“Educational Institutions Need Protection, Not Controversies,” Says Delegation
Report: S. Munir
Aligarh/Rampur: The ongoing student protest at Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, Rampur, received a significant boost as a delegation from Aligarh, led by former AMU Students’ Union President and Congress leader Dr Mohammad Salman Imtiaz, visited the protest site to express solidarity with the students.
The delegation met the protesting students, praised their peaceful democratic movement, and assured them of full support, reiterating that they would continue to stand with every effort aimed at protecting educational institutions.
The delegation also held a detailed meeting with the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Zaheeruddin, who briefed them on the legal issues concerning the institution and the current situation. Welcoming the visitors, the Vice-Chancellor said that moral support from different sections of society at such a critical time was encouraging not only for the students but for the entire institution.
Dr Salman Imtiaz alleged that the Rampur administration made every possible attempt to prevent the Aligarh delegation from reaching the university by placing barricades on various routes and restricting movement. However, despite these obstacles, the delegation succeeded in reaching the campus. He said the visit was not a political exercise but a gesture of solidarity with an educational institution.
He further stated that Rajendra Pal Gautam, In-charge of the Uttar Pradesh Congress, also reached Rampur, while several Congress leaders from different districts of the state participated in the protest. Student Union presidents and representatives from various Central Universities across the country also extended their support to the students of Jauhar University. According to him, the participation of representatives from different educational institutions had boosted the morale of the students and conveyed the message that their voice was now being heard at the national level.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Salman Imtiaz said the courage, patience and sense of responsibility shown by the students of Jauhar University had set an example for students across the country. He observed that while protests in Central Universities may be common, it was extraordinary for students of a private university to come together in such large numbers to safeguard the future and existence of their institution. He described the movement as a struggle not merely over a single issue but for the protection of education and the future of thousands of students.
He said that Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University is not merely an educational institution but a symbol of the aspirations, dreams and higher education of thousands of students. Protecting such institutions, he said, is a collective responsibility of society. Strong educational institutions form the foundation of a strong nation, and therefore, regardless of differences, the interests of education should always remain the top priority, with every dispute being resolved within the framework of law and the Constitution.
Referring to former minister Azam Khan, Dr Salman Imtiaz said he sincerely prayed for him, stating that he had established an educational institution which today is being supported not only by Muslims but also by Hindus, Sikhs and people from other communities. According to him, this is the true success of any institution—that it rises above religion, caste and politics to become a shared legacy of society.
Concluding his address, Dr Salman Imtiaz prayed for Azam Khan’s good health and well-being and reaffirmed that students from Aligarh would continue to raise their voice for the protection and survival of the university while contributing positively to the promotion of education.
