No OBC quota at Jamia, it's a minority institute: Jamaat

Wed, Apr 30 03:06 AM

Making the issue of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University's "minority status" more complicated, the Jamaat-e-Islami has now demanded that the varsity be exempted from implementing OBC quota as it is a "minority institution".

Saying the move to implement OBC quota in JMI was a "wrong" step, a resolution passed by the Markazi Majlis-e-Shoora (central advisory council) of the Jamaat-e-Islami held here last week has asked the government to intervene to protect the interest of the Muslim community.

Significantly, the Jamaat has taken this position when the JMI has appointed a committee to examine the implementation of 27 per cent quota for OBCs.

Accusing Vice-Chancellor Mushirul Hasan of endangering the interests of the Muslim community, the Jamaat has said that JMI had always been a minority institution and any move to undo this would be resisted.

However, Hasan maintained that he has no personal stake in the matter. "I am here to enforce the statutes of the university. Whether JMI retains its present character, which is overwhelmingly secular, is for the government to decide," he told The Indian Express.

Hasan said that several interest groups with no link to the JMI have jumped into the fray. "They pretend to be the custodians of the university and all this does not augur well for the university," he added.

Various groups, including a section of JMI's teaching staff and Jamia Old Boys Association, had come out openly against Hasan recently.

The Jamia Old Boys Association had even filed a petition before the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions seeking disciplinary action against Hasan and Registrar S M Afzal for allegedly diluting the minority status of their alma mater.

Their argument is that the Majlis-i-Muntazimah (executive council) of Jamia, under the chairmanship of

Hasan himself, had unanimously passed a resolution in 1997 stating that the university be declared a minority educational institution.

Jamaat's Ameer Maulana Jalaluddin Umari said they had already raised the issue with the HRD ministry.

"The move to divest JMI of its minority status has created strong resentment within the Muslim community. We hope that HRD Minister Arjun Singh, who has a soft heart for Muslims, will be able to help us in this matter," he said.

Sources at the minority ministry said those opposing JMI's central university character are trying "desperately" to get the ministry directly involved in the issue. However, the ministry maintains that it is for the university to determine its character.

Holding similar views, sources at the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions also said that the university itself has to settle the differences.

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