Aligarh university vice chancellor, students hold talks
By IANSWednesday, October 13, 2010
ALIGARH - Aligarh Muslim University Vice Chancellor P.K. Abdul Azis Wednesday held talks with agitating students who launched a sit-in Oct 4 demanding restoration of the students’ union, among other demands.
Some former students and Samajwadi Party leader Nafees Ahmed, a university alumni, have also extended support to the students.
Chief spokesperson for the students’ struggle committee Mushtaq Ahmed told IANS: “We began our dharna (sit-in) Oct 4 with a set of four demands - restoration of the students union, and sacking of the dean, finance officer and provost.”
“We are committed to a peaceful and democratic agitation,” he said.
A core struggle committee also submitted a letter to the convener and secretary of a negotiation committee constituted by the vice chancellor, listing the demands.
Earlier, the university authorities said the student leaders refused to negotiate and walked away from a meeting. They even refused to sit and sign the attendance register of the meeting.
Mushtaq said that the students did not know that the vice chancellor had constituted a committee for negotiation.
He insisted that they would like to negotiate only with the vice chancellor.
Azis had earlier expressed anguish over the way a few students along with some former students began a sit-in in front of his lodge Oct 4.
He alleged they were backed by certain forces which wanted to gain political mileage.
He said that the university was compelled to dissolve the students’ union in 2007 due the lawlessness, violence and murder of three students.
