Asaduddin Owaisi Attacks Centre's Claims Opposing AMU's Minority Status (image: twitter.com/aimim_national)

Attacking Modi government”s claims on opposing Aligarh Muslim University’s (AMU”s) minority status, Asaduddin Owaisi, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief said on Wednesday: “It cannot tolerate Muslims getting higher education & participating in the mainstream”.

A seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court CJI DY Chandrachud on Tuesday began hearing the petitions relating to the validity of minority status adhered to AMU. Centre told the top court that since the university possess national character, it “cannot be a minority institution”.

Meanwhile, AIMIM chief wrote on social media platform X, “The Modi govt is opposing AMU’s minority status saying that it is a “national institution.” Article 30 of the Constitution protects any institution is established and administered by minorities. From the very beginning, AMU has been a minority institution that has contributed to India’s development.”

The Modi govt is opposing AMU’s minority status saying that it is a “national institution.” Article 30 of the Constitution protects any institution is established and administered by minorities. From the very beginning, AMU has been a minority institution that has contributed to…

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) January 10, 2024

“Modi govt’s hatred against Muslims is for everyone to see. It cannot tolerate Muslims getting higher education & participating in the mainstream,” Owaisi added.

The written submissions by the Union government to the Supreme Court came through Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. Citing Supreme Court‘s Azeez Basha judgment in 1967 Solicitor General said that it aptly decided that the university cannot demand the status of a minority institution.

The government the added that large national institutes like AMU should “maintain its secular origins and serve the larger interest of the nation first,” government added.

However, senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan arguing for AMU, claimed that Centre’s assertion was an attempt to reduce the historical positioning of AMU and argued that University at first was a Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College and laborious efforts of the Muslim community which donated to create a fund of Rs 30 lakh resulted in the setting up of AMU in 1920. Rajeev Dhavan will also continue his argument for the university on Wednesday.