The vice-chancellor of a university in Uttar Pradesh courted controversy after he publicly exhorted students to take law into their own hands and even commit murder. He assured them that even if they committed the crimes, he would have their back.

In a video clip widely shared on social media, Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of the Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University Raja Ram Yadav is heard telling students to not refrain from violence and never come to him crying.

“If you are a true student of Purvanchal University, then never come to me crying. If you get into a fight with someone, then beat him up. If you can, even kill him. Come after that and we will handle the matter,” said Mr. Yadav. He allegedly made the controversial comments at a function in Satydadev College in Ghazipur on Saturday.

Mr. Yadav was lambasted on social media for his words. Omar Abdullah, National Conference (NC) chief tweeted: “This is what passes for an education in some places these days.”

U.P. Cabinet Minister Sidharth Nath Singh said that a “V-C of such mentality had no right to stay in his position.”