MUSLIM ORGANISATIONS and their parent bodies have started bracing themselves for a prolonged battle on the issue of minority status to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
All India Tehreek Islahe Mashara has taken up the cause on behalf of the Muslim community in the city. The organisation has once again reiterated its demand for the minority status to AMU.
Talking to newsmen here on Tuesday, senior member of the organisation Haji Mohammed Salis said, “Due to some technical reasons, the Allahabad High Court did not grant minority status to AMU.”
He said the need of the hour was to launch a sustained campaign in the country so that the Union government should pave the way for restoration of minority status to AMU by bringing an ordinance in Parliament.
“The campaign is not directed against the Allahabad High Court order but to build a consensus in the country for minority status to AMU and 50 per cent reservation for Muslims in it as envisaged by Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh,” Salis said.
Justifying the minority status to AMU, Salis stated that for the overall development of the Muslim community education was imperative. “Minority status to AMU and 50 per cent reservation for Muslims in it is a small step in this direction,” Salis asserted.
He exhorted the entire Muslim community to build a pressure on the Congress government for carrying out necessary changes in the Constitution for granting minority status to AMU.
{{/usCountry}}He exhorted the entire Muslim community to build a pressure on the Congress government for carrying out necessary changes in the Constitution for granting minority status to AMU.
{{/usCountry}}Another senior member of the organisation, Mohammed Suleman Hashmati said the campaign for minority status to AMU would be launched within the democratic norms and peacefully.
He also sought the support of all political parties in this connection.
Commenting on the standard of education in Haleem Muslim Inter and Degree Colleges, Hashmati said, “As incompetent people have always been associated with the college, therefore, its level of education has deteriorated.”
Hashmati demanded appointment of a qualified person at Haleem Inter and Degree Colleges to check further deterioration of educational standard.
Maulana Mushtaq Hashmi was not in favour of co-education in Haleem Degree College. “Public opinion among Muslims will be made against co-education in Haleem Degree College and a separate degree college for girls should be established,” Hashmi stressed.
Other prominent members of the organisation present on the occasion included Mohammed Rafiq, Mohammed Irfan Ansari, Mukhtar Ahmad and Abrar Ahmad.