Mumbai/New Delhi/Aligarh: The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) fraternity led by university Vice Chancellor Lt General Zameeruddin Shah Tuesday reiterated that the minority status of India's premier institution is non-negotiable. The assertion immediately received strong support from Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind.
The Vice Chancellor Lt. Gen. Zameeruddin Shah on Tuesday presided over a joint meeting of members of the AMU Court, Executive Council, Academic Council and office bearers of various teaching and non-teaching bodies.
The meeting was held to take the stock of situation following the hearing of AMU minority status case in the Supreme Court of India. Shedding light on the developments pertaining to the minority status case, the Vice Chancellor reiterated that it was the first priority of the University and the AMU is making meaningful efforts to this effect.
Expressing unstinted faith in country’s judiciary, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Brig. S. Ahmad Ali said that AMU has already made adequate preparation regarding this case and we will put up our stand with full confidence in the next hearing of the case in the Supreme Court, which is slated for April 4.
The BJP government raked up a national issue Monday when it announced in the Supreme Court that the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) could not be categorised as a 'minority' university.
Challenging the AMU's status as a minority institution, the BJP claimed that the government had never officially declared the AMU as a 'Muslim' university. According to the 1967 Azeez Basha agreement, the Supreme Court had dismissed AMU's minority status by maintaining that a minority tag could not be accorded to AMU since it was set up by an Act of Parliament in a secular state.
The Attorney General told the bench of justices that it was a "stand of the Union of India that AMU is not a minority university."
"As the executive government at the Centre, we can't be seen as setting up a minority institution in a secular state," Mukul Rohatgi said.
Meanwhile, Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind, a leading body of Indian Muslims vowed to fight for the minority status of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
"Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind supports Vice Chancellor Zameeruddin Shah and the AMU fraternity on their stand taken on the university's minority status. The AMU was, is and will remain a minority institution", Jamiat-e-Ulema President Arsgad Madani, who is away in Qatar, said on phone.
He said the Jamiat is keeping a close watch on the new development and will fight tooth and nail for the minority status of the renowned university established with the sole purpose of educating the Indian Muslims.
"The issue is already in the court. We are extending our support from outside. But, if the need arises we will go to any extent on this this important matter", he said.
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