Srinagar 14 October: Despite police restrictions hundreds joined AIP’s March in Srinagar in solidarity with students of Aligarh Muslim University, who have been booked for offering in-absentia funeral prayers of Hizb Commander Dr. Manan Wani, said an Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) spokesman in a statement issued here on Sunday.
“Earlier a heavy contingent of police force detained Er. Rasheed near Zero Bridge and did not allow him to proceed towards Lal Chowk. He was arrested and detained at his residence in Jawahar Nagar. However breaking restrictions hundreds led by Er. Rasheed carried out march from Jawahar Nagar chanting slogans in favor of students of AMU,” reads the AIP statement.
“Offering funeral prayers of anyone including those of Manan Wani is not a crime but a fundamental religious obligation. AMU Administration has filed charges of sedition against Kashmiri students only under pressure from local BJP leaders just to polarize the issue and gain electoral dividends. Whatsoever is being attributed to students is absolutely false and baseless. AMU is a prestigious institution and the only aim to drag the university into controversies is to interfere in the affairs of university and abolish its Muslim dominated character. Kashmiri students are being targeted only for the reason that they are Kashmiris and being a Kashmiri has become a crime in India,” Er. Rasheed was quoted as saying, while addressing the media persons, in the statement.
