Recently, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath pitched for Dalit quota in so-called minority run institutions like Jamia Milia Islamia (JMI) and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). CM Yogi had said, “If an institution like Banaras Hindu University can give Dalit quota, why can’t minority-run institutions do that.” After this statement of CM Yogi, the Uttar Pradesh SC/ST commission has sent notice to AMU asking the same. In its six page long notice, the commission has expressed its vexation over not providing benefits of reservation to the students belonging to SC/ST community.
The Chairman of UP SC/ST commission, Brijlal said, “The AMU is not a minority institution. I have issued a notice to it for not giving reservation to the SC/ST. In the notice sent to the AMU Registrar, he was asked to reply to it by August 8.” He further added, “We have asked why SC/ST communities have not been given benefits of reservation and in what circumstances it has been done so. The Supreme Court has not yet passed any order in which AMU was prevented to provide reservation benefits. In light of the HC and the SC directives, it has been established that the AMU is not a minority institution.” UP SC/ST commission is right in its demand. AMU is like any other central university and run on its fund. It must give Dalits and Tribals reservation, it is their constitutional right.
Upon being asked what will the commission do if AMU fails to provide any answer within the given time period, Brijlal responded, “The Commission will use its power and issue summons to them.” He further said that in 1989, the AMU court had passed a resolution to give 50 per cent reservation to the students belonging to Muslim community in admission and also sent the President, who is also the Visitor of the AMU. Brijlal said, “The President in its reply had said providing 50 per cent reservation to Muslims is unconstitutional. The high court also termed it unconstitutional and said that the AMU is not a minority institution. In light of the HC and the SC decisions, it is established that AMU is not a minority institution.”
Chairperson of National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and BJP MP from Agra, Ram Shankar Katheria too had asked the AMU to settle the issue. He said, “I have given them one-month time to provide documents or legal proof to support their claim of being a minority institution. If they fail to furnish documents and still do not introduce quotas for SC/STs and OBCs, then the commission will send a request to the central government to stop grants to AMU.”
Aligarh Muslim University seems to be in particular trouble now if it fails to comply with the quota directive. Now, the centre is not ruled by pseudo-secular government familiar to Aligarh Muslim University who maintained that AMU is a minority institution. NDA government, from the very start, made it clear that AMU is not a minority institution. Former Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi told a Supreme Court bench of Justices J S Khehar, M Y Eqbal and C Nagappan on January 11, 2016 : “It is the stand of the Union of India that AMU is not a minority university. As the executive government at the Centre, we can’t be seen as setting up a minority institution in a secular state.”
It would be interesting to see how Aligarh Muslim University responds to the notice.
Whatever their reply would be, one thing is very clear, the issue of SC/ST reservation is likely to blow into a major election issue in 2019 General Elections. CM Yogi Government has made it very clear that they are ready to fight for the rights of the SC/ST students. BJP government actually wants the welfare of Dalits and it doesn’t want to exploit them only as a vote bank. It is only BJP which is raising the demand for the reservation in so-called minority institutions. Educational Institutions like Aligarh Muslim University treating Dalits as untouchable is unacceptable to the incumbent government. Self-declared Dalit and Tribal crusaders have maintained a stoic silence on this issue. It is only the BJP which is fighting for the rights of the Dalits.