By TCN Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Thousands marched today with questions like ‘Stephens, Khalsa, Why not Jamia?’ asking about attempt to change the minority character of Jamia Millia Islamia.
Thousands of students, teachers, old boys of Jamia and ordinary members of Jamia Nagar locality marched to Ansari Auditorium from Faculty of Engineering and Technology via Okhla head to press the demand to declare Jamia Millia Islamia a Muslim Minority Institution. The march was followed by a short public meeting at Ansari Auditorium’s Lawns.
Speaking at the meeting, Prof. Nusrat Ullah Khan, President, Jamia Teachers’ Association (JTA) said, “It is well known fact that- Jamia was established by the Indian Muslim Community and this institution occupies a prominent place in the history of India Muslims”. “It’s really strange and unfortunate that- Ministry of MHRD and UGC is trying to create ambiguity in respect of minority status of Jamia”, he added. “Its also beyond understanding, when Stephens and Khalsa College of Delhi University can enjoy the status of minority educational institution, why not Jamia ?”, he puzzles
Clearing the stand on OBC reservation he said, “We are not against it. In fact, we are for it. But what is to be understood, the very act, The Central Educational (Reservation Admission) Act -2006, clearly exempted minority educational institutions from these reservation”. “In addition to this, both the Academic Council and Executive Council of Jamia, in their resolutions, have clearly reiterated that- Jamia is a Muslim Minority Institution. Even former HRD minister, Arjun Singh time and again acknowledged this very fact”, he informed the gathering.
Later, representatives of the different associations of Jamia Millia Islamia namely Jamia Teachers’ Association (JTA), Jamia Old Boys Association (JOBA), Jamia Administrative Staff Association (JASA), Jamia School Teachers’ Association (JSTA), Shafiqur Rahnan Kidwai Association (SRKA) presented a memorandum to the Vice Chancellor of Jamia and requested to forward it with a covering letter to the President of India, who is also Visitor of the University, the Prime Minister, the HRD Minster and Minority Affairs Minister.
Talking to TCN, Javed Alam Khan, President, JOBA, who were part of the delegation which met the VC said, “He readily agreed to our request and promised to do the needful today itself”. Moreover, the VC said, “I heard the march was a great success. Now do that outside of Jamia as well”, adds Javed.
The memorandum reads, we therefore demand that: 1. The Govt. should not compel Jamia to implement CEI Act-2006. 2. The Govt. should affirm/ declare in clear terms that- Jamia is a Minority Educational Institution under Article 30(1) of the Constitution of India. 3. Atleast 50% seats in all courses of Jamia, be reserved for students belonging under- privileged Muslim minority community.