There are 40 million Muslims in Uttar Pradesh while only 9 million Muslims in Kerala. The Kerala Muslims are wealthy as they have migrated in large numbers to Persian Gulf. Now they are building schools for Muslims in UP.
Kerala’s Muslim outfit to set up 100 schools in UP at cost of Rs 100 cr | The Indian Express
Kerala’s Muslim organisation to set up 100 schools in UP at cost of Rs 100 crore (IRs 1 billion)
Written by
Mohd Faisal Fareed , with input from
Shaju Philip | Lucknow | Published on:March 5, 2015 2:07 am
In a bid to make their presence felt among Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala-based organisation Sunni Yuvajana Sangam (SYS) has planned to open nearly 100 primary schools in the state. The drive, estimated to cost nearly Rs 100 crore, will be funded by donations received by SYS.
Though the outfit denies plans to directly enter UP politics, its office-bearers admitted that it is not averse to forming a pressure group. “If you unite and have good numbers, one can form a pressure group. There is no plan for direct political intervention, but we will decide at the time of elections,” said Dr A P Abdul Hakeem Azhari, member of the supreme council of SYS, which claims to have nearly 10 lakh active members.
The organisation plans to set up one or two schools in each city. “We will focus on primary and secondary education. Higher education can be taken care of later. We have done the homework at ground level and will soon start our programmes,” Dr Azhari said, adding that they have planned to involve local Muslims in setting up the schools.
“The community people should help themselves. We are open for helping other communities too. The plan will be executed in a few years. Ours is a charity organisation working on humanitarian grounds,” he added.
SYS had recently invited UP CM Akhilesh Yadav and Minority Welfare minister Azam Khan at an event in Kerela’s Mallapuram. Though Akhilesh could not go, Azam went there but reportedly did not receive a warm welcome. Azam also expressed his displeasure at the announcement that no political speeches will be made from the SYS platform. On being asked about the matter, Azhari refused to comment on Khan.
SYS has already started a technical institute for girls in UP’s Pilibhit district and a medical dispensary for poor in Shahjahanpur. The outfit came into news when it donated Rs 8 lakh each to two natives of UP’s Deoria and Maharajganj districts, respectively, who lost their lives during a mishap in an oil company in Saudi Arabia.
R P Hussain, national organiser of the SYS students’ wing, said: “So far, we have opened 200 primary schools in West Bengal, 20 in Jammu and Kashmir and five in Gujarat.
At the helm of SYS is conservative Muslim cleric Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliyar, who is also general secretary of All India Sunni Jameyyathul Ulema.