demanding the withdrawal of the announcement.
They also sought the resignation of the acting NSS director and a written assurance that such events would not be supported in the future.
Following the uproar, NSS head Dr. Sadanand Bhosale clarified that the university was not directly organizing the competition. He said it was proposed by a social group and would not be held on campus or in affiliated colleges. The administration has since withdrawn the letter and removed details from its website.
Vaibhav Solankar, the state coordinator of the competition, also denied political motives and accused critics of spreading misinformation. Despite these explanations, the incident has intensified political debate in Pune over the role of politics in academic spaces. The final stance will be decided by the university vice-chancellor, but the controversy has already sparked a wider conversation about preserving institutional independence.
