JD(U) slams NDA govt stand on AMU, Jamia minority status

New Delhi, Feb 19: JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav on Friday, Feb 19 hit out at the government over its alleged move to withdraw minority status of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia, saying it will infringe on the rights of Muslims and will be against the Constitution. He said there is "unrest" in the community over the issue.

"It is against the Constitution and secular fabric of this country. It is absurd that the institutions made by the minority community will lose their minority status. "It will not only demoralise them, the public at large will also feel threatened as it will show that the Constitution and the Acts passed in Parliament have no value," he said in a statement.

Yadav recalled that the government in 1981 had amended the AMU Act which acknowledged that the university was set up by Muslims and for Muslims.

It was also acknowledged that AMU should be run by its elected court and be considered a minority institution, he said, accusing the Narendra Modi government of trying to a make a U-turn in this regard.

"It is disturbing that on January 11, 2016, when the case came up for final disposal, the government made a complete U-turn on the issue and said that it wanted to take back the affidavit given by a previous government. "I am worried about this move to infringe upon the rights of the minority, especially Muslims. There is unrest in the community on the move to withdraw the minority status of the AMU and Jamia Millia Islamia," he said.

Yadav said the minority status ensures these that institutions can keep their character and also support their communities. "I strongly oppose this government's move and will urge it to resist from such actions and utterances, which play with the sentiments of the minority communities, in order to keep peace and harmony in the country," he said.

PTI