It seems worries for the proposed AMU (Aligarh Muslim University) Centre in Kishanganj are not going to end sooner. In fact, the road leading to establishment of the Special Centre in Kishanganj is still full of hurdles. Reason! Lack of proper planning from the Central Government to establish the centres outside Aligarh in Utttar Pradesh. The negligent approach from the Congress led UPA government towards the unique proposal of AMU Kishanganj is another reason. Hopes shattered again for the immediate solution of proposed AMU Centre in India’s one of the most backward and minority concentrated district of Kishanganj.
On Monday evening (April 09, 2012), a delegation of AMUCC (Aligarh Muslim University Coordination Committee) – a non political group of working professionals and students residing in Delhi met with Union Law & Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed at his official residence at 4 Kushak Road in New Delhi. AMUCC delegates met Khursheed as part of the group’s routine political lobbying work to push ahead the Central Government for providing Visitor’s (President of India) approval and fund allocation for the AMU Centre in Kishanganj.
Earlier scheduled at 7 pm in the evening, the meeting was rescheduled to 10 pm by Salman Khursheed due to his personal commitments. The AMUCC team after a long wait of 3 hours finally came face-to-face with Union Law Minister. Khursheed had a brief introduction with the delegation led by Convenor Mohammad Aslam and accompanied by other members Mohammad Mudassir Alam, Khalid Mubashshir, Soban M Ahmad, Rashid Ahmad, Tauqir Alam, Zamir Iqbal, Jawed Iqbal, Jahangir Alam, Murteza Iqbal, Wasim Akhtar and Nasim Alam.
Sadly, after the brief introduction, Khursheed had repeated the words of Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal that the matter of AMU centres is pending with Allahabad High Court. However, AMUCC team was having the copy of Allahabad High Court judgment, which clearly describes that there is no any stay order against opening Study centres of AMU outside Aligarh. Further, Khursheed told that the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has an acting Vice Chancellor so the matter of AMU Kishanganj is pending with Ministry of HRD for President’s approval and other formalities. Again the AMU Convenor interrupted that the former VC of AMU Prof Abdul Azis had already written to MHRD to fulfill the formalities regarding AMU Centre in Kishanganj, hence as of now there is no any need to get the fresh request for the Vice Chancellor of University.
The Minority Affairs minister then changed his stand and discussed the issues related with proposed AMU centres outside Kishanganj. It should be noted that the Visitor’s approval and fund allocation for AMU Centre in Kishanganj formalities can be fulfilled only with the involvement of Union Ministry of HRD. However, Kapil Sibal is not at all interested on the proposal of establishment of AMU Centre in Kishanganj. The reason behind Sibal’s negligent approach towards the proposed Centre in Bihar’s north-eastern district is not clear. Meanwhile, the AMUCC delegates urged the Cabinet Minister to have a talk with Kapil Sibal to take action on the pending issues and fulfillment of official formalities.
After meeting with Congress Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, veteran leader Oscar Fernandes, MHRD Kapil Sibal and Law Minister Kapil Sibal, the AMUCC group has doubts about the intention of Central Government about the proposed centres of AMU outside Kishanganj. Two centres of AMU are already functioning at Mallapuram (Kerala) and Murshidabad (West Bengal), but why the same UPA government is not giving any attention to AMU Centre in Bihar, it is big question. Last but not the least, the AMU Centre in Kishanganj had remained a principal agenda for Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi during their election campaigns in Bihar. If the matter of AMU Centre in Kishanganj is not resolved on immediate basis, it will certainly create a negative feeling against the Central Govt among the people of minority dominated Seemanchal region in Bihar.
