The Haryana State Commission for Women has reportedly taken suo motu cognizance of comments made by Ali Khan Mahmudabad, an associate professor and head of the political science department at Ashoka University, Sonipat about India’s ‘Operation Sindoor.’

The operation, which targeted terror groups in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir saw two women officers, Colonel Sofia Qureshi from the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh from the Indian Air Force leading media briefings about the operation.

Mahmudabad who is a historian and political scientist with a PhD and MPhil from the University of Cambridge, has an undergraduate degree in history and political science from Amherst College, posted a series of social media comments in the aftermath of the operation.

In these posts, he referred to the media briefings by the women officers as mere “optics” and “hypocrisy.” The Haryana State Commission interpreted his remarks as an attempt to undermine women officers in the Indian armed forces and to incite communal discord. The Commission has since issued a show-cause notice to Mahmudabad, requesting his appearance before the body on Wednesday.

In his Facebook post, Mahmudabad expressed his discontent about right-wing commentators praising Colonel Qureshi but not similarly raising concerns about the victims of mob lynchings and other acts of violence under the BJP’s governance. The commission found his remarks objectionable, attaching them to the notice.

Renu Bhatia, the chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women, explained that the panel acted under the Haryana State Commission for Women Act, 2012, to address the concerns raised by Mahmudabad’s comments.

The notice highlights several issues, including disparaging remarks about women in uniform, misrepresentation of facts, and an apparent attempt to vilify India’s military actions.

Additionally, the commission has expressed concern about potential communal unrest, the violation of women’s dignity as per the Constitution, and the breach of ethical conduct guidelines set by the University Grants Commission for faculty.