NEW DELHI– Aam Aadmi Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has sharply criticized the Trump administration’s decision to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students, calling it a direct assault on academic freedom and the aspirations of thousands of students worldwide.
Chadha, a Harvard alumnus, responded swiftly after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced on Thursday that it was revoking Harvard’s certification under the F-1 visa program, effectively banning the university from admitting new international students.
Taking to social media platform X, Chadha voiced solidarity with the institution and its global student body:
“President Trump’s recent move threatens the dreams and futures of international students at Harvard and beyond. As a proud member of the Harvard community, I wear my colors to show support for inclusion and academic freedom. I stand with @Harvard and all international students whose dreams and futures are under threat. We must defend academic freedom and global collaboration.”
Using hashtags like #StandWithHarvard and #WeAre1H, Chadha joined a growing chorus of international voices condemning what critics say is the politicization of U.S. education and immigration policy.
The Department of Homeland Security, under Secretary Kristi Noem, defended the decision by accusing Harvard of fostering an “unsafe campus environment.” The allegations include tolerance of “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” and alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party. DHS even claimed that the university had hosted and trained members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024.
The move has sparked intense backlash from academic institutions, legal experts, and lawmakers. In response, Harvard has filed a federal lawsuit in Boston, arguing that the government’s action is “unconstitutional retaliation” for the university’s refusal to comply with political demands from the Trump administration. The lawsuit contends that the decision violates the First Amendment and would cause “immediate and devastating” harm to over 7,000 international students currently enrolled.
Chadha’s remarks underscore growing international concern about the long-term impact of such policies on global academic exchange, institutional independence, and the educational futures of students across the world. (Source: IANS)
