UP: Yogi Adityanath Clarifies His Stand on Aligarh Muslim University’s Minority Status

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently addressed an election rally in Aligarh's Khair assembly constituency, where he spoke on the contentious issue surrounding the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). His statements highlighted the ongoing debate in the Supreme Court regarding whether AMU should remain a general institution or be granted minority status.

Yogi Adityanath argued that an institution funded by Indian resources and taxpayer money should provide equal opportunities and reservations to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). 

He criticized the university for allegedly arranging a 50% reservation for Muslim students without similar provisions for SCs, STs, and OBCs, stating, "How is it possible that an institution nurtured by the resources of India…does not give reservation to people coming from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and backward communities?"

Constitution grants quota benefits to marginalized communities

The UP CM further emphasized that the Indian Constitution grants reservation benefits to marginalized communities based on the Mandal Commission’s recommendations. According to him, institutions funded by Indian taxpayers, including AMU, should ensure job reservations and admission opportunities for students from these communities.

Opposition parties compromising national unity and integrity

Additionally, Adityanath accused opposition parties such as the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and BSP of compromising "national unity and integrity" to safeguard their vote banks. He claimed that these parties were ignoring the concerns of marginalized groups in favor of preserving AMU's current status.

This discussion follows the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn its own 1967 ruling, which had declared that central universities, including AMU, could not attain minority status due to their establishment under federal law. The Supreme Court has now set new criteria for assessing AMU’s minority status, with future hearings scheduled to further evaluate this complex issue.