New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Friday advised its students and staff to refrain from participating in the protest at Jantar Mantar. It also cautioned them against “irresponsible social media activity”, warning that violations could invite legal actions and disciplinary measures under the university’s code of conduct.In an advisory posted on its official X handle, it said: “All stakeholders of JNU’s epistemic community are advised to act responsibly and prioritise their personal safety. In accordance with Supreme Court directions on public demonstrations, you are requested to refrain from participating in or visiting gatherings at or around Jantar Mantar. Please exercise responsibility on social media. You are also encouraged to uphold the values of academic responsibility and responsible citizenship.”The advisory comes even as students from universities across India participate in large numbers in the CJP-led protest at Jantar Mantar, where demonstrators have been demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.It also assumes significance given JNU’s long history of student activism. It has played a prominent role in several political and social movements over the decades, including during the Emergency, forcing Indira Gandhi, who was then its chancellor, to resign in 1977. It remains a focal point of student protests in recent years. While the university in 2023 restricted agitations on campus to designated sites, the latest advisory extends that restraint beyond the campus.Over the past few days, several universities and higher education bodies have issued similar advisories. Delhi University had urged students to stay away from the protests and exercise restraint on social media, while Association of Indian Universities had written to vice-chancellors of around 1,170 member universities asking them to counsel students against participating in demonstrations.The latest advisory also comes amid visible differences within the DU community. While several of its colleges have shared posts from their official social media handles expressing support for Pradhan, student unions and societies in many colleges have issued statements, condemning police action on protesters on July 20.On Friday, more student organisations and campus groups across DU expressed their solidarity with the agitators. They included students’ unions of Shaheed Bhagat Singh College and Hansraj College, staff members and students of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, North East Cell of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, and Ecoshastra Society (department of economics) and English Society of Hansraj College, among others.