'Anti-minority' BJP govt. wants to shut down Aligarh University: Congress

Centre's decision to reverse UPA regime's stand of supporting restoration of minority character of AMU in SC, triggered protests

Accusing the 'anti-minority' BJP of being on a mission to lockdown major hubs of learning across the country, Congress on Sunday said that the ruling dispensation was trying to shut down the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) as it was primarily a Muslim varsity.

"This government is anti-liberal, anti-progressive and anti-minority. So, therefore, what they are doing with AMU and what they did with JNU or what is happening inside the IIMC or what happened in FTII is a pattern and trend to change the fundamental narrative of India which will have to be opposed strongly," Congress leader Manish Tewari told ANI.

Asserting that the treatment meted out to AMU vice-chancellor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah by the Union Human Resource and Development Minister Smriti Irani was not surprising, he added that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government's agenda was to humiliate the people and try and shut down centres of learning.

However, the AMU vice-chancellor, who led a delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday over questions being raised on the varsity's minority status, expressed hope that the latter would take 'positive action' in the matter.

Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Shah said that they apprised Prime Minister Modi of the role AMU is playing in the country.

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

The 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.