On Wednesday evening, about 15 men equipped with sticks, pistols and country-made revolvers entered the AMU campus when former vice-president Hamid Ansari was inside the campus for his lecture. The goons thrashed one AMU student who was crossing the AMU gate.
According to the AMU students, goons first burnt an effigy of Mohammad Ali Jinnah at the AMU’s Bab-e-Syed gate. After this, the goons started shouting slogans against AMU and the university administration. They went on to assault another student.
Soon after the violence broke out, AMU Students’ Union leaders and activists along with some of the students of the university came to the rescue. They soon handed over the six members of the outfit to the police, who were later released.
Police tried to disperse the protesting students on Wednesday by lathi-charging at them along with using tear gas. Atul Srivastava, SP City, told TwoCircles.net, “We are trying to investigate the situation at first. Responsible ones will not be spared.”
The issue started back several weeks back when Satish Gautam, a local MLA from Bharatiya Janata Party, wrote to AMU administration objecting to the photograph of Mohammad Ali Jinnah which was installed in the Students’ Union Building of the university. Gautam’s objection to Jinnah pertains to the fact that the latter played a key role in the partition of India in 1947.
Mohammad Ali Jinnah, leader of Muslim league and founder of AMU’s court, was given the honorary membership of AMU Students’ Union in 1938 which denotes the fact behind the installation of Jinnah’s photo in the building.
On Monday, Aditya Pandit, the district president of Hindu Yuva Vahini Aligarh chapter, threatened AMU administration of removing the photograph of Jinnah in 48 hours or Pandit will come into the campus with his group and remove the photograph himself.
Swami Prasad Maurya, a leader from BJP, opposed the controversy on Tuesday and acknowledged Jinnah’s status as freedom fighter before independence. Maurya said, “The controversy is useless, even if my party members are doing it. Anyone can install photo of Jinnah. He played a key role in the freedom of India.”
Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha has written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh asking hik to sack Maruya from his post for his remark on Jinnah and AMU controversy.
Several students sustained injuries in Police lathi-charge on Wednesday including AMUSU president Maskoor Ahmad Usmani, Union secretary Mohammad Fahad, and former secretary Mazin Zaidi. Injured have been taken to the hospital for treatment.
When TwoCircles.net tried to reach AMU’s public relations department for comments and stance, officials reported to be busy. The story shall be updated once we receive the answers.
Courtesy: Two Circles