ALIGARH – The mysterious removal of Quaid-e-Azam’s portrait from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has sparked massive protests with students assembling outside a police station over the issue.
The debate on the portrait of Pakistan’s founding father started when a BJP lawmaker Satish Gautam asked Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to explain why it displays a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
In a letter written to vice-chancellor Tariq Mansoor on Monday, the legislator objected to hanging the picture of the founder of Pakistan on the walls of the AMU student union office.
AMU spokesperson Shafey Kidwai defended the display of portrait which has been put up from as early as 1938.
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The spokesperson clarified that Jinnah was a founder member of the University Court and granted life membership of the student union.
Traditionally, photographs of all life members are placed on the walls of the student union, he told Press Trust of India.
“Jinnah was granted membership before the demand of Pakistan had been raised by the Muslim League,” he added.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, the armed activists from the Hindu Yuva Vahini descended on the campus and demanded the removal of portrait on Wednesday.
The activists, at least 3o in number gathered at Bab-e-Syed – the central gate of AMU and shouted slogans like ‘We will not let such respect for Jinnah pass in India”, “If you want to remain in India, you must say Vande Mataram’, “Vande Mataram, Jai Shri Ram!’
Interestingly, Quaid’s portrait went missing the same day, which prompted the students of varsity to stage counter-protest against the administration.
No official statement is available about the mystery, however, there are mixed reactions about the episode, with some supporting the removal while others opposing the ‘fanaticism’.
Renowned Indian screenwriter, Javed Akhtar also stated that the administration and students should have voluntarily removed the portrait from the institute, drawing the ire of social media.
