By Md. Mudassir Alam for TwoCircles.net..
With the aim to discuss the current hurdles and possible solutions ahead related to the proposed off-campus centre of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in Kishanganj, a symposium was organised on Sunday (June 13, 2010)in Jamia Nagar area in New Delhi. The symposium was held on the initiative of Kishanganj’s Local MLA Akhtarul Imaan who was on a personal trip to the national capital. Irshad Ahmad, a JD (U) leader and an old boy of AMU; Khwaja Shahid, a court member of AMU and an alumnus of AMU; and around 300 people belonging to Kishanganj and neighbouring districts working or studying in Delhi were present at the symposium.
The session started with the welcome speech of Khalid Mubasshir, a Senior Research Fellow, Department of Urdu, Jamia Millia Islamia. Other old boys of AMU belonging to Kishanganj and other parts of Bihar also expressed their views about the proposed centre in Kishanganj. The legislator Akhtarul Imaan presented his balanced view on the much-talked about issue. The RJD leader had praised the left-led Kerala and West Bengal governments for providing 300 – 400 acres land free of cost for AMU off-campus centres in the respective states.
An emotional Imaan went heavily against the Nitish led NDA government in Bihar and said that the state government is showing double-standard. At one side the state government is demanding for the ‘special status for Bihar’ from the Central Government and on the other it is not giving proper attention to such a worthy education project that can change the fortune of Kishanganj and the state as whole. He said Bihar government is ready to give the 250 acres land in lease for 30 years that is not at all justified as after the completion of the period legal issues would possibly come before AMU administration. Next, the land is offered in 3 pieces to AMU instead of one piece as demanded by the university authority for easy functioning, mentioned Imaan. Meanwhile, Imaan praised the local MP Asaraul Haque (who could not attend the meet due to unavailability in Delhi) and DM Kishanganj Feraque Ahmad for effectively handling the land issue and showing much enthusiasm for the AMU off-campus centre.
Irshad Ahmad who holds a key position in Janata Dal (United) party presented his views about the AMU off-campus centre in Kishanganj. The JD (U) leader assured the gathering that he would soon speak with Bihar Chief Minister, Education Minister and other key members in the ministry to make the things easier for the proposed centre. Khwaja Shahid focussed on whole idea of establishing AMU off-campus centre in various locations across the country. He said that sub-Section 1 of Section 12 of the University Act allows AMU to establish it centres in the radius of 25 km after the consent of members of court and executive council. Further Shahid said the sub-Section (2) of Section 12 of the University Act says that the centres can be opened in any part of the country after the approval from the Centre and the President of India. Hence, there is no any legal issue related to the three centres at Murshidabad, Malappuram and Kishanganj as the President of India has already given approval in the month of April.
The speakers and sensible audience highly condemned the act of some old boys of AMU who have filed a case in Allahabad High Court against the proposed AMU centres at Malappuram (Kerala), Murshidabad (West Bengal), Kishanganj (Bihar), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) and Pune (Maharashtra). Besides these, the attendants in symposium also criticised the ill-minded people and political leaders who are creating hurdles before the noble cause.
Although the symposium ended with high optimism among the participants and all prayed to Almighty for setting the AMU off-campus centre in Kishanganj, but in truth there is a tough road ahead and many complications. As per District Administration of Kishanganj modal code of conduct will be implemented in Bihar in the month of August 2010. No official work will happen related to AMU centre till the formation of next government. Hence, all the official formalities including the clubbing of 3 piece land into one piece from the Kishanganj DM, approval from the Bihar Assembly and later on signing the agreement between AMU and Bihar government need to complete within a short period of one-and-half months.
