Friday, May 20 2005 20:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Justifying the Government decision to approve 50 per cent reservation for Muslims in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), HRD Minister Arjun Singh today (May 20, 2005) said it had been done as part of the policy to grant autonomy to higher institutions.

"It is neither appeasement, endorsement or any opposition," he said about the reservation decision which has kicked off a controversy.

Singh told reporters that the Government has a policy of granting autonomy to higher institutions and "as per the statutes and ordinances under it, if a university or an institution takes a decision, I will accept that."

The decision has created controversy as BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and other Sangh Parivar outfits have dubbed it as "anti-Constitutional and anti-national". They threatened to oppose it "tooth and nail".