By TCN Special Correspondent,
Lucknow: The World Minority Day state-level function held at Vishveshwaraiyya auditorium here on December 18 was disrupted when madrasa teachers attending the program began protesting against poor salary.
Groups of madarsa teachers raised slogans with placards in their hands demanding their due on the world minority day. Later, the situation took an ugly turn when their leader Haroon Khan was thrown outside the hall by the organisers. Later, minister for minority welfare Anees Ahmed Khan Phool Babu assured that their demands will be taken up with
the state government.
It all started with Chairman, Uttar Pradesh Minority Commission, Liyakat Ali was delivering his speech highlighting the steps taken for empowerment of minorities in the state. Suddenly several groups of madarsa teachers stood up at their seat and started raising slogans.
They also waved placards highlighting their poor status with a monthly salary of Rs 2000 per month. “We cannot survive in this paltry sum. These people hold such function every year at the same venue and make lofty promises. Situation is totally different on the ground,” said Haroon Khan. Later, Haroon was pushed outside the hall by the organizers resulting in chaos. Later Haroon was given a chance to speak at the stage and he highlighted the problems of madarsa teachers.
In his reply, Minority Minister (Independent Charge) Anees Ahmad Khan assured that the issue would be taken up with the higher authorities.
Meanwhile, as the function progressed people from different sections of minorities favoured unity among minorities and participation in mainstream politics for getting their dues as granted by the constitution.
“It is one day when all of us come and give voice to our concerns. Rest of the year we do not even meet each other. Why can’t we work for each other’s strength and make efforts to achieve our goals?” said Rockey John, faculty at Lucknow Christian Degree College.
Syed Dildar from Madrassa Shiksha Parishad said, “Nobody can deny the role played by the minorities in the war of independence. All of us are aware of how minorities from all the communities brought the British on their knees. Unfortunately we are missing out on that unity these days.”
State Minority Minister Anees Ahmad Khan assured of all possible help
in this regard.
The function later drifted away from the rights of minorities and highlighted the duties of the minorities. Some local groups, however, raised their problems during the conference. “Not even a single organisation has been declared a minority institution since 2006. How can you uplift them without having institutions?,” said MS Faridi,a
social worker. The demands were on the spot taken up by the concerned UP Minority Commission officials. Several representatives from Jain, Christian and Muslim communities raised their voices during their respective turns in the seminar.