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Ahmedabad: There was a recent controversy over offering Namaz in the open area at the NRI residence of Gujarat University, where a brawl broke out between foreign Muslim students and local students. Now Gujarat University (GU) is taking strict action regarding this incident. Seven Afghan students have reportedly been asked to leave the university. They were living illegally in the university hostel. He has completed his education but continues to live in the hostel and has now been ordered to vacate the premises.
The Afghanistan Embassy has also received information about the notice instructing students to leave the hostel. Over a hundred international students are enrolled in the university’s undergraduate and graduate programs. This involved seven Afghan students who had extended their stay in the hostel citing flimsy excuses, which is prohibited under university rules. The university administration came to know about it and appropriate steps were taken.
According to Gujarat University representatives, these students had completed their courses but were using the hostel under the pretext of obtaining transcripts or certificates. However, as per the university rules, a student is not allowed to stay in the hostel after the completion of the course. Seven students also fell in this category. It was also reported that out of the seven students, four have completed their studies and three have only administrative work left.
Gujarat University Chancellor Dr. Nirja Gupta said that all seven Afghan students belong to the alumni group. They were staying in the hostel for minor reasons. Now arrangements have been made for these students to leave the hostel and return to their country as they are now alumni. Furthermore, according to the Chancellor, two of the seven students are expected to follow the instructions, while the other five have already left the institute.
On March 16, a dispute broke out between international and local students over offering namaz in a public place in A Block of the university hostel, leading to a major controversy. Two students from Sri Lanka and Tajikistan were hospitalised following the incident. One of the local Hindu students tried to convince the Muslim international students not to offer namaz in public. However, a foreign student attacked a local student and as the situation escalated, the local students retaliated by attacking the international students.
Following this incident the Foreign Ministry also took stern action. Delegations from Afghanistan and Gambia visited the institute. The foreign students were shifted to new hostels after all the issues were discussed by the university administration and the delegation. Now the students living there illegally have been given notice to go back to their country.
