By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: As demand for reservation is gaining ground among Muslims, Uttarakhand governor Margaret Alva advised the Muslim community to adopt mainstream education system for their upliftment.
Former MP and Congress leader Alva was addressing a program ‘Development for an Inclusive Society’ organised to commemorate 194th birth anniversary of founder of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Sir Syed Ahmed Khan held at Lucknow on Monday. While at the same function, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi said UPA government was committed for Muslim reservation.
(R-L) Anis Ansari (Vice-Chancellor, Kanshiram Urdu Arbi Farsi University), Begum Hamida Habibullah, Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi and others
“Reservation surely helps but in the end the person should have confidence in himself to succeed in life,” said Alva. Putting a question mark over the education status of Muslims she remarked: “Muslims are more inclined towards madarsa education. It is in their priority which needs to be changed. They should concentrate towards the mainstream education. My remarks should not be misunderstood.”
Asserting her point Alva stated that even great educationist Sir Syed Ahmed Khan has visualised this much before. “It was due to this vision that he had established the AMU imparting modern education. Muslims should get equal status as others and there is no ambiguity in this,” she remarked.
The Uttrakhand governor also took a dig at UP’s government. Hinting at the corruption in the state she stated that funds are being misused. “We very well understand where the money is being pocketed. We read often in media about NRHM scam and others in the state,” she said.
Among other issues that need to be addressed for inclusive development of the country, according to the Governor, is the plight of farmers and people residing in tribal regions. She also advocated equal opportunities to women during her speech. “A farmer commits suicide and his kin gets one lakh Rupees as compensation. It is like paying somebody for a life. Sense of alienation among tribals is leading to violence. If benefits of development do not go equally to all the sections, then whose development we are seeking for,” she asked.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Dr Rita Bahuguna Joshi also emphasised on women’s emancipation and highlighted the steps taken by the central government. She also assured that central government was serious about reservation to minorities.
Others who also addressed the function included Vice-Chancellor (V-C), Kanshiram Urdu Arbi Farsi University, Anis Ansari, former IRS official Parveen Talha, Begum Hamida Habibullah, Tariq Siddiqui, Hilal A Naqvi, Zeeshan Haider, Meer Jafar Abdullah and several others.