Students of Aligarh Muslim University protesting the closure of their campus on Tuesday softened their stance against the Vice-Chancellor but demanded resumption of classes, even as the V-C said the administration needed time to “restore an academic environment”.

A group of AMU students agitating at the Jantar Mantar, joined by some students of JNU and Jamia Milia Islamia, dropped their demand for removal of the V-C, but wanted the immediate resumption of academic activities.

The university was closed sine die on Friday after massive protests erupted following the murder of a student by a local goon. The students said the protests were a result of “accumulated anger against the daily routine high-handedness and terror tactics by the administration”. “We want immediate restoration of academic activities. Even the protests by students were in a peaceful manner and there was no reason to close the university,” said Irfan Khan, Secretary of newly formed Students Struggle Committee of AMU.

Vice-Chancellor Abdul Aziz, however, said the campus was closed because the protests were being driven by “external elements” and were threatening to turn violent.

“We need time to restore an academic environment. The campus was closed to avoid the protest turning violent, despite appeals to students to back down,” he said.