Though there is no physical event, the entire campus has been decorated and lit up and various activities and seminars are being held virtually. (Image: Twitter/@klmfasihi)
Students and alumni of the Aligarh Muslim University(AMU) have called for the boycott of an event related to centenary celebrations of the Aligarh Muslim University in which Narendra Modi is going to be a chief guest. On 16th December, the University administration announced that Narendra Modi will be the Chief-Guest of the event through a video link.
Modi will attend the online function to be held on December 22 along with Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.
In a statement, AMU Teachers' Association (AMUTA) has said that the association hopes Modi's presence will help in the quantum jump in the overall autonomy and development of the institution. While calling the event historic some academicians have said that the event will strengthen their bond as a unit.
However, many students and alumni have protested the move.
Former member of the Rajya Sabha and a former president of the Aligarh Muslim University Students' Union, Mohammad Adeeb called the invitation to Modi to the campus as 'shocking'. In a video posted on Facebook, he said that a man who's been against the existence of Muslims in India shouldn't be welcomed at the University which is one highest seats of learning in the country.
Faisal Nadeem, an alumnus of the university, in a post on Facebook wrote "Modi is not INDIA, We will Boycott his program being Alumni of AMU".
Nahmat Maeraj, a student said that the vice-chancellor decided to add another feather to his glittering, heavy hat of infamy by inviting the prime minister to an online function. "A year back, UP Police vandalised our university, maimed our friends, in the open and behind the bars; here's where we are now" Maeraj added.
JNU student leader and former president of the women's college student Union, AMU, Afreen Fatima took to Twitter and wrote "AMU administration disgusts me".
Sajid Bukhari, a student of law faculty, AMU said in a tweet that the invitation to Narendra Modi is a personal invitation from VC and the students of the university don't recognize any such invitation.
Modi is the first prime minister to attend an event at the university in the last 56 years. Earlier, Lal Bahadur Shastri delivered the keynote speech at the convocation ceremony in 1964.
Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Tariq Masood has appealed to the university students and staff to keep the centenary programme "above politics" just as they keep Republic Day, Independence Day, Milad un Nabi and Gandhi Jayanti "above differences".
President Ram Nath Kovind is also expected to join online centenary functions which are going to be held in the next few weeks. In 2018, Kovind visited the university for the 65th annual convocation.