By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net,
Aligarh: The agitating students of the Aligarh Muslim University’s Saiyyid Hamid Senior Secondary School who are protesting against their Principal and demanding his resignation since last three days, blocked the entrance to the administrative office complex of AMU on Friday.
The blockade had temporarily brought the normal functioning of University to standstill. Provosts and wardens of different halls of residence assembled at the gate of Administrative Block to persuade the students and ensure that work in the administrative offices are not hampered by “agitated elements”.
The senior secondary students have alleged that the Principal of the school, Major (Retd) S M Mustafa who is also holding additional charge of Provost uses abusive Language and mentally torments them.
“Since the day Major (Retd) S M Mustafa has taken the charge of principal of Saiyyid Hamid Senior Secondary School, he has been acting like a Dictator imposing his diktats forcefully on us. He uses abusive language on students and tortures them mentally,” alleged a student who wished to remain anonymous.
He also alleged that the principal does not let them offer the Prayers. Whenever we go for prayers, he tell us ‘Yahan Padahi karne ke lie aaye ho ya Namaz Padhne ke lie (You have came here to study not to offer nimaz).”
The students have also alleged that the principal was being shielded as he is a relative of the Pro-Vice Chancellor of AMU, Brig. S. Ahmad Ali.
As the Principal also additionally hold the office of Provost, students also alleged that the quality of food being served to them was very poor and served in unhygienic utensils.
“If we complain of unhygienic utensils then we are forced to wash those plates ourselves,” alleged another student.
The students have been boycotting the classes since last three days and rubbished the claims of Vice Chancellor that students were taking classes and engaged in their studies in a routine manner. Agitating students have threatened to go on hunger strike if their demands are not met at earliest.
“We met Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah but he didn’t relent to our demand of removing the principal. We have made it clear to them that if our demands like removing the principal and improvement in quality of food severed to us, are not met then we will go on hunger strike,” another agitating student told TwoCircles.net.
The Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah also visited the Saiyyid Hamid Senior Secondary School and addressed a gathering of students on Friday.
Later a press statement released from the office of the AMU PRO quoted the VC as saying that a small group of “disturbing elements” was engaged in creating chaos and majority of students was seriously engaged in studies.
Issuing a stern warning to the “disturbing elements”, the Vice Chancellor said, “Miscreants will be identified and strong disciplinary action will be taken against them. Any attempt at creating hindrances in the peaceful academic environment will not be tolerated. The University administration is concerned for the welfare of the students and efforts are being made to ascertain the problems and issues faced by the Senior Secondary School students.”
Interestingly, while the administration is silent on the allegations, the Principal of the Senior Secondary School (Boys) is contacting the parents of students advising them to pursue their wards not to indulge in any negative activities.
Meanwhile, the Executive Council of the University, in its emergent meeting held at the Vice Chancellor’s lodge, decided to institute a time-bound enquiry to investigate the matter.
To look into the matter, AMU Vice-Chancellor Lt Gen (Rtd) Zameer Uddin Shah today instituted a three-member inquiry committee to probe into the circumstances and background which led to protest by students of the senior secondary school (boys) which will submit its report to the Vice Chancellor by August 27, 2015.