Have faith in judiciary: AMU VC Zameeruddin Shah on minority status

ALIGARH: As protests erupted over the Centre's stand on the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University ( AMU), vice-chancellor Lt General (retd.) Zameeruddin Shah has called upon the Muslim community not to get unduly exercised on the issue and have "full faith" in judiciary.

In a written appeal today, Shah said that while all right minded citizens of the country were rightly concerned about the issue of restoration of minority character of the historic institution of higher learning, "we should have full faith in our judicial system for protecting minority rights".

Shah's appeal came in the wake of a number of protests by minority groups on the campus and also in the old city yesterday.

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 government's stand of supporting the university in the apex court on this issue.

On January 11, Attorney General Mukul Rohatagi, during the hearing of this case, had told the court that the NDA government did not support the idea of a state-funded minority institution in a secular state, sparking off a controversy.

The AMU vice-chancellor told PTI that it would be counter productive if people get carried away on this issue or resort to unconstitutional methods of protest.

"I have sought a meeting with the Prime Minister to apprise him of the situation and I am sure that he would respond positively and address our concerns," he said.