AMU’s Jinnah row cuts off Aligarh from virtual world

Authorities have suspended internet services in Aligarh district amid unrest in Aligarh Muslim University over Jinnah’s portrait row and outsiders forced entry to the campus on Wednesday leading to violence.

 “There will be no internet services from 2 pm on Friday to 12 midnight tomorrow,” district magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh said. This has been done to prevent exchange of malicious communication which could cause further trouble, he said.

As tension prevailed in AMU and students continued with their sit-in at the Baab-e-Syed gate of the university demanding action against anti-social elements, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sought a detailed report from AMU over  Jinnah’s portrait.

Singh claimed that  heavy police force continued to camp at Baad-e-Syed gate to avert further exigency.

The agitating students, who have been boycotting classes for the last two days, offered prayers at the dharna site in which teachers and members of AMU fraternity participated. Sources said some of the protesters also had tiffs with media persons but timely intervention of officials saved the situation from turning worse.

On Wednesday, violence broke out on the campus when students demanded action against outsiders, who had stormed the campus demanding that the portrait of Pakistan’s founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah be removed from students’ union office.

The portrait has been hanging there for the last seven decades.

The row started after local BJP MP Satish Gautam wrote to the AMU administration objecting to the presence of Jinnah’s portrait on the campus.

Menwhile on Friday, Vice chancellor  AMU, Tariq Mansoor, visited Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital where three students injured in police caning are being treated.

The VC later visited the protesting students and assured them of his ‘solidarity’. AMU Teachers’ Association (AMUTA) has sent a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind asking him to ‘urgently set up’ a high-level judicial probe into the incident.

The teachers also plan a peace march to the District Collectorate.

AMUTA secretary Najmul Islam told media persons that they have urged the President to treat the matter seriously as it involved a breach in the security of former Vice President Hamid Ansari.

Ansari was supposed to be feted at the varsity, the day violence erupted.