By Muslim Mirror News,
New Delhi : Speakers participating in a national seminar over the minority status of AMU and JMI organized by the Welfare Party of India at Indian Law Institute here expressed deep resentment and dismay over the stand taken by the Modi government in the apex court in the case of awarding minority status to the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University. The union government has taken a similar stand in the case of Jamia Millia Islamia also.
Speakers after speaker emphatically and forcefully conveyed their anger and resentment over the steps being taken by the Modi government to take away the rights of minorities and marginalized groups and for keeping them away from progress and development.
“No society can progress wherein the minorities and weaker sections feel insecure and alienated. The AMU and the Jamia Millia were initiated by leaders of the community then to bring them at par with mainstream communities. It was also part of an effort to annul the backwardness inflicted on the community by the patriotism-driven boycott of British educational system during the freedom movement,” said Dr. S. Q. R. Ilyas national president of WPI while delivering his presidential address.
Extending special consideration in socio educational fields to minorities is not appeasement but strengthening the nation body by empowering its weak organs and giving a balanced growth. Article 30(1) of the Indian constitution gives all religious and linguistic minorities the right to setup and run educational institutions of their choice which includes schools, colleges and universities. This is a absolute fundamental rights and not bracketed by any ifs and buts. The law guarantees that government will not discriminate in giving aid on the basis of their being minority institutions. There is no doubt that Aligarh Muslim university & Jamia Millia Islamia were founded by muslims. Status of central universities by an act of parliament does not deprived them of their minority character, he added.
Mr Ilyas questioned why Muslims, the largest minority cannot have special packages and treatments in education and employment in the line of the SCs and STs. The official figures of the Sachar Committee depicted the pitiable condition of the Muslims worse to that of the Scheduled Castes. It has proved beyond doubt that the utterances of inclusive growth and development, sab ka sath sab ka vikas etc by Modi during electioneering and at various forums were merely chunavi bol and are hollow and shallow sans sincerity.
Speaking at the national seminar titled “Educational rights of minorities: a litmus test for justice” Mr. Manishankar Aiyar ( MP) former union minister said our nation is established to protect diversities and identities. Unfortunately ruling govt is trying to break all constitutional values and principles. As a largest minority the educational rights must be protected. But now central govt is stepping down from constitutional values.
Mr. John Dyal while demanding the central government stand said the consequences of their U turn will not be restricted to AMU & JMI rather it will affect all the educational institution run by different minorities.
Dr.Mr. Mohd Rafat secretary Jamaat e Islami Hind highlighting the concern of the community said saffronisation system is now going on. Regime is trying to change the constitution.
Mr. Ravi Nair a human right activist lambasted the communal & fascist approached of the central government said not only minorities but dalits & other weaker sections are discriminated by this mindset.
Mr. Pramod Kureel Former MP and President Bahujan Age while highlighting the discriminations faced by dalit students in educational institutions demanded legislations to stop discrimination of minorities and all marginalized section of society in educational institutions.
Niyas Ahamed Farooqi Secretary of Jamiat Ulamaye Hind, Prof Anand kumar also speak in Seminar
Introductory speech was done by Mr. Abdullah Azzam former President AMU Students union, and program coordinated by Adv.Fawwas Shaheen.