Aligarh Muslim University faces flak over not allowing girls in library

While the controversy continued, Vice Chancellor of AMU Lt General Zameeruddin Shah has been quoted by channels channel saying  "if girls are allowed in the library, four times more boys will flock to the library."

"This is not an issue of discipline but of space," he was quoted by the channel.

The university said the issue is owing to space crunch and not because of it attitude towards girls.

AMU PRO Dr Rahat Abrar said the decision is not a gender bias. "Thirty five per cent girls study in AMU, much more than any other college," he told media.

AMU's Women's College principal Naima Gulrez was quoted saying in Times of India: "We understand the demand for access to the library. But have you girls ever seen the library? It is jam-packed with boys. If girls too were to be present in it, the discipline issue might crop up."

Reports said students of the Women's College are not allowed membership of the Maulana Azad Library.

Girl students said the issue of safety of women cannot be a cause of the varsity not allowing them in the library.

AMU was founded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, one of the architects of modern India and one of the pioneers of modern education for Muslims.