Aligarh, Sep 22 (IANS): Muslim educationists, activists, journalists and politicians Sunday demanded minority status for Aligarh Muslim University.

The demand was raised at a day-long national convention held here by Sir Syed Minority Foundation of India.

AMU Vice Chancellor Lt. Gen. (retd) Zameer Uddin Shah said a unified effort was needed to put pressure on the government to enact a law ensuring minority status for the university.

Shah said a case pertaining to the matter was pending before the Supreme Court and everyone would have to wait till it was decided.

He also said that the university had decided to grant the funds allocated for the Sir Syed Day celebrations at residential halls to riot victims in Muzaffarnagar.

Aligarh MP Rajkumari Chauhan said restoring the minority character of the university would undo the wrong done in the past.

Shahid Ali Khan, Bihar minority welfare minister, said the country's secularism would be protected and promoted if the AMU was given a minority status.

Chancellor of the NOIDA International University, Arvind Kumar Singh expressed solidarity with the cause and supported the motion.

Shamsur Rahman, president, Sir Syed Minority Foundation of India, called upon the UPA government to restore the minority character to the university and fulfil the commitment it made during the runup to the last parliamentary polls.