By Manzar Imam,
New Delhi: Calling the establishment of a center of Aligarh Muslim University at Kishanganj, Bihar inevitable Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Sigh assured a delegation of political representatives from Bihar of appropriate steps for early provision of fund for the AMU centre. The delegation included Members of Parliament, Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council led by Member of Parliament from Kishanganj, Maulana Mohammad Asrarul Haque Qasmi.
The PM was apprised of the situation arising out of delay in budgetary allocations for the campus. Attention of the PM was drawn to the growing resentment and anger among people of Bihar towards the Central Government because of inordinate delay in granting fund for AMU Centre Kishanganj for which the State Government of Bihar provided 224.04 acres of land seven months ago.
Muslim delegation meeting with PM for AMU Kishanganj on 13th August 2012 in Delhi
The PM was also reminded of the announcement of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi during their Kishanganj visit that the Central Government would provide fund immediately after Bihar Government provided land to the university. But even after seven months of land having been provided no budgetary provisions were made causing uneasiness among the people.
“I will speak to Kapil Sibal over the issue of funds release for the Kishanganj centre of AMU,” the PM told the delegation which met him in the Parliament House on 13 August. The meeting lasted 15 minutes, Congress MP from Kishanganj, Mohammad Asrarul Haque said.
A memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister stated that “It is unfortunate that even after seven months following the land given to AMU by the State Government of Bihar, no budget has been allocated for the AMU Centre, Kishanganj by the Central Government.” The memorandum warned that any more delay might cause further resentment and backfire against the Central Government resulting into loss of trust.
The memorandum bearing signatures of the 10 delegate members demanded a) a moderate budget of 25 crore rupees, and b) starting of two courses of law and management.
L-R: Adil Hassan Azad, Dr. Jawaid, Ghulam Rabbani, Dr Shakeel Ahmad Khan, Ali Imran Ramz, Ghulam Ghaus, Tanweer Hassan, Asrarul Haque Qasmi and Akhtarul Iman after meeting the PM over AMU Kishanganj issue
The delegation led by Maulana Qasmi included Congress MP Husain Dalwai, NCP MP Tariq Anwar, Congress MLAs Ghulam Rabbani and Dr. Md. Jawaid, Forward Block and RJD MLAs Ali Imran Ramz and Akhtarul Imaan respectively, MLCs Ghulam Gaus and Tanweer Hassan, AICC member Dr Shakeel Ahmad Khan and LJP general secretary Adil Hasan Azad.
It should be remembered that a huge mass dharna was organized in Kishanganj on 12 October 2011 following which the Bihar Government had provided 224.04 acres of land to AMU and an agreement between the State Government and AMU authorities was signed on 30th December. Despite promises made by the Gandhis to get a Central fund for the Kishanganj Centre, no budgetary provisions have been made so far. This is causing resentment among the people of Bihar, especially Purnea Division which does not have a single central or state university and whose literacy rate is half the national literacy rate.
(A freelance journalist Manzar Imam is a research scholar at MMAJ Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. He can be reached at [email protected])
Input from TCN Staff Reporter
LJP leader and delegation member Adil Hasan Azad told TCN that some members of the delegation also expressed their concerns over the killings in Assam and Myanmar. “Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan, RJD MLA Akhtarul Iman and I myself drew PM’s attention towards the issues of Assam and Myanmar. The PM said his office PMO is monitoring situation in Assam. On Myanmar issue, he promised to issue a statement and advisory,” said Azad.