Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s portrait replaced by Modi’s in Aligarh, probe ordered 

Amidst the controversy over a portrait of Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), a photograph of the university’s founder Sir Syed Ahmed Khan has been replaced with prime minister Narendra Modi’s picture at the Public Works Department guest house in Khair town of Aligarh.

Aligarh district magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh has ordered a probe into the alleged removal of Sir Syed’s portrait.

“As PWD guest house is a state-owned property, there is nothing unusual in putting up the photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the allegations of the removal of AMU founder’s portrait are being looked into,” Singh said.

“It seems that the issue has been raised mischievously to add fuel to the existing controversy. A probe has already been ordered to find out the truth. The probe report is yet to be submitted,” the DM said.

People familiar with the matter said Sir Syed’s portrait was reportedly removed last week. The DM ordered a probe when the matter was reported in the local media, they added.

BJP MP from Aligarh Satish Gautam wrote a letter to the AMU vice-chancellor earlier this month asking why a portrait of the founder of Pakistan was being kept on the campus.

AMU students are holding protests on campus but have clarified that their agitation is against the entry of the RSS and VHP activists to the campus and a subsequent lathi charge by the police on students trying to lodge a complaint last Wednesday.

Students formed a human chain on the AMU campus on Tuesday after addressing a press conference claiming that their protest had nothing to do with the Jinnah controversy.