Political motive behind NDA stand: AMU

Aligarh Muslim University has claimed before the Supreme Court that the NDA government's decision to argue against its minority character was made on political consideration.

Opposing the Centre's plea to withdraw the appeal against Allahabad High Court’s order stripping it of its minority status, the varsity submitted that the move was “unconstitutional, highly irreverential and irresponsible apart from being ex facie improper”.

“Considering the importance of the issues involved in the present appeal, the decision taken after the change of government at the Centre by the present NDA government led by a member of the Bharatiya Janta Party does not appear to be a sound decision based on cogent and valid reasons, but one based on political considerations,” AMU contended.

In an affidavit filed in the court, AMU said the attempt to retreat was “nothing but a deliberate dereliction of constitutional duty on the part of the Union government”.