New Delhi: Opposition members in Lok Sabha today (Dec 23, 2003) alleged that the Vajpayee Government was "interfering" in the functioning of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and threatening its minority status and autonomous character.

Raising the issue as soon as the House assembled, Congress leader P R Dasmunshi and Ramjilal Suman (Samajwadi Party) alleged that AMU's minority character and autonomy was being affected because of a recent circular issued by the Centre and demanded an explanation from the Government.

They were supported by Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s Basudeb Acharia and Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (Rashtriya Janata Dal), who jointly demanded immediate withdrawal of the circular.

Speaker Manohar Joshi said, it was a "serious matter" which had been raised in the House yesterday also and would ask the concerned Minister to make a statement.

The members sought an explanation as to why the University, which is an autonomous body, had been asked to conduct open entrance examination.

Rashid Alvi (Bahujan Samajawadi Party) said, two Dalits had been killed for stealing a pipe in Uttar Pradesh and similar cases of atrocities against the downtrodden were being reported from Gujarat too.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) S S Palanimanickam wanted Central intervention to ensure that Karnataka Government respect the orders of various courts and tribunals on water sharing with Tamil Nadu.

Joshi rejected their notices seeking adjournment of the Question Hour.