An uneasy calm pervades the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) ahead of President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit for its 65th annual convocation on Wednesday, 7 March. The students of the university seem to be divided over his presence on the campus – primarily because of the controversial comments made by Kovind in 2010 where he reportedly said “Islam and Christianity are alien to the nation.”
Having taken objection to this statement, some students, spearheaded by AMU Students’ Union (AMUSU) vice-president Sajad Subhan Rather, have opposed the president’s visit. Speaking to the media, Rather categorically asserted that “the president’s visit is unwelcome till he does not give a public apology.”
…The 2010 statement given by the President of India is an anti-national statement, hurting the sentiments of Muslims… If he is wants to uphold the unity, peace and diversity of the country, he should admit his mistake and give a public apology. Then we will welcome him.Sajad Subhan Rather, vice-president, AMUSU
Kovind had reportedly made this statement in 2010 when he was the BJP spokesperson, and was in reference to the Ranganath Misra Commission report that had reportedly suggested that Muslim and Christian converts be included in the Scheduled Castes category, with 10 percent reservation for Muslims and 5 percent for Christians who were socially and economically backward.
Claiming that students are angry over the president’s past comments, Rather said that if any untoward incident breaks out, it would be the president and the vice-chancellor (VC) of the university who would be responsible.
Moreover, he also reportedly alleged that the invitation extended to the president was owing to the “personal interests” of the VC, who wants to “send out a message that the AMU has accepted the BJP ideology.”
‘Welcome the President, But Not Anyone With Sangh Ideology’
Not everyone seems to have adopted as vehement a view as the AMUSU vice-president. The students’ union president, Maskoor Ahmad Usmani, in a statement to The Quint, said that President Kovind’s visit to the University is a “matter of pride” and everyone would welcome him. However, he did warn against the presence of any “rabble-rousers” on the day of the convocation.
We won’t allow any communal forces inside our campus, no matter what their affiliation is – Congress, SP, BSP or BJP. Our campus is secular. The post of the president is a constitutional one and it is our duty to maintain its dignity.Maskoor Ahmad Usmani, AMUSU president
Other students of AMU, who The Quint spoke to, also echoed Usmani. They maintained that the opposition is not against the president, whom they “welcome” and “cannot insult”, but rather against those with a “Sanghi mindset who want to get inside the campus and spread their hateful agenda.”
The opposition is against those fanatical elements who want to break the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb (syncretic Hindu-Muslim culture). These people are spreading wrong messages about the AMU and I completely oppose them. A President is coming to AMU for the convocation after 32 long years and we welcome him.Syed Haasan-ul Haque, student, AMU
The sentiment of a large number of students regarding Kovind's visit was also conveyed to the Vice-Chancellor, Tariq Mansoor, in a letter by AMUSU secretary Mohammad Fahad wherein he warned the AMU administration of consequences if any RSS man is invited or enters the campus on convocation day.
A former AMU student leader, Kavi Shida pointed out that the controversy and opposition regarding the President's visit is “the voice of only a few, and not that of Aligarh,” as he lamented the maligning of AMU’s image because of only a few people.
But, we will oppose if anyone from the RSS or BJP comes there. Carrying out protests is our constitutional right. If you remember, in 2012, students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) had also protested against former president Pranab Mukherjee.Kavi Shida, former AMU student leader
‘We’ll Get 11,000 Youths to Raise Saffron Flags’: Muslim Youth Association
On the other end is the Muslim Youth Association, that has claimed that it would bring together 11,000 nationalist Muslims to welcome the President with saffron flags if action was not taken against students opposing the visit.
The association’s president, Mohammad Amir Rashid, pointed out that the group works to “imbibe Sangh nationalism among nationalistic Muslims” in Western Uttar Pradesh.
Hitting out at the lack of action by the AMU administration against people who speak against the Sangh and the BJP-led central government, Rashid asserted:
The international image of the AMU has also been tarnished because of their protests. It has become a habit for these people to protest. They are influenced by Pakistani ideology and action should be taken against them for being anti-national.Mohammad Amir Rasheed, president, Muslim Youth Association
In the meantime, AMU public relations in-charge M Shafey Kidwai reacted to the whole controversy by maintaining that they have “only invited the President.”
“If anyone comes as part of the convoy, we cannot intervene," she added.
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