AMU stares at indefinite closure

Backed by support from AMU alumni and politicians, the students have rejected the assurances of the vice-chancellor to hold the students’ union polls within three months and forced him to move out of his official residence and shift to the varsity’s lodge.

Last Monday, Congress MP Meenakshi Natarajan moved in to lend her support to the agitation. Natarajan assured the students that she would convey their rightful demands to Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

The situation took a turn for worse when the varsity administration wrote to the district authorities apprehending threat to the life of AMU vice-chancellor and some professors.

“We are looking into the matter,” Aligarh district magistrate K Ravindra Naik said. Suitable action would be taken on the letter by the AMU officials.

The district officials have also written to Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal urging him to defuse the crisis as it poses a serious threat to the law and order situation in view of the approaching festivals of Diwali and Id.  

“If the situation does not improve, the varsity could be closed sine die,” said a former AMU student leader.