Aligarh Muslim University students threaten fresh stir if demands not met

With the onset of Ramzan, the agitating students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) withdrew their three-day hunger strike and 15-day dharna. But leaders of the AMU students’ union (AMUSU) threatened to launch a fresh agitation, if their demand for a judicial inquiry into the violence on the campus over a portrait of Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah is not fulfilled.

“This should not be viewed as an end to our agitation but as preparation for a possible second stage of our struggle which would be launched, if needed, at an all-India level in case authorities fail to fulfill their commitment,” said AMUSU president Mashkoor Ahmad Usmani.

“We would have our delegations meeting the home minister and President of India besides others concerned and would press for our demand,” he added.

The agitation by students ended on Wednesday night after Nafeesa Begum, the mother of missing JNU student Najeeb, persuaded the AMU students to end their indefinite hunger strike. AMU vice- chancellor Professor Tariq Mansoor too expressed solidarity with the agitating students after visiting them.

“The strike has ended but the movement has begun. We would even go for legal recourse, if our demands are not met. The shape and form of the movement will be discussed and announced soon,” stated the AMUSU president.

“Our struggle is entirely based on the demand for a judicial inquiry into the police lathicharge on unarmed AMU students and also for stringent punishment to those ‘armed goons’ belonging to right wing groups who had entered the AMU campus with an objective of fomenting violence on the campus,” he added.

Nafeesa Begum, the mother of missing student from JNU Najeeb, persuaded the AMU students to end with hunger strike and threatened not to have food till students have it. The onset of Ramzan month was another major reason leading to calling of hunger strike.

(Inputs from PTI)