By TCN News,
Bhopal (MP): All India Muslim Majlis-E-Mushawarat (AIMMM), an apex forum of Muslim organizations and institutions of national eminence held a meeting of the National Executive Committee in Bhopal and discussed range of issues pertaining to the interests of minorities.
The meeting which was organized on Sunday also passed certain resolutions on the present political situation, Dalit Muslim and Dalit Christian Reservation, increasing the upper limit of Reservation, controversy of “Bharta Mata ki Jai”, Aligarh Muslim University Centre in Bhopal, avenues for Urdu Education in MP, briefing to the Supreme Court Judges by NSA Ajit Doval, budgetary allocations to Minorities and setting up of Equal Opportunities Commission.
Following is the detailed resolution passed by AIMMM :
On Political situation
The country is passing through a critical phase as fascist and communal forces are bent upon to destroy secular and democratic character of the country. Muslims are especially been targeted by the Hindutva forces. RSS and its affiliated groups and organisation are making every effort to impose their hate ideologies. Saffronisation of education his is going on under well planned conspiracy and it is because of this that there is unrest in universities and other educational institutions like Hyderabad university, JNU and NIT Srinagar those have witnessed unprecedented crises and unrest. This indicates that communal forces are creating chaos and confusion while the Centre is haplessly witnessing situation and taken no steps to rein in these forces. In the name of nationalism, minorities are victimized. Fresh un warranted controversy has been created by asking people, especially Muslims to raise Bharat mata Ki Jai slogan so that they can prove their loyalty to the nation. Muslims had played pivotal role in the freedom struggle and their contribution is second to none. Thousands of Muslim clerics and religious leaders had opposed “Two Nation Theory” and declared India as their motherland and country of their cherished dreams. For the past seventy years no one questioned loyalty of Muslims, who are being harassed by Hindutva groups. For the people of our nation, constitution is supreme and everyone has to follow it in letter and spirit. Hindutva groups show scant regard for the constitution and make in every effort to trample it. There has been steep increase in communal riots in the country, but no measures are taken to check them. The government is not only serious to implement minority welfare schemes but some have been put on hold. It is the duty of all secular and democratic groups to foil designs of communal forces so that India’s character of unity in diversity is protected and safeguarded.
On Dalit Muslim and Dalit Christian Reservation
AIMMM while reiterating the demand of inclusion of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians condemns the statements of Union BJP Minister invoking the (false) dangers of demographic change, if the Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians are allowed to get benefits of reservations. AIMMM feels that these statements are not only against the spirit of the constitution which allows Right to Equality and Profess Religion of Choice, but also an insult to the Dalit community itself as it casts aspersions on the wisdom of the Dalits to profess religion of their choice. AIMMM also feels that these kinds of statements are nothing but hate statements against all religious Minorities.
AIMMM also welcomes the stand of Mr. Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar for extending his support to the Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians in their struggle for equitable justice and to their demand for inclusion in reservation ambit for SC.
AIMMM also demands that Government should urgently file its stand/ response in Supreme Court on the issue of Dalit Muslim and Dalit Christian reservations without any further delay.
On the Jat Agitation for Reservation in Haryana
AIMMM expresses its concern on the loss of life and damage to properties worth more than 36,000 crores in the Jat Reservation in Haryana.
Mushawarat also express its deep concern on the expediency and haste of the Haryana BJP Government to include Jats in the ambit of reservation without any detailed and proper study of their socio-economic condition.
AIMMM wishes to clarify that in principle, it is not against demand of the Jats for reservationbut has reservation on the procedure that has been followed by the state government in including them in the ambit of reservation.
On increasing the upper limit of Reservation
AIMMM feels that it is high time that the Central Government should convene an all party meeting to discuss the issue of Reservation and to formulate a uniform policy to extend the limit of the reservation quota fixed by the Supreme Court as the state governments in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Haryana has done. Many marginalized communities including Muslims across the Country needs reservation and every sensible group would agree that laws needs to be changed as per the current requirements to reflect the equity and justice for all in the society.
On Controversy of “Bharta Mata ki Jai”
AIMMM reiterates its stand that Muslims should not be forced to chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ to prove their love for the motherland. The Muslims have full faith in Indian constitution and nowhere in the constitution it is required for people to say ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. Patriotism cannot be governed by the dictate of the saffron forces and citizens are free to use their language and vocabulary to express their affection for the country.
Also it is important to mention that the concept of “Bharat Mata” for saffron brigade is that of goddess/ deity and hailing that goddess is not is not only against Islam but it is also not acceptable to the Sikh Community. The whole controversy is being manufactured to vitiate atmosphere against religious minorities particularly Muslims and distract the failure of the Union Government on all fronts.
On Budgetary allocations to Minorities and setting up of Equal Opportunities Commission
The issues related to development deficit faced by the Muslims are diverse, but very similar to the ones faced by other backward sections of society like the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs). To address to development deficit, two key Plan strategies have been adopted for addressing development shortfalls faced by the religious minorities namely the PM’s new 15 point programme (15 PP) and the Multi-Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP). The India Human Development Report, 2011(Planning Commission, 2011) reveals that the development conditions of Muslims have not improved even after several government initiatives. Further, the India Exclusion Report 2013-14 and Post Sachar Evaluation Committee Report,2014 also highlights that Muslims have not benefitted from the schemes and programmes meant for them, and the community faces exclusion in planning, budgeting and implementation processes of development programmes at various levels of governance. It may be noted that only 0.23 percent of the total Union Budget 2016-17 has been earmarked for development of minorities which was 0.26 percent in 2015-16. Allocation for Madrasa Modernization Programme has been cut down from Rs.375 crore to Rs.175 crore.
Considering the problems in the guidelines, designs of the schemes and poor implementation:
The AIMMM feel that the 15 PP could be implemented along the lines of the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan and the Tribal Sub Plan. The Plan funds for minorities should be allocated in proportion to their population. And out of these fund allocations a larger share should be utilised for need based projects exclusively aimed at the development of poor Muslims.
AIMMM demands setting up of a National Data Bank and also Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC).
AIMMM also feels that the recommendations on study Diversity Index need to be applied in private and government run institutions related to jobs and education.
On Aligarh Muslim University Centre in Bhopal
The President of India in capacity as the visitor of AMU had approved in principle the University’s proposal to establish Centres under section 12(2) of the Act, in 2010. Subsequently, the Academic Council of AMU, the Executive Council & the University Court at their special meetings unanimously approved the amendments required in the statues and Regulations of the University to formally operationalise these Centres. The President as the visitor was pleased to approve the
amendments proposed by the University vide Order No.F.3-26/10-Desk (U) dated12.10.2010.
Taking a Historic Initiative the Court had unlocked the potential of AMU by
passing a Resolution at its meeting held on 02.12.2007 directing the vice Chancellor to establish 4
Centres of AMU across the Country The Executive Council at its meeting held on 17.01.2008 had approved the proposal of Vice Chancellor to establish 5 Centers of AMU across the Country , namely at Bhopal(M.P), Katihar(changed) Kishanganj(Bihar), Pune (M.H), Malappuram (Kerala) and Murshidabad (West Bengal).The Academic Council had also unanimously approved the proposal for the establishment of 5 Centres creating the Opportunity for a Nation -wide Expansion.
In Bhopal, Old Boys Association of AMU and others are trying their level Best for establishment of AMU Centre ,but even after their so many reminders /Memorandum and initiatives ,they could not get any commitment or ray of hope from the Govt. of Madhya Pradesh.
Therefore, AIMMM demands that the MP government should felicitate the establishment of the AMU Centre at Bhopal at the earliest and allocates the land for establishing AMU Centre. Establishment of Centre in this historical city with a rich concentration of Muslim community would help the educationally backward Muslim community in the state to get proper environment and equal avenues for the educational empowerment which can play a constructive role in the development of the state.
On Avenues for Urdu Education in MP
On the basis of three language formula, the state Government of MP should ensure the teaching of Urdu language as mother tongue as well as 3rd language on priority basis in all its schools and should also ensure the availability of Urdu text books.
On Briefing to the Supreme Court Judges by NSA, Mr. Ajit Doval
AIMMM expresses its concern over the briefing to the SC Judges by NSA Mr. Ajit Doval at National Judicial Academy, Bhopal and enlisting judiciary’s cooperation in “speeding up” of the judicial system and linking administration of justice to the national security.
While acknowledging the threat perception from the external terror groups including that from state and non-state actors, AIMMM strongly feels that the briefing by NAS to the Hon’ble Judges of Supreme Court cannot be seen in prism of isolation, the briefing by NSA to the Supreme Court Judges has established a dangerous precedent and has raised question mark on the bipartisan nature of justice,
AIMMM wish to remind that there a long history of false terror cases where innocents were framed to get promotions by the security personnel or to satisfy nations conscience. A large number of innocents have been acquitted by various High Courts and by Supreme Court in recent past but still lives of innocent have been ruined in such false terror charges.
Terror cases having links with external state and non-state actors is hard reality in view of the long history of hostile neighbors but framing of innocents and activists working in the disturbed areas for equitable justice and against state repression cannot be equated with the terror activities.
It would have been an appropriate approach if the human rights activists or some prominent lawyers who have helped those who have been framed by security forces in terror charges have also been invited by the Judges of Supreme Court to get brief of the other side of the story.
AIMMM wishes to reiterate that India is not an autocratic state where the state apparatus needs to brief judiciary. The common citizens have full faith on the working of independent judiciary. AIMMM fears that the briefing would shake the trust of the common citizens.