AMU students teargassed Beaten up by cops as ABVP stages protest over Jinnah portrait

 Lucknow, May 2: There is widespread condemnation among the academic community and general intelligentsia of the violence instigated by Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad at the Aligarh Muslim University campus and cane charging of AMU Students’ Union members and students during the protest by the UP Police.

It is to be noted here that the violence was a reaction to the ongoing controversy over the photograph of Mohammad Ali Jinnah at AMU Students’ Union Hall, members of BJP students wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV) beat up AMU students trying to stop them as they tried to burn an effigy of Jinnah at Baba-Sayed gate.

A group of representatives of AMU Students Union was baton charged by the police when they were protesting against the administration for not registering FIR against members of ABVP and HYV for burning the effigy at Baba Sayed gate. The students were cane-charged at University Circle, and tear gas shells were fired by the police on the students demanding FIR against the right wing group members.

After a brawl, six members of ABVP and HYV were caught and handed over to the police. However, at 3:40 pm police released all the six members of the right-wing group without filing an FIR. The members of right-wing groups also raised slogans against AMU Students’ Union, leading to tension on the AMU campus. The heavy police force has been deployed at the spot to keep the situation under control.

SP City, Atul Srivastava said, “An effigy of Mohammed Ali Jinnah was burnt however there was no scuffle. Members of right-wing groups reached Baba Sayed Gate all of a sudden. The matter will be investigated.”

In the entire episode, AMU Students’ Union, claims that Jinnah, like many other pre-Partition leaders, was conferred honorary membership of the university. The Union said many such portraits have been installed in the campus since 1920.

“Jinnah’s portrait was installed when he has conferred life membership (of the Students’ Union) in 1938. AMU has many things from the pre-Partition era like the Victoria Gate. Should that be brought down as well?” asked former AMU Students’ Union president Faizul Hasan.

AMU administration maintains that AMU Students’ Union is an autonomous body.

A press note issued on the controversy by AMU Public Relations Officer (PRO) Omar Peerzada said “It is a tradition since 1920 to honor people of eminence with life membership. AMU first conferred it on Mahatma Gandhi in 1920 and on Jinnah in 1938. It is part of history… it does not mean we are part of them or their politics. CV Raman and VV Giri were also honored with the same.”