AMU removes BJP flags from MLA's car sent to pick up his grandson

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Dalbir Singh has accused the staff at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) of removing the party flag from his vehicle when it entered the university campus on Tuesday.

Terming it as 'gross misconduct', the legislator from Barauli constituency in Aligarh district has demanded action against the university staff. Dalbir Singh was not in the car when the flag was removed.

The university spokesman, however, said the action was taken in accordance with the set procedures, which do not allow vehicles with political party flags within the campus. "It is only when some dignitary is inside the vehicle that we allow them. For any student or any other individual, it is not allowed. This is an educational institution," the official added.

Students at AMU also said the same stating that the institution has set rules which do not allow political flags inside the campus or any kind of party influence among students. "This should not be an issue at all as AMU is an educational institution and is meant for imparting education. If anyone comes with any kind of party flags, they are not allowed and it applies to all party flags. And why does he want to take action, against what does he want to complain? AMU is for students, teachers, for alumni, non-teaching staff and it is definitely not a political party headquarter. No one is asking them to remove the flags outside the campus," Mohammad Salman Imtiaz, AMUSU president told Edex.

Dalbir Singh said, "My vehicle had gone to the university to pick up my grandson. I am a BJP MLA so my vehicle has a party flag. However, some guards misbehaved with my driver and removed the flag." He said that he had informed the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police about the incident and had also sought an appointment with the Union Human Resource Development Minister to apprise him about the same.

The MLA's driver has also filed a complaint with the police in Aligarh in which he has alleged that he was forced to remove the BJP party flag from his vehicle when he entered the university to pick up a student.

Reacting to the lawmaker's complaint, university officials told several news organizations that the action was taken according to standing instructions. "Vehicles with party flags are not allowed inside the university. It is only when some dignitary is inside the vehicle that we allow them. For any student or any other individual, it is not allowed. This is an educational institute", an official said.