Students and staff of the Maulana Azad National Urdu University on Tuesday condemned varsity Chancellor Firoz Bhakht Ahmed’s comments on social media, alleging that they had indulged in ‘anti-national activity’ by organising annual ‘hostel celebrations’.
Taking to Facebook, Mr Ahmed on Monday alleged that students and the staff were insensitive as the function took place on February 16, days after the terrorist attack in Pulwama. He said that over 2,000 students and staff also partook of a dinner, which, he alleged, was thrown by Vice Chancellor M Aslam Parvaiz to give a positive twist to a UGC's fact-finding committee.
In a statement to the media, students rubbished the Chancellor’s allegations and said that the 2nd Annual Hostel Celebration began after paying homage to the martyred CRPF men.
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“It is to bring your kind notice that in the beginning of the Annual Hostel celebration, the programme started after paying homage to our martyrs, who died in Pulwama incident. Moreover, Ms Naina Jaiswal, the chief guest, spoke about the contribution and sacrifice of our armed personnel and dedicated a song to them,” an excerpt from the statement reads.
Former MANUU Student Union leader Danish Khan said Mr Bakht’s comments and pictures which he posted on Facebook were a misrepresentation of the event and had hurt the sentiments of students. Others such as Md Zishan, also a varsity student, said that no anti-national activity had taken place.
“The University and its students have not indulged in any anti-national activities which brings down the pride of the our nation, sacrifice of our soldiers. We always come forward in building of our nation brick by brick,” the statement reads.
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“I am shocked what the Chancellor has written on social media. How can he say that organising annual hostel celebrations are anti-national,” a student said.