Friday, April 2, 2010

UGC’s flawed perception on scholarships

Ø UGC’s flawed perception on scholarships
Ø Minorities being discriminated in J&K

Highlighting the contradictions in the ‘Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students “for the year 2009-10, Sangarsh- A movement for Justice, Equality, Peace, Prosperity and Brotherhood organized a press conference which was jointly addressed by Ranjeet Sharma, President, Suresh Kumar, General Secretary and Mahesh Kaul, Organizing secretary of the movement respectively.

Addressing the media persons Mahesh Kaul said that “It is unfortunate that the University Grants Commission while issuing the notification on behalf of the Ministry of Minority Affairs has failed to identify the actual minorities in the state of Jammu and Kashmir while announcing the scholarships for the minorities all over India for the M.Phil, PhD and other equivalent research degrees in universities.”He said that, ’While the UGC has defined the number of seats for the minorities belonging to different communities in the various states but it has earmarked all the 27 fellowships for the majority community of the state neglecting the various ethnic communities of the state .This is a serious anomaly as it appears that UGC and Ministry and Home Affairs are confused about the definition of minority in this demographically changed and conflict ridden state.”

Mahesh Kaul further added that,”UGC should define what as per its guidelines constitutes the minority in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Muslim community constitutes the majority population in this state and cannot be treated as a minority .Article 370 and special status of this state should not prompt the UGC and Ministry of Home affairs to create a paradoxical situation where the minorities of the state are subjected to discrimination and subjugation. It is clear that that UGC is violating the right to equality and justice. It is severe contradiction that can lead to unrest in the State .Sangarsh has taken a serious note of this contradiction and will sensitize the scholars and intelligentsia about this gross injustice of the Ministry of Minority Affairs towards the minorities of J&K. Sangarsh has already taken the counsel of legal luminaries in this connection and will seek the intervention of the honorable courts to settle this issue of injustice towards the minorities of the state of Jammu and Kashmir’.
Among others who were present in the press conference included Nitin Shrama and Bhanu Pratap.

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