Aligarh Muslim University defiles Hindu student's religious customs, replaces 'chicken biriyani' with 'beef biriyani' in their food menu
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India 
8 February, 2025
Case Summary
The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) replaced the food menu on Sundays from Chicken Biriyani to Beef Biriyani in their university hostel. A circular was passed by the Sir Shah Sulaiman Hall dining committee, which stated that Beef Biriyani would be served on Sunday during lunch. The notice bore the name of senior members of the hostel's mess. The notice stated: “This Sunday’s lunch menu has been modified based on popular demand. Instead of Chicken Biryani, we will be serving Beef Biryani. This change is in response to numerous requests from our resident members. We hope you enjoy the new addition to our menu.” The circular went viral, and the outrage against AMU was very intense. The police registered a case against Mohammad Faizullah (Senior Food Dining Hall member), Mujassim Ahmed Bhati (Senior Food Dining Hall member), and F.R. Gauhar, Chief Provost of Sir Shah Sulaiman Hall. The case was filed under Section 270 (public nuisance), Section 302 (hurting religious sentiments), and Section 353 (public mischief). The Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act 1955 banned the slaughter, sale, and transportation of beef. Anyone violating the law could face up to 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs 5 Lakh, and Criminal charges for injuring cows or their progeny. AMU responds to this incident by calling it a 'Co-Incidental Typographical Error'.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representation and within this, the sub-category selected is- Defiling religious customs. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. There are several such customs and traditions that are followed by various Hindus and Hindu sects. Defiling these traditions and customs is a breach of an individual or group’s religious practices. Such practices can range from dietary restrictions like not eating non-vegetarian food for a certain period of the year, not eating non-vegetarian food at all, not eating beef since the cow is considered holy in Hinduism, the sanctity of religious customs followed in the house (like many ISCKON devotees), etc. Any malicious action leading to the breach of such traditions or defilement of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the religion itself but also from disregard for the faith of the devotees who follow the customs/traditions and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific sect of Hindus, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. The decision by Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to replace chicken biryani with beef biryani in its hostel menu is not merely a matter of dietary preference but a deliberate act of religious insensitivity and a targeted affront to Hindu beliefs. The cow holds deep spiritual and cultural significance in Hinduism, revered as sacred by millions, and the introduction of beef into the university’s food menu directly violates this sentiment. Such an action, taken within an educational institution that houses students from diverse religious backgrounds, cannot be dismissed as an innocent error but rather reflects a calculated disregard for Hindu customs. The university’s claim that the change was made in response to “popular demand” further indicates an institutional bias, as it shows a complete lack of consideration for the Hindu students who would find such a decision deeply offensive. The university’s subsequent attempt to downplay the controversy as a “coincidental typographical error” is disingenuous, given that the notice explicitly stated that the modification was intentional and based on numerous requests. By deliberately disregarding the religious customs of Hindu students and replacing their food options with something that directly contradicts their faith, AMU has engaged in an act of religious hostility. It is not just an administrative oversight but a hate crime, as it reflects a deep-seated animosity towards Hinduism and its adherents and for this reason, this case has been added to the tracker.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
