The Human Resource Development Ministry on Tuesday sought an explanation from the Aligarh Muslim University Vice Chancellor Zameer Uddin Shah over not allowing access to women undergraduates to the main library in the campus, with Minister Smriti Irani saying that it amounted to an ‘insult to daughters’.
Irani said the ministry's secretary for higher education has been directed to seek an explanation from the AMU VC in the matter and she will react only after receiving the report.
No library access for women; AMU VC denies being sexist
"There are some reports which hurt you as a woman and also agitates you that when we attained freedom there was a belief that education and constitutional rights were same for all... And now we get reports that amount to insult to daughters," the HRD minister said on the sidelines of an event to mark Maulana Azad's 125th birth anniversary as 'Shiksha Diwas'.
Turning down the demand of students of Women's College, AMU, for access to the varsity's Maulana Azad Library, Shah has said there would be ‘more boys’ in the library if girls were allowed in. The remarks evoked sharp reactions from not only the political leaders but also activists.
Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptullah termed the VC’s remarks as "appalling" and ‘shocking’ while the new MoS in the Ministry Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said such remarks were ‘not acceptable in a civilised society’.
"I do find it appalling especially on the day when Maulana Azad's birth anniversary is around. Azad focussed on girls education 62 years ago. I am really surprised. Somebody talking like that as the head of an institution in this day and age is shocking," Heptullah said.
Social Justice Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot said that instead of addressing the issue, "prohibiting somebody from not going (to the library) is not right. Arrangements should be made so that all students go to the library and study," he said.
Terming Shah's statement as ‘regressive and antediluvian’, National Commission for Women chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam wondered "Is it legal for them (AMU) to bar any student regardless of gender from accessing such services in a university?"
Several women undergraduate students came out in the open demanding access to the library, saying such ‘discrimination’ should stop forthwith.
The vice chancellor had said that the Women's College is more than two kilometres from the main campus and all undergraduate students have access ‘to a top class separate library of their own’. He said that a demand was raised on Monday to allow undergraduate girls to access the Maulana Azad Library but it was already burdened.
It can be met only after the “Infrastructural issues have been resolved and arrangements for safe transport for girls have been made," the VC said, adding, “The issue of permitting undergraduate girls would have to wait until we have created necessary extra space.
"Once these issues have been resolved, then we would certainly have no objection in permitting these girls to get physical access to the central library if they so wish," he said.
"I want to reiterate that women's empowerment is today a top priority of AMU and it is an article of faith for me to ensure that girl students at AMU are ready to compete with the brightest and the best in the country".
When contacted, Principal of the Women’s College, Naeema Khatoon said it was an ‘unnecessary controversy created out of nothing’.
