AMU Jinnah row: University postpones exams till May 12 due to protests

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has postponed all examinations till May 12 due to the ongoing protests.

News agency ANI reported quoting Umar Salim Parizda, PRO, AMU.

The ongoing Jinnah portrait issue was raked on May 1, 2018, when a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of parliament (MP) Satish Gautam, in a letter to the AMU vice-chairman, asked to explain why it displays a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The AMU students were, however, reportedly not in favour of removing Jinnah’s portrait saying its part of the university’s history as he was given a life membership of the university’s union.

Soon after the letter was sent, members of right-wing organisation Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV), barged into the varsity, shouting slogans against the hanging of Jinnah’s portrait and briefly clashed with Aligarh Muslim University students.  

The clashes injured 41 people, including 28 students and 13 policemen. 

The HYV, which is founded by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, held the protest moments before former vice-president Hamid Ansari was to visit the university to attend an event.

Internet services were suspended on Friday following unrest in the university campus. 

Meanwhile, protests reached Delhi and students were seen protesting outside Uttar Pradesh Bhawan in the national capital in support of the AMU students. 

Tension prevailed in Aligarh and students continued their protests demanding action against right-wing protesters who entered the campus and wanted the Pakistan founder’s portrait removed from the student union office, where it has been hanging for decades