A portrait of Jinnah in India caused massive unrest

Aligarh Muslim University in India just became embroiled in a bitter dispute, and bloodshed, over a portrait of Pakistani founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

 

Years after the partition, it seems as if the founding father of Pakistan is still the cause for unrest in modern day India, and more specifically, at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)

https://twitter.com/timesn0w/status/991693367959486464

 

A portrait of Jinnah hung in India has caused massive bloodshed from the rightwing

The prominent and historical university in India was stormed by an armed group of Hindutva nationalists that demanded a portrait of Jinnah, one that had been hanging in the university for almost 80 years, be taken down.

The Hindutva or ‘Hinduness’ is a term in India that refers to those who are predominant in their sense of Hindu nationalism. Therefore the group that stormed the campus was a number of Hindutva members, whose aim, it seems was to rid the University of the Portrait, and in a deeper sense, of any traces of Pakistan, as they were marching in protest of the portrait that was hanging.

Source: rediff.com

 

The issue itself began when the University was an MP in Aligarh wrote to the vice-chancellor, Tariq Mansoor asking why the portrait of Jinnah was present in India in the first place

It started off a dialogue within the Indian press as well as in the Indian government, about the historical significance of Jinnah, a conversation that seemed quite out of place.

In the University, according to Hindustan Times, an AMU student leader said the portrait was not to be removed and was included in the Student’s Union protocol in which all major leaders of India who had ever visited the campus were to be recognized.

A spokesperson of the University spoke with the Indian publication, saying similar violence were caused by Hindu nationalist parties when former Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari was being honored, leading to the program being cancelled.

Regarding the bloodshed over Jinnah’s portrait, the spokesperson of the University said,  “in the afternoon, right wing activists reached the university gate, raised objectionable slogans, burnt effigies and manhandled half-a-dozen security guards. They came face-to-face with AMU students. About a dozen AMU students, including the student union president, were injured in police action following their march towards the police station”.

 

When the members of the violent protesting parties were taken out of the campus, they were taken to the police but then quickly released without an FIR against them

Upon hearing this, members of the Student Union marched their way towards the police station to demand an answer in regards to the lack of the FIR.

Suspecting some police involvement with the extremist group, the students began questioning why the Hindutva were not stopped before reaching the campus gates in the first place.

At this point, the police charged on them and in turn caused 41 injured in the clash, 28 of which were students and 13 policemen, according to ANI News.

Source: hindustantimes.com

 

The event has since sparked a debate on media outlets everywhere as to whether or not the portrait of Jinnah in India should be removed

Source: hindustantimes.com

 

Many Indians believe that the portrait itself does need to be removed since it is currently causing direct physical harm to students

Apart from this, many believe that as a university in India, having a portrait of Jinnah may not be respectful or in some regard, unnecessary.

https://twitter.com/ippatel/status/991231491026763776

https://twitter.com/Shehzad_Ind/status/991174733491253248

 

However, on the other hand, people are arguing over the fact that Jinnah received honorary recognition from the University, YEARS before the idea of Pakistan even materialized so taking that away over recent fascist Hindu groups would be a shame

People are also bringing up the fact that Jinnah, a Muslim, represented Bhagat Singh, a respected Hindu freedom fighter, in court when no one else would.

https://twitter.com/timesn0w/status/991949139440259073

All in all, it is quite sad to see that in 2018, we are still so deeply rooted in the anger of partition and the actions of Pakistanis and Indians before us, that we must resort to violence to voice our opinions.

Bloodshed is never the answer and here’s hoping that THAT, is something we can agree on, on both sides of the border.

What do you think about the situation in India? Is Pakistan faring any better in such situations like naming of public institutions and portraits?

 

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