New Delhi, Dec 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the centenary celebration program of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) indicated to opening of new opportunities to end discrimination based on caste, religion, language and gender and usher in a strong and self-reliant Bharat, said senior RSS functionary and social thinker Indresh Kumar.
He was speaking at a facebook live program organized by ‘Bharat First’, a group of young Muslim Intellectuals headed by Supreme Court pleader Adv. Siraj Qureshi on Wednesday. Dr. Shamim Akhtar Ansari from Lucknow, Dr. Mohammad Salim, Head of the Zoology Department AMU, and senior journalist and National Convener of Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) Virag Pachpore joined the discussion.
Describing the address of the Prime Minister as ‘Historic’, Indresh Kumar said that it has paved the way for dialogue making a proper analysis of truth indicating the future course of the nation. His address was different from the other leaders whose politics thrived only on creating differences among the various sections of the society. PM Modi was the first PM to address the society sans any discrimination.
Indresh Kumar said that the contribution of the AMU in educating the Muslim community and connecting them with the national mainstream is well highlighted by the Prime Minister when he said “this is not just a building but a history in itself”. His observation “politics can wait, development can’t” indicated to a new possibility of all-inclusive development aimed at ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
His reference to reduction in girls’ dropout rate also highlighted the importance of women’s education and empowerment, Indresh Kumar underlined congratulating Modi for abolishing the inhuman custom of triple talaq giving a new life to the crores of Muslim women.
He referred to Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) slogan “आधी रोटी खायेंगे बच्चों को पढ़ाएंगे | तालीम जिंदगी के लिए और जिंदगी वतन के लिए || and said that the MRM had taken up this issue education since its inception in 2002. The Prime Minister underlined the need for education and modernization of Madarsas to make the youth capable of employment.
The Prime Minister invited the AMU to join the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign and ‘Vocal for Local’ drives to give impetus to swadeshi marketing and economy. Indresh Kumar said that the AMU should form a task force to study different aspects of Prime Minister’s suggestion and formulate a work plan for its implementation.
We are one nation-one people having faith in one constitution and one flag. Our diversity is our beauty and not an instrument of discrimination and differences. Prime Minister Modi underlined this fact and appealed to give a helping hand to the poor, needy, exploited sections of the society. “Nation First” is the clear message we get from PM’s address, Indresh Kumar said.
Dr. Mohammad Salim said that it was a ‘Red Letter Day’ in the history of Aligarh Muslim University. The Prime Minister described AMU as ‘Mini-India’ and created a sense of security among the Muslim community of the country. We have not heard such a beautiful speech earlier, he said underlining that we are proud to be Indians.
Prof. Shamim Ansari gave information about the AMU which was started as a college in 1876 and was elevated to the University status in 1920. He said that the Prime Minister focused on Research and Development to solve our problems and take the society along the way to progress and prosperity.
MRM National Convener Virag Pachpore said that the Prime Minister used this opportunity to address the wider Muslim community and highlighted his government’s non-religion policy of development for all discrimination for none. He said that the PM mentioned about the remarkable fall in the dropout percentage of Muslim girls from 70 to 30 percent is the most encouraging signal about women’s emancipation and empowerment.
Another important aspect was equal distribution of development. No discrimination was made in distribution of houses under PMAY, Jandhan accounts, and other such schemes. This is most remarkable achievement.
The Prime Minister tried to build confidence of the Muslim community by saying that no citizen would be left behind because of their religion and everyone would get equal opportunities so that everyone can fulfill their dreams. Sab ka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sab ka Vishwas is the mantra behind it.