Tension has been reported from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) after police began lathicharging on agigtating students. Some cops even fired tear gas shells. The university gates have been closed, the report said.
Police said the activists belonged to groups such as Hindu Jagran Manch, Hindu Yuva Vahini and ABVP. Atul Srivastava, SP City, said that the police resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas shells when a large number of AMU students came out to retaliate protest by Hindu organizations and pelted stones. "We used force as they tried to break the police cordon. Two policemen were also injured in the attack," he said.
The AMU students alleged that the trouble started when Hindu group activists held a dharna outside the gate soon after arrival of the former Vice-President Hamid Ali Ansari demanding removal of Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s portrait. They also burnt an effigy of the founding member of the university and entered the campus forcibly. While the police was a mute spectator initiating no action against the agitating activists, they thrashed a few AMU students.
When AMU Students’ Union President M.A. Usmani and others came to the rescue of the students they were also attacked. Following clash between the two groups, the police opened lathicharge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob. About a dozen students and activists were injured in the clash and police lathicharge
The AMUSU President M.A. Ansari, Secretary Mohammad Fahad were among those injured. They were taken to the hospital for treatment. The AMU administration has closed the main gate to avoid further clash.
Heavy police force has been deployed at the main gate where activists are staging dharna and raising slogans. A large number of AMU students have also gathered at the main gate causing tension in the varisty campus.
Earlier, the BJP appeared divided over the ongoing controversy on Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s portrait at the Aligarh Muslim University Students’ Union office with party Rajya Sabha member Harnath Singh demanding the ouster of senior Cabinet minister Swami Prasad Maurya for showering praises on Jinnah.
In a tweet to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Party National Pesident Amit Shah, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and state President Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, the Singh blasted Maurya demanding an apology or his ouster from the Uttar Pradesh cabinet.
After Aligarh BJP MP Satish Gautam wrote a letter to the Aligarh Muslim University Vice-Chanellor demanding removal of Jinnah portrait, Maurya had stated that that it was matter of shame if people raised fingers on ‘mahapurush’ who contributed in nation building. “Even Jinnah had contributed in nation-building before partition,” he had stated.
Maurya statement against his own party MP sparked row within the BJP with Singh demanding an apology or ouster. “It seems that Maurya is not interested in the BJP anymore. His statement cannot be justified when party leaders are for removal of Jinnah’s portrait,” he told media later.
He held Jinnah responsible for the partition of India and demanded immediate arrest of those involved in putting up Jinnah’s portrait in the AMUSU hall. “Sedition charges should be slapped against those promoting anti-India sentiments,” he said.
The AMU authorities have, however, washed their hands off the raging controversy saying that the AMUSU is an independent body and they do not have any control over it.
On the other hand, the AMUSU denied media reports in a few TV channels that the portrait of Jinnah was missing from the hall after the controversy. AMUSU President M.A. Usmani said that there was no question of removal of the portrait.
He clarified that union hall is decorated with photos of prominent personalities who were conferred honorary life membership of the university since 1920. Jinnah photograph was installed since 1938 when he was conferred honorary life membership. Over 100 such personalities including C.V. Raman, VV Giri etc have been conferred with the same since its inception in 1920.
“Today they are demanding removal of Jinnah’s portrait, tomorrow they might ask for the closure of Aligarh Musim Univeristy and other minority institutions. It is nothing but an attempt by the ruling party to widen communal divide,” reacted Jafrayab Jilani, Secretary of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).
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