NEW DELHI: A day after the Allahabad High Court quashed the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Amendment Act 1981 providing minority institution status to the university, the Congress on Wednesday said its minority character should be maintained and respected. The Bharatiya Janata Party welcomed the verdict, which also declared illegal the recent decision of the AMU to reserve seats in post-graduate medical courses for Muslims.

While taking a firm stand on the status of the AMU, Congress spokesman Anand Sharma sought to sidestep questions on the reservation issue, stating that it was a decision of the university. "It is within the jurisdiction and domain of AMU to respond to the court verdict on the reservation and decide on a future course of action," he said to questions on the issue at the party's routine briefing here.

BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi cautioned the Government that any reservation based on religion would endanger unity and tear apart the social fabric of the country. In a statement, he said the party had already disapproved of the decision of the Human Resource Development Ministry to declare reservation for Muslims in the AMU. As long back as 1968 the Supreme Court had declared that the AMU was not a minority institution, he said.

He said: "The BJP believes that the cultural and educational advancement of Muslims crucially hinges on giving them access to institutions of high quality."

The National Commission for Minorities has urged the Government to ensure that students admitted to various educational and professional courses in the AMU are not disturbed.

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