Blatant distortion

Blatant distortion
Sir,-It is surprising that an interview never given by Prof. Abdul Hasan Siddiqui, Pro-Vice Chancellor, AMU to your correspondent, Mr Osama Manzar, has been published in the Sun day Magazine of The Hindustan Times (July 4, 1993). As I was present there, it is my bounden duty to submit that his story about the current affairs of the AMU in the same issue of your esteemed daily contains many untruths, half truths, distortions and a deliberately selective version of the detractors of the pre sent Vice-Chancellor, a renowned savant of modern science and technology, and his administrative team. For example, it is absolutely wrong to assert that the Executive Council “has decided to institute an inquiry into the alleged misuse of funds by the university authorities.”
The truth about the so-called interview of Mr Manzar with Honble Pro-Vice Chancellor is that he visited the PVC’s office for a couple of minutes and wanted to talk to him about the current affairs of the varsity. As he had come without prior appointment and as the PVC was horribly busy at that time, he advised Mr Manzar to seek an interview with the Vice-Chancellor to know official version about the campaign of calumnies and baseless allegations unleashed by vested interests against the present university administration. He did try to elicit information from the PVC but he politely declined to answer his questions because of his pre-engagements. And this was all in two minutes’ informal chat I categorically deny the answers which are alleged to have been given by him. This is also borne out from the fact that certain answers have no relevance to their questions For example, the answer we have often realised it and are trying to resolve this problem” or “that was a special circumstance ‘have hardly any relation to their given questions These are too vague and general to be fitted to any question I hope you would agree that it is against the ethics of journalism to ascribe something to a person which he has never said. In all probability, your correspondent has fallen a prey to the mechanization of vested interests. Yours etc.,
MAULANA SHA? TEHRANI
Assistant Public Relations Officer (Press),
P R Organisation, Ahgarh Muslim University Aligarh.

II
Sir, The write-up on the Aligarh Mushm University, by Mr Osama Manzar, is a classic example of unprofessionalism It is based on wrong and twisted facts, misrepresentation and disinformation.
There is no denying that Aligarh Muslim University like many others in India, is no match to its past glory but it is irresponsible to allege that it has become a haven for the lumpen and power brokers.
Nurturing of the power brokers if any, is done not by the university administration but by those who, unfortunately, consider themselves opposed to it. The gherao of the VC, attack on his residence, manhandling of persons in the administration, character assassination, wild and baseless charges — all this has been done in the name of opposing the VC. All actions undertaken by the VC, under the emergency powers, as mentioned in the write up, are to be subsequently endorsed by the Executive Council and they have been done. Where is the question of abuse of such powers if the Executive Council is enduring them The allegation against the present Controller of Exams/Admissions, regarding Rs. 12.8 lakh, is the height of travesity of truth. The case pertains to the period of the former Controller, late Mr Moideen The report mentioned by Mr Manzar no-where says, as alleged by him, that utihsation certificate was signed by Mrs Najma Akhtar or the present Vice-Chancellor Prof Faniqw was not even appointed Vice-Chancellor when Mr Moideen died. Such certificates are signed only by the Controller (who at the time was Mr Moideen) and the VC, who at that time was not Prof Faruqui.
Everyone on the campus is aware of these facts but for their own reasons many persons twist these facts. Similarly, the allegations regarding over-admissions are baseless. In most of the courses, admissions below the approved quota have been made. Mr Manzar mentions that the VC and the Controller admitted in Class XI 1,000 students more, on Nov. 9, 1992. The fact is (and this must have been known to those who brought this to the notice of Mr Manzar) that on that day the VC had given the power of admissions to the Deans of various faculties and they did those admissions. — Yours etc., Prof S. JAFAR RAZA ZAIDI Incharge, Public Relations, AMU.