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Justice Siddiqui addressing the
Seminar on Minority Rights at AMU. |
Aligarh: “Protection of minority rights is no longer
viewed as a virtue but it is seen as a political necessity that
strengthens modern plural society”, this is what came through in a
national seminar on “Minority Rights: Vision and Reality”
organized by the Department of Political Science, Aligarh Muslim
University today.
Inaugurating the national seminar, Justice M. S. A. Siddiqui,
Chairman, National Commission for Minority Educational
Institutions (NCMEI), Government of India said that the article 30
carters special rights to minorities and article 30 is absolute
and it can be regulated by two counts. First it has to be
reasonable and second the interest of minority must be kept in
mind.
Explaining Article 30, the Chairman, NCMEI said Indian
Muslims have been given right to establish full right to establish
and run their academic institutions. The Commission is committed
to protect the minority rights duly granted by the Constitution of
India. Using its adjudicatory powers, the Commission has declared
Jamia Millia Islamia a minority institution.
Justice Sifddiqui
said the salvation of Muslims lies in modern education and they
must adopt information technology.
Delivering the presidential address, AMU Vice Chancellor Prof. P.
K. Abdul Azis said that education is the key to empowerment and
Muslim enjoined by the Quran must rigorously pursue the education.
He said that AMU has been striving to spread education
relentlessly and setting of two new centres bears a testimony to
its commitment to propagate education among Muslims as it was also
the cherished dream of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.
He said that no one
can doubt the minority character of the Aligarh Muslim University
as it fulfills all conditions of a minority institution.
Former Member of Parliament, Diplomat and presently President of
All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, New Delhi, Syed Shahabuddin
said that Muslims should strengthen their relationship with the
majority community and draw their attention towards their social,
educational and political problems.
He urged the government to
ensure that the benefits of all minority schemes are made
available to the minorities.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Faizan Mustafa, Vice Chancellor,
National Law University Orissa, Cuttack, said that the democracy
could only become fully functional if minorities are provided with
special rights as the right do not symbolize appeasement but they
are essential for the growth of pluralistic society.
Tracing the
minority rights all over the world, Prof. Faizan Mustafa said the
Indian Constitution grants special rights to minorities for
fulfilling their cultural aspirations. By safeguarding the
cultural and linguistic aspirations, the minorities can be
actively associated in the process of nation making.
Prof. Mustafa
referred to the gearing up of AMU minority case in Allahabad High
Court and quoted several landmark judgments of the Supreme Court.
Maulana Fazlurrahim Mujaddadi, Rector, Jamiatul Hidaya made a
PowerPoint presentation and regretted that minorities are not
being benefited by the welfare schemes of the central government.
Dr. Aftab Alam, Convener of the seminar said that minorities do
not enjoy rights but article 30 is the most violated article of
the constitution and he made a strong point for its effective
implementation.
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