Hyderabad: Rich tributes were paid to freedom fighter and country’s first education minister Moualna Abul Kalaam Azad on his 128th birth anniversary on Friday.
The occasion was officially celebrated by Telangana Government as Minorities Welfare Day and Education Day at Nizam College Grounds. Speaking on the occasion, Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatraya asked minorities to focus on both education and personality development.
He said minorities were not benefitting from various welfare schemes due to lack of awareness. He praised the State Government for starting residential schools for minorities and promised to get special funds from the Centre for such schools.
Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali, Home Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy and other leaders listed out various schemes being implemented by the State Government for the welfare of minorities in the State.
They said that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao desires for educational and economic empowerment of minorities in the State.
MLCs Mohammed Saleem and Farooq Hussain, senior officials including A.K. Khan, Syed Omer Jaleel and Prof. S.A. Shukoor and other eminent personalities were also present.
Prestigious Moulana Azad National Award was conferred to veteran journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Rahnuma-e-Deccan Urdu Daily Syed Vicaruddin. The Award comprises of Rs. 1.25 Lakh cash and a citation.
Moulna Azad’s birth anniversary celebrations were also organised at Congress headquarters Gandhi Bhavan.
The meeting was addressed by Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir and was attended by senior leaders including TPCC General Secretaries SK Afzaluddin, Azmatullah Hussaini and Uzma, TPCC Minorities Department chairman Khaja Fakhruddin, GHCC Minorities Dept chairman Shaik Abdullah Sohail, TPCC Spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin and other leaders. The Congress leaders recalled the services of Moulana Azad for the country and community.
They said that Moulana Azad gave a good direction to Muslims both before and after independence.
Moulana Azad Award was presented to Nizamia Tibbi Hospital Superintendant Dr. Parveen Sultana. Prizes were also distributed among winners of various competitions. (INN)