Who is Indian Student Megha Vemuri: Who is Megha Vemuri and what did you do in MIT?
Megha Vemuri is a 2025 batch class president of MIT. Megha Vemuri is of Indian origin. At a ceremony of MIT on 29 May 2025, he gave a speech wearing a red kafia (symbol of Palestine Support). He said that MIT’s research link with Israel is shameful. This is like supporting the massacre in Gaza. Megha referred to the destruction of schools and universities in Gaza and demanded MIT to break the research relationship with Israel. During his speech, many students raised slogans of ‘Free Palestine’, but MIT considered it against the rules and stopped Megha from attending the next day’s convocation. Megha called it an attack on freedom of expression.
Indian Policy on Palestine: What is India’s policy?
India has been in favor of Palestine since the beginning. Since the time of Jawaharlal Nehru, India has supported the rights of the Palestinian people and the rights of independence. In 1947, India opposed the proposal of Palestine’s distribution in the United Nations, as Arab leaders were against it. In 1974, India considered Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to be the official representative of Palestinians. India was the first step in this non-Arab countries. The Palestine was recognized as an independent country. In 1996-2003, India opened its representative offices in Gaza and Ramalla, which strengthened the relationship with Palestine. India always wants that both Palestine and Israel have to live peacefully. This is called a two-state solution.
What is the stance now?
There has been a slight change in India’s policy during the time of Narendra Modi government and External Affairs Minister S. Jayashankar. India is now increasing friendship with Israel in defense, trade and technology, but did not even give up the support of Palestine. India still says that Palestine should get its own separate country, which is peacefully with Israel. In February 2025, Foreign Secretary Vikram Egypt said, “Our Palestine Policy is the same, we are with two-state solutions. India gave $ 22.5 million to UN agency UNRWA from 2018 to 2025.” More than 165 tonnes of medicines and goods were sent for Gaza and Lebanon. India supported 15 major proposals in favor of Palestine in UN, but India did not vote on the ceasefire’s proposal in Gaza in October 2023, as it did not condemn Hamas’s attack on 7 October 2023.
Condemnation of attack on Israel
On 7 October 2023, Modi called Hamas’s attack on Israel a terrorist attack and asked to stand with Israel. Jaishankar expressed grief over the death of common people in Gaza and said that Israel should follow the international human law. He said this at the Munich Security Conference in February 2024. In 2018, Modi visited Palestine, which was the first visit to an Indian PM. He met Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas and expressed support for peace.
Megha’s statement and India’s policy: Where is equality?
Megha’s ‘Free Palestine’ slogan and speech matches parts of India’s policy. Megha talked about the death of common people in Gaza and the destruction of schools and universities. India also expresses concern over the civic casualties in Gaza and sends help through UNRWA. Megha talked about support for the ceasefire and Palestinians. India also advocates peace through two-state solutions. Megha emphasized the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which matches India’s policy. India sends medicines and help to Gaza.
Megha’s statement and India’s policy: Where is the difference?
Megha’s stance does not fully matched with India’s policy. It also has some difference. India has deep relationship with Israel in defense and business. In 2017, Modi visited Israel. Megha demanded to completely eliminate MIT’s research relations with Israel, which is against India’s friendship with Israel. India called the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 a terrorist act. Megha did not condemn it in her speech, but only focused on Israel’s actions.
India’s policy has a balance between both sides-Israel and Palestine. Megha’s speech was unilateral, which had a strict criticism of Israel.
What did people say on the incident of Megha in India?
There are different opinions about Megha’s speech in India. Some people praised his courage. It was written in an X post that Megha showed the courage to tell the truth, but some justified it. Another post said that it is a matter of pride to read in MIT, but Megha did excess drama. This issue is under discussion in India. However, Megha’s statement has nothing to do with the Indian policy.
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