Aligarh: The Aligarh Muslim University, which has been battling to preserve its character as a minority institution was in eye of storm after a post on whatsapp reported that ‘beef biryani’ was being served at the AMU Medical College canteen.

While the canteen’s menu card too went viral, the University authorities have sternly denied the allegation.
University spokesperson Rahat Abrar calling it a malicious attempt to defame the institution, asserted that the beef mentioned in the menu was of buffalo meat.

The spokesperson said that according to a preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the contract for the canteen was ending soon and some “vested interests” were eyeing it next, and so were creating a controversy.

Abrar noted that AMU was one of the first institutions to ban cow meat on campus more than a century ago.

“AMU was perhaps the first educational institution of higher learning where beef was banned from being served inside the institution more than a century back.”

“The founding father of Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College (which became the Aligarh Muslim University in 1920), Sir Syed Ahmad Khan had issued an explicit order in 1884 that not only would no beef be served in any dining room but even sacrifice of cow during Idul Adha was forbidden for all AMU employees,” he said.

Abrar said Sir Syed took the action as he did not want to hurt sentiments of Hindus and terminated services of an AMU employee in 1884, when he broke this rule.

BJP Mayor Shakuntala Bharti, along with party leaders and several right wing activists, held a demonstration outside the office of Senior Superintendent of Police today, demanding registration of an FIR against the contractor of AMU medical college canteen for serving ‘beef biryani’.

Police said the matter was still under investigation.