MUSLIMS URGED TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

Former Chief Justice of India A.M. Ahmadi said Muslims have let down the constitution by not availing of rights enshrined therein. “We have let down the constitution, the constitution hasn’t let us down. We have not used our constitutional rights to our advantage. We have not seriously tried to avail our legal entitlements,” Justice Ahmadi said after releasing a book, A Guide To Uplift Minorities published by Human Welfare Trust at the Capital’s India Islamic Cultural Centre on August 2.

The book is a collection of welfare schemes by the central and state governments meant for Muslims and other minority communities, and elaborates how to avail of them. Justice Ahmadi said the Constitution had put in place a system providing equal opportunities for all, and one needed to make concerted efforts to use them for socio-economic and political advancement. He said lack of education among Muslims was a major concern and was acting as a deterrent in their path to all round advancement. “Religious education is a must, but secular education is equally a must. There can be no bigger social service than educating the community,” said Ahmadi, adding, “Educating our female lot is more important. An educated mother means an educated family. We must concentrate on educating our community, particularly women.”

Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islam Hind also underlined the need for the community’s educational and social emancipation through hard work. “Instead of depending upon others, the community must come forward and do the needful to educate people, and help the needy. Weaker sections need to be helped out,” he said.