New Delhi: Vice Chancellor Jamia Millia Islamia Prof. Talat Ahmed categorically said that Jamia Millia will pull out all stops to retain the minority status of the university. He lamented that some people are spreading false rumours in the Jamia and outside. Such rumours are spread by self-styled community leaders. They are doing it for their own interest. He said some people are busy propagating against me that I am going to retire within a year. I am eager to get a key post hence I am not defending Jamia. He said, I have got the opportunity to work at various places and I have always given priority to education. Even after completing my term in the Jamia I will associate myself with the teaching profession.
Vice Chancellor said that the legal battle will be hotly contested in the Court.
It must be noted that the Modi government had earlier this month filed a revised affidavit in the Delhi High Court opposing the minority status accorded to JMI. The government reversed the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s stand on the issue before the court in 2011.
The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) had declared JMI as a religious minority institution in February 2011, enabling the central university to reserve up to 50% seats for Muslim students.