Hyderabad, – Tensions at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) have reached a boiling point as student protests escalate over food safety concerns in the university's mess. The situation intensified on Friday when the university authorities abruptly suspended the student union elections scheduled for September 24, leading to widespread unrest among the student body.
The chaos began several weeks ago when students started voicing complaints regarding low-quality food served in the mess. The matter turned critical after a student reportedly discovered a mosquito in their meal during lunch, further aggravating existing grievances. "We've been protesting against the poor food quality for months, but things took a turn for the worse when the provost verbally abused the students," stated Umar Farooq, a former student union chairman.
Student leader Talha Mannan, who is running for the student union presidency in the upcoming elections, expressed his frustration: "Initially, our protests were focused on the substandard food. However, the provost's abusive response transformed our concerns into a larger issue." In response to the uproar, Mohd Yusuf Khan, the provost of the university caravansaries, reportedly resigned from his position following a night of fierce demonstrations.
Despite this, students are continuing to demand the suspension of both the girls’ hostel provost, Sameena Basu, and Proctor Professor Abdul Azeem, insisting that their concerns must be addressed. Heavy police presence has been noted around the campus, particularly near the executive block, as university officials anticipate further protests. In a bid to restore order, students are urging the university administration to engage in dialogue to resolve the situation amicably.
"We are willing to remain calm and open to discussions with the administration," said Mateen Ashraf, another former student union chairman. A committee has been established to represent the agitating students as they await a response from university officials. As the situation unfolds, the students remain steadfast in their demands for student union elections to proceed as planned and for accountability regarding the issues raised. The outcome of this standoff will be closely watched by both the student body and university authorities in the days to come.