New Delhi (India), March 2 : All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has condemned the Maharashtra government’s decision to temporarily halt exemptions for delayed birth and death registrations, stressing the challenges faced by children who are unable to secure school admissions due to this pause.
The state government suspended the service on January 21, following allegations by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya regarding the issuance of fake birth certificates to illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in certain districts. Owaisi took to social media platform X to highlight the hardship faced by families who, due to lack of legal awareness or resources, had not registered their children’s births and are now struggling to admit them into schools.
Owaisi’s post read: “The Government of Maharashtra has prohibited issuing birth and death certificates indefinitely since January 21, causing significant hardship to thousands of children born during or post-COVID. Many kids from poor families, especially in Malegaon, weren’t registered due to lack of legal knowledge, illiteracy, or financial constraints. Consequently, they can’t secure school admissions.”
In his appeal, Owaisi urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde to lift the ban and make exemptions for primary school admissions. He emphasized, “Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, please lift the ban or exempt birth certificate issuance for primary school admissions. The right to education, a fundamental right, shouldn’t be denied to poor children in Malegaon and elsewhere due to delayed administrative processes.”
Owaisi also criticized Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his recent remarks on the Urdu language, emphasizing that Urdu is not just the language of Muslims but an integral part of India’s freedom struggle. He pointed out that the language is protected by the Indian Constitution, just like other languages.
Addressing the gathering at the 67th revival anniversary of AIMIM, Owaisi expressed concern over the BJP’s attempts to impose a singular national identity, stating, “UP CM doesn’t even know that Urdu is a part of Uttar Pradesh’s culture. People of RSS and BJP don’t know that Urdu is protected by the Constitution, just like other languages. They don’t know that every Muslim doesn’t speak Urdu; this is not the language of Muslims. This has been the language of this country’s freedom. BJP wants to build this country as per one language, one religion, one ideology, and one leader.”