By Mohammad Mudassir Alam,
Kishanganj: It sounds little strange but it’s true that “Aligarh Movement” is going to start again in a new shape on October 12, 2011 in Kishanganj district of Bihar. “Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s world famous Aligarh Movement needs a revival and we are trying to do the same in Kishanganj”, says Maulana Asrarul Haque Qasmi, the Congress MP from Kishanganj.
Qasmi was sharing his views regarding the proposed grand agitation scheduled on October 12, 2011 against the Bihar government’s negligent approach towards the AMU Special Centre in the Muslim-dominated Kishanganj district. The Kishanganj MP has also insisted that the democratic agitation will be landmark in the history of entire Purnia Division and Bihar as well. Qasmi has appealed to all to be ready for any type of sacrifice required to fulfill the dream of Central University in Bihar.
The agitation is going to be held under the banner of ‘Educational Movement for AMU Centre” in the leadership of Maulana Asrarul Haque Qasmi. Educational Movement for AMU Centre group has a convenor and many patrons including the three MLAs of Kishanganj and two from nearby Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal. The group came into existence around a couple of months back against the Nitish led Bihar NDA government’s lucre response on the proposed special centre of AMU.
In the presence of MP, MLAs and locals, the group has submitted a memorandum to District Magistrate of Kishanganj addressed to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on September 12, 2011 to resolve the land transfer issue within 15 days. The memorandum clearly mentioned that if Bihar Government fails to provide the required 250 acres contiguous land to AMU, the group with the help of locals and people from other parts of Bihar will do a democratic agitation. However, the DM of Kishanganj has not shared any update about the CM’s response with the group.
After submitting the memorandum before the DM, the group under the leadership of Maulana Asrarul Haque Qasmi had organized around 30 awareness meetings at different areas of Kishanganj, Katihar, Araria and Purnia. The awareness campaign was intended to make the common people aware about the facts of the proposed AMU Special Centre and its importance and benefits. Besides education, the Special Centre is going to benefit the common people in many ways and it would generate employment opportunities for all classes.
As explained by Qasmi, the members of ‘Educational Movement for AMU Centre’, Delhi based AMU Centre Coordination Committee along with common people will gather at Ruidhasa Maidan of Kishanganj on October 12, 2011. A team will rush to DM office to get the latest update about Bihar Government’s stand on the land transfer issue. Based on the feedback of DM Kishanganj, the ‘Educational Movement for AMU Centre’ will decide the future course of action and type of protest. If required the protestors might block the roads and rail tracks in Kishanganj district headquarters.
Bihar is developing on papers and in advertisements being published in newspapers and media organizations, but the truth is something else. Still the Bihar of ‘Vikas Purush’ Nitish Kumar and his self proclaimed NDA Government is lagging behind in various fields especially education (literacy) and employment. The proposed special centre of AMU in Kishanganj is not less than a precious gift for Bihar Government and its people.
Since the announcement of AMU Centre in Kishanganj, BJP the main ally of JD (U) is trying to disturb the process with its students’ wing ABVP. The main opposition RJD’s supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav in his recent statement said that Nitish is not giving the land on the guidelines of BJP and RSS. Nitish should raise the bar of his politics and provide the required 250 acres contiguous piece of land without any type of encroachment and proper road (30 metre) connectivity with state highway to AMU administration. People in Kishanganj and adjoining districts are peace loving, if the Bihar Govt resolves the issue on fast track basis the grand agitation could be averted.