The Hindu : National : Minority Education Institutions Bill passed

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Friday, Mar 03, 2006

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National

Minority Education Institutions Bill passed

Special Correspondent

Opposing the Bill, BJP says it is meant to woo `minority vote bank'

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed by voice vote a Bill to amend the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act, 2004 for giving more teeth to the Commission set up under the Act.

The Bhartiya Janata Party opposed the Bill saying it was against the secular character of the country, and piloted with an eye on the "minority vote bank." Seeking more clarity on the definition of minorities other than linguistic minorities, BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi urged the government to withdraw the Bill and come back to the House with comprehensive legislation.

The House rejected by voice vote a resolution moved by Dr. Joshi disapproving the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006 (No 1 of 2006) promulgated by the President on January 23 this year. The party felt the government had shown "unholy haste" in taking the ordinance route for promulgating the Amendment Bill.

In his reply, Minister of State for Human Resource Development M.A.A. Fatmi said five communities — Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis — were recognised as minorities in the country.

The government would issue a separate notification for recognising Hindus as minorities in States such as Nagaland and who would thus be eligible for setting up such institutions in that State, he said.

Responding to members' demand for provision of safeguards against clearance to "minority education shops" and such institutions that cater only to the affluent sections of the minority communities, the Minister moved an amendment for consultation with State Governments.

The decision of the affiliating organisations and universities would also be taken into consideration by the Commission before clearing applications, he said.

Mr. Fatmi assured the House that in case a State Government denied No-Objection Certificate to an applicant, the Commission would give an opportunity to the State before taking a decision.

At the same time he expressed the hope that minority institutions would resist from commercialisation.

BJP's charge

Speaking on the Bill, Balavant Apte (BJP) charged the government with bringing the legislation with an "ulterior motive to suit certain immediate needs and for the convenience of vote-bank politics."

Obaidullah Azmi (Cong) said all obstacles in the well-intentioned Bill should be removed while Shahid Siddiqui (Samajwadi Party) said the politics of vote on minority plank should be kept out.

Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), who had given a dissenting note in the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, expressed "serious apprehensions" that the real rights of the needy minorities would be negated.

He saw no reason for an amendment to be moved barely seven months after the Act was passed without giving adequate time for implementation.

He also asked the government to go into the source of funding of institutions that are sought to be set up under the Act.

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