However, many students and teachers who attended it were left disappointed
Hyderabad: “Taleem ki Taquat”, the conference to stress on power of education as a tool for empowering Muslims, was conducted in Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) on Sunday.
However, many students and teachers who attended it were left disappointed. As per sources, some of the teaching staff also stayed away from the conference in protest.
The reason for the disappointment of students and teachers who attended the conference was because it was allegedly used as a platform by the BJP and TRS to make political statements and to promote a Muslim-friendly image of their party leaders, rather than speaking on concrete issues.
Chief guest of the conference, Union minority affairs minister Najma Heptulla, attacked the Congress — with which she was affiliated earlier — for not giving due recognition to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad for playing an important role in establishment of IITs and UGC.
During his speech, chancellor of the university, Mr Zafar Sareshwala, spoke about how PM Narendra Modi held Azad in high esteem.
Ms Heptulla added that Mr Modi had ensured that even though there were budgetary cuts in other ministries, allocation for the minority affairs ministry was increased.
She also said that the madrasas established by Abul Kalam Azad in Ranchi would be declared as national treasures.
Ignore APJ remark, says Chancellor
When asked for his reactions on the comments made by Union culture minister Mahesh Sharma that late President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was a nationalist “despite being a Muslim”, Mr Zafar Sareshwala, chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), said, “We should ignore it.”
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the “Taleem ki Taquat” conference at MANUU, he said that whatever the minister had said was irrelevant, as he had clarified the statement.
During his speech at the conference, Mr Sareshwala said that many people had raised doubts over his appointment as the chancellor of MANUU as he did not have a PhD or experience in teaching, but he had the required love and respect for education needed for a person holding the position.
When asked about the Bihar elections, he said that earlier governments had failed to do anything, as many areas had not seen development for decades. He also rubbished claims that BJP and MIM had a secret deal to split votes. He said that there are no differences on religious lines among people.
