Sunday, May 29, 2011

Satya Sai Baba : An Insider's narration

http://www.hindu.com/op/2011/05/29/stories/2011052954661400.htm


Sai Baba: an insider's account


G. VENKATARAMAN

In his article (Open Page, May 15, 2011) P. M. Bhargava sought to evaluate ‘objectively and unemotionally,' the life and legacy of Sathya Sai Baba. Like the writer, I too come from a scientific background with, however, one important difference, namely that I have spent the last 18 years in Baba's ashram, following my retirement in 1992. Thus my response is based on personal knowledge.

Mr. Bhargava ascribes five reasons for Baba's ‘rise to fame,' as he puts it. Three of these are connected with religion and the issue of miracles, subjects on which people tend to have sharply divided opinions, to which of course they are perfectly entitled; I shall therefore not discuss them. The last two concern first, the succour and peace that people who came to Baba sought and, secondly, his charitable works “like opening hospitals and providing potable water to villagers.” These are what I wish to comment on.

Let me start with the last mentioned, which is summarily dismissed by Mr. Bhargava in exactly 36 words with the condescending remark that “there are innumerable people in the country who engage in such acts to avoid undue attention focussed on their ill-gotten wealth. Accounting of his enormous wealth has never been transparent.”

This is a sweeping comment made without offering a single piece of evidence concerning (a) ‘ill-gotten wealth' (b) ‘enormous wealth' and (c) the charge of lack of transparency. Frankly, I am stunned.

Going further into these unsubstantiated allegations — for they are nothing more than that — let us start with the issue of transparency. Baba executed all his projects via Trusts set up according to due process. Every single paisa spent on every single project came out of donations received by these Trusts via cheques and drafts from people all over the world. Some directly paid their contribution to the branch of the SBI located in the ashram; at no time was any cash received by the Trust. All accounts have always been and continue to be regularly audited and statements concerning these are furnished to all authorities concerned as required by law, including the Income-Tax Commissioner. Where foreign donations are concerned, explicit permission of the Home Ministry has been obtained to receive them and every year, full particulars are furnished in the prescribed format. It is worth adding that lately, the Home Ministry has tightened regulations across the board in view of concerns about terrorism.

Turning now to hospitals, the writer seems to be unaware that Baba's Trust has set up two Super Speciality Hospitals that provide tertiary healthcare where, among other things, cardiac and neuro-surgery are routinely performed, absolutely free — this includes everything from the initial consultation, all diagnostic tests including MRI and CT scans, surgical procedure, stay in ICU and general ward, all medicines, physiotherapy (where required), food, etc. Almost invariably, the beneficiaries are poor people who come from all over India and Nepal and occasionally from elsewhere too. During the last (financial) year, over 25,000 people were treated as inpatients, the market value of the free service rendered being close to about Rs. 250 crores. Being a Trust activity, all accounts are audited as mandated and appropriate statements submitted to public authorities concerned. There is absolutely no question whatsoever of laundering of ‘ill-gotten wealth' as alleged; in fact, there is no such wealth and there never was any, period.

Passing mention must also be made of the drinking water project executed for the tribals of the East Godavari region for the simple reason that tribals of this country have a long history of being neglected. Many years ago, Baba travelled extensively in the East Godavari region, and when it became possible, he had the water project executed even though no one asked him to. That was just one of the many ways in which he offered succour to the poor, often without their having to come to him. He did the same following the massive floods in Orissa in September 2008, when thousands of poor villagers lost their homes. The moment he heard about their loss he had seven hundred houses built in three affected districts, swiftly, quietly and, as always, without fanfare.

(A physicist by training and profession, the writer served in BARC, Mumbai, IGCAR, Kalpakkam and the DRDO. After retirement, he took up teaching in the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed University) which he also served for one term as the Vice-Chancellor).

(Courtesy: The Hindu 29th May 2011)

Monday, May 23, 2011

AMBUR OPEN 2 : 9TH AND 10TH JULY 2011 AT AMBUR TRADE CENTRE

The "Ambur Open 2" leather and leather products exhibition will be held at Ambur Trade Centre. For details please see the following link:

http://ifcoma.org/newsbsm/AmburOpen2.asp

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

TAMIL NADU : COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Council of Ministers
Selvi J Jayalalithaa

Chief Minister

Public, Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Forest Service, General Administration, District Revenue Officers, Prevention of Corruption, Police, Home.


Thiru O. Panneerselvam

Minister for Finance Finance, Planning, Legislative Assembly, Elections and Passports.


Thiru K.A. Sengottaiyan

Minister for Agriculture Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Agro Service Cooperatives, Horticulture, Sugarcane Cess, Sugarcane Development and Waste Land Development.


Thiru. Natham R. Viswanathan

Minister for Electricity and Prohibition and Excise

Electricity,Non-Conventional Energy Development, Prohibition and Excise, Molasses.


Thiru K.P. Munusamy

Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development

Municipal Administration, Rural Development, Panchayats and Panchayat Unions, Poverty Alleviation Programmes, Rural Indebtedness, Urban and Rural Water Supply.


Thiru C. Shanmugavelu

Minister for Industries

Industries, Steel Control, Mines and Minerals, and Special Initiatives


Thiru R. Vaithilingam

Minister for Housing and Urban Development Housing, Rural Housing and Housing Development, Slum Clearance Board and Accommodation Control, Town Planning, Urban Development and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority


Thiru Agri S.S Krishnamoorthy

Minister for Food Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Protection and Price Control.


Thiru C. Karuppasamy

Minister for Animal Husbandry Animal Husbandry, Milk and Dairy Development.


Thiru P Palaniappan

Minister for Higher Education Higher Education including Technical Education, Electronics, Science and Technology.


Thiru C.Ve Shanumgam

Minister for School Education School Education and Archaeology


Thiru Sellur K Raju

Minister for Cooperation Cooperation, Statistics and Ex-Servicemen Welfare


Thiru K.T Pachamal

Minister for Forests Forests and Cinchona.


Thiru Edappadi K Palanisamy

Minister for Highways & Minor Ports Highways and Minor Ports.


Thiru S.P Shanmuganathan

Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE), Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture.


Thiru K.V Ramalingam

Minister for Public Works Public Works , Irrigation including Minor Irrigation, Programme Works


Thiru S.P Velumani

Minister for Special Programme Implementation Implementation of Special Programmes including implemenation of the Election manifesto.


Thiru T.K.M Chinnayya

Minister for Backward Classes Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities, Overseas Indians, Refugees & Evacuees.


Thiru M.C Sampath

Minister for Rural Industries Rural Industries including Cottage Industries, Small Industries.


Thiru P. Thangamani

Minister for Revenue

Revenue, District Revenue Establishment, Deputy Collectors, Weights and Measures, Debt Relief including legislation on Money lending, Chits, Registration of Companies.


Thiru G. Senthamizhan

Minister for Information Information and Publicity, Film Technology and Cinematograph Act, Stationery and Printing and Government Press.


Tmt S Gokula Indira

Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration Commercial Taxes, Registration and Stamp Act


Tmt Selvi Ramajayam

Minister for Social Welfare Social Welfare including Women's and Children's Welfare, Nutritious Noon Meal, Orphanages and Correctional Administration, Integrated Child Development and Beggar Homes, Welfare of the Differently abled and Social Reforms.


Thiru B.V Ramanaa

Minister for Handlooms and Textiles Handlooms and Textiles, Khadi and Village Industries Boad, Bhoothan and Gramadhan.


Thiru R.B Udhayakumar

Minister for Information Technology Information Technology


Thiru N Subramanian

Minister for Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Adi Dravidar Welfare, Hill Tribes and Bonded Labour.


Thiru V Senthil Balaji

Minister for Transport Transport, Nationalised Transport, Motor Vehicles Act.


Thiru N Mariyam Pichai

Minister for Environment Environment and Pollution Control, Minorities Welfare including Wakf.


Thiru K.A Jayapal

Minister for Fisheries Fisheries and Fisheries Development Corporation


Thiru E. Subaya

Minister for Law, Courts and Prisons Law, Courts and Prisons, Personnel and Administrative Reforms.


Thiru Budhichandhiran

Minister for Tourism Tourism, Tourism Development Corporation.


Thiru S.T Chellapandian

Minister for Labour Labour, Population, Employment and Training, Newsprint Control, Census and Urban and Rural Employment.


Dr. V.S Vijay

Minister for Health Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare.


Thiru N.R Sivapathi

Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare Sports and Youth Welfare.

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Monday, May 16, 2011

World's Largest University Gives Saudi Women Hope for Change


http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article406052.ece

World's Largest University Gives Saudi Women Hope for Change

By SIRAJ WAHAB
Published in Arab News on Monday, May 16, 2011

Saudi women educators and professionals were upbeat about the opening on Sunday, May 15, of Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) in Riyadh and took it as a sign that women may start to assume a more active role in the Kingdom's development.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah inaugurated the SR20 billion university, 25 km east of the Saudi capital, amid cheers of over 2,000 students and faculty members. With a capacity to enroll about 50,000 students, the PNU is the largest women-only university in the world and part of an ambitious education plan of the Saudi government. The university's residential area has about 1,400 villas and its massive hostel facilities to accommodate 12,000 students. The sprawling campus sits on a site that exceeds 800 hectares.

"I hope it will lead to a massive turnaround in the fortunes of Saudi women," said Dr. Aisha Almana, founder of Alkhobar's Mohammed Almana College of Health Sciences. "However, universities of the world are not known by their physical structure — they attain status and credibility by what they produce. I mean a university is known by the quality of its graduates. I hope the new university will be a trendsetter. We all know that women constitute 50 percent of the Saudi population. Recent statistics, at least those from University of Dammam, indicate that there are more women graduates than men. Meaning women are more aware of the need for education. They are equal partners in the development and progress of this great nation."

Almana said Saudi Arabia should concentrate on making its people productive. "Oil is here today, and it may not be here tomorrow. Look at Japan; they had no natural resources, but it is one of most robust economies in the world — just by the sheer power of their people. We should focus on investing in human capital. It is our people who will take us far. We should concentrate on creating excellent human resources. People are our greatest asset, and we should nurture them."

Jeddah broadcaster and newspaper columnist Samar Fatany said the new university should be a source of pride for the Kingdom.

"It has bright prospects," Fatany told Arab News. "It will be inspire the young generation of Saudi women. Hopefully it will bring in a new trend of positive thinking and produce a new group of educated women who will eventually assume leadership positions in their respective fields. We need such universities to help us excel. The new university will help our women to compete with the best women in the world and create healthy competition within the various universities in the Kingdom. It will raise the benchmark of education."

"First and foremost it indicates Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah's support for women," said writer and physician Dr. Samia Amoudi. "This is a big step in the empowerment of Saudi women. It is also significant that it is named after Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman who is the sister of the king. "For such a large, prestigious project to be named after a woman is an honor for all of us. It will have a great impact on society and how it perceives us women. I am very happy that our leadership is aware of our needs. They have placed their trust in us."

"Now it's the turn and the responsibility of the women of our Kingdom to ensure that this university attains a high rank in the world and the Middle East in particular," said Jubail teacher Huda Al-Shehri. "This university is the first of its kind dedicated exclusively to women. It offers courses that are not traditional or conventional in nature. These courses are more in line with the needs of the job market."

Almana agreed.

"It is my conviction that we should follow the India model. Immediately after attaining independence, the Indians concentrated on professional courses rather than humanities and arts," she said. "The recent turnaround in India is a result of that paradigm shift in education. I recently came back from Bangalore and saw the transformation myself. We should similarly focus on professional studies."

 


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Saturday, May 14, 2011

INDIAN UNION MUSLIM LEAGUE MLAs IN KERALA

Please see the following link to know the details of the Indian Union Muslim League MLAs elected in the 13th April 2011 assembly electins in Kerala

http://www.indianunionmuslimleague.in/

Assam: Newly elected AIUDF MLAs

 

ASSAM : NEWLY ELECTED AIUDF MLAs


1. (Hafiz) Rafiqul Islam (Qasmi)------------------ Jania
2. Aminul Islam-----------------------------------Dhing
3. (Mufti) Abdur Rahman Ajmal------------------Salmara South
4. Sheikh Shah Alam --------.----------------- --Goalpara West
5. Jahan Uddin-----------------------------------Dhubri
6. Moin Uddin Ahmed---------------------------Jaleswar
7. Ali Hossain---------------------------------- -Sarukhetri

8. Abdur Rehman Khan--------------------------Barpeta
9. Monowar Hussain--------------------------- -Goalpara East
10. (Maulana) Ataur Rahman Mazarbhuiya-------Katigora
11. Hafiz Basir Ahmed Qasmi--------------------Bilasipara West
12. Gul Akhtara Begum--------------------------Bilasipara Eest

13. Abul Kalam Azad--------------------------- Bhabanipur
14. Sherman Ali Ahmed-------------------------Baghbar

15. Swapan Kar ------------------------------- Lumding
16. Mazibur Rahman----------------------------Rupohihat

17. Gopi Nath Das -----------------------------Boko
18. Mohammed Sirajuddin Ajmal---------------Jamunamukh

 

NB 17 of AIUDF Candidates were second

Total Candidates 75

Thursday, May 12, 2011

IAS EXAM.2010 SUCCESSFUL MUSLIM CANDIDATES

IAS EXAM 2010: SUCCESSFUL MUSLIM CANDIDATES


By V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

There is no dearth of meritorious candidates among Muslims. If properly guided and helped, they can shine and achieve their goals. The results of the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2010 announced recently show that there are 31 Muslim names in the list of 920 successful candidates. It should please the Muslim community even though their share is only 3.36%. It is not known how many Muslim candidates appeared for the exam.

5,47,698 candidates appeared for the preliminary exam held in May 2010. Out of this 920 candidates - 717 men and 203 women – made the grade.

The following ‘gems’ who have come out successful with all their best efforts deserve kudos from one and all as they have brought laurels to themselves, their families and their community which is educationally and economically marginalized. We should not forget that God helps only those who help themselves.

1. Tariq Thomas

2. Mannan Akthar

3. Mir Mohammed Ali

4. Danish Ashraf

5. Mohammed Imran

6. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah

7. Zafar Ajmal Kidwai

8. Adil Khan

9. Mohammed Ali Shihab A

10. Abid Khan

11. Anam Benish

12. Posu Babu Alli

13. Ahteshamur Rahman Khan

14. Gulzar Ahmed Wani

15. Riyaz Iqbal

16. Sajeetha Begum

17. Ilyas K.P.A.

18. Anjum Ara

19. N. Mohammed Ali

20. Shaikh Amin Khan Yasin Khan

21. Sahil Seth

22. Syed Wasif Haider

23. Mohsina Tabassum

24. Abid Hussain Sadiq

25. Ahmed Muyeen Farooqui

26. Imran Ahmed Siddiqui

27. Mohd Yakoob Shekha

28. Jusuf Kabir Ansari

29. Mohd Aijaz

30. Shiraz Daneshyar

31. Azhar Jamal

We congratulate all the successful candidates and wish them all the best in all their future endeavours.

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Saturday, May 7, 2011

IMPORTANCE OF LEATHER FAIRS IN THE PRESENT MARKET

IMPORTANCE OF LEATHER FAIRS IN THE PRESENT MARKET


V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

CHENNAI: The APLF leather fair held in Hong Kong from 30th March to 1st April 2011 and the LINEAPELLE leather fair held from 6th to 8th April 2011 in Bologna, Italy received the best attention of exhibitors and visitors this time. It is reported that most of those who attended the fairs were serious about their “business” – the purpose for which they had gone there. It seems that the unexpected huge demand for leathers from different importing countries, limited availability of raw hides and skins and their increasing prices, customers’ stipulations for prompt execution of contracts, etc. were responsible for it. They were also seen in seminars taking keen interest and searching for new trends and innovations etc. In other words the excursion type of leather fair trips has turned out to be serious business trips.

The fairs were very useful to the participants in understanding the happenings in the world leather market, making future plans and programmes and concluding contracts. A participant pointed out, “the days of easy business are gone and we have to be more alert now”.

According to available information there was good demand for kip and calf leathers from many overseas customers and business were concluded at different prices depending on the quality and selection. While some lining items were sold at around US$1.75 some other articles meant for leather goods were sold up to US$3.00 per sq.ft. C&F. As far as goat and sheep leathers are concerned, customers showed interest for the regular items of upper and lining leathers at almost unchanged prices. Indian exporters feel that China which is the biggest market for leather and footwear is a big threat to them.

Leather exporters are reluctantly making offers even to their regular buyers due to difficulty in procuring raw skins. It is learnt that their quotations are as follows:

1. S/C goat kid suede leather for shoes, 3/5 sq.ft. per piece, 0.6/0.8 mm, ABC, US$2.10 per sq.ft. by air.

2. F/C goat milled leather, 4/7 sq.ft. per piece, 0.6/0.8 mm, ABC, US$1.95 per sq.ft. by air.

3. F/C and S/C goat lining leathers, 4/7 or 5/8 sq.ft. per piece, 0.6/0.8 mm, TR-1/2/3, US$1.30/1.20/1.10 per sq.ft. C&F by sea

4. F/C sheep suede leather, 4/7 sq.ft. per piece, 0.6/0.8 mm, ABC, US$2.50 per sq.ft. C&F by air and DE, US$1.75 per sq.ft. C&F by air.

5. F/C sheep lining leather, 4/7 sq.ft. per piece, 0.5/0.7 mm, TR-1/2/3, US$1.50/1.40/1.30 per sq.ft. C&F by sea.

Both wet blue and tanned goat skins are scarce in the local market as arrivals are limited and buyers plenty. An exporter said, “If the present situation continues, the day will not be far off when big exporters will have to think of starting their own animal farms to meet the demand”. Leather and leather products exporters are operating in the market and grain, suede and lining selections are their interest. They have to pay somewhat higher prices demanded by suppliers now. The transactions are also mostly for cash payments and many small financiers who operate in the market take advantage of this.

Some business were reported in tanned goat skins 3/5 or 4/7, grain selection at around Rs. 60/, suede selection at around Rs.47/- and lining selections A/B/C at around Rs.36/35/34 per sq. ft. Some better varieties fetched even higher prices. Demand continues for all these and many other items and selections including Rejection unabated. Prices of F/C crust goat skins were also at around these prices.

Market was firm even in other tanning centres like Vaniyambadi, Erode, Dindigul etc. Exporters of leather and leather products are everywhere to cover their requirements. (VMK in Indian Leather, May 2011)

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Friday, May 6, 2011

Aligarh Muslim University to reopen from 16th May 2011 in a phased manner



It is reported that Aligarh Muslim University will reopen from 16th May 2011in a phased manner according to a decision taken at a meeting called by the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. P.K. Abdul Aziz on Thursday evening.







Thursday, May 5, 2011

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Mr. Dorjee Khandu is dead: Indian Express report

http://expressbuzz.com/nation/dorjee-khandu-dead-in-chopper-crash/271435.html

Dorjee Khandu dead in chopper crash

PTIFirst Published : 04 May 2011 02:00:35 PM ISTLast Updated : 04 May 2011 08:41:41 PM IST

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who went missing on Saturday on a flight from Tawang, is dead along with four others after their helicopter crashed in bad weather in the mountains and their bodies and the wreckage were located on Wednesday.

The five, including two pilots, who took off in a single-engined Euro Copter B8 of Pawan Hans, perished in the crash and the bodies and wreckage of the chopper were spotted in a place between Kyela and Lobothang in the mountainous region of the state this morning.

"The Chief Minister and four others are dead," Union Minister for Development of Northeastern Region B K Handique told a press conference here this evening.

The other occupants of the helicopter were pilots Capt J S Babbar, Capt T S Mamik, Khandu's security officer Yeshi Choddak and Yeshi Lhamu, sister of Tawant MLA Tsewang Dhondup.

This is the second death of a Chief Minister in two years after the death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash in the Nallamalla ranges in the state in September 2009.

There was also another crash involving a Pawan Hans helicopter a fortnight ago in Arunachal mountains in which 17 people were killed.

Twice Chief Minister of this north eastern state, 56-year-old Khandu, who belongs to Monpa tribe, leaves four wives, four sons and two daughters.

Khandu had worked in the military intelligence and participated in the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971. He had received a gold medal for meritorious service during the war.

Handique said operations for recovery of the bodies were on and would continue through the night and, if necessary, tomorrow morning.

Bodies will be picked up one after the other and transported. A decision will be taken whether to bring them to Tawang or to Itanagar, he said.

Handique had earlier in the day said a relative of 56-year-old Khandu, who has been Chief Minister twice, and a panchayat leader from his constituency identified his body.

The panchayat leader Thupten from Kyela village of Khandu's Mukto constituency, first informed an official Rinchin of his sighting the body which was passed on Tawang Deputy Commissioner Hamli Padu, who alerted the army base at Kyela, Handique reporters here.

Handique said a state mourning will be declared once the body of the Chief Minister is recovered.

Handique said the Chief Minister's body would lie in state in his home here for people to pay their last respects and full honours would be accorded to it.

To a question about a successor to Khandu, he said he would be named at an appropriate time.

Asked whether Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi would be making a visit here, he said they would get in touch with them once all formalities are finalised.

The Minister said all the bodies were lying in a deep gorge in Kyela near Luguthang at an altitude of 4,500 metres about 6 hours by foot from Luguthang Gompa in Tawang district.

"The process may continue till morning and the bodies one by one will be flown from Luguthang in a IAF Chetak helicopter to Tawang from where it will be flown to Itanagar most likely tomorrow with the consent of family members in a big chopper," he said.

Earlier in the morning in Delhi, Home Minister P Chidambaram gave hints of bad tidings when he said information is "not encouraging and not good news". He spoke about helicopters locating the site of the crash and sighting of bodies.

Later in the evening, in his second update to the reporters he said, "From whatever I can piece together the information from the information given by the villagers and assuming it to be true, I am afraid the news is grim and sad."

Giving details, he said some villagers had reportedly reached the site of the crash of a helicopter and communicated to the control room in Itanagar that they had identified two bodies while three were charred beyond recognition.

"These are interrupted communications by villagers who have reached the site. But no official of the government, army or police has been able to reach there," he said.

"It may take several hours for any of these officials to reach the spot because it is about five kilometres from Kyela," Chidambaram said.

He said a Cheetah helicopter, which flew over the site, was also able to locate the debris of a crashed helicopter and some bodies lying there.

"We are trying to land another Cheetah from Lubuthang," the Home Minister said, adding a team of the government to reach the accident site which is about 5 kms from Kyela.

Handique said honouring the wishes of people, Khandu's body would be brought here and kept in his bungalow for the people to pay their last respects.







Sunday, May 1, 2011

AMU shut down indefinitely after violent clashes

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/AMU-shut-down-indefinitely-after-students-scuffle/articleshow/8125813.cms


District admin shuts AMU after student groups clash


Sameer Arshad, TNN
May 1, 2011, 04.29am IST

Aligarh Muslim UniversityAMU shut down indefinitely after violent clashesALIGARH: District authorities shut down Aligarh Muslim University until further orders on Saturday after eight students were injured in clashes between two student groups over demands for the removal of a senior AMUofficial a day earlier.

Officials blamed regional fault lines for the clashes but the students union accused proctor Mujahid Beg of orchestrating unrest to have controller of examinations, Pervez Mustajav, removed. A student leader, pleading anonymity fearing disciplinary action, said Beg had got the proctor's post using the same tactics.

"Beg wants to control admissions and that is why he stage-managed the clash at Mustajav's office to have him removed," the student leader said. He said Beg allegedly took the proctor's post so that he could be on the university executive council and have a say in admissions. Beg also got his sister-in-law appointed as finance officer bending rules, he alleged.

Beg promised to respond to the allegations but disconnected TOI's repeated calls to his mobile phone.

Aligarh SSP Man Singh Chauhan said a Bihari and an Azamgari group had clashed and that cops would arrest anti-social elements among students after the campus is closed. The two groups came face-to-face again on Friday and an argument degenerated into a fierce clash. The rival groups fired at each other.

The university has been closed sine die thrice during Azis's tenure marred by accusations of several
irregularities.

AMU spokesman Rahat Abrar said the university was closed after an advisory from the district administration. "The administration warned that arms were being stored inside some of the hostels and told us that action cannot be taken without closing the university," said Abrar. He said the university also feared more clashes since it was a residential institution where 70% students live on campus. Authorities asked the students to vacate their hostels within 48 hours and postponed examinations.

Vice-chancellor P K Abdul Azis blamed union elections for creating regional hostility and sowing seeds of hatred. He said frequent clashes have been reported among regional groups since then. The students started organizing themselves on regional lines after the results were declared and (this) aggravated the situation. The pre-election rivalry continued and became more pronounced with time.

He accused student leaders of taking the law into their hands and creating anarchy. Azis said they keep barging into university offices. "I would talk to the students and ensure the campus remains peaceful."

Azis, who had opposed union elections and relented only under pressure from students, said the university will be reopened shortly and exams rescheduled.

The Aligarh Muslim University

The Aligarh Muslim University has been closed indefinitely after clashes between two groups of students.