Lucknow : All-India Muslim Personal Law Board members may look for judicial intervention by courts against compulsory Surya Namaskar and lessons on Gita in government schools.
This was discussed during the opening session of the board’s annual general meeting in Jaipur on Saturday, where the members showed no reservation on board office bearers meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to put forward issues pertaining to Muslims which have been lying unattended for years.
In his opening address, AIMPLB president Maulana Rabe Hasan Nadvi outlined the importance of communal amity in the country, particularly in the present times. India has the second largest population of Muslims and it was incumbent on the government to ensure that the rights of the community were protected, he said.
AIMPLB general secretary Maulana Nizamuddin emphasised the need for forming committees at the local level to generate awareness among people about Islam and the road blocks ahead.
However a host of members demanded that the Board must approach the Supreme Court to seek a blanket directive against protection of freedom to practice Islam and right to education as per the Indian constitution.
“Demand for judicial intervention was sought after instances were sited that in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Surya Namashkar was being recited as the morning prayers and Gita was being taught as a compulsory part of the curriculum,” said senior Allahabad High Court Zafaryab Jilani, who is a member of the executive committee.
“There were strong voices against saffronization of education at government schools,” said Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli, who is also attending the meeting as a member of the executive committee. He raised the issue of Board setting up a committee to open and run schools and colleges all over India where curriculum of the state or central education boards are taught.
Though there was no formal discussion on if any of the board members should meet Modi, the general feeling among the members was that the Board should call meet the PM in case it is required. Last year in June, AIMPLB has decided not to meet Modi for the next six months.
Source : Times of India