May 11, 2011: Press Release Reg Hony Secretary & VC Telecon & Hunger Strike

ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION, ALIGARH

S. Mustafa Zaidi Hony. Secretary

Teaching Staff Club, AMU, Aligarh-202002 0571-3203520 (O); 09411802364 (M) 0571-2720011 (R); Email: secretary_amuta@rediffmail.com

Press-Release (dated 11 May 2011)

A large number of teachers assembled on the call of the AMU Teachers Association at the Staff Club at 11 am on May 11, 2011 to march to the Vice-Chancellor’s office to press for our demands to remove the Proctor for his defamatory remarks vis-à-vis the university and for creating a sense of insecurity. The AMUTA has been holding successful dharna at the Staff Club for the past nine days against the declaration of the unwarranted sine die and dangerous and damaging statements made by the Proctor and the Vice-Chancellor (VC). However, when we reached the Administrative Block, we were surprised to know that the VC was away and had not given the charge of his office to any one. The officiating Registrar came out to receive our memorandum on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor.  We insisted that we had sought an appointment with the VC three days in advance through a written request and therefore we shall only talk to him or any other person designated as VC today.  We went to the VC office and after some time were able to talk to the VC through his office phone arranged by his PA.

On the phone, we protested to the VC that we have not even been extended the minimum courtesy of being informed about his being out-Station (Aligarh). We inquired from Prof. P.K.Abdul Azis as to who was the VC on the AMU campus today? He replied that he was the VC on the Campus, then we explained to him that under the Statutes of the University, the office of the VC cannot remain vacant. It was also explained to him that our demand for removal of the Proctor was based on the irresponsible activities and misleading statements issued by the Proctor. We also protested to searching of the Girls’ hostels for fire-arms by male staff which is incomprehensive in any civilized society.  We also protested against the allegations about the presence of arms in the hostels (later found completely baseless after a thorough search), then denial of such claims, accusing the students for firing incidents and then blaming the outsiders for this criminality and so on. These erroneous claims have severely damaged the image and identity of the University in addition to causing a lot of painful disturbance to students (and their parents) who were forced to vacate their rooms within 48 hours.  This has added to the stereo-typing of a particular community and the historic institution of the Aligarh Muslim University. Therefore, we demand the immediate removal of the Proctor and institution of a proper time-bound inquiry into the incidents leading to the irrational and highly unreasonable sine die declared on 30 April 2011.

We also informed the VC that his press statement about teachers not condemning the violent incidents is baseless as the first paragraph of our Resolution of May 1, 2011 ‘unequivocally condemned’ it and demanded time-bound inquiry which has not been set up by him till date.

Soon after the protest march, the Action Committee of the AMUTA decided the following programme of action:

1.       The Action Committee of the AMUTA took note of the interaction of office bearers with faculty during their visits to various Departments. A consensus has emerged on extending cooperation to holding examinations in return to the consideration of one of the demands viz. reopening of the University. Therefore, teachers are requested to participate wholeheartedly in the conduct of all admission and examination related work.

2.       Teachers shall be sitting on ‘Hunger Strike’ from tomorrow (May 12, 2011) near the VC Lodge at the AMU Campus to press for the immediate removal of the Vice Chancellor and Proctor. The hunger strike shall be observed by the AMUTA from 9.00 am to 8.00 pm every day.

3.       Delegations of teachers will be sent to the National Capital (Delhi) to meet and apprise the President of India (Visitor of the AMU), the Prime Minister, the HRD Minister, and other prominent personalities and Associations to press for the removal of the highly inefficient and irresponsible Vice-Chancellor Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis and informing them that the proposed CBI inquiry shall not achieve anything until he is removed from the Campus.

S. Mustafa Zaidi