Aligarh: Demanding restoration of the
students` union, resident students at the Aligarh Muslim
University on Thursday boycotted their meal in the hostel and placed
cooking utensils outside the Vice Chancellor`s house.
A large number of students residing at the VM Hall and
Habib Hall boycotted their afternoon meal and took out a
procession carrying the utensils from the dining hall to the
VC`s residence.
They placed the utensils in front of the gate of the
Vice Chancellor`s lodge, where some students are on indefinite
hunger strike since October 5.
The students are demanding restoration of their union,
which was dissolved in 2007, and the removal of senior
University officials whom they blame for rusticating more than
150 students during the past three years.
Spokesman of the student protesters, Mushtaq Ahmad,
told mediapersons that they are holding such peaceful protest
to express solidarity with those students who are on an
indefinite hunger strike.
"We are determined to continue our peaceful protest
until the university authorities decide to hold elections to
the students union which has been defunct for more than four
year now," he said.
"Our protest has been going on for a fortnight now and
it has been absolutely peaceful. We realise that at the
slightest provocation, the University authorities will shut
down the University and blame us for the disruption of the
academic year. This we will not allow at any cost," Mushtaq
said.
The students of Sir Syed Hall had also carried out a
similar protest and boycotted their meals yesterday.
Meanwhile, University authorities said disciplinary
action will be taken against those who are "inducing" students
to boycott their meals.
AMU spokesman Rahat Abrar told PTI that yesterday`s
boycott was carried out by a "small section of students" and
denied reports which suggested that the entire hall had
boycotted the food.
"We have taken note of the incidents of the past two
days and disciplinary action will be taken against those
students who are inducing others to boycott their meals."
PTI
