Jinnah’s portrait in AMU kicks up row, BJP MP demands explanation from university

Aligarh: Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s portrait in Aligarh Muslim University has kicked up a row with a BJP MP seeking explanation from university authorities why the Pakistan founder’s picture is there in the university campus.
In a letter written to Vice Chancellor Tariq Mansoor on Monday, Aligarh MP Satish Gautam objected to Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam’s picture on the walls of the AMU student union office.
Defending it, a senior AMU official Shafey Kidwai was quoted as saying that the portrait was hanging on the walls of the university for decades as Jinnah was its founder. He said Jinnah was also accorded life membership of AMU student union in 1938 and that he was the founder of the university court in 1920 and also a donor.
“Jinnah was granted membership before the demand of Pakistan had been raised by the Muslim League,” the AMU official said.
But the BJP MP’s stand is different. According to him, the university should instead celebrate the contributions of Raja Mahendra Pratap and Sir Sayyed Ahmed who played a crucial role in establishing the university. The AMU official, however, said that no national leader had raised any objection to Jinnah photo even after Independence.