By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Aligarh: A group of students of the Aligarh Muslim University, under the banner of Sir Syed Minority Foundation of India held a candle march on September 24 reiterating the long held demand of restoration of the minority status of the University.
SSMFI has also written a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to take a positive decision on the issue. President of SSMFI Md Perwez Siddiqui wrote in the letter, “We hope this will not surprise you as it is our very long quest for minority status of our Alma Matter,” adding that they need his support and kind consideration for the issue.
“If you believe that India cannot be developed until and unless the development of its minorities, then this is the right time for you to act on this wisdom,” he reminded the PM.
Aligarh Muslim University has long history of its minority status since its inception in 1875 as Mohammadan Anglo Oriental College, the university holds its unique characters that speak for its claim to be a minority institution, he added.
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of this university has established MAO College to serve minorities and marginalized sections of the society and it was only in 1968, when the Supreme Court in its judgment had quashed the minority status of the university, saying that AMU has been established by an act of Parliament.
Since then AMU has been struggling to get back its minority status and all they have got from different politicians is assurances.
AMU students fraternity has repeatedly urge the central government to pass amendments in the Parliament to this effect and to also direct to the HRD Ministry to favorably file affidavit in the court.