NEW DELHI: A notice announcing ‘beef biryani’ for lunch at the Sir Shah Sulaiman Hall of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has triggered a controversy after it went viral on social media.
The notice, allegedly issued by two authorised individuals, said, “Sunday’s lunch menu has been changed, and beef biryani will be served instead of chicken biryani as per demand.” The announcement led to widespread uproar among students and drew sharp reactions online, according to news agency PTI.
Following the backlash, the AMU administration clarified that the notice contained a “typing error” and assured that those responsible had been issued a show-cause notice. “The matter was brought to our attention. We found that the notice was regarding the food menu. However, it contained a clear typing error. The notice was immediately withdrawn as it had no official signatures, raising doubts about its authenticity,” an AMU official said.
Initially, the university refrained from commenting on the matter. However, as the controversy escalated, it distanced itself from the notice, terming it an “unintentional mistake.” The provost of Sir Shah Sulaiman Hall has since issued show-cause notices to the two senior students allegedly responsible for the circulation of the document.
Reacting sharply to the incident, BJP leader and AMU alumnus Nishit Sharma criticised the university’s handling of the matter.
“The administration’s role in this is shameful. A notice was circulated at Sir Shah Sulaiman Hall stating that beef biryani would be served instead of chicken biryani. The notice was displayed publicly, and it was the responsibility of the senior food committee members. Such actions indicate that the administration is encouraging radical elements and covering up student misconduct,” Sharma alleged.