New Delhi: The national committee of the Muslim Students Federation (MSF), the student wing of the Indian Union Muslim League in Kerala, held a protest in the national capital against the Union government's decision to withdraw the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) as well as pre-matric scholarship up to class VIII.
On Wednesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Lok Sabha that MANF, provided for minority students, will be distributed to those students who won it by March 31 this year. These students will receive the same until the end of their scholarship period, she said.
Muslim League National Organizing Secretary E. T Mohammad Basheer MP said that the government would have to back down from the decision to cancel the scholarship. NK Premachandran MP said that the approach of running away from government responsibilities is not good and strong agitation programmes will be organized.
Earlier, the government had rolled back the fellowships for minority students pursuing higher education.