Aligarh: Tension erupted at Aligarh Muslim University after students removed a plaque featuring Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s photograph from a newly installed solar light pole. The solar lights, 16 in total, were funded through the MLC quota of AMU’s former Vice Chancellor and BJP National Vice President Professor Tariq Mansoor.
Each light bore a plaque mentioning the funding source and displaying the Chief Minister’s photo. On October 16, a group of students objected to what they called a political display within the campus and removed one of the plaques using a ladder. A video of the removal circulated widely on social media, sparking debate.
Soon after, another student group protested the act, arguing that since the lights were installed under an official development fund, the plaques were appropriate. The disagreement led to heated exchanges between the two groups before university authorities intervened.
Dr. Nishit Sharma, a former AMU student and BJP leader, posted about the incident on X, tagging the Chief Minister’s Office. Meanwhile, student leader Amit Goswami, who opposed the plaque removal, said they would meet the district administration to demand action against those responsible.
University officials confirmed that all 16 solar lights had plaques, emphasizing that they were installed as part of sanctioned public works. The incident has reignited debate on whether political imagery has a place within academic campuses.
