Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Vice Chancellor Lt Gen (Retd) Zameeruddin Shah today met Union HRD minister Smriti Irani and sought more funds but was told by the minister that Rs 90 crore is still lying unutilised with the varsity.
Shah also discussed issues related to the three off-campus centres of AMU with the minister. Irani expressed concerns that the University had started B Ed course in one such centre without following norms.
BJP MPs from Aligarh and Bijnore, Satish Gautam and Bhartendra Singh were also present during Shah's meeting with Irani.
Emerging from the meeting, the Aligarh VC told reporters that he was "satisfied with the interaction". He added that "he had raised the issues which he had talked about with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week."
Shah had last week raised the issue of "funds" saying that while BHU, is a University of equal size, and Jamia Millia Islamia, which is much smaller, get more funds.
"In the interaction, the HRD minister pointed out to the AMU VC that Rs 90 crore is still unspent in the AMU," said BJP Bhartendra Singh told PTI.
Singh added that Irani also raised concerns about B Ed course, which had been begun by AMU at one of its off campus centres without the requisite approvals from the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
Earlier as per reports that Shah had expressed concern over reports suggesting that HRD ministry had raised question marks about the AMU off-campus centres. He had also raised the issue in his meeting with the Prime Minister.
The AMU runs off-campus centres at Malappuram in Kerala, Murshidabad (West Bengal) and Kishanganj in Bihar.
While there were some speculation that the minority status of the University was also an issue, a member present said that since the issue is in Court there was not much discussion over it.
