http://ummid.com/news/2011/
| Thursday October 27, 2011 06:50:32 PM, ummid.com Staff Reporter | |||
Malegaon/Aurangabad: The high level AMU expert team which was in Maharashtra on a three day tour to inspect the land for its proposed centre in the state left for Aligarh via New Delhi today morning. During its stay in Maharashtra, the team inspected the lands in Aurangabad and Malegaon that were identified for the purpose. Flowers and protests both greeted the team during its three-day stay in team. After arriving in Aurangabad from New Delhi by air, the team led by AMU Vice Chancellor Prof PK Abdul Aziz inspected the lands located at two different places near Aurnagabad on October 26 in the morning. According to Mrs Fauzia Khan, Minister of State for Primary Education and Awkaf, the AMU team visited two locations - one around ten kms to Aurangabad and the other at Khuldabad around 30 kms away. Principal Secretary of Minority Development Department Mrs Thekkekara and Secretary of Minority Commission, Govt. of Maharashtra Syed Hashmi were also present in Aurangabad for the land inspection. Aurangabad district officials assisted Minister Mrs Fauzia Khan and others for AMU team's smooth land inspection. Later, after visiting Tomb of Great Moghul Emperor Aurangazeb the team left for Malegaon. The ummid.com staff reporter who was travelling with the team from Aurangabad to Malegaon said that a huge crowd which comprised of heads of local educational institutions, teachers, social activists and leaders from all political parties including Nasik MP Sameer Bhujbal, local MLAs Mufti Mohd Ismael and Dada Bhuse greeted the team when it entered Malegaon at around 01:15 PM. Some of the people had traveled from neighboring and faraway places to meet the AMU team. Prominent among them were Students' Islamic Organization (SIO) Zonal Secretary Irshad Khan who traveled from Nagpur to Malegaon and various heads of education institutes of Yeola, Nasik, Dhule and Manmad. "The enthusiasm can be gauged from the fact that people from all walks of life literally lined up to greet the AMU team and to stress the need for establishment of the AMU off-campus centre near Malegaon so that they also get access to higher education", Dharma Anna, Sarpanch of Daregaon said while speaking to ummid.com. In Malegaon, the AMU team visited two spots that were identified for the proposed AMU sub centre. The District Magistrate P Velrasu said that the AMU team visited two spots in Malegaon - one at Rampura some 30 kms from Malegaon and the other 22 kms to Malegaon at Jalgaon-Chondi near Manmad - the major railway junction which connects North and South India. After having lunch at Jamia Mohammadia Mansoora rest house, the team held a prolonged discussion with Nasik MP Sameer Bhujbal, local MLAs Mufti Ismael and Dada Bhuse, District Magistrate P Velrasu, and office bearers of Noble Education & Welfare Society (NEWS) and Citizens for Development & Peace (CDP). During the meeting, Vice chancellor Prof PK Abdul Aziz and team members Prof. Anwar Jahan Zuberi, Prof. Jawaid Akhtar, Prof. Ekram Husain, Prof. N. A. K. Durrani and Prof. M. Saud Alam Qasmi explained in detail the motive behind establishment of this centre and its expected impact on the overall development of the region. Protests Meanwhile, in an unpleasant incident during AMU team's visit to Maharashtra, the team also had to face besides flowers protests both in Aurangabad and Malegaon. While Shiv Sena-BJP activists camped near the Khuldabad location carrying saffron and black flags, at Rampura site of Malegaon, the team was stopped just near the proposed land. Local MP Sameer Bhujbal and DM P Velarsu talked to the protesting crowd of around 500 villagers, but they were not ready to allow the AMU team to visit the proposed site. The AMU team however peacefully inspected the other site located 14 to Manmnad Railway junction. Later while addressing the press conference with District Magistrate P Velrasu, AMU VC said, "Some forces are opposing tooth and nail the establishment of the AMU centres. First they opposed when we visited other states and now they are doing the same in Maharashtra." "However", he added, "The project has the backing of the majority of the people in the country including Hindus, Muslims and people from other religions and classes wnd we are trying our best to make these centres a success." In reply to a question, the Vice Chancellor said that the AMU team few days after after reaching Aligarh will hold a meeting and decide on the final locations. Refuting the media reports which were appearing in a section of the media since last few weeks, the Vice Chancellor said, "At this stage I can't say anything about the final location. I can only assure you that an AMU centre will be established in Maharashtra very soon and we are all set to start the academic activities from the next academic year". |
