I n d i a n M u s l i m s L e a d i n g E n g l i s h N e w s p a p e r , p u b l i s h e d s i n c e J a n u a r y 2 0 0 0

MG THE
Fortnightly
284 Vol. 12 No. 22

MILLI GAZETTE
16-30 November 2011 32 pages
Terrorism/state terror 5,11 Hindutva terror 3 Media 6,12,14 Riots 1,4,5,6,12 AMU 3,8 Muslim reservation 9 Ramayanas 13 Persian Ramayana 2 BJP/Advani 9 AFSPA 2,11,15 Gujarat 10 J&K 2,7,14

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Analysis 12,14 Special Reports 3 Issues 2,12-13 Books 27 National 3-22 International 23-26 Speaking Out 14 Newsmakers 16 19-22 Community News Our Publications 28 Islamic Perspectives 9,29 Classifieds 30 Letters 31

UP Muslims may not vote for Congress

MOHAMMAD SHAHID
ucknow: During his east UP visit at a chaupal where Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi was highlighting the failures of the Mayawati Government, a villager asked: Why the Government is unable to check the price rise? Naturally, Mr. Gandhi felt uncomfortable and kept quiet. The message is clear, said another villager, he is out to highlight only the failures of the Mayawati Government. This sums up the mood of the voters in the state and also the fact that price rise, not corruption, will harm Rahuls Mission UP 2012 the most. Another factor which may prove to be the

undoing of the Congress and Rahul mission is the disenchantment of Muslims with the party they supported in the 2009 parliamentary elections. Significantly, the Congress has decided to make a strong pitch for Muslim attention, with a sub-plan in its campaign programme to hold rallies in minority-dominated districts like Azamgarh, Aligarh, Bareilly, Lucknow and Lakhimpur. Besides, the party has also decided to discuss Muslim demands regarding education, entrepreneurship, skill development and security in the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs which is seen as a move meant not only for UP polls but to set the tone for a decisive showdown in 2014.

Treat attack on minorities as terrorism: Judge

There are many forms of terrorism and attack on minorities is definitely one of them: Saldanha
Mangalore: Attacks on religious minority groups in India are nothing but acts of terrorism, says Michael Francis Saldanha, a former judge of the Karnataka High Court. There are many forms of terrorism and attack on minorities is definitely one of them, Saldanha asserted while interacting with journalists here on 8 Nov. Mangalore, a Christian stronghold in the state, had witnessed unprecedented attacks on Christians and their institutions three years ago. Saldanha, who had conducted an independent probe into those attacks, said such incidents should be treated as acts of terror and not as common crime. His report which was published nine months ago accused the states Bharatiya
MG/Yusuf

Janata Party government and police of being party to the attacks in Karnataka since 2008. The probe had revealed that the attacks were instigated and preplanned. Saldanha said several world leaders he met during his recent tour of the US and Europe had expressed dismay over the anti-minority attacks in Karnataka. Those meetings, he added, convinced him that the state should view such attacks more seriously. According to him the aftermath of the attacks was more horrendous than the attacks. He regretted that even three years after the Karnataka attacks, the government is targeting the victims while allowing the attackers to roam free with the government patronage.

The Congress, which raised its Lok Sabha tally from U.P. from ten to 22 in the 2009 elections, was mainly because of the support of Muslims who were then annoyed with Mulayam Singh Yadav for hobnobbing with Kalayan Singh whom the community held responsible for the demolition of the Babri masjid. But much water has flown down the Ganges since then. Mulayam has now distanced from Kalyan and apologized to the community. Muslims may or may not have forgiven the SP chief but the Congress is not too sure if the same story of 2009 will be repeated in an Assembly contest. With the main choice of the electorate broadly restricted to regional parties, the calculations in the Assembly poll are different and may not go in Congress favour. The Congress is aware of this fact and also that it has ignored Muslims demand for years which may harm its interest in the elections. Hence there is sudden interest in the communitys problems. However, Muslims this time are determined not to get swayed by hollow promises of the parties as reflected in the statement of All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Zafaryab Jilanis statement after a Reservation Movement rally here: This time only promises by parties wont do. If the Congress and BSP governments fail to take concrete steps, they will face the consequences in the elections. Apart from the Muslim factor, corruption, price rise and lack of committed cadre at grassroots level are the issues that may hamper the progress of Congress Juggernaut in the state. As far as corruption is concerned, no party is above the board and Congress cannot be singled out. With Anna movement getting mired in controversies, especially after its call to boycott Congress in Hissar poll, corruption is not as big issue as the price rise which has hit the common man badly. Whatever the Congress may say in its defence, the general

feeling among people is that the Manmohan government is more concerned about the profit to corporate houses than the plight of the common man. They say that our Prime Minister is ready to forego taxes worth lakhs of crores to benefit the corporate houses because he thinks that is necessary for the nations progress but when it comes to giving subsidy on kerosene, fertilizers and other consumer goods used by common man, he becomes handicapped because it hinders progress in his view. Then there is the lack of committed Congress workers at village level who could motivate the voters and ensure that votes of those sympathetic to the party are polled. Gone are the days when Congress leaders came from modest background who toured and worked in their constituencies extensively and struck a personal bond with the people who mattered. Thus they were able to know the pulse of the people. The times have changed. Now the leaders are foisted from above who are not aware of the ground realities of their constituencies. There are leaders and candidates who do not know the roads and streets of the villages which fall in their constituencies but have succeeded in getting party tickets either through the influence of their fathers or by pleasing the bosses in Delhi and Lucknow. Such leaders are parasites who survive on the party popularity without having an image or vote of their own. That is perhaps why, as a Congress leader says, the party this time is looking for candidates with mass base who can win the election on their own. These are the odds which Rahul Gandhi will have to overcome to make the Congress a force in UP. Although the party is trying to strike an alliance with RLD in western UP, the four-way opposition split with Congress and BJP as marginal force it will be an uphill task for the Nehru-Gandhi scion.

Schoolchildren are still in jail

oradabad: Nearly four months after they were detained by the police, three Muslim schoolchildren are still in the district Jail here, unable to get bail for an offence their distraught families claim they never committed. The children have been charged, among other things, with rioting and attempt to murder. But now, finally, hope seems in sight with the National Human Rights Commission sending notice on the matter to the Senior Superintendent of Police of Moradabad. The key question is whether children can be kept in jail when the law requires that they be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and sent to a remand home. The children, along with 35 adults, were picked up on 6 July 2011the day clashes broke out between the police and a section of Muslims over the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran by a raiding police party at Asalatnagar Bagah village, falling under the Mainather Police Station.

Inflation is a sign of prosperity

The families of the three children claim their wards had nothing to do with the violence and were on their way home from different schools (all English medium public schools) when they found themselves stranded because of the riots. The police say they have a video recording of the violence. However, the recording has not been shown to the families or to a fact-finding team, which later met the police. The plight of the jailed children was brought to the notice of the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights and the NHRC by Syed Akhlak Ahmad, secretary of the Delhi chapter of the Association for the Protection of Civil Rights. Mr. Ahmad, who led the fact-finding team to Moradabad, concluded that the children were wrongly detained. Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of children) Rules 2007, apprehended children have to be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board within MG NEWS DESK 24 hours.

See fact-finding report, p. 5

2 The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

ISSUES / OPINION

AFSPA row: need for a collective perspective

SYED ADFAR RASHID SHAH
adfer.syed@gmail.com The continuing debate and the hue and cry raised since last month over the revocation of AFSPA (in place since 1990) in Jammu & Kashmir appears to have no end. The general public has been pointlessly confused by the numerous versions and perceptions of discussion among the stakeholders be it armed forces, defence ministry, state government, main opposition party (PDP), Centre, civil society, etc. There are different perspectives even among the coalition partners, i. e., state Congress and the National Conference. There seems an indirect tussle between people, civil society, media, government and the armed forces. The pity is there is a galaxy of opinions pouring from every stakeholder and the worst is there seems a little probability of a middle ground on the issue of AFSPA revocation. After having watched the recent debate on NDTV (8.00-9.00 p. m, 30 October, 2011) on AFSPA revocation and hearing army generals, Congress politicians, NC representative, human rights activists, lawyers, students, etc, one gets an impression that everyone is trying to grind his own axe and wants his perception to prevail but the middle path is still missing and not urged by anyone. To the worst, media has created more of a mix-up by sensational headlines like Omar vs. Army, Congress against revocation, Chidambaram backs Omar, AFSPA put on hold, etc, sensationalising and creating panic. As a result of this sensationalism, so many stereotypes have been created, like army branded as saying AFSPA a holy book, Congress is backing the status quo or NC is committed for its revocation, AFSPA serves as a tool of impunity to forces, etc - all this is a biased rhetoric. AFSPA is not a holy book nor the instrument of impunity for armed forces as there has been a clean investigation by army barring a few cases and the culprits like Major Rehman and others have been court-martialed and thrown out, so impunity is merely a blame, holy book has not been uttered by any one so far, it is just a media creation. The fact is NCs half votebank rests on their hollow autonomy slogan but they have never strived for it seriously. Dr Mustafa Kamals verbal diarrhoea or publicity stunt is out of NCs fury over state Congresss demand for rotational CMship and also the newly emerged discourse out of Omars once saying in the state assembly that Jammu and Kashmir has only acceded but not merged with the Indian Union. Kamals recent absurd statement that army hurls grenades and Geelani hurls stones speaks of his myopic vision and political immaturity. He is totally ignorant of Geelani Sahibs charisma and armys vision, discipline and professionalism. The question is why defence ministry and BJP are against its revocation and why K-Panel, NC, PDP, separatist camp and general public want the act to be removed, partially revoked or at least amended. After hearing the army one gets an impression that forces apprehend that once the act is revoked, the vulnerable border districts may turn safe heavens for insurgents. But that is a security maintenance issue and forces especially BSF have to look into that. Even without the act, forces can conduct operations and the praiseworthy thing is that under Lt Gen Hasnains command and leadership the army has already achieved zero collateral damage status even in the presence of the very act, so the revocation must not be a severe issue to Army at least. Also I wonder when civil society talks of the acts revocation for common masses why do they demonize the armed forces like anything, accusing them of massacres and brute violations, forgetting that military is an important institution in law and order maintenance in conflict zones. We must realize that the issues in conflict zones are mostly political, like Kashmir issue is, and redressal should be purely political and not merely anti-military measures. I feel there is a need for a holistic view on AFSPA, where it is a shield to jawans (forces) in the operations in the conflict zones, who are equally citizens of the land as we are. Simultaneously, the apprehension is that it unduly overpowers the armed forces leading to some human rights violations. Revocation has to be defined and revisited in a functional manner keeping both the Awam and Jawan (people and soldier) in perspective as both are important and should feel secure in a conflict-hit situation. The other aspect is when there is so much of goodwill prevailing and armed forces, especially army, have started so many public friendly programmes, I dont think that army needs the act for any brute hostilities as already they are bridging the gap between Awam and Jawan and have succeeded considerably. At such a critical juncture, the partial revocation or amendment can act as a step forward in the peace building process in the valley. The common mans view is too diverse on this issue; one section says that the revocation issue is a mere drama enacted by NC and Congress for votebank politics. Another section of people argues that if the Centre revokes it will give the impression of normalcy to outside world and will defeat the actual goal of accomplishing complete freedom, which most of the Kashmiris aspire for. Another aspect is that revocation will mean more accountability even to local police which has been involved in so many HR violations especially in the last years 117 killings. One more aspect is that AFSPA revocation will lower violence graph and hence give more space to fruitful dialogue on the Kashmir dispute which can force its main stakeholders to come to some serious decision. Another section feels that it can liberate people from mental chaos and return the lost feel of secure psyche in this troubled land. Yet another chunk of common people argue about its relevance in contemporary times, arguing that when the government itself claims that hardly few militants are operating in the valley and insurgency is zero, Army, Government, Centre everybody in effect is trying his best to deliver good and build peace, AFSPA is like a phobia, a disappointment, an impediment to feel goodwill and peace in the state. Politics apart, rhetoric apart, branding apart, there has to be a middle ground and basic consensus to tackle this contentious issue.

Emperor Akbars Persian Ramayana and Khan-e-Khanans copy

JALAL UDDIN
Emperor Akbar, being a great lover of Indian literature and culture, has the credit of having translations done of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata into Persian to make them popular amongst Persian-knowing people, especially Muslims. By his liberal patronage, he promoted national integration and brought unification of the country winning the hearts of the Hindu masses. His personal copy of the Ramayana, having been translated and illustrated after a labour of almost five years, was completed in 996 AH (1587 AD) is not available to us today, probably being a precious part of some Rajput treasure. In the absence of the royal copy, the second contemporary copy, prepared for AbdurRahim Khan-i-Khanan, by permission of Akbar, is preserved at Freer Art Gallery, Washington. Its complete microfilm copy was acquired through the dedicated efforts of my friend Pandit US Dubey of the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad, about 15 years ago. Since this work is voluminous and requires much pain to make an elaborate study, it could not be taken up due to certain factors. The salient features can be described as follows: 1. This was the first occasion when the Valmikis Ramayana had been translated into Persian and illustrated with fine miniatures by painters of repute. Ramayana in Sanskrit was never illustrated. 2. By translating the story into Persian, it was an act of popularising Hindu culture amongst the Persian knowing people, speIndian Muslims Leading English Newspaper

cially Muslims. 3. Sanskrit was the language of scholars and so it was beyond the reach of the masses. Tulsi Das was engaged in the same period in composing his Ram Charita Manas in Awadhi to preach the story to the masses. 4. This work carries a full page note on the flyleaf in the hand of Abdur-Rahim Khan-iKhanan, testifying that this manuscript was his personal copy and it was prepared with the permission of Emperor Akbar by describing the exact duration of its preparation etc. Perhaps, this is the longest writing of Khan-i-Khanan known to us. 5. The most striking feature of this note is that the translator of this work has been described as Naqeeb Khan, whereas it is known that Persian rendering was done by Abdul Qadir Badayuni who himself says that he is the translator in his chronicle Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh mentioning that he was rewarded by the Emperor Akbar for this translation. This point has to be solved by scholars in view of the new revelation. The flyleaf bearing Khan-i-Khanans writing may be translated as follows: This book called Ramayana is regarded as one of the authentic books of India, containing the story of Ramchandr who is esteemed as one of the great kings of India. His gracious judgements and popularity was the manifestation of divine virtues. At the request of Valmiki, the great Rishi of India, Narad, the son of Mahadeo (sic) Brahma, related the story of Ramchandr in

detail, describing his noble qualities and high morals, great victories and all his actions which are in itself proofs of his greatness, have been wholly recorded by Valmiki. By the order of Emperor Akbar, Naqeeb Khan, who belonged to a high family of Sayyids, and having the honour of being a high ranking companion of the Emperor was assigned the task of translation into Persian from Sanskrit language which is the storehouse of Indian knowledge. Debi Misr, a Brahmin, had been deputed to describe the meanings of Ashlokas from Sanskrit and Naqeeb Khan had been rendering them into Persian. At places pointed out by the Emperor it was illustrated with fine paintings. After late Muhammad Bairam requested the Emperor, after having observed the keen attention of the Emperor towards this book, for granting me permission to get commissioned a personal copy after this royal copy. By the benign favour of the Emperor, the permission was granted. Thereupon, the calligraphers and painters have completed this work for this humble welfareseeker of humanity, and thus, this copy is present before friends. This work was completed in 1007 AH (1598 AD). The scribing and painting was undertaken during 996 AH (1587 AD). It has 165 illustrations, containing 349 folios. The person in charge of this project was my esteemed friend late Maulana Shakebi Imami.

n the top of this note, there are two seals of the librarian of emperor Shah Jahan, who studied the manuscript in 9th regnal year (1635 AD). Both the seals read as Abdur-Rashid Delami Banda-i (servant of) Shah Jahan and close to the seal the autograph note of the librarian mentions having been perused by the Emperor on 26th Asfandar (name of Turki month) 9th regnal year. As for the language of text, calligraphy and paintings are concerned, all are superb. The language of the text is abridged and is very fluent Persian prose unlike the styles of Faizi and Abul Fazl which are deemed as difficult. Throughout, the text is calligraphed by the hands of master calligraphers. The paintings have the maturity of Mughal atelier combining Indian, Iranian and Mongolian features as often evident in the paintings of that period. All the paintings are perfect in depicting the significant events of the story since the subject of the painting was selected by Akbar himself, showing his profound interest in this work. In view of its significance a further study is proposed to be undertaken. It would not be out of place to mention here that Akbar also issued gold coins having portraits of Rama and Sita going to the forest. These coins presently are in the State Museum, Lucknow; Bharat Kala Bhawan, Varanasi; the British Museum and Russia.

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The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011 3

NATIONAL
AMU Kishanganj Centre

Sibal denies allegations of P K Shahi

MOHAMMAD MUDASSIR ALAM,
amukishanganj@gmail.comNew Delhi: Allegations of Bihar HRD Minister P K Shahi against the Central Government and asking for Allahabad High Court decision on writ petition against AMU are baseless, said Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal on 8 November. He was speaking to a team of AMU Centre Co-ordination Committee along with Kishanganj MLA Dr. Mohammad Jawaid who met Sibal at his residence in New Delhi. The meeting was intended to clarify the latest controversial statements given by Shahi after his meeting with Sibal on 3 November regarding the proposed Aligarh Mulsim University centre at Kishanganj. During the meeting Sibal totally denied the allegations made by Shahi regarding the intention of the UPA Government for the proposed AMU Centre in Bihar. The Union Minister said the writ petition against AMU Study centres had already been dismissed by Allahabad High Court long ago. So, there is no truth in the statement of a pending writ petition in Allahabad High Court about the proposed centre in Kishanganj. Sibal also clarified the authority and power of AMU Vice Chancellor regarding opening the special centres across the country. He said the AMU is an autonomous university, and the Vice Chancellor has the full authority to take decision on any subject related to the university, and the HRD Ministry has no right to unnecessarily interfere in the Centre-related issue. In fact, the land transfer issue is related to AMU VC and Bihar Government, the Centre does not play any role in this matter apart from releasing funds once the land is officially acquired by the AMU administration, said the Minister.

Hindu extremists used Muslims to plant bombs

Mumbai/Malegaon: The National Investigation money offered to carry out the blast, while the Agency (NIA) has found in its probe that Hindu reason for his accomplice to join the conspiracy extremists linked to RSS used two local Muslim is still not clear, The Indian Express Senior men for planting bombs on 8 September 2006, a Correspondent claimed quoting sources. Some media report claimed. of these details are included in the progress The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is report which the NIA is due to submit in the said to have found that Hindu extremists linked to Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime the RSS, who are suspected in the 2006 Act (MCOCA) Court November 04, she claimed. Malegaon blast, used two Muslim men to plant The MCOCA Court had on October 31 set bombs in and around a mosque in the textile November 19 as the date for hearing on the bail town, The Indian applications filed sepAbrar Ahmad said to have planted Express claimed in its arately by the eight Malegaon bomb for money report published 4 accused and Abrar November. Ahmed. While eight A series of blasts accused had filed struck Malegaon on 8 their bail application September 2006 on 1 October 2011, ahead of Shab-eAbrar Ahmed filed his Barat, a Muslim festibail plea a few days val when thousands of later. people were busy Local Muslims in offering Friday prayers Malegaon including at the Hamidia Masjid. Another blast occurred at the victims since the day one had maintained nearby Mushawerat Chowk a few minutes later. that the arrested Muslim men were innocent. 37 people were killed and more than 300 were They, in fact, carried one of the longest caminjured in these blasts, most of them being chil- paigns in the history of the town demanding dren. arrest of the actual perpetrators and release of Quoting its sources, the leading Indian the innocents. English daily while named one of the planters as The 2006 Malegaon blast case was earlier Abrar Ahmed, who later turned approver in the investigated by the Maharashtra ATS which had case, it did not name his accomplice who is chargesheeted the nine Muslim youth for believed to be dead. allegedly conspiring the attacks. The case was The report filed by Sukanya Shetty was pub- later handed over to the CBI and later to the NIA. lished on the day when the National Investigation Earlier, the case took a surprising turn when Agency (NIA) was due to submit its progress Swami Aseemanand, allegedly involved in Ajmer, report in The Special Maharashtra Control of Mecca Masjid and Samjhuata Express blasts, Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Court, Mumbai. confessed that Hindu extremists were behind the Abrar was allegedly purely motivated by the 2006 Malegaon blast. (ummid.com)
brought to her notice the fact that in 1979 Qaumi School at Sarai Khaleel was demolished and ever since that time this school is being run in tents near Eidgah. He demanded that encumbrance-free permanent land should be allotted for this school. At the same time doubts entertained and difficulties faced by Muslim regarding slaughter house should be removed. After hearing the difficulties of Muslims as told by Tariq Anwar, chief minister Shiela Dikshit directed Safdar Husain Khan, chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission, Waqf Boards C.E.O. and other concerned officers who were also present there, to seriously consider these problems and take immediate steps for not only removing these difficulties but also for implementing other plans and schemes in right earnest. She also assured the delegation that now she herself will monitor the progress in removal of these difficulties and also in implementing other plans and schemes under the prime ministers programmes. She said that the problem of advertisements for Urdu newspapers has been solved to a considerable extent. She expressed the hope that Waqf Board will be constituted in about a week or ten days. As regards illegal occupation of Waqf lands and properties, she said that more of these are occupied by Muslims and less by government bodies. At this, Tariq Anwar said that encroachment is in any case encroachment whoever does it and these should be got removed at the earliest. She said that she will take necessary steps in this direction and will constitute a committee to identify waqf properties. Admitting the shortage of Urdu translators she said that their appointment will be made soon. She also directed Waqf Boards CEO that salaries and scholarships of imams and widows which are held up should be released and paid immediately. She told Tariq Anwar that the government has already approved the setting up of two senior secondary schools at Mustafabad and Jafarabad. As regards the appointment of Urdu teachers she said that talks have been held with minister for education. Safdar Husain Khan will meet him and urge him to take urgent action in this matter. About the difficulties being faced in getting loans she said that a separate way for this will definitely be devised. Alongwith the guarantee by an M.P., there is no objection in accepting the guarantee by any person with a property. She said that there is also no harm in making Madrasa Board an empowered institution. Government is considering this. She said that the government will certainly try to follow the pattern of Andhra Pradesh and some other states in giving reservations to socially, economically and educationally backward Muslims. As an immediate step, Haj Committee has been constituted but steps are being taken for the appointment of its chairman on a permanent basis. Efforts are being made to see that Hajis do not face any difficulties. (NA Ansari)

The proposed AMU Centre in Kishanganj has remained in news since its announcement and now it has become a part of controversy and political blame game. The recent was the allegation of Bihar HRD Minister P K Shahi against the Central Government and published in the Patna edition of Times of India on 4 November with the headline AMU centre decision after HC order. Shahi claimed that Sibal told him the Centre would take a decision on the proposed AMU centre at Kishanganj in Bihar after the Allahabad High Court disposes of a writ petition against the opening of AMU centres outside Aligarh. According to Shahi, a writ petition is pending in the Allahabad High Court and action will be taken by the Centre as soon as the writ petition is decided. Kapil Sibal is eager to open the branch of AMU in Kishanganj. He assured the team to call a Press Conference on the issue to clarify his stand as soon as he gets time. Like many in Bihar, the AMU Centre Coordination Committee, which is keenly following the issue for the past two years, was not convinced with the statement of Shahi last week.

Problems of Delhi Muslims

New Delhi: A delegation of Muslims led by Tariq Anwar, M.P. and general secretary of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) met Delhis chief minister Shiela Dikshit in her office on 19 October for finding solutions to problems and difficulties being faced by Muslims of Delhi at the earliest. He told the chief minister that non-appointment of Urdu teachers in Urdu medium schools of Delhi is extremely regrettable. According to newspaper reports Urdu teachers in Urdu medium schools have not been appointed since 1995. Government also admits that there is a shortage of Urdu teachers. Education Directorate, by putting the responsibility of appointment of teachers on Urdu Academy is depriving Urdu teachers of their rights. Urdu newspapers complain that all government advertisements are given to Hindi and English newspapers but not to Urdu newspapers. Waqf Board has not been constituted so far and there is no permanent chairman of Haj Committee and the present chairman is working only as an interim chairman and the state Haj Committee also has not been constituted so far. As regards Waqf properties, these are either illegally occupied by the government or by people because of which the condition of Waqf is very bad so much so that it has not even a decent office. Books are not made available to students of Urdu medium schools in time with the result that their educational future is always at stake. In most government offices there are no Urdu translators nor are there standard and good schools in Muslim majority areas. He demanded that the chief minister grant reservation to Muslims in the ratio or proportion to their population and for this, in order to avoid any kind of controversy or dispute, the formula adopted by states like Andhra Pradesh should be adopted. Since Muslims are experiencing difficulties in getting bank loans, the condition of government guarantors should be removed. A minority development board should be set up to implement prime ministers 15-point programme. He also

CONVENTION AGAINST COMMUNAL CONFLICT

The All India Democratic Womens Association is holding a convention against communal conflict. All are united to attend Date/time: Wednesday, 16th Nov., 2011 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm Place: Dy. Speaker's Hall, Constitution Club, Rafi Marg, Delhi Recent months have seen a resurgence of communal conflict and violence in several states. In each incident, members of the minority community have had to bear the brunt of the violence and destruction. In each case, the police and administration have acted in a partisan manner. Family members of those killed and maimed in these incidents will be present at the Convention to tell us about their experiences. Smt. Shweta Bhatt, wife of Shri Sanjeev Bhatt, IPS, will be attending this Convention. For more information, contact: subhashiniali@gmail.com

Quote, Unquote
Mistakes are made quite easily in matters of emergent nature and internal security situations. If ultimate secular commitment was missing the saffron terror trail would not have been uncovered causing severe attacks of appeasement against the UPA government. SALMAN KHURSHID, Minorities and Law Minister, on voiceofaligs yahoogroup

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4 The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

NATIONAL
EC disqualifies MLA over paid news
The Election Commission has disqualified sitting BSP MLA from Bisauli over paid news. Umlesh, wife of DP Yadav was found guilty of filling an incorrect statement of election expenditure incurred on news item published in two Hindi newspapers. The three member Commission headed by CEC SY Quraishi acted on a complaint filed by Yogendra Kumar defeated by Umlesh. Yogendra had complaint that two Hindi dailies had published paid news items in favour of Umlesh a day before voting took place. In its ruling the Election Commission has said that the format of the impugned material was such that it would appear as a news report to a layman. The word ADVT, printed at the lowest end, rather appeared to accompany a small boxed appeal by the candidate. There was beyond doubt a possibility of confusing the voters when the elections were just a day away. The EC order has also mentioned that Umlesh had paid Rs 48,000 to the local dailies Amar Ujala and Dainik Jagran for publishing the news item on 17 April, 2007. No women commission in states Crime against women is on the rise but the organisation believed to be capable of raising its voice like National Commission for Women does not have representative in many states. The Commission in view of vacant posts in many states has written a circular to these state governments. President of National Commission for Women, Mamta Sharma has also met UPA chairperson in this regard. But so far nothing has been done that can expedite the process to fill the vacant posts in various states. In some states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh the post of president is still lying vacant. In three years, 302 jawan suicides Defence Minister A K Antony while replying to a question in parliament has said that in the last three years 302 soldiers have committed suicide. It is not that, only the army is facing this kind of problem, even the CRPF has lost its men in such incidents. In 2007 at least 46 CRPF personnel committed suicide and upto August last year over 70 Indian Army Jawans have committed suicide. From 2005 onwards 780 soldiers ended their lives and the figure was 142 in 2007. It was 150 in the year 2008. Bishops issue Karnataka demands Karnataka Chief Minister says he will take steps to have charges brought against 150 Christian youths following antiChristian violence in 2008 dropped. D V Sadananda Gowda made the pledge to 13 of the states Catholic bishops who demanded the immediate withdrawal of the charges at a meeting with them on 28 October. The bishops, led by Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore, submitted a letter alleging that the state had given protection and support to the real culprits, while victimizing helpless and innocent Christians. The bishops also demanded a probe by Indias top investigating agency into the attacks to find the truth, to punish the culprits and to instill confidence in the Christian community. The southern Indian state witnessed 24 attacks on Church institutions and Christians in September 2008. Since then, around 300 cases of anti-Christian violence have been recorded. The bishops letter noted that in 2008, churches were systematically and simultaneously subjected to well- planned vandalism and attacks. They also urged the government to reject a report by a government appointed commission that exonerated Hindu extremists and police after the violence. The Justice B. K. Somasekhara commission in its 1,000-page report said no true Hindu had a role in the attacks.

Communal Violence Bill should be passed in this session of the Parliament: Maulana Jalaluddin Umri
New Delhi: Speaking at a press conference on 5 November, Syed Jalaluddin Umri, Ameer Jamate Islami Hind demanded that the Central Waqf Act be amended as proposed by Muslims in the current session of the Parliament. Umri also demanded that the government should implement recommendations of Misra Commission report and declare reservation for Muslims as a whole. He demanded that the government should pass the Communal Violence (Prevention) Bill as proposed by the National Advisory Council along with the Food Security Bill. He said that Jamate Islami supports the Lokpal Bill which should also be enacted during the current session of Parliament. He reiterated that the Jamate Islami Hind will try to consult and convince all the political parties including the BJP on these demands. In reply to a question regarding the norms and modalities of reservation for Muslims, he said that the reservation should be across the board and the community should not be categorized into upper and lower castes as there are poor among upper castes also. He further said that there might be economic divisions as the government decides after a proper survey of the communitys economic condition but there should not be any sectarian division in the society as is being proposed by Minority Minister Mr Salman Khursheed which will create rift between Dalits and Muslims. Replying to another question, Umri said that they are very

much concerned about the forthcoming elections in UP. They will certainly issue election guidelines when a clear picture emerges. JIH Secretary Engineer Mohammad Salim apprised mediapersons about the representation they made to Chairman of the Minority Commission Wajahat

Habibullah before he consulted Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, and that the Chairman would inform the chief minister about the law and order situation in the state in general and the insecurity being felt by the minority community in particular.

NADIM AHMAD

The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

NATIONAL

What really happened at Mainethar

The following is the report of a fact-finding mission led by SUBHASHINI ALI, Member CC, CPIM to Mainether (Moradabad) which witnessed police brutality last July

n recent weeks, reports have been circulating on the Internet about the post-6 July situation in rural areas adjacent to Moradabad city in which serious violations of the rule of law and human rights have taken place. A CPI(M) delegation led by Subhashini Ali, visited the affected villages on 2 November and spoke to dozens of affected people. The background to the events of 6 July is an incident of the kind that occurs in hundreds of villages and urban areas every day: two Muslim families which are neighbours in Bagha village have been engaged in a long-standing dispute over various petty matters. In the first week of July, Yusuf, son of Kamrul, is alleged to have misbehaved with his neighbour, Muslims mother and Muslim is alleged to have misbehaved with Yusufs sister. While Kamrul complained to the police against Muslim, Muslims family was convinced by the village pradhan not to go to the police and that the matter would be sorted out amicably within the village. The result was that the police came looking for Muslim early in the morning of the 6 July. Before they entered his house, all the male members ran away and only his young sister, Noorjahan (about 14 years old) was there. They ransacked the house and abused her (there is photographic evidence of this) and, apparently threw a copy of the Koran on the floor. After they left, the terrorized young girl ran into the village and told everyone about what had happened. The news of desecration of the Koran spread like wildfire through nearby villages which are heavily populated by Muslims and by 9 a. m. thousands of people had started collecting on the main road and a massive road blockade started. The local police took the help of Muslim leaders of the area including Haji Atiq and Kamil (pradhan of Dingarpur) and the road-block at Bagha village was soon cleared. By the time they returned to the thana at Mainethar they found that not only had a large crowd collected there but that a jeep had been set on fire. Again, with the help of local people, the crowd was dispersed. Meanwhile, the District Magistrate, Raj Shekhar and DIG Police, Ashok Kumar (large districts in UP have seen SSPs replaced by DIGs) had left Moradabad for the area and they had to stop at Dingarpur where a mob had collected. All these large villages are located off the main road and have taken on the attributes of small Kasbas with large markets. As a result, there are always large crowds around the main road as people from a large catchment area come for their daily needs, for work and also to go to school and college. At Dingarpur too the crowd was large and angry. The DIG, thinking that his personal intervention would restore peace, got out of his vehicle and went to talk to the people. At this point, quite inexplicably, the DM along with his large armed escort, turned around and left the area, leaving the DIG quite alone in the middle of an angry mob. Apparently, the DIG did fire from his service revolver but the situation was out of control and he was badly beaten by members of the crowd. Soon PAC and police re-enforcements arrived and he could be removed to the hospital. After this, it was the police that went berserk. They entered homes in Dingarpur village and beat men and women mercilessly and ransacked their homes. People were beaten and sent to jail with serious injuries. At least four minors suffered bullet injuries (one of them has since succumbed to them) and among the 38 persons still in jail there are at least three minors. The first person we met was Haji Atiq, a prominent Congress worker of Moradabad, who belongs to Bagha village. His family runs two large schools in the area and enjoy considerable prestige. He told us that on the 6th morning, the Mainethar Kotwal requested him to come to Bagha to help pacify the huge crowds that had collected. Haji Atiq readily agreed. He

Victim Raihans mother Nasreen

Our most heartbreaking encounter was with Nasreen. Her 14-year-old son, Rehan, succumbed to his bullet injuries on the 19th of October. Someone brought his bleeding body and left it on the street outside Kamils house on the 6th evening. His father, Ahsan, rushed him to the Meerut Govt. Hospital where he was treated for sometime. Then he shifted him to Safdarjung Hospital but, when, he did not seem to be recovering, he brought him home about two months back. And on the 19th of October, his frail and battered body gave up the fight. Nasreen said that they are very poor people. So poor that they could not afford to educate their only son, Rehan. His elder brother had died some years ago. On the 6th of July, he had gone to the market to buy soap when the bullet hit him. Her husband has lost whatever little he had in trying to save his childs life. He had a meager two bighas of land that he has sold. He is heavily in debt. He has no time to grieve but has to look for work, everyday.
says ruefully that his going there and requesting people to go back to their homes and then his having accompanied the police to Mainethar actually turned many people against him. He, however, feels that he was doing his duty and has no regrets. What he does regret is the fact that he, his two brothers and brother-in-law (the former Pradhan of Manethar) have all been named in the FIR as persons who attacked the police and public property. He is convinced that this has been done at the behest of the BSP Minister, Akbar Husain, who is the MLA from the area and is his political rival. Haji Atiq told us that the entire administration knows and appreciates the role that he played but has been unable to help him. He also told us that his party leaders also have been of no help - Azharuddin the local MP and Rajya Sabha MP from Moradabad, Rashid Alvi, both belong to the Congress. He was also unhappy that no Congress leader - not even Digvijay Singh, he said - had bothered to visit Moradabad since July. We then went to Mainethar village where a large number of people were waiting for us. There is a CPI(M) branch here and the secretary is Comrade Zulfikar. The interesting point made by those present is that nothing happened in or around the village on the 6th. The thana, however, bears the village name and is at a distance from the village. When the Kotwal returned to the thana from Bagha it was surrounded by a mob and a police vehicle had been set on fire. Not a single person from the village, however, was arrested from the scene. Many days later, more than 50 of them were named in two consecutive FIRs. There are many interesting aspects to these names. The first is that all of them are active supporters of the current Pradhan, Om Prakash. He was also present in the meeting and testified to this. He said that he had been meeting the police and the administration regularly in the last 6 months and his interventions have been successful in ensuring that no arrests have been made and the police has not raided any homes in the village. Many of those named in the FIRs had signed affidavits as to their whereabouts on 6 July. Just to give a few examples: Haji Bhure was in Saudi Arabia performing Umra; his brother, Rizwan, is severely handicapped with only one leg; Sabir was away in Ghaziabad painting the house of the former Station Officer (police) who is now posted there. According to the villagers, the entire list of accused was given to the police by a group of people who were supporting another candidate in the Panchayat elections. Our last stop was Dingarpur, a village still shrouded in sorrow and seething with suppressed anger. The Pradhan, Kamils house, is one of the first as one turns into the village from the main road, so we went there and several people who wanted to speak to us, came there. Kamils wife, Saimeen, is a brave and outspoken woman. She told us that her husband had been asked by the Manethar Kotwal to come to Bagha to help him pacify the crowd there. He went immediately and returned to Dingarpur in the Kotwals jeep. By the time they reached, the badly injured DIG had already been removed. Kamil talked to the people in the crowd many of whom were not from the village. When he felt he could do no more he went home. He had barely sat down to eat when more than 40 PAC constables entered his house and started beating him mercilessly. They also beat Saimeen who still has bad bruises on her legs. They did a lot of damage to the household - breaking beds, cupboards, dishes and setting fire to a motorcycle. Then they dragged Kamil away and sent him to jail in a very battered condition. He still has not been given bail along with the 37 others arrested. Saimeen told us that other people from the village who took shelter were also badly beaten and many were arrested.

Saimeens neighbour, Salma also met us. Her 15-year-old son, Tauseef, who is in the XIth, got caught up in the turmoil. He along with two other minor boys from Asadpur and Bhikapur, both of whom are students, have all been sent to jail after having been badly beaten. When their lawyer made an application regarding their minor status, their school certificates were not accepted as proof of age in contravention of the law. Neither were they taken for medical checkups. Instead a Civil Magistrate was sent to the jail to decide on their age and he certified them as being adults. As a result, these young boys have not been tried by a Juvenile Court and are being held with hardened criminals instead of at the Juvenile Home. Saimeen and Salma told us that three young boysall minorsalso received bullet wounds on the 6th. None of them was given any medical attention by the administration and their families have been pauperized by their treatment. We could confirm the names of two, Ghulam Rabbani (15) and Mohammad Kamran Ali who have still not recovered from their injuries. Our most heartbreaking encounter was with Nasreen. Her 14-year-old son, Rehan, succumbed to his bullet injuries on the 19th of October. Someone brought his bleeding body and left it on the street outside Kamils house on the 6th evening. His father, Ahsan, rushed him to the Meerut Govt. Hospital where he was treated for sometime. Then he shifted him to Safdarjung Hospital but, when, he did not seem to be recovering, he brought him home about two months back. And on the 19th of October, his frail and battered body gave up the fight. Nasreen said that they are very poor people. So poor that they could not afford to educate their only son, Rehan. His elder brother had died some years ago. On the 6th of July, he had gone to the market to buy soap when the bullet hit him. Her husband has lost whatever little he had in trying to save his childs life. He had a meagre two bighas of land that he has sold. He is heavily in debt. He has no time to grieve but has to look for work, everyday. Not a single FIR has been filed by any of the injured and beaten. Only Saimeen had the courage to give her statement to the police and civil administration, including the District Magistrate, but it has not been converted into an FIR as should have been done in view of the fact that she has a medical certificate proving her injuries from the beatings she was given by the PAC constables. All the other families, including Rehans parents, are too terrified to file reports against the police. Only those who know the history of the district since the horrific Idgah riot of 1980 can appreciate the extent of terror that the PAC uniform inspires in Muslim homes, especially among the women. It was completely incomprehensible to us, however, that the administration also had done nothing for those suffering from bullet injuries. Rehans long hospitalization and treatment at home was known to them but they did nothing. They were informed about his death but did not conduct a post-mortem. In fact, the family was encouraged to proceed in haste with the burial. We could not, unfortunately, meet with the District Administration for an interesting reason. When they came to know about my planned visit, they informed the District Party that we would not be given permission to enter any of the villages because this could create a law and order problem. In view of this it was just not possible to make any appointments with senior members of the administration. We did, however, hold a well-attended Press Conference after we had finished our investigations. The local Hindi and Urdu papers gave very good coverage to our statement. In the days after 6th July, the media had been completely hostile to the villagers so it was only on the 3rd November that people in the area were made aware of what had happened that day. The CPI(M) has decided to make efforts to see that FIRs are registered and that the death of Rehan is investigated. The Party has also decided to make regular visits to the area so that further harassment of the villagers can be stopped.

6 The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

NATIONAL
Bahraich, Gorakhpur and Pratapgarh on the boil

Communal violence on the rise in U.P.

HAIDER ABBAS
Lucknow: The communal cauldron seem to be getting worse in an around the city of Bahraich which has been the seat of Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Waqar Ahmed Shah for the past 18 years, and there seems to be no end in the increase of incidents of communal violence between Muslims and Hindus of the area. Bahraich lies on the eastern side of UP and is a Muslim-dominated constituency. As if the riot of 25 August this year, which had resulted in one casualty, was not enough, perhaps the planning is to turn the whole area into a hotbed of communal disturbances. A staple diet for the rumour-mongers, the proverbial architects of a riot, is to spread a rumour about cow-slaughter. The mere reference is bound to spread like a wild fire, coupled with a procession of idol-immersion, and thus making the communal jigsaw required to start a riot. When all potential ingredients are in place, a riot is fait accompli. The result: burning of Muslim houses, ransacking of Muslim properties, looting of Muslim inhabitations at times with tacit, or even explicit, support of the local police. The last two months have, however, witnessed such a situation in Bahraich. This is despite the fact that the whole police brass has seen a change. Even the District Magistrate had been changed in the wake of 25 August riot. So far about half a dozen incidents of communal conflagration have been reported from Bahraich region during the last two months. More than four dozen Muslim-owned shops, houses and inhabitations have been burnt during these incidents. The latest victim was Mihipurwa bazaar. On 7 October, a procession for Durga idols-immersion was on its way. The last idol was kept on an open road, and the Hindu processionists stalled the traffic, and within no time, about two dozen Muslim shops were gutted and Muslim houses were burnt and looted. The processionists on the occasion of Durga idol immersion spread a rumour that their procession has been attacked by Muslims when nothing had happened, and thus got a license to loot and burn for the next eight hours with not a single policeman on the site, says Syed Shadab Husain, a journalist based in Bahraich. Mihipurwa lies around 18 kms to the west of Nanpara constituency represented by BSP MLA Waris Ali. It lies inside the parliamentary constituency of Bahraich. police also did swing into action as the newly arrived DM Pinky Jovel along with SSP RS Chavi, took rounds of the affected area, but perhaps by that time it was too late. Mihipurwa, which falls under the police station Motipur under SO Gorakhnath Saroj, is said to have registered cases of rioting under Crime No. 591/2011 in which sections of 147, 148, 336, 353, 332, 341 and 153(A) IPC along with section 7 of Criminal Act were slapped on the rioters. Nine persons have been arrested and sent to jail. This list includes Banke Lal, Anil, Manish, Susheel and Ramesh. The complaint against them was made by Muslims. The district administration now has started a survey to find out the damage done in order to release compensation to the victims. A Samajwadi Party delegation led by Waqar Ahmed Shah, along with former MLA Arun Veer Singh and Dr. Saroj Tiwari visited Mihipurwa where people demanded that the culprits must be brought to book and adequate compensation be paid to the affected. Another incident from Bahraich, which warrants a mention, is from the locality of Civil Lines which falls under Kotwali police station, where Ambika Prasad Shukla had started a construction work on his land by leveling graves. Obviously, this led to a massive reaction by Muslims. Shukla had to comply to leave the graves intact and somehow the situation was brought under control. It was construed that after the 25 August riot and with a new administration in Bahraich there would be a change for the better but, unfortunately, the situation has not improved. Meanwhile, a series of similar incidents have also taken place in Gorakhpur, where during a similar occasion, first there was a commotion, and later a full blown riot including looting and burning of Muslim properties. Pratapgarh is also reported to have witnessed similar incidents with similar results. The loss incurred is always by the Muslim side. Both Gorakhpur and Pratapgarh fall in the eastern part of UP. This all cannot be done until the police supervises the vandalism. The spurt of such incidences coinciding with similar occasions and dates in so many districts in UP, smacks of a conspiracy to polarise people on communal lines, particularly when the elections are round the corner. Such moves only boost the prospects of BJP, cautioned Muhammed Azam Khan, the SP national general secretary, while in Lucknow on October 31.

Muslim houses burned during riot in Bahraich on 7 October 2011

Muslim shops burned during riot in Bahraich on 7 October 2011

The communal atmosphere which was still to recover after the 25 August riot, and which was taken up as a challenge by the district administration, was yet again destroyed. The houses and shops burnt to ashes, in the wake of Durga idol immersion are Afaq Gifts, Anees Electronics, Naushad Watch, Amjad Watch, Roshan Footwear, Ayyub Munshi, Munna Bartan, Haneef Ansari, Shamsud-Din, Abdul Raheem, M. Ahmed, Khalid, Jamshed, Noor Ahmed, Ghulam and Raju etc, informed Shadab. Not only this, the anti-social elements

also put afire two godowns owned by Rupesh Porwal and Bablu Madheshiya. The loot and arson went on until quite late in the night and there was not even a speck of policemen around. This event was a fallout of a well-drafted conspiracy, as last year, during the Kawariya procession, it was declared that Kawariyas will teach a lesson to Muslims, and hence, very artfully, the objective has been now achieved, laments Syed Shafat Husain, a businessman in Bahraich. On the side of the district administration, however, it may be said that

Ban demanded on Hindi newspaper for publishing anti-Darul Uloom article

Deoband: Bhopals Hindi newspaper Raj Express published in its 22 October issue an anti-Darul Uloom Deoband article in which, while associating this world famous Islamic seminary with Lashkar-e Taiyyaba and other terrorist organisations it said that these extremist organisations have secret relationship with Darul Uloom and hence it should be closed down immediately. After the publication of this baseless and hate mongering article, this institutions authorities and products spread all over the world, including Bhopal expressed their strong resentment. Darul Ulooms rector Mufti Abul Qasim Banarsi said that a memorandum in this connection has been sent to the Governor of Madhya Pradesh in which a demand has been made not only to confiscate all copies of this newspaper but also to ban it and at the same time legal action should be taken against the author of this article as well the editor of this newspaper for publishing this baseless article. Mufti Abul Qasim said while strongly condemning this article that such people and newspapers reflect their mental hollowness and communal bias and want to create dissension between different sections of Indian society which are promoting tolerance and goodwill. He said that Darul Ulooms national character, its leadership role and the great sacrifices it made in Indias freedom movement and war of independence are no secret to educated and knowledgeable people because, the ulama of Darul Uloom have from day one been the leaders of the freedom movement and never bartered the countrys unity and integrity, so much so that Deobands Ulama strongly opposed the two-nation theory and creation of Pakistan. In the same background Darul Uloom Deoband has always condemned terrorist acts that have taken place and are taking place for sometime now inside and outside the country. He said that in this connection Darul Uloom had organised an All India anti-terrorism conference in February 2008 and described all kinds of terrorist activities, as being anti Islamic. It also issued fatwas against terrorism from time to time. Under such circumstances if someone targets Darul Uloom Deoband with baseless and false accusations, it is truly speaking an attack on national unity and the countrys integrity. He said that we demand that the Madhya Pradesh government imposes a ban on the publication of this newspaper and brand the hate mongers as criminals and take legal action accordingly. Darul Ulooms former rector and a member of its Majlis-e Shoora, Maulana Ghulam Muhammad Wastanwi said in a statement over the phone that if someone associates Darul Uloom with terrorism, he is not only an enemy of Darul Uloom but also of the country and such persons should never be spared. He said that ulama of Darul Uloom played a stellar role in the countrys freedom struggle and spread the message of humanism and truth not only in India but in the whole world also. (NA Ansari)

Historical Pak Hindu temple reopens

Islamabad: Hindus celebrated Diwali at a historic 160-year-old temple at Peshawar in northwest Pakistan after it was reopened to the minority community after six decades on a courts orders. Scores of Hindus, including women and children, visited the Goraknath temple at Gor Khatri, which was reopened after Phool Wati, the daughter of the shrines cleric, petitioned the Peshawar High Court. Children and youths wearing colourful clothes were part of the gathering. The children burst crackers while the youths sang bhajans and danced. Phool Wati and her son Kaka Ram have claimed that the temple, which has been controlled in past decades by the police, Evacuee Property Trust Board and the provincial archaeology department, belongs to their family. Though a two-judge bench of the High Court ruled last month that Phool Wati had failed to provide evidence of her familys ownership of the temple, it directed authorities to reopen the shrine

for religious purposes. The court observed that stopping religious activities at a place of worship was against all laws. Kamla Rani, the daughter of Phool Wati, was grateful to the authorities for reopening the temple. I am very happy that my mother, though very old, fought a legal battle to reopen this temple for Hindu worshippers, she told the media. She said she had good relations with Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Muslims in her neighbourhood. I dont feel that I am different from others living in Peshawar. Noting that the temple was reopened due to the joint efforts of the Hindu community, Kamla Rani said: You cant imagine how happy we feel today.

The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

NATIONAL

U.P. & Bengal students get HWF academic excellence awards

ucknow: An award function to honour academic excellence was organised by Human Welfare Foundation here on 30 October. A total of 120 students, both girls and boys of U.P. who did well in their matriculation examination, were felicitated by awards and cash prizes. Besides this, three institutions, namely Muslim Girls Inter college of Varanasi, Hira Public School of Ambedkar Nagar and Muslim Furkania Girls School of Sitapur, also received awards for their good academic record in previous years. Chief Guest of the function, Zafar Mahmood, Chairman of the Zakat Foundation, emphasised the importance of education and said that through education even a poor person can gain top position in society. He said that in the 21st century, the keyboard has taken the place of pen. The programme was chaired by Rafeek Ahmed, Secretary of Jamaate Islami Hind (JIH) who introduced JIH and its associate NGOs working for the welfare of the downtrodden sections of society at large. He also gave an introduction of Vision 2016 programme which has taken up several welfare projects for the

minority community and has various affiliated NGOs including Human Welfare Foundation. Former Vice Chancellor of Agra University and a trustee of Human Welfare Foundation, Manzoor Ahmed, said that the purpose of education is to create a good society. Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Education Board, Dr. Anwar Jalalpuri, motivated the students to become curious and learner. Professor Rooprekha Verma said that helping the students to gain education is very pious work and the first step of knowledge is putting questions to the teachers and inculcating in the students a habit of asking questions. VC of Urdu Arabic & Persian University Anis Ansari (Retd IAS) also participated in the function.

100 meritorious students of Kolkata felicitated by HWF

Kolkata: More than 100 students of West Bengal were awarded during a programme to promote academic excellence organised

here by Human Welfare Foundation on 30 October. The students were given award certificates alongwith cash prizes for their good performance in the state board examination. Chief Guest, Dr. Nazrul Islam IPS (ADGP, Kolkata), emphasised the importance of education to the students and appreciated the efforts of Human Welfare Foundation for organising such programmes every year to encourage the meritorious students in different states of India including West Bengal which is educationally backward. Muhammad Jafar, Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, highlighted the pathetic condition of Muslims educationally, economically and socially and said that the minority community can be uplifted through quality education only. Dr. Pradip Narayan Ghosh, Vice Chancellor of Jadavpur University and Dr. Nazrul Islam Muhammad Jafar, Prof. Sadhan Chakraworty, head of the Deptt. of Philosophy at Jadavpur University, Prof. Rabiul Islam of St. Xaviers College, Kolkata, Prof. Sanjay Mukherjee of Jadavpur University, Prof. Zafeer Ahamed of ND College, Howrah participated in the award programme. and well looked after, his requirements are met and efforts are made to mitigate or remove his criminal tendencies. It is considered that because of unemployment and modern life style the rate of crime among children has increased. Though the state government has taken steps to use an orphanage in Harwan as a centre for taking proper care of such minor children, it should build special care centres in every district for looking after such children under JJCP Act and also set up juvenile courts to hear cases of such children. Under this Act, juvenile courts should have three members, one of whom should be a judicial magistrate to preside over it and hear their cases, one social worker and one lady member. It is, however, a pity that there is nothing of this kind in the state so far. Hanjoora also said that on an earlier occasion J&K chief minister had said that since we did not have cases of juvenile delinquency, we had no need for such an act or law but now cases of crime by minor children have started taking place. He said that according to available statistics, in Baramulla district 56 cases of crime by minor children under different acts have been registered and it is possible that their numbers might have increased by now. It may be mentioned here that according to JJCP Act 1997, children below 16 years are considered minor whereas in other states where Central Juvenile Justice Act 2000 is in force, children below 18 years are considered minor. Under Public Safety Act, there are cases of arrests of minor children and instead of being kept in special houses or centres for minor children, they are kept in police lockups. This is being reported since 2008 which are being strongly criticised by central as well as state human rights commissions. (Translated from Urdu)

No justice for Kashmir children

ZEENAT ZEESHAN
t is a matter of great concern that the crime rate among minor children in Jammu & Kashmir is increasing but the state government has so far not been able to enforce the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection Act (JJCPA) though it was passed 14 years ago, i.e., in 1997. This is because of bureaucratic and/or official red tapism. According to social workers in J&K, it is unfortunate that even after all these years the government has not enforced JJCP Act. According to Abdur Rashid Hanjoora, a famous social worker and lawyer, there is no juvenile court in the state to hear cases concerning minor children and because of this it has not been possible to enforce this Act even after 14 years. He added that with a view to its enforcement, he had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the J&K High Court in April 2009 on which a division bench had pronounced its verdict in 2010 ordering the state government to enforce this Act in its entirety within three months but the government failed to do so until now. He further said that because of abnormal and disturbed conditions prevailing in the state he could not file a case of contempt of court which he is planning to do soon. Though rules and acts have been made in the state and also approved by the legislative assembly, cases of young and minor children are still registered under the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA) and even the smallest cases are registered under Ranbir

Penal Code (RPC) and acts meant for adult persons are applied to the children also. Hanjoora said that after arresting guilty children police treat them like adult persons, keep them in jail alongwith other prisoners and compels them to go to courts meant for criminals. After undergoing such experiences these minor children become very dangerous. During the riots and disturbances that had taken place in Kashmir last year children below 18 years were kept in the central jail which is in total violation of laws for minor children as well as the United Nations Childrens Rights Act. Moreover, it is also completely in violation of human rights. He said that if a childs crime is proved, juvenile court can hear their cases in a better way. If these children are kept alongwith other prisoners, they will develop the same bad habits and ways. He said that juvenile courts take more interest in rehabilitation and reformation of juvenile delinquents. They are looked after well so as to bring about a change in their thinking and behaviour. He said that cases of delinquent children upto 16 years of age should be sent to juvenile courts for hearing but in J&K, the cases of such children are taken up by Chief Judicial Magistrate for hearing. He said that the objective of this Act is to prevent minor children from getting acquainted with, or falling into, criminal culture and company as the Act wants to rehabilitate them. Under this Act there is greater chance of rehabilitation and reform of such children. If a child commits a crime, he is kept in a juvenile centre,

8 The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

NATIONAL

HRD ministry violates AMU Act

KHALIQUE AHMAD KHAN
he Aligarh Muslim University is not merely a centre of national importance listed in the Schedule VII of the Constitution of India. Rather, it occupies a distinctive place among Indian universities and its contribution to nation-building is that of one of the best among the centres of higher education in the Subcontinent. Parliament has given the AMU its legal framework, autonomy and a distinct character by enacting the AMU Act XL of 1920 and its subsequent amendments. The Act clearly declares that all powers should vest in the very Act, Statutes and Ordinances amended or enacted from time to time. It has accorded a limited role to MHRD and clearly identified the powers of the Visitor of the University.

Special Centres, Specialized Laboratories or such other institutions for research or instruction as are necessary for the furtherance of its objects either on its own or in cooperation or collaboration with any other institution. The MHRD vide letter no F3-9/2008Desk(U) dated 27 April 2008 has informed the University that the Visitor has approved in principle the Universitys proposal regarding establishment of its two new centres at Murshidabad and Malappuram, in terms of sub-section (2) of section 12 of the University Act. The Special meeting of the Academic Council held on 9th June 2010 unanimously approved starting of MBA and BALLB programmes in Murshidabad and Malappuram Centers from the academic session 2010-2011. It further approved unanimously the amendment/addition in the statutes and ordinances exclusively relating to the establishment

ity of a total value less than Rs. 2 lakhs! The matter was dealt in detail and the chairman of the Fact Finding Enquiry Committee has already given the verdict that the VC and the University have not committed any financial wrong except a petty aberration of premature availing of LTC. The CBI during its preliminary investigation has summoned 48 files of routine nature and questioned a few University officials dealing with these files. According to reliable sources, nothing incriminatory has been found and no chargesheet was filed suggesting that the MHRD actions were more directed to discredit the University rather than restoring its propriety, as everything is already in order. Summary There are deliberate attempts to denigrate the AMU by targeting its Vice Chancellor by false allegations. The MHRD is trying to interfere in the autonomy of the University by twisting the arms of AMU authorities by ordering multiple enquiries. By restraining the University from holding Court meeting, it has put roadblocks in VC selection process and has stalled the holding of EC meeting putting a break on important decision-making in the University. The issue of transferring bank deposit from State Bank of India to Shreyas Gramin Bank and back to SBI is blown out of proportion. The decision was purely an administrative action considering the increased interest rates offered by the Gramin Bank. The University was denied to derive the advantage as it was forced to call back its deposits from the Gramin Bank and redeposit the same with the SBI. Purchase of Furniture The issue of purchase of furniture for VC lodge and its renovation was again projected as if the VC lodge is a personal property of the Vice Chancellor. The Vice Chancellor lodge is an official residence maintained by the University and as per norms it was furnished and renovated when it was totally destroyed in arson by miscreants. Observing the standard procedures, all its furniture was approved by the Central Purchase Committee of the University and there was absolutely no role of the Vice Chancellor in selecting or ordering the VC lodge furniture. Similarly, the Building Committee of the University had undertaken the renovation work of the VC lodge and not the Vice Chancellor himself. Financial Management All financial transactions and financial management were done as per standard procedure minutely scrutinized by a large financial wing in the University headed by a Finance Officer who is assisted by a number of high functionaries working as Deputy Finance Officer and Assistant Finance Officers and Section Officers. The role of the Vice Chancellor in these matters is very limited to approving the actions duly vetted by a chain of functionaries. Efficient and Transparent Administration In spite of all these constraints and roadblocks, the University administration has managed both its academic and research endeavours without any floundering. The classes went on in full swing. Examinations, admissions and research schedule went on as per prescribed dates. Students Union elections were conducted peacefully. The number of research publications by AMU faculty increased. The University was able to get more research projects and its ranking has improved. Teaching, non-teaching staff and students were all supporting the administration to carry forward the academic functioning. Over 500 selection committees were held with not even a single complaint. Admissions of thousands of students took place in a transparent manner without any complaint from any quarter. All these facts bear testimony to the efficient and transparent management of the University in the best possible way.

MHRD Onslaught on AMU The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, in the name of the Visitor (President of India) has prohibited holding of any meeting of AMU Court without obtaining the permission of the Visitor. The prohibition order has raised serious concerns about the respect and honour of the rules and regulations pertaining to the sanctity and autonomy of AMU which has a long history in the service of modern education and research. Constitutional and legal experts feel that the MHRD onslaught is a clear case of violating the legal framework of the University that would ultimately jeopardise the autonomy of the University. The AMU Act, under Section 23(2), provides that the Court shall be the supreme governing body of the University and shall exercise all the powers of the University, not otherwise provided for by this Act, the Statutes, the Ordinances and the Regulations and it shall have power to review the acts of Executive and the Academic Councils (save whether such Councils have acted in accordance with powers conferred on them under this Act, the Statutes or the Ordinances). Visitor has no power to obstruct the AMU Act The Act also clarifies under Section 13(6) that the Visitor has no power to give any direction to the University except to annul any proceedings of the University, which is not in conformity with this Act, the Statutes or the Ordinances. It makes clear that no outside agency including the Visitor, let alone the MHRD, has any power to obstruct the operation of the Act, Statutes and Ordinances. But the MHRD has done this by banning the meeting of the AMU Court. Section 34 of the AMU Act provides that the Court shall consider the Annual Report, Annual Accounts and Annual Balance Sheet and submit the Annual Report to the Visitor and also to the Chancellor along with its comments. The Statute 15(1) prescribes that the Annual Meeting of the Court shall be held in the month of October every year on a date to be fixed by the Executive Council, unless some other date has been fixed by the Court. Any action that contravenes with the above provision is a clear indication of unwarranted and extraneous interference. In the light of the above statutory provisions, the propitiatory orders of the Visitor, as conveyed by the MHRD vide letters No. F.329/2010-Desk(U) dated 17 December 2010 and F.3-12/2011 Desk(U) dated 10 August 2011, are in total violation of the Act and the Statutes. The Visitors orders, issued on the advice of the Ministry, are apparently designed to prevent the Court from having its proper representation on the Executive Council, to which it elects six members directly, and a seventh through the Honorary Treasurer elected by it under Statute 16. The Visitors ban on the meeting of the Court is obviously designed to keep election of Courts representatives in abeyance to thwart the functioning of the Executive Council, which presently has 11 vacancies and even one members absence creates the problem of quorum for its meetings. The MHRD has no major role in the affairs of the University since its Act and the Statutes clearly protect the University to maintain its dis-

MHRD is playig politics with Sir Syeds heritage; taking decisions in violation of the university Act and statutes
tinct identity and autonomy without outside interference. The present Vice Chancellor (Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis) is to demit his office by mid-January 2012 as he attains superannuation on January 17. The MHRD in its letter addressed to the AMU Registrar asked him to initiate the process of preparation of a panel of names for the next Vice Chancellor. The Section 2(1) of the Statutes of the University reads that the Vice Chancellor shall be appointed by the Visitor from a panel of at least three persons recommended by the Court from a panel of five persons recommended by the Executive Council. By imposing a blanket ban on holding the meetings of the University Court, the MHRD has not only tried to usurp extraneous powers, not granted by AMU Act and Statutes but also got directly involved in creating a situation of crisis as the present strength of EC is not able to meet the quorum requirement unless the Court first meets and adds seven more members to the Executive Council by electing its six representatives to EC and one University Treasurer who will be an ex-officio EC member or the four vacancies of elected representatives of teachers are filled up through the due process of election. In this connection, it is also pertinent to point out that the meetings of the Executive Council and the Court are to be held in order to facilitate the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor and to fulfill the Universitys obligation to get its annual report and other vital transactions approved. Moreover, the restriction on holding the Court meeting has denied the University to get its Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor and Treasurer, leaving a vacuum in the University system. AMU Centres The AMU Act never stopped the University from establishing its Centres outside the University provided the Visitor granted permission. The AMU Act clearly allows under Section 12(2) that the University may also, with the sanction of the Visitor and subject to the Statutes and Ordinances, establish and maintain such of the two regional campuses, one at Malappuram and another at Murshidabad. When everything is in order why this objection? The University has already put in place a well-defined framework for converting the AMU Murshidabad and Malappuram centres into advance state-of-art academic centres of excellence. The infrastructural development work has been put on fast track and will be completed on turnkey basis and if everything goes well, by 2015 its two centres located at Murshidabad and Malappuram will become fully functional offering a myriad of modern courses including hi-tech and professional streams. The two centres have started teaching initially with two courses, MBA and BALLB. The Audit Report The C&AG audit reports are the best indication of accounting practices prevailing in any governmental establishment. The C&AG Audit Report of AMU for the last three years (200708, 2008-09 and 2009-10) were clean as the auditors have given a clean chit to the AMU, but, despite this fact the MHRD has set up two Fact-Finding/Enquiry Committee against the AMU Vice Chancellor and other University officials at the behest of some disgruntled EC members. Fact-Finding Enquiries The issue became murkier when MHRD ordered multiple enquiries against AMU Vice Chancellor when nothing of significance was found by the two fact-finding enquiry committees set up by the Visitor at the instance of MHRD to investigate serious allegations, which turned out to be baseless. The first enquiry gave no report and was abandoned on account of differences between its two members and the second has given two contradictory findings, one by its chairman which exonerated the VC and the other by its member which accused the VC. Even after spending Rs. One crore on these enquiries, nothing fraudulent was found. It is surprising that the MHRD has again asked CBI, CVC and CAG to probe financial irregular-

The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

NATIONAL

Momentum over Muslim Reservation

HAIDER ABBAS
Lucknow: UP has now entered the election mode and every move is now calculated for political considerations. Muslims who make the largest segment in UP, are now to be flirted with the idea of reservation which, surprisingly, has been discovered by all leading political parties in UP, including Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP). Thus, the echo of Muslim reservation is going to get louder and louder as the elections come nearer. Hence, the Muslim Reservation Movement (MRM) led by Zafaryab Jilani, too is entering a crucial phase. The fact is that MRM had started much before Justice Sachar report was submitted, as reservation remains an old demand for justice to the deprived Muslims across India. MRM started its agitation on 5 Sept. 2004, when in its first state conference, it demanded that an amendment be done in Article 341 of the Constitution which barred any non-Hindu to avail reservation in government jobs. MRMs second conference was held on 25 Dec. 2006 at Lucknow which had found late Prime Minister VP Singh endorsing the MRM view and the latest conference was organised on 23 Oct, also at Lucknow. During the span of around seven years, MRM successfully organised more than two dozen zonal conferences in all major cities of UP. The result of the whole exercise is that MRM today is a force representing an amalgam of political parties, primarily run by Muslims, like Parcham Party of India, Rashtriya Ulema Council, Rashtriya Samaj Party etc, apart from some other organisations. Today there is a growing consensus amongst political parties, unlike what was in 2004, that there ought to be reservation for Muslims. The only point left is the demarcation of the percentage for the same, particularly when Sachar committee and Ranganath Misra commission reports have entered public domain. It is certainly the talk of every political party. Even the BJP has gone on record not to oppose it, said Zafaryab Jilani, while inaugurating the one-day conference. The conference had a representation of 38 districts of UP. It was presided by BSP MP Shafiqur-Rehman Barq. The air of speculation has now been cleared as now the issue is to find out as to who amongst the Muslims deserve reservation after demarcating those who fall under the creamy layer, proportionate to their population, said Saleem Peerzada, of Parcham Party of India. He pointed out that as per the findings of Mandal Commission, the Muslim Biradaries, deserve a reservation-within-reservation, which would make 9% within the stipulated 27% allocated for the Other Backward Castes (OBCs). This would allow Muslims to find some solace. Without such a subquota injustice will continue and Muslims would be the the only have-nots in the country, he said. Amir Rishadi, of Rashtriy Ulema Council, announced that the demarcated Forwards amongst the Muslims should rally for their

Backward Muslim brothers and put their own claim on the back burner in order to facilitate the official declaration of 9% quota for Backward Muslims. This made Zafaryab Jilani to clarify that such a prospect had always been under the consideration of MRM which has demanded a reservation for Forward Muslims only as its third demand, while the first two are for Dalit and Backward Muslims. MRM third demand, however, is for reservation for all Muslims, in proportion to their population, after exclusion of the creamy layer. This has come after the recommendation of Ranganath Misra Commission which has found that Muslims as a whole have become socially and educationally backward. The conference also demanded that the UPA government should show solidarity with the findings of Misra Commission by implementing the scheme of scholarships and a zero fees admission for Muslims, on the lines of facilities accorded to the Dalits. There is no follow-up action on the speeches made by various Congress leaders on the issue of reservation for Muslims. It is high time Congress announced its plan for the Muslims, or else the poll results would just speak for themselves, said Jilani. It was made known that only with the exception of BJP and Shiv-Sena, all political parties have reached a consensus that the Presidential Order of 1950 depriving Muslim and Christian dalits should be amended as done earlier for the Sikhs and Buddhists, who are now availing the facility. The UPA government should declare that such an amendment is on the cards in the coming

November session of the parliament. It came as a loss of face for Shafiqur-Rehman Barq that the BSP government in UP skirted the allotment of a quota of 9% for Backward Muslims within the 27% quota given to OBCs, although it would not require a nod from the Centre. CM Mayawati whiled away and now she has suddenly found a penchant for writing letters to PM seeking reservation for Muslims. This is nothing but ridiculous, said a member of the audience attending the conference. The unanimous declaration of the conference was to seek clarification from the UPA as to its stand on the issue of reservation for Muslims as a whole, and also for the sanction of scholarships and charging Muslims no fees for admission to educational institutions, before the 2012 UP elections, or else Muslims will probe all other options. The immediate response came from the the UPA Law Minister Salman Khursheed who announced that very soon all legal hurdles would be weeded out for the announcement of 6% reservation to Muslims within 27% OBC. We want action, speeches are now pass. Actions and not words are now needed, countered Jilani. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav along with party general secretary Muhammed Azam Khan demanded that UPA government should implement all the recommendations of Sachar committee and Ranganath Misra Commission. He also announced that once SP forms the next government in UP it would implement the same without delay.

Advani fails to forge a lobby against RSS

MOHAMMAD NAUSHAD KHAN
Apparently miffed by RSS disapproval of his prime ministerial ambition, LK Advani attempted to build pressure groups against the RSS making his yatra into a family-loyalist affair. RSS along with the BJP had planned to make the Bharat Chetna Yatra a party affair but Advani meticulously used the platform to promote and glorify his image and contributions with family and close aides only by his side. Each passing day the yatra was used by Advani to project himself as the tallest and most acceptable leader in the BJP and NDA. Advanis Jan Chetna Yatra began from Sitab Diara in Bihar with senior party leaders and important ally Nitish Kumar. Reports in the local media in Bihar highlighted one noticeable difference between Nitish Kumar and the BJP when he refused to accept a badge as well as a saffron shawl offered by the BJP. The obvious reason for this could be that he is also considered a candidate in the race for the post of prime minister in the NDA and thereby he may not wish to be closely identified with the saffron brigade despite having an alliance with the BJP. In other words, he wants to keep a distance from the Moditva and Hindutva of the BJP. And that is why the so-called best chief minister of the BJP was completely absent from the scene and even from the pamphlets and billboards or in any form of the yatra publicity. From Bihar, Advani proved a point that in spite of all the hoopla attached to Narendra Modi he still is a regional leader based on the adaptability and acceptability parameters. Even in its initial stages, the yatra failed to strike the expected chord because of bloopers and speed breakers like the cash for coverage scandal and the rampant corruption in Karnataka where the former BJP chief minister alongwith some other ministers are cooling their heels in jails. These developments during the course of the yatra trivialised Advanis joy ride. What else could be more damaging for LK Advanis stand against corruption than the news that a BJP MP was paying journalists for partisan coverage of the yatra. It proves beyond doubt that the commitment and the resolve of the BJP to eradicate corruption is hollow and far from the truth and reality. Can anyone even think of bribing for coverage of an anti-corruption yatra? Bribe for coverage scandal must compel Team Anna to think twice on their ability to assess the role of political parties in the corruption crusade. Is Team Anna really apolitical in letter and spirit? BJPs written assurance for a Jan Lokpal Bill appears purely political. It was not a course correction but simply moving along with the tide anticipating it to be politically beneficial to the party. The impromptu call for a yatra by Advani got its nod from the Sangh and the BJP president because they thought it would be a motivating exercise for BJP workers ahead of elections. Even after accepting the decree of the RSS that he would not be a prime ministerial candidate and clarifying that the yatra was not for this purpose, Advani during his yatra on many occasions tossed up the leadership issue in one way or the other to keep the political pot boiling on the issue. LK Advani during his yatra in Madhya Pradesh sprang a surprise on the leadership of the RSS and the BJP by saying he would decide depending on his health at the time of elections as to in what capacity he would be able to contribute. If we read between the lines, the purpose of taking out the yatra from Bihar was aimed at convincing leaders in the NDA fold to accept his candidature for the top post and then to pressurise his own party to toe the line. Travel restrictions on central leaders against joining the yatra and putting barriers on the prime ministerial issue has once again proved beyond doubt how the RSS is micro-managing BJPs political affairs despite repeated denials. Once again the race for the top post is thrown wide open. Very recently, the RSS made it clear that it never decides BJPs prime ministerial candidate. Even a layman in politics is well aware of the influence the RSS has over BJP affairs, having known how Nitin Gadkari was foisted as party president. After having seen LK Advani trying to turn the event into a one-man show and his reluctance to give up his claim to the prime ministerial post, Gadkari on the diktat of the RSS issued a travel restriction to central leaders and asked them not to move along with the rath. All they were allowed to do is just make a brief appearance during rallies and meetings. Even Gadkari joined the yatra only for a brief period at Vidarbha. After having felt the effect of the restriction whip issued for senior leaders against the yatra, Advani blogged to appear to balance between we and I within the BJP on his yatra by writing, I would wish to stress with all the emphasis at my command that this yatra has nothing to do with L K Advani. Nor even with the BJP or the next elections. It is concerned essentially with India. Frankly, I do not quite understand why I would like to repackage myself. Now nobody in the BJP and RSS wants the yatra to be a success for Advani as an individual because the more the yatra becomes successful the greater will be the problem for the BJP to placate Advani in giving up his lust for the prime ministerial post. Now the big question: why the RSS was worried when Advani attempted to turn the event into a family affair? A successful family yatra could have helped Advani to promote his daughter also, as a generation next leader even if he failed to make a mark for the prime ministerial post himself. May be the RSS got the impression that a family yatra could eventually magnify the political stature of Advani and his daughter, and that is why the announcement of BJP President Nitin Gadkari followed that he would contest elections from Nagpur. It is Gadkaris message on the political board that if the generation next leaders of the BJP compel the leadership to declare the prime ministerial candidate before the elections then I am also in the fray with the support of the RSS as an additional qualification. The BJP is under tremendous pressure from within to declare the partys face for the general election and assembly elections particularly in Uttar Pradesh. The situation in Uttar Pradesh is complex as many of them aspire for the chief ministerial post and all of them want the party to declare its leader before elections to put all speculations at rest. Party president in order to appease all sections has recently said that the BJP would contest the elections under the collective leadership of Rajnath Singh, Kalraj Mishra, Uma Bharti and Surya Pratap Shahi.

10 The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

NATIONAL

Gujarat universities have saffron VCs

ABDUL HAFIZ LAKHANI, Ahmedabad
Between governor Dr Kamla and chief minister Narendra Modi, the two have just completed the politicisation of universities across Gujarat - the governor filling up vicechancellors posts with Congressmen and Modi obviously choosing people with strong BJP leanings,. Survivors of the 2002 anti-Muslim riots, which claimed 2,000 lives, are still waiting for justice .Claiming that minorities did not have access to important welfare schemes of the government, Modi government has been sending back the central funds for minority students scholarship programs. However Muslims are fighting hard on the educational front. But saffronised education is on the rise in Modi-land. If anyone goes through the appointments of VCs in the state, the situation looks grimmer. Both the governor and chief minister are damaging university education in Gujarat through such brazen political appointments. It is almost as if Gujarat does not have a single reputed academician fit enough to become vice-chancellor. Successive committees and commissions set up to reform higher education in the country have spoken against increasing politicisation of appointments in universities. As it is, the quality of education in Gujarat is poor. By appointing vice-chancellors who lack merit, we are only toying with the careers of the younger generation. Hemaxi Rao North Gujarat University, Patan Last year, the governor shot down Modis proposal to appoint Mahendra Padalia as V- C of North Gujarat University. Instead, she chose Hemaxi Rao, wife of former Congress MLA Chandrakant Vaghela, for the job. Mahendra Padalia Saurashtra University, Rajkot A BJP Rajkot district president, he was named the new vicechancellor of Saurashtra University last week. The government wanted him as V-C of North Gujarat University but did not succeed. Durlabhaji Korat Bhavnagar University The governor appointed Korat in early October. Korat had earlier contested assembly polls from Palitana on the ticket of Janata Dal (Gujarat) which later merged with the Congress. Parimal Trivedi Gujarat University, Ahmedabad A former BJP ward leader in Bodakdev and convenor of the Ahmedabad district intellectual, he is enjoying his second term as V-C. Earlier this year, the government appointed Dr Mukul Shah as pro-VC of Gujarat University. Shah is a former mayor of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Shashiranjan Yadav Kutch University, Bhuj A former convenor of state BJPs media cell, he was appointed head of Kutch University during the tenure of Nawal Kishore Sharma as Gujarat governor. Yadav used to head a cyber cell which used to campaign intensively for Modi. Akshay Kumar Agarwal Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad He has had strong links with the ABVP. He was in Canada when the government invited him to head GTU. The state government amended regulations to raise the age limit from 65 to 70 years to accommodate Agarwal. Yogesh Singh MS University, Vadodara He was appointed in July. Singhs family has strong connections with the Sangh Parivar. Singhs maternal grandfather Thakur Kewal Singh is an ex-MLA while his maternal uncle Narender Kumar Bhati is district vice-president of BJP in Kurukshetra. Manoj Soni Ambedkar University, Ahmedabad Soni was earlier V-C of MSU. He was hand-picked by Modi after he wrote a paper justifying post-Godhra riots as a Hindu backlash. Modi even lobbied for a second term for Soni at MSU. But following objections by the search committee, he was accommodated in Ambedkar University. Harish Padh Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar He is considered to be very close to Modi and Anandiben Patel, besides having strong ties with the Sangh Parivar. He is a regular invitee at ideological discussions of the RSS. He got this prize posting last year. Daxesh Thakar South Gujarat University, SURAT He was active in the BJP for long. Had been close to education minister Ramanlal Vora, whom he used to help actively during elections in Sabarkantha. He was principal of Modasa college when he was picked up as V-C, SGU.

Sreekumar writes to the Nanavati-Mehta Commission

Former DGP and whistleblower officer RB Sreekumar has written a letter to the NanavatiMehta Commission, saying that the panel should get details from those police officers who had succeeded in curbing violence during the infamous 2002 communal riots. Sreekumar has said in the letter that police and administrative heads of 11 districts and two cities had succeeded in curbing violence in their jurisdictions in 2002 and the commission should invite them to give details of the steps taken by them. It would be helpful to the commission while framing recommendations in its report, he says. The media has been reporting that police officers, especially those in charge of districts and commissionerates, have deliberately committed acts of commission and omission to facilitate the state-sponsored anti-minority carnage, following the ghastly Godhra train fire incident on February 27, 2002. But there are laudable exceptions of senior police officers, scrupulously implementing the wisdom enshrined in the regulations on prevention shown keen interest in joining the party as active members. But the opposition Congress rubbishes this claim, saying this is Modis new drama to win them over as its traditional votebank has shrunk. Narendra Modis sadbhavna fast had generated a lot of positive feedback for the BJP, according to reports After the 2002 riots, many Muslims were disillusioned and angry with the BJP and had distanced themselves from the party. However, the chief ministers olive branch to the community at the Sadbhavna Mission fast seems to be changing the equation. Reports suggest that clerics, educated Muslims, businessmen and people who matter in the community have started attending the jilla and taluka level functions of the party. According to Mehboob Ali Saiyed, president of BJP Minority Cell in the state, After the Sadbhavna Mission, around 15,000 Muslims have evinced keen interest in joining the party as active members. There are others who have shown willingness to join. Looking at the overwhelming response of Muslims at the jilla, taluka and city levels, I feel that the numbers will grow when we conduct the membership drive in 2012. and containment of riots and proper delivery of justice to the riot victims, the former IPS officer states in the letter submitted to the commission on October 25. He says in the letter: Of 26 police districts and four commissionerates, in eleven districts _ Amreli, Narmada, Ahwa-Dang, Jamnagar, Navsari, Porbandar, Surat Rural, Valsad, Surendranagar, Rajkot Rural and Kutch-Bhuj _ there was no death due to riots, whereas the casualties were negligible or lesser than the toll reported in previous communal violence in these places and also in Surat and Rajkot commissionerates. In Bharuch, there were two deaths due to violence; in Junagadh two deaths, in Patan four deaths; in Vadodara Rural four deaths; in Bhavnagar two deaths; and in the commissionerate of Rajkot city four deaths. The former cop says, The commission may kindly note that most officers in charge of areas where riots were contained effectively received shabby treatment from the state government, including punishment postings and departmental action, in the post-riot period. The commission may kindly get information, data, inputs and documents from the commissioners of police of Surat and Rajkot cities, superintendents of police and district magistrates, in whose jurisdiction the communal violence was purposefully controlled and public order was sustained. (Abdul Hafiz Lakhani) A I Saiyed, a former DIG and currently the chairman of the Waqf Board, claims a majority of Muslims today favour the BJP. Saiyed, who contested the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation elections from Juhapura but lost, said, After 60 years of independence, Muslims have realised who is responsible for their economical and social backwardness. As per my knowledge, 60 per cent of Muslims favour the BJP. Without communal harmony and without education, no community can prosper. And it is this government that has given the slogan of development, which the community feels will help it grow economically and socially. One of the reasons for the change is the BJP giving a lot of tickets to Muslim candidates in the recent jilla and taluka panchayat elections. Around 200 Muslim candidates became councillors. Around 60 such persons were elevated to the post of chairman, vice-chairman and other high posts in the local self-government bodies. This has not only motivated members of the community, but also helped them in getting their work done in the government, according to Mehboob Saiyed. ernor, the Rajbhavan office asked the state government to explain whether the procedure of seeking approval for expenditure was followed or not. Govardhan Zadaphia, one time minister in Modis cabinet, alleged that public funds were spent on the mega-show. Through her Principal Secretary, Arvind Joshi, the governor sent a letter to Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) on 22 September. It asks the ACS to explain how the approval for expenditure was obtained and what procedure was followed. In a protest against the sadbhavna fast Govardhan Zadaphia undertook a 51 hour sanvedna (solidarity) fast at Gandhinagar. He argued that a thorough probe into charges of corruption must immediately begin to ascertain whether there was misappropriation of public money. (AG Khan)

BJP claims support of Muslims

The Gujarat BJP claims that more than 15,000 Muslims have

Even after the third reconstruction of scene of Ishrat Jahan encounter and replacement of SIT chief one after another investigation agencies are still unsure of the genuineness of the encounter. The third reconstruction of Ishrats encounter case was conducted by team of AIIMS and CFSL in October 2011 put could not ascertain and verify whether the encounter was genuine or fake. The three member SIT team appointed by the Gujarat High Court have agreed on one point that Ishrat and three others killed in an encounter on 15 June, 2004 had links with terrorist outfits. Earlier, metropolitan magistrate SP Tamang in his report submitted in the metropolitan court had said that it was a fake encounter and all four persons killed had no terror links. Ishrat was killed in an encounter along with three other persons-- Javed Ghulam Sheikh Alias Pranesh Kumar Pillai, Amjad Ali alias Rajkumar Akbar Ali Rana and Jisan Johar Abdul Gani-by Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) officials near Ahmedabad. In September, the Gujarat High Court had formed a three-member committee headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) to further investigate the Ishrat Jahan encounter case. This was done following a petition by Ishrats mother Shamina which says that Ishrat was killed in a fake encounter by the Gujarat police. The first report of the Directorate of Forensic Sciences (DFS) had raised questions on the genuineness of the encounter like the range of the shots fired. Reports of the third scene reconstruction have also not been able to satisfy some SIT members queries on the technical aspect of the encounter. The exact position of the policemen at the encounter site and the trajectory of the bullets fired by them is still not clear. According to SIT, Their history unearthed by us proves that all the four had been linked to terrorist activities. Ishrat and her boyfriend Javed were involved in arms dealing while the other two Amjad and Jisan were associated with a terrorists group in Kashmir, The SIT will submit its final report on 18 November. (Mohammad Naushad Khan)

Flip-flop on Ishrats terror link

RTI activist stabbed to death

Ahmedabad: Congress worker and witness in the 2002 Naroda Patiya riot case, Nadeem Ahmed Sayed, was on 5 November stabbed to death by some unknown persons in Juhapura area here, police said. Sayed was also a RTI activist and he had raised many RTI queries on the Godhra riots and related incidents. The deceased was a witness in the Naroda Patiya case, where 95 persons were killed on February 28, 2002 during the communal violence that erupted after the Godhra train burning incident. Gujarat is known for attacks on RTI activists. Following are some past attacks in Gujarat: RTI activist Jaisukh Bambhaniya, a resident of Union Territory of Diu, was attacked with sharp weapons and acid was thrown on him by unidentified persons in Junagadh district on August 21. He had sought information in connection with the construction of an alleged illegal restaurant and bogus licences issued by RTO to bike vendors. On June 24, RTI activist Bhagyu Devani, 72, was stabbed in Porbandar by unknown assailants. Devani had accused a former minister and two others in the illegal construction of hotel and building. Luckily he escaped with few injuries. RTI and environmental activist Amit Jethava was shot dead on July 20, 2010 near Gujarat High Court. Jethava had filed several petition against Forest Department and also filed a Public Interest Litigations (PIL) on illegal mining in Gir Forest. RTI and social activist Vishram Laxman Didiya was found murdered on February 11, 2010, soon after his meeting with Torrent Power Company officials. He had filed an RTI application to get details about illegal electricity connection obtained by Torrent. (Abdul Hafiz Lakhani)

Gov seeks cost of Modi fast

The tussle between the state governor Dr. Kamla Beniwal and chief minister Narendra Modi is warming up. It began with the appointment of Lok Ayukt which the governor is alleged to have done without consulting the C.M. Now the governor has sought details of expenditure on the three day sadbhavna fast. As the CM and his colleagues demanded recall of the gov-

The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011 11

HUMAN RIGHTS/TERRORISM

AFSPA: Beyond The Storm In The Teacup

FIRDAUS AHMED
firdyahmed@yahoo.com Omar Abdullahs hint that the disturbed areas status of some areas in J&K may be revoked prior to the Darbars move to Jammu, made for a heated Diwali for Kashmir in more ways than one. While the controversy was for its withdrawal, the grenade blasts seemed to suggest that it was still needed. The decision being preserve of the Union home ministry, the state government and the army can at best input the decision. Press reports have it that the decision has been referred to the Cabinet Committee on Security since the defence ministry has transmitted the armys negative take. Superficially, the issue appears to be one of divergence on strategy, on whether it is the right juncture to contemplate roll back of AFSPA. The less visible issue is one of civil control over the military. The good news is that there appears to be a strategy in place. This is evident from the million footfalls of tourists this summer. It can be inferred that strategy would have contemplated a decision point at the end of the peaceful summer. The consideration would have been whether this is time for transition to a political dominant strategy, as against the military template applied so far. A strategy such as this would mandate using the recommendations in the interlocutors report with a symbolic tweaking of the very visible AFSPA as an entry point towards a political solution. In the present case, it is evident the army is not onboard. The armys input can only be one of many and not necessarily the most significant. Intelligence input is equally significant. Second, its apprehensions of reversion neglect the other instruments the government has for tackling any consequence, including an assertive police. Third, the Supreme Court judgment in the Nagaland case mandates review for removing areas where the security situation enables it being removed from the disturbed area list. This is the case for most of J&K outside the Valley. Fourth, the military has organizational interests that inform its position, better appreciated by those on the outside. Last and more importantly, revoking is part of the political dimension of strategy. Even if the army is right on the situation as not permissive for this, political initiative can help alleviate the situation. This is outside the militarys purview. In other words, the military can have a point, but not the whole point. Despite knowledge of its limitations on these scores, it begs the question why the army chooses to input otherwise. This is where civil control over the military kicks in. The accountability vacuum makes this so. The Supreme Courts ruling on the AFSPA has it that the state government at best need only be consulted. The buck therefore stops at the Centre. The problem is that here the lines of authority are blurred. The Union home ministry has the responsibility without authority over the army, while the Union defence ministry has authority without accountability. In effect, the army ends up virtually commanding veto power. The statistic that the central government has not granted permission for prosecution under section 7 of the AFSPA in Kashmir despite receiving 30 such requests reinforces impression of civilian reticence. The gains made in Kashmir through development and democracy owe as much to civilian effort as to military sacrifice. This is the right juncture for self-confident assertion over the policy sphere. The military is only as much part of the solution as much as it is seen as part of the problem in Kashmir. It has been a self-interested player in Kashmir, even if perhaps the most altruistic one of the several enmeshed there. It is a political function to appreciate this, one it is time to exercise. If only symbolically, the AFSPA could be rolled back, if not in the Valley then certainly from elsewhere in the state.

Life for 31 in Gujarat massacre

Ahmedabad: A special trial court in Mehsana on 9 Nov. convicted and sentenced to life 31 of the 73 people accused in the Sardarpura riot case in Gujarat in which 33 people were burnt alive on March 1, 2002, during the communal riots. The court, which conducted the trial in last two years, acquitted 42 of the accused. The accused were charged for murder, attempt to murder, looting, rioting and other charges. Of the 42 acquitted, 11 were freed due to lack of evidence. The remaining 31 were given the benefit of doubt and asked to submit a bond of Rs.25,000 each and ordered not to leave the country without permission. The trial was monitored by the Supreme Court, which sought reports of the progress of these cases regularly. It was probed by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT). According to the complainant Sheikh Ibrahim Rghubhai a mob of 1,000 people had attacked a Muslim locality in Sardarpura, a small village near Mehsanad. The people had gathered in a tiny room owned by Sheikh Mehmudmiya Hussainmiya which was set on fire. Twenty-eight bodies were recovered from the room while five died during treatment. (IANS) All accused in Malegaon 2006 blast granted bail Malegaon: In a major development in the 2006 Malegaon blast case, the Special MCOCA Court on 5 Nov. granted bail to all the nine Muslim accused who were in jail since 2006/2007. The Muslim youth, however, have to spend a few more days in jail as their papers and sureties are still to be prepared. The Special MCOCA Court, few hours after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed its reply stating that it would not oppose the bail application, ordered to release all the nine accused from jail, Advocate Nehal Ansari who is in Mumbai said to ummid.com on phone. The court ordered them to be released on the surety of Rs. 50,000 each, he said. Earlier, The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a written response to the bail applications filed by the nine accused informed the Special MCOCA Court that it does not have any objection if the accused are released on bail. The NIA in its reply said that their investigations are still on and till now they have not found anything against these Muslim men and there is no reason left to keep them behind bar. A series of blasts struck Malegaon on September 08 in 2006 ahead of Shab-e-Barat, a Muslim festival when thousands of people were busy offering Friday prayers at the Hamidia Masjid. Another blast occurred at nearby Mushawerat chowk few minutes later. 37 people were killed and more than 300 were injured in the blasts, most of them being children. The MCOCA Court had on October 31 directed the NIA to file its response to the bail applications filed separately by the eight accused and Abrar Ahmed on November 04. However, the case was re-scheduled for today. While eight accused had filed their bail application on October 01, 2011, Abrar Ahmed filed the bail plea a few days later. Local Muslims in Malegaon including the victims since the day one had maintained that the arrested Muslim men were innocent. They in fact carried one of the longest campaign in the history of the town demanding arrest of the actual perpetrators and release of the innocents. The 2006 Malegaon blast case was earlier investigated by the Maharashtra ATS which had charge-sheeted the nine Muslim youth for allegedly conspiring the attacks. The case was later handed over to the CBI and subsequently to the NIA. Earlier, the case took a surprising turn when Swami Aseemanand, allegedly involved in Ajmer, Mecca Masjid and Samjhuata Express blasts, confessed that Hindu extremists, some of them already wanted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, were also behind the 2006 Malegaon blast. (ummid.com) Bajrang Dal leader arrested for disrupting camp Agra: Police on 28 October arrested the leader of a Hindu radical group for inciting a mob to attack a medical camp a Church-based NGO organized near Agra. Rev. Prabhat Kashyap of Sparsh Sewa Samiti, who organized the October 25 event, said around 150 people came to the camp shouting anti-Christian slogans. They accused the medical team of converting people under the garb of medical treatment. The mob led by leaders of the Bajrang Dal asked for the permission letter for the medical camp. When Rev. Kashyap showed a copy, Digvijay Tiwari, one of the leaders, wanted one copy for himself. The Church leader refused to oblige since Tiwari did not represent any government authority. An angered Tiwari went back and returned an hour later with more people. The mob broke the tent structure, overturned chairs and tables and started manhandling people. The medical team ran to an adjacent building, but the mob chased and stopped them.

Blast accused Salman a minor: Jaipur court

New Delhi: In a major duced the high Salman Ahmad being taken into custody in the visuals of IBN Live setback for the Delhi school marksheet of police Special Cell and S a l m a n . the Rajasthan AntiSubstantiating with Terrorism Squad (ATS), a the marksheet, they Sessions Court at Jaipur claimed that he was on 1 November has set born on 3 October aside an order of a lower 1992, conclusively court holding an establishing that he accused, Mohammed was a minor. This Salman, in the May 2008 means that Salman Jaipur serial blasts case was just 16 at the to be a major. time when he is While referring alleged to have Salmans case to the planted bombs. Juvenile Justice Board, In February this the Sessions Court also year, Salman was rejected the lower court acquitted by a Delhi order in which it had court at a very prerefused to refer his case liminary stage, much for adjudication to the before the beginning Juvenile Justice Board. of the trial, because Now Salmans case the prosecution Salman Ahmads High School marksheet showing him as a minor will be heard under failed to produce Juvenile Justice any evidences to (Care & Protection of substantiate its Children) Act, 2000. claim that Salman Salman was taken Ahmad was an IM into custody by the operative, one of Rajasthan ATS after a the main charges Delhi court discharged of the prosecution. him in February this The judge while year of his alleged discharging him involvement into said that in the September 2008 Delhi absence of any serial blasts case. The evidence, there Rajasthan ATS had was no point in made him an accused proceeding further in the May 2008 serial in this case. Jaipur blasts case. Various Civil Advocate Paiker Rights groups Farooq, Salmans welcomed the counsel, producing Jaipur court verdocumentary evidict and said it is dence before the vindication of their court argued, It is a c l a i m s . settled law that the Dr. Manisha Sethi, [date of] birth is president, Jamia decided on the basis Teachers Soli darof educational ity Association blasts. The police claimed that Salman, on (JTSA) said, The court has approved what records. The accuseds counsel moved an appli- the directions of Atif Ameen (alleged IM mas- we have been saying since the arrest. The cation next day in the Special Court, presided termind killed in the fake Batla House verdict further raises serious questions about over by R. C. Ramdhari, in accordance with encounter), planted bombs in Varanasis the ATS and Special Cells thta they are trying the Sessions Judges order. Advocate Farooq court room on 23 November 2007, in to implicate innocent boys rather than told mediapersons that the ATS was well Gorakhpur on 22 May 2007, in Jaipur on 13 caching the real culprits. Shahnawaz Alam, aware of the fact of Salman being a minor; it May 2008, in Ahmedabad on 26 July 2008 Secretary of PUCL, Uttar Pradesh, weland in Delhi on 13 September 2008. was trying to mislead the court. comed the verdict and reiterated the need of What brought a radical turn in the case a high level judicial enquiry into all terrorSalman was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad on 6 March 2010 was that within a week of Salmans arrest, related incidents during the last ten years. claiming his involvement in various bomb family members and civil rights groups pro- (twocircles.in)

12 The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

ISSUES

NIC debate on Communal Violence Bill and recent riots

ASGHAR ALI ENGINEER
The Communal Violence Bill was the first item on the agenda of National Integration Council meeting held in Delhi on 10th September 2011 and almost all speakers expressed their views on the Bill. As expected the opposition leader Mrs. Sushma Swaraj of the BJP led the attack followed by Mr. Arun Jaitly, Opposition leader in Rajya Sabha. Both of them maintained that this bill divides Indians into majority and minority and this polarization is extremely harmful, in fact disastrous for the country. What was more surprising was that Mr.Sharad Yadav of JDU was no less sparing in attacking the Bill and said with this Bill India, like the Mughal rule would have two laws, one for minorities and one for the majority and minorities will be favoured over the majority. He also totally opposed the Bill and even said when communal riots are not taking place (sic). According to Mr. Sharad Yadav India has already become riot-free. In response to these attacks from these three opposition stalwarts I said, in my presentation that I was not surprised at what Mrs. Swaraj and Arun Jaitly said as it was quite expected from BJP leaders but was surprised that Mr. Sharad Yadav not only agreed with BJP leaders but also maintained that what is the need for the Bill when no riots are taking place in India. I said either Mr. Yadav was not reading news papers these days or is deliberately hiding facts in order to oppose the Bill. He knows best what the truth is. Let alone the many riots which have taken place in India what has been happening in Rajasthan is alarming enough. In September 2010 two riots took place in Sarada and Mangal Thana. In both these riots there was one sided attack on Muslims by the police. In Sarada (Udaipur) tribals were provoked by BJP leaders to attack Muslims after the murder of a tribal by a Muslim goon which was due purely to a personal feud and 70 houses of Muslims were burnt right in front of the District Magistrate and S.P. police, both high government officials. In Mangal Thana too the whole village inhabited by Muslims was burnt and Muslims had to run away with only the clothes on their bodies. When I met Mr.Gehlot, Chief Minister of Rajasthan in one of the meetings at Prime Ministers House after these riots I told him to suspend both these high officials with immediate effect so that a message goes to other officers, so that such incidents are not repeated. However, Gehlot did not take action and another riot erupted on 14th September 2011 in Gopalgarh, where mainly Meo Muslims reside. Gopalgarh riot was less of riot and more of a police action as of the 10 people killed most of them were killed in police firing inside the mosque. Before we deal with this further I would like to ask the BJP leaders and Mr. Sharad Yadav, a BJP ally and part of NDA, are there not already two laws one for the minorities and one for majority. In fact what was the need for bringing this Bill? The way the BJP Government led by Narendra Modi let a genocide of Muslims take place in 2002 and police and administration was party to the massacre of Muslims. Is this not in itself a dual law? Who divided and polarized the society? Communal forces or this Bill? They divide society and have two laws, one for the majority and one for minority and then blame a new law which is sought to be introduced. It was so unfortunate that due to such an aggressive attack by the Hindutva forces the Government may have to revise the Bill. One more problem with the Bill was the fear most of the chief ministers had about the future of the federal structure of the Indian Union. They feared that Central interference may increasingly affect the federal structure. Though the Bill does not propose to use Article 355 (advising the state government in case of threat to internal security) the chief ministers feared this may be the case. The Bill was mostly supported by the Muslim members (except Zoya Hasan who had reservations about the Bill in the present form) but Lalu Prasad Yadav lent his support and criticized the communal forces unsparingly. It was surprising this time, that Swami Agniveshs support was for the BJP voice and he congratulated Mrs. Sushama Swaraj and Arun Jaitly for their honest criticism of the Bill without exploiting it for election purposes. How honest it was everyone knows. It is very surprising to see Swami Agnivesh who has in the past been a strong voice of secularism, agree with the BJP. One thought, that after Gujarat, the police may not so blatantly side with the rioters or become part of the rioting mob. But Rajasthan has once again shown that the police is highly communalized, especially if the chief minister happens to be weak and dithering in taking strong action. Let us not forget that Rajasthan was ruled by the BJP for full two terms before the Congress came to power in the last elections in 2008 The BJP has thoroughly communalized the bureaucracy and police and this we see now in every district of Rajasthan. The BJP had openly said during those days that Rajasthan will be another Gujarat and indeed due to a weak chief minister it is becoming so. Mr. Gehlot first said that it was not communal riot but only a land dispute between two groups (i.e. between Meo Muslims and Gujjars) but then when he was sternly warned by Ms. Gandhi he took action and suspended district officials. If Mr.Gehlot had shown courage and took strong action after the Saroda incidents and suspended DM and SP in 2010 neither Mangalthana would have taken place nor Gopalgarh. It was only after a lot of pressure from NGOs and from the Congress party itself that CM took some action against the guilty officers. It was prompt action against guilty officers by the Left Front Government in West Bengal and Lalu Prasad Yadav in Bihar that these two extremely communally sensitive states became almost riot-free. It is interesting to note that Meo Muslims in Bharatpur are early converts to Islam from Rajputs and they never gave up their ancestral cultural practices and even Tablighi movement which was launched in early twentieth century failed to Islamize them and they continue to remain half Hindu culturally and ritually. The BJP always maintains that if Muslims become part of mainstream they would be acceptable and here Meo Muslims are more than part of the mainstream and yet they are targeted in riots. The theory of mainstreaming Muslims is patently false as all Muslims from Kashmir to Kanaya Kumari are Indian both culturally and in terms of social ethos and especially so in rural areas and still the BJP has been ideologically targeting them in every riot and labelling them foreigners and worst still Pakistanis. Today BJP is issueless party and is finding it difficult to come to power so it is once again resorting to provoking violence at every available opportunity against minorities. It would be in the interest of secular forces to support the communal violence Bill if communal violence is to be contained. In India a part of the administrative and police staff comes from the RSS stream (what BJP calls mainstream is, in fact, RSS stream) and is highly prejudiced against minorities and hence it is only the threat of legal punishment which would deter them from aggravating communal violence by supporting it. Unless police is held responsible along with district administration it would be impossible to stop communal violence, may be one can change the nomenclature from minorities and majority to two groups but then to use group instead of minority and majority takes the sting away. Majority and minority have been used historically as part of communal terminology. If the ruling party at the Centre shows political courage and retains the original terminology it will be much better. But I am sure this will not be the case and it may choose to change the words majority-minority with groups and water down the bill. After all, as discussion in the NIC shows, ruling party will have to face tough opposition and media also may not be very sympathetic on this Bill. So far it has shown hardly any interest in the Bill and much has not been written on the subject. Many chief ministers did not show up at the NIC meeting as they would have to take a stand one way or the other, which they did not want to take. Ms. Mayawati also did not come as supporting the Bill was not in her interest as a regional satrap and opposing it would alienate Muslim voters so she cleverly kept away and so did Jayalalitha and Mamta Banerjee for a similar dilemma. I think though after Gujarat no communal riot has taken place on that scale but to write off communalism will be a serious mistake. It continues and shall continue to be a major political challenge to Indian secularism and effective legal and political action must be taken to face this challenge and it also needs to be said that a country of Indias diversity cannot survive without secularism. (Secular Perspective)

Media and Muslims

Newly appointed chairman of Justice Katju said in clear words that the trend in have sent emails and SMS Press Council of India, of the media is that it presents all Muslims of the claiming responsibility that Justice Markandey Katju has these blasts. He said expressed his views about country as terrorists and blasters of bomb where- names of such organisaas the fact is that 99 percent Hindus, Muslims, tions suggest that they must reining in the electronic and print medias efforts to meta- Sikhs, Christians and followers of other religions be Muslims. Any mischiemorphose the image of are gentle and law-abiding people. He said that the vous person can send such Muslims. Justice Katju who way news of bomb blasts are presented on T.V. emails but news channels recently retired from the channels and in newspapers give the impression start presenting it and the Supreme Court and as a next day that all Muslims are terrorists and bad people, very presents it print media judge of the apex Court proalso prominently which is totally against facts. nounced many historic veras if all Muslims are terrordicts. He is not only just and a man of spotless personality, he ists. Making an appeal to the media to be cautious and exercise also enjoys great respect. After taking over as the Chairman of restraint in this connection, he said that the aim of the person/s Press Council of India whatever he said to media persons at a sending such emails and SMSs can be or is to promote hatred press conference at his residence can be described as the best between Hindus and Muslims. He said that divide and rule was effort to put a brake on the perversion of the media because of an old and tested formula of the British and asked if, knowingly the way a large section of print and electronic media is engaged or unknowingly, media also should be a part of this policy of the in disintegrating the fabric of society is extremely dangerous. former British government? This gives the impression that media is not only free from all These words of Justice Katju are of special importance seekinds of responsibility and restraint but it enjoys complete free- ing that he said all this in his capacity as head of an institution dom to print and propagate just anything. This is inspite of the whose job is to keep an eye on the media and to control its wayfact that Press Act is in force under which such restrictions have wardness. Press Council of India is a legal institution where one been imposed so as to prevent it from taking undue advantage can lodge a complaint against wrong, misleading and mischieof freedom of the press. In this way Press Council of India is vous reporting or rumour by any newspaper. On such comworking as an institution whose basic duty is not only to check plaint/s the Council issues summons to the concerned newspathe perversity of the media but also to rein in those who misuse per for questioning and seeks an explanation/clarification. freedom of speech and press and to make them law abiding. However, till date this institution has not been able to do someJustice Katju said in clear words that the trend in the media thing effective except condemning the newspaper or asking it to is that it presents all Muslims of the country as terrorists and tender an apology for some mistakes or false reporting; but blasters of bomb whereas the fact is that 99 percent Hindus, after taking over as head of the Press Council Justice Katju sugMuslims, Sikhs, Christians and followers of other religions are gested some proposals to rein in unbridled newspapers and gentle and law-abiding people. He said that the way news of electronic media which, if implemented, could control to a large bomb blasts are presented on T.V. channels and in newspapers extent the perverted media. These suggestions include imposgive the impression that all Muslims are terrorists and bad peo- ing fines on such newspapers, depriving them of government ple, which is totally against facts. Giving an example in this con- advertisements and even cancelling their licence etc. Before nection he said that recently immediately after the bomb blast him no chairman of the Press Council of India had suggested near Delhi High Court and also those at Mumbai, Bangalore etc. such bold and effective measures and the Press Council had many news channels started proclaiming that Indian been working as a toothless body. (Jadeed Khabar Urdu daily Mujahideen or Jaish-e Muhammad, Harkatul Jehad-e Islam editorial, 13 October 2011 - translated from Urdu)

Shahabuddin on Sadiq-Sudarshan meeting

Sudden show of cordiality by RSS towards Dr Kalbe Sadiq is a move to separate Shia from other Muslims for fulfilling its objective. BMMCC reaffirms stand: No dialogue till Supreme Court decides appeals against Allahabad High Court judgment New Delhi: Syed Shahabuddin, Convener of the Babari Masjid Movement Coordination Committee issued the following statement on 2 November: The Babri Masjid Movement Coordination Committee has taken note of the sudden expression of cordiality between the former RSS Chief R Sudershan and the Shia cleric Dr Kalbe Sadiq. The Committee feels that this is perhaps the prologue to the revival of the effort by the Sangh Parivar to separate the Shia community from the Babri Masjid Movement and to prepare the ground for the take-over of the entire site of the demolished Masjid for fulfilling its objective of constructing the Ram Janambhoomi Mandir thereon. As in the past they have offered an alternative site for a Masjid outside Ayodhya. This proposal has been on the table for many years and has been rejected repeatedly by the Movement as well as by all Muslim organizations including the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. The BMMCC recalls that before the Demolition, and even thereafter, there have been several rounds of discussion between Hindu leaders, including the late Pramacharya and the present Shankarcharya of Kanchipeetham. But all these discussions failed because the Ram Janambhoomi Movement was not prepared to make any compromise and insisted on the Muslim side surrendering the entire site of the Babri Masjid in order to enable it to concretize its objective. The BMMCC reiterates that after the Allahabad High Court Special Bench Judgment of September, 2009 both sides have filed several appeals to the Supreme Court, and that in the circumstances there is no scope for negotiation until after the Supreme Court decide the appeal. The BMMCC also likes to place on record that the Babri Masjid belongs to the Muslim community as a whole and not to the Shias alone. Since the Shia claim was judicially rejected in 1946, no Shia leader or organization is competent to negotiate on the site with the RSS or the VHP, the BJP or any Hindu organization. The BMMCC requests the Central Sunni Wakf Board and All India Muslim Personal Law Board to reject any overtures of the Sangh Parivar and cautions the leader of the Shia community not to fall into their trap.

The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011 13

ISSUES

Lord Rams story: many versions

RAM PUNIYANI
ram.puniyani@gmail.com Recently Delhi University Academic Council (Oct 2011) decided to drop the scholarly essay Three Hundred Ramayanas of A.K. Ramanujan, on different tellings of Rams story from the syllabus of Culture in India for BA Honors students. Of the four experts on the committee, one of them, whose opinion was finally accepted, said that undergraduate students will not be able to tolerate the portrayal of divine characters in the different versions given in the essay. In response to the ban, while Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, which is an affiliate of RSS and company celebrated, the staff and many students protested against this move. Just to recall, earlier in 2008 ABVP activists had protested against the introduction of this essay, and indulged in vandalism on the issue. This essay by the much acclaimed scholar, A.K. Ramanujan, is part of his The Collected Essays of A.K. Ramanujan (Oxford 1999). Earlier in the aftermath of Babri demolition, a Sahmat exhibition on different versions of Ramayana was attacked by RSS combines goons in Pune in 1993. This was done on the pretext that one of the panels based on Jataka (Buddhist version) showed Ram and Sita as brother and sister, and it is an insult to their faith. Ramanujans essay talks of different versions and presents five of them as an example. It is known that there are hundreds of versions of Ramayana Buddhist, Jain, Valmiki etc. Paula Richman in her book Many Ramayanas (Oxford) describes several of them. And, again, there are different interpretations of the prevalent Valmiki Ramayana, many of which are not to the liking of those who are indulging in politics in the name of their faith. Surprisingly, all this intolerance is shown by those who assert that Hinduism is tolerant and other religions are not. It is a fascinating exercise to go through various tellings and interpretations of Ramayana. Even the other renderings acceptable to this intolerant but currently dominant political force are not uniform. Valmiki, Tulsidas, and later the one adopted by Ramanand Sagar for his serial Ramayana, have their own subtle nuances, which are very different from each other. Ramayana has been rendered in many languages of Asia in particular. Ramanujan points out that the tellings of Ram story has been part of Balinese, Bengali, Kashmiri, Thai, Sinhala, Santhali Tamil, Tibetan and Pali amongst others. There are innumerable versions in Western languages also. The narrative in these is not matching. Those opposing this essay take Valmiki as the standard and others as diversions which are not acceptable to them for current political reasons. The version of Ramayana, the communalists want to impose has the caste and gender equations of pre-modern times, so it is hung up upon that version only as the sole acceptable one. Interestingly, one can see the correlation between the class/caste aspirations of the narration/interpretation. In Buddhist Dasharath Jataka, Sita is projected both as sister and wife of Ram. As per this version, Dashrath is King not of Ayodhya but of Varanasi. The marriage of sister and brother is part of the tradition of glorious Kshtriya clans who wanted to maintain their caste and clan purity. This Jataka tale shows Ram to be the follower of Buddha. Similarly, Jain versions of Ramayana project Ram as the propagator of Jain values, especially as a follower of non-violence. What do both Buddhist and Jain versions have in common is that in these Ravan is not shown as a villain but as a great spiritual soul dedicated to quest of knowledge, endowed with majestic commands over passions, a sage and a responsible ruler. were descendents of conquering Indo-Europeans who overturned the original egalitarian society and forbade the conquered from studying texts. His mythology is woven around King Bali who could invoke the image of peasant community. Needless to say, his murder by Lord Ram from behind is condemned and is seen as an act of subjugation of lower castes by the upper castes. And Ram is seen as an avatar of Vishnu out to conquer the land from the Rakshasas (those protecting their crops) for establishing the hegemony of upper caste values of caste and gender hierarchy. Dr. Ambedkar and Periyars commentaries are more an alternative reading of the Valmikis text rather than a separate version. There is a good deal of overlapping in the interpretation of both. Dr. Ambedkar focuses his attention on the issues pertaining to Rams killing of Shambuk for violating the prevalent norm where a low caste person has no right to do penance, tapasya. Like Phule, he also castigates Lord Ram for murdering the popular folk king Bali. He questions Rams act of taking Sitas agnipariksha, trial by fire, and his patriarchal attitude towards her. After defeating Ravan, he tells Sita that he had done all this battle not to get her released for her own sake but to restore his honor, and his banishing her in response to the rumors about her chastity when she was pregnant comes for severest criticism from Ambedkar. Periyar is basically taking the same line but in his interpretation, the North Indian upper caste onslaught-South Indian resistance becomes the central theme. Periyar, the initiator of Self Respect Movement, was the pioneer of caste and gender equality in Tamilnadu. In one of the movements, which is not much known, on the lines of Dr. Ambedkar burning Manusmriti, he planned to burn the image of Ram, as for him Ram symbolized the imposition of upper caste norms in South India. This was a part of his campaign against caste Hinduism. Periyar also upheld Tamil identity. According to him, the Ramayana story was a thinly disguised historical account of how caste-ridden, Sanskritic, Upper caste North Indians, led by Ram, subjugated South Indians. He identifies Ravan as the monarch of ancient Dravidians, who abducted Sita, primarily to take revenge against the mutilation and insult of his sister Surpanakha. In his interpretation, Ravana is practitioner of Bhakti, and is a virtuous man. It seems the dropping of the essay from DU syllabus is under indirect political pressure of communal forces. RSS and affiliates, who have reaped rich dividends from the campaign around Lord Ram, are also giving the political message of caste and gender hierarchy, through the Valmiki version upheld by them and presented in current times by Ramanand Sagars tele serial Ramayana. And the politics claiming to be tolerant is intolerant about scholarly renderings of Many Rams: Many Ramayanas prevalent World over! (Issues in Secular Politics)

It is known that there are hundreds of versions of Ramayana Buddhist, Jain, Valmiki etc. Paula Richman in her book Many Ramayanas (Oxford) describes several of them. And, again, there are different interpretations of the prevalent Valmiki Ramayana, many of which are not to the liking of those who are indulging in politics in the name of their faith. Surprisingly, all this intolerance is shown by those who assert that Hinduism is tolerant and other religions are not.
Popular and prevalent Womens Ramayana Songs of Telugu Brahmin Women, put together by Rangnayakamma, keep the womens concern as the central theme. These songs present Sita as finally victorious over Ram and in these, Surpanakha succeeds in taking revenge over Ram. In Thai Ramkirti, or Ramkin (Rams story), there is a twist in the tale and Shurpanakhs daughter decides to take revenge attributing her mothers mutilation primarily because of Sita. More interestingly, here the focus is on Hanuman who, in this telling, is neither devout nor celibate but quite a ladies man, looking into the bedrooms of Lanka. In Valmiki, Kampan and Tamil tellings Hanuman regards seeing another mans sleeping wife as a sin, but not in this Thai version. Incidentally, he is a very popular Thai hero even today. Also, like Jain Ramayana, this Thai telling focuses on genealogy and adventures of Ravana and not of Ram. In recent times Jotiba Phule, who stood more with the interests of Dalits and women, was amongst the first to interpret this mythological tale from the perspective of those subjugated by caste/varna/gender hierarchy. Phule points out that upper castes

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Mumbai: Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has sought police protection in the Byculla District Jail after she was allegedly assaulted by some African women prisoners, her lawyer said on 3 November. I shall be moving an application before Special Judge MCOCA Court tomorrow (Friday) morning since her life could be in danger, advocate Ganesh Sovani told IANS. Recounting the incident, Sovani said on Nov 1, Sadhvi told her brother-in-law Bhagwan Jha about the Oct 27 incident. Some African female undertrials created huge problems for Sadhvi and her colleague Rita Jaiswal, Sovani said. When the jail authorities were alerted, they could not reportedly control the African inmates. He said Jha has filed the application in the Special Court seeking an inquiry into the incident and appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of Sadhvi and Jaiswal. Sadhvi Pragya, who has been in the custody of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad since the past over three years, had been assaulted by a female undertrial nearly two years ago. She is one of the prime accused in the Sep 29, 2008 Malegaon blast which killed six people and injured 100. The case is handled by the National Investigation Agency. (IANS)

Pragya seeks protection in jail

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14 The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

ANALYSIS
Speaking Out
N I L O FA R S U H R AWA R D Y

UP Polls: Muslim & Dalit Votes! W

ith Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections less than a year away, strong speculations and calculations are afoot regarding which party or coalition will head the next state government. The UP results are expected to play a crucial role in deciding the political fortunes of those contesting the 2014 parliamentary elections. Against the backdrop of Mayawati having taken over as the chief minister in 2007 with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) winning more than 200 seats, the crucial question bothering her rivals is whether they will succeed in pushing her out of power or not. It is with this intention that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is trying his best to win over the Dalit votebank. The political assumption guiding this strategy is that Dalit votes can be wooed away from Mayawati by him. And Rahuls success in doing so can ensure Congress a good hold in UP, which is also expected to facilitate his entry on the national stage in a major way. Rahul has undeniably received substantial media coverage in the efforts made by him to secure Dalits support in UP. This includes his having meal at a Dalits home and recent report about a group of Dalits having assured Rahul their support for Congress. But this is just one of the many complexities involved in UP elections. There is no doubt that Mayawati as chief minister of UP has given the states Dalits a new political confidence and also a

major boost in their political identity. The key Congress leaders playing their part in ensuring success for their party in UP, including Rahul, Digvijay Singh and Rita Bahuguna belong to higher castes. Now can a Dalit be expected to identify himself with such leaders, politically and socially? It seems practically impossible. Also, compare this with strategies being used to woo the states Muslim voters. On one hand, Salman Khurshid is assuring reservation for Muslims in a short period, on the other Digvijay Singh is making noises against the saffron brigade hoping that this will help Congress win over the states Muslims. Even though reservation-talk and comments against the saffron-brigade arent expected to have any appeal for the UP Muslims, at least they have some political value, though minimal. Certainly, Rahul having meal at a Dalits residence spells a lot of media-hype and some short-lived political importance for that particular Dalit family. It doesnt carry as much political weight or appeal as that of a Dalit heading the UP government. Rahuls strategy does not appear to carry any major political message for UPs Dalit community as a whole. If Congress decides to project a Dalit as the states next chief minister, that may carry greater political importance for this community. But prospects of Congress projecting either a Dalit or even a Muslim candidate for this position may be dismissed as almost negligible. The explanation is simple. Congress is also bothered by nagging fear of losing Hindu votes, particularly high-caste ones. Here, it may be noted for 2007-polls, Mayawati played shrewd politics by giving importance to Muslims and high-caste Hindus in her political camp. She did so without being bothered by the fear of losing Dalit votes. She can play

the same strategy again, though the end-result may not be a repeat of what she achieved in 2007. Chances are that Congress may not succeed in creating a major dent in Mayawatis Dalit vote bank. There is also the possibility of no major numerical change in her Muslim supporters, though their faces may change. If some decide to cease supporting her, new Muslim supporters from rival camps may join her party. And this game of changing sides is expected to pick up heat when parties take final decision on their candidates for the assembly seats. This may continue after the polls, if the results do not signal a decisive victory for any one party. Notwithstanding all the noise made about Mayawati having done practically nothing for benefit of Muslims in UP, it cannot be missed that even during most tensephases, she has kept the state free of communal conflict. Last year, when Allahabad High Court was scheduled to pronounce its judgment on Ayodhya-issue, the entire nation was gripped with tension, apprehending the possibility of communal riots taking place. Mayawati kept the situation in UP totally under control. Some political murmurs are doing the rounds about Mayawati losing support of high caste Hindus. This development will be more clearly visible when the final list of BSP candidates is announced. The high-caste candidates fielded by BSP are likely to have chances of securing more votes than candidates of the same caste fielded by Congress. Had Mayawati been forced to face mid-term polls, it would have made sense to speculate on her party having lost ground in UP. This has not been the case. Against this backdrop, while Rahuls campaign may increase number of seats for Congress in UP assembly, it is least likely to spell a major loss for BSP!

SIGNPOST

Media and Democracy in a Globalising World

MOHAMMAD ZEYAUL HAQUE looks briefly at how media thrive in a democratic environment and how they sustain democracy, which is an essential condition for their own survival, power and growth. And how globalisation affects the play. Globalisation is largely good for capitalism, democracy and media, although there is a downside to it as well. One has to keep it in mind that media operations are driven by a business logic and a clear profit motive, rather than as selfless service to society. The motive behind it is not altruistic, which means living for the alter, the other. That is, it is not primarily a service to others, but a commercial operation like a private hospital, a law firm or a business consultancy that solves others problems for a fee, for profit. The official organs of political parties and other such outfits are not part of this discourse, I must caution. It is also important to remember, especially in our Indian cultural melieu, that being paid for ones services is not illegal, much less immoral. This holds for profit on business investments as well. An interesting example comes from around 2400 years ago in ancient Greece when the Father of Modern Medicine and the founder of medical ethics, Hippocrates, said that it was quite proper for physicians to charge a fee from patients and for professors of medicine to charge a fee from medical students. Even in todays NGOs, which are non-profit organisations, people are paid well for their work. Media as commercial operation are not necessarily the source of all evil we associate with them today. We may wonder how come a commercial operation has become the Fourth Estate, at least informally, while no other business activity has been granted this lofty status as moral authority. Well, this was not always the case, and it has become a reality over the last two and a half centuries, gradually, as a historical process of powersharing in the emerging democratic polities. Media people have struggled relentlessly against mighty State structures to claim their own territory and expand on it. The latest and most spectacular example of taking a courageous stand and sticking out ones neck for the defence of freedom of expression and transparency in governance is Julian Assange of Wickileaks, who has been targeted not by some Asian, African or Latin American dictator, but the supposedly advanced democracies of the United States, Europe and Australia. So far the traditional media - newspapers,

Globalisation does not mean just the free flow of finance, goods, services and even labour across borders. It also means homogenisation and standardisation of lifestyles and cultural choices. This is not good for the cultural diversity and indegenous knowledge base of countries like India, nor for their cultural diversity. Worst of all, it introduces new pressures that directly affect our democracy. Foreign news agencies, foreign publications, TV programmes and software work under an agenda that does not help us.
magazines, radio and TV - had fought relentlessly and won many battles for freedom of speech for people. However, as technology expands, and Internet and social media of all sorts take the centrestage, Wickis struggle has brought the most spectacular victory for democracy as represented by the principle of free speech and transparency in governance. Free speech we already recognise as enshrined in our own Constitution, but we have not been used to transparency in governance and day-to-day life. Scams like 2G and the Bellary mining operations in Karnataka are possible only in secrecy and stealth, not in openness and transparency. There is that English saying, no guilt, no stealth. Media allows very little room for stealthy operations. Media have, in India and all over the democratic world, consistently helped the cause of democracy by promoting openness. Over the last two and a half centuries media have been so crucial to public life that the American writer Arthur Miller observed fifty years ago, A good newspaper, I suppose, is a nation talking to itself. Such significance in a democratic nation gave the newspaper a tremendous clout in public affairs. Within the next decade, two young journalists - Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward - virtually chased one of the most powerful US presidents, Richard Milhouse Nixon, out of the White House. Nearer home, Girilal Jain of The Times of India wrote an edit The Prime Minister Must Go and the powerful Mrs. Indira Gandhi quit. We have to admit that it was not The Times of India that unseated Mrs. Gandhi, but Indias independent judiciary that played a major role as Allahabad High Courts Justice Sinha unseated her by declaring her election void. This reminds me of a discussion I had with the managing director of one of the large newspapers of the GCC. Introducing his newspaper, he said, Ours is The Times of India of the region. I politely told him that there was a minor difference. The Times of India wrote an edit asking the powerful Mrs. Gandhi to quit, and she quit. But if your editor does that he will be sacked and put on the next plane to whichever country he came from, your publisher would be jailed and your offices locked. He did accept that media thrive in a democracy only. In democracies media alone do not fight for freedoms, they are also supported by an independent legislature, free judiciary, and other constitutional institutions. Such power has corrupted the profession, we must admit, but the idea of putting curbs on media has been consistently rejected by the entire democratic world. We have to remember Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who built our democracy brick-by-brick and strengthened the foundations of media freedom. When Congress leaders complained about his newspaper National Heralds editor, M. Chalapathi Raos independent line and asked for his removal, Pandit Nehru said he would happily sack half a dozen Union cabinet ministers rather than one editor. It is on such conviction in the absolute value of freedom of the press that the foundations of democracy have been laid. Nehru believed that democracies had to learn to tolerate some bad journalism to keep the freedom of expression alive. That is the position in the West as well. With globalisation, new elements have come into play in Indian medias ownership patterns, a trend that can make our medias independence subservient to foreign capital, their policy choices and strategic priorities. This is a matter of concern for all of us. Globalisation does not mean just the free flow of finance, goods, services and even labour across borders. It also means homogenisation and standardisation of lifestyles and cultural choices. This is not good for the cultural diversity and indigenous knowledge base of countries like India, nor for their cultural diversity. Worst of all, it introduces new pressures that directly affect our democracy. Foreign news agencies, foreign publications, TV programmes and software work under an agenda that does not help us. Finally, I would like to conclude by saying that India has faced many such challenges in the past and it would ultimately learn to cope with present challenges as well.

Establishing Democracy in Libya will be a hard task

The atrocious murder of Colonel Gaddafi engineered by the US-led NATO forces, after Saddam Husseins hanging in 2006 proves that in the current world order, the United States of America can do whatever it wishes with other nations and leaders who do not toe its line. It further strengthens my disputation that US hardly cares about egalitarianism or the well-being of other nations as long as its own financial and military interests are served. And this artificiality can well be judged by the fact that the US doesnt denounce human rights violations in countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia which are not different from countries where the US is eager for change. This does not mean that we support any tormenter be it Saddam Hussein or Colonel Gaddafi. My argument is: Gaddafi could have been taken into custody and put on trial at the International Court of Justice for his alleged misdeeds and atrocities. His assassination is nothing but another misdeed by global powers and alliances. As Gaddafis tyrannical regime in Libya has come to an end the National Transitional Council is set to initiate the process of democratic elections in the country. But for the Council steering Libya out to at least a near-perfect democracy will not be an easy job when the country has no contemporary history of party politics or the rule of law. So, it will be interesting to watch how the council establishes democracy in Libya which had been in anarchy for decades. Libyans should keep the state of Iraq in mind and should not go overboard to rejoice now. AZIZ A. MUBARAKI, Kolkata azizmubarki@gmail.com

The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011 15

JAMMU & KASHMIR

DATELINE SRINAGAR: AFSANA RASHID

AFPSA to go from some areas of J&K

Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) will go from certain areas of the state within the next few days, said chief minister, Omar Abdullah here on October 21. Return of peaceful situation has paved the way in this direction. These laws would be revoked from all parts of the state with restoration of peace and tranquility, said Omar while addressing police commemoration day function here at Zewan, adding that police is capable of shouldering its responsibilities. Reacting to this, separatists and mainstream politicians, October 21 demanded a complete revocation of the Act. It is good that the government itself has accepted that draconian laws are in place in state, said chairman Hurriyat (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani, adding now demilitarization of the state should start. Geelani, October 26 said Army could go to any extent to ensure that AFSPA isnt lifted. Chairman Hurriyat (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, In 2005, it had proposed to Prime Minister to revoke the Act. But if it is revoked tehsil or district wise that wont help. It should be revoked from all parts of state. If government says the situation is normal for what is the Act required. Mirwaiz, October 28 said that the Army was opposing the removal of the Act to maintain its domination. JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik said that revocation of the Act from the city will be of no use as villages are its real victims. Democratic Freedom Party chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah said, It is good for CBMs. But if the government is serious then all black laws should be repealed. Welcoming the step, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said it should be revoked from areas where fake encounters are happening. If it is revoked from Srinagar only then it is of no use. Senior Congress leader and Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohi-ud-Din said that army and security agencies have to give a report before the final decision about its revocation can be taken in the cabinet. IGP Kashmir, S M Sahai, October 22 said responsibilities of police will increase after revocation of Act from certain regions of state. Cautioning against withdrawal of the Act, BJP president Shamsher Singh Manhas, October 24 said, Security situation in the state hasnt improved. There are reports of increased infiltration by militants. If AFSPA is revoked from border areas it wont only hamper the security of the state but of the entire country. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, October 26 said, AFSPA will end only when militancy will end. If the chief minister is satisfied that militancy has ended in some areas of the state then he should identify these places and discuss it with the defence and home ministries. Chief Minister, October 26 said removal of the Act is in no way an effort to undermine the role of the Army. An impression that has been tried to be created that the state government and Army are working on a divergent path isnt correct because revocation of the Act is being done in consultation with the army and others. Soz, October 27 termed the decision as unilateral whereas Dr Mustafa Kamaal, NCs chief spokesperson said that the state congress was consulted a number of times. NC president Farooq Abdullah, October 28 said AFSPA will be lifted from the entire state as the situation improves. Soz on November 3 said AFSPA is a temporary situation. It has to go and it will go automatically if Disturbed Areas Act (DAA) will go. Senior vice president of Awami National Conference Muzafar Shah, October 28 said, If PDP and NC are sincere, they should unanimously revoke DAA. Then centre would have no reason to continue with the Act. State cabinet that met here under the chairmanship of chief minister October 28 reportedly discussed modalities for revocation of the Act from certain areas of the state. According to a local news agency, KNS a final decision regarding its revocation will be taken in the next cabinet meeting scheduled to be held at Jammu. Terming it insignificant APDP, October 28 said that the same wouldnt be proper for improving human rights situation and for providing justice to affected people. It urged GOI to end the culture of impunity and not just AFSPA. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief for Northern Command Lt Gen KT Parnaik, November 3 said the situation isnt conducive for revocation of the Act. Without AFSPA the army will be handicapped.

Once Interlocutors finished their job, Geelani says he is ready to talk!

Mainstream political parties have welcomed the readiness of chairman Hurriyat (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani to enter into parleys with the Government of India (GOI) over resolution of the Kashmir issue. Describing it as a big thing senior National Conference leader and member of parliament Mehboob Beig said both GOI and Geelani should grab this opportunity and move forward sincerely and consistently to find a solution to it in a time-bound manner. Welcoming the step, senior Congress leader and minister of PHE and Irrigation, Taj Mohi-ud-din said dialogue is the only way forward and we want to take everyone along. Naeem Akhtar, PDP spokesperson said dialogue is the only way forward, but dialogue should pave the way for everlasting solution to the Kashmir issue. It has been reported that serious efforts are going on in New Delhi to rope in separatists including Geelani for talks and a major plan is on the anvil to hold deliberations with Kashmiri leaders in the next two years and a report submitted by the three-member panel of interlocutors appointed by the Centre on Kashmir is expected to act as a precise data for it. It has been reported that the centre would make the offer of an unconditional dialogue to the separatists. Even Geelani has reportedly said if any such offer is made, well sit and discuss. ing local Muslim boys and girls to Christianity after luring them with money and other incentives. Christian missionaries have been utilizing funds from America and Europe for converting naive people of other religions to Christianity. This has often led to conflicts in several parts of the world, said the conglomerate here, October 25. The eight-minute video posted on the social networking website, Facebook, showed a group of Kashmiri Muslim boys and girls converting to Christianity. Religious sermons of Christian belief were being recited and converts took a dip in an artificial pond to adopt the new faith. Chief Priest C M Khanna was reportedly shown leading the conversion process. Police has registered an FIR under sections 153-A, 295 and 186 RPC. Grand Mufti Moulana Bashiruddin has summoned Khanna on November 12 after he ignored Muftis earlier warrant. Expressing serious concern over it, Ameer Karwani Islami, Maulana Ghulam Rasool Hami, October 30 said We ask Muslims who have fallen into this trap to present themselves before the Ulema before Eid-ul-Azha and seek repentance from Allah. Otherwise, a fatwa (decree) of social boycott would be issued against them. Senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, October 29, urged Ulama and Islamic bodies to take strong action against luring people with money to change their religion. Settling slumdwellers is meant to change demography. India wants to make people stateless in their own state as Israel did with the settlement of non-Arab Jews among Palestinian Arabs. Geelani, October 20 said GOI was trying to settle non-resident slum dwellers in the state and alter its demography. Weve proof that the government is planning to settle 4, 98, 000 non-resident slum dwellers.

already deposited Rs 453 crore with the state government. For the remaining amount, bills have been sent to it. He was reacting to a statement issued by NHPC in New Delhi wherein they had claimed that the state government has withdrawn water-tax on power projects run by them. NHPC has no legal position over power projects run by it in the state. It is neither owner of any power project nor an agent as it isnt a state subject. Opposition PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti, October 29 said, Lies about revenue collected from imaginary water-tax from NHPC has been nailed by no less than the chairman of NHPC Sirivastava, who in his performance report for the current year claimed that the state government had waived off water-tax worth Rs 453 crores chargeable to NHPC. She added, claims made by the state government about expected revenue from the proposed water tax should have been reflected in the state budget which was never done. Jammu and Kashmir Bank, October 31 issued a statement showing that NHPC has deposited Rs. 805683558 on 12-062011, Rs. 205231054 on 29-07-2011, Rs. 24665688 on August 4, 2011, Rs. 63656790 on 22-10-2011 and Rs 626440419 on 25-102011. The corporation doesnt have any record of agreements with the state government over projects run by it in the state, says a RTI filed by Kashmir based civil society group. Providing details, Bashir Assad, a group member, October 30 says that there has never been any sort of agreement between state government and NHPC. The RTI was filed after the High Court disposed their petition and directed them to directly approach stakeholders.

Mystery shrouds NC worker death

More than a month has passed since the mysterious death of National Conference (NC) party worker, Syed Muhammed Yousuf Shah here on September 30. A special anti-corruption court here, November 1 rejected a plea seeking probe by the CBI into Yousufs alleged custodial death. His family had demanded a CBI probe in the matter. The Supreme Court, October 31 issued notices to the centre and state government on a plea seeking CBI probe into Yousufs death. The Apex court asked the state government to submit its response within two weeks as to why the case couldnt be handed over to CBI. High Court, October 29 rejected a request by the state government to appoint a sitting judge to probe Yousufs death, owing to paucity of judges in the state. The chief minister then asked the Union Law Minister Salman Khursheed to suggest names of three retired Supreme Court judges for appointment to a Commission of Inquiry under Jammu and Kashmir Commission of Inquiries Act, 1962 to conduct judicial enquiry in the matter. Yousuf had died under mysterious circumstances after he was handed over to the crime branch of the police allegedly by the chief minister at his residence, September 29 following a complaint by two NC activists; Mohammad Yousuf Bhat and Abdul Salam Reshi that the deceased had taken Rs 1.18 crore from them in lieu of a ministerial berth and a berth in the legislative council.
Greater Kashmir

Water projects at J&K expense

National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) has been illegally occupying Uri-I and Salal power projects without having any ownership or lease rights over them, says the state government. Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohi-ud-Din said here October 24 that the Corporation had been given rights of execution, operation and maintenance of these projects. Neither the state nor the central government has given them any ownership rights, but theyve illegally occupied them. Addressing the media, October 29, he reiterated that the state would buy back all projects from central agencies. NHPC was asked to apply for licenses; they sought ownership that was rightly denied. It would have to pay water charges. NHPC has

Alarm over Christian missionary activity

Chairman Hurriyat (G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani has raised his voice against the alleged role of Christian missionaries in convert-

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16 The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

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MEN & WOMEN IN NEWS

MUHAMMAD ANAS, a student of Milli Model School Delhi secured first position in the 21st Seeratun Nabi declamation competition held at Anglo Arabic Primary School at Turkaman Gate, Delhi on 2 November. More than 40 students from 19 schools took part in this competition. He was given an award consisting of Rs. 250 in cash, a set of religious books, a medal and commendation certificate. Prof. M. ASLAM, a Kashmiri, has been appointed, and taken over, acting Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) at Delhi on 21 October in place of Prof. V.N. Rajasekharam Pillai who retired after completing five years term as its VC on 20 October. Before his new post, Prof. Aslam was Director of IGNOUs Schools of Continuing Education and professor of rural development since 1992. Before that he was consultant to many UN organisations like FAO, UNDP and EDI of World Bank. He was also honoured earlir with Presidents Award for Excellence at PAN Commonwealth Forum in 1999. Journalist ABU ZAFAR ADIL AZMI is among the eight prominent journalists who have been selected by the famous NGO, CSDS and given the fellowships to familiarise people in general about educational and other problems of people prevailing in rural areas of the country. Abu Zafar is the only Muslim among these eight journalists and Azamgarh for the first time has been selected for such a survey. The main topic of this fellowship is the situatin of primary education in Azamgarhs rural areas. As per fellowship rules, he (Abu Zafar) will have to visit different rural areas of Azamgarh and submit his reports about the progress or otherwise of primary education during six weeks for this news agency. Sardar PUSHPENDAR SINGH, a member of Delhi States Minorities Commission has been selected for being appointed as a member of India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi: In addition to this, he is also a members of the managing Committee of Chelmsford Club, New Delhi. While thanking IICCs managemtnt for this honour, Sardar Pushpendar Singh said that he will soon organise a grand seminar in this Islamic Centre on the personality, achievements and sacrifices of Sikh religious leader Guru Nanak (on his birthday on 10 Nov.) and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. Dr. ABDUL MALIK of AMUs Department of Agricultural Microbiology has been entrusted with a 3-year world cooperation project (2011 to 2014) by Indian ministry of science and technology and Portugal governments Foundation for Science & Technology under Educational Exchange Programme in the fields of energy and environment alongwith Prof. MANDELA ELIZABETH of Portugals Minho University. Under Indo-Portugal Cooperation in Science and Technology agreement research scholars and scientists of the two universities i.e. AMU and Minho University will tour both universities for doing research work. Dr. Malik has already been honoured with many awards and fellowship by foreign universities. Dr. IQBAL AHMAD of AMU has been appointed new President of AMUs Department of Agricultural Microbiology in place of Dr. Abdul Malik after the expiry of his term. Dr. Malik proceeded to Portugal on a three years Fellowship assignment. Dr. REYAZ AHMAD, Assistant Professor in AMUs Zoology Departments genetics section has been granted the prestigious Boy SCAST Fellowship by union ministry of science & technology for higher study and research in Clevland (USA)s Metro Health & Medical Centre for study and research on many human diseases. He was earlier also honoured with many awards and fellowships like UGCs Dr. G.S. Kothari Post Doctoral Fellowship, DSTs Young Scientist Award, CSTs Young Scientist Award, National Environmental Science Academys Scientist of the Year Award etc. Prof. ZUBER AHMAD, senior doctor in the Department of TB and respiratory system and diseases of AMUs JN Medical College has been invited for presenting his papers in the Chest-2011 Conference to be held in America. He will present research papers on TB germs, harmful effects of dust and particles of other gases on the lungs of sweepers and employees engaged in cleaning of roads and lanes etc. These people toured J&K and after seeing the pitiable condition of education there, they started a movement for promotion of education in 2004. With permission of the then CM of J&K Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, they brought 300 poor and orphan children from J&K to Kerala and arranged their religious and modern education. In addition to this, they arranged monthly scholarships of Rs. 750 each for more than 300 poor and orphan children for their education under Home Care Scheme. Dr. Azhari also built mosques and opened madrasas, orphanages etc. in J&K for taking proper care of such children. In recognition of their valuable services in social and educational fields they were honoured with above Awards at Faizan-e Aulia Conference. A series of contests and competitions associated with Sir Syed Ahmad Khans birthday celebrations at different places and dates such as Sir Syed Day celebration competition, Sir Syed declamation competition, Sir Syed Essay competition, Sir Syed Lecture and quiz competition etc. were held in connection with Sir Syed at different places and on different dates like Chaudhary Charan Singh Universitys Department of Urdu at Meerut, AMU Old Boys Associations at Nagina (UP) and Patna, Poornia (Bihar) etc. in addition to those at AMU and awards and prizes given were to those taking part in these competitions. The list of awardees is quite long which includes students, intellectuals, social and religious leaders and workers. Prominent among these are Prof. (Dr.) MUHAMMAD DAOOD, noted educationist at Nagina, Prof. TARIQ JAMEELI, a senior poet and litterateur for his valuable works in poetry as well as prose, Prof. Maulana SHAKEEL AHMAD QASMI at Patna, a man of many-sided personality. In

OBITUARIES
SALAHUDDIN PARVEZ, prominent Urdu poet, novelist, journalist and winner of Sahitya Academy Award died of heart attack at his residence at Aligarh on 27 October at the age of 59 years. He was a heart patient and had been ill for a long time. Born in Allahabad in 1952, he won many awards in addition to Sahitya Academys (on his book Identity Card) including Doha (Qatar)s Award which is given every year to Indian and Pakistan litterateurs. Some of his famous novels are: Ek din Beet gaya, War Journal, Namrata, Ek Hazaar do Raatein, Saare din ka thaka hua poorush etc. His poetic anthologies are: Love poems, Jungle, Sabhi range ke Saavan, Par maatma ke naam Aatma ke pattr, Kitaab-e Ishq etc. He is survived by his wife, one son and three daughters. Qari ABDUL HAFEEZ, famous religious preacher and Ameer of Aligarhs Tablighi Jamat died at Aligarh on 25 October at the age of 90 years. He was associated with tabligh and Tablighi Jamat for more than 50 years and helped and aided those engaged in tablighi activities. He leaves behind two sons and one daughter. Mrs. SHAKILA KHAN, famous social worker of Allahabad died on 28 October at the age of 60 years. She was under treatment in a Delhi hospital for about two months. She was a pious lady and very sympathetic to poor and needy people and because of this she was held in great respect. She was also very fond of literary activities and used to play host to many famous Urdu literary figures. She had set up a social organisation for the purpose of rendering help to poor and needy people. She is survived by two sons. Prof. TAHIR HUSAIN, a senior teacher in Jamia Millia Islamias Department of Law who gave a new direction to this Department and enabled this Department with his hard and sincere efforts to achieve new heights died in Delhis Escorts Hospital on 21 October after a brief illness. A native of Shahjahanpur (U.P.), many of his disciples are holding important and high posts in the country. addition to these senior people, there are students who secured top positions in essay writing, quiz and declamation competitions. Prof. SHAN MUHAMMAD of Aligarh Muslim University, a prominent scholar and Director of Sir Syed Academy was honoured with Sir Syed National Award by Nawab Ibn Sayed Khan Chhatari at a seminar organised by Maqbool Health & Social Welfare Society on Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Aligarh Movement. Speaking on this occasion, Prof. Shan Muhammad said that without modern education the progress of Muslims of India is impossible. A.R. RAHMAN, music director and two times Oscar Award winner has been honoured with Public Choice Award for composing the music of 127 Hours under Worlds Sound Track Awards at a function held at Los Angeles on 24 October. Mrs. SABA ISHRAT PATEL, Principal of Anjuman-e Islam Dr. Muhammad Ishaq Gimkhanawala Girls High School & Junior College, Bandra was honoured with Best Principal Award in recognition of her valuable services in the field of education at an educational seminar organised by Movement for Human Welfare in Mumbai. MIR IRSHAD ALI, proprietor of Aseel Tours and Travels, Aurangabad has been honoured with Ideal Khaadimul Hujjaj Award in appreciation and recognition of his good and very satisfactory services to Hajis in their travels, stay, meals, local transportation etc. including completion of governmental formalities from beginning to end of the Hajis. The Award was given to him by Aurangabad Municipal Corporations Mayor Ms. Anita Ghodilay. date from Balrampur parliamentary constituency. As president of Muslim Majlis, after the Meerut riot and Eidgah massacre of Muslims in Moradabad in 1980, he undertook a march on foot (padyatra) from Lucknow to Delhi to arouse common mans conscience and to draw the attention of people in the country to this massacre and the need for adequate Muslim representation in the security forces, especially Police. This was the first march on foot in the history of independent India and it was only later that late Chandrashekhar and others undertook padyatras. He used to lead relief work at riot-hit places. In 2001, he tried to establish a new Muslim platform in Uttar Pradesh by including Dalits and other backward classes but his falling health did not help him continue this activity for long. Born in the village of Kohnda in Eastern UPs Azamgarh district on 7 August 1936 and educated at Shibli College, Azamgarh and AMU, Fazlul Bari was an MLA from 1977 to 1987 and actively worked for Muslim issues like the minority character of AMU, Muslim Personal Law, anti-Muslim attitude of PAC etc. He had a clean and incorruptible image as a selfless politician like Lal Bahadur Shastri and Rafi Ahmad Kidwai. After serving as an MLA for two terms, he returned to his home town empty-handed and started agricultural activity on some land bought by his father, late Master Iltifat Ahmad who was a teacher in Gondas Thompson College and an important worker of Jamaat-e Islami Hind. All India Muslim Majlis Mushawarats acting president Dr. ZafarulIslam Khan, while expressing his deep sorrow over his sad death, said that he played an important role in bringing Muslims and Dalits closer to each other. (NA Ansari)

AWARDS
Uttar Pradesh Urdu academy has announced its awards for 2011-12 according to which its highest Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Award (of Rs. 5 lakh) for overall literary services to Urdu literature has been given to famous fiction writer and journalist AABID SUHAIL. Amir Khusrau Award (Rs. 1,50,000) has been given to ZAFAR Gorakhpuri. AZIMUSHSHAN SIDDIQI of Amroha has been selected for being honoured with Munshi Prem Chand Award (Rs. one lakh). For five other awards of Rs. one lakh each, persons selected are BASHEER FAROOQI (of Lucknow) with Mejaz Lucknawi Award for poetry, ANJUM USMANI (of Deoband) with Qurratul Ain Hyder Award for fiction, Dr. QAZI AFZAAL HUSAIN (of Aligarh) for Masood Hasan Razi Award for research and criticism, ATHAR MASOOD KHAN of Rampur for Ismail Meeruthi Award for childrens literature and IQTADAR HUSAIN FAROOQI of Lucknow for Salim Ali Ansari Award for science and other sciences. In addition to these there are two other awards of Rs. 50,000 each named Maulana Abdul Maajid Daryabadi Journalism Awards for ALAM NAQVI of Lucknow for print media and SUNIL BITTA for electronic media. SHEIKH ABU BAKAR and Dr. ABDUL HAKEEM AZHARI of Kerala were honoured with Muballigh-e Azam Awards by Jammu & Kashmirs Mufti Bashiruddin and Syed Muhammad Ashraf Indrabi in recognition of their valuable work in the promotion of education in Jammu & Kashmir where education has greatly suffered because of militancy, frequent strikes and related problems.

FAZLUL BARI (1936-2011)

Lucknow: Prominent Muslim leader and social worker FAZLUL BARI, popularly known as Bannay Bhai, died in a hospital here on 28 October after remaining in coma for days following brain hemorrhage. He was a former president of Muslim Majlis of U.P. and a former MLA. In a condolence message on his death, All India Babri Masjid Action Committees Convener, Zafaryab Jilani said that after serving as president of Aligarh Muslim University Students Union, Fazlul Bari went back to his ancestral home in Gonda. Soon he became very much impressed by Dr. Abdul Jaleel Faridi and joined his political party, the Muslim Majlis. After Dr. Faridis death, Fazlul Bari became president of Muslim Majlis UP for a long time. He was present in the meeting that was held on 4 February 1986 at the residence of Abdul Mannan Advocate, and in accordance with the decision taken in that meeting, Babri Masjid Action Committee was formed on 6 February 1986. As a member of this committee, Fazlul Bari actively worked for long in the movement for restoration and rebuilding of the Babri Masjid. He had demanded Muslim leaders at a meeting of Muslim Majlise Mushawarat to go to Ayodhya and sit in dharna there against the puja at the mosque site but his demand was not accepted. He had also played an important role during Janata Partys government from 1977 to 1979. He had always fought for the rights of Muslims. Because of his indifferent health for the past few years, he had been living in his home town Gonda. He had also unsuccessfully contested in the general election as a Janata Dal candi-

The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011 17

SPECIAL REPORTS

Indian Haj goodwill delegation

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 1 Nov. urged the Indian Haj delegation led by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K. Rehman Khan to convey the good wishes of the 120 crore Indians to the people of Saudi Arabia. Meeting the goodwill delegation for Haj 2011, the prime minister said India enjoys excellent relations with Saudi Arabia, and the rest of the Arab world, and would strive to promote them further. Besides Khan, the delegation comprises Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed, Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Kashmir legislator Hakim Yaseen, Amity Group senior vice president M.J. Rehman and Khargram (West Bengal's Murshidabad) Panchayat Samity member Abdul Kashem Sabhapati. Saudi Arabia allotted a quota of 1.75 lakh Haj pilgrims for India this year out of a total of 22 lakh pilgrims allowed from all over the world to perform Haj annually. Of the 1.75 lakh, 50,000 were allotted to private tour agencies while the rest of the 1.25 lakh were handled by the Haj Committee of India (HCI). HCI sources in Mumbai and the officials in the External Affairs Ministry (Haj Cell ) in New Delhi said that of the 1.25 lakh, a total of 11,000 seats were reserved for VIP category or government category, including 3,061 for MPs, 2,500 for chief ministers and another 500 for chairmen of Haj committees of different states and other categories. The remaining seats were distributed among the different states based on the ratio of their population. Tour operators charged as high as Rs 2-2.5 lakh against a maximum of Rs 1.20 lakh by the HCI per pilgrim. Traditionally, the Central Government sends a goodwill Haj delegation comprising politicians and their representatives every year at government's cost. According to sources, 30 persons

were sent last year in the delegation but it was brought down to 23 this year. Every year, there is a lot of pressure to get included in this delegation. Many, including ministers and MPs have been part of these delegations within a span of a few years. According

to last years figures, on an average every year more than Rs 8 lakh was spent on each delegation member during 2005-2007 and it jumped to Rs 13 lakh in 2008, that is many times more than the cost for an ordinary Haji.

Ulama and Mashaikh Maha Panchayat

Moradabad: All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board (AIUMB) held a mammoth conference, Maha Panchayat, here on 16 October. The Board gave a call to Sunni Muslims across India to reject and rebuff hardline Wahabism so that Islam could return to its tolerant, Sufi roots. When an extremist turns up at your door seeking your support, when anyone tries to recruit you into terrorism, hand him over to the nearest police station, said Board general secretary Maulana Syed Mohammad Ashraf Kachochavi, addressing a the Maha Panchayat of Sunni Muslims here. The Maulana asked the government to immediately pass legislation to set up a Central Madrasa Board so that fundings to madrasas could be audited and a watch kept on the flow of Saudi petro-dollars into madrasa education. The Maha Panchayat was a sort of coming out event for the AIUMB, which claims to represent 80 per cent of Sunni Muslims though it has been barely visible on the Indian Muslim political and cultural scene. The AIUMB's case is that despite their huge numbers, they have not been able to assert themselves because the Deobandis and the Wahabis have captured key Muslim institutions such as the Wakf Board and the madrasas, and also wield political influence far beyond their size: The government listens only to the hardliners. It has handed over Wakf properties and Masjids, which belong to us, to them. Board members stressed the threat from Wahabi extremism over and over in their speeches, arguing that a small group of people had succeeded in giving a bad name to Islam and Muslims, most of whom were Sunni Sufis and, therefore, peaceloving, tolerant and intensely patriotic. Speakers emphasised the essentially inclusive nature of Sufism which did not differentiate between Muslims and non-Muslims and allowed all communities to pray in their shrines. The Deobandis, on the other hand, did not allow their followers to go to Sufi dargahs. The time has come for us to come out and claim our rights. Let us take a pledge that we will never support Wahabi extremMG/Yusuf

ism - not today, not tomorrow. Let us take a pledge that we will work for the unity and integrity of our motherland, Maulana Kachochavi told the gathering. Later talking to the press, the Maulana made a strong pitch for a Madrasa Board saying: Right now the madrasas are under the control of Wahabi-inspired organisations which run on Saudi money. The ideology they teach and spread is hardline Wahabism. These organisations have put pressure on the government not to enact the Act. We want the funds to go to the really needy and poor. Remarkably, the Maha Panchayat was at best boycotted, if not ridiculed, by the influential Urdu press of north India. Last week, when the Board held a press conference in Delhi, Urdu journalists were openly hostile to the organisers, arguing that the AIUMB was trying to divide Muslims, and was no different from the Sangh Parivar, which saw all Muslims as terrorists. When journalists brought up the issue of the AIUMB's political leanings, AIUMB members insisted that they were

apolitical. However, Maulana Kachochavi made it clear that the AIUMB was opposed to the Congress which propped up hardline organisations like the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind. Asked if the AIUMB would put up its own candidates in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, he admitted that it was an idea they were contemplating, as that seems to be the only way to make people and the government hear us. But for now, we will vote for whoever supports all our demands.

Hyderabad Muslim youths attacked

Bomb ed discover ni va on Ad oute yatra r

Even such a big bomb failed to make my yatra a success

Hyderabad: At around 11:30 pm on 8 November, two different incidents of attacks on Muslim youths took place in this city in which three Muslim youths were seriously injured. The victims were returning after meeting relatives during Eid festival. The youth who was attacked at Kachiguda Masangatti Road was identified as Omer Farooq s/o Abdur Rehman (23 years), a resident of Old Malakpet. He was admitted into Sai Krishan Hospital and is in a serious condition. The other two youths who were attacked at Bowenpally (Army area) were identified as Abdul Kareem s/o Abdul Kareem, one of the three Muslim youths attacked on 8 Nov., lying in hospital late Abdul Intekhab, a resident of Taadbun and Abdul Azeem s/o late Abdul Gafoor, a resident of Darulshifa. Both were admitted into Sai Krishna Hospital. Abdul Kareem is in a serious condition while Abdul Azeem has been dischareged from the hospital. The attacks were carried out by suspected RSS elements. Both attacks were similar and the Muslim youths were attacked with kamma kattis on their head and neck. Similar attacks are going on since Diwali against Muslims. The first attack took place in the outskirts of the city under Cyberabad Police limits and on Ibrahimpatnam Road under Vanasthalipurum Police Station limits. The matter was brought to the notice of Dinesh Reddy, DGP Andhra Pradesh, S A Huda, Addl. DGP (L&O) and Tirmal Rao, Commissioner of Police Cyberabad. After strict vigilance by Cyberabad Police, the attacks stopped but the culprits have not been identified yet in the previous cases. The attacks later moved to Hyderabad city limits possibly to prepare the ground for a communal flareup. Amjed Ullah Khan, Corporator Azampura Division, visited the spot where the above two cases took place and he also visited the victims in hospital and spoke to them promised them all help.

18 The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

COMMUNITY NEWS
AMU academic council meets

Release of Maulana Nanotvis biography

Deoband: A function was held at the historical town of Nanota, the birthplace of Maulana Muahmmad Qasim Nanotvi, founder of Darul Uloom Deoband, to release his biography in Arabic written by Maulana Owais. Speaking on this occasion, Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasimi, Rector of Darul Uloom (Waqf), said that the essence of Islam lies in three things, i.e., Shariat, mysticism and politics, and all these things were found in Maulana Qasim of Nanota. He said that it is very difficult to satisfy mans mind but Maulana Qasim Nanotvi performed this job very well. Speaking on this occasion, Darul Uloom Deobands rector Maulana Mufti Abul Qasim Banarsi said that during the 150 year history of Darul Uloom Deoband no effort was made to introduce or shed detailed light on the personality of Maulana Nanotvi but his biography by Maulana Owais will fill this vacuum. He said that the process of burying or eliminating Islam that was started by the British was foiled and stopped in its tracks by Maulana Nanotvi. He said that the plan of anti-Islamic forces was to put an end to the Islamic faith and values in this country but the illustrious ulama not only foiled their unholy attempts but also protected and promoted Islam and Muslims with the power of their knowledge, pen and practical work. Maulana Jamaluddin, an exegesist of the Quran, said that the past of the Ulama has been glorious and history shows that inspite of very low salaries and great hardships they nurtured this land. He called upon the Ulama to take practical steps to promote and take forward the movement started by Maulana Qasim death for two days under a tree. Unable to see her agony Puttan rushed to kind people for succour, Saheb, meri ammi ko bacha lo. Some kind hearted people got her admitted to the Victoria Hospital. Puttan informed people that his brother had sold the house and went away to Bhopal, after their fathers death, with all the money. Dy. Superintendent of the medical college Dr. Ajay Sharma said that he would find out why she was discharged from the hospital when she was serious. Wonder if Montekji is listening! How will he assess the family? (AG Khan) Muslim woman killed in car crash: guilty officer absconds A woman, who was seriously wounded when a government vehicle hit her, died because of the callous attitude of the officer who was rushing to attend an official programme antyodaya (ending the misery of poor). In this case, the vehicle brought the poor to an end who awaited death in a serious condition. After the hit and run by the bank manager, several prominent officers also passed by but none bothered to enquire or ensure that the victim was rushed to hospital. B.P. Chaudhari, manager Distt. Land Development Bank, was on his way to attend the antyotaya meeting at Sarangpur. A 40-year old woman Marzeena w/o Fakir Muhammad was walking. The vehicle collided, hitting and seriously wounding her. The vehicle also skidded. The woman was writhing in pain. However, instead of rushing her to hospital, the bank manager collected his papers and documents and managed to abscond. The villagers tried in vain to inform the police which arrived too late to be of any help. Meanwhile the poor woman succumbed to her injuries. The poor woman was a tinker (mending utensils). She is survived by five children out of which two are dumb girls. Though villagers assembled seeking help but several officers who also rushed to attend the programme i.e. CEO Distt. Panchayat Distt. Food officer R.S. Meena etc. Even the guilty manager Chaudhari also returned by the same route. But none bothered to find out what happened to the unfortunate woman. R.K. Kusumakar, T.I. Katwali Rajgarh said that the accused would be charged under section 304 A. Not to rush a patient also falls under a criminal act. Let us hope the matter is not hushed up, and liberal compensation is paid to the bereaved children because in this case officials are involved or since the victim is a Muslim woman, why bother! Teachers served substandard food Ujjain: The orientation programme for training teachers throughout the state has one ugly incident apart from the one reported earlier (16-31 Oct. M.G.). Teachers were served weevil (ghun) infested gram for breakfast which resulted in loud protests from teachers. About 150 teachers of Hindi are undergoing orientation programme at the Govt. P.G. College of Education. Angry teachers reported the matter to district Collector Dr. M. Geetha who promptly deputed tehsildar Dr. Nityanand Pande to look into the matter. A sample has been taken while the Principal has sent a notice to the caterer. Teachers narrated several other complaints regarding lodging and boarding arrangements. Not only did they complain about the sub-standard meals being served to them but also about shortage of water in the hostel. Constant innovation is the key to rule the world Ahmedabad: Among all the nations of the world Muslims in India are the happiest. By resorting to negative thinking in terms of majority versus minority we have shed enough tears. It is time to ensure quality in order to succeed. People who are ruling over us owe their success to constant innovation. We have become subservient because we have said good bye to micro planning, innovation and honesty. If we desire to rule nations we must resort to constant innovations These ideas were expressed by P.A. Inamdar, eminent educationist and President Nanotvi. Aziz Burney, group editor of Rashtriya Sahara Urdu daily, shedding light on the history of Ulama and madrasas said that governments and all sections of people of this country should know that had Darul Uloom Deoband not been there, this country would not have achieved freedom. He said that it was from this historic land that the call for independence was first of all made and Maulana Qasim Nanotvis movement had rid this country of the yoke of slavery and that today again there is need of taking up and performing the same duty and responsibility. He called upon madrasa students to acquire proficiency in other sciences also so that attacks on Islam and Muslims could be replied to in the same language. Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, vice-president of Delhi Urdu Academy, laying emphasis on milli unity said that the Umma is already facing extraneous problems and hence there is great need of milli unity. He said that people who nurture sectarian differences and disunity cannot be faithful to any sect, even to their own religion. He said that Maulana Nanotvis knowledge was immense. He said that this biography was first of all written in Urdu by Maulana Yaqoob Nanotvi and it is a happy coincidence that his first biography in Arabic also was written by Maulana Owais of the same town. He said that it is the responsibility of todays Ulama to convey Islams message to the world and also tell them that the hand that holds the Quran cannot lob bombs. (Nadim Ahmad) of the Pune based Maharashtra Cosmopolitan Education Society while speaking at the 20th anniversary of Gujarat Today. He reminded the audience that even when the community tried to shape its destiny through transformation no power on earth could arrest its march to development. He complimented Gujarat Today for creating an intellectual climate (scenario) where people gather in thousands and listen in pin drop silence. A rare feat indeed because in the past nobody turned up for an academic discussion. He appreciated the tremendous progress Muslims in India made during the past 60 years. It is true that Muslims did not get everything they strived for but it would be a sin, a lie, if we say that Muslims got nothing. He reminded us that neither the Brahmins, Kshatriya, nor the Shudra too could get every thing. They too are yet to get what they rightly deserve. He expressed satisfaction over the fact that education of masses has taken giant stride. He urged the Ulama to think positively. In their prayers they should ask Allah to bless the community with ten Presidents as He did it in case of one President. He pointed out that there was an acute shortage for students of hostels where they could live for prosecuting their studies. Recalling the past visit that he made immediately after the 2002 carnage in Gujarat, he said that he had thanked Modi for uniting the Muslim community by heaping atrocities on all irrespective of their Shia-Sunni Syed, Barelvi, Pathan identity. All efforts to unite them to sink their sectarian identities had utterly failed. However, the stunning blow that Modi dealt on the community made them unite together. On that occasion, Inamdar had vowed to himself to give Modi a befitting reply by spearheading campaign for Muslim education. He is happy to note the fact that number of private institutions has risen from 197 to 800 today. 60-year-old bride for a family of 122 Silchar: Haji Abdul Noor, 120-year-old bridegroom with a family of 122, married a 60-year-old bride to make a grand total 124! Abdul Noor lost his first wife six years ago and was looking for a bride to look after him. Father of two sons, and four daughters he has more than a hundred grand children. The new bride was a widow without children. Muslim girl becomes GS at Gujarat College Ahmedabad: Gujarat Vidyapeeth, established by Gandhiji in 1920, demonstrated the Gandhian spirit of communal harmony by selecting a Muslim girl as its General Secretary. For the first time a Muslim girl Shaheen Pinjara from a small village was selected as GS out of 13 departments at the Mahadeo Desai Samaj Sewa Mahavidyalaya of Bharuch district. She wants to become a journalist to raise issues pertaining to women. She happens to be the first P.G. student of the Pinjare community. Her colleagues consider her a talented leader with inborn qualities of leadership. Her Principal Kanubhai Naik also appreciated the choice of CRs and regard her extremely competent to emerge as a good teacher. Kashmiris face psycho problems due to long tension period Srinagar: Action Aid International India, an NGO, has stated in its report released on 29 October that because of the two decades long tense situation created by militancy in Kashmir, people are facing psychological problems which are increasing. On one hand whereas people who are victims of mental tension are not allowed, alongwith other people to take shelter in mosques, on the other hand because of shortage of man power in the health system, hospitals and clinics etc. their culture also is affected. It is stated in this report that the root causes of peoples psychological problems are feelings of insecurity, violence, provoking to adopt violent methods, cruelty, insult and many other such reasons like death of near and dear, sexual assaults and excesses, feeling of taking revenge, break-up of family bonds etc.

Aligarh: The Academic Council of the Aligarh Muslim University met on 24 October. It approved the establishment of Area Study Centre on South African and Brazilian Studies as an independent centre within the premises of the Centre of West Asian Studies. Prof. M. Gulrez has been suggested as its founder director. The meeting was presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis. The meeting also approved the implementation of the judgment of the Honble Supreme Court for providing access either by inspecting of or by permitting certified copies of the evaluated answer books and also to frame the operational guidelines as per the provisions of RTI Act. The University allows re-evaluation of answer books within ten days of the declaration of the results. The period is extendable by another ten days for genuine cases. The University also decided to destroy the evaluated answer book after six months from the date of declaration of the results. The proposal to switch over to two-tier Admission Tests, i.e., Preliminary Admission Test and Final Admission Test in MBBS/BDS/B.Tech./B.Arch. and class XI/Diploma Engineering Courses from 2012-13 session was also approved in principle. The Academic Council has constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Prof. Saleemuddin with all the deans of the faculties and Controller of Exams as its members. This Committee would work out the modalities and identify the challenges. The Academic Council also approved the status report with regard to strengthening of schools run by the AMU and ratified the replies sent by the University to the UGC in respect of the proposal for institutionalization of ABK Union High School (Boys and Girls). The meeting considered UGCs minimum standard and procedure for award of M. Phil./PhD degree Regulations 2009. The Council also considered the revised ordinances (Academics) and Regulations for M. Phil./PhD programme effective from 201011. The meeting of the Academic Council also considered the proposal of Chairman, Department of Wild Life Sciences for seeking approval for the admission list of two-month certificate course in Remote Sensing and GIS Application in Environmental Studies. Muslim leaders oppose direct recruitment of IPS officers New Delhi: Leaders of Muslim organizations have opposed the decision of the central government to directly recruit 1400 new IPS officers, saying that this will be against the interests of the minority community as this will further lower their representation in the IPS. The leaders urged the prime minister to withdraw the decision believed to have been taken at the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) level to hasten the process. Direct recruitment of 1400 new IPS officers will rob Muslims of their constitutional right of equal opportunity in government jobs as the recruitment will be done not through open competitive exam, they said in a joint statement. The PMO is said to have accepted the proposal for direct recruitment of 1400 new IPS officers bypassing an open competitive exam. For the recruitment, the Union Public Service Commission will hold departmental exams open to officers of the rank of DSP or major/captain of defence forces. In a joint statement, Maulana Jalaluddin Umri (Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind), Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan (Working President, All India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat), Dr Zafar Mahmood (President, Zakat Foundation of India) and Justice Rajndar Sachar have demanded withdrawal of the decision. They said Muslims are just 2.3% in Indian police service and other civil services while according to 2001 census, their share in population is 13.4%. In armed forces, their presence is even lower than IPS and Civil Services. Dr Zafar Mahmood said that due to this recruitment the representation of Muslims in IPS will further go down for the next 3-4 decades. He added that not holding open exam for recruitment of 1400 new IPS officers is against the interests of Muslims. The decision violates the constitutional right of equal opportunity in government jobs, he added. The leaders demanded Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to immediately withdraw the decision and recruit new IPS officers through normal open exam conducted by UPSC. Their tryst with destiny: awaiting death at the graveyard Maut kitni bhi sangdil ho magar Zindagi se to meharbaan hogi - Sahir Yes, sometimes even death seems to be a solace - an escape from the miseries of this world. That is why people resort to suicide. However, in the case of seventy-five-year old Sughari Bi even death did not show the mercy her son had hoped for. Sughari Bi suffered a paralitic attack and was referred to the medical college hospital as her condition was critical. She was treated for a few days and later on discharged with the hint that her end was near - take her home and nurse her. But her son Puttan did not have a home either. As the last resort he took her to the gravaeyard with the hope that she would die soon. Exposed to the fury of nature beneath the sky she awaited

The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011 19

COMMUNITY NEWS
Another extension for SIT in Ishrat case
Ahmedabad: Inspite of two extensions the SIT investigating the Ishrat case could not submit its final report. On SITs plea to grant further extension, Gujarat High Court granted one more extension by instructing it to report the matter by 18 November. The bench also asked it to complete all the tests by 11 November involving CFSL expertise. The next hearing will be on 21 November. The special team under its fourth chairman R.R. Verma had undertaken a reconstruction of the events in the presence of CFSL and AIMS teams in July and the reports were received by 5 August. The High Court had asked the SIT to submit a conclusive report by 7 September. However, the SIT could not arrive at a definite conclusion during its one month probe to find whether it was a fake encounter or not. There were quite a few queries which needed expert opinions. In the light of this the court had given an extension till 5 October and had fixed 7 October as the date for hearing. The CFSL report submitted by the SIT had omitted several important points mentioned in the post mortem reports. Several witnesses had also retracted their past statements. Hence the chairman decided that all such witnesses should be subjected to psycho analysis tests to determine whether their earlier statements were false or the later ones. These tests will be conducted between 19-23 October in the presence of CFSL experts and their findings will be over by 11 November. This will enable the SIT to submit its report by 18 November. The court, however dismissed all the excuses of the state government which it had put forward to explain the causes for the delay in transferring police officers. The High Court had directed the government to transfer senior police officers Tarun Barat, G.L. Singhal and P.P. Pande out of Ahmedabad. However, the home department took 11 days to comply with the instructions of the court. In reply to the contempt of court notice (for such a delay) chief secretary home Balwant Singh enlisted several reasons e.g. Assembly which was in session at that time; several important bills being processed then; world cup matches etc. It also enumerated the fact that it was busy in finalising the names of SIT members. However, the High Court was not satisfied with these excuses and commented that it was not convinced with the explanations and asked why was the file kept pending for four months. Converts face the ire of the Dalit community Mumbai: The mainstream media once again failed to highlight atrocities against Muslims and preferred to maintain a silence, by reproducing the police version of the incident, without any questions or even trying to get to the truth. Valimikinagar, an extension of Bandra has a sizeable population of dalits and Muslims. Three girls belonging to the dalit community Harsha (17) Jagriti (15) and Gauri (13) embraced Islam and were named Zohra, Sadia and Iqra respectively. They used to study the Quran and Fazail-e Amaal in Hindi and became convinced of Islam being a true faith. The angry members of the community attacked them most barbarously and the police arrested the victims for causing the riot. They were later on released on bail. Their mother, Dayawati Dagao, also embraced Islam and became Ayesha. She too was arrested and later on released on bail. Their father followed suit, after having studied Islamic literature. They were, thereafter, subjected to atrocities of the community who resorted to attacking them mercilessly. Some Muslims residing in the neighbourhood rushed to their rescue. The investigative journalists preferred to maintain silence and published the police version. None bothered to interview the affected family. The incident on 7 October resulted in 13 persons being injured, including five policemen. Christian delegations study tour of Jamia Salafia Varanasi: A Christian delegation consisting of ten members from different states of the country paid a visit to Jamia Salafia, Banaras (Varanasi) with the purpose of obtaining information about Islam. The Jamia (Salafia) administration held a reception in their honour wherein the delegation members while describing the purpose of their visit said that we have come here to know about Islam. Maulana Asad Madni, Rector of Jamia Salfia enlightened them about the principles and teachings of Islam in detail. He told them that the fundamental principle of Islam is tauheed, i.e., the unity of God, i.e., belief that there is only one God. Thereafter, he informed them about Islamic values, relationships with human beings particularly with parents, relatives, neighbours and others. He informed them about many important events, anecdotes and incidents in the Prophets life. Editor of Jamias monthly magazine Muhaddis, Maulana Abdul Wahab Hejazi also briefed them, including the five pillars of Islam and their importance. After this the delegation members asked some questions regarding terrorism which, to their mind, were in conformity with the teachings of the Holy Book and their interpretation by many important followers of Islam. Suitable answers with reference to contexts and the different teachings and injunctions in verses which create confusions and misunderstandings in peoples minds were given and explained. Meanwhile there was call for Maghrib namaz. The delegation members expressed their desire to see how Muslims offer namaz. They saw the whole scene from open space in the Jamia. Some students of this institution also took part in this meeting in addition to teachers. At the end some selected books about Islam, its messages and Hadees etc. in Hindi were also given to them.

173 cases against an accused

Lucknow: Mrs. Rukhsana, an agent of Lucknows Thana Chowk Post office, was accused of cheating and befooling hundreds of people by convincing them that she will deposit their moneys in their post office accounts but did not deposit their amounts in their accounts and pocketed their money herself. She collected crores of rupees by this fraudulent practice. Since she was an authorised agent of the post office, people believed her and instead of taking the trouble of going to the post office and depositing the money themselves, they used to give their money to her to be deposited in their accounts. When her fraudulent practice came to be known, many people filed cases of fraud and misappropriation of funds against her. In this way as many as 173 cases were filed against her and she was arrested in the year 2000. After about two years i.e. in 2002, taking all the 173 cases into account she was sentenced to a total of 188 years, all the sentences to run concurrently. In addition to imprisonment she was also fined Rs. 8,38,799 and in case of default i.e. inability to pay this fine to the court, an additional imprisonment of 47 years, seven months and 27 days was also ordered. When she recently applied in the High Court for reduction of her sentence through her lawyer, the Court bench of Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice S.C. Chaurasya did not accept her application for commutation of sentence but instead, directed JNU is an educational institution, not a place of worship:VC New Delhi: In a circular recently issued by Jawaharlal Nehru University administration offices, students of this University have been asked to control their religious zeal and remain within limits. It is also stated in this circular that this University is an educational institution and not a religious place of worship of Hindus or Muslims. The students have been instructed to concentrate on their education and not to hurt the religious feelings of anyone in the name of religious freedom. The issuance of this circular was necessitated following some incidents recently when indecent and insulting remarks against Islam were made by ABVP members which had resulted in clashes and riot-like situation inside the University campus. The University administration had suspended ABVP units president and secretary. Again, on the occasion of Dussehra, non-Muslim students of this University had indulged in a poster war and put up many big posters inside the campus depicting Hindu gods and goddesses which was very much disliked by secular minded students who had expressed their resentment. A complaint was made to Vice Chancellor, saying that religious freedom does not mean that posters representing a particular religion should be pasted on the walls of the University. Meanwhile, some students belonging to the organisation, All India Backward Students Forum not only criticised the pasting of these posters but also put an anti-Hindu symbol, which made the atmosphere of the whole University very tense. The Vice Chancellor taking immediate action ordered an enquiry into this provoking symbol and issued a notice to All India Backward Students Forum. The University administration issued a stern warning to those hurting religious feelings of any community and said that such mischief will no longer be tolerated in future. A responsible member of the University administration said that JNU has a secular image where there are students following different religions and also those who do not belong to any religion but if anyone indulges in such mischiefs, it will not be tolerated. Rhetoric in the name of Wahabism regrettable New Delhi: General secretary of Markazi Jamat Ahl-e Hadees, Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mehdi Salfi in a statement while expressing his great concern over the efforts being made to spread hatred among Muslims of India in the name of Wahabism said that the terms Wahabi and Wahabism are the products of the British mind which it had coined them to create and promote dissensions and disputes between Indians and to punish those people who were taking an active part in the Indian freedom movement. Hence at that time Wahabis and rebels of British government were considered synonymous words. Neither the Saudis ever considered this word worthy of attention nor did Muslims use it for themselves. It is, however, a fact that these very people were always in the forefront in liberating this country from British imperialism. It is also an undeniable historical fact that the main mission of these people was to present Islam among the Umma in the same spirit and form in which it was in the days of the Prophets (pbuh) companions, and which was a blessing, guarantor of peace, embodiment of clear teachings of the Quran and Hadees and quite simple, free from all adulterations alterations and free from un-Islamic customs and traditions. There was no element of violence, differences and extremism. Therefore, the rhetoric from Muslim Maha-panchayat is in no way correct, just and in the interest of the country and nation but harmful from all aspects. Jamaat Ahle Hadees activities are in the true spirit of Islam and all its activities are being carried on in the same spirit from the very beginning. Its activities and messages were more powerful in the past than at present. Its madrasas were preaching Islam in a more effective way in the past when Arabs had no petro-Dollars. The propaganda that is being unleashed today that Jamat Ahle Hadees is being flooded with money from the Arab world is totally false and baseless. On the contrary, the fact is that non-Muslim institutions are getting maximum foreign wealth and Muslim institutions in comparison with them are nowhere. Moreover, if at all a few Ahle-e Hadees the state government to settle her case on reducing the term of her sentence. Her lawyer argued in court on her behalf that she has been in in jail since the year 2000 i.e. for more than 10 years and she is now more than 60 years of age. Therefore, taking into account her old age and the long period that she has already spent in jail she may either be released or at least her sentence may be reduced. Her Lawyer submitting the affidavit said that she (Rukhsana) has been languishing in the district jail for eight years as an accused which is about 156 years, 7 months and 14 days (in view of the fact that all sentences run concurrently) and after taking jail rules and benefits into account, 15 years of imprisonment still remain and since she has not paid the fine (Rs. 8,38,799), she will have to face imprisonment for 62 years (47 years in default of fine plus 15 years). He also denied that any application of Rukhsana is pending for hearing. Government prosecutor said that Rusksanas age is 55 years and she is not suffering from any dangerous disease and hence under jail rule no. 196 she doesnt deserve any relief or concession. The learned judge said, after hearing the arguments, that since this court has rejected her appeals, it has no right to consider her appeal and only the state government can consider her appeal. Therefore the bench directed the state government to decide on her appeal for reduction of her imprisonment. (NA Ansari) institutions get money from the Arab world it is extremely small as compared to other Muslim institutions and organisations which they receive with the knowledge and permission of the Indian government. Complete transparency is maintained in these amounts and detailed account is maintained. Jamat Ahle Hadees has to its credit of being the first organisation to use all possible means and resources to fight terrorism, and has passed condemnatory resolutions from the sermons by Masjid Imams to statements in print and electronic media, seminars, conferences etc. from different platforms alongwith Muslims and other countrymen. Four Muslims among Indias hundred richest persons New Delhi: According to the 2011 list of one hundred richest Indians issued by the world famous magazine Forbes, four Muslim industrialists find a place in this list this year: Their names are Azim Premji, owner of I.T. company Vipro, Yusuf Hameed, owner of pharmaceutical company Cipla, Habil Khorakiwala, also of the pharmaceutical company Wockhardt and Irfan Razzaq of the famous company in the field of building and construction. Azim Premji is a familiar name who was three or four years ago the richest person of India. Pesently the total assets and business of his company Vipro are worth 13 billion USD. In the Forbes list of richest persons of the world from the point of view of total turnover and assets he ranks at No. 36. Last year in December he had donated 2 billion USD to his educational trust for the promotion of education, the highest by any Indian industrialist or philanthropist. Yusuf Hameeds business is in the field of pharmaceuticals, drugs and medicines. His total wealth including assets and business turnover is worth 1.75 billion Dollars and in the Forbes list of worlds richest persons his ranking is at No. 1057. Habil Khorakiwalas business also is in the field of drugs and pharmaceuticals. He is the third richest Muslim of India but does not find a place in the Forbes list of worlds richest persons. Fourth richest Muslim in India is Irfan Razzaq whose company, Prestige Estate Group is in the field of building and construction. At present his 61 construction projects are underway at different places in South India. He too does not find a place in the Forbes list. Why many languages made second official languages: gov Randhi: Jharkhand governor Syed Ahmad, questioning the basis on which so many regional languages have been made second official languages of the state, returned the Bill that seeks to accord as many as 11 languages the status of second official languages of Jharkhand. It may be stated that in addition to Urdu, other languages sought to be given this status, according to this Bill, are Bhojpuri, Maithili, Bengali, Oriya, Santhali and some others. At present, Hindi is the official language of the state and Urdu is the second official language. He has asked chief minister Arjun Mundas government to explain the basis on which it has decided to accord second language status to so many languages. It is understood that the governor has some doubts over widespread use of Bhojpuri and Maithili in the state. Dharavi Muslims to shift their industrial units to Bihar Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has granted permission to 70 Bihari businessmen from Mumbais Dharavi to open industries in Bihar by shifting their industrial units from Mumbai. The Bihar government has allotted a Special Economic Zone on the outskirts of the capital of Bihar for that purpose. Treasurer of Anjuman Bashindgan-e-Bihar has said that around 109,000 square feet has already been allotted by the chief minister of Bihar and the location of this allotted space is right outside Patna and very close to the highway. The Dharavi Muslim businessmen are associated with Anjuman Bashindgan-e-Bihar organisation. All these members have been asked to deposit Rs 1 lakh in advance to avail these units. The location and the buildings of this industrial zone will be designed by Hafeez Contractor of Mumbai. The special economic zone will also include hospital, restaurant and skill training centres for the workers and labourers.

20 The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

COMMUNITY NEWS
Gujarat Muslims mad(e) for Modi!
Navsari: One more sadbhavna blast that proves Gujarat Muslims are madly in love with Modi and that is why they are so keen to offer him a headgear. Long back, Oscar Wilde had exclaimed, Are the critics of Hamlet really mad or only pretending to be? The same question might be asked about the Gujarati Muslims who are bent on expressing their mad loyalty to Modi who is wise enough to repell all efforts to woo him. After all he is sane enough to keep his head clear free from all kinds of infections and pollution specially the virus miyanmitis. The allergy might cost him his prime ministerial post. He does not want to annoy Bala Saheb Thackray. The Keffiyah (Arab headgear) offered by BJP supporter Muhammad Hussain Fadi was politely declined. How nice of Modi to be so polite! He could have, instead, roared, Damn it, hell with your caps and Kaffiyahs! It seems neither Modi nor the Gujarati Muslims are corrigible. Farukh Sheikh, renowned film actor and social activist, had very precisely asked the question while addressing the Gujarat Today 20-year celebrations: why did you reach sadbhavna programme with folded hands? (For the simple reason) that if you keep someone in good humour your business would flourish. From an audience bursting with laughter came the quip, in order to cap him to which Shaikh advised, If you are so fond of offering cap grace it on your own head! He reminded the audience that everyone rides a docile horse. Muslims should not become docile horses for anyone to ride. Is Indresh Kumar (Rashtriya Muslim Manch) listening? 15 lakh jobs for SC/ST, backward and Muslims in A.P. Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has reiterated his resolve to create 15 lakh jobs under Rajiv Yuva Karnalo in three years, 50% of which will be for people belonging to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, backward classes and minorities i.e. Muslims. He also issued instructions to prepare a strategy through which orders could be issued for one lakh appointments in a single day by prime minister Manmohan Singh. According to a release by chief ministers office, he alongwith 20 cabinet ministers, official whip and senior officers reviewed the progress made under Rajiv Yuva Karnalo scheme. He said that Confederation of Indian Industry made an estimate of the requirement of 70 to 80 lakh employees upto 2015 in Andhra Pradesh in which the number of unskilled employees will be 30 to 35 lakh. He also said that the central government will provide Rs. 120 crores for the training and promotion of skills of the youth affected by extremism and violence of the left front in Adilabad and Khamam districts of the state. Edu institutions do not maintain statistics about minorities New Delhi: According to the preliminary survey or pilot report on the management and working of many reputed higher educational institutions submitted to HRD ministry, it was found that most of these higher educational institutions do not maintain statistics about minorities and weaker sections of society. Under this pilot survey of the educational system carried out in 26 reputed colleges and universities including Banaras Hindu University, Acharya Nagraj University, Osmaina University, Punjab University, Institute of Genome Integrated Research and Science & Technology Research Council, it was found that most of the higher educational institutions dont have statistics about students and teachers belonging to minority communities. Many private educational institutions are run by trusts and there is no system of maintaining accounts or records of expenditure. Such records are kept with the trusts and not given to the institutions concerned. It is also found in the survey that in hostels of many such institutions, students in much greater number live there than is the capacity of these hostels. For example, the capacity in hostels of Banaras Hindu University is about 7,100 but around 12,900 students are living there. Similarly, in Punjab University the capacity in its hostels is 3571 but as many as 5869 students are living there. In Delhi Universitys hostels, however, there is not so much over-crowding seeing that the capacity in its hostels is 1854 and 1922 students are living i.e. an excess of about 70 only. Conditions in AIIMS and JNUs hostels from this point of view are the best because the number of students in the hostels of these institutions is in accordance with their capacity. While submitting the pilot report the concerned authorities had suggested that since there are 218 universities and about 31500 colleges in the country, it is difficult to complete this survey in two months. Hence now 2300 persons have been put on this job. Under this survey, the surveyors were asked to collect details of different syllabi of educational institutions, number of students in different faculties, position of registrations, results of examina-

Illegal construction in Tibbia College at Karol Bagh

New Delhi: General secretary of All India Unani Tibbia Congress Dr. Sayyad Ahmad Khan has demanded that Delhi government take steps to put an end to all illegal occupations and constructions in the campus of Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College, Karol Bagh which is a national asset set up by Mahatma Gandhi and the freedom fighter, Masihul Mulk Hakeem Ajmal Khan. He said that Hakeem Ajmal Khan had avoided the building of important and essential things like Masjid in Tibbia Colleges campus so that in future no illegal constructions and occupations of any kind should be built in this campus but it is a great pity that today this campus could not be protected from illegal occupations and constructions by government sharks and greedy land mafia. This is the same Delhi government which uprooted lakhs of people for building of Khel Gaon and Akshardham Temple but appears to be totally unmindful in protecting and preserving this national heritage. tions after each session, financial condition of different departments and so on. It may be stated in this connection that the government had prescribed a target of 15% registrations (which earlier were 12%) by 2012 and 30% registrations by 2030. Rais Khans affidavit against Setalvad Mumbai: Rais Aziz Khan, the former co-ordinator of Teesta Setalvads NGO Citizen for Justice and Peace, in an affidavit filed in the Bombay High Court has asked for a fresh hearing of the Best bakery case of 2002. He has accused Setalvad of fabricating evidence and tutoring the witnesses. He has appealed to the court to allow him to register his statement afresh and also to investigate Setalvads conduct. In order to ascertain the facts a polygraph test on her should also be conducted, urged Khan in his petition. This affidavit assumes significance in the light of April 2011 affidavit by Yasmin Shaikh that Setalvad had tutored 17 witnesses by promising them favours and gains. Premji plans to open 1300 schools to provide quality edu Mumbai/Bangalore: Azim Premji Foundation which is funded by the great industrialist Azim Premji, in accordance with its plan to improve the education system of the country has decided to set up 1300 schools all over the country at the rate of two schools to a district of the country in which free education will be imparted to students in their local language. These schools will be approved and recognised by state Boards. These schools will be opened and run on an experimental basis and if this experiment proves successful it will serve as an example to the countrys educational system which according to observers, has failed to produce the desired result. Moreover, it will motivate other industrialists in the country also to undertake similar projects in this and other fields for the welfare and progress of the country. Premji says that in these schools education will be upto 12th standard like other government schools but their standard will be higher. The idea of opening such schools came to his mind after observing the performance and success of his Foundations activities in other fields during the past ten years which was started in 2001. Foundations CEO Dilip Sanjekar said that previously the plan of the Foundation was to open and set up a Board on the pattern of ICSECBSE but most of the people were of the opinion that if, instead of a Board, schools are opened, much more changes and improvements would be seen and felt. Hence we decided to open such schools which is a Rs. 9000 crore project. In such schools attention will be paid to all-round progress of students. He further said that our intention is not to enter into competition with the existing government or private schools. Hence our schools will be opened in those areas where there are very little or no arrangements for education. He said about seven schools will be opened in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh in one and a half years and if all goes well in accordance with the plan, 1300 schools will opened by 2025. He demanded that the Delhi government, as per the proverb killing two birds with one stone, and in accordance with the Congress Partys promise in 2009s election manifesto to set up National Unani University should upgrade this Tibbia College as National Unani University and put a stop to illegal constructions and occupations in its campus. He further said that both the central government and Delhi government are of the congress party and under such conditions Ayurved and Unani Tibbia College can easily be made National Unani University and in this way at least one promise of the Congress Party will also be fulfilled. He also said that in this campus Delhi governments ISM&H Department is set up, which unlike Ayurved, has not made any plan for the survival and progress of Unanipathy for the past 20 years. Hence, there will be an opportunity for this University to be helpful in the survival and progress and development of Unanipathy. (NA Ansari) and bank chiefs meet in September. The performance of the banks in the eastern region and the north-eastern states is likely to be reviewed on 3 December. Last year 13 PSU banks failed to meet their target on lending to minorities. By the end of 31 March, IDBI Bank Ltd, Bank of Maharashtra, Corporation Bank, State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur, Dena Bank, Vijaya Bank, Andhra Bank, State Bank of Mysore, Union Bank, Bank of Baroda, and Oriental Bank of Commerce, State Bank of Hyderabad and UCO Bank failed to meet the target of 15 percent. Nitish to announce schemes for minorities during yatra After flagging off Advanis Jan Chetna Yatra from Bihar Nitish has planned his own brand of yatra named Seva Yatra to live up to his own version of politics. Seva Yatra which is scheduled to start from 9 November is aimed for an image make over and acceptable to all communities. During his yatra he is likely to announce at least 10 new schemes to be undertaken for minorities. The new schemes are: 1. Mukhyamantri Shram Shakti. 2. Grant for minority students living in hostels. 3. Mahatma Gandhi and Maulana Azad Residential Training School for minorities. 4. Occupational training for minorities. 5. Schemes for graveyard. 6. Aid for minority orphanages. 7. Kasturba Gandhi Residential Schools for Muslim girls. 8. Hazrat Fatima skill development programme for girls and women. Apart from these additional schemes some other schemes are already in place which include special schools to minimise dropout rates, scholarships to minority students, vocational training for Muslim girls and boundary walls for over 9000 graveyards. In the last assembly elections in Bihar Nitish Kumars emphatic victory became possible because Muslims voted for him in large numbers and therefore the expectation of Muslims are also in accordance with the support they had given him. The Seva Yatra will cover 38 districts and is likely to end in February. 54 new health centres to be opened in Mewat Firozpur: Civil Surgeon of Mewat, Dr. K.S. Rao said at a press conference in this citys Al Afia Hospital that Haryanas Department of Health has decided to open 54 new sub-health centres in Mewat district and at the same time old buildings of the existing sub-health centres will be repaired and provided with necessary facilities. He said that these new centres will be opened in those areas where there are no health centres even now so that health facilities could be made available to village people. He said that in places where the existing health centres are in very bad condition and repair work is going on, persons in charge have been directed to take suitable houses on rent with arrangements of electricity and water. He said that owners of these houses will be paid rents from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1500 per month.
Possible link between terrorists and Bengali labourers probed

BACK ISSUES AVAILABLE

Pranab asks banks to ensure easy lending to minorities In order to woo minorities ahead of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttrakhand and Gujarat next year Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has asked all government banks to focus on opening new accounts for people from the minority community and at the same time to meet the target of 15 percent of all priority sector lending to minorities. The banks have so far not been able to achieve their target. It was 11 percent in 2009, 13 percent in 2010 and 14 percent in 2011. The government had issued instructions to all government banks to ensure 15 percent lending to minorities three years ago. In view of increasing the overall share of minorities in all development funds, Mukherjee has also asked these banks to furnish details of the number of new accounts opened earlier and the status of pending application in this regard. The T HE M ILLI G AZETTE performance of the D-84, Abul Fazl Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar, banks in the northern New Delhi-110025 India Tel.: (+91-11) 2694 and western region has 7483 Email: mg@milligazette.com already been reviewed during finance minister

Thiruvnanthapuram: After detection of fake Indian currency worth about Rs. 2.14 lakh by National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) in Kerala on 22 October police is now investigating about links between Bengali labourers in Kerala on the one hand and Pakistani and Bangladeshi terrorists on the other hand. According to state police, there is possibility of secret connections between Bengali labourers who have come from West Bengal and fake currency mafia and terrorist groups from foreign countries. According to police, even Bangladeshis describe themselves as Bengalis in the state. It is understood, according to state police, that some local people also help them in their illegal activities. 3-year R.I. term for SIMIs Munir Deshmukh Bhopal: Munir Deshmukh, the SIMI chief, has been sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1000 for illegal activities and inciting religious frenzy. Judicial magistrate Ramkumar Sonkar pronounced the verdict on Saturday 22 October. According to the prosecution the incident occurred on 27 September 2001 at house No. 47 in the Shahpura locality. Girish Bohre, incharge of the Habibganj police station, was on his routine rounds when he an informer apprised him about Munirs activities of distributing posters against a particular religion. When his house was raided Munir managed to escape. Police found objectionable documents at his house during the raid. A case against him was registered under sections 153 (b), 295 (a). When he was absconding he was arrested in 2009 in the T.T. Nagar area near the Mata Mandir.

The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011 21

COMMUNITY NEWS
Charity of Charity Commissioner
Mumbai: Recently, Office of Charity Commissioner, Mumbai has emerged as the biggest dealer of lands. In Mumbai alone the Charity Commissioner has authorised 130 property dealers to sell or develop lands. The sensational news is that all these properties are Muslim trusts. Legally speaking the Charity Commissioner should have given all such trusts and their management and control to Waqf Board but instead, the Commissioner had adopted a strange way of disposing of the lands of these trustees. When the Waqf Department of Maharashtra government (Mantralaya) began to review and analyse its lands and other properties, the strange practice adopted by the Charity Commissioner came to its knowledge. The price of each such property sold or developed may be to the tune of crores of rupees. The minister in charge of suburban areas of Mumbai is Muhammad Arif Naseem Khan who is also the minister for Waqf affairs. He had summoned the Charity Commissioner in his office recently and when an account of all his (Commissioners) strange transactions of charity from the year 2001 till date was brought to the ministers knowledge, he was utterly surprised. He has initiated action for getting back all those properties. He had called the chief engineer of Mumbai Municipal Corporations Planning Department in that meeting so that the construction work going on on those disputed lands could be stopped forthwith. Chances are that in this meeting, orders will be issued for cancellation of building plans of the builders and developers. The minister said that under section 43 of Maharashtra Waqf Board Act, 1985 the management of all Muslim trusts was to be transferred to Maharashtra Waqf Board and in 2003 it was also put into practice by issuing a notice/information in state government Gazette. Waqf Board had repeatedly complained that inspite of its continuous follow-up with the Charity Commissioner, he had not submitted to it (Waqf Board) the relevant papers and documents of Mumbai and Maharashtras Muslim trusts. And now his (Charity Commissioner)s office is permitting the property dealers to sell and develop these properties one after the other. About this, complaints against him have also been made to the law and justice department. The Waqf Department has also insisted that secretary of law and justice department should also be called to this meeting to chastise the Charity Commissioner. Following are some of the Trusts which have been permitted to sell or develop properties: Haji Siddiq Trust (2009), Dawat Hadiya Trust (2009), Madina Charitable Trust (2008), Mominpura Yaqoob Baig Trust (2008), Khoja Sunnat Jamat Trust (2005), Jama Masjid Trust (2005), Haji Abdus Sattar Trust (2004), Haji Ahmad Orphanage Trust (2004). Be prepared for jail for the third child Kochi: A person might find himself in jail if his wife happens to be pregnant for the third time and he shall be deprived of all official benefits. Kerala Womens Code Bill 2011 seeks to introduce such measures. A committee comprising 12 members under the chairmanship of justice V.R. Krishna Aiyar submitted a draft to the government. The Commission on Rights and Welfare of Women and Children proposes that the minimum penalty for the father would be Rs. 10,000 or a three months term in jail. Those who do not comply with the provisions of the bill would be denied all official benefits. It proposes to award a woman who marries after the age of 19 years and delivers a child after the age of 20 years to the extent of Rs. 5000. However, this incentive will be only for the first two issues. The bill does not exempt anyone on the ground of religion, caste or customs. No one would be allowed to defy family planning programme under political or religious pretexts. The Commission was appointed on 7 August 2010 to prepare a code for the Welfare of Women and Children.

Banks deny loans to zari artisans

Lucknow: A meeting of Khadija Welfare Foundation was held in its central office at Lucknow under the presidentship of Zamir Hasan on 23 October in which textile ministrys handicrafts departments welfare schemes for artisans of zari (gold embroidery) industry and the ground reality of these schemes was discussed and considered. Foundations general secretary Ali Agha said in this meeting that identity cards of thousands of people engaged in this industry have been got made with the help of this Foundation through which they can derive the benefits of Handicrafts Credit Card Scheme, including bank loans without any guarantee. The Foundation also helped in forwarding their loan applications, through Handicrafts Office, Barabanki, to important banks of Lucknow like State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Allahabad Bank and their various branches. These banks and their branches just for the sake of formality sent interview letters to some people engaged in this industry and turned them away on the pretext that loans will be given to them after making enquiries about their business and residences but thereafter no bank employees or their agents ever came to inspect their business or houses. He said that it is a MMK scores victories in local body elections Chennai: Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, led by Prof. Jawahirullah, has scored significant victories in the Tamil Nadu local body elections. MMK contested the local body elections on its own after the ruling AIADMK decided to desert its assembly elections allies. MMK was part of the AIADMK alliance during the Assembly polls held in April 2011 and won two seats. However, the ruling AIADMK decided to contest the local body elections on its own deserting all its allies at the last minute including the main opposition party DMDK, CPM, CPI and MMK. Manithaneya Makkal Katchi contested 600 posts in the local bodies and won 145 posts in these elections held on October 17th and 19th, the results of which were declared on 22nd. MMK won a seat in the Coimbatore Corporation. It also won 14 wards in Municipal Corporations and 40 wards in Town Panchayats. MMKs candidates also won the Chairmanship of six village panchayats and 84 wards in village panchayats. Besides, MMK candidates won unopposed 15 local body posts including three Town panchayat wards. MMKs candidate lost the Lalpettai Town Panchayat Chairmanship by a whisker. Its candidate came a close second or were in the 3rd positions in many of the posts it contested. For MMK this was the first local body elections it contested since its inception in 2009. All the major political parties flooded the voters with money. However, it is significant that MMK could win around 25 percent of the seats it contested without bribing the voters but gaining their support purely on the basis of its services. Government to provide modern weapons to riot force Parallel to Communal Violence Bill the Central government has also decided to equip the Rapid Action Force with the latest weapons to control riots more effectively. M Ramachandran, Minister of state for home while speaking on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of Rapid Action Force at Aligarh recently said that the Centre has decided to provide modern weapons to the riot control force to control communal violence effectively. He further said that if people expect the RAF to be capable enough to control violence without using any deadly weapon then for sure these forces must be equipped with the latest and most sophisticated non lethal weapons. K Vijay Kumar, Director General of CRPF said that the perpetrators of the violence are more aggressive and have started using very advanced weapons and the expectation of the people from the RAF has gone up manifold in terms of controlling riots and thereby it becomes essential to equip them with modern weapons. The Rapid Action Force came into being in 1992 and its present strength is about 10,000 personnel. Cow slaughter will invite imprisonment Gandhinagar: The monsoon session of the Gujarat Assembly, unopposedly passed an amendment to the Animal Protection Bill which was later on given assent by the state governor Kamala Beniwal. A gazette notification to this effect is awaited, which will decide the dates of its enforcement. This is to impose a ban on cow slaughter. Farmers and cattle owners shall have to seek a permit from the government for transfer (and sale) of animals in a prescribed format failing which the cattle and the vehicle would be seized by the competent authority, and would not be released till the court takes a decision or six months whichever is earlier. An animal cannot be slaughtered without a proper document or it will attract an imprisonment for a period of one year and a fine of Rs. 10,000. However, in case of cow, bulls, calf the term would be a minimum of three years to a maximum of seven years alongwith a penalty of Rs. 50 thousand. Court notices over atrocities by police and cow protectors Ahmedabad: Additional chief judicial magistrate (3) B.G. Joshi issued notices to DGP and D.S.P. of Ahmedabad district to explain their negligence (e.g. indifference) in response to a petition filed by the advocate of three victims. Afzal Mehboob Shah of village Bahial alongwith his cleaner Ejaz Aiyub and friend Rezak Hussain was having tea and breakfast on 29 August 2011 at a village Pardhol. They were attacked by Ballubhai Rabari, great pity that there are thousands and lakhs of people engaged in this industry but since almost all of them belong to the minority community i.e. Muslims, banks are meting out step motherly treatment to them which the Foundation strongly condemns and makes a sincere appeal to them that seeing their poor condition and their dire need of financial help, banks should put up camps and give them loans at the earliest. Banks were also cautioned that if they do not give them loans, the Foundaiton would lead them in holding protest demonstrations in front of their offices for which banks themselves will be responsible. At the end of the meeting Ali Agha said that complaints against these banks of not giving loans have been sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, finance minister Pranab Mukherji and textile minister Anand Sharma and it is hoped that when the ministers take notice of the banks attitude, they will give loans to these people. He also made an appeal on behalf of the Foundation to all those engaged in gold embroidery business to get their central identity cards made at the earliest so that the correct number of people engaged in this business could be known to the government and suitable action could be taken accordingly. (NA Ansari) Odharbhai Jagnal bhai Rabari, Popatji Babaji Thakor, Gopal Viram Baba Hira Rabri and Adar Hemaraj Rabari. They beat the three Muslims mercilessly. Someone informed the police which came to their rescue. However, the police arrested them on charges of hunting neelgay under the Wild Life Act. These atrocities by the so-called cow protectors in connivance with the police was in the knowledge of the D.G.P. But neither initiated any action. The three victims through their advocate Nisar Vaidya filed a petition in the Ahmedabad (Rural) court demanding action against the rioters and quashing false case against the three victims. The court has asked the officers to submit a progress report within 30 days. Sanjiv Bhatt fears assassination plot Ahmedabad: Sanjiv Bhatt after his release on bail in a statement expressed fear that he too might be eliminated in the same way as was Haren Pandya. Brimming with enthusiasm and confidence he expressed gratitude towards officers demonstrating solidarity with him by passing a resolution in his support. He pointed out that his telephone calls (mobile) are being monitored and his colleagues were avoiding him. He demanded a probe against Panth for his affidavit against him. He complained that heaps of documents that he had collected have been destroyed following the raid on his residence. His release on bail was subject to several conditions including depositing his passport and an order not to leave the country without prior permission and not to make any attempt to contact/induce/influence any witness through a person or by telephone. Bhatts fears acquire significance since an AIO K.P. Deoda was caught red handed while keeping a watch on Bhatts residence for several days. This is an incident similar to one reported by Haren Pandyas widow. I.B. is collecting information about the NGOs trying to keep in touch with Bhatt. A Maruti car GJ 18 G 1532 dropped a person at Bhatts residence who hid himself nearby. Shwetta Bhatt had been watching the person for four days. When all the members of the family took him inside the house to enquire about his past activities he disclosed that he was an A.I.O. in the state CIB I.B. and he was assigned the task of keeping a watch on the activities of NGOs. Shweta Bhatt, after the disclosure apprised the police commissioner of Ghatlodia police station who rushed to the place. Describing this as disgraceful that a police oficer was under the surveillance of the state police, Shwetta Bhatt called the attempt shameful Historical painting of Moti Masjid sold in New York

New York: A 16x13 painting of Delhis historical Moti Masjid inside the Red Fort by a Russain artist and painter, Waslivich named Pearl Mosque at Delhi which was displayed in an exhibition at Boston by the citys Museum of Fine Arts alongwith seven other paintings was auctioned in New York for 3,100,000 dollars (about Rs. 15 crores). In this painting people are shown offering namaz in the mosque. The Russain painter who had come to India alongwith his wife in 1974 had visited many historical buildings and monuments and had made paintings of many of these monuments. He had sold this painting to Boston (USA)s Museum of Fine Arts which put it up for auction in New York.

22 The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

COMMUNITY NEWS
Joshis return emboldens VHP cadre
Gandhinagar: Sanjay Joshi, the arch enemy of Narendra Joshi in the BJP, has not only been rehabilitated in the party but also been given the crucial responsibility of U.P. polls much to Modis chagrin. Anti-Modi BJP men are with Advani during his rathayatra. Joshi loyalists in the Modi cabinet are reporting to him and apprising him about developments in the state. Joshis rehabilitation has brought immense relief to VHP cadres who have now become bold enough to ignore Modis mood. Extremists are once again on their vicious designs. Not only are they accusing Modi of appeasing the minorities but also are renewing the trishul diksha programme. A programme held recently at Limbayat (Surat district) saw distribution of 11000 trishuls. The meet was addressed by fire and venom emitting Dr. Togadia. The diamond industry responded whole-heartedly to the programme and allowed four hour break from work to their employees. It may be recalled that inspite of Togadias campaign, Modi could succeed in winning 129 seats in the 2007 polls. Thus the Modi-Joshi-Togadia tug of war is being fought at the discomfiture and harassment of the minorities. It is a battle between the so-called sadbhavna and anti-minority fanatics. HC directs Delhi govt to constitute Waqf Board in 4 weeks New Delhi: Delhi High Courts Justice Nitin Sanghvis bench, in response to a petition filed by Muttahidah Mahaaz barai Tahaffuz-o Falah-e Auqaf (Regd.) (United Front for the protection and welfare of Auqaf) directed Delhi government on 20 October to form the Delhi Waqf Board within four weeks. General secretary of the United Front, Muhammad Atiq Siddiqi said that because of the dilly-dallying attitude of Delhi government in constituting the Waqf Board for the past several years the Front had filed a petition in the High Court for the constitution of waqf board. Fronts president Mumtaz Chawla himself had argued this case in the court. In accordance with the interim order of the court, Delhi government had arranged the appointment of two members viz. Chaudhary Mateen Ahmad and Maulana Qasim in the category of MLA and mutawalli (trustee) respectively but had not taken any action for the appointment of persons in the category of nominated persons ( as per the Waqf Board rules). At this the Front had filed this petition in response to which Justice Sanghvis bench passed this order for completing the constitution of Waqf Board in four weeks. In this case, Delhi government was represented by senior lawyer Rajiv Nanda and the Front was represented by its president Mumtaz Chawla. After hearing the arguments of both parties the Bench passed this order and fixed the next date of hearing of this case on 31 December 2011. United Fronts general secretary Atiq Siddiqi described Delhi governments dilly dallying tactics in constituting Waqf Board, Haj and other committees etc. as a deliberate attempt to harm the cause of Muslims. Information Commissions rules now in Urdu also in Bihar Patna: Bihars Chief Information Commissioner Ahok Chaudhary said here at a workshop organised by Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development that Information Commissions rules and regulations etc. will now be also be published in the states second official language Urdu. He asked the Institutes Director General Bala Prasad to get these rules and regulations published in Urdu also so that people knowing Urdu may also come to know about the Commissions rules etc. It may be stated in this connection that since the time the Information Commissioner Farzand Ahmad took charge in this commission he has taken practical and effective action in familiarising Urdu population with its rules and regulations. The result of his efforts is that now a decision has been taken to this effect. It is also decided that not only rules and regulations but Commissions achievements also will be published in Urdu so that Urdu knowing people, school and college students and teachers etc. could make effective use of Right to Information Act. The situation today is that people find great difficulty in seeking information for redressal of their grievances. It is expected that when people, particularly Muslims, become aware of their rights, difficulties could be solved to some extent. Ghazals and poems of 15 modern poets published New Delhi: A book containing poems and ghazals of 15 young and representative Urdu poets of modern times has been compiled and published. The book, titled Khidki mein Khwab is compiled by Adil Raza Mansoori and is published with a view to familiarising people with new trends, style, tone and thinking etc. of contemporary young poets which may be different from old masters of these genres of literature. Some of these young poets have settled down in new Urdu colonies of European, American and Middle East countries and hence their styles and thoughts may be slightly different from their old Indian and Pakistani counterparts who according to the compiler are the new voices of ghazal. Names of all these poets whose works are included in this book may be rather unfamiliar to the common Urdu readers. Names of some of these are Tauqeer Taqi, Adnan Basheer, Gaurav Shrivastav, Adil Raza Mansoori, Mahinder Kumar Saani, Zia Turk, Hammad Niazi etc. who are rather unknown to contemporary readers of Urdu and none of them is above 40 years of age. JD-U to keep away from BJPs Ayodhya rally Janata Dal United the alliance patner of BJP will also contest the forthcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh in alliance with the BJP has decided to keep away from the culmination of BJPs two Jan Swabhiman Yatra which will end on 17 November in

Lecture on Islamisation of knowledge

Institute of Islamic Research and Publications, Aligarh organised a series of extension lectures in one of which Dr. Muhammad Zaki Kirmani delivered a lecture on Islamisation of Knowledge in the Perspective of Science on 16 October which, alongwith questions and answers by the audience consisting of teachers, students (boy and girl), well wishers of the Islamic movement and views expressed by them went on for three hours. Dr. Zaki said that about fifty years ago the term Islamisation of knowledge was a topic of discussion among the Islamists in America. He said that though the process of Islamisation of knowledge from the point of view of its meaning and connotation had started twelve centuries ago, the credit of which goes to Al Farabi and Shah Waliullah, the distinguished intellectual of the Islamic world of the 18th century appears to be the last person in this chain, prominent persons who used these terms with greater zeal and emphasis in the twentieth century are Syed Husain Nasr and Ziauddin Sardar. Among the leaders of contemporary Islamic movements are Syed Abul Ala Maudoodi and Ikhwanul Muslimoon leader Syed Qutub whose thoughts are in consonance with this philosophy. Dr. Zaki Kirmani said that the process of Islamisation has been made possible in social sciences in a more organised way and accordingly full attention has been paid to this in countries like Malayasia, Indonesia and Pakistan. In natural sciences, however, since the study is of man and matter, knowledge or comprehension of reaction takes a long time and Ayodhya. Of the two yatras one is led by Rajnath Singh and the other is led by Kalraj Mishra. NDA convenor and JDU president Sharad Yadav had flagged off the yatra led by Rajnath Singh from Mathura on 13 October. K C Tyagi, secretary general of JDU has clarified that his party will not attend the concluding ceremony of the two yatras on the ground that Ram temple and Ayodhya has never been in NDAs agenda. His party will attend if it takes place either in Bhatta Parsaul or where poor people are living in large numbers. . Malaysian university delegation visits AMU because of this also the process of Islamisation has been very slow, with the result that no worthwhile work has been done in this field in all the Islamic countries and their universities, with the exception of Iran where some encouraging scientific efforts have been made. He said that in the present century environmental pollution and critical and serious situation in the field of public health has compelled scientists all over the world to think that the pride and claim of science that its knowledge is supreme and that it can control everything and solve every problem is not true. He said that it is from this stage that the process of Islamisation begins, adding that the process of integrating Islamic concepts in the values of sciences and concepts of the universe and human life is called Islamisation. The sum and substance of his lecture was that scientific study and process is based on matters in which observation and experiment is every thing. The consensus of science and scientists is that whatever is mythical, supernatural and mythological is not knowledge and hence in its present from it totally rejects heavenly revelations in all forms and hence Islamisation of sciences based on these concepts is impossible. He said that through Islamisation of knowledge we want to revive or introduce a culture in which all things that appear to be impossible or beyond comprehension should be topics of scientific discussion. He regretted that in the universities of Islamic countries this topic has not so far been included in their syllabi. (NA Ansari) Jamia Profs paper in the Nobel Prize Committee Doc New Delhi: One of the research papers by Prof. Mohammad Sami at the Centre for Theoretical Physics, Jamia Millia Islamia, written in collaboration with Edmund J Copeland and Shinji Tsujikawa, has been included in the Nobel Prize Committee Document, 2011. The document titled Scientific Document on the Nobel Prize in Physics 2011 on The Accelerating Universe was released by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on October 4, 2011. It cites the paper co-authored by Prof Sami. The paper written by him is titled Dynamics of Dark Energy which was published in the International Journal of Modern Physics (D15: 1753-1936, 2006). This is the only contribution from India which has been included in the Nobel Prize Committee Document, 2011. Case filed against SDM, others for insulting the Quran Rampur: Samajwadi Partys leader Kausar Khan filed a case against as many as 30 persons including Magistrate of Swar, Dharampal Singh, C.O. Rajinder Lal Shah, Tahsildar V.K. Kishwaha, Deputy Collector Muhammad Naeem, Swar Municipal Boards Chairman Raees Ahmad Ansari, Kotwal Babu Ram Sagar etc. for not only demolishing his house and business by JCB machine and desecrating the Quran but also looting 20 tolas of gold ornaments and cash in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate under section 156/3. He also complained that when women of the house came out weeping with the Quran in hand, these people not only misbehaved with them but desecrated Qurans also and sent five ladies including Aaisha Begum to jail. A.C.P.J.M. ordered that cases against al the allegedly accused persons be registered in Swar Police Station. Accordingly, police of Swar Thana registered cases against all the accused persons under sections 342, 323, 354, 427, 395 and 295. Meanwhile, another incident of desecration of the Quran was reported from Kolkata but police authorities tried to hush up this matter because in this incident police officers themselves were the culprit. This had happened about a week earlier than the above mentioned incident at Rampur. In Bahrampur Central Jail chief disciplinary officer of this jail, Molay Ghosh and the jailor D.K. Singh tore pages of the Quran after two jail inmates, Hasanuzzaman and Mushtaq Husain refused to obey an order to clean the drains on the ground that they were going to pray at that time. Fearing that this (tearing of the Quran pages) may lead to some trouble for them and in order to defend them the jail superintendent Sudipto Chakraborty told a lie and said that not only the Quran but Bhagwad Gita also was desecrated. Contrary to his expections, this enraged Hindu prisoners also and both Hindu and Muslim prisoners went on a fast for three days in protest, with the result that both Ghosh and Singh had to be suspended. These incidents would not have come out in the open but for a chance visit by some journalists from Kolkata to Bahrampur jail. The jail superintendent tried to bluff them and told the journalists that desecration of both the Quran and Gita was accidental and was because of a clash between sentries and prisoners over bad quality of food served to them and their extremely bad living conditions, but when the journalists met the prisoners, they told them the true story. It is reported that the police had warned the inmates not to tell the story of the desecration of the Quran to the journalists but after their departure police used to physically and mentally torture the two inmates i.e. Hasanuzzaman and Mushtaq Husain. Hasanuzzaman was a primary school teacher and Mushtaq was a small cloth merchant three or four years ago. Both of them were picked up by the police in 2007 on the false charges of being accomplices of Lashkar-e Tayyiba but so far the police has not been able to find any proof against them and they are still rotting in jail. Telling the story of desecration of the Quran to journalists has further added to their woes.

Aligarh: The world economic system is facing a tremendous change and western experts theories are now exploring adoption of the principles of Islamic banking, said Prof. Dato Dr. Muhamad Muda, Vice Chancellor, Islamic Science University of Malaysia (Universitas Sains Islam Malaysia) while addressing a function at the Aligarh Muslim University on 3 November. Prof. Muhamad Muda was on a visit to AMU along with a high power five-member team to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Prof. Muda said, Our educational system is based on Islamic system of knowledge and the west is now accepting the Islamic concept of business and management as the most viable system for a prosperous and happier world. He observed that Islamic Science University of Malaysia and the AMU share a lot in common and there is limitless prospect for cooperation and collaboration in the fields of higher education and research. He desired that a joint graduate programme be initiated accommodating students from both the countries, India and Malaysia so that they may get an international exposure and training. AMU VC Prof. Azis said that the Aligarh Muslim University has taken initiative in providing business and management education in Islamic Banking and it would be benefited with the experiences and training of Islamic Science University of Malaysia in this field that has taken roots in the Malaysian economic system. The Islamic Science University of Malaysia and the Aligarh Muslim University signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish, promote and develop direct cooperation and collaboration in the field of research, education and in training programmes of mutual interest. The focus will be on exchange of researchers, staff and students along with exchange of scholarly and pedagogic materials. The Memorandum of Understanding also covers transfer of students, joint researches, and technical assistance/training facilitating admissions of Malaysian students in AMU and Indian students to Islamic Science University of Malaysia. The MoU will come into immediate effect and will remain in force for a period of five years subject to its extension for a further period based on mutual agreement between the two universities.

The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011 23

INTERNATIONAL

FBI faces entrapment questions over Rezwan Ferdaus

Sting operation to arrest physics graduate, 26, raises concerns that US Muslims might be targeted using entrapment techniques - same as Indian security agencies are adopting to ensnare Muslim terrorists in India
PAUL HARRIS
The dramatic arrest of a man in Massachusetts accused of plotting to crash explosive-filled miniature airplanes into the US Capitol and the Pentagon has sparked fresh concerns that the FBI might be using entrapment techniques aimed at Muslims in America. Rezwan Ferdaus, a 26-year-old US citizen and physics graduate who lived at home with his parents in Ashland, near Boston, was the target of an FBI sting in which he bought a miniature aircraft that he planned to outfit as a flying bomb. Ferdaus, who is being held without bail, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on Thursday. The six-count indictment - which also covered his alleged efforts to provide support and resources for al-Qaida groups attacking US troops abroad said he "planned to commit acts of violence against the United States" with the goal of "decapitating" the nation's military center "and killing as many 'kafirs' [non-believers] as possible." A detention hearing has been set for October 3. However, some legal organisations and Muslim groups have questioned whether Ferdaus, whose activities were carried out with two undercover FBI agents posing as terrorists, would have been able to carry out such a sophisticated plot if left to his own devices. In numerous previous cases in the US, the FBI has been accused of over-zealousness in its investigations and of entrapping people into terror plots who might otherwise not have carried out an attack. "It deeply concerns us. It is another in a pattern of high-profile cases. Would this person have conceived or executed this plot without the influence of the FBI?" said Heidi Boghosian, president of the National Lawyers Guild. The Council on American-Islamic Relations also expressed its concern and wondered if more details would later emerge at trial that showed the full scale of the FBI involvement in setting up the sting. "There is a big, big difference between a plot initiated by the FBI and a plot initiated by a suspect, and it seems this might have been initiated by the FBI," said Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR's director of communications. The lengthy affidavit filed by prosecutors against Ferdaus details an elaborate plot in which he repeatedly expressed his desire to kill Americans and his support for Islamic jihad. The affidavit showed he came up with a detailed plan of attack and even scouted his targets in Washington in person. He also built mobile phone "detonators" that he supplied to undercover FBI agents posing as al-Qaida terrorists and expressed his pleasure when told him they had been used to kill American soldiers in Iraq. believed were being sent to Iraq and used by terrorists. Ferdaus suggested sending a box of 50 mobile phones to war zones where terrorists were in need of them. He even wanted to set up a sort of workshop to produce up to 30 of the devices a week. "Ferdaus indicated that he could write instructions or make a video on how to construct the cell phone detonation devices," the affidavit said. Such an apparently outlandish idea that hinges on the idea that Islamic terrorists are desperately short of cheap mobile phones might suggest Ferdaus was, to some extent, a fantasist rather than a genuine threat. However, some legal experts said that the case against Ferdaus appeared compelling, especially as he frequently and repeatedly indicated his desire and willingness to carry out terrorist attacks against Americans. In trying to mount a successful defence of entrapment it is vital to prove that a suspect has no pre-disposition to the crime they are accused of doing. In the Ferdaus case that would seem to be difficult, lawyers said. "He took the weaponry and agreed to do it. That demonstrates a propensity and willingness to do it," said Anthony Barkow, a former terrorism prosecutor and executive director of the Center on the Administration of Criminal Law at New York University. Barkow defended the FBI investigation and said that the US authorities took careful steps to avoid the issue of entrapment. "The Justice Department is very aware of this issue," he said. Certainly the affidavit against Ferdaus paints a compelling picture of a man hellbent on waging jihad in America and eager to take the guns and explosives eventually supplied to him by the undercover FBI agents. He repeatedly states in recorded conversations that he is happy for Americans to die and that the idea for the attack was his own. "That's excellent," Ferdaus said when told one of his phone detonators had been used overseas and had killed Americans. The prosecution case also reveals how Ferdaus ordered the plane and rented a storage facility in which to keep it and then took delivery from the FBI agents of 25 pounds of C-4 explosives, three grenades and six AK-47 rifles. It also shows Ferdaus explaining how he had become convinced that he needed to attack America after viewing jihadist websites online. "I just can't stop; there is no other choice for me," he said of his decision to launch the attacks. Prosecutors have staunchly defended the FBI operation. "Our top priority is to protect our nation from terrorism and national security threats," said US attorney Carmen Ortiz. FBI officials have also said the investigation was carried out responsibly and to head off a real threat. "We have an obligation to take action to protect the public whenever an individual expresses a desire to commit violence. A committed individual, even one with no direct connections to, or formal training from, an international terrorist organization, can pose a serious danger to the community," said Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Boston Division (guardian.co.uk)

Rezwan Ferdaus

However, the affidavit also raises several questions. Few details are given as to how Ferdaus came to the attention of the FBI. Mention is only made of a co-operating witness, known as CW, who met Ferdaus in December 2010 and soon began recording his conversations. No details are given as to CW's identity, but it is mentioned that he or she has a criminal record and has served time in prison. That raises the possibility that the CW may have had some ulterior motive to bring an alleged terror suspect to the attention of the FBI or could be an unreliable witness. Another potential area of concern is a meeting on 19 April 2011, when the undercover agents met with Ferdaus and questioned the "feasibility" of his plan. That raises the prospect that the FBI agents were somehow goading Ferdaus into more action. "Ferdaus responded in a defensive manner that he had made progress," the affidavit stated. At the same meeting the undercover agents also gave financial assistance for Ferdaus to travel to Washington on a scouting trip: a fact that raises the question of whether he would have made the trip without that financial help. The undercover agents also supplied thousands of dollars in cash for Ferdaus to buy the F-86 Sabre miniature plane to be used in an attack. Another portion of the affidavit also details Ferdaus's enthusiasm for making mobile phone detonation devices that he

Yusuf/MG

Facts of Massive Payments to Israel

According to a recent article in the New York Times, American taxpayers have give over $77 billion to the Jewish nation of Israel since 1967. This huge giveaway program of the American government actually amounts to about $16,500 for every Jew (man, woman, and child) in the nation. Much of this money comes as a result of the activities of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which is the largest of the 80 odd Jewish lobbies in Washington. These lobbies are interested in getting congressmen and senators elected that will continue Israel's favored nation status with the U.S. Government. For example, gifts to potential candidates for the 1989-1990 election amounted to $8 million according to Federal Election Commission reports. As a result of these bribes, Israel has been successful in obtaining approximately $10 billion dollars in aid last year alone. The U.S. government has virtually no say in how this money is spent. Any attempt to monitor the cash gifts is taken as an insult by the Israeli government which claims that as a sovereign nation, we should keep our hands off its internal affairs. Our hands have only one purpose--giving them more money. This one tiny nation of only four million people alone receives approximately one third of our foreign aid, and while foreign aid is actually decreasing to some central America and African nations, aid to Israel is on the steady rise. The chart above shows the amount of military and economic aid that has been given to Israel since Israel was carved out of Arab land in 1948. The sections shown in black are loans and the sections shown in white are gifts. The chart does not list other types of foreign aid such as aid for transportation, education, health services, etc. (chuckles@chuckbrucks.com)

We wont let it drown

Sar koz y

Merke l

EUROZONE

24 The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

INTERNATIONAL

Political Islam will have to deal with clashing interests

Religion remains an unavoidable reference for the Arabs and as such will be critical in building the future
TARIQ RAMADAN
Over the last few weeks the new Libyan leader, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, chairman of the National Transitional Council (NTC), has been repeating, "Sharia will be the main reference and will be implemented in Libya." Several of his references to Islamic legislation came in the presence of western politicians and intellectuals like the pro-Israel French self-styled philosopher Bernard Henri Levy, who, surprisingly, did not react with any shock whatsoever. Surprising indeed! It was as if Abdul Jalil was determined to show that the 'Libyan revolutionaries' were truly independent and not supported or protected by France, the US, or the West. The West kept silent, though some media have asked pointed questions about whom the French, the Americans and the British were supporting. Given Libya's extremely complex political situation, Abdul Jalil's statement was timely and very smart. He referred intentionally to concepts seen as very controversial in the West to make it clear to the Libyan people he was not a western puppet. In a way that seemed weird to a western ear, he spoke of Sharia and polygamy, knowing that for the emotionally wrought Libyan Muslims he was offering proof of his complete independence (such references are of course demonised in the West). For France, Britain and the US it was a way to show the world that Libya was now "on its own;" time for Nato to allow the new Libya to build its future by relying on its own traditions. The religious and political reference to Islam thus serves to appease the Muslims and lend traditional and religious legitimacy to the NTC while concealing the West's tri-dimensional - military, geopolitical and economic - penetration of Libya. The Arab uprisings are showing that the peoples of the region are drawn to freedom, dignity and justice but are not prepared to betray their traditions and religious beliefs. The recent victory of Tunisia's Islamist party, Al Nahda, in that country's constituent elections, underlines a historical reality: Islam remains an unavoidable reference for the Arabs and as such will be critical in building the future, especially through the democratic process by which peoples are now able to express their political demands, their concerns about identity and their economic hopes. The conservative parties that invoke Islam in one way or another (hence the Islamists as well) are gaining ground and achieving greater political legitimacy. They are operating on three distinct levels: acceptance of democratic rules, preservation of the nation's Islamic identity and readiness to open their markets to the dominant economic powers and the multinational corporations. The Turkish example has set a precedent: no one can deny that the AKP - coming from an Islamist background - is proving its leadership's success in these very three fields: they are religiously conservative, geopolitically prepared to deal with all the western powers (including, until recently, Israel), and economically integrated into the dominant capitalist system. They have shown great openness (with the EU) and demonstrated considerable flexibility. The West can indeed do business with any Islamist party that evidences a similar willingness to adapt and to collaborate, from Al Nahda to the Muslim Brotherhood. Things are moving fast in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena); the new political strategies are based on new economic and geopolitical concerns, driven by the active presence of new state actors in the region: Brazil, Russia, India and China (Bric). The West has no time to waste in the race to win Arab minds, hearts and money. In these highly complex political and economic games, one issue stands out as crucial. The western countries have shown in the past that they have no major problem in dealing with political Islam to protect their interests. Given the presence of the Bric's countries, they have no choice as the latter are ready to establish strong political and economic ties whatever the situation in the respective Arab countries. Stance against Israel: The key factor will be Israel. All the Islamist parties have taken strong position against the Zionist state (even Turkey recently), which is the reason for their broad popular support (including the current Iranian regime). The Islamists may well be ready to promote the democratic process and to participate fully in the dominant economic system (the great majority of the Islamist parties accept it today) but they remain quite explicit in their stance against Israel. Here lies the core of the acute tensions and contradictions in the US and the European countries: they need to be involved in Mena but they cannot distance themselves from Israel. Meanwhile, the Bric countries do not have the same historical alliance with Israel and they seem ready to challenge the western bias towards the Middle East conflict. The Islamic reference is at the heart of the debate in the Arab world. Political Islam is at the crossroads: it faces numerous challenges and must deal with conflicting interests. Only a comprehensive approach can give us a sense of what is at stake. Many trends - even some Islamist parties - are playing with Islam in an attempt to gain legitimacy. There can be no doubt that politics corrupts. Who, in the Arab countries, will be able to hold power while respecting the Islamic imperatives of dignity, justice and transparency - let alone truly supporting the just cause of Palestine? (Gulf News) Tariq Ramadan is Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies in the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Oxford University and a visiting Professor at the Faculty of Islamic Studies in Qatar. His new book Islam and the Arab Awakening will be out this month.

London: Britain's armed forces are stepping up contingency planning for potential military action against Iran, amid mounting concern about Tehran's nuclear enrichment programme, a media report said on 4 Nov. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) believed the US may decide to fast-forward plans for targeted missile strikes at some key Iranian facilities, it said. The Guardian daily quoting British officials said that if Washington presses ahead it will seek, and receive, UK military help for any mission, despite some deep reservations within the coalition government. The British military planners of a potential attack are examining where best to deploy Royal Navy ships and submarines equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles over the coming months as part of what would be an air and sea campaign, the report said. The US would ask permission to launch attacks from Diego Garcia, the British Indian Ocean territory, which the Americans have used previously for conflicts in the Middle East. US officials are likely to seize on next week's report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is expected to provide fresh evidence of a possible nuclear weapons programme in Iran. Quoting Whitehall officials, the paper said Iran has proved "surprisingly resilient" in the face of sanctions, and added that sophisticated attempts by the west to cripple its nuclear enrichment programme had been less successful than first thought. Officials now believe Iran has restored all the capacity it lost in a sophisticated cyber attack last year. NATO has no intention of intervening in Iran and backs a diplomatic solution to the nuclear dispute, the alliance's chief said today, after reports of a debate in Israel over launching an attack. reports that "consumer confidence hit the lowest levels ever recorded in 2008 and 2009" and that consumer confidence has now "fallen back to that 2008 level." But the stock market boomed. Somehow a population 23% unemployed with debt up to its eyeballs is going to spark an economic recovery. Recovery can only happen in the delusional world created for us by the concentrated media. No longer permitted to utter one world of truth, the presstitutes proclaim non-existent recoveries and weapons of mass destruction and demonize Washington's chosen opponents. The sovereign debt crisis in Europe has distracted Americans from the much worst crisis in their country. After two decades of exporting US manufacturing and middle class jobs, and after a decade of consumer debt growth that has resulted in millions of foreclosed homeowners and massive credit card and student loan debt that cannot be paid, consumers have no income growth or borrowing capacity with which to fuel an economy based on consumer demand. European banks, already ruined by purchases of Standard & Poor's and Moody's AAA ratings of junk derivatives, now find themselves threatened by sovereign debt. Greece's debt crisis, caused with Goldman Sachs' help in hiding the true debt of the country as was done for Enron, has brought to light that Portugal, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, in addition to Greece, have more debt than the governments can service. In the EU, unlike the US and UK which have their own central banks that can create new money to bail out the over-indebted governments, the EU central bank is prohibited by treaty from printing money in order to purchase bonds from member states that cannot be redeemed. Regardless of the treaty prohibition, the EU central bank has been lending Greece the money to pay its bond holders. The imposed austerity that is part of the deal created political instability in Greece. Now that European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has announced a 50% write-off by private banks of Greek sovereign debt, can the same treatment be denied Portugal, Italy, and Spain? The European Central Bank is following the lead of the Federal Reserve and creating new money to bail out debt. The cost will be paid in inflation and flight from the euro and the dollar. As an indication of the future, despite the positive spin on the news and the rise in US stocks, on October 27 the Japanese yen rose to a new high against the US dollar. (Information Clearing House) Paul Craig Roberts was an editor of the Wall Street Journal and an Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. He can be reached at: PaulCraigRoberts@yahoo.com

UK says it will support any US plan to bomb Iran nuclear facilities

Americans: Awash In Spin

PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS
I have come to the conclusion that Big Brother's subjects in George Orwell's 1984 are better informed than Americans. Americans have no idea why they have been at war in the Middle East, Asia and Africa for a decade. They don't realize that their liberties have been supplanted by a Gestapo Police State. Few understand that hard economic times are here to stay. On October 27, 2011, the US government announced some routine economic statistics, and the president of the European Council announced a new approach to the Greek sovereign debt crisis. The result of these funny numbers and mere words sent the Standard & Poor's 500 Index to its largest monthly rally since 1974, erasing its 2011 yearly loss. The euro rose, putting the European currency again 40% above its initial parity with the US dollar when the euro was introduced. On National Public Radio a half-wit analyst declared, emphatically, that the latest US government statistics proved that the recovery was in place and that there was no danger whatsoever of a double-dip recession. And half-brain economists predicted a better tomorrow. Europe is happy because the European private banks, the creditors of the European governments, have agreed to eat 50% of Greece's sovereign debt and to be recapitalized by public money handed to them by the European Financial Stability Facility rescue fund. The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, thinks that Greece's debt is the only sovereign debt to be written down and that the debt of Italy, Spain, and Portugal will somehow be bailed out through other means, including a Chinese contribution to the EFSF rescue fund. Obviously, if all EU sovereign debt has to be cut by 50% as well, the rescue fund would not be up to the job. For our corrupt financial markets, any news that can be spun as good news can send stocks up. But what are the facts? For facts one has to turn to serious people, not to the presstitute media. Among those who give us real facts is John Williams of shadowstats.com. In his October 27 report, Williams exposes the happy second quarter 2011 economic growth figure of 2.5% as nonsense. Every other economic indicator contradicts the spin. For example, personal consumption is reported to have increased 1.7%, but this surge in consumption took place despite a 1.7% collapse in consumer disposable income! In other words, if there was an increase in personal consumption, it come from drawing down savings or from incurring higher consumer debt. A country's consumers cannot forever draw down savings or go deeper into debt. For an economy to recover, there must be growth in consumer income. That growth is nowhere to be seen in the US. A large percentage of the goods and services sold to Americans by American corporations are now produced abroad by foreign labor. Thus, Americans no longer received incomes from the production of the goods and services that they consume. The American consumer market is on its way out. The Dow Jones rose 339.51 points on the phony good news, but consumer sentiment is in the basement. John Williams

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The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011 25

INTERNATIONAL

The Seven Biggest Economic Lies

ROBERT REICH
The president's jobs bill doesn't have a chance in Congress and the occupiers on Wall Street and elsewhere can't become a national movement for a more equitable society - unless more Americans know the truth about the economy. Here's a short (2 minute 30 second) effort to rebut the seven biggest whoppers now being told by those who want to take America backwards. The major points: Tax cuts for the rich trickle down to everyone else. Baloney. Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush both sliced taxes on the rich and what happened? Most Americans' wages (measured by the real median wage) began flattening under Reagan and has dropped since George W. Bush. Trickle-down economics is a cruel joke. Higher taxes on the rich would hurt the economy and slow job growth. False. From the end of World War II until 1981, the richest Americans faced a top marginal tax rate of 70 percent or above. Under Dwight Eisenhower it was 91 percent. Even after all deductions and credits, the top taxes on the very rich were far higher than they've been since. Yet the economy grew faster during those years than it has since. (Don't believe small businesses would be hurt by a higher marginal tax; fewer than 2 percent of small business owners are in the highest tax bracket.)
Yassin Al-Khalil

ployment and reduce tax revenues. That will worsen the ratio of the debt to the total economy. The first priority must be getting jobs and growth back by boosting the economy. Only then, when jobs and growth are returning vigorously, should we turn to cutting the deficit. Medicare and Medicaid are the major drivers of budget deficits. Wrong. Medicare and Medicaid spending is rising quickly, to be sure. But that's because the nation's health-care costs are rising so fast. One of the best ways of slowing these costs is to use Medicare and Medicaid's bargaining power over drug companies and hospitals to reduce costs, and to move from a fee-forservice system to a fee-for-healthy outcomes system. And since Medicare has far lower administrative costs than private health insurers, we should make Medicare available to everyone. Social Security is a Ponzi scheme. Don't believe it. Social Security is solvent for the next 26 years. It could be solvent for the next century if we raised the ceiling on income subject to the Social Security payroll tax. That ceiling is now $106,800. It's unfair that lower-income Americans don't pay income tax. Wrong. There's nothing unfair about it. Lower-income Americans pay out a larger share of their paychecks in payroll taxes, sales taxes, user fees, and tolls than everyone else.

Shrinking government generates more jobs. Wrong again. It means fewer government workers - everyone from teachers, fire fighters, police officers, and social workers at the state and local levels to safety inspectors and military personnel at the federal. And fewer government contractors, who would employ fewer private-sector workers. According to Moody's economist Mark Zandi (a campaign advisor to John McCain), the $61 billion in spending cuts proposed by the House GOP will cost the economy 700,000 jobs this year and next. Cutting the budget deficit now is more important than boosting the economy. Untrue. With so many Americans out of work, budget cuts now will shrink the economy. They'll increase unem-

Israel left with no friends apart from America (& Micronesia, Palau et al)
M K BHADRAKUMAR
srael has been steadily losing its strategic dominance in the Middle East ever since the Hezbollah defied it in the Lebanon War in 2006, but its global dominance as spin masters remained unchallenged. The high noon might have been the famous dare-devil attack by Israeli pilots on the secret Syrian nuclear installation in 2007. 2007 was indeed Israeli spin of the highest grade. Read the report on the Dutch government website. Or, in the Washington Post blog. What prompted such a magnificent spin four years ago? Obviously, in order to cover up their defeat at the hands of Hezbollah, Israel crafted the Syrian spin, which they thought would make them look like Martians all over again. Isn't what we are seeing today a replay of the rare genius for spin - that israel is straining at the leash to attack Iran? I have 4 reasons for calling the Israeli spin by its name. One, Israeli leaders would know as much as the former chief of Mossad Ephraim Halevy, who repeated last week that in reality, Iran's nuclear programme does not pose an existential danger to Israel. Two, Israeli leaders understand politics. They can grasp that in Europe and US, the leaders are caught in the whirlpool of economic crisis and are barely staying afloat. They know well enough that Israel lacks the capability to fight a war on its own without seamless US support, and US, in turn, won't have allied backing for any war today especially, a war in the Middle East that will drive up the price of oil. [Of course, the first thing Iran will

do will be to choke the narrow sea lane of Strait of Hormuz through which one-third of the world's oil supply passes.] Three, all 3 service chiefs of Israeli armed forces and the bosses of Mossad and Shin Bet have spoken against an attack on Iran. The Israeli leaders know why they are so dead against war with Iran. They know Hezbollah will rain tens of thousands of rockets on every little town and city and settlement in Israel wreaking colossal loss of civilian lives. Despite their swagger, politicians like Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak know what such a horrific tragedy could do to their successful careers in public life. Finally, Israelis are brilliant minds and would surely ask the one fundamental question before starting a war with Iran: What is the objective? To destroy Iran's nuclear programme? But, for that to be achieved, Israel should know in the first instance where exactly are Iran's nuclear installations located. In short, Israeli leadership will be staking hundreds or thousands of innocent Israeli lives for a war with no clear-cut objective. Indeed, at the end of it all, the Iran that emerges out of an israeli attack will go for the atomic bomb, finally, and will pose existential threat to Israel for at least a few millennia. So, why this Israeli spin, which is driving the world crazy? I see three factors at work. First, Israeli regional policies are at a dead-end and the impending recognition of Palestine by the UN general assembly is too bitter a pill to swallow. The ring of regional isolation around Israel is complete. Second, the social protest movement in Israel is gathering strength. Israel's political

Da vo s

emagogues through history have known that big lies, repeated often enough, start being believed - unless they're rebutted. These seven economic whoppers are just plain wrong. Make sure you know the truth - and spread it on.

Robert Reich is Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley. He has served in three national administrations, most recently as secretary of labor under President Bill Clinton. He has written thirteen books, including "The Work of Nations," "Locked in the Cabinet," "Supercapitalism" and his latest book, "AFTERSHOCK: The Next Economy and America's Future." His 'Marketplace' commentaries can be found on publicradio.com and iTunes.

economy badly needs reforms, but the government is caught in a bind as it doesn't have money. The leadership needs a big diversion on both these counts. The spectre of war is the ultimate spin that desperate politicians get to use to rally the nation. Third, this is the best time to "squeeze" Barack Obama. And, of course, Netanyahu knows how eminently Obama is "sqeezable" from the manner in which Obama was forced to back out of his famous Cairo speech of 2009. As Obama begins his re-election bid, Netanyahu will estimate that he is vulnerable to blackmail and Israel is good at that game. Experience shows that when pressure mounts in the Middle East, US instinctively loosens its purse strings for Israel. Obama is about to do that. The funny part is, there is no evidence that Iran actually worked for its dramatic surge as regional power. It didn't choreograph the Arab Spring or the US invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. Much happened by default - due to the follies in the US and Israeli policies. Now, this would probably imply that the Israelis are not infallible. Maybe so, but I still don't think the Israeli leaders are stupid. On balance, what they desperately need is some spectacular spin like in 2007 which displays Israeli valour and might and highlight Iranian cowardice and bluster. For that spin to work, Israel must have a tacit understanding with Iran so that the latter takes the Israeli attack lying low and won't retaliate. But Iran isn't obliging. Can Israel be spinning its last spin?

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26 The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

INTERNATIONAL
KARAMATULLAH K. GHORI
Symbols count a great deal in international relations. If anything, they carry psychological weight thats hard to ignore. And the weight feels all the more impressive when the party scoring a symbolic victory happens to be weak and under pressure from more sides than one. The formal admission of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) into the prestigious UN specialized body, UNESCO, as its full member, with all the rights and privileges that flow from it, last October 31 is one such symbolic event. The PNA had been at UNESCO in the status of an observer since 1974. But its drive for full membership stemmed from its thrust currently underway to become a full member of UN, an initiative opposed tooth-and-nail by Israel and its principal mentor, US. Just as US has been at work at the UN-from the moment the Palestinians announced their intent to seek recognition from UN as a sovereign state-to stall the Palestinian initiative for statehood, it also pulled all its weight at UNESCO to frustrate the Palestinian drive. Of course there has never been a doubt with informed observers of the global scene how steadfast and redoubtable is US commitment to Israel to stand by it, come hell or high water. So US and its western poodles, such as Canada, for one, and Germany, for another, lobbied hard to deny the Palestinians full membership of UNESCO. But they lost, ignominiously, in the end when 107 member states of UNESCO, out of a total 173, voted for the Palestinians. US and Israel got the support of just 12, with 54 abstaining. US immediately threatened to withhold 80 million dollars in assistance to UNESCOs budget as punishment for siding with the Palestinians. Thats exactly how bullies behave when cornered. The victory may-as many have pointed outonly have symbolic significance but is sweet enough to remind the Palestinians that their legitimate cause is gaining traction and recognition from the world-from that part of the world which isnt blinded by prejudices and innate hatred of the Arabs and Muslims. It is yet another unmistakable sign of changing winds in relation to the Arabs, especially for the cause of democracy underlying the Arab Spring. October 24 marked the 66th birthday of UN. It was also the day when results of Tunisias first democratic elections became known. These two may look totally disparate developments but there couldnt be a more revealing study in contrast between failure and success than these two stories. UN was founded on the rubble of WWII by its victors amid hope that the world would hone a fool-proof mechanism to save its future generations from the scourge of war. It was intended to become the premier vehicle in the world for peace- keeping. But UN has been a dismal failure on that front, largely because its founders turned against its pristine principles, abused their prerogative and abrasively morphed it into a handmaiden of their selfish interest. The then Soviet Union skirted it when it deemed it fit to invade and occupy Afghanistan. US, under George W. Bush, blatantly bypassed it and brushed it aside with disdain, if not contempt, in its rush to invade Iraq. However, little Tunisia, with its erstwhile reputation for being the most Francophone of former French colonies, and a population of just 10 million, has done wonders in blazing a trail of emancipation from tyranny. The Tunisian uprising of ordinary people against a well-entrenched autocrat like Zeinel Abedein bin Ali, not only forced him to flee the land hed lorded over for nearly a quarter century, but it also lent a paradigm to oppressed Arab masses from Morocco to Yemen. So cataclysmic was the fallout from the Tunisian revolt that Egypt, the most populous of Arab states and traditionally the kernel of any Arab movement for change, was forced to emulate the Tunisian example. But while Egyptian peoples revolt against tyranny is still lurching between hope and diffidence because of the foot-dragging of its power-addicted military establishment, Tunisia has successfully moved on to the next decisive

Tunisia Blazes a Trail for Modern Arab Democracy

stage of empowering the very same people who had triggered the movement for change in its fortunes. The general election of October 23 has already carved out several milestones in a big leap forward, milestones that should lead the way for all the Arabs still struggling for meaningful change in their entity. The first milestone is the ambience of peace and tranquility in which the polls were conducted. So smooth and organized was their conduct that a watchful and keen observer like President Obama couldnt hold back his compliments. The European Union, which had sent a team of observers to watch over the electioneering and polling, also gave the Tunisians a clean chit for their first venture into popular democracy. The second milestone is the enthusiasm of the Tunisian electors that saw a more than 90 percent turnout of people eligible to vote. This puts to shame many an established western democracies where even a 50 percent turnout is deemed encouraging and heart-warming. The third milestone is the potential for a truly participatory democratic process triggered by this genuinely free and maturely democratic election that has won kudos even from those whose interest in democracy taking hold among the Arabs is, at best, skin-deep. 11,000 candidates were in the field for 217 seats of what would be a constituent assembly to frame a permanent constitution for a free and democratic Tunisia. Thousands in this crowd ran as independent candidates without any party affiliation. And yet there were no less than 80 political parties and factions that dove into the electoral process with lan to show their flag as is the wont in established democracies. The outcome of Tunisias novel experiment with free elections isnt surprising to those who have been keeping tabs on that country and its roller-coaster ride to democracy. Al Nahda, the moderate Islamic party that had been sent into political wilderness by Tunisias disgraced tyrant, has emerged as the largest party in the assembly, with more than 40 percent of its seats. It has won 90 seats to emerge as the largest party in the Assembly and

a front-runner to form Tunisias first genuinely elected and democratic government. Al Nahdas immaculate savvy at the polls is, indeed, a sterling evidence of its remarkable organizing skills and the inspiring leadership of its founder, Rachid El Ghannouchi. My familiarity with Al Nahda (Renaissance) and Ghannouchi goes back to the priod, 19881991, when I was Pakistans Ambassador to Algeria and Gannouchi was living in forced exile in Algerias capital, Algiers. Zeinal Abidein bin Ali, had forced Gannouchi to leave Tunisia after his moderate and peace-oriented party had been declared illegal and arrogantly disbanded by the power-drunk dictator. It was my close friend and founder of Algerias own moderate political movement-the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS)-Abbasi Madan, who introduced me to Ghannouchi. The two of them shared laudable personal traits of moderation and non-violence in politics. Soft-spoken and unassuming, both exuded rare scholarly mettle. They had drunk deep at the font of Islamic history and proudly acknowledged their debt of scholarly gratitude to the internationallyrenowned and respected Pakistani religious thinker and scholar, Maulana Abul Aala Maudoodi. They would often quote from Maudoodis books (all of them having been translated into Arabic) in order to make a point and buttress their line of thinking and argument. I used to tease them that their Maudoodi orientation wouldnt endear them to Pakistans enlightened intelligentsia, which had somehow regressed into believing that Maudoodi-bashing was an essential attribute and token of modernism in religious thought. Ghannouchi and Madani were, of course, not daunted by my caution or caveat; they didnt bother much about what others might think or say about their interpretation of what the west parodied as political Islam. They were convinced, like their spiritual mentor, that political power was a pre-requisite to weld a dynamic and progressive Muslim society dedicated to Islams pristine message of universal peace and peaceful co-existence with all. Their philosophy seemed-at least to me-closest to the Sufi perception and practice

of Solh-e-Kul (peace with all). Abbasi Madanis entirely peaceful and democratic movement in Algeria was, of course, brutally suppressed and robbed of its legitimate chance to galvanize the Algerian society the way the Turks have done, years after him. The Algerian military junta, backed to the hilt by the Americans and the Europeans-with France carrying the flag-conspired with western neo-imperialism to deprive their people of the blessings of moderate Islamic thought underpinning the societys transition to modern and progressive democracy. But Ghannouchi, belatedly, has the chance now to prove that his blueprint of a moderate, progressive and peace-oriented Islamic polity firmly wedded to Islams universal commitment of peace-with-all is workable in the 21st century. I just saw his British-educated, lawyerdaughter telling Al Jazeera Television that her party was irrevocably wedded to the principle of an open, free-of-coercion Islamic society in which all personal and collective freedomsrights of speech, writing and belief-are guaranteed and whose motto is peaceful co-existence at home and abroad. She cited Turkeys Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a role model and template for Tunisia and the larger Arab world. This reminded me of what both Madani and Ghannouchi asserted before me, time and again, in reference to their model-society. They insisted that they found no attraction at all in either the Iranian paradigm of clergy-controlled theocracy or Pakistans model of chaotic Pandoras Box. Ghannouchi now has the chance of his life to prove that he meant what he said. Tunisians have handed him that opportunity in an open and fair election. In the Arab context, Tunisia has the chance to reassure an increasingly skeptical worldespecially the west-that its not going to be consumed by the likes of next-door Libyas chaotic and bloody tryst with destiny. The mayhem surrounding Qaddafis brutal curtain-call has sent shudders around the world. This doesnt augur well at all for Libyas transition to orderly and tranquil democracy from the shadows of Qaddafis ruthless autocracy. The stark differences between the Tunisian and Libyan situations offer an interesting study in contrast. Tunisias stride to democracy is a fully home-grown development. The Tunisian people took no cue from anyone in the outside world to get rid of their long-holding tyrant. And once they had done that, they invited no intervention from any quarters in their internal affairs, or seek guidance from anyone as to what they should be doing and how they should do it. The result of this entirely indigenous effort is in view today in crystal clarity. Tunisia is firmfooted in its march to a new era of peoples democracy. The maturity of its first experiment with elections has impressed all-and-sundry and gives assurance to all that theres little or no reason to doubt that it will arrive where its people want to reach without any detour or misleading short-cut. In contrast, the Libyans relied heavily on outside forces to literally envelop their struggle against Qaddafis tyranny. The west, for its own selfish and nefarious interests in Libya, came to their help in order to make the Libyans beholden to their dictates and designs. There can be no two-opinions that western interference has derailed the Libya peoples struggle for emancipation from autocracy and diverted it into undesirable directions. Libyans are nowhere being as united and resolute as the Tunisians are. Libya is, still, a house divided and still torn into factionalism. Western patronage has completely moulded the interim leadership in its direction and theres every danger of further factionalism and parochialism ruling the roost in a post-Qaddafi Libya. Of course the people of Libya, who sacrificed so much to put an end to Qaddafis nightmare, are in imminent danger of passing under another set of rulers who may not be as attuned to their goals and aspirations as to delivering on the agenda dictated by their new-found western friends. The new leaders of Libya would be doing a great service to their countrymen-and to themselves, too-if they were to gravitate more towards Tunisia, next door, and less and less toward self-serving western advisers and mentors who may have oil barons and corporate robbers hiding under their cloaks.

The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011 27

BOOKS

Hindutva terror: unravelling the Truth

Book: Godses Children - Hindutva terror in India Author: Subhash Gatade Publisher: Pharos Media, New Delhi Year: 2011 Pages: 400 ISBN: 978-81-7221-052-0 Price: Rs 360

RAM PUNIYANI
Terrorist violence has been one of the major problems of recent times. This phenomenon came to popular notice more so after the 9/11 attack on WTC, which was followed by, apart from other things, popularization of the terms Islamic Terror and Jehdi terror. The popular perception associating Terrorism with Islam and Muslims dominated the social common sense and acts of terror got associated with Islam and Muslims. It is in this context that when two Bajrang Dal workers died while fabricating bombs in Nanded, Maharashtra, the Maharashtra ATS did not pursue the investigation to its logical conclusion to unravel the whole truth. It is in this light that when most of the acts of terror took place around Parbhani, Jalna, Aurangabad, Ajmer, Mecca Masjid, Malegaon, and Samjhauta Express, that authorities rushed to investigate those crimes on the lines that all terrorists are Muslims, many an innocent Muslim youth were arrested and some of them released years later for the lack of evidence whatsoever, by which time the lives and careers of most of them were ruined. It was Hemant Karkare who meticulously investigated the Malegaon blast and, much against the intimidation from the likes of Narendra Modi and Bal Thackeray, put forward the truth of the involvement of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Swami Dayanand Pandey, Lt Col Purohit and other persons and groups associated with the RSS ideology. With further perusal of the issue, gradually the role of Hindutva groups like Sanatan Sanstha, Abhinav Bharat and even some members of RSS started coming to light in cases of blasts which occurred in front of mosques when congregation was just over, or in Samjhauta Express which was carrying only Indian and Pakistani Muslims. This is the backdrop in which one welcomes the meticulous and well-articulated contribution by Subhash Gatade. Gatade has been consistently writing against the sectarian politics of Hindutva forces-RSS combine. This book was contemplated in this context when the Hindutva elements were exploding bombs here and there and the investigative authorities were looking the other way round. The result was that the likes of Sadhvi, Swamis and their associates, were merrily getting away without any punishment. This comprehensive volume is very strong on investigation of different episodes of acts of terror, covering most of the blasts done by Hindutva elements, the major being the span of blasts from Nanded 2006 to the confessions of Swami Aseemanand. Each of these acts has been presented and the immaculate evidence of the involvement of RSS affiliates and those inspired by the RSS ideology of Hindu Nation is laid bare in an incontestable way. After reading even a few chapters of the book, one realizes how misplaced has been the investigation in these cases, how distorted has been the social common sense of people and the authorities in these matters. To add to the strength of the book, we have an apt introduction by Dr. Shamsul Islam, who himself is an authority on RSS. This is an important part of the book and outlines the ideology of RSS, its agenda of Hindu nation, its clever ways of instigating violence and how its structure has been kept fluid enough to keep it insulated from the impact of its members who indulge in violence. The book demands in a forthright manner from the RSS the list of members who, according to its own confession, were asked to leave or have left due to their involvement in acts of terror. The RSS chief had stated that RSS does not indulge in violence; and that those of its members who were indulging in it have already left or have been told to leave. One knows that starting from Nathuram Godse to Swami Assemanand, these people were part of the RSS as an organization and as vehicles of its agenda and work. It came to be claimed later that they have left the RSS. This is a shrewd and clever arrangement and the book lays bare this methodology of the RSS which controls innumerable organizations to execute its agenda. The confusion between the terms Hinduism and Hindutva has been elaborated competently. Gatade does well to discuss the definition of the complex term, terrorism and also incorporates the state terrorism in his exposition. The latter is generally ignored in the discourse of terrorism as such. What emerges from this book is that the saffron terror, Hindutva terror, has twin foundations. One, it is a sort of response, a revenge to many acts of terror by groups identified as Muslim groups, and two, this terror trail has been brought up to pursue the agenda of Hindu nation to target the Muslim minority. These acts, with their anti-Muslim focus are to achieve Hindu rashtra according to their plan. The author brings to fore the influence of RSS ideology in the army, the role of Bhonsla Military School, virtually controlled by RSS, and the role of some army officers in facilitating the acts of terror by these groups. Lt. Col. Purohit, the accused in Malegaon blast 2008, who supplied RDX from army stores to the Hindutva terror groups, is one such officer, and he may be tip of the iceberg. This has a very frightening prospect for our democracy. The book debunks the popular perceptions which link Islam

of the Hidnutva terror. Such a time-line would have made it easy for the reader to see the whole picture in perspective. An Introduction by the author, putting the book in proper context and summarizing the main arguments of the book would have been a valuable addition to this otherwise most timely and revealing contribution from this journalist-activist. This work is a serious attempt to piece together the statements of the RSS functionaries and the news items in some of the periodicals to come to the conclusions. It is a comprehensive presentation, filling the gaps in popular knowledge about the real causes of terror attacks in India. Pharos Media, the publishers, need to be complemented for publishing this second book on the topic; the first one being Who killed Karkare? by S. M. Mushrif, which again was an eye-opener. Godses Children, an apt name for the book, is a must for all those who seek truth in contemporary times, particularly when truth is being suppressed deliberately in pursuit of sectarian agendas. This compendium will go a long way to shape the popular opinion in a correct direction.

What emerges from this book is that the saffron terror, Hindutva terror, has twin foundations. One, it is a sort of response, a revenge to many acts of terror by groups identified as Muslim groups, and two, this terror trail has been brought up to pursue the agenda of Hindu nation to target the Muslim minority. These acts, with their antiMuslim focus are to achieve Hindu rashtra according to their plan. The author brings to fore the influence of RSS ideology in the army, the role of Bhonsla Military School, virtually controlled by RSS, and the role of some army officers in facilitating the acts of terror by these groups. Lt. Col. Purohit, the accused in Malegaon blast 2008, who supplied RDX from army stores to the Hindutva terror groups, is one such officer, and he may be tip of the iceberg. This has a very frightening prospect for our democracy.
and Muslims to acts of terror and makes it clear that acts of terror are politically motivated actions with different agendas. The fascination of the RSS with fascist methods being pursued by Israel and the role of Mossad in particular is the high point of the book. Our investigation agencies need to take a cue from this and put their investigation on more professional lines. The book takes a broad overview of Hindutva politics. The role of the media and the international connections of Hindutva politics are also discussed in detail. What is missing is a time-line

This book explores the citizenship issue in Assam where the Muslims and Bengali speaking Hindus are discriminated against by the state by way of the D voters list. D stands for doubtful voters and this is an insidious way of religious profiling resorted to by the state to marginalize minorities. The state of Assam arbitrarily puts names of these groups in this dubious list in a register whereby these voters cant vote and exercise their important political and civil right. Perhaps what is interesting about the book is that it also gives a brief history of the conflict between the Assamese and the Muslims and Hindus from West Bengal who were encouraged by the British pre Independence to settle and cultivate land in Assam for economic and political reasons. This was followed by a number of negotiations and pacts. A new dimension was added to this issue during and after the formation of Bangladesh when a large number of Bangladeshi citizens migrated to India and especially Assam. The Muslims in Assam are deported back to Bangladesh as the state alleges that they are Bangladeshi migrants. This leads to a real and brutal fear of rendering innocent citizens stateless- a grave human right violation. The discontent against these Bengali speaking Muslims and Hindus still persists after so many decades and they are arbitrarily denied their basic citizenship rights. This issue is raised by All India Secular Forum, a national platform to consolidate secularism along with other organizations. A fact finding committee of AISF also went to the affected regions of Assam and spoke to a number of people and wrote an insightful report on the situation of the victims. This report is also a part of this book whereby making it a comprehensive reading on this topic. (Shahiuz Zaman Ahmed) Published by Institute for Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Mumbai.Pages: 72. ISBN:978-81-922087-0-1. Contributory Price Rs.150. For copies contact: Institute for Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, 602 & 603, New Silver Star, 6th Floor, Santacruz (E), Mumbai - 400055 - E-mail: ipscr1@gmail.com

Denial of Citizenship rights and marginalization: Linguistic Bengalis and Muslim minorities in Assam

FORTHCOMING PUBLICATION

Sitaaron se Aagey
By Naseema Hurzuk
The incredible story of Naseema who, at age 16, became wheelchair-bound and spent days crying and thinking of suicide, but Alhamdulillah, today she runs one of the country's largest organisations for the physically challenged and has helped thousands of handicapped stand on their feet.
Pages: 272 / Price: Rs 150 Language: Urdu Binding: PB ISBN: 817221054X Publishers: Pharos Media & Publishing Pvt Ltd Ordering details on page 28

28 The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

Books from Pharos Media, publishers of this newspaper

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M.A. Roshash Islamic Company Law (Rule of companies in Islamic fiqh - a comparative fiqhi study 302 pp., Rs 600/d20 Islamic economics, banking and finance (Special issue of MAP), 200pp., Rs 175/d 15 Irfan, Punchline (cartoons), 112 pp., Rs 50/d4 Zafarul-Islam Khan (ed.), Palestine Documents 1897-1998 894 pp. (HB), Rs 500/d20 Palestine (3-part special issue of MAP), 460 pp., Rs 195/d25 Ram Puniyani, Terrorism: Facts Vs Myths 96 pp (Out of print) Zafarul-Islam Khan, At the threshold of a new millennium 32 pp., Rs 20 Zafarul-Islam Khan, Hijrah in Islam Kamaluddin Ahmed Assams Doubtful Citizens : Fact or Fiction? 62 pp, Rs 60/d 5 IK Shukla Hindutva: Treason & Terrorism 184 pp., Rs 130/d10 398 pp (Out of print) Subhash Gatade Godses Children: Hindutva Terror in India 400 pp Rs 360/d 15

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The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011 29

ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

Islam, Islamism and Jihadism

ASGHAR ALI ENGINEER
csss@mtnl.net.in I was invited to Berlin, Germany, by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung for a seminar on Islam, Islamism and Jihadism held during 20-22 October 2011. Some 75 scholars from the Arab world, Europe and United States were invited for the event. They were all experts working in this field. The focus was on the Arab Spring, i.e., the events which unfolded from 25 January 2011 onwards. Many Arab scholars, journalists and activists took part in the discussions. The main concerns were twofold: what will be the impact of the Arab Spring on the mode of governance of Arab countries and whether Islamic extremism represented by Salafism and Muslim Brotherhood would takeover or moderate Islam would be the dominating influence. There were rich discussions in the spirit of dialogue and all points of view were expressed in a cordial atmosphere. In fact, this is what is needed to promote better understanding of each other. The opening speakers were two -- from the German research scholar Christine Schirmacher who spoke on Origin and History of Ideas of Political Islam and Islamism. As I have said before in my articles, European scholars ideas and thinking about Islam and Muslims are influenced mainly by two factors: one, their lack of experience of pluralist society and second historical events in which Islam and Christianity politically clashed with each other a millennium ago. Prof. Schirmacher displayed a similar bias in her presentation. Another problem with research scholars like her is that they depend more on medieval texts in understanding Islam and Islamism and that too without taking the context into account and if the context is taken into account any religion in history will fare as badly or as well as Islam. Thus any text must be read in its socio-political context. Her paper totally lacked this context. Also, some events in contemporary Europe also influence such scholars who go by mere media reports without investigations of their own. However, Abdelfattah and Andrea Zaki Stephenous fared much better as their papers were more analytical and had a progressive outlook. Both scholars were quite secular and progressive in their outlook. Abdelfattah works with a research foundation established by Al-Ahram newspaper which is highly influential in shaping political events in Egypt. He was quite critical of Salafism and its anti-Christian attitude and Islamic extremism. Abdelfattah listed a number of attacks by Salafists on Copts and reported them in Al-Ahram. Both scholars were highly supportive of the Arab Spring and the role played by the Arab masses in ushering in a democratic polity. Though it would be too early to predict the role of Islamism or political Islam at this stage, Abdelfattah felt political Islam or Islamic extremism may not be after all acceptable to the people of Egypt. He also felt that even young Salafis are changing and are inclining towards moderation. He and other participants also felt that religious extremism was also being used cleverly and clandestinely by Mubarak and his ruling clique. Even today such attacks on minorities are being stage-managed by this clique. A way has to be found to eliminate such attacks. Rev. Stephanous, the Coptic priest, also spoke very well. He stood for secularism and a secular state as against a religious state. He maintained the state should have nothing to do with reli-

Here in India the Sangh Parivar always taunts Muslims that they want secularism when in a minority and Islamic state when in a majority. While this is true, it has to be seen in a political perspective, not in a religious one. The way Christian minorities want a secular state it shows that the same tendencies prevail among other minorities also as minorities are always targeted by religious majorities.... The same thing happened with Christians in Egypt and tiny Christian minority in Pakistan and with Muslims and Christians in India and Muslims in Europe today. The whole thing, however, is to be seen in a political perspective and not misunderstood as part of religious teachings which is what rightist forces do.
gion. It should be neutral towards all religions. It is much like the Ulama in India who also stand for secularism and a secular state. It proves two things, i.e., when religion becomes part of statecraft, the state loses its neutrality and that is the fact that whenever a religion becomes associated with governance or statecraft religion develops extremist tendencies. The increasing attacks on minorities in Egypt also shows that the religious majority in every country tends to be arrogant as it thinks it has power in its hands and targets minorities. Father Stephanous also stressed this when he said in democracy there should be no religious majority and minority but political majority and minority. This is a very sensible proposition but it is easier said than done. In all democratic countries religious majority targets religious minorities, particularly that religious minority that is the largest in number. Coptic Christians are the largest minority in Egypt and Muslims the largest minority in Europe and hence they are under attack. In India, though the state is secular yet religious right brutally targets Muslims which happens to be the largest minority and also Christians who, though smaller in number, nevertheless, are next largest as far as non-Hindu minorities are concerned. Here in India the Sangh Parivar always taunts Muslims that they want secularism when in a minority and Islamic state when in a majority. While this is true, it has to be seen in a political perspective, not in a religious one. The way Christian minorities want a secular state it shows that the same tendencies prevail among other minorities also as minorities are always targeted by religious majorities. As the political crisis becomes acute such attacks also become more intense and frequent. The same thing happened with Christians in Egypt and tiny Christian minority in Pakistan and with Muslims and Christians in India and Muslims in Europe today. The whole thing, however, is to be seen in a political perspective and not misunderstood as part of religious teachings which is what rightist forces do. In the Friedrich Ebert Foundation seminar there were three excellent presentations which were based on field work and also with a correct perspective. It is important to note here that those western scholars who base their research only on medieval Islamic text by various theologians and scholars often reach misconceived conclusions taking those texts as the only source of Islamic teachings. In these texts also one finds liberal and tolerant narratives and very rigid and intolerant narratives as it hap-

pens with modern scholars too. These scholars deliberately choose such rigid and intolerant texts to bash Islam with and ignore other texts. However, these three scholars I am talking about based their studies of Islam and Islamism on empirical observations and did not allow media reports and stereotypes to interfere with their conclusions. These studies related to those who were arrested or suspected of terrorism and salafi association. One of them was Prof. Edwin Bakker who hailed from Netherland and teaches Counter-Terrorism Studies in Leiden University. His studies showed that the average age of suspected terrorists was 28 i.e. it is not true that the very young who have not seen much of life tend to be terrorists. Also it was found that most of them had criminal records. Thus it is not true that they are all purists ready to die for Islam and Islamic ideals and court martyrdom. Also, most of them were from the lower socio-economic class and have a sense of deprivation. Also, it was interesting to note that either they were related or from the same neighbourhood. They knew each other well. In some cases they were close cousins. Thus it would be an oversimplification to maintain that they were infected with salafi ideology or that they were religious extremist. Similarly another study by James Brandon who usually undertakes researches on such issues and writes extensively on Islamic extremism. His paper was based on a study of some 300 persons accused of terrorism and jihadism. He maintained that Islam was more of a cover and a legitimization rather than motivation for their acts. It is a very important distinction which many are not able to make. To be motivated by Islam (or any ideology for that matter) is very different from using Islam to legitimize their acts. In the first case (i.e., being motivated by Islam), Islam becomes the cause and in the second case it becomes a mere cover. Mr. Brandon also found that in some cases these terrorists went merely for adventure and in some cases it was only to impress their girl friends, nothing more. Also, only 100 out of the three hundred he was studying possessed any weapon and some of them were mere suspects, not even proved and convicted terrorists. Anyway, Mr. Brandon said how significant are these three hundred out of two million Muslims who are quite peaceful and have nothing to do with any salafi or jihadi activities. He also said that salafis are a tiny number, though quite visible and efficient group. They are very well organized and have a lot of money due to their Saudi Arabia connection. Another very perceptive presentation came from Professor Sadik Jalal al-Azm. He is professor of philosophy from Syria and is a strong critic of religious fundamentalism. He said that AlAzhar, the great seat of Islamic learning has proved to be quite sterile. In its hundreds of years of existence it has produced nothing new, much less stimulating. It has become the seat of Islamic conservatism. Al-Azhar could have done a lot if it had dared and shown intellectual fertility. Unfortunately it played to the gallery and hardly ever resisted the temptation of being on the right side of the power equation. Al-Azm is a strong secularist and wants modern challenges with creative response. This will happen only when despotism comes to an end in the Islamic world. (Secular
Perspective)

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30 The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011

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The Milli Gazette, 16-30 November 2011 31

REJOINDERS/OPINION/LETTERS
I am very much shocked after seeing front page of The Milli Gazette (16-31 October 2011) and your comment in the side column: horn aahista bajayen qaum so rahi hai. Really I was totally unaware of the critically bad condition of MG. Now I and some f my friends have decided to start a campaign to make large number of AMU students its subscribers. For this we have started to contact our friends who are in jobs, in India and abroad. We pray to Allah taala: may allah help us and give courage not only to make it possible for MG tp survive but also to flourish, aur Allah meri qaum ke logon ko bedar kar de. Aameen. Mohammad Seraj, Sulaiman Hall, AMU seraj690@gmail.com II I suggest that national and international news may be increased and that the style of writing should be more liberal and broad-based from its current thrust to just counter non-Muslim activists. Prof Md Mushtaq Hussain, Bhubneswar, Orissa III First time I read The Milli Gazette by borrowing the copy of my colleague and at that moment I decide to read it regularly. It is an outstanding, informative and analytical newspaper for all Indian Muslims. Every Muslim should read it. In future I want to see it as a daily newspaper. I pray to Almighty Allah for this. Md. Sadidul Alam, Murshidabad, West Bengal Religiosity without spirituality is a sin Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has called upon Gujaratis to create a divine society, free of stress, violence, corruption and hate. These are noble words from a religious guru. But how do we create such a divine society, without any introspection on the horrors of 2002? Is such an ideal system possible without any justice for the riot victims? These comments sound hollow and even cruel, considering that the Gujarat Chief Minister is quite close to the guru. To paraphrase the Mahatma: Religiosity without spirituality is a cardinal sin of modern society. J.S.Bandukwala, Vadodara, Gujarat drbandukwala@yahoo.co.in Indian Universities We are proud of the fact that our country is the largest parliamentary democracy of the world. It is our duty to strengthen and preserve it which is possible only when all countrymen swear by it and follow its norms. Accountability is its soul. How strange and shocking is that in the temples of highest learning and knowledge, i.e., Indian universities - temples of highest education - there is no tinge of democracy. Its heads, i.e., vice-chancellors are acting like despotic monarchs. There is no provision in any of the Indian Universities Act for the removal or impeachment of the Vice Chancellor if he or she misuses his or her powers or contravenes provisions of the University Act and statutes while the holder of the highest office of the country, i.e., the President, can be impeached if he or she misuses his or her powers, judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts can be impeached while Ministers of both the Central and state governments are accountable to legislatures for all their actions and policies. One American vice chancellor had once remarked that the prerequisite qualifications of Vice Chancellor were that he should have Solomons wisdom, lions courage, Machiavellis cunningness and goats stomach. Most of the Indian vice chancellors are experts in Machiavellis cunningness and possess the quality of having goats stomach. UGC, which is the supervisory body of universities and the HRD Ministry which controls all universities act like helpless spectators. The glaring example in that of Muslim University whose three former bureaucrat vice chancellors (during the 1980s and the last five of the last century) carried on the administration of the university despotically and took important decisions under emergency powers. They contravened provisions of the University Act and statutes by bypassing the University Court, the supreme governing body of the university, by not getting its approval for university budget and the annual report and sending these directly to the Govt. of India and suspending students union, a statutory body, for several years. Its present vice chancellor has been accused of financial irregularities and bungling by the CAG and is facing a CBI probe. But the HRD Ministry did not direct him to proceed on leave pending the completion of the enquiry which judicial ethics demand. The need of the hour is that the existing University Acts of both Central and state universities should be amended and a new provision should be added for the removal of the VC if he or she contravenes the provisions of the University Act. Dr. M. Hashim Kidwai, Ex-MP, Mayur Vihar-I, Delhi-110091 AMU Centres In recent times Centres of AMU have become a politically and emotionally charged subject. Opinions abound, but behind this great debate few glaring questions have remained un-answered. Lets understand this question by a live example of a Centre already running in Mallapuram which consists of law and management departments. Now 95 % of the teachers in this centre have in all probability never been or seen AMU in person and same goes for the 99% of students. So can I safely say that these teachers and students are oblivious of the culture of AMU? And since none of the teachers has been to Aligarh do I have the liberty to say that he is not passing any education which is influenced by any faculty member from AMU. So now let me ask a question: why AMU centre? What is AMU about it? If AMU Mallapuram law and management centre is neither passing culture nor any education influenced by AMU then in what sense it is an AMU centre? In that case can I say that for the sake of greater good of community, we are voluntarily giving AMU name to a law and management centre opened in Mallapuram? Lets try to understand what greater good it serves. We all know AMU isnt a minority institution anymore and since Muslims are but a small fraction of population and the fact that these centres cannot any way claim to induct Muslims on priority basis; we will end up with centres with a proportion of Muslim population comparable to any other standard institute in India. And if these centres cant induct on priority basis then how is an AMU centre different from any other institute in the vicinity? So what specific purpose an AMU centre is serving in such a scenario and to whom? Its a question which cannot be pushed under the carpet anymore. Sameer Qaiyum, Bombay sameerqaiyum@gmail.com

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II A Two day-programme was organised on 20-21 October at Patna by Human Resource Dept and Institute of Public Enterprises, Hyderabad on the topic of Deterioration of Higher Education Standards - Challenges and Opportunity. On 21st, former V. C. Prof. Qamar Hassan said that every year 2.5 lakh I. S. C. passed students shift to Pune, Delhi and Karnataka for higher education. This reveals that Bihar is lagging in higher educational facilities and institutions. There is no conducive educational environment is Bihar and for 11 crore population only 11 universities are very much insufficient. Bihar government should take this data seriously and think positively to establish AMU campus at Kishan Ganj because AMU would be boon for Bihar. S. Haque, Patna Jamia Urdu Please refer to Mr. N A Ansaris write-up on the status of the Jamia Urdu and your comments. The problem is that the Jamia Urdu has not published its revised Rules & Regulations, or the current composition of its General Body or the current composition of its Executive Committee or the names and designation of its present office holders or the annual statistics of the results held by the Jamia Urdu for various Certificates awarded, during the last five years, giving the number of those admitted and the number of those placed in various grades, certificate-wise. This lack of information adds to the lack of academic credibility of the Jamia Urdu. That is why several state governments do not recognize the Certificates of Moallim Urdu of the Jamia Urdu for the recruitment of primary Urdu teachers in primary schools. The Urdu-speaking population everywhere would like its children to learn Urdu which is their mother tongue through competent and qualified teachers. Such teachers are coming from various sources, namely, universities, eminent Madarsas, MANUU and various Secondary School Examination Boards. We are pressing all state government to create posts requisite number of posts of Urdu teachers in their primary schools and select them through a common merit test, to which all those holding the certificate of Moallim Urdu from Jamia Urdu, should also be admitted. Syed Shahabuddin ex-MP, New Delhi syedshahabuddinexmp@gmail.com Muslims rejoice without a reason Forbes published a list of the 100 richest persons of India. Muslims rejoiced to see Azim Premjis name at the third position. Without any reason, Muslims beat the drums by seeing Shahrukh Khan or Salman or Imran and the likes cinema success. Azim Premji Foundation has started a mission of setting up schools in every district to impart high quality education to facilitate a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society. But the whole mission has not mentioned a single word about milli responsibility to uplift Muslims who are extremely backward in education. Azim Premji does not know this fact and Muslims in their shear innocence rejoice to see a Muslim name. MG rightly published report about Nawab Pataudi. S. Haque, Patna Team Anna members insulting letter to PM Arvind Kejriwals letter to the Prime minister is the most insulting thing to have been done to Indias head of state. Of course the PMO will accord the respect which it deserves. He claims that the amount of 9.25 lakhs which he is refunding is loaned to him by some of his old friends. He manifests his inflated ego when he suggests that these friends may be targeted by the government of India for the act of helping him. He has asked the PM to see that the friends are not troubled, as if the PM of India is the don of some mafia. Dr Mookhi Amir Ali, Santacruz West, Mumbai 400054 drmookhi@hotmail.com Anna is playing in hands of Saffron Elements Team Anna and Anna Hazare the senior social activist is playing in the hands of BJP, and Saffron Brigade (Sangh Parivar). Amia anti graft campaign, has become anti Congress campaign, what an irony, merely Congress Govt. is not involved in corruption, but all political parties BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP, in Tamilnadu Jaylalitha are involved in corruption, then why campaign against congress only. Annas objective was anti graft; which has become anti congress. Anna and his team is not a political party to take part in political activities, they are social parties. Anna in the news interviews stated that his prime objective to give defeat to congress. The team Annas political status should be scrutinizes and if they are not registered as political parties, a strict action against Anna and his team should be taken according to law. De-recognise the social status of Team Anna. Zuber Ahmed Khan, Navi Mumbai contact.z@redirYmail.com Mahapanchayat Maulana Kachochvis Sufi Panchayat which derided Wahhabism recently, has become a potent weapon in the hands of a few writers, who had been waiting for a Muslim forum to call the first shot. Three articles have been published in quick succession by The Hindu (although known for its secular credentials). The latest piece A threat to multilayered secular cultures (October 31) by Madanjeet Singh has gone a step further to criticize the Holy book of Muslims. He writes that some Pakistani Jihadi gangsters are invoking over a 100 suras (verses) in the Quran that call on Muslims to kill or maim infidels. Borrowing heavily on Maulana Kachochvis thoughtless remark that the Saudi petro-dollars are pouring in Indian madrasas, Mr.Singh goes more deeper, to claim that the Kashmir violence, the brutal attack on T.J.Joseph, a lecturer in Kerala and the 2002 bomb blasts in Bali, Indonesia are the handiworks of Wahhabi ideology propagated by the Saudi government. Maulana Kachochvi had also scoffed at Darul uloom Deoband, Jamate Islami Hind and Jamat-e-Ulema e Hind in his harangue at the sufi panchayat. Sosome more articles disdaining these organizations may be hitting the headlines in our national dailies. Syed Sultan Mohiddin, Kadapa sultan_awaz@yahoo.co.in Follow father of nation We Indians pay homage to father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi who was preacher of truth, non-violence, tolerance, communal and

caste harmony, social and economical justice, peace, equality and Unity. He was staunch supporter of Dalits, Adivasis, minorities and weaker sections of society. He has shown us the path of peaceful co-existence and unity in diversity, which is Indias real strength. We have been proudly preaching Gandhian principles to the world but we have violated these principles. It is greatest tragedy of India that the preacher of non-violence - Gandhi - was the victim of brutal violence. The tendency of violence and intolerance has been growing in India - the land of Gandhi. Our national picture has been painted with the colours of violence, terrorism, barbarism, naxalism, intolerane, communal riots, caste conflicts, atrocities on weaker sections and women murders, raps, police custodial deaths etc. Why such inhuman crimes do not evoke our conscience? Is our national conscience dead? The true followers of Gandhi should come forward to fight the forces of violence, terrorism, communalism, casteism, naxalism etc. to save our motherland from anarchy and destruction. G. Hasnain Kaif, Bhandara (M.S.) - 441904 Muslims are used as spokespersons Dr. Shakil Ahmad and Rashid Alvi as spokespersons of Congress are very much duti-bound to party and Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi are utilised to peddle BJPs views on TV channels as well as in press. Md. Salim worked as the presenter of CPIMs views. Even team Annas views are presented by Shazia Ilmi. Why Muslims are utilised by parties or organisations to present their views but not to formulate them? Are Muslims only showboys? Let us start a debate on this issue. S. Haque, Patna Plight Of Advani As the days are passing the plight and predicament of the senior most leader of BJP Mr. LK Advani are looming large .Being a senior most leader he should have gained full respect and honor from all the political parties .But he is facing more opposition from his own party. He was removed as the leader of the opposition party .In his place Mrs. Sushama Swaraj was made the leader of the parliamentary. Advani was snubbed. His name was deleted for the next candidate. This is a great mental torture for Mr Advani.The greatest mistake of Mr. Advani is demolition of Babri Mosque The sin committed by him was inexcusable, that made the stature lower. It was the place of worship of Allah who is the only and real God. Mr. Advani made a great mistake between Ram and Allah If his demolition was right Mr. Advani should have become the prime minister of India. But Ram who had died long back did not help him. Allah took this crime seriously and send his wrath and Advani is going down and down. The rain sent by Allah disturbed the programmer he audience had to use the chairs as umbrella .We can clearly come to the conclusion that Babri Mosque is insidiously chasing Mr. Advani.How long Mr. Advani miss The mosque .The only solution is that Advani and his satanic party should go to Ayodhya and reconstruct the Babri Mosque .where it was standing The UPA government should pass an ordinance to that effect. If this prashchit is not done the Babri Mosque will encircle the whole country.The country will transform into hub of crimes The wrath of Allah may ensue in the shape of China which is also making siege from all sides AH Maqdoomi, Hyderabad drmaqdoomi@yahoo.com Police atrocities According to news published in a section of press that three Muslim school children picked up about four months ago in Morarabad on the charge of rioting ,are still languishing in jail . This is a sickening evidence of the communally prejudiced actions on the part of authorities. It is very difficult to get justice and get culprits punished. As Muslim Gujarati ,we know how communal elements have been working day and night to harass ,persecute, exploit the innocent, poor Muslims with the help of state machinery. Muslims should not lose the courage. Have faith in Allah and fight out the communal elements within the limits of the law. The innocent schoolchildren should be released at the earliest as they are losing precious years of their school life. The period which they have spent in jail, for no fault of theirs, should also be compensated from state treasury. Farooq Abdul Gaffar Bawani, Rajkot, Gujarat mohammed.galeriya@yahoo.co.in II The communal bias by the law-enforcing agencies has touched a new low, when three Muslim schoolchildren were found to be languishing in a jail for four months on the charges of rioting in Moradabad. One is at a loss to understand, as to how the judiciary which sent the boys to jail had overlooked the statutory norm, to send them instead, to a juvenile detention centre. With NHRCs intervention now, these boys may be released soon - but how can anyone recompense their bruised psyche? The least the state government should do is to see that their academic studies are not hampered and their families are not stigmatized. Syed Sultan Mohiddin, Kadapa (A.P) sultan_awaz@yahoo.co.in Repeal AFSPA Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) was passed on September 11, 1958 by the Parliament of India. It conferred special powers upon armed forces in what the act calls disturbed areas in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. It was later extended to Jammu & Kashmir in July 1990. It is one of the most draconian legislations that the Indian Parliament has passed in its history. Under this Act, all security forces are given unrestricted and unaccounted power to carry out their operations, once an area is declared disturbed. Even a non-commissioned officer is granted the right to shoot to kill based on mere suspicion that it is necessary to do so in order to maintain the public order. There can be no prosecution, suit or any other legal proceeding against anyone acting under that law. Under section 4(a) of the AFSPA, which grants armed forces personnel the power to shoot to kill, which violets the constitutional right to life. This law is not fair, just or reasonable because it allows the armed forces to use an excessive amount of force. This law must be repealed as it used kill Muslims of Kashmir. Zuber Ahmed Khan, Navi Mumbai contact.z@redirYmail.com

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