Amid Congress' stinging allegations that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was "anti-Dalit", Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath on Sunday, 24 June, without naming the grand old party said when would those claiming Dalits were being humiliated ask for reservation in Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia.
According to a report by NDTV, the chief minister was speaking at a public meeting in Kannauj where he further asked: "If the BHU can give it (reservation) to Dalits and backwards then why not in Aligarh Muslim University?"
Reacting to the chief minister's remark, Professor Shafey Kidwai, member-in-charge PRO AMU, said the university’s admission policy falls under the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction. "The matter is pending in the apex court," he said adding, "currently, we don't have any reservation on the basis of religion".
"There is 50% reservation for internal students," he said, adding that the university will follow court's decision.
Adityanath's comment comes close on the heels of a controversy that battered the Aligarh Muslim University last month. The institute had witnessed violent protests over a portrait of Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah which has been hanging at the University Student Union Hall for years now.
The demand for the removal of Jinnah’s portrait had led to the disturbance which also coincided with former Vice-President Hamid Ansari's visit to the university.
Adityanath, however, is not the first BJP leader to have demanded the restoration of SC/ST quota in Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia. In April 2018, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot had said that the Modi-led government was attempting the same in the two minority institutes.
"The JMI and AMU are central universities but the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government made them minority institutions. And hence reservation for SC and ST students does not apply there," Gehlot was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.
The minister had emphasised that any institution “funded or aided by the central government” must have provisions of reservation for SC, ST and OBCs as per the central government rules.
(With inputs from IANS, NDTV)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)