By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Team Anna has excluded Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) from its itinerary. The team was to start its anti-graft campaign in Uttar Pradesh from AMU on 17th October. But in view of the Sir Syed Day commencing on the day, the Team Anna will now start the campaign from Banda on the same date.
Earlier it was announced that Team Anna’s campaign in UP will start from AMU on October 17. It was seen as a tactical move so as to strike a chord among Muslims. However, AMU has now been excluded from the list.
State Co-ordinator, India Against Corruption (IAC), Sanjay Singh candidly admitted that AMU is no more in the list of places for visit of Team Anna members. “The decision to skip AMU during the campaign in UP has been taken as AMU will be celebrating their founder’s day on October 17. It is thus not possible to visit the campus for our activity on October 17,” said Singh.
AMU celebrates October 17 as Sir Syed Day to mark the birth anniversary of their founder Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. Elaborate functions are held throughout the day followed by a dinner for everyone leaving little time for any activity. Sanjay Singh denied that AMU administration has denied permission to the Team Anna from visiting the campus. “We had not sought permission from any institution including AMU. When we have changed our programme there is no such permission issue,” he said.
In the changed itenerary, Team Anna will now begin their campaign in UP from Banda on October 17. A meeting will be held in Banda at Ramleela ground. The enxt stoppage will be Lucknow on October 18 followed by Faizabad, Sitapur, Gorakhpur etc. Team Anna is aiming at youths and students for mobilising them in their anti graft agitation.