Faridabad: Students at Al Falah University are calling for a rebranding of their institution following the arrests of several doctors teaching at the university for allegedly masterminding the Red Fort blast. On Sunday, students gathered on campus to voice their concerns, a day after anxious parents met university authorities seeking clarity on the situation.
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has already issued a show-cause notice to Al Falah University, putting its accreditation under scrutiny. Despite this, students say they have received no further guidance and fear that their academic and professional futures are at risk.
With the university continuing its operations, there is currently no option for students to transfer to other colleges. Many argue that a name change is essential to protect them from lifelong stigma. An MBBS student told The Tribune, “Search Al Falah on Google, and all you find are stories linking it to terrorists. Seniors who planned to pursue specialisations in Europe were denied admission. Prestigious institutions in India or abroad are now refusing our applications. For students like me, this MBBS costs nearly Rs 1 crore, and the university must be held accountable for our future.”
Another student added, “This is my final year, and I had plans to specialise in London. Despite good academic scores, my counsellor says most institutions have barred Al Falah students. The university wants us to stay silent and has threatened us against speaking to media or authorities.”
As the campus protest escalated, Vice Chancellor Bhupinder Kaur Anand arrived to address the students, resulting in a heated exchange. A 40-minute audio recording of the interaction has circulated among students. Some claimed that the Vice Chancellor forbade them from recording videos, and many students have emailed central and state authorities seeking intervention to safeguard their academic prospects.