New Delhi, Feb 17 : Congress President Sonia Gandhi has said the matter pertaining to grant of minority status to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is an issue of great concern and her party will do its best to ensure that the varsity gets autonomy.

"On our part, we will do our best to help the university in ensuring its autonomy and its historical character," she told the 60th annual convocation of AMU through audio conferencing after her visit was cancelled due to inclement weather yesterday.

"I know the issue of minority status of AMU is pending in the Supreme Court. I want to assure you I would do my best to ensure autonomy and historical character of this eminent university," she added.

She further said AMU had played a very important role in the country''s freedom struggle and had produced a galaxy of freedom fighters like ''Frontier Gandhi'' Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar and Rafi Ahmad Kidwai.

She also conveyed her happiness at seeing young women receive degrees.

"No community can really progress or prosper if half of its population lags behind," she said. (ANI)