SMA KAZMI, the first Muslim advocate general of UP, said here on Thursday that the State government had taken several steps for the betterment of Muslims as well as other minorities and that it was up to the Muslims to make the best use of the available opportunities.
Speaking at a seminar on ‘Akaliyaton ke samajik evam arthik pichhdepan ki wajah aur unka hal’ organised by Ghani Talimi Markaz at the Sahkarita Bhawan on Thursday evening, the advocate general made a passionate plea to the Muslims to first make themselves, ‘available, acceptable and then indispensable.’
“Where ever you are and whatever you do, make yourself indispensable. There is need to develop a sense and an urge of participation,” he said.
He added, “The UP government, under the leadership of Mulayam Singh Yadav, has done a lot for Muslims. It has extended recognition to several minority institutions, appointed around 3,000 Urdu teachers and provided key posts in the government to people belonging to the minority community. If we say that there are not many Muslim IAS officers, then we should first see how many take the IAS exam anyway.”
Saying that in India there was perfect opportunity for Muslims, he said, “Where else would you find a Muslim President, a Sikh Prime Minister, a Christian leader of the House, a Hindu leader of the Opposition and a communist as the Speaker.” Referring to the speech he gave at Karachi Bar Association, Kazmi said, “I told them that those Muslims who chose to stay back became Indians by option. My father was one of them. Here, those Muslims who had the talent and the courage to carve a niche for themselves have always excelled,” he said amidst applause.
{{/usCountry}}Saying that in India there was perfect opportunity for Muslims, he said, “Where else would you find a Muslim President, a Sikh Prime Minister, a Christian leader of the House, a Hindu leader of the Opposition and a communist as the Speaker.” Referring to the speech he gave at Karachi Bar Association, Kazmi said, “I told them that those Muslims who chose to stay back became Indians by option. My father was one of them. Here, those Muslims who had the talent and the courage to carve a niche for themselves have always excelled,” he said amidst applause.
{{/usCountry}}The seminar was inaugurated by UP minister Rajpal Tyagi. “If Muslims take a vow to get their children admitted to schools, it would lead to overall betterment of Muslims both socially and financially,” Tyagi said.
Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, Naib Imam, Eidgah and general secretary of Islamic Centre of India said that in the 57 years since independence, the successive governments had done little to strengthen the status of Indian Muslims. “From 30 per cent their percentage in government jobs has fallen to 3 per cent and their representation in the private sector is a mere 5 per cent.
There are very few Muslim graduates both in urban and rural areas,” he said.
Abdul Naseer Nasir, the convenor of the programme, read out a five-point charter of demands which included appointing Urdu teachers in primary schools, including Urdu in PCS (J) exam, opening up of a medical college in the name of Tipu Sultan and appointment of a Muslim in Backward Class Commission.