Aligarh Muslim University's (AMU) Women's College Students Union President Gulfiza Khan said on Tuesday that instead of imposing restrictions on girls, the college authorities should introduce safety measures.
"I don't think there should be any such restriction,but if it's a matter of safety and security, then they should themselves take some measures instead of stopping us," said Khan.
Reacting to AMU's Vice Chancellor (VC) Lt Gen Zameeruddin Shah's statement that 'if girls will come to the library, boys will get attracted to them', she added, "He was saying it in the context of the security of girls that outsiders may also come there. But, I think, that the measures should be taken from his side on safety and security. We should not be stopped from going there."
Reiterating the students' demand, Khan said, "We demanded that we should be given the ID cards for library so that we can go there. But the VC said that the space is very less for girls. However, according to me, when we are the part of AMU, and when the Maulana Azad Library is also a part of the university, then ID cards should be given to us. If not to sit due to space issue, but at least we should be allowed to get books issued from there."
Yesterday, the vice chancellor of AMU had rejected the demand of women students to have accesss to the library, saying there would be "four times more boys" in the library if girls were allowed in.
The Women's College students, who have never been allowed entry to the Maulana Azad Library, asked for access to the library as it is reportedly better stocked than their college library.