In a recent development at Gujarat University, a controversy arose when a group of Muslim students from abroad were found offering namaz in the open area of the university's NRI housing. This led to a dispute with local students, attracting significant attention. Following this incident, "Gujarat University (GU) is taking strong measures regarding the incident." As a result, "Seven Afghan students have reportedly been asked to leave the university." These individuals were residing in the university dormitory without valid authorization, having completed their academic programs but not vacated their accommodation.

Further actions were taken swiftly, as these students, aware of their situation, "have completed their education but continued to live in the hostel and have now received orders to vacate the premises." Out of these seven, "Five students have already left the university." This indicates a quick response to the university's directive.

The situation has also caught the attention of international authorities, with the "Afghanistan embassy has also received information about the notice directing the students to leave the dorm." This incident highlights the university's adherence to its regulations, considering that "Over a hundred international students are enrolled in the university’s undergraduate and graduate programs." Among them, these "seven Afghan students who extended their stay in the hostel citing frivolous excuses" stood out for not following the norms. Their actions were in direct violation of "university regulations." Consequently, the university administration took decisive action to enforce its rules, ensuring that the integrity of their housing policy is maintained.

In a recent update from Gujarat University, there has been clarification on the situation involving several Afghan students. "According to representatives of Gujarat University, these students had finished their coursework but were using the hostel under the pretext of obtaining transcripts or certificates." This detail sheds light on why these students continued their stay at the hostel, though the university's rules clearly state that "a student is not permitted to remain in the hostel after concluding the course," a policy that applied directly to these "seven pupils."

The situation was further elaborated by the university's chancellor, Dr. Nirja Gupta, who explained that "the seven Afghan students belong to the alumni group." They had been occupying the hostel space, offering minor reasons for their stay, which were not justifiable under university guidelines. This led to a decision to facilitate their exit from the hostel, as "arrangements have been made for these pupils to leave the hostel and return to their country because they are now former students."

Dr. Gupta also provided an update on the students' compliance with the university's orders, noting that "two of the seven students are expected to follow the directive while the other five have already departed from the institution." This comment indicates that while the majority of the students in question have acted in accordance with the university's instructions, there is still a small number who need to complete the process. The university's actions reflect its commitment to upholding its regulations, especially in terms of hostel residency, and ensuring that all students, regardless of their origin, adhere to the established norms and procedures.

Dispute over offering namaz in the university

The incident that intensified the situation at Gujarat University took place on the 16th of March, marking a significant conflict between students from different backgrounds. "A brawl broke out on 16th March between international and local students over performing namaz in a public place in A Block of the university hostel, sparking a major row." The issue began when "One of the local Hindu students attempted to convince the Muslim international students not to offer namaz in public." This conversation quickly deteriorated when "a foreign student assaulted a local student" leading to further unrest as "local students retaliated by attacking the international pupils."

In response to the growing tensions, authorities at different levels became involved to manage the situation. "The Ministry of External Affairs also took action following this occurrence." This indicates the severity of the matter, reaching beyond the university to draw national attention. To address the concerns and restore order, "The institution was visited by delegations from Afghanistan and Gambia." This international intervention underscores the global dimension of the issue, given the diverse nationalities of the students involved.

To mitigate the situation and prevent further conflicts, a significant decision was made concerning the accommodation of the foreign students. "The foreign students were moved to the new dormitories after the university administration and the delegation discussed all the issues." This action was part of a broader attempt to resolve the issues amicably and ensure the safety and well-being of all students. Moreover, to enforce the regulations and maintain decorum, "the students living there illegally have been given a notice to go back to their country." This measure was likely aimed at addressing the legal and administrative aspects of the students' stay, ensuring that the university's policies are respected and upheld.