In an interesting development, some members of the Aligarh Muslim University had organised a ‘Prasad distribution’ event for Kanwariyas on the occasion of Mahashivaratri.
AMU Student Union president Salman Imtiaz and secretary Huzaifa Amir were there leading the event. The initiative was hailed by many on social media. The event was organised in front of the AK Tibbiya college in the university.
यही है असली हिंदुस्तान ????
अलीगढ़ मुस्लिम यूनिवर्सिटी के छात्रों ने आज #महाशिवरात्रि पर कांवड़ियों के लिए प्रसाद वितरण का ख़ास इंतज़ाम किया…शिवभक्तों को अपने हाथों से खिलाया फल, कांवड़ियों ने दी दुआएँ – मुहब्बत ज़िंदाबाद ???? pic.twitter.com/QaZJiJG0Q0— Samir Abbas (@TheSamirAbbas) March 4, 2019
However, as per reports, after the event, both Imtiaz and Amir are being heavily criticised by some other student union leaders and their supporters for organising a ‘pro-Hindu’ event.
As per a report in Amar Ujala, Hamza Sufiyan, the vice president of the AMUSU has alleged that he was not informed about the event and the banner of the AMUSU should not be used for events being conducted in a ‘personal capacity.’ Many other students have also reportedly posted derogatory comments mocking the student leaders for organising a ‘Hindu’ event.
Edited images of Imtiyaz and Amir were also circulated depicting them as Kanwar Yatris.
It is notable here that very recently, while addressing the students of the university Salman Imtiaz had asked students to leave class and join a protest demanding the rustication of student leader Ajay Singh who was the first Non-Muslim student to contest for the post of president in 2017.
While addressing the students, Salman Imtiaz, brandishing pro-Islamist rhetorics had tried to instigate students by saying, “else how will you answer Allah”.
AMU students’ union has been demanding, among other things, rustication of Ajay Singh
Here’s AMUSU president Salman Imtiaz asking students to leave class and join protest “else how will you answer Allah” pic.twitter.com/ZfBkj2Y6Fr
— Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) February 22, 2019
Meanwhile, the Aligarh Muslim University which has always been in news for the wrong reasons from the row on hanging Jinnah’s portrait to supporting terrorism was lately in the limelight for an objectionable social media post on the Pulwama Terror Attack by one of its Kashmiri students named, Basim Hilal, who was, however, later suspended by the university.
Last month, on February 12, an FIR under the clause of IPC section 124A pertaining to sedition had been lodged against the 14 Aligarh Muslim University students for raising pro-Pakistan slogans. Imtiyaz was also named in that FIR. The police had also pressed charges of vandalism and hurting the religious sentiments of people against these AMU hoodlums.
From calling for protests and violence in the name of Allah to organising events to help devotees on Shivaratri, the gesture by Imtiyaz and others is being hailed by many as a positive development.
Someone shared this. AMUSU president Salman Imtiaz (whose video I earlier shared where he is asking students to join protest “else how will they answer Allah”) is being trolled and criticised for this. Nevertheless, a welcome gesture ? pic.twitter.com/df9icAW9V6
— Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) March 5, 2019
Last month, a complaint had been lodged against the AMU students under Section 307 and Section 153 after the harassed Republic TV crew approached police for an incident that occurred a day before the previous incident of violence and vandalism. Several students of Aligarh Muslim University had intimidated Republic TV crew including a female journalist who was present on the university campus.
