Renu Bhatia, ‘BJP’s Benazir,’ Sparks Controversy with Complaint Against Professor Ali Khan

Renu Bhatia, dubbed ‘BJP’s Benazir’ for her bold persona, has stirred a storm by filing a complaint against Ashoka University’s Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, leading to his arrest on May 17, 2025. As chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women, Bhatia accused Khan of posting “sexist” and “anti-India” remarks on X about Operation Sindoor, escalating tensions over free speech and political motives.

Background of the Complaint
Bhatia, a Srinagar-born BJP veteran, alleged that Khan’s May 8 post insulted women officers, Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who briefed the media on Operation Sindoor, India’s strikes against terror camps in Pakistan. The post, which also criticized the BJP’s “hate mongering,” led to two FIRs under BNS Sections 152 (endangering sovereignty), 353 (public mischief), and 79 (insulting women’s modesty). Bhatia claimed Khan’s failure to appear before the commission on May 15 justified the arrest, a move she defended as her “jurisdictional duty.”

Bhatia’s Profile and Kashmir Connection
A former deputy mayor of Faridabad and BJP member since 1989, Bhatia earned her nickname after portraying Benazir Bhutto in a 2008 documentary due to her resemblance. Her Kashmiri Pandit roots, with a childhood home near Srinagar’s Dal Gate, fuel her vocal stance on Kashmir issues, including Operation Sindoor. Appointed commission chairperson in 2022, her tenure, extended beyond January 2025, has been marked by controversies, including a 2023 FIR against another professor and a 2024 video threatening an NRI’s deportation.

Criticism and Political Backlash
Critics, including Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, slammed the arrest as a BJP attempt to silence dissent with Khan’s students calling it a violation of academic freedom. X posts questioned Bhatia’s inability to specify which remarks were “sexist,” suggesting political overreach. The Supreme Court’s upcoming hearing on Khan’s plea adds to the scrutiny.

Implications for Free Speech
Bhatia’s actions have sparked a debate on balancing national security with free expression. As the case unfolds, it underscores tensions between state power and individual rights in India’s polarized landscape.