Days after the protest by students of Galgotias University went viral for all the wrong reasons, the university published a full-page ad in Amar Ujala, perhaps an attempt at damage control. 

The ad by the Greater Noida-based institution claimed the university’s students get “record breaking placements”, that it cultivates “job creators over job seekers”, and its “best of faculty and industry exposure” gives students “a distinct edge”. 

The university got trolled on social media after several of its students – who were on a march in Delhi with placards purportedly criticising the Congress manifesto – failed to explain why they were protesting. 

The students were quizzed by Aaj Tak journalist Ashutosh Mishra with depressing results. They fumbled and struggled when Mishra pointed at their placards and asked “iska kya matlab hua?” or “what is its meaning?”. Some even ran away when Mishra approached.

Many placards criticised the idea of an inheritance tax and “urban naxals”. Some said: “Wo cheen lenge aadhi sampatti (they will snatch half of your wealth)”, “pehle lenge apke vote phir le jaenge mangalsutra aur apke note (first they will take your vote, then your wealth and mangalsutra)” and “say no to wealth vulture”.   

The university’s ad, meanwhile, claimed it was among the “top 50 in India in innovation”, ranked 91 in India under the “management category” and was in the 52nd position under the “pharma category”. It carried the logos of the National Institutional Ranking Framework and the ministry of education and said “by NIRF Ranking 2023”.    

But does India need an inheritance tax? Do people even know what an inheritance tax is? We tell you all about it in the latest episode of NL Hafta. Click here to listen. And if you hit the paywall, that’s your cue to subscribe. We’ve got a special buy-one-get-one-free offer for World Press Freedom Day, so subscribe today.