By TCN News,
Aligarh: The US President’s Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Mr. Rashad Hussain, on a 10-day maiden visit to India after assuming office, today interacted with senior faculty members and students at the Aligarh Muslim University.
Addressing the gathering Mr Hussain said that President Obama had embarked upon an ambitious programme for promoting issues like education, health, science and technology in Muslim dominated areas of the world.
He said that US President has rejected the idea that Islam is religion of terrorism and pointed out the term like Islamic Terror and Islamic Jehad are being misused by these fringe elements who claim to speak in the name of Islam but their policies are totally against Islamic spirit.
Mr. Hussain said that 90 percent of the victims of such acts of senseless terror were Muslims themselves and hence those who are perpetuating senseless violence have no right to project themselves as champions of Muslim faith.
Mr. Hussain said that the Muslim women in US were practicing Hijab while performing their duties as skilled professionals in public life.
Mr. Rashad Hussain said that he has a very close relation with this institution. His mother is the product of this University and his other relatives also studies at AMU. He said AMU alumni are playing very positive role in US system.
He was highly impressed to see the rare manuscripts of the Holy Quran at Maulana Azad Library as Holy Quran is very dear to him, said Dr Rahat Abrar, PRO, AMU. Hussain is a Hafiz of Quran.
The Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis said that the University has submitted a proposal to establish Indo-US Energy Centre at AMU and the University is committed to provide the resources to establish this centre. AMU has also contacted the Government of India and US officials in this regard.
In his welcome address, AMU Registrar, Prof. V. K. Abdul Jaleel said that today is a happiest moment to welcome Mr. Rashad Hussain, US Special Envoy of OIC, an inter-governmental body of 56 Muslim countries.
He mentioned that AMU has a long association with US. AMU has conferred upon the honorary degree to Mrs. Eleanor D. Roosvelt, wife of the then US President on March 14, 1952 at a special convocation.
He also said that this University has a Kennedy Hall Complex, hub of socio-cultural activists. The Kennedy Hall was constructed with the grant of US Ford Foundation.
In order to establish interaction and academic and research linkages AMU Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis visited US in 2008 and signed MoUs with several leading US universities.
Prof. Jaleel also welcomed the US visiting team, especially Mr. Michael P. Macy, Cultural Attaché and Ms. Sheeba Abidi, both alumni of AMU. He said that the purpose of US Special Envoy’s visit was to discuss his position as part of the US government’s efforts to engage Muslims around the world on people to people and organizational levels.
Mr. Rashad Hussain also paid floral tribute to the founder, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan at his grave. He also interacted with Polio partners at J. N. Medical College and appreciated the role of AMU in polio eradication.
Mr. Rashad Hussain said that he was deeply moved with the warm reception he had received at AMU by the Vice Chancellor and his team.