In an effort to restore normalcy at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campus, shutdown for an indefinite period in the wake of ongoing agitation over the death of a student, vice-chancellor (VC) PK Abdul Azis has written an open letter to the students and guardians, seeking their cooperation to end the deadlock.
Faced with strong criticism from several quarters for "trying to forcibly snuff out democratic protests at campus," Azis made an appeal to the student community of AMU asserting "I should not be held responsible for the death of a non resident student outside the university."
The university was closed for an indefinite period on Friday following protracted student protests.
The newly formed students coordination committee, has accused the VC of "scuttling all efforts to revive the students' union thus resulting in a complete breakdown of communications between the students and the university authorities since the past several years."
Replying to the above charge in his open letter, the VC said, "Some satanic forces from outside the campus including criminal elements are trying to incite violence at the campus and mislead the students." He also blamed some politiciansfor "trying to add fuel to the recent student agitation at the campus by giving inflammatory speeches in the campus."
The Secretary of the Aligarh Muslim University Teachers' Association (AMUTA) Jamshed Siddiqui, responding to the appeal said, "instead of introspecting, the vice chancellor is trying to divert from the real issues which include gross financial
irregularities and the crushing of dissidence at the campus."
Since Monday, AMU students have been protesting the murder of final-year BSc student Shahnawaz over road rage the previous day. The protesters were demanding ouster of Azis and others.
Comments