New Delhi: While tension continues to prevail at the Aligarh Muslim University, Vice-Chancellor Tariq Mansoor on Wednesday met Home Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss issues concerning the premier academic institution, engulfed in controversy over a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah on its premises.
Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs said Mr Singh assured Dr Mansoor of all help from the Union government in restoring normalcy in the university. Dr Mansoor later told reporters that the meeting was fixed long ago and had nothing to do with the current controversy.
“I have requested the home minister to send Central officials for the recruitment of students in central services like the engineering service," he said.
“The vice-chancellor said the portrait of the Pakistan founder had been hanging in the AMU students' union office since 1938 and it was a non-issue. BJP MP Satish Gautam had written a letter to Dr Mansoor objecting to the portrait, triggering a row.
The university has formed a 16-member committee to settle the issue.
