AMU minority status: VC hopeful of ‘positive action’ by PM

New Delhi: Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) vice chancellor Lieutenant General (retired) Zameer Uddin Shah, who led a delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi over questions being raised on varsity’s minority status, on Saturday expressed hope that the Prime Minister would take ‘positive action’ in the matter.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Shah said that they apprised Prime Minister Modi of the role AMU is playing in the country.

“I explained to PM that Janata govt of which BJP was part, in manifesto of 1980, had supported minority character of AMU. We told the Prime Minister that we’ve been trying to meet HRD Minister for one and a half years, there’s a meeting scheduled for March 10,” he said.

“The Prime Minister has assured us that he will look into our requests and we have faith that he will take positive actions,” he added.

The delegation that met the Prime Minister also comprised of director of Forum for Muslim Studies and Analysis Jasim Mohammad and Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Sadiq.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had recently advised the government that Jamia Milia Islamia is not a minority institution, as it was created by an Act of Parliament.

Several politicians from opposition parties had earlier issued a joint statement, condemning the Central Government’s questioning the minority status of Jamia Milia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim Universities.

The issue of restoration of minority character of AMU is at present pending with the Supreme Court but what has triggered off the protests is the Centre’s recent decision to reverse the UPA regime’s stand of supporting the university in the apex court on this issue. (ANI)