Seminars by minority groups on Minority Rights Day in Kolkata

By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,

Kolkata: The National Minority Day was celebrated in Kolkata on December 18 through seminars and conventions. An organization of Muslim intellectuals, Naya Zamana, called a convention on National Minority Day while All India Muslim Youth Federation organized a
seminar.


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At Naya Zaman’s program at Humaun Kabir Institute in Park Circus area, Chief Guest was State Land & Land Reform Minister Mr Abdur Rajjak Molla while another panel guest Minister of State of Minority Affairs & Madrasa Education Mr Abdus Sattar was absent. But the convention had the auditorium packed with eminent Muslim and Non-Muslim personalities
of West Bengal. The All India Muslim Youth Federation program was presided over by Central Minister Mr Sultan Ahmed. The program was held at Academy of Fine Arts Auditorium. Besides Mr Ahmed, various other political personalities were present at the seminar.



Addressing Naya Zamana’s program Vice Chancellor of Aliah University Dr Syed Shamsul Alam said, three streams influence the Muslim mind in India. One, Deoband, which is following Islamic Theology. Second, Ajmer Sharif, which is significant for Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti’s Sufism and Islamic Brotherhood; and third, Aligarh Muslim University. AMU was established to for Muslims to get modern education, science along with Islamic Culture. He gave examples of some world famous philosophers and scientists.etc. Ibne Sina completed hifz when he was 7 yrs old. Later he became famous as the father of Medical Science. Dr Alam said Muslims should involve themselves in research and invention,
which is stated in the Holy Quran.

State Land & Land Reform Minister Abdur Rajjak Molla said, Muslims should be united otherwise they will not survive. Organised unity only can force the government to think for the minority community. He gave an example: “One day CM of West Bengal Buddhadeb Bhattacharya asked me to allot some land for `Matua Community’ (Minority religious Hindu
community in the eastern part of the state) to build a Degree College. Otherwise we may be losers. Because they are united, I did.”

Republican Party leader Sukriti Ranjan Biswas said, every Muslim should celebrate this day as Minority Day. He remembered Dr B R Ambedkar’s write-up which was sent to parliament but was not passed. In the draft, Dr Ambedkar had stated reservation should be given to the Muslim and SC/ST communities. The Parliament cut the Muslim word from the draft, he complained. He also demanded issuing Muslim OBC Certificate to all Muslims as soon as possible. He also demanded for political empowerment of the minority. He asked the government: When Muslims are more than 25 percent in West Bengal, then why no Muslim
became chief minister in 35 years of Left Front rule. Historian Surajit Dasgupta said, political empowerment can change the lot of the Muslim society. He said, Muslims should get equal opportunity. Dasgupta also condemned the poor political leadership in
West Bengal. Ex Professor of Calcutta University and Ex Principal of Aliah Madrasa
College Dr Md Sahidullah said, all Muslim students should get scholarship form Mahsin Fund, which is own property of Muslims acquired by Govt of West Bengal. Community newspaper in Bengali Kalom weekly Editor Ahmed Hassan Imran said, lots of funds are not used and going back to centre. Ex Food Minister of West Bengal and Forward Block State Committee Member Mr Hafiz Alam Sairani said: Forget your political differences, please come together and put your demand. It will definitely be accepted.

Hajrat Fate Ali Wasi (R) Memorial Committee Secretary Dr Ahmed Ali, Industrialist Samar Nag, Educator Abul Kashem Munshi, Dr Abdur Rashid Mollah also delivered valuable speeches.

In the evening at Academy of Fine Arts Seminar Hall, All India Muslim Youth Federation arranged a seminar where Central Minister Mr Sultan Ahmed, Professor of Rabindra Bharati University Suranjan Middey, Trinamul Congress State Secretary Dr M Nuruzzaman, Universal Peace Council Chairman Sukhnandan Singh Ahluwaliah, Bijay Chaturbedi, Father Mandela, Social Worker Md Sahlam delivered speeches. Most of the speakers demanded for political empowerment of the community. They condemned the ruling CPI-M led State Government for
failure in improving the condition of Muslims in education, job etc. MYF Secretary Md Kamruzzaman said, if West Bengal Govt does not implement the reservation all the Muslim youth will go against them in the coming Assembly election.

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