Will not accept defeat, says VC after centre withdraws UPA-filed appeal

Following centre’s withdrawal of the appeal filed in the Supreme Court by the previous Congress-led UPA government that had sought to retain the minority tag for Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), there has been commotion in the varsity’s campus. In its re-filed affidavit, the central government has stated: “AMU is not a minority institution.” The Supreme Court will hear the case now on July 11.

Responding to this development, AMU vice chancellor, Zameeruddin Shah said, “We will not accept defeat. We will submit our version in the Supreme Court in a forceful manner, as we believe that legal and historical facts support the assertion that AMU is a minority educational institution.”

However, secretary, AMU teachers’ association, Prof Mustafa Zaidi was critical of the administration’s efforts to convince the union government to support the university’s minority tag. He said, “AMU administration had failed in its efforts to pursue the minority status issue to its appropriate and desired conclusion.” He also expressed resentment at VC Shah having attended the iftar party hosted by Muslim Rashtriya Manch, an offshoot of RSS. “Attending iftar was not wrong but what is important is to consider on whose invitation the VC went there. RSS leader Indresh Kumar is alleged to have played a role in the Malegaon bomb blast case.”

On the other hand, there was also some support for Zameeruddin Shah. Prof SA Azmi, chairman, psychiatry department at JN Medical College (AMU) said, “The statement delivered by VC, where he said that Muslims needed to engage with the central government was delivered in the right spirit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to develop the nation with the support of all the sections of the society.”

It may be recalled that AMU administration and community has been working hard to retain the varsity’s minority status.

After the Allahabad high court quashed the university’s status as a minority institution, AMU community had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court. Not only the varsity’s administration but also its old boys’ association has been in the forefront of this legal battle.

The debate garnered force earlier this year, when attorney general Mukul Rohatgi said that the central government would file a fresh affidavit after withdrawing the one filed by the previous UPA government.

His proclamation had led to anxiety within the university community and VC Zameeruddin Shah had reportedly taken several steps to improve AMU’s functional relationship with the union government, using various communication channels to further the varsity’s cause of retaining its minority institution tag.