Congress demands Maulana Abul Kalam Azad memorial at Jinnah House in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Mumbai Congress today demanded the government to set up a library and research centre in the memory of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad at Jinnah House here, the residence of founder of Pakistan M A Jinnah before he left for the neighbouring country.

"We request everyone to render their support to set up a memorial for Maulana Azad, India's first education minister, at Jinnah House so that the nation comes to know about his (Azad's) contribution in the field of education," Mumbai Congress unit's minority cell chairman Nizamuddin Rayeen told reporters here today.

He also said that the party would oppose any move to hand over the premises of Ismail Yusuf College in the city to the Wakf board and demanded that the property should be given to a trust working for the welfare of Muslim community.

"The BJP-Sena government is not interested in setting up an educational hub in the area (of the college) spanned over 54 acre in suburban Mumbai. Infact, its local leaders are guilty of encroaching the premises," Rayeen charged.

He said the proposed Law University can be set up on the Kalina campus of Mumbai university.

"The intention of the present government with respect to Muslims is clear after it opposed the educational quota for the community," he said.

However, he admitted that the efforts of his party's city unit to get the college property transferred to a trust working for Muslim welfare did not materialise during the tenure of the earlier Congress-NCP government.

"Only the government can tell what are the technical or legal hurdles in doing so. But we tried out best," he said.

Rayeen said the ownership and the entire functioning, including the day-to-day management, of the Ismail Yusuf College should be given to a Muslim community trust which is dedicated to education.

"We also oppose the proposal to give 20 per cent quota to Muslims in the college. Why should the community settle for 20 per cent when it is their property?" he asked.