By - Mumtaz Naiyer
On the very onset, I would like to thank AMUCC team, our leaders Maulana Asrarul Haque saheb(MP Kishanganj), Shri Ram Vilas Paswan(President LJP), Shri Ram Kirpal Yadav(MP Rajyasabha), AMU mentors(Janab Kamal Farooqui saheb and Janab Khwaja Sahid saheb) and the all the education lovers for fighting this battle for the establishment of AMU centre Kishanganj from the front. I am short of words to express my gratitude to all of you.
The last one month was very hectic in the AMUCC calendar and I think it will remain so in coming days. AMUCC is a non-political organization comprising of group of professionals from Bihar and Jharkhand who are fighting this battle for last three years tirelessly. They are very much concerned for the upliftment of deprived region called Seemanchal. AMUCC first fought the battle with Bihar Govt. for allocating the land, the land was successfully transferred to AMU authorities on 30th December 2011. Thanks to Nitish Kumar led Bihar Govt. for its kind gesture. Now comes the Visitor’s (President of India) approval and allocating funds for starting the centre in Kishanganj which is under Central Govt.'s jurisdiction. It’s beyond my accepted wisdom why Congress Party is playing all hide and seeks game by making lame excuses?
The biggest stumbling block that comes often on the way of AMU-Kishanganj is the monster called Kapil Sibbal, the worst HRD minister ever. I would rather say the most hated minister ever. However, I would like to remind all the stake holders be it Centre as well as Bihar govt. and the AMU-authorities that AMUCC is having enough firepower to win this battle of people's right. No one can rebuff our basic fundamental and legitimate rights. The monster called Kapil Sibbal won't be able to stop us. Our unanimity and fortitude will overcome every impediment that comes our way.
The main and most important thing is, we don’t like to wait for 2014 elections or any mid-term poll to make it a political issue and again the make and break promises. Nevertheless it’s a huge apathy and laxity on part of Congress party to delay the fund allocation in current financial budget. The party has already done the damage to its image that it's the party of common people by denying the basic educational and constitutional rights to the downtrodden and most economically underprivileged region of the country called SEMMANCHAL. I wonder, the party which made all the uproar of minority reservations in last UP assembly elections is denying the right of quality education to minorities, the backwards, schedule castes and schedule tribes. The common man especially the minorities are tired of their dubious policies. If the HRD minister continues his arrogance the congress will certainly reduce to minority in the coming Loksabha elctions. This will give much needed fodder to the regional parties and third front for their revival and renaissance. They must learn from their fiasco in recently held assembly elections in the five states.
Mrs Sonia Gandhi made a promise in the 2009 General elections to the people of Kishanganj and Seemanchal that AMU-Kishanganj is in her priority list. Three years has gone by but AMU-centre Kishanganj is still a distant dream. It’s the breach of trust on the part of congress party to the people of Kishanganj and Seemanchal. However, it was heartening to see the UPA chair person Mrs Gandhi’s positive stand on this issue when AMUCC team visited her along with local MP Maulana Asrarul Haque on 23rd March 2012. She is the lone hope now; hope the congress core committee members won’t mis-guide her for AMU-Kishanganj by citing case in Allahabad High Court (All nonsense) etc.
Till yet we have adopted all democratic means to resolve the issue. We never want violence or any in-convenience to common citizens of India by blocking rail and road in Kishanganj which is the gateway to Northeast states. It’s sad to say that our endurance has been tested by all means but for how long? Should we resort to violence the way Gujjars did in Rajasthan and Harayana for the reservation in OBC list? We never demanded reservation, it’s a political debate. Our genuine demand is quality education in the poor region that can be achieved by establishing AMU-centre Kishanganj on the immediate basis. I hope Mrs. Sonia Gandhi will take time to resolve the issue from her stiff busy schedule and she will definitely rise by her promises made to the people.
Mohammed Mumtaz Naiyer
Postdoctoral Scientist at Southampton General Hospital,
University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
