By TCN News,
New Delhi: The national seminar organized by the Welfare Party of India at Indian Law Institute here has expressed deep resentment and dismay over the stand taken by the Modi government in the Supreme Court in case of awarding minority status to the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University.
During the hearing in January, The Union of India has told Supreme Court that AMU is not a minority university and as the executive government at the Centre, it can’t be seen as setting up a minority institution in a secular state.
The union government has taken a similar stand in the case of Jamia Millia Islamia too.
The National seminar titled “Educational rights of minorities: a litmus test for justice” was organized on Friday in New Delhi and it was attended by many well known personalities including Rajiv Dhavan, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, Mani Shankar Aiyer, Former Union Minister, K.C. Tyagi ,General Secretary, Janta Dal United, Dr. Mohd Rafat, Secretary, Jamaat e Islami Hind and Niyaz Ahmed Farooqi, Secretary, Jamiat Ulema Hind.
All the speakers at the seminar emphatically and forcefully conveyed their anger and resentment over the steps being taken by the Modi government to take away the rights of minorities and marginalized groups and for keeping them away from progress and development.
Delivering his presidential address, Dr. S. Q. R. Ilyas, National President for Welfare Party of India said extending special consideration in socio educational fields to minorities is not appeasement but strengthening the nation body by empowering its weak organs and giving a balanced growth. Article 30(1) of the Indian constitution gives all religious and linguistic minorities the right to setup and run educational institutions of their choice which includes schools, colleges and universities.
“This is an absolute fundamental right and not bracketed by any ifs and buts. The law guarantees that government will not discriminate in giving aid on the basis of their being minority institutions”, he said.
He further questioned why Muslims, the largest minority cannot have special packages and treatments in education and employment in the line of the SCs and STs.
“The official figures of the Sachar Committee depicted the pitiable condition of the Muslims worse to that of the Scheduled Castes. It has proved beyond doubt that the utterances of inclusive growth and development, sab ka sath sab ka vikas etc by Modi during electioneering and at various forums were merely chunavi bol and are hollow and shallow sans sincerity”, he added.
Manishankar Aiyar said our nation is established to protect diversities and identities. “Unfortunately ruling government is trying to break all constitutional values and principles. As a largest minority the educational rights must be protected. But now central government is stepping down from constitutional values”, Aiyer said.
John Dyal, civil right activist while demanding the central government stand said the consequences of their U turn will not be restricted to AMU & JMI rather it will affect all the educational institution run by different minorities.
Mohd Rafat, Secretary Jamaat e Islami Hind highlighted concern of the community and said saffronisation of system is now going on and regime is trying to change the constitution.
Ravi Nair, a human right activist lambasted the communal & fascist approached of the central government and said not only minorities but dalits & other weaker sections are also experiencing discrimination.
Pramod Kureel, Former MP and President of Bahujan Age also highlighted discrimination faced by dalit students in educational institutions and demanded a legislation to stop discrimination of minorities and all marginalized sections of society in educational institutions.