By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: President of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan has set up Jamia Bachao Front to protect Jamia Millia Islamia from the onslaughts of the government to usurp its minority character.
The immediate reason of forming the front is to protect Jamia Millia from the danger of the OBC quota, Dr Khan told TwoCircles.net. Once implemented it will be difficult to remove the quota and it will also damage Jamia’s case of minority character, he added.
While the case of minority character of Jamia Millia is pending with the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, the quasi-judicial body formed by Government of India to resolve such disputes, the University Grants Commission, also a government body, is forcing Jamia university authorities to implement the 27% OBC reservation.
“We have formed the front to save Jamia Millia Islamia from this OBC quota. We are pasting posters in the area to make the local community aware of the impending danger,” Dr Khan said.
Only two days ago Dr Khan had led a high-level delegation of the Mushawarat to Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal to urge him to intervene to hold the implementation of the quota off Jamia until its minority character case is resolved.
“The OBC quota was stopped from being implemented in Jamia last year. Why not this year? It should not be implemented until minority character issue is resolved,” he said.
To intensify pressure on the government not to impose the quota on Jamia Dr Khan has written letter to government.
“In this regard, on behalf of the Mushawarat, yesterday I wrote a letter to the President, Prime Minister, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and UGC,” he said and urged other Muslim organizations to do something to protect Jamia.
How hopeful are you from your meeting with HRD Minister? “In the beginning of the hour-long meeting, the minister said all central universities are bound to implement the quota. But in the end the minister said he has not taken any decision on the issue in regard with Jamia Millia. He said he will take the decision after much consultation and deliberations,” Dr Khan said.
Asked if he is going to launch a mass movement on the issue, he said: No, no, we do not launch mass movement. Those who do it should do it. Ours have been working as a pressure group. We do lobbying and hold meetings with the concerned authorities to press for our demands”.