MIT bars Indian-American student Megha Vemuri from graduation ceremony over pro-Palestine speech
New Delhi: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has barred Class of 2025 president Megha Vemuri from participating in the official graduation commencement ceremony, following a pro-Palestinian speech she delivered at a campus event on Thursday.
Vemuri, an Indian-American student leader, addressed the OneMIT commencement event wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional symbol of Palestinian solidarity. During her speech, she sharply criticized MIT's research collaborations with the Israeli military, accusing the institution of "aiding and abetting" Israel's actions in Gaza. She called for a "free Palestine" and declared that "students of MIT will not tolerate genocide," drawing applause from sections of the audience and widespread attention online.
In a statement released on Friday, MIT confirmed the disciplinary action, without directly naming Vemuri. "While that individual had a scheduled role at today’s Undergraduate Degree Ceremony, she was notified that she would not be permitted at today’s events," said MIT spokesperson Kimberly Allen.
The university stated that the student had misled organisers and disrupted a formal institutional ceremony by deviating from a pre-approved speech. "MIT supports free expression but stands by its decision, which was in response to the individual deliberately and repeatedly misleading Commencement organisers and leading a protest from the stage," Allen said.
The speech, which was widely circulated online by groups including the Palestinian Youth Movement, comes amid intensifying pro-Palestinian activism across U.S. university campuses. Student protesters have been demanding that academic institutions sever financial and research ties with companies and programs linked to the Israeli military.
Vemuri had been scheduled to speak again at Friday’s main graduation event but was formally informed of her exclusion from the proceedings.
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Fire at mass marriage event attended by Dy CM Shivakumar, nobody affected
Raichur (Karnataka) (PTI): Fire broke out near the stage of the mass marriage event that was attended by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar here, police said on Sunday.
Nobody was affected, and the fire was immediately put out, they said.
The fire was noticed shortly after Shivakumar and other dignitaries left the stage, and Forest Minister Eshwaran Khandre was speaking to the media at the venue in Sindhanur, officials said.
According to officials, wires, speakers, and cloth materials near the stage caught fire, allegedly due to a short circuit.
Police personnel present at the spot quickly swung into action and extinguished the fire.
The programme was halted for some time and resumed later, they said.
Several ministers, legislators and political leaders from the region, and actor Sudeep had attended the event.
