|
Malegaon:
Hundreds raised their hands in agreement as the local All India
Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Action Committee leaders
demanded amendments in the Right to Education Act, Direct Taxes
Code Bill and a stronger Wakf Bill Tuesday late in the night here
in Malegaon.
“We are forced to start this campaign. For the last more than a
year, the board is trying to settle these issues with the
government. But except for the empty promises we got nothing”,
Hafiz Umrain, local convener of the All India Muslim Personal Law
Board (AIMPLB) Action Committee said while addressing the rally
called, in their own words, ‘to save their constitutional rights’.
“This time around we are not going to call off our protest merely
on the basis of promises or issuance of some guidelines. We want
the government to make amendments in these legislations as per our
demands so that they become more useful for the society as a whole
and minorities in particular”, he added even as the huge crowd
comprising mainly of teachers, doctors, advocates, community
elites, and a large number of Madrasa alumni and students remained
stick to their seats despite chilling cold nodded in agreement.
Hafiz Umrain was addressing a public meeting organised in Malegaon
to kick-start the AIMPLB nationwide campaign against some of the
sections in the legislations in question about which the board
feels are not only against the interests of the minorities but
will also have negative impacts on the entire country in the
longer run.
“It is wrong to say that we are fighting for a Muslim issue or
only for minorities. Based on detailed analysis of these
legislations, the board has come to the conclusion that some of
the sections in the RTE Act 2009 and the proposed Direct Taxes
Code Bill are harmful to all sections of the society”, said
Maulana Abdul Hameed Azhari, Maharashtra Convener of the campaign.
While the proposed Wakf (amendment) Bill 2010 and Direct Taxes
Code Bill received criticism from the speakers, the worst verbal
onslaught was reserved for the Right to Education Act 2009.
“The quality of education in the country is already on the
decline. On the contrary to what one can expect from the
government, it is enforcing such a legislation which will further
deteriorate the situation”, Advocate Nehal Ansari said adding that
the RTE Act will only produce “illiterate degree holders” in the
country.
With this rally, the AIMPLB nationwide campaign will now move on
to other parts of the country and the state. Immediately in line
are the rallies in New Delhi, Patna, Darbhanga (Bihar) and Bhopal
in the ongoing and next weeks. In Aurangabad a rally will be held
on January 06 followed by Mumbai on January 15.
“Plans are also afoot to organise a
bigger rally in Lucknow”, said the organisers.
|
Comments
|
Quick links