BJP has strongly supported the Centre's recent stand in the Supreme Court that the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is not a minority institution as it is run through Parliament legislation. Briefing reporters in New Delhi, party spokesperson M J Akbar said the central institutions have secular character and they do not belong to any particular community or sections. <br/><br/>Citing the discussions over the status of the AMU in the past, Mr. Akbar said former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shashtri, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi as well as leaders like Abul Kalam Azad and Prof Nurul Hasan were also against the minority status for the University. Mr. Akbar said during a debate in Parliament in 1981, the Congress had also voted against minority status but the opposition party diluted its stand under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi for vote bank politics. <br/><br/>Mr. Akbar attacked opposition for raising the issue saying the matter should be seen in the light of the Constitution instead of political prism.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, eight Opposition parties Friday joined hands to corner the Government over its alleged move to strip AMU and Jamia Millia Islamia University of their minority status. In a joint statement, Members of Parliament from the Congress, Trinamool Congress, JD(U), RJD, NCP, CPI, CPI(M) and AAP expressed their concern over the move of the Central government. <br/><br/>Over a week ago, Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi had told the Supreme Court that AMU is not a minority institution.<br/><br/>On Jamia's status, Mr. Rohtagi has told the Human Resource Development Ministry that the University is not a minority institution as it was created by an Act of Parliament.