By TCN News,
Aligarh: “Aligarh Muslim University [AMU] is the living and functional example of secularism in India” this was the comment made by noted film director and social activist Mahesh Bhatt, during a Press Conference held on the occasion of inauguration of the Media Center Aligarh, at Muzzammil Manzil Complex. Mahesh Bhatt called upon Aligarians to support the Congress. He was leading Karwan-e-Bedari of Millat Bedari Muhim Committee [MBMC] Aligarh, which has travelled all through the Uttar Pradesh [UP] campaigning for the Congress party. The Karwan has reached Aligarh from Agra covering all parts of the Uttar Pradesh.
Addressing the Press parsons, Mahesh Bhatt said that Aligarh is the place from where Sir Syed Ahmad Khan had lighted the lamp of education and tried to empower the Muslims through education. He said Congress Party is deeply concerned regarding the development and progress of Muslims and it was due to that it appointed Sachar Committee and went on to implement its recommendations. Bhatt pointed out that if the centre and state both comes under the Congress rule, then implementation of the programmes will be more effective; so he asked the downtrodden, marginalized and Muslims to come forward and bring back Congress rule in UP.
Mahesh Bhatt said that the Congress is the natural choice and its ideology is the core ideology on which the nation could move forward as a secular state. He said that India is a bilingual and multi religious country and the Congress is a big platform which could well accommodate all sections of the society. He called upon the youth particularly students of the AMU to launch a sustainable movement in favor of the secular ideals and lend a hand to the Congress. Mahesh Bhatt called upon the Aligarians to create history by electing Congress candidates and defeat all caste based and communal elements to save the nation from chaos. He appealed to Muslims that ‘Apne Kal Ke Liye – Apne Mustaqbil Ke Liye, Please Vote Congress’ (for your tomorrow – your future, please vote Congress). He also asked them to precondition the Congress that “seat tumhari vote hamara, sign tumhara, kaam hamara” (your seat is with our vote; we will support your sign but execute our works).
Elaborating on the support to congress, President of MBMC, Professor Razaullah Khan said, “in fact we are educationists, but being an educationist it is our duty to carefully analyze the Socio-Politico situations and thus make people aware about the current issues.” He said for that we will have to study the manifestoes of all parties and will have to take into account their previous works. He said if we carry out a careful analysis, our final choice will be to extend support to Congress. MBMC Secretary & Convener of Karwan-e-Bedari Jasim Mohammad said that we have earlier too supported Congress and he wished that the implementation of Sachar Committee should go on. He said that Congress has not only taken up the upliftment of Muslims but it has also ensured that all sections get justice.
Ex-Controller of AMU Prof. Humayun Murad said that after independence Congress made the democracy functional and ensured equal opportunities to all. “That sequence must go on and for that Uttar Pradesh should have a Congress rule”, he said.
Aligarh Muslim University’s Professor Syed Iqbal Ali said that,” If after independence Urdu still exists, it is due to the efforts of Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi.” He said we must strengthen our secular values and for that he appealed Muslims to vote Congress in UP.
Congress Candidate from Aligarh, Vivek Bansal said that he is so familiar with the place and that he is completely aware regarding the problems faced by Muslims and AMU. He assured to deal with all their problems including the Minority Character of AMU. OSD of Jamia Urdu Aligarh, Farhat Ali Khan thanked Congress leadership for keeping alive the Urdu language in the country and expressed his optimism towards positive steps from the part of congress for nurturing the Urdu language.
Dr. Fatima Zehra, G.F. Sabri, Owais Jamal Shamsi, Daulat Ram, Kapil Kumar Raghav, M. Iqbal Saifi, Umair Jamal, Deeba Abrar and Fehmina Nafis too were present for the lively press conference.