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Imams for AMU minority status
THE MOVEMENT to restore the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has now assumed religious colours with imams of all mosques in the city, teachers and students of madarsas coming out openly in support of the demand.
THE MOVEMENT to restore the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has now assumed religious colours with imams of all mosques in the city, teachers and students of madarsas coming out openly in support of the demand.
A first non-political demonstration was organised by City Jamat-e-Ulema demanding minority status for AMU in which Imams of all mosques, students and teachers of madarsas took part. Members of the City Jamat-e-Ulema formed a human chain in front of the Shikshak Park to press for their demand. Carrying placards, they demanded minority status for AMU. A memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding minority status for AMU was also handed over to a senior official of the district administration.
The first demonstration on the AMU issue was organised by the Rashtriya Samajwadi Party headed by Zia Chowdhary at Ram Ashrey Park failed to get any response from Muslim religious leaders. But, in contrast, the agitation organised by the City Jamat-e-Ulema on Monday got full support of all religious leaders of the Muslim community, which was clearly evident by the presence of a large number of imams on the occasion.
In order to exert pressure on the State Government for passing a proposal in the Vidhan Sabha in favour of the minority status of AMU, Ittehad Millat will take out a vehicular procession on February 2, while the Action Committee formed by a section of the Muslim community will convene its next meeting on February 5 to decide the future course of action.
“In the meeting all members of the committee will put forward their views on the steps to be taken to give a momentum to the movement,” stated a senior member of the Action Committee. Not to be left behind is the Muslim League, which is planning to call its national president GM Banatwala to the city to bolster its movement for the minority status of AMU.
Meanwhile, a signature campaign was also organised by the Minority Cell of the Youth Congress in favour of restoration of the minority status of AMU on Monday.
