AMU, Jamia are not minority institutions: MoS HRD Ram Shankar Katheria

Kanpur: Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Ram Shankar Katheria on Tuesday said Jamia Milia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University are not minority institutions, days after the Attorney General gave similar opinion to the government on the matter.

After taking part in his party's programme, the BJP leader said the two universities have been "denying" the dalits and other backward classes' students their rights by giving "special treatment" to minorities.

"We want students of all religions and castes get equal opportunities at the two varsities. The matter (of the minority institutions status) is sub judice and we will press our case that they aren't minority intuitions," Katheria said.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi has recently advised the government that Jamia Milia Islamia is not a minority institution as it was created by an Act of Parliament.

In his opinion to the HRD Ministry, the AG is understood to have also quoted a 1967 Supreme Court judgment which had said that technically AMU is not a minority institution. 

Katheria meanwhile challenged BSP supremo Mayawati to support his stance on this issue.

"She considers herself as the leader of the dalits and the backward classes. Why does not she then stand by us on this issue as the two universities have been denying the dalits and backward classes their rights," he said.

Katheria said that BSP has been getting the dalit votes by "misleading and intimidating" them but now they've "woken up" and realised only BJP can work for them.

Among the other issues, Katheria was asked about the suicide case at Hyderabad University and he said a committee has been formed and it would submit its report.

He questioned the law and order in UP and said the people have tried the government of both the BSP and SP, and in 2017 they would vote for the BJP to usher in better governance.

When asked if he was in the race for the post of BJP chief in the state, Katheria said he would take any responsibility the party gives him.

Asked if the new education policy of the country would be formed on the "RSS agendas" he said it would be on the "agendas of the country".