The decision of the Union HRD ministry to nominate BJP MP from Bijnore, Kunwar Bharatendra to the Aligarh Muslim University Court has provoked widespread condemnation and opposition among people in Aligarh and outside.
His nomination to the AMU body has drawn sharp reaction from the university community which described it as an attempt to “tamper” with the AMU’s autonomy and special character.
Civil society in Aligarh and the AMU students’ union staged a protest on Saturday against the move. More than half-a-dozen academicians and social activists have petitioned the President of India who is the Visitor of all the Central universities to remove the BJP MP from the highest decision-making body of the university.
The BJP MP has been one of the accused in Muzaffarnagar communal riots cases. Two days back the Union HRD MInistry had commented about its decision to nominate four BJP MPs from western Uttar Pradesh to the AMU court as desired by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
“The nomination of the BJP MP who has also been an accused in Muzaffarnagar riots cases, to the Court in a noble seat of learning is going to spell the dubious role of governance at large and is not proper for sane and sorted set up of this great nation,” said the letter whose signatories include Dr. Sandeep Pandey, IIT BHU, Prof. Ram Punyani, former faculty IIT Mumbai, Prof. Vipin Tripathi, former faculty member of IIT Delhi and Dr. prem Singh among others.
“We, as Academicians and members of the Civil Society sincerely believe that the appointment of these people to the top decision making body i.e the AMU Court is not a fair play,” added the letter.
Mr. Bharatendra, however, said that he was happy at being nominated to the university body. He said that he will work for the welfare of the university and its students and will raise its concerns in the Parliament.
