The government is conspiring to bar Muslim students to study in Jamia. If today, we lag in education, tomorrow we will be backward in employment and other fields, said M. Akhlaq, Secretary Jamia Administrative Staff Association, at a dharna organised by all associations of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) to impress upon the Union Government to recognise Jamia as a Muslim Minority Institution, at Jantar Mantar, on March 15.
The organisers recalled, “JMI was established by the prominent leaders of Muslim community in 1920 during the Khilafat and Non-cooperation movement. The main objective behind the establishment of the University was to promote and provide religious and secular education for Indians, particularly Muslims…”
The JMI was granted the status of a Deemed University in 1962 under UGC Act, 1956. The same Jamia was formally incorporated as a Central University by an Act of Parliament known as Jamia Millia Act, 1988 which codified, declared and confirmed the continuous and pre-existing factual and legal position of JMI.
But it is a matter of grave concern that the Union Government is compelling the University to implement The Central Educational Institution (Reservation in Admission) Act 2006 (CEI Act) which provides certain reservations in Central Educational Institutions. The UGC has threatened Jamia that its future financial grants will be stopped if it does not implement the CEI reservations in admissions of students. This unreasonable pressure by the Ministry of HRD has put the minority status of Jamia in danger.
They asked if there is reservation for minorities in St. Stephens and Khalsa Colleges of Delhi University then why they cannot avail this in Jamia. They said that they are not begging from the government but it is their right guaranteed by the Constitution of India in Article 30(1) and (2) which clearly says, “The State shall not, in granting aid to educational institutions, discriminate against any educational institution on the ground that it is under the management of a minority, whether based on religion or language.”
Former MP and President All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, Syed Shahabuddin, while addressing the gathering said that if an act is not passed in the Parliament regarding Jamia’s minority character, we cannot believe justice would be done to the Muslims. He said he was present in the Parliament, when the discussion on the issue was going on. There, he tore the Bill which attempted to abolish the minority character of Jamia. He said, “If Muslims are not educated, we cannot imagine a stronger India.”
President Jamia Teachers’ Association Nusratullah Khan demanded that the government should declare Jamia a minority institution because it will not only help the Muslims prosper but produce fruitful results for all. He said the University will create people like Barkha Dutta, Virendra Sahwag, Shahrukh Khan, et al. He reminded that during the session 2009-10, among the 114 students enrolled for PhD in the University, the number of Muslim students is merely 10. He said the demand for minority status is not only legal but also constitutional. He also asserted that if Jamia is made a minority institution there would not be any decline in the quality of education.
Former President Jamia Old Boys Association Ilyas Malik wondered that the NDA government, which has always been disliked by the community, granted to Jamia Hamdard the minority status. But the Congress, which is supposed to have a soft corner for minorities and Muslims, abolished the minority status of JMI. He pointed to the Sachar Committee Report that today Muslims are lagging even behind Dalits. He also wondered that on the one hand the Union Government makes tall claims of running various schools, colleges and universities to uplift the down-trodden people, but on the other hand is trying to abolish the minority status of an existing Muslim University. He said merely laying dharna would not be helpful, rather we should write articles, features, letters in various newspapers and magazines to make our voice heard by the authorities.
MLA Okhla Constituency Asif Mohammad Khan admired the students’ staging peaceful dharna. He said it is a kind of Jihad to sit under scorching heat, feeling thirsty and hungry and going through the legal and constitutional process to make their demand granted.
Dr. Azra, a teacher at JMI said, “We not only demand reservation in Jamia but also in other Muslim institutions. We also demand from the government raising of some new educational institutions exclusively for Muslims.”
Tarique Siddiqui, who is associated with an NGO, went to the extent of saying, “We do not want the grant for which the government is blackmailing us. We have the capacity to run the Jamia as we are running countless of madrasas across the country.”
President Islahi Movement Wahab Khilji said, “We have started a peaceful movement and will continue it till we achieve our objective. If the government does not give us our right, we will fight it out.”
General Secretary Janta Dal (Secular), Kuwar Danish said that the Jamia has been facing step-motherly treatment since 1988, when it was granted a central university status. He said that today the Congress is in a position to implement the recommendations of Sachar Committee. If it fails to do so now, the day will never come to implement it.
SIO President Suhail K.K. said the Union Government has given assurance to establish some universities in Karnataka, Bihar and Rajasthan to educate the minorities but unfortunately no preparation is in sight regarding this.
Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, editor Ifkar-e-Milli, wanted to mount pressure on the leaders and MPs. A movement should be launched not only in Delhi but in the whole country in this regard.
Secretary Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Mujtaba Farooq said, “If our valid demand is ignored, our next dharna will be at Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal’s residence.”
It is noteworthy that minority status gives an institution a privilege of reservation of a minimum of 50% of the seats to the concerned minority.
A resolution was adopted to demand that:
- The government should not compel Jamia Millia Islamia to implement CEI Act, 2006.
- The government should affirm/declare in clear terms that Jamia Millia Islamia is a Minority Educational Institution under Article 30(1) of the Constitution of India.
- At least 50% seats in all courses of Jamia should be reserved for students belonging to under-privileged Muslim minority community.
A memorandum was submitted to the President of India, Vice President of India, Prime Minister, UPA Chairperson, HRD Minister, Minority Affairs Minister, et al.
Other prominent members who made their presence at the dharna are Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, M. Sultan Umar, Javed Alam, Mohd. Yunus, and I.U. Khan.