AGRA: Members of the Aligarh Muslim University Students' Union (AMUSU) on Friday thwarted the attempts of the Hindu Mahasabha to hold discussions on the issue of 'triple talaq' with the Vice Chancellor in the university campus.Faced with vociferous protests from the students' body, the VC, Lt Gen (Retd) Zameer Uddin Shah, was forced to hold his deliberations with the representatives of the right wing Hindu organization outside the campus at the PWD guest house. Though leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha (HMS) claimed that the VC had agreed to hold "open discussions" on the issue of triple talaq in the campus at a later date, AMSU president, Faizul Hasan, said they would not allow religious matters being discussed and debated in the university.Accusing the VC of attempting to please the right wing Hindu organizations and the BJP by portraying himself as a "secular" in order to gain favours, Hasan said they would not allow any interference in their religious matters by HMS. "They will not be allowed inside our campus to discuss this issue", he said while accusing the HMS leaders of being ignorant about Muslim religion.Taking a dig at the HMS, Hasan said if these leaders are really interested in issues concerning the society, they should hold open debates on live-in relationships, abortions and child labour. When contacted HMS General Secretary, Pooja Shakun Pandey, said they had met the VC and he had agreed to hold open discussions on the issue of triple talaq in the campus. She said the aim behind this exercise is to involve intellectuals and to find a solution to this "problem". She said the students who opposed her entry into the campus were giving a religious hues to the issue, whereas her concern was for the women who continue to suffer because of triple talaq.When contacted VC, Lt Gen (Retd) Zameer Uddin Shah, said "I respected the sentiments of the students and met Dr Pooja in PWD guest house as I had already made a commitment for a dialogue. She asked me my views on Triple Talaq. I don't discuss religious matters and this issue must best be left to the Muslim community to decide. She wanted a dialogue and I said I would talk to the correct authority".

Stay updated with all the Agra Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.