Kashmiri students defer decision to leave AMU en masse
Kashmiri students at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) have deferred their decision to surrender their degrees and leave the campus today following revocation of the suspension order of two students by AMU. Waseem Ayyub Malik and Abdul Haseeb Mir were suspended on Oct 12 for allegedly participating in an aborted Namaaz-e-Janaza (prayer meeting) in the campus for slain Hizbul Mujahideen militant Manan Bashir Wani.
Suspension revoked as no evidence found of students' participation
The suspension order was revoked yesterday night after a three-member inquiry panel set up by the university exonerated Malik and Mir, saying "no credible evidence" of their participation in any "unlawful assembly" in the university campus was found, AMU spokesperson, Shafey Kidwai, said.
Revoking suspension order, a welcome step: Former AMUSU President
Malik and Mir, besides another unknown person, were also booked by police on sedition charges for allegedly raising "anti-India" slogans. Former President of AMU Students' Union, Mashkoor Ahmad Usmani, said that the decision to revoke the suspension order of the two Kashmiri students was a "welcome step" and will have a salutary effect not only in the AMU, but also in the Kashmir Valley.
Slapping sedition case on the students was hasty, ill-conceived: Usmani
"We're strongly opposed to any anti-national act and we'll never allow any such incident to take place at the campus. However, we're strongly opposed to any attempt to harass any student of any part of India," Usmani said. He further added, "We feel that slapping of a sedition case against the two Kashmiri students by police was hasty, ill-conceived, and based on flimsy evidence."
Police should withdraw cases or students will re-launch protest: Usmani
Usmani said if the police fail to withdraw the cases, the Kashmiri students have decided to re-launch their protest and go ahead with their peaceful resistance by leaving the campus en masse.
Ex-VP of AMU Students' Union demanded justice for Kashmiri students
Former Vice President of AMU Students' Union Sajjad Subhan Rather, who hails from Kashmir and led a silent protest yesterday at the venue of the All India AMU Alumni Meet, demanded justice for the Kashmiri students. "We have come to the AMU to build our careers. Please do not snatch away the 'pens' from our hands," he said.
Justice Katju urges Kashmiri students not to get disheartened
Meanwhile, former Supreme Court judge, Justice Markandey Katju, who is currently abroad, urged the Kashmiri students at the AMU not to be "carried away by emotions and abandon their promising futures". "I wish to send my greetings to Kashmiri students since my DNA is same as theirs. They must not get disheartened by the recent unfortunate turn of events," Katju said in a statement.
J&K Governor helping in resolving ongoing crisis at AMU
Katju assured the Kashmiri students that if they ever needed his help, he will always be available for them in a just cause. According to AMU officials, Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Satya Pal Malik, is playing a key role in resolving the ongoing crisis at the AMU. He is reported to be in close touch with the Uttar Pradesh government and the AMU authorities.
