24 pages ` 15 ISSN 0972-3366 FORTNIGHTLY

Vol. 16 No.1

Issue Serial # 359

www.milligazette.com 1-15 January 2015

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THE

MILLI
GAZETTE
INDIAN MUSLIMS LEADING ENGLISH NEWSPAPER SINCE 2000

AGRA GHAR WAPSI VICTIMS PRACTICALLY SHOW WHERE THEY BELONG...9

Modi hasnt lost control of RSS affiliates,

in fact, hes brought them into his govt
DHIRENDRA K JHA
In an informal conversation last week,
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told a
group of journalists that Prime Minister
Narendra Modi was upset with the
conversion row stirred up by Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh affiliates and the
anti-minority barbs by some BJP Party
MPs.
Jaitleys attempt to spin the
situation would baffle anyone who has
been monitoring how eagerly the prime
minister has been facilitating the entry
into the government of the RSS, the
parent organisation of Modis BJP.
Jaitley appears embarrassingly
disingenuous when he attempts to draw
a distinction between the agenda of
Modi, who started his career in public
life as a full-time RSS volunteer, and that
of the Sangh.
Of course, on the face of it, neither
organisation is willing to admit that the
RSS has any political ambitions. After
all, in 1949, the RSS gave an
undertaking to the Government of India
that it would act solely as a cultural
organisation, a strategy it adopted to
wriggle out of the ban imposed on it
following the association of some of its
members with the conspiracy to
assassinate Mahatma Gandhi. Article 4
of the RSS constitution, adopted in
1949 before the ban was lifted, states:
The Sangh, as such, has no politics
and is devoted purely to cultural work.
No guidelines to party
Even after the Lok Sabha election results
last May, the RSS emphasised this idea.
Sangh has not given any guidelines to
the BJP after its historic victory in the
Lok Sabha polls, nor to Modiji, Ram
Madhav, who was then the national
spokesperson of the RSS, said on 18
May. RSS never keeps any remote
control to perform any role in politics
and government, he added.
A few weeks later, Ram Madhav,
along with another RSS pracharak, Shiv
Prakash, entered the BJP. When the
partys organisational structure was
revamped under new president Amit

Four reasons why Vajpayee

doesnt deserve Bharat Ratna
The award is given in recognition of exceptional service
rendered without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. Our former prime minister doesnt fulfil this
criteria, says MD. HUSSAIN RAHMANI

Not only has Modi failed to insulate the ruling party and its
popular mandate from the RSS and its affiliates, he has given
enough indications that he is a willing partner in the Sanghs
attempt to steer his government. Many ministers in the Modi
government are RSS members.
Shah, several key positions in the BJP
were handed over to men who had
come from the RSS. Simultaneously, the
RSS also reworked on the distribution of
its own internal responsibilities,
primarily to ensure better control over
the ruling party.
In the reshuffle, the responsibility of
liaising with the BJP was taken away
from RSS joint general secretary Suresh
Soni, who had held this position for
almost a decade, and given to Krishna
Gopal, another joint general secretary in
the Sangh. In addition, the RSS has also
started setting up a set of committees from national to district level - to ensure
the coordinated functioning of its
various arms, including the BJP, the
Vishwa Hindu Parishad, its Akhil
Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad student
arm, the Dharma Jagaran Manch (which
is in the centre of the conversion row).
A willing partner
Not only has Modi failed to insulate the
ruling party and its popular mandate
from the RSS and its affiliates, he has
given enough indications that he is a
willing partner in the Sanghs attempt to

steer his government. Many ministers in

the Modi government are RSS
members.
If one needs proof that the RSS
affiliates like the Dharma Jagaran Manch
have the approval of those in power, it is
evident not just in Modis failure to
criticise its so-called reconversion drive
in Agra but also in the manner he has
sought to transfer the BJPs mandate to
the Sangh. Take the case of the
functioning of the Human Resources
Development Ministry. The RSS is
involved not only in the planning of an
elaborate exercise to effect changes in
the countrys education system and
curriculum, it has also launched a silent
drive to identify experts who can staff
various committees of the HRD Ministry
as well as the top posts in higher
educational institutions run by it.
The frequent repor ts of HRD
Minister
Smriti
Irani
taking
instructions on regular basis from the
office-bearers of RSS and its affiliates
have only reinforced the perception
that there is hardly any distinction
between Modi and the mother ship.
(scroll.in)

MG/Yusuf

Hindu
Rashtra

Haraam
Zaade!

Ghar Wapsi

Godse
a patriot!

President Pranab Mukherjee has announced Indias highest civilian awards for
former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and freedom fighter and scholar
Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously). In the latter case, the present
regime is extending its drive to appropriate historical icons.
As always, the first reactions came on Twitter. Noted historian
Ramchandra Guha tweeted, Giving Vajpayee a Bharat Ratna is fine, but
one should not award it to people dead or long dead. Awarding Malaviya
is a mistake. If Malaviya, why not give Bharat Ratnas to Tagore, Phule,
Tilak, Gokhale, Vivekananda, Akbar, Shivaji, Guru Nanak, Kabir, Ashoka,
too?
However, conferring the Bharat Ratna to Vajpayee raises some important questions. Here are four strong reasons that weaken Vajpayees case
for the prestigious award:
1. Bharat Ratna only for being a prime minister: While Bharat Ratna is an
award for life-time service, it is only Vajpayees prime ministerial tenure
that is being considered as exceptional and unblemished. Even as PM,
some of his decisions were highly controversial. One was the famous surrender to the IC-814 hijackers and releasing dreaded terrorist Masood
Azhar in return for the safety of the hostages. After the release, Azhars
outfit, Jaish-e-Mohammed, carried out several attacks on our country.
2. Architect of Babri Masjid demolition: Listen to his speech:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EhMmJEwbTg] that he delivered
on December 5, 1992 in Ayodhya. He is openly calling for the demolition
of the disputed structure. Was it without distinction of race or religion?
What happened after the demolition will always haunt us as it severely
dented Indias pluralist nature and ethos.
3. Even his role during Indias freedom struggle has always been in question:
His
controversial
confessional
statement
[http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1503/15031150.htm] before a British
government magistrate during the Quit India Movement in 1942 indicted
two freedom fighters. This aspect of his life was even raised by some of
his detractors in Parliament after he became PM in 1998.
4. Vajpayees communal rant: Contrary to his image as a moderate statesman, he spewed venom [http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/a-stench-that-is-all-too-familiar/article339034.ece] against the
Muslim community during his speech at the BJP conclave in Goa, barely
a few months after the 2002 Gujarat riots. This is what he said: Wherever
Muslims live, they dont like to live in co-existence with others; they dont
like to mingle with others; and instead of propagating their ideas in a
peaceful manner, they want to spread their faith by resorting to terror and
threats. Do these comments reflect someone who deserves a Bharat
Ratna? (dailyo.in)

Inside MG

Fake conversions

3,4,9,11

Report from Agra

Modi/BJP/RSS

1,6,7

J&K 10 Analysis 11 Special Reports 3,13 Issues 2,11,13

Speaking Out 11 Books 21 Newsmakers 12 Health 8
Leadership 9 International 16-20 Community News 14-15
Islamic Perspectives 20 Our Publications 19 Letters 23

Whats in Gods names? 22

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

ISSUES / OPINION

www.milligazette.com

Failure to implement Islamic prohibitions kills 80 million a year

DR. JAVED JAMIL
God says in the Quran, Invite towards the
abode of peace. Islam, in fact, means peace,
etymologically as well as metaphorically.
Etymologically, Islam means peace as well as
submission to God; without submission to God,
comprehensive peace cannot be achieved in the
world. Metaphorically, Islam means peace
because its grand objective is to achieve peace
in the World and Hereafter, and it takes every
possible step to achieve those objectives.
Peace is of no use if it does not ensure security; and security is of no avail if it does not lead
to security from all forms of diseases. Naturally,
health is one of the most important constituents
of Islamic definition of peace. The way Islamic
definition of peace is comprehensive, the Islamic
definition of health too is comprehensive. Islam
is not just a religion nor is it just a complete way
of life, something the Muslim scholars are very
fond of repeating in their speeches and writings.
Islam, in addition, is a system of collective
living that includes governance. When we speak
of Islam as a way of life, it is more or less an
individualistic notion, or at the most a collective
way of life. When we speak of Islam as a system, it implies elaborate rules of governance
and the adjustment of individual and collective
life in accordance with certain rules so that the
desired objectives can be achieved. So, Islamic
definition of health does not simply deal with a
healthy living of individuals, but also speaks of
a health-protective system. In the present book,
a new definition of health, derived from the
Quran, has been introduced:
The injunctions of the Quran and the system they seek to build are not just health-friendly; health is in fact the essential criterion of these
injunctions. It is not that the Quranic system is
beneficial for health; health is in fact an inseparable part of its ultimate objectives. What is good
for heath is promoted, and what is bad for health
is not acceptable. As I have explained repeatedly, the Quranic Paradigm of Health is uniquely
different from the modern paradigm of health. It
marks a massive paradigm shift.
Modern health concepts have the stamp of
the economic forces for which health too is
nothing more than a money spinner. Where certain concepts of health support their economic
designs, they exhibit an extraordinary enthusiasm to promote them; the health concepts that
do neither support nor disturb their designs are
given either a silent disapproval or a passive
approval; and the health concepts that disturb
their plans are simply not tolerable. Such concepts are either totally rejected or, if there is a
rising demand in favour of them, they are tackled through political, social and ideological
manoeuvring. In short, health is used by the
economic forces, especially the corporate to:
1.Sell the medicines, where the treatment of particular diseases are available;
2.Sell vaccines, where treatment of particular
diseases are not available; if both are available,
preference is given to selling the treatment, as it
normally brings more money;
3.Sell the items related to health like solutions,
lotions, creams and jellies,
4.Protect and promote the interests of the market such as in the case of AIDS control programmes, population control programmes, etc;
5. Manage the effects of unhealthy social practices, promoted by the market, like alcohol,
smoking, gambling and unhealthy sexual behaviour. The same economic forces use their power
to:
1. Thwart any such concepts from emerging or
getting popular, as can harm their interests;
2. Thwart any proposals that seek to ban or dis-

With the rapid advancement of science and technology and with

the amazing advancement of medical sciences, mankind should
have become healthier and more peaceful. But we are living in a
world which is certainly more chaotic than what it used to be
500 years back.
courage practices that are major money-spinners for them. Primary prevention is of hardly
any use to them, and they popularise only secondary prevention.
It is this selfish approach that has substantially undone the achievements of the scientists.
With the rapid advancement of science and technology and with the amazing advancement of
medical sciences, humankind should have
become healthier and more peaceful. But we are
living in a world which is certainly more chaotic
than what it used to be 500 years back.
We have got rid of certain diseases alright,
but have invited perhaps a bigger number of diseases, deadlier than the ones we have got rid of.
We have not been able to alleviate the sufferings
that we could have had if we had not allowed the
economics to outsmart religion and sciences. If
we had followed religion, we could never have
allowed practices like gambling, drinking, smoking, homosexuality and promiscuity to take roots
in society.
If we had followed sciences, we could not
have wasted any time in banning these evils as
soon as their devastating effects started emerging for all to see. We are now living in a world
where the organisations claim to be working for
attaining highest standards of health but are
allowing the system to achieve highest standards of practices that threaten life. How the
highest standards of health can be attained
without establishing a highly health-protective
system, is for these organisations to explain.
Islam does not rule the current world with
the result that chaos prevails, as is evident from
the figures cited in the preceding chapters.
Muslims of the current world have adopted Islam
partially. This partial application has deprived
them of peace in its entirety. Still they are in a
much better state of peace than the people living
in the so-called developed world. This is evident
from the fact that they Muslims:
* one of the lowest rates of murders
* almost negligible incidence of suicides
* very low rates of rape
* negligible consumption of alcohol and incidence of alcohol-related deaths and other problems
* very low rate of gambling-related problems
* extremely low level of family break-ups
* extremely low number of prostitutes and
pornographic actors among them
* negligible level of sexual abuse of children
* very low incidence of sex-related, alcoholrelated and gambling-related diseases
* relatively low incidence of drug addiction
* relatively low incidence of psychiatric illnesses
* relatively very low level of consumption of
sedatives and tranquillisers
* very low incidence of single-parenthood, negligible number of children born out of wedlock
* relatively much lower level of promiscuity and
sexual perversions
* very low level of abortions, including teenage
pregnancies, etc
* relatively low incidence of several diseases,
including cancers of penis and cervix (due to circumcision), sex transmitted diseases, urinary
tract infections, other cancers due to excessive
consumption of alcohol, etc. and
* almost negligible deaths due to rabies.
The world must know that if Islamic principles are allowed to function properly, every year
more than 80 million lives can be saved. These
include

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* 2 million murders
* 2.2 million suicides
* 2.5 million deaths from AIDS
* 5 million deaths from smoking
* 2 million deaths associated with alcohol
* 2 million deaths associated with smoking,
gambling and drugs
* 70 million cases of feticide;
* 60000 deaths due to rabies
Even if foeticide is excluded, more than 10
million people should have been saved every
year from falling prey to the unwanted kinds of
death had Islamic legal and socio-economic
system been in force. These are no ordinary figures. These are staggering statistics from all
accounts. If we add the figures of foeticide, more
than 80 million lives are lost just because the
laws of God are not followed. For a few hundred
dead in terrorist attacks, the world is made
hostage, trillions of dollars are put to the fire,
cities are devastated and tens of thousands of
innocents are killed. For millions of death as the
result of the pursuance of socio-economic policies dictated by the forces of globalisation, virtually nothing is done except a few cosmetic
measures.
Unfortunately we are denizens of a world
where religion - thanks to the designs of the
forces of globalisation - is being presented as
some kind of a demon, which needs to be vanquished. If uprooting it is not possible, they
think, it should at least be contained. The truth is
just the reverse. The need of the time is to
engage and kill the monster of economic fundamentalism as soon as possible. The challenge
before the Quranic Paradigm of Health is
twofold:
First, in an environment full of disrespect for
the role of religion, the intellectual mind tends to
reject anything, which is primarily based on religious texts. The world has to be told and convinced that if religion appears to have become
something unworthy of serious consideration in
scientific development, it is because vested
interests find religion an obstacle in their rise and
also because Islamic scholars have not succeeded in presenting Islam as a viable alternative
for the current system. The Quranic Paradigm of
Health is to be promoted in a way that it does not
look to be a part of any political design to
impose Islam.
The world is to be convinced that it is in the
interest of humankind to benefit from the paradigm, which can alternatively be called Dynamic
Paradigm of Health. They must not feel shy to
accept it, as it is scientifically much better
placed to establish a healthy society than the
current paradigm. The medical fraternity in particular is to be convinced that if we want a
healthier world, the Quranic (or Dynamic)
Paradigm of Health is the best and most potent
option.
Second, the biggest challenge to the paradigm will of course come from the forces of
globalisation. They will not let it even be a subject of serious deliberations, as the application of
the paradigm would signal doom for their commercial interests. In order to overcome this challenge, Muslims must pursue an aggressive policy of promoting all aspects of the paradigm and
their implications. A very serious endeavour has
to be made to earn the support of other religions,
especially Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and
Buddhism.
The leaders of these religions have to be told

DISTRIBUTORS: (Alphabetical - statewise and then citywise)

that the Quranic (Dynamic) Paradigm of Health

is much more consistent with the principles of
these religions than the modern paradigm is. The
fundamental of all religions is the same, each
one of which promotes a healthy morality rather
than commercial morality advanced by the market forces. If the great religions unite against the
forces of economic fundamentalism, there is no
reason why healthy morality cannot be restored
to the system.
Islam does not regard itself as an exclusive
religion having no relation to other religions.
Islam in fact is the final destination of a long
journey of religion-Hinduism, Judaism,
Buddhism, Christianity and other religions being
notable milestones in that journey. The Quran is
the culmination of the process of guidance that
included great scriptures like the Vedas, Torah
and Gospel. Accepting an Islamic system does
not in anyway mean rejection or abandoning of
other religions.
One way of making the paradigm more
acceptable is to present its secular version,
Dynamic Paradigm of Health, which will present
the same paradigm but without founding the
arguments on the religious sources. This, however, in my view is not the right thing to do, as it
would weaken the position of those religionists
who want to see religion emerge as a beacon of
guidance. It will be a gift on a platter to those
who do not want to ascribe any beneficial role to
religion in general, and Islam in particular. It is
high time religion was resuscitated in its pristine
role of guidance towards peace.
Knowledge in the clutches of villains is disaster. Time is witness that heroes are a rare
species, and villains are often misjudged as
heroes. With villains holding knowledge to ransom in the current world, life and the quality of
life are not determined by the presence or
absence of diseases and the factors associated
with diseases but in the availability of all kinds of
options, good and bad, to human beings. Yet, the
villains keep shouting they alone are right, and
human beings are left with no option but to tread
their footsteps. If people choose bad options,
they alone are held responsible and not the villains who are presenting the options in provocative colours. This is a strange system of barter
where poisons are exchanged with currency.
We need a system in place in the world,
which decreases mortality and morbidity,
reduces the global burden of disease, increases
life expectancy (with conception being the starting point of life) and decreases the burden of the
cost of maintaining health. The current world
systems based on modern economic ideologies,
including capitalism and socialism, do just the
opposite by exposing people to dangerous social
practices, and try to minimise the damage
through artificial means of treatment and vaccinations. In this rivalry between the economics
and health, economics is the clear winner. This
book seeks to make health winner with the
promise that ultimately the true economy will
also gain.
Lets fight and defeat those who for their
own sinister ends are trying to make the world
more entertaining and more glamorous at the
expense of healthy and peaceful living! Lets all
unite in our endeavour to make the world cleaner, purer, healthier and more peaceful!
(Excerpted from Quranic Paradigms of
Sciences & Society (First Vol: Dynamic
Paradigm of Health, 2014 - available from the
author)
The author is Delhi-based thinker and writer
with over a dozen books including his latest Quranic
Paradigm of Sciences & Society (First Vol: Health).
He can be contacted at
doctorforu123@yahoo.com

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NATIONAL

Hindutvas European
apologist shits in Goa
conclave

Belgian Hindutva apologist Koenraad Elsts anti-Islam remarks created a flutter at

a Goa conclave on 20 December prompting a foreign delegate to walk out while
another lodged a complaint with the event organiser, India Foundation which is
run by Shaurya Doval, son of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, a Hindutva
supporter.
Former Jordanian prime minister Dr Abdelsalam Al-Majali walked out of the
meeting while Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, former secretary general of the
Organisation of Islamic Conference, lodged a protest.
Addressing the session on Religion - Tolerance and Terror at the India Ideas
Conclave 2014, Elst said: On the whole, you should make it uncool to be
Muslims. That will help them. You do not forcefully need to convert them.
Through this, they will themselves outgrow Islam.
Referring to the row over the ghar wapsi campaign, Elst said: The Vishwa
Hindu Parishad is coming under criticism for the one thing that they are doing
very well which is ghar wapsi. We need to liberate Muslims from Islam. Every
Muslim is an abductee and must be brought back.
Those present at the session included pro-RSS guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,
Ram Madhav of the BJP and several BJP MPs including former Mumbai police
commissioner Satyapal Singh.
Elst, who has authored books supporting Hindutva vision and has coined
Out of India theory which rejects the Aryan invasion and claims that it were
Indians who fanned out.
Before he walked out, former Jordanian prime minister Abdelsalam al-Majali
told the gathering: I am appalled at what I heard from the platform about insulting Islam and insulting the Prophet. One can criticize this, that and the other but
dont insult. To try to destroy the whole faith is wrong. We came here to understand each other and try to be peaceful. It is very sad to be at such a conference
to hear insults hurled on a religion which is followed by over one billion people.
Ihsanoglu said in his protest note: We are hearing a speech of hate. You
cannot use your freedom of speech to hurt others. I was very happy being here
until I heard this speech of hatred. Gunnar Stalsett, Bishop Emeritus of Oslo, and
others questioned the demonization of an entire faith.
The theme of the conclave was Integral Human Development attended by a
select group of over 400 participants from across the world.

Malegoan elects Mayor

and Dy. Mayor
Mumbai: In Malegaon, Maharashtras city known for power looms and Muslim
majority population, the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Malegaon
Municipal Corporation have been captured by the Third Front and Majlis Ittehadul
Muslimeen candidates Haji Ibrahim and Younus Sheikh respectively. In this election Shiv Sena played the role of king maker and also kept its Hindutva card on
the back burner. Haji Ibrahim who secured 46 votes defeated his rival who
secured 32 votes. For the post of Deputy Mayor Shiv Sena had not put up its own
candidate and remained neutral, with the result that MIM candidate Younus
Sheikh, (who secured 34 votes) defeating his rival Suneel Gaekwad with a narrow margin of two votes, was elected Deputy Mayor. Suneel Gaekwad secured32
votes. It is interesting to note that Shiv Sena which had always been critical of
MIM and its leader Asaduddin Owaisi who, according to some Shiv Sena members, had been poisoning the minds of Muslims, voted for Haji Ibrahim for the
Mayors posts. For the election of Dy Mayors post, it remained neutral and did
not put up its candidate which resulted in Younus Sheikhs election as Deputy
Mayor. Shiv Sena had its own compulsions for directly and indirectly supporting
Muslims for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Avoid Muslim Candidates says

private company
After a row over a Mumbai-based property dealers advertisement saying that the
Muslims need not apply, the HR department of Omnitec India Ltd issued instructions to recruitment agencies to avoid Muslim candidates. The Omnitec, which
sells security equipments, has given instructions IT Point, a Delhi-based recruitment agency, not to consider Muslim candidates for the company. Omnitec has
sent a mail to the agency which includes a highlighted line: Avoid Muslim
Candidates. In the e-mail, Omnitec has asked the IT Point to recruit candidates
for the post of Project Coordinator and technicians for its on-going project in
Koch, Kerala. The interview for this recruitment was supposed to be held in
Gurgaon.

The company provided a long list of criteria to the agency which includes the
instruction Avoid Muslim Candidates was highlighted. Omnitec India Limited
works in the installation of parking systems, electronic control, automatic doors
and CCTV cameras. This company has extensive business in Gulf countries,
especially in Saudi Arabia.
The director of IT Point, New Delhi, Noor Nawaz Khan informed Inqilab(5
Decmebre) that when the Omnitec contacted his company, this information
regarding avoiding Muslim candidates came into light. He further said that this
information was shared between the official mail of Omnitec India Limited,
(HR@omnitecindia.com) and IT Points official mail (info@itpoint.co).
Jawed Akhter, 20, December, 2014

US maintains vigil on Forceful

Religious Conversions
The US government has said that it is maintaining vigil on the reports of alleged
forceful religious conversions in India. US emphasized that it has been working
to promote religious freedom. US appealed to the nations of the world to protect


the religious freedom and follow the international laws in this regard.

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

www.milligazette.com

Respond if you care about your community

White Paper on Terrorism

The issue of fake terrorism charges and the unjust arrests and defamation of our community, especially since 2001, is
the biggest challenge facing the community ever since. A grand conspiracy hatched by the powers that be, IB, Police
and media, has sullied and defamed our community. This campaign has affected our lives, peace of mind and has
thwarted our efforts to progress and educate our children to join the national mainstream.
Our efforts so far to present our case, to bring out our innocence and force the national and state governments to
listen to our grievances have mostly failed. All we have received are a few words of solace which have no real meaning
and have not changed the situation on the ground. Our children by their thousands are still languishing in jails on the
basis of fake confessions obtained through torture and blackmail.
As a long-term solution and a serious response to this problem thrust upon us, AIMMM decided last year to bring
out a white paper on the Muslim-related terrorism in the country. The work is going on with all seriousness and many
researchers, scholars and journalists are busy preparing writeups on various aspects of this issue, covering the history, genesis, communalism, vested interests in various related fields, analysis of various laws like TADA, POTA and UAPA,
fake encounters, narco tests, torture, acquittals, IB & Police role, media attitude, case studies, statewise surveys, SIMI,
Indian Mujahidin, Hindutva terror, individual tragedies of victims, Azamgarh, Bhatkal, Malegaon, Darbhanga modules,
some basic documents, etc., etc.
The target is to bring out this white paper during the next few months and to release it in a big convention at Delhi
as a combined effort of major Muslim and civil rights organisations, and thereafter present this huge document of over
600 large format pages to politicians, media, human rights organisations, especially outside the country, in order to
enlighten public opinion at home and abroad as well as to build pressure on our blind and deaf government.
The estimated cost of this white paper is Rs 35 lakh divided as follows: Rs 15 lakh cost of preparation and payments to contributors plus six months salaries to researchers and experts; Rs 15 lakh for designing and printing the
document in a world-class format; while the grand convention at Delhi will cost at least 5 lakh. Effort will be made to
release the White Paper in some state and world capitals also.
You can help this effort in four ways,
1. To buy copies of the White Paper on Terrorism in advance to help defray part of the huge cost of research, printing,
publication and distribution of at least one thousand complimentary copies. The estimated price of the white paper is
Rs 2000 per copy in India. You may place an advance order by paying Rs 1000 only per copy in India including postal
charges). Payments for the copies may be made to The Milli Gazette, D-84 Abul Fazal Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar, New
Delhi 110025. Email: edit@milligazette.com. Individuals and organisations ordering a minimum of 100 copies in
advance will be included as Sponsors of the White Paper.
2. Contribute to the cost of the grand convention to be held in Delhi. This should be payable to the All India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat, D-250, Abul Fazal Enclave, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110025. Tel.: 011-26946780 Fax: 011-26947346.
Email: mushawarat@mushawarat.com.
3. Donate your time: If you are a scholar, researcher, journalist: join our team for a few months working in our Delhi
office or from your own home to complete this project - write to the Editor, MG now at edit@milligazette.com.
4. Contact us if you have vital information/documents about this issue.

THE MILLI GAZETTE

requires
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
JUNIOR JOURNALISTS
write with details in the first instance
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Jamia Nagar, New Delhi - 110025

Basic requirements: good command over English,

interest in and knowledge of Muslim community
issues, working knowledge of Urdu and Hindi
Quote, Unquote

[Re-]Conversions

Communalism is the core ideology of

the BJP and religious polarisation its
main political programme, it seems.
To run this programme and prop up its
ideology, it has again raked up the
issue of religious conversions
The Constitution does not provide for
an anti-conversion law. It gives
freedom of religion to all its citizens.
Article 25(1) states: Subject to
public order, morality and health and
to other provisions of this part, all
persons are equally entitled to
freedom of conscience and right to
profess, practice and propagate
religion. Our forefathers, while
writing the Constitution, had adopted
a structure based on the values of
liberal, democratic and secular
thought.. The SC has upheld the
constitutional provisions in the past.
In its 235th report, the Law
Commission of India dealt with the
issue while prescribing the mode of
proof
for
conversions
and
reconversions to another religion,
suggesting a law on conversions
rather than an anti-conversion law.
SANJAY NIRUPAM,
Indian Express, 20 December 2014

II
The twin strategies of anticonversion and ghar wapsi have a
long history. As part of their
community- and nation-making
rhetoric, the Arya Samaj and the
Hindu Mahasabha launched the
programme of shuddhi on a large
scale in Uttar Pradesh in 1923.
Various scholars have pointed to the
communal
character
of
the
movement. A note prepared by the
criminal investigation department at
that time stated that though the
movement had older origins, its
application to mass rather than
individual conversion gave it a special
prominence. Shuddhi came to be
touted as a movement to reclaim
victims and protect the faithful.
Reconversion attempts have since
been a part of the agenda of various
Hindutva outfits, and the present
assertions should be seen in that
context The language of ghar wapsi
is not motivated by a desire to
promote spirituality and religious
values, but by a strong anti-Christian
and anti-Muslim overtone. Charged
with a moral and communal fervour, it
adopts an unrestrained antiChristianity and anti-Islamic polemic.
Simultaneously, the reconversion
campaign is characterised by a creed

of violence. The ghar wapsi

movement asks Hindus to avenge
supposed past humiliation and
become warriors of a proud Hindu
race.
PROF. CHARU GUPTA, Delhi Uni.,
Indian Express, 20 December 2014

III
Shekhar
Gupta,
a
political
commentator, said he was surprised
that Mr. Modi had so far refused to
denounce the conversions - a
seemingly easy price to pay to get his
legislative agenda moving. So either
the prime minister is not strong
enough to stop these guys from doing
these conversions, or he thinks like
them, Mr. Gupta said. And I dont
know which one of those options is
worse.
How do you know that Mr. Modi
is trying to stop reconversions?
Surendra Jain, a spokesman for the
Vishva Hindu Parishad, a Hindu
nationalist group, asked in an
interview. Christians and Muslims
here are brothers and sisters of our
blood. They were forced to convert
either by allurement or fraud. If some
people want to rectify the error of their
ancestors, what is wrong with it?
GARDINER HARRIS, New York Times,
24 December 2014

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

Suicide by 120 farmers

in Mah. in November
Nagpur: In one month only, i.e., in
November 2014, a record 120 debt-ridden farmers are said to have committed
suicide in Maharashtras drought-hit
regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada,
according to a report. Of these 120 at
least 65 farmers are said to have committed suicide in Marathavada and 55
ended their lives in Vidarbha region,
President of Vidarbh Jan Andolan Samiti
(VJAS), Kishore Tiwari said. He also said
that an average of 4 farmers are committing suicide daily. He said that a delegation of VJAS will soon visit Delhi and try
to meet prime minister Modi to personally apprise him of the grim situation there.
The maximum deaths reported to have
been are of farmers cultivating cotton
and soyabean and fruits cultivated on
more than 5 million hectares which have
been destroyed because of drought conditions. He complained that in spite of all
efforts to bring the grim situation to the
notice of state and central government
authorities they ignored the pitiable condition of farmers. He said that according
to their estimate total losses are worth
Rs 60 thousand crores but referring to a
recent statement by chief minister
Fadnavis, he said that he (CM) demanded only Rs 4000 crores from the centre
towards relief and asked how far this will
be sufficient?

www.milligazette.com

NATIONAL

Babri demolition was show of Hindu unity: Adityanath

Batting for the ghar wapsi campaign of RSS and
its affiliates, BJP controversial MP Yogi Adityanath
urged the centre not to interfere if Hindus who
were forcibly converted want to become Hindus
again. He also called for Hindu Unity, saying
one had measure of their unity in 1992 when they
united and the Babri Masjid was demolished. He
was addressing a three-day Sant Samagam at
Vaishali, Bihar on 21 December, called by the
Dharam Jagran Manch of the RSS. He further said:
If 15 lakh sants start visiting 6.23 lakh villages of
the country, the handful of Christian priests and
maulvis will not be able to convert Hindus. The
Sant Samagam is the first in Bihar since the
change of the government in Centre. The gathering
at the Samagam adopted a resolution opposing
conversions but welcoming back those Hindus
who were forcibly converted.

RSS affiliates sprout along Punjab border

After being uprooted during the time of militancy in
Punjab, the RSS and its affiliates again are trying to
extend the Parivar footprint along the border of the
state. Towns and villages along the border with
Pakistan, from Bhikhiwind to Khemkaran to
Pahuwind, have been waking up every morning to
the sights and sounds of shakhas in parks and
grounds. Brigadier (retd) J K Gagneja, RSS sahprant sanchalak, said there are 795 shakhas
across Punjab. The youth comprise 60 percent of
their workforce and are spearheading most activities. Functioning of single-teacher schools, mostly
run by the Ekal Abhiyan Yojna (EAY) and the
Madhav Rao Muley Sewa Trust (MRMST), are
being coordinated by RSS veterans. The EAY, fundIndia Slashes Health Budget, Already
ed by NRIs, is a large network of more than 50,000
Among Worlds Lowest
New Delhi: The government has ordered single-teacher schools across the country.
a cut of nearly 20 percent in its 2014/15
healthcare budget due to fiscal strains, Hindu Mahasabha wants to install Godses bust
putting at risk key disease-control initia- Projecting Mahatma Gandhis assassin Nathuram
tives in a country whose public spending Godse as a nationalist political leader and terming
on health is already among the lowest in him as an irreplaceable asset to the intellectual
the world. Two health ministry officials discourse of Hinduism, the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu
told Reuters on 23 December that more Mahasabha wants to install Godses busts at pubthan 6000 crore rupees, or $948 million, lic places. The Mahasabha, which has already prohas been slashed from their budget allo- cured a sculpted Godse bust, currently on display
cation of around 31,640 crores or $5 bil- at its headquarters in central Delhis Mandir Marg,
lion for the financial year ending on will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking
March 31. India spends about 1 percent the governments permission to install them.
According to Hindu Mahasabhas national
of its gross domestic product (GDP) on
public health, compared to 3 percent in president Chandra Prakash Kaushik, the Sabha
China and 8.3 percent in the United would seek the installation of the busts at areas
States. Dominated by private players, such as public parks, markets and prominent juncIndias healthcare industry is growing at tions at five to six metropolitan cities failing which
an annual clip of around 15 percent, but these would be installed at the Sabhas offices in
public spending has remained low and these cities. Hindu Mahasabha has also decided to
resulted in a dilapidated network of gov- build a temple to Nathuram Godse in Sitapur disernment hospitals and clinics, especially trict. For this, it has bought land in Siddhaulis Para
in rural areas. One of the health ministry village, where it purports to begin construction on
officials said the cut could crimp efforts January 30, the day Gandhi was shot dead. Hindu
to control the spread of diseases. More Mahasabha spokesman Sharad Gupta said
newborns die in India than in poorer Godses urn, kept in Pune, would be brought to
neighbours such as Bangladesh, and Sitapur through a kalash yatra. The urn is with
preventable illnesses such as diarrhoea Godses niece Himani Savarkar. Along with Godse,
kill more than a million children every the Mahasabha also plans to install statues of
another national hero, Vinayak Damodar
year.
In addition to the healthcare budget, the Savarkar who was once president of Hindu
finance ministry has also ordered a
spending cut for Indias HIV/AIDS proMusings
gramme by about 30 percent to 1300
crore rupees ($205.4 million). India had
the third-largest number of people living
with HIV in the world at the end of 2013,
according to the UN AIDS programme,
and it accounts for more than half of all One illiterate MP Mahant Sakshi Mahraj is of the view that
Nathuram Godse was a patriot. If Godse is deemed to
AIDS-related deaths in the Asia-Pacific.
MG comment: How else gigantic be a patriot, I think the whole concept of patriotism will
defence and security purchases with have to be changed. Godse was an indoctrinated Hindu
Brahmin whose little understanding of nationality, counguaranteed kickbacks be made?
try and patriotism was coloured by Brahminical
Hinduism. He was basically an RSS/Hindu Mahasabha
One in every three malnourished
man, who was too petty to fathom Gandhis universal
children lives in India
The United Nations Convention on the vision. Justice Khosla observed that Godse was a confused man, who suffered from a certain gender-related
Rights of the Child, to which India is a
complex (refer to IE Archives, Delhi, 1947-1950). It
signatory, mandates Adequate nutritious
appeared in Outlook magazine a few years ago that
food but despite a booming economy Nathuram Godse was raised as a girl and his superstiand 10 years of government pro- tious parents insisted that he wear a nath (nose-ring).
grammes, child hunger in India remains This gave him the name: Nathuram. Psychologist Sudhir
worse than in many sub-Saharan African Kakkar found Godse to be a man of unsound judgement
countries. Corruption and government and gender-confused (The Telegraph, Calcutta, 30 Jan.,
mismanagement continue to be barriers 2000). By assassinating Gandhi, Nathuram tried to prove
to Indias poorest and most oppressed that he was man enough to kill a super-human like
citizens. We come to school in hope of Gandhi. It was Godses way to prove his psychological
food, a little Dalit girl at a government masculinity defying his emasculated self. Its indeed
primary school in Madhya Pradesh told a pity that deranged, psychologically sick and venomous
Video Volunteers as Arti discovered, the individuals like Godse and his accomplices are being
food the students were getting was virtu- thought of as patriots and now an ignorant, semi-educated, Internet generation is questioning Gandhis views
ally inedible.

Nathuram Godse:
A Patriot?

Mahasabha and had advocated reconversion (or

ghar wapsi) of converted Hindus.
Meanwhile lawyer and activist Shahzad
Poonawala has petitioned the Prime Minister, Home
Minister, HRD Minister and Law Minister against
the proposed installation of statues of Nathuram
Godse, whom he calls a terrorist and killer of MK
Gandhi.
Poonawala noted that an attempt is being
made to legitimise Godses case by Sangh and
Hindu Mahasabha. Urging the PM to take a stand,
Poonawala wrote, It is incumbent for us to know
whether you only have Gandhi on your lips and
Godse in your heart?
India-Pak exchange Hindus and Muslims: Shiv Sena
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh unit of Shiv Sena has
expressed opposition to the Ghar Wapsi campaign launched by the RSS affiliates. Hindus have
always had a calm nature and have always
respected other religions but Muslims are fanatics
and revolting in nature. If Muslims convert or
reconvert to Hinduism and then marry Hindus, it
will lead to genetic abnormalities in the Hindu community, Shiv Sena Uttar Pradesh head Anil Singh
said while talking to a news channel. Singh said
that actual Ghar Wapsi of Muslims is to send
them off to Pakistan. We welcome ghar wapasi
(homecoming) only if it means that they (Muslims)
are sent to Pakistan, because (Mohammad Ali)
Jinnah has already created a home for them. It is
time both nations exchange Hindus and Muslims, it
is the only solution to this problem, he said.
India is our Hindu rashtra: RSS chief
Kolkata: Describing India as a Hindu rashtra
(nation) and making a strong pitch for Hindu awakening, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on 20 December
upped the ante on conversions by challenging
opposition parties to bring a law for banning
forcible conversions. Addressing the first-ever public rally by Vishwa Hindu Parishad in West Bengal,
Bhagwat said, There is no need to fear. We are in
our own country. We are not intruders or infiltrators. This is our own country, our Hindu rashtra
(nation). A Hindu will not leave his land. What we
have lost in the past, we will try to bring it back. No
one should be afraid of Hindus rising. Those who
are raising their voice against the rise of Hindus are
selfish and have vested interests. And if they
oppose, there will be confrontation. We must
remember that the confrontation is for the ills done
to our ancestors. Hindus have been tolerating
crimes by Bangladesh or Pakistan. Our God says
after 100 crimes, you must not forgive any crime.
Till the Hindus are here in India, the country is
there. If Hindus are not there, then everybody living
here will be in distress.
Speaking at a Hindu Sammelan as part of
VHPs golden jubilee celebrations, Bhagwat said
We are trying to create a strong Hindu society.
Those who strayed, were lured away. They were
looted from us. The world knows. Ab agar mera
maal wapas aata hain, toh kaunsi badi baat hai? (If
now we are taking back our property, then whats
the big deal?), Bhagwat told the 20,000-strong
crowd.
and visions. I dont understand, why a section of uneducated and historically-challenged people hold Gandhi
responsible for the partition and fallaciously think that he
was partial to Muslims? Only those, who approve of militant Hindu outfits like RSS, Hindu Mahasabha and are
rabid communalists, labour under the misconception
that Gandhi appeased Muslims to the point of depriving
Hindus of their fundamental rights. This is an utter historical garbage and needs a revamp to understand Gandhi
and his exalted ideals, though a few could have been a
tad impractical to follow. So long as we continue to glorify killers like Godse and N D Apte (both were hanged at
Ambala Central Jail on 15 November, 1949), well never
be able to get to the root of the truth. Ignorance is indeed
a bane of our times.

Ibnul-waqt Musalman
In a significant judgment, the Allahabad high court has
ruled that the religious conversion of girls without their
faith and belief in Islam and solely for the purpose of
marriage to Muslim boys could not be held valid. This
is a monumental verdict but this must also be extended
further to declare all Hindu men (esp. celebrities) converting to Islam as fakes. Such temporary Muslims
have only one objective: to have one more wife because
Hindu Marriage Act, 1956 doesnt allow them to have
more than one wife. Dharmendra tied the knot with
Hema Malini in 1981 despite Prakash Kaur (his legal
wife) being alive. Eternal clown Kishore Kumar became
Abdullah to marry Madhubala, though he wasnt officially separated from his first wife Ruma Guhathakurta.

Togadia said slaughter of a single cow was an

insult to Hindus. He made a sales pitch for cosmetics manufactured from cowdung and urine of cows
by the VHP. We earned Rs 15 crore through sale
of shampoo and face wash made from cow urine
and face pack made from cow dung, said Togadia.
He then asked the crowd if the sale can be boosted to Rs 15,000 crore. He was not disappointed
with affirmation from the crowd.
Will finish Christianity and Islam in India by 2021
New Delhi: Dharm Jagran
Manch leader Rajeshwar
Singh, of the Aligarh
Christmas conversion programme fame, has raked up
a new controversy with a
fresh dose of vitriol.
Rajeshwar Singh has said
that they plan to root out Christianity and Islam
from India by December 31, 2021, adding that
Christians and Muslims essentially have no right to
live in the country. Indias inner voice has spoken.
Just wait and watch. 31 December 2021 is the last
for Christianity and Islam in this country. We will
finish Christianity and Islam in this country by 31
December 2021. This is our aim, Rajeshwar said.
His organisation, an RSS outfit, had planned a
mass conversion programme in Aligarh on
Christmas. After widespread outrage over it, the
future of the plan remains undecided.
Sakshi Maharaj glorifies Gandhijis Killer
After Sadhvi Niranjan Joyti, Sakshi Maharaj, a BJP
MP from Unnao, whose statement made in a TV
programme on 11 December created chaos in the
parliament. In his remark Maharaj dubbed Nathu
Ram Godse as a patriot, but later he apologized
for his comment after opposition parties made a
hue and cry on it. Nathuram Godse had killed
Gandhiji at point blank on 30 January, 1948, and he
was hanged in November 1949. While Prime
Minister Narender Modi has been trying to idolize
Mahatma Ganhdi by using his image for his
Swachh Bhart campaign, BJP leaders are engaged
in using comments which expose the real agenda
of the RSS/BJP.
BJP washes hands off conversion controversy
The BJP on 19 December distanced itself from the
conversion controversy saying the party has not
been involved with the homecoming of nonHindus and has not contributed to such activities.
The BJP has nothing to do with the activities related to Ghar Vapsi (homecoming) of non-Hindus,
nor has it backed or contributed to such elements
or activities in any manner, party national
spokesperson Syed Shahanwaz Hussain said in
Patna. We are of the view that one is free to practice any religion, but at the same time, we oppose
conversion by force or allurement, he told
reporters. Referring to the controversial statements
made by BJP MP Yogi Adityanath to defend activities related to the homecoming by the nonHindus, Hussain said the party has not sanctioned
its leaders to indulge in such activities nor has it


taken part in such programmes.
Vinod Mehra secretly embraced Islam to marry two
wives at a time. These guys had no knowledge of Islam
but they had shrewd understanding of the religion that
legalises and entitles a man (Muslim, to be precise) to
have four wives. Such fly-by-night conversions reek of
sheer opportunism and these knave Muslims are
Ibnul-waqt Musalman (opportunistic Muslims). They
must be discouraged.

Peshawar killers
It took thirty years for Sri Lankan government and army
to weed out LTTE completely from its soil. Now Sri Lanka
is free of LTTE menace. When can we see Pakistan emulate Sri Lankas example and extirpate Talibans from its
land and let the world heave a sigh of relief? The latest
Peshawar school massacre killing more than 100 children must be viewed as the last proverbial straw on the
camels back and Pakistan must vow to obliterate these
evils from the face of the earth. It makes one wonder,
how can people be so cruel as to kill children without the
slightest compunction? This is an out-Heroding act of
unimaginable cruelty. These rascals have no right to call
themselves Muslims, let alone Momins (true faithfuls).
Theyre not human beings. Theyre threat to Islam and
the mankind in general. Militant outfits like ISIS, Talibans,
Al-Qaeda among others are sanguinary organizations
sans even a scintilla of compassion and remorse. Their
end is the greatest blessing that can be bestowed upon
the beleaguered mankind.

SUMIT PAUL

sumitmaclean@hotmail.com

NATIONAL

www.milligazette.com

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

Those harassing Muslims are neither true Indians nor Hindus

Kolkata: A National Harmony Convention sponsored by Human Rights Protection Association
was held in Kolkatas Kala Mandir on
29 November which was attended by esteemed
leaders of different religions where the sum and
substance of the speakers speeches was that,
while expressing concern over the atmosphere
of declining communal harmony and brotherhood in the country they said that efforts to bring
an end to the atmosphere of communal harmony in the country is a matter of great concern
because, as a result of this the country is heading towards another division of the country.
Hence it is necessary that leaders of all religions
come forward and play a constructive role in
promoting national unity and harmony. On this
occasion thousands of people who were present
in this conference were adminsitrered an oath to
make every possible effort to safeguard the
countrys unity, integrity, national harmony,
brotherhood and human rights. At the same time
announcement was also made to take out
national harmony caravans against growing
communalism all over the country.
Swamy Lakshmi Shankaracharya, noted
scholar of Hindusism and leader, said in this
convention that no religion of the world promotes hatred and all religions teach respect of
humanism, fundamental teaching and no religion
is complete without it. He said that those who
preach hatred in the name of Hinduism cannot
be true Hindus because the fundamental teaching of Sanatan Dharm is respect for humanism
which is essential for a good relationship with
God.
He asked how those people can be true followers of Hinduism who hurt the feelings of
Muslims in th name of Vande Mataram. He said
that a Hindu can offer Vandana but not a Muslim
because in Islam worship of no others except
One Allah is allowed but it doesnt mean that a
Muslim cannot be a patriot. Those who hurt the
feelings of Muslims in the name of Vande
Matram cannot be true Indians. He said that
jehad also is being understood wrongly. Praising
Shamim Ahmad, President of Human Rights
Protection Association for organising this conference he said that he supports him and will
always support the national harmony campaign.
Amarat-e Sharaiyya Phulwari Sharif manager Maulana Anisur Rahman Qasmi while describing social justice essential for the countrys
progress, said that only a handful of people instigate riots but they take society hostage. This is
because serious and educated people of our
society remain silent and do not condemn the
instigators. What is needed is that they should
be in the forefront in foiling the harmful activities
of mischievous people. He also said that today
leaders of different religions are present on the
stage. This proves that secularism is alive in the
country
Another religious and social leader and
scholar Swamy Sarvanand Saraswati said that
he is happy that thousands of members who
attended this programme of Human Rights
Protection Association will take the message of
unity and harmony from here and spread the
message of brotherhood in the country. Without
naming any body or any political party he said
that those who spread and preach hatred are

neither true Indians nor true follower of any religion. M P Sudeep Bandopadhya speaking on
this occasion said that Bengal has always guided and showed the light to India and such a programme is a positive indication that religious
leaders have become united for promoting unity
and religious brotherhood, adding that communalists never achieved success in Bengal nor will
they succeed in future. Shamim Ahmad,
President of this Association said that his association is working for the protection of human
rights for the past 15 years and this year they
would celebrate 15th anniversary of this
Association. Others who spoke on this occasion
were Jain religious leader Moniji Maharaj,
Christian religious leader Bishop Thomas de
Soza, Imam of Nakhuda Masjid, Maulana
Shafiqur Rahman, Justice Radhakrishnan Patre
and many others. Orissa High Courts former
judge Justice I M Quddoosi chaired this
Conference.

Rams Ayodhya not in India

studies he has disputed High Courts views that

it has been the belief of Hindus since olden days
that the place or site of Babri Masjid is the birth
place of Ram. He said that in 1855 once there
was a fight between Muslims and some saadhus
/ bairagis in connection with a mosque in
Hanuman Garhi. Muslims being weaker, they
continued withdrawing till they reached Babri
Masjid and took shelter there (in the mosque).
He also said that sadhus attacked them
(Muslims) in consequence of which hundreds
were killed. Babri Masjid was virtually under their
(sadhus) control but after the fight ended, they
left the Masjid and went back to Hanuman Garhi
after which Muslims resumed Namaz in this
mosque (Babri Masjid) as before. He wrote that
if the belief of Hindus is or was that Ram was
born at the Masjid site, they would not have left
it after capturing it and allowed Muslims to continue their Namaz there. This book, (which is in
English), by Abdur Rahim Qureshi will be published soon. He (Abdur Rahim Qureshi) made an
appeal to people, particularly to Hindu brethren,
not to be misled by RSS / VHP etc propaganda
and reject their false claim on Babri Masjid.

Hyderabad: Muhammad Abdur Rahim Qureshi,

Asstt General Secretary of All India Muslim
Personal Law Board and President of All India
Seminar on Indo-Iran relations
Tamir-e Millat said that Ayodhya, the city
where Ram is said to have been born
and the city of Ayodhya which was supposed to be set up by Lord Ram after his
return from exile, are not in India and the
present Ayodhya in Faizabad district is in
no way connected to Ram. He said that
according to Archaeological Survey of
Indias researches the city of Ayodhya of
Rams ancestors (or grand father) Raja
Raghu where Ram was born is in
Pakistans district Dera Ismail Khan.
Pakistan renamed it Ram Dery and subsequently renamed it Rahman Dery.
Accoridng to ASIs further research, Shahid Mehdi speaking at the Indo-Iran seminar
Ram after his return from exile himself
Aligarh: Eulogizing shared socio-economicset up a city and named it Ayodhya which is now political and cultural values between India and
Harappa in Pakistan He (Abdur Rahim Qureshi) Iran, Professor Mohammad Tahir Ali, former
is presently writing a book in which he has head of the department of Arabic, Persian and
recorded all these things along with a map. This Islamic Studies at Vishwabharti Shanti Niketan
book is in English and is in the process of publi- University, pointed out that the first newspaper,
cation and will come out soon.
Miratul-Akhbar, published in Calcutta (Kolkata)
He demanded the government of India to in 1822 and edited by the great social reformer
make public the relevant portions of 3 reports of Raja Ram Mohan Roy was in Persian. Prof Ali
excavations made by ASI in Ayodhya in which, added that Miratul-Akhbar was the first-ever
according to ASI, Ayodhya did not exist 600 Persian language newspaper.
years before Christian era and in this place
He was addressing a one-day National
human habitation started from 60 years BC, Seminar on Cultural Development and
whereas Rams period is said to be 18 lakh Development of Culture between Iran and India
years ago, or at least more than 5600 years ago organised on 22 December by the Institute of
when there was no existence of the present Persian Research, Aligarh Muslim University.
Ayodhya. He further said that excavation for the
Stating that the Iranian calligraphers have
first time was made by Banaras Hindu played an important role during the Mughal periUniversitys team. Second time it was made od, Prof Ali urged the scholars of India and Iran
under Archaeology of Ram Project and for the to work for the benefit of the humanity.
third time it was done in connection with Babri
Inaugurating the seminar, Dr. Gholam Raza
Masjid demolition case under Allahabad High Mahdavi, Vice Chancellor of Irans Al-Mustafa
Courts order but in no excavations, are there University, said that Iran and India are among
indications of the existence of a temple, idols or the countries which have a shared civilization
any part of idol, A long, thick wall from north to and long history. He said that they also possouth was found which was considered by sessed common geopolitical capabilities, matearcheology experts as the wall of any mosque, rial and spiritual resources and an effective culEigdah etc. In his forthcoming book which he ture. He said that qualitative and quantitative
(Abdur Rahim Qureshi) is writing after research populations have entered realms of power,

development and evolution in social, political

and cultural structures.
Professor Azarmi Dukht Safavi, Director of
the Persian Research Institute, said that Indian
films are promoting and exporting Indian culture
to Iran. She said that both the countries were
closely associated over the ages.
Speaking on Indo-Iran relationship, she
quoted Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who has said
The Indians and Iranians are like two brothers
who got separated from each other, one going
East and the other to the West. They have forgotten each other - the only thing they remember are the few old tunes they used to play on
their flutes. Today, we wish to remember those
tunes.
Delivering the keynote address, Shahid
Mehdi, former Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia
Islamia, said that India is a very generous host
and always welcomes scholars and intellectuals
of other countries. He said that the first manual
of Tasawwuf was written in India. Irans architecture and paintings enrich the Indian culture.
Mehdi said that Tagore family had a great link
with Iran and Rabindra Nath Tagore visited Iran
in 1932.
On this occasion, an Urdu Autobiography
Aab-e-Rud-e-Ganga of Prof. Suraiyya
Husain, former chairperson of AMUs
department of Urdu, was released by
Dr. Gholam Raza Mahdavi.

Sectarian violence in
Bhopal
Bhopal: Sectarian violence erupted in
Aman Colony in Karond, Bhopal on 11
December, 2014 when people from Shia
and Sunni sects clashed over the trivial
issue of Imambada land. A mob of
around 500 people brandishing arms,
petrol bombs and sharp-edged weapons
attacked the other sects properties.
During this attack 60 houses were gutted down
and six of them were burnt to ashes. Around 39
vehicles, including a car, were burnt. At least 75
people, including women and children, suffered
critical injuries during this brutal clash. The
injured were admitted in hospitals.
Police had to lathi-charge to disperse the mob.
Rapid Action Force was called which fired tear
gas shells and also fired in the air to control the
mob. The mob also pelted stones on the vehicles
of the fire brigade which came to douse the fires.
Some families left the colony to save their lives.
A group of victims met with the state
home minister, Babu Lal Gaud. The minister
promised to bring the culprits to justice.
Karond is a Muslim-populated area where people from both Shia and Sunni sects live. There
had been a controversy for a very long time.
Shias started to settle down in Aman Colony ten
months ago. Shia community wanted to take
hold of an unused land near Aftab Masjid. They
wanted to construct an Imambada at this place
which was objected to by the Sunni community.
Local people observed that if the police had
taken measures earlier, when there was a minor
clash between these sects a day before this violence, the situation could have easily been con

trolled.

Role of Islamic Thought in the Reconstruction of the Ummah

Islamic Fiqh Academy (India) organised a national seminar on
Islamic Thought: Introduction, History and its Role in the
Reconstruction of the Ummah in collaboration with Dr Zakir Husain
Institute of Islamic Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, at the
institutes conference hall. This one-day seminar derived participation
of a cross section of experts and academics who delved into the history and context of Islamic thought in resolving the present day
thought crises of the world.
Professor Yusuful Amin from Aligarh Muslim University inaugurated the seminar and stated that Western sciences had generally led
to the prevalence of a stream of thought that challenged the authority
of God and caused environmental degradation and that Islamic
thought presents convincing solution to these contemporary problems. He argued that Islamic thought accepts the importance of
observation and experimentation in the development of human
thought and places emphasis on a transcendentalist paradigm for
understanding reality. He stated that non-Muslims could contribute to
the development of Islamic thought, but their authority could be
accepted in the field. He also suggested that the ideas of Shah
Waliullah should be taken as a model for the development of future
Islamic thought.
Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, National Commissioner for Linguistic
Minorities, made it evident in his presidential remarks in the inaugural
session that science did not necessarily alienate scientists from God,

AR Agwan speaking in the seminar

as could be noted from the personal belief of many eminent scientists
and Nobel laureates. He emphasised that Muslim religious experience
in India could be a model for reconstruction of the community as it
had lived here all the three kinds of life, as rulers, as ruled and now
as co-rulers. Professor Wasey argued that Muslims should demolish
the British-inspired dualism of religious education which separates
education from the development of vocational competence.
The chief guest of the seminar and president of Universal
Knowledge Trust, Abdul Rashid Agwan, expressed the opinion that

contemporary Muslim thought mainly manifested either reaction to

the Western thought or adopted an imitative approach to it and thus
called for rediscovery of its natural course, which could be ensured
with the development of competence of scholars, applying three
tools, namely, deep understanding and mastery of the contemporary
knowledge, proficiency in English apart from Arabic, and reflective
interpretation of Islamic sources in the wake of contemporary crises.
Maulana Ejaz Ahmad Aslam, secretary Jamaat-e-Islami Hind,
was another chief guest of the programme who said that the theme
of the seminar had great significance for the reconstruction of the
Ummah and a balanced approach should be developed by applying
Islamic thought to both religious and mundane affairs.
While welcoming the delegates, Dr Mohammad Ishaq, professor
of Islamic studies at the Jamia, elucidated that Islamic thought is evolutionary in nature due to the interface of both the divine and human
intellect. He said that Muslims had learned from many civilisations in
developing Islamic thought during the past ages and the practice of
taqlid (imitation) started emerging in Islamic thought by the fourth
century Hijrah, which became consolidated during later periods.
As the organiser of the seminar, the secretary of Islamic Fiqh
Academy, Maulana Amin Usmani, thanked the participants and
hoped that the seminar would have stimulated the attending scholars
to work more attentively for making Islamic thought relevant enough
to meet the present and future needs of the Ummah.

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

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Are all Indians sons of Ram?

RAM PUNIYANI
ram.puniyani@gmail.com
During the anti colonial movement,
Mahatma
Gandhi
emerged as the tallest of leaders and was called Father of
the Nation, Rashtrapita. This
term was first used by
Subhash Chandra Bose in a
radio address in 1944 and later approved,
accepted and upheld by a majority of Indians. Of
course, he was not accepted as Father of the
Nation by Muslim and Hindu communalists. For
Muslim communalists, the Muslim Nation began
from eighth century with the rule of Mohammad
bin Qasim in Sindh. For Hindu communalists this
has been a Hindu nation from times immemorial. Gandhi was accepted as Father of the Nation
by a majority of Indians and all those who were
with freedom movement led by him for his role
in bringing together all the people of India.
The nation was seen as Nation in the making not as a readymade nation as presented by
religious nationalists. Gandhis marathon effort
was to bring in fraternity amongst all Indians,
and so Hindu-Muslim unity was central to his
enterprise. This was the logical central point of
his effort as these were two main religious communities. He anchored himself to morality of all
the religions and could bring the bonding of different religious communities under the overarching identity of Indian. He faced strong resistance to his efforts from the propaganda and
deeds of the communal forces. Thats also what
led to his murder in 1948.
Despite his murder the communalists and
their hate propaganda and divisive thinking continued and kept changing its language. While a
majority of Muslim communalists went to
Pakistan, the leftover of this communalism did
produce the likes of Akbaruddudin Owaisi and
his clones indulging in hate speech against
Hindus. On a much larger and bigger scale the
head of Hindu communal organisation kept harping on creating social common sense picked
from the British introduced communal historiography, where Muslim kings were demonised,

While a majority of Muslim communalists went to Pakistan ... the head

of Hindu communal organisation kept harping on creating social
common sense picked from the British introduced communal
historiography, where Muslim kings were demonised, labeled as aliens
etc. around which stereotypes and myths were constructed.
labelled as aliens etc. around which stereotypes
and myths were constructed.
This demonisation reached its peak in the
slogan Babar ki aulad jao kabristan ya Pakistan
(sons of Babar go to Pakistan or the graveyard).
The latest in the line is that all those who do not
identify with Lord Ram are haramzade (illegitimate) and the country belongs to Ramzades
(sons of Ram) only. Non-Ramzade are to be
treated like aliens.
This is the culmination of RSS chief Mohan
Bhagwats recent statement that all of us are
Hindus, this is Hindustan. By inference Lord
Ram is the symbol of India that is Hindustan and
so Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, the BJP minister in
Central cabinet, stated Modi has given a mantra
that we will neither take bribe nor let others take
bribe. Now you have to decide whom to choose.
Will you choose the sons of Ram or those who
are illegitimate). Just a small recap: the Indian
Constitution calls it India, that is Bharat.
Now, while the collective opposition is
demanding the suspension of the Sadhvi from
Ministership and initiating legal proceedings
against her, the BJP is protecting her under the
pretext that she has already apologised and that
she is new to ministry. Also, that she comes
from a poor Dalit background. The opposition
argument is that she has taken oath under the
Indian Constitution, while her statement is not
only an attempt to create a divide between religious communities, its a blatant hate speech
and such a person is already guilty of violating
the Indian Constitution. The criminal action
demanded by opposition ranks against the minister, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, relates to the hate
speech provision, Section 153A of the Indian
Penal Code, which prescribes a maximum sentence of three years of imprisonment.
One can be charged under this section only

with the governments sanction. Hate speech is

widely understood to be an exception to the freedom of speech. Section 153A also holds to
account anybody who is promoting enmity
between different groups on grounds of religion
... and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of
harmony. There are many in this gallery, prominent amongst them being Akbaruddin Owaisi,
Raj Thackeray, Praveen Togadia, and Varun
Gandhi, to name a few who came out with
scathing statements against the other community. Hiding behind the fact that Sadhvi Jyoti is a
Dalit holds no water as she is fully indoctrinated
in the ideology of Sangh Parivar. Also, the argument that even Sonia Gandhi used the word
Maut ke Saudagar (Merchants of Death) is not
relevant here, as Sonia was talking about a political tendency of communalism, not against any
particular religious community.
Overtly, the BJP leadership is not supporting this statement, but this is the logical outcome
of the politics of the Parivar, which brought them
to power and whose agenda of Hindu nationalism they are pursuing. How do we deal with
such divisive agenda and hate speech? One
recalls Akbaruddin Owaisi was taken to task for
his hate speech. If one recalls right Pravin
Togadia was also the guest of prison for hate
speech once. Togadia has probably set the
bench mark more than once in clever use of divisive language. His video of how to get rid of
Muslim neighbours by throwing tomatoes on
them was also seen but most of the time he has
escaped punishment. A similar comment, was
also made by another BJP leader in Uttar
Pradesh, Ram Pratap Chauhan at Vijay
Shankhnaad Rally in Agra on 21st November
2013. That one went unnoticed. It only goes on
to show that the Sadhvis statement is a part of
the thinking in the wider Parivar circle.

Mushawarat Markazi
Majlis resolutions
New Delhi: The Central Committee (Markazi Majlis) of the All India
Muslim Majlis-e Musahwarat, the umbrella body of Indian Muslim
organisations, met here on 20 December. The meeting deliberated on community, national and international issues. Members discussed Mushawarats response to the post-election political scenario in the country as well as the steps being taken to rejuvenate
Mushawarat units in a number of states. The meeting was held
under the chairmanship of the national President Dr Zafarul-Islam
Khan. It was attended by Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari,
President of Jamaat-e Islami Hind, Janab Syed Shahabuddin,
Janab Mohammad Jafar, Hafiz Rashid Ahmad Choudhury (Vice
Presidents, AIMMM), Prof. Mohammad Sulaiman, Mufti Ataur
Rahman Qasmi, Mr. Masoom Moradabi, Dr Qasim Rasool Ilyas
(General Secretaries, AIMMM), Janab Nusrat Ali, Janab Kamal
Faruqi, Prof. Shakil Samdani, Mr. Abdul Rashid Agwan, Janab
Mohammad Ahmad, Janab Shafi Madani, Engineer Mohammad
Salim, Janab Rashid Ahmad Khan, IAS (Retd.), Janab
S.M.Y.Nadeem, Janab Abdur Rahman Kondu (J&K), Janab Iqbal
Beg Mirza (Gujarat), Janab Mujtaba Farooq, Janab Abdul Khaliq,
Dr Anwarul Islam Khan and Dr. Syed Ahmad Khan.
Following is the full text of the resolutions passed by the Central
Committee of AIMMM in todays meeting:
Communalism: AIMMM is pained to see that leaders of RSS, BJP
and allied organisations are actively trying to divide and polarise
the Indian society by unleashing their divisive Hindutva agenda.
Low key communal violence is taking place all over the country
on a daily basis, the old Shudhi movement has been re-branded as ghar wapsi, saffronisation of history is taking place in
right earnest, issues hitherto unthought of like calling for expulsion of non-Indian minorities from India, turning India into a
Hindu country by the year 2021, etc., are being raised ad nauseum. All this is taking place while the Central government and its
head are maintaining studied silence. AIMMM believes that this is
a clever division of labour where the BJP government will talk of
development while its allies run riot to implement the age-old
plans of RSS and Hindu Maha Sabha. AIMMM warns that these
activities by Hindutva activists run against our Constitution and
laws and will end up pulling down the secular edifice of our polity and will lead to a civil war situation for which the present government and its head alone will be responsible.
Uniform Civil Code: Supporters of the new government at the
Centre are once again raking up the contentious Uniform Civil
Code issue. Let the proponents of the UCC first agree on the contours of the proposed code and come up with a draft before any
debate is attempted. And before doing that, let there be a Uniform

Financial Code treating all Indians equally in matters of income tax

and abolishing the unconstitutional and illegal abomination known
as Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) by which millions of Hindu
families all over the country evade taxes to the tune of trillions of
rupees every single year. HUF should be abolished altogether or
the scheme is extended to all Indian families without religious discrimination.
Communal harmony: Reiterating its message since its very
inception, AIMMM appeals to all peace-loving Indians, especially
Muslims, to work harder for communal harmony and amity and,
in particular, to form peace and amity committees in all areas to
foster brotherhood and to foil the designs of the hatemongers.
Regular meetings, dharnas, marches, seminars, conferences and
yatras should be organised by involving all segments of society to
promote communal harmony and amity.
Terrorism: While AIMMM condemns all kinds of terrorism, it
wishes to register that certain incidents like the Burdwan blast of
last October and the alleged joining of ISIS ranks by a few Indian
Muslim youth, are being used to revive a situation which prevailed
during the previous NDA rule when Muslim youth were being
arrested on mere suspicion and kept in jails for years. This is still
continuing despite the fact that hundreds of such youth have now
been honourably acquitted after spending many years behind
bars. This policy will only serve the opposite by pushing Muslim
youth to the path of militancy, which must not be the aim of any
law-abiding and sincere government.
Nanavati Commission: The AIMMM takes note of the NanavatiShah-Mehta Commission which twelve years after its formation
and after costing the public exchequer crores of rupees, presented its report on 19 November on the expected lines by exonerating the then chief minister who was the main planner of the
Gujarat 2002 riots and later protected the rioters. The
Commission included Judge Akshay Mehta whose exploits
include granting bail to the mass-murderer Babu Bajrangi. The
2000-page report was a sheer waste of public money and will
never wash the crimes of the 2002 riot planners and execution-

The BJP leadership faces a dilemma. In

Parliament and for outside consumption it has to
keep the face of development, while to keep its
political power it has to go with the divisive
agenda of its parent organisation as unfolded by
its associates and many elements within the
party. So a clever balancing act is in order, to
hide under the garb of Sadhvi and to turn a blind
eye towards such tendencies. For them the
same divisive agenda has to be operationalised
with some variations in places where elections
are to be held.
Then the question comes, as Indian nation
who is our Father, Gandhi or Ram? Ram is a
mythological figure with whom large section of
Hindus identify. He was king of Ayodhya. The
criticism of the prevalent version of Ram story
by Dr. Ambedkar seems to have been ignored in
the din of communal hysteria. In Riddles of
Hinduism, Ambedkar takes up the issue of Ram
upholding caste and gender hierarchy, amongst
others. The murder of Shambuk by Ram as
Shambuk, a Shudra who was doing penance,
has come under heavy criticism from Ambedkar.
Similarly, banishing his pregnant wife Sita by
Ram is a serious issue. Ambedkar raises the
point of Rams killing of Bali Raja by stealth. Bali
was a popular king revered by Dalit Bahujans.
Similarly, Periyar Ramasami Naicker also took
up many of these issues about Lord Ram.
While there are claims that we are a Hindu
nation from times immemorial, as a matter of fact,
India became a nation state through the anti colonial struggle led by Gandhi. So the very formulation
that all Indians are sons of Ram has no grounding.
Surely, many Hindus identify with Ram, but as
Indians it is Gandhi who is the Father of the Nation.
Ram is a symbol of Hindu nationalism while Gandhi
is a symbol of Indian nationalism.
After Modi came to power in 2014, the
assertion of RSS agenda is going on uninhibited
and intimidating those who uphold the Indian
Constitution and values of freedom struggle.
Assertions like Ramzade as synonymous with
Indianness amount to the revival of the forces
which killed Gandhi and went on to celebrate this
dastardly act, which was the first attack on values of our freedom movement.

ers. Justice remains to be done to the victims of that ghastly

pogrom which polarized Gujarat on communal lines and made
possible BJPs electoral win in subsequent elections.
Kashmir floods: AIMMM registers its pain that both state and
Central governments let down the victims of the worst floods in
Kashmirs recent history. Government is largely absent from the
post-flood rehabilitation, rebuilding and repairing of lakhs of houses, shops and commercial establishments. AIMMM exhorts both
the state and Central governments to show seriousness and
sense of accountability in dealing with this huge task which people cannot undertake on their own. AIMMM also appeals to the
Union government to allow foreign relief agencies to enter the
Valley to provide the much-needed rehabilitation and re-construction help.
J&K elections: J&K state, still reeling from a long spell of militancy, is a delicate place where BJP has seen it fit to introduce its
divisive policies, pitting regions and communities against each
other and using money and deceit to win enough seats in the state
assembly with a view to extend its Hindutva agenda to this
Muslim-majority state. AIMMM is relieved that the Kashmiri voters understood the game and came out in large numbers to frustrate the BJP/RSS agenda. AIMMM cautions the BJP leadership to
desist from its childish plays and to save the country from a fresh
bout of militancy in that delicate state.
Darul Musannifin: AIMMM pays tribute to the Darul Musannifin
Shibli Academy of Azamgarh which has just held its centenary
celebrations after a century-long literary and research activity.
AIMMM lauds Allama Shibli Nomani and his lieutenants, like
Maulana Syed Sulaiman Nadwi, who sacrificed and laid the foundations of a research institution to serve the needs of the Muslim
community in the Subcontinent. The institution has dutifully taken
up the challenges thrown up by historical revisionism and attacks
on Islam and Muslims.
Peshawar Terrorist attack: The AIMMM is pained by the level of
terrorist carnage some so-called mujahids in Pakistan stooped
to by attacking a school and killing about 145 persons, mostly
young children. AIMMM reiterates that misguided organisations
are only misusing the pristine name of Islam to unleash a terrorist agenda with the help of the enemies of Islam. AIMMM also
cautions states, Muslim and non-Muslim, to desist from using terror as state policy and to stop supporting dubious organisations
in order to serve their plans to plunder the resources of other
nations. Every case of state-supported terrorism has only
boomeranged on its supporters.
The meeting also remembered important personalities of the
Muslim community which departed for their heavenly abode
since the last meeting. They included Abdur Rahman Antulay,
veteran Congress leader who died on 2 December and Syed
Muhammad Ali Kazmi, former Advocate General of UP and former Chairman of UP Minorities Commission who died on 25
November.

NATIONAL

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The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

Kashmiri students attacked in Haryana engineering college

Haryana / Srinagar: The news of violence let loose against
Kashmiri students by local mischievous elements and serious
injuries to many of them in a college of Haryana sent a wave of
fear, anger and worry among the parents and family members of
children who are studying in this college. It may be stated that this
unfortunate incident took place in Yamuna Nagar (Haryana)s
Global Research Institute for Management and Technology where
about a hundred students from Kashmir are studying. In this fight
and violence dozen of Kashmiri students were injured, at least 8
of them seriously. According to one Aamir Ahmad Dar who
belongs to north Kashmirs Hindwara area who is doing B. Tech
in this College, there was a quarrel between two students in the
college canteen at lunch time. Shortly after the quarrel dozens of
mischievous elements from outside the College forced their entry
in the canteen and started fighting and beating Kashmiri students.
According to him (Aamir) the attackers used iron rods, bricks and
other weapons to mercilessly and selectively beat the Kashmiri
students because of which dozens of them were injured who were
subsequently admitted in hospitals. The condition of 8 of them is
stated to be serious. Police officers of Haryana visited the College
and obtained detailed information about the attack on Kashmiri
students and have requested College authorities to keep the college closed for a week. As stated above, parents and family members of the students studying in Global Research Institute are very
worried. One such parent Farooq Ahmad Khan said that ever since
they got to know about this incident their families are in mourning.
He said that though his son is safe and he was regularly in contact with him on phone but he was very concerned about him and
unless he saw him in person he will not be at peace. Similar feelings were expressed by some others also.

German may be taught as third

language in KVs: SC
New Delhi: Supreme Courts constitution bench headed by Justice
Anil R Dave, in response to a petition filed by 22 guardians of children challenging HRD ministrys order making the teaching of
Sanskrit the third language to students of 8th class in KVs
(Kendriya Viddyalas) in the middle of educational or academic
session itself directed the central government (HRD ministry) to
allow the teaching of German (language) as the third language (in
addition to English and Hindi) to students of 8th class in these
schools and not to make Sanskrti the third language The SC
Bench further directed the government to make Sanskrit an
optional language for students of 8th class and conduct examination of Sanskrit as an optional language. After this verdict Attorney
General of India Mukul Rohtagi told the Supreme Court Bench that
governments instructions, after this verdict, wil be made known
to the Courts Bench.

Patnas Khuda Bakhsh Library

custodian of priceless heritage
Patna: Khuda Bakhsh Library is a pride not only of Patna but of the
whole state of Bihar or in other words this is the priceless heritage
of all of us. The land of Patliputra (ancient name of Patna) has
always been famous in matters of education. This Library (Khuda
Bakhsh) enjoys national importance given to it by Indian govern-

ment. It contains such rare documents which are not available

anywhere in the world. This Library (Khuda Baksh Oriental Public
Library) is an autonomous institution under the ministry of culture
which contains about 21000 rare documents and other papers
and about 2.5 lakh books. This Library was established for the
public in 1891, though it was set up long before that. From
October 1891 Bihars Khan Bahadur Khuda Baksh had opened it
for the common people. At that time there were 4000 documents
of which he had obtained 1400 from his father. He had dedicated
all his personal collections to the people of Patna through a Trust.
Realising the historical importance of these valuable collections
Govt of India declared it an institution of national importance
through an Act of Parliament in 1969. This Library is a unique custodian of past heritage which has been preserved in the form of
manuscripts on paper, date- palm leaves, deer skin, clothes and
other objects. There is also a manuscript of the Quran written on
deer skin. Now its format is modern in which in addition to some
books in German, French, Punjabi, Urdu, English are also available. In this Library books for people of all ages are available. It is
being turned into a digital Library in which more than 2000 documents are kept in digital format.
Librarys Lord Curzon Reading Room is very useful for students preparing for competitive examinations. It is seen that even
within only 15 minutes of opening of the Library at 8 in the morning no vacant seats are available because not finding a conducive
atmosphere at home or in hostels, students make a bee line for
this Library where they can study in peaceful atmosphere. There
are two reading rooms in this Library: one for research scholars
and the other for common readers. Attention is paid to the requirements of all readers and researchers and for the latter all reference, fax, phone etc facilities are provided. Workshops, seminars,
discussions, lectures etc at national as well as international levels
are held from time to time. Literature and all kinds of information
on Islamic studies, Arabic, Urdu and Persian literature, comparative study of religions, unani medicines and culture, study and
information on the national movement are available in concerned
sections and departments. Signatures and farmaans of Moghul
kings in original are also available here.

JIH women organise conference

ily. The development of any family and society will be doubtful if

superfluous restrictions are imposed upon her. If she follows the
teachings of Islam related to education, inheritance, status and
position, she will be able to mould the society into one having
humanitarian attitude and compassion towards the oppressed and
subjugated ones. Otherwise she will be a great threat to our society. She added that only woman can solve the problems associated with marriage, dowry and feticide. She stressed that woman
should keep herself connected with technology but at the same
time she must use technology, such as Internet, judiciously and
should allow her children to have access to them under her guidance in order to keep away the ill-effects of modern technologies.
Maulana Abdul Qawi Falahi of Aurangabad urged women to go
through the history of Islam and try to learn lessons from the
mother of Prophet Ismail as well as mothers of the companions of
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who became perfect embodiment of
upbringing. The new generation is fretting away these values. The
western culture has deprived them of modesty and morality. It is
high time that we should revive those values by taking inspiration
form the glorious women of Islam.
The National President of women's wing of JIH, Atiya
Siddiqua, urged that women should realize their identity and
remember the teaching of the Holy Quran, sayings of the Prophet
and examples set by female companions of Prophet (pbuh).
Keeping those values in mind, we should try to establish a cultured and civilized society. Woman need not consider it contemptuous to obey her husband. She concluded her speech by focusing that women should stay away from the state of ignorance and
usher in a generation that is full of virtues and values.
Jamaat-e Islami Hind Nagpur organised a separate public
conference on Islam for everyone at Muslim Football Ground in
Mominpura. Mr Maulana Abdul Qawi Falahi of Aurangabad said
that there should not be any distinction between preaching and
practicing of Islam. He emphasised that the teachings of Islam are
based on human psychology. If followed diligently, we can rid ourselves of evils like untruth, immorality, exploitation, black marketing and unfair trade practices. He regretted that the Muslim community failed to deliver the message of Islam to the fellow countrymen. Islam has the solutions to all the problems. The Muslim
community should understand its responsibility to propagate


teachings of Islam to all.

The womens wing of

Jamaat-e Islami Hind
Nagpur organised a conference in the Young
Muslim Footbal Ground,
Mominpura, Nagpur on
30 November.
Atiya
Siddiqua,
National President of
womens wing of Jamaate Islami Hind, was the
chief guest of the conference.
The President of the
womens wing of JIH
North zone, Sajida Parveen
emphasized that woman is
a vital member of the fam-

Hindu arrested for

desecrating temples
Muzaffarnagar Police arrested a 35-year-old Hindu named Deshraj Singh on 22 December for desecrating temples and mosques and creating communal flare-up between Hindus and Muslims at
Parsauli village in Budhana, Muzaffarnagar. This is a tried and tested Hindutva tactic to instigate antiMuslim riots.
There was a string of two or three incidents. A person had placed heads and other parts of buffaloes at two temples. Idols had also been stolen. An attempt had also been made to place an idol at
a different spot. Following our efforts, we have arrested Deshraj Singh, who has confessed to committing these acts, said HN Singh, SSP, Muzaffarnagar.
Communal tension had gripped the district after a carcass of buffalo was found in the temple at
Parsauli village on 15 December. Police said that during interrogation, Deshraj Singh also admitted
that he had planted a dogs carcass inside a mosque in the village. He admitted that he killed the dog
and then tied it up and left it hanging in the mosque. We have confirmed this with the imam of the
mosque. After they found the dog, they hurriedly removed the carcass because they didnt want more
violence, said the officer.
Deshraj Singh also accepted that he had written hate sentences on temples using the name of
Islamic State. Police has recovered several maps and lists of different religious places. The list
includes the names of Gorakhnath temple, Gorakhpur, Pash Shanko Bhari Devi Temple and Eidgah of
Saharanpur. Deshraj said he wanted to make sure that koi masjid na rahe, sirf mandir rahe, [let there
be no mosque and let only temples remain], said an officer.
Deshraj revealed that he had stolen some items from a mosque earlier as well, Police said. Deshraj
is a native of Parsauli but had been working in Noida. He had returned to Parsauli about two months
back. Budhana had been one of the areas affected by the riots in Muzaffarnagar last year.
Parsauli has an equal share of Hindus and Muslims. But next to the village is Jola, where most
of the displaced Muslims from Phugana areas were given land to settle down after the Muzaffarnagar
riots, said a police officer.
Deshraj Singh was booked under sections 295 (defiling a place of worship), 153 (promoting
enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and 379 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code.
Police is interrogating him about his connection with any organisation though past experience shows
that it is not expected that the police will try to reach the real culprits who are polarizing the society
through such crimes. The District Magistrate said that Deshraj would be booked under the stringent
National Security Act in this connection. (Jawed Akhter)

Help ood affected

people of Kashmir

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

NATIONAL

www.milligazette.com

Report on the Communal riot at Patan-Somnath on 25 November, 2014

Following is an abridged version of a report on
communal riot at Patan-Somnath on 25 November,
2014. It is prepared by the Mumbai-based Alliance for
Peace and Justice and All India Secular Forum whose
team investigated the communal violence PatanSomnath town in Gujarat.
A team comprising Irfan Engineer, advocate, (All India Secular
Forum) and Rafi Malek and Jagdish Bamania (Alliance for Peace
and Justice (APJ)) visited Somnath-Patan on December 7-8,
2014. They met assistant sub-inspector of Shiv police chowki, Mr
Babariya, Yusuf Hussain Kachara, president, Patan Ghanchi
Samaj, Dadabhai, secretary of Patan Ghanchi Samaj, Mohammed
Haji Yakub, treasurer of Patan Ghanchi Samaj, Suleman Kapadia,
victim, whose shop was attacked, Sarman Solanki, presidant,
Veraval taluka President of BJP and Nusrat Panja.
The team also tried to meet Hindu victims and their representatives. but they were not prepared to talk. The team, tried to meet
Kanabhai, leader of the Koli community, but he refused to meet as
well.
Background: Patan is a small town in southern Saurashtra where
the famous Somnath temple is located. Patan and Veraval are
under a joint municipal body called Patan-Veraval Sanyukta
Nagarpalika.
The population of Patan is around 60,000, with Muslims
constituting about 25-30 per cent of it. The two major communities that inhabit Patan are the Ghanchi Muslims) - about 1,000 to
1,200 households and Koli Hindus, about 1,500 to 2,000 households. Besides the Ghanchis, there are other Muslims as well like
Patnis, Syeds, Pathans, Sheikhs, Memons etc. There are about 14
Muslim iamats in all. The Ghanchi and Koli communities are
backward educationally and socially. Literacy rates among them
are lower than the national average and dropout rates high.
Roughly, only 5 percent of them complete schooling. There are no
lawyers, doctors or engineers in the two communities. The other
dominant communities in the Gir-Somnath and Junagadh region
are Kharwas, Karadias, Ahirs and Patels.
A large number of people of Patan are daily-wage earners
employed in Patan GIDC, in the fishing industry, port, ice factories
etc. Every morning, labourers largely belonging to the Ghanchi
and Koli communities travel in shared auto-rickshaws from Shiv
police chowki to work. Ghanchis and Kolis live in wadis (residential neighbourhoods), which are interspersed, and to reach any
destination they have to pass through each others wadis, which
are linked through common roads that are poorly illuminated and
extremely narrow.
We were told that one of the reasons why there were no communal riots in Patan was that access to the town is made through
each others wadis. The only communal incidence occurred in
1983, which began in Veraval between the Sindhis and Muslims.
Patan was also affected. Other than the 1983 incident, there is no
history of communal violence in Patan, where people live peacefully and share a common culture and identity. They exchange
food and participate in each others functions and festivals. The
Hindu-Muslim bond was strong in this town, but in the last couple
of years the bonds seem to have frayed.
Ghanchi community leaders told the team that the community did not make a distinction between the Congress and the BJP
and both had opened their electoral offices with the help of members of the community. Their members were free to vote for any
candidate of their choice. Informally, the leaders preferred to ally
with the BJP, particularly as the BJP candidate was Jasabhai
Barad, who was formerly from the Congress. The Ghanchis, in
order to get even the easiest work done have to align with the ruling party, without which nothing moves. Kolis and Ghanchis are
together with the BJP.
There are two gangs of anti-social elements operating in
these areas - the Magra gang and Farookh Maulana gang.

Health

The communal riots in Patan seem to be spontaneous. However, the root cause of the riots is
continuous communal discourse in the media and by communal organisations. It is deepening
communal consciousness. This time the riots could be easily controlled, but the violence may
escalate and may be uncontrollable in future.
Koli leaders have been asserting and organising themselves
with the objective of increasing their political representation. They
are the dominant community in Gir-Somnath and Junagadh districts. Until recently they were with the Congress. Their political
assertion helped them bag a large number of tickets from the BJP.
In the last state assembly election, an unprecedented number of
Koli MLAs had been elected. The Kolis are demanding 95 assembly tickets for their community, and should that happen, they
would decide who the chief minister of Gujarat would be.
However, that does not seem probable.
The BJP for the first time gave Parliament ticket to a member
of the Koli community - Rajesh Chudasama - elected in the 16th
General Election from Junagadh constituency, under which Patan
town falls. The renewed assertion of Kolis is impacting on their
social interactions.

The Incident: ASI Babariya was present during the communal

incidence as the violence broke out near Shiv police chowki at
about 8.30 am. The police personnel of the chowki had just
resumed their respective duties when the violence occurred, for
which they were completely unprepared. According to the ASI,
there was a dispute about a Rs. 10 currency note belonging to a
"Mohammedan," which was claimed by a Koli. According to Yusuf
Kachara, Muslim passengers were sitting in an auto-rickshaw
being driven by a Muslim. A Rs. 10 currency note belonging to a
Muslim passenger fell down, but was claimed by a Koli. When the
currency note was claimed by a member of Koli community, a
heated argument followed. In the scuffle, the Muslim passenger
was hit with tiffin box.This injured him in his head, which started
bleeding. Suleman Kapadia said that the wound was deep and
doctors had to put three stitches to close it. According to the ASI
and all others , elders of Ghanchi and Koli communities intervened
and stopped the fight.
Achche din aagaye...
However, after about half an
hour, Kolis from Shanti Nagar
reassembled and started pelting
stones on Muslim neighbourhoods across the highway. We
observed the shop facing the
road located on the Muslim side The last five police officials, who were in cushad been damaged. The ASI fur- tody and are accused in the alleged fake
ther informed the team that the encounter cases of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, his
bikes on the road were also wife Kauser Bi and eyewitness Tulsiram
burnt down. In the attack by Koli Prajapati, were Tuesday [23 Dec.] granted bail
youth. A fruit stall, and two by a special Central Bureau of Investigation
refrigerators of a cold drink shop (CBI) court.
With this, all 38 police officials who were
were damaged. They looted the
chocolates, biscuits and other accused in the case have secured bail. The
edibles in the shop. Shop-owner same court had heard the discharge plea of BJP
SulemanKapadia claims that he president Amit Shah, who was arraigned as an
suffered a loss of about Rs. 4-5 accused for orchestrating the encounters. After
lakh. He has no insurance. A listening to the arguments of both Shah and the
motorbike (pulled out from a prosecution, the court reserved its order on his
house by breaking doors) and plea for December 30.
two fruit stalls and a fruit shop
Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police
were damaged in the attack by Jethusingh Solanki and police constables
Koli youth.
Kanjibhai Kutchi, Vinodkumar Limbachiya,
Muslim youth soon retaliat- Kiransingh Chauhan and Karansingh Sisodiya
ed by pelting stones from secured bail on surety of Rs 15,000 each.
rooftops. They burnt down 8
The prosecution had earlier said that the five
motorbikes, damaged two fruit were part of the team escorting Prajapati from
stalls and one fruit shop and 10 Udaipur to Ahmedabad, where he was allegedly
to 15 Kolis suffered minor killed in an encounter.

Foods That Kill Cancer

MICHAEL EDWARDS
In order to defeat cancer and ensure there is no
recurrence, the body must be brought into balance and the immune system rebuilt and fine
tuned. So how is this feat accomplished?
Detox, detox, detox and achieve a slightly alkaline pH, while filling the body with the best,
organic, nutritionally dense food available. Your
goal is to rebuild a killer immune system as you
bathe every non-cancerous cell in your body
with nutrition.
For specific foods known to eliminate cancer, check out the following list: Omega 3 Oily
fish, fish oil, flax seed oil, hemp oil, and healthy
oil blend supplements provide omega 3 fatty
acids (and other beneficial fatty acids), which
fight inflammation and make the body less hospitable to cancer cells. Vitamin D is also known
to kill cancer, and you can find many fish oils
and some vegan oil blends with vitamin D in
them.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, watercress,
kale, collard greens, cauliflower, bok choy,
turnips, rutabagas, radishes, arugula, and
more. These vegetables contain sulforaphane
and other helpful compounds, which help fight

injuries while 8-10 Muslims also were injured.

Yusufbhai informed the team that once every 2 - 3 months
such scuffles happen over minor issues. Elders of both sides
intervene and do not let the violence escalate, even if sometimes
they have to compensate with money in order to settle the dispute.
However, this time the Muslim youth did not listen to them. The
police team of three was hopelessly outnumbered. Half an hour
later, police reinforcements came along with a Dy. SP and mamlatdar and they brought the situation under control. The police had
to burst teargas shells near Vadli to disperse the Muslim mob.
None from any community lodged any complaint with the
police pertaining to the incident. The police suo moto registered
an FIR. Later, the police arrested 42 Muslims and 14 Koli youth
who were still in their custody. The police have charged sheeted
all the 56. The office-bearers of the Patan Ghanchi Muslim Samaj
were appreciative of the role of the BJP MLA Jasabhai Barad, who
promptly intervened when the police were arresting large number
of Muslims. This stopped the police from being hostile to the community. Jasabhai Barad crossed over to the BJP from Congress as
he could not get any work done while in his former party. Jasabhai
had got votes from Muslims, too.
A Hindu shopkeeper on the Muslim side of the highway, who
was sympathetic to the RSS, talked to a team member, but did not
want to be identified. He derived satisfaction from the police action
arresting a larger number of Muslims compared to Hindus.
Our findings and observations: The communal riots in Patan
seem to be spontaneous. However, the root cause of the riots is
continuous communal discourse in the media and by communal
organisations. It is deepening communal consciousness. This
time the riots could be easily controlled, but the violence may
escalate and may be uncontrollable in future.

tumors, breast, prostate, brain, and colorectal

cancers, as well as leukemia. Broccoli sprouts
and mature broccoli in combination really pack
nutritional, cancer fighting punch.
Berries
Black raspberries appear to reign supreme,
though all berries contain cancer fighting phytonutrients and high amounts of ellagic acid,
which inhibit tumor growth. Maitake and
Shiitake Mushrooms
Google maitake mushrooms and cancer
and the American Cancer Society pops up at the
top of the search list. For one brief moment it
seemed they might actually be doing their job,
but no.
They claim there have been no studies to
show that maitake or any other mushroom help
fight cancer. Continue your search and study
after study reveals they do indeed.
Mushrooms boost immune function and are
a great source of antioxidants. They are also
rich in vitamins C and B vitamins as well as calcium and other minerals.
Tumeric
Curcumin, found in turmeric, inhibits the spread
of cancer (metastases) along with its antiinflammatory and oxidative effects. Tumeric can
be found at farmers markets in root form. It can

All 38 encounter
cops get bail

be used liberally to spice your food (great on

salads or in salad dressing as well as in cooked
dishes) with no side effects.
Tomatoes
The active compounds found in tomatoes,
carotenoids and lycopene (especially
lycopene), are very helpful, especially in the
fight of prostate and pancreatic cancer in men.
Seven to ten helpings are week are suggested,
both cooked and raw juice. To gain the health
benefits of juice, make your own. Store bought
tomato juice will be pasteurized. Lycopene is a
strong antioxidant.
Folate
Egg yolks, avocadoes, apricots, green leafy
vegetables, and pumpkin are among the foods
rich in folate. For meat eaters, chicken livers are
very high in folate. Studies involving folate or its
synthetic form, folic acid, show a significant
reduced risk of colorectal cancer. Folate or folic
acid ?is essential for the body to correctly replicate DNA. Garlic
Even the National Cancer Institute admits
garlic "may reduce the risk of developing
several types of? cancer, especially cancers of
the? gastrointestinal tract".
Garlic reduces inflammation, fights free
radicals, and fights cancer. Eat it raw or chop it
up and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before cooking with it or its beneficial compound, allicin,
will not be released.

According to the CBI, Sheikh, claimed to

have links to Pakistan-based terror outfit
Lashkar-e-Toiba, and his wife Kauser Bi were
abducted by Gujarats Anti-Terrorism Squad
when they were on their way from Hyderabad to
Sangli in Maharashtra and killed in an alleged
fake encounter near Gandhinagar in November
2005.
Prajapati was a key witness in the alleged
fake encounter of Sheikh, was killed by police at
Chapri village, Banaskantha district of Gujarat, in
December 2006.
Advocate Sachin Pawar, representing eight
of the accused, including the five police officials
who secured bail, argued that the five were
merely acting upon the orders of their senior,
Ashish Pandya. Pandya, accused of firing at
Prajapati, was released on bail earlier this month
by the Bombay High Court.
Pawar, argued that the police officials, who
were arrested in May 2010, have been behind
bars for over four years now and the trial has not
yet commenced. "Several of the co-accused
with a more direct and serious role have been
granted bail by various courts," he argued.
Pawar further argued that there were various discrepancies in the manner in which the
case was investigated as there was no direct
evidence for the conspiracy. (Indian Express,
24 December, 2014)
Grapes
The compound found in red grapes, resveratrol,
is a powerful antioxidant that also saves cells
from oxidant-caused death. Grape seeds have
huge benefits. We recommend you dont eat
grapes without seeds.
Conclusion
An alkaline, balanced diet with plenty of nutrition, and as few toxins as possible, makes the
body inhospitable to cancer. Sugar feeds cancer. Processed and refined foods feed cancer.
Raw, organic vegetables, especially when
grown for maximum nutrient content (as
opposed to large scale farming) should be the
foundation of any healthy diet. We also recommend that anyone with cancer undergo a full
body detox with a supplement regimen specifically designed for your current state of health.
For more information on what to do for cancer,
check out the first three sources. For information on detoxifying, check out Cheap And Easy
Detox Diet Plan.
Resources: Gina L. Nick, PhD, ND, The Role of
Whole Foods and Nutraceuticals in the
Prevention of Cancer and the Support of
Traditional Cancer Treatments, Therapeutic
Nutrition, Townsend Letter, August/September
2006; Tufts Universitys Health and Nutrition
Letter, May 2007; Michael Uzick, ND, Warburg
Revisited: Maverick Cancer Researcher
Questions the Origin of Cancer, An interview with
Thomas Seyfried, PhD. Townsend Letter,
January 2014 (organiclifestylemagazine.com)

NATIONAL

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

www.milligazette.com

A Report from ground zero in Agra

Vednagar called Shahi Masjid Bundu Katra
which is situated on Gwalior road. The name of
the mosque is Shahi Masjid Bundoo Katra on
Gwalior road. The imam told us that the mosque
is more than three hundred year old and was
built during the reign of Mughal emperor
Shahjahan. Only few Muslims of the nearby
localities including the imam knew these
migrants who came to this mosque for Friday
prayers. The imam informed us that the
Muslims around the mosque can be counted on
fingers. The numbers during regular prayers are
small, but on Fridays Muslims from other places
too come to offer their prayers and the mosque
generally gets crowded on that day. We found
the atmosphere around the mosque quiet and
peaceful even after the incident of the alleged
forced conversion. On being asked about the
issue, the imam patiently said that the issue was
controversial and the Muslims were enraged but
they believed in the law of the land. He informed
us that the migrants did not mingle with the

NADIM AHMAD
& JAWED AKHTER
Agra: Vednagar colony, which was very much in the news during
the past few days due to the alleged conversion of some Bengali
Muslims to Hinduism, was quiet when we visited the place on 14
December. The area is populated with middle-class people, mostly
non-Muslims. The centre of this colony has an open space which
provides shelter to these migrants. In the centre of this colony there
lay an open space which provides shelter to these migrants. People
living around did not seem to be much interested in the topic. A
team of local police had pitched their tent at the entrance of the plot
where the incident took place. When we knocked at the door of lone
Muslim house behind the plot, residents pleaded their unawareness
of the incident. This plot was surrounded by non-Muslim population
and could easily be targeted. Besides, these migrants have no relation with the Muslim population of the area.
We saw Mr. Brijesh Rathore, owner of the plot where this
alleged conversion took place. He had been there throughout the
day. Obviously, he was there to influence the rag-pickers lest they
divulge to the media what he and his friends in the conversion
scandal had done.
At first we tried to talk to the contractor, Ismail. who claimed to
hail from Kolkata. Reportedly he brought the migrants to the place
and got them involved in rag picking. Initially he refused to speak.
He was very much irritated by the repeated queries of media- persons. But we persuaded him to answer some of our questions. He
informed us that only 50 families had been living there but we came
to know that around 59-60 families used to live there. He said that
the name of the main accused is Kishori Lal. Other migrants also
repeated this. Police told us that is Kishori Lal and Nand Kishor
Valmiki is the same accused and his name is Nand Kishor Valmiki.
Ismai further said that all migrants were from West Bengal except
two who were from Burma. He denied that he had any prior information about the alleged conversion and he came to know about it
only through media. He told us that no one has moved out of this
place. On being asked about the home address of the migrants,
Ismail expressed his inability to recall the permanent addresses of
the migrants. He informed that some Muslim organizations have
been visiting this place and that a Muslim organization from
Maharashtra has provided them packets of rice and flour.
Here we met Jahangir Alam, a migrant from West Bengal, who
said ha had been living there for 12 years. Jahangir provided us
details of the incident. He said that a person named Kishori Lal
came to the place some 15 days back. He noted down the details
of every family member living there, and told them that PM
Narendar Modi would provide them plot, BPL card and other facilities. Kishori Lal further informed them that he would come on
Monday (8 December, 2014) along with some higher officials to
complete the formalities after which they would get the benefits.
Jahangir informed us that they were asked to pose with idols and
sit near fire for photographs. According to Jahangir, when migrants
objected to pose with idols, they were silenced by saying hamara
tumahara khun to ek hai, and forced them to sit down until the programme ended.
Mohammed Milon, another migrant from West Bengal, told us
that a day before the incident, Kishori Lal had come to the place for
informing them about the said programme and asked them not to
go anywhere and stay at the plot. Milon and other migrants were
also told by Kishori Lal that photographs would be taken during and
after the programme by the government officials. Milon described
these officials as Bada log, afser log. Milon explained that
migrants objected to their puja but they were ordered to sit down
near Havan (fireplace) and put tilak on their foreheads. They were
not allowed to even move out of the place. They were 40-50 persons, Challis, ponchas log, Milon told. This programme ran for
less than half an hour, according to Milon.
We prompted a child aged about 9 years standing nearby:
What happened? He said these people came to make us Hindu.
Suddenly mats were laid for mid-day (Zohar) prayer, and one of
them called for the prayer. All men and children living there came to
the place and started to perform namaz. This was not the regular
religious activity of the migrants but after the incident they have
started regular prayer at the plot. Brijesh Rathore, the plot owner did

Leadership

Ghar Wapsi victims offer namaz

not have any objection to it.
Brijesh Rathor is in fact the co-owner of
the plot measuring 2,750 sq. yards. He
expressed his ignorance of the alleged incident
of conversion. He told us that he has allowed
migrants to stay at his plot because he wanted
to stop the criminal activities on his land. He
put them there as guards: Chowkidari ki niyat
se inko rakha hai. He further told us that the
accused Kishori Lal is a neighbour and he was
absconding after the incident. Brijesh told us
that migrants are collectively paying Rs. 6,000
per month as rent and they could live there as
long as they wished. Both Brijesh and the contractor, Ismail, said that none of the families
had moved out of the place but others told us
that 6-7 families had left the place out of fear.

Some residents of the plot; inset: Brijesh Rathore, co-owner of the plot

society because of the language bar as they spoke only

Bengali, and their Hindi was broken. He told us that some
Muslim visitors had assured the migrants that they would
be shifted to some safe place.
When we tried to contact the police officers at Sadar PS
and police chowki to have an update on this incident, they
refused to talk to us on the plea that higher officials were not
available. But the Circle Officer of Sadar Police station, Agra,
told us that the accused had been arrested and investigations
were going on.
Ahmed Hasan, a resident of Loha Mandi, Agra,
informed MG that the Muslim community felt resentment
against the communal forces. He feared that the migrants
might be driven out of the plot. He further said that the
Muslim organizations of Agra had submitted a memoranAhmed Hasan, a resident of Loha Mandi (centre), talks to MG team.
dum to the magistrate and demanded to control these
To his right is Akhtar Abbas, a local resident
kinds of illegal activities.
Akhtar Abbas, another resident of Loha Mandi, told us
During our conversation with the land-owner he indicated that his
brother-in-law held a higher position in BJP. He said he lived one that the situation is peaceful but the police were not allowing peoand half kilometer away from his plot and he did not frequently visit ple to meet the migrants.
Our impression is that the migrants had little social connection
it. He talked about his family background. He said he has three
with
the rest of the population and they had made their own world
brothers and his father is a doctor. His family has very good repuwithin Vednagar colony. One Muslim family which lives at the main
tation in the society, he claimed.
Women who were cooking during our visit to the place emphat- entrance of a lane which leads to the plot, said they were not much
ically said that they were cheated. They were promised BPL cards aware of those migrants.
With the surfacing of this kind of controversial incidents, some
and other benefits. But later it was revealed through media that they
had become Hindus during the programme organised by the people are trying to communalise the society. The extremist forces
accused. They were lured to pose for photographs and made to are trying to influence people of this country physically and psychoperform Hindu rituals with tilak on their foreheads. These women logically. An analytical view of this incident shows that the convertold us that they were asked to wear veil and men were told to wear sion drama was a political gimmick aimed at communalizing Indian
society and polarizing vote. The conspirators used this incidence to
caps during the programme.
Later, we went to a mosque two kilometers away from upgrade their status in the BJP hierarchy so that they could be
awarded with political benefits.

How to Analyse Thoughts

uality of thoughts determines the level of

peace of mind. Negative thoughts result in
negative acts which in turn cause distraction
in emotions, unstable behaviour, frequent
mood swings, family complications, lack of
trustworthiness, financial mistakes, professional brawls and so on.

On the other hand, healthy thoughts

result in more positive outcomes, high happiness index, better health and so on. So all
in all your thoughts define your present and
your future.
There are several reasons for negative
thoughts including but not limited to your
circumstances, your upbringing, financial
situations, family conflicts, job and family
complications. While you may not be able to
fix some of these reasons, it is highly recommended to analyze your thoughts and
mitigate the negative impact as much as
possible. If you remove the impurities from

your thoughts you would be able to have a

positive, focused and prosperous mind.
HOW TO ANALYZE THOUGHTS
If you have seen a big aquarium, you must
have noticed that the fish keep wandering
here and there continuously. From right to left,
bottom to up, here and there; all day long.
They dont seem to be getting any specific
advantage while doing so. Same is the case
with human mind. When your head is on the
pillow, your brain starts wandering here and
there. Several times it is processing the
thoughts which shouldnt be point of concern
at all. Though fish do not know this but you
know and you can control your wandering of
brain by picking up a specific thought/subject
and asking these questions:

a) Why am I thinking about this subject?

Is this subject related to others? Why am I
thinking negatively about someone? I

should mind my
own business.
b)
What
exactly is the
issue? Is this something impacting (or going
to impact) me or my family? Can I define my
issue/question in one sentence clearly so
that I can focus on the solution?
c) How can I resolve this issue? Is this
doable? If not, can I take advice from others? If I have the solution then what are the
steps which need to be taken?
How Can I Improve the standard of my
thoughts:
a) Avoid thinking about unnecessary
things, especially those related to others.
Mind your own business. Posses a focused
mind.
b) Stop comparing yourself to others.
Its an insult to yourself. You are a unique
person and you are independent in your living, decisions and destiny.
c) Dont think of monetary gains too
much. Excessive love for money and assets
is the root of most of stress. Work on your

real wealth.
d) Develop the habit of forgiving and letting things go. If you are nursing grudge in
your brain for longer durations, you are
killing yourself. Stress is a slow poison
which deepens its roots in your brain and
destroys your physical and mental health.
e) Read quality quotes or articles on
positivity and try to absorb the message.
This will kill the germs of negativity.
f) Practice the habit of gratitude. Stop
complaining, criticising and blaming others.
When a negative thought comes in, convert
it to a positive one by looking at the positive
side of the issue.
g) Instead of thinking about your
wants too much, think about your real
needs. This will reduce the magnitude of
your focus because usually needs are limited while wants are limitless.
Adapt to a simple life-style as it reduces
unnecessary socio-economical issues.

JUNAID TAHIR
www.DailyTenMinutes.com
mjunaidtahir@gmail.com

10

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

www.milligazette.com

NATIONAL

Volatile situation in JK due to fractured mandate

AFSANA RASHID
The results of 12th Legislative Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir
gave a hung verdict with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerging as the single largest party followed by Bharatiya Janta Party
(BJP). BJP has however, failed to open its account in the Kashmir
Valley.
All the major political parties here are gearing up to find a suitable ally. Political observers here feel that PDP can tie up either
with BJP or with Congress and others. An alliance between BJP
and National Conference too cannot be ruled out. National
Conference and Congress together with few other independents
and Peoples Conference led by Sajjad Gani Lone can play a crucial role in the formation of the next government in the state.
Though Congress has hinted towards forming an alliance with
PDP, but PDP has said that it is in a difficult situation over choosing a post-poll ally. A day before the election results were
declared, outgoing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah ruled out any
post-poll alliance with BJP. He however, said that he may consider supporting PDP if asked for.
Several stalwarts including Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand,
Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Social Welfare Minister
Sakina Itto, Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Haj and Auqaf
minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Democratic Party
Nationalist (DPN) president Ghulam Hassan Mir, senior Congress
leaders Taj Mohiuddin, Raman Bhalla, Sham Lal Sharma and senior PDP leaders Nizamuddin Bhat, Sartaj Madni and others lost the
elections. Even Omar lost from Sonawar Assembly seat in
Srinagar district. He had contested from Sonawar (in Srinagar district) and Beerwah (in Budgam district).
Out of the eight Assembly seats in Srinagar district, only three
have been retained by National Conference and the other five have
gone in favour of PDP. National Conferences senior leaders
including Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mubarak Gul and Shamima
Firdous from Khanyar, Eidgah and Habba Kadal Assembly constituencies have succeeded in retaining their seats. Omar lost to
his PDP rival Mohammad Ashraf Mir from high profile Sonawar
Assembly seat by a margin of 4783 votes, but won from Beerwah
constituency.
Sagar, who is also National Conferences General Secretary,
defeated PDPs Khurshid Alam by 1167 votes from Khanyar
Assembly constituency. This was Sagars sixth straight win from
the constituency. Gul retained his seat by defeating PDPs Ali
Mohammed Wani by a margin of 608 votes. Firdous too retained
her constituency that recorded the lowest polling in the region.
She defeated BJPs Moti Koul by a margin of 2359 votes.
PDPs Abid Hussain Ansari, fighting his maiden election from
Zadibal Assembly seat, defeated National Conferences sitting legislator Peer Aafaq Shah by a margin of 3003 votes. The winning
candidate is the brother of senior PDP leader and prominent Shia
cleric, Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, who recently passed away.
His son, Imran Ansari, who fought election from Pattan, also won.
Business tycoon and PDP candidate Syed Mohammad Altaf
Bukhari won from Amira Kadal constituency defeating National
Conferences Nasir Aslam Wani by a margin of 5341 votes. BJPs
much-hyped candidate Heena Bhat secured just 1359 votes.
Hazratbal constituency was bagged by PDPs Asiea Naqash
whereas Batamaloo was won by PDPs Noor Mohammad Sheikh.
In the border district Kupwara, both Peoples Conference and
PDP won two seats, each, and one was retained by independent
legislator and president Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), Er Rashid. Er
Rashid retained Langate whereas Kupwara and Handwara constituencies were bagged by Peoples Conference and Lolab and
Karnah by PDP. Lone, son of slain Hurriyat leader, Abdul Gani
Lone, registered his maiden win from Handwara seat by defeating
his nearest rival National Conferences Chowdhary Mohammad
Ramzan by 5423 votes.
Both the Assembly constituencies in Ganderbal district were
retained by National Conference. After witnessing a neck-to-neck
fight, National Conference won its traditional seat, Ganderbal.

BJP promises 4 percent

reservation to 2.5 percent
Kashmiri pandits!
The BJP has promised 4 percent reservation in the state assembly for the 2.5 percent Kashmiri Pandit community. This has been
stated on under under Refugees and Border residents on page
10 of the partys manifesto issued before the recent J&K elections. It promises to reserve three seats for displaced Kashmiris
(a couched language for Kashmiri Pandits) in the 87 member
assembly. This means nearly 4 percent reservation for a 2.5 percent population.
We welcome the step and ask the Central government to
reserve seats for minorities all over the country on the same pro
rata basis.

Chara-e-Shareef Assembly segment, respectively. National

Conferences Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi retained the seat from
Budgam Assembly constituency whereas Omar emerged successful from Beerwah Assembly segment. PDFs Hakim
Mohammad Yasin Shah emerged successful from Khan Sahib
Assembly segment.
One seat, each, is shared by CPI (M), PDP, National
Conference and Congress in Kulgam district in south Kashmir. The
district has four Assembly constituencies. CPI (M) leader
Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami won from Kulgam Assembly segment. National Conferences Sakina Itto lost to PDPs Abdul Majid
Paddar in Noorabad constituency of the district. National
Conferences Abdul Majid emerged successful from Hom Shali
Bugh constituency whereas Deputy Speaker and PDPs candidate
Mohammad Sartaj Madni lost to Congresss Mohammad Amin
Bhat from Devsar Assembly segment in the district.
Congress emerged successful in three out of the four
Assembly seats in Ladakh region. Congresss Nawang Rigzin Jora
won from Leh Assembly constituency after defeating BJPs
Chering Dorjay. The partys Deldan Namgail bagged Nubra
Assembly seat and Asgar Ali Karbalaie won from Kargil constituency. An independent candidate Syed Mohammad Bakir Rizvi
won from Zanskar Assembly segment.
Jammu region has been largely dominated by BJP. The party
has won nine out of 11 seats in Jammu district whereas two have
gone in favour of National Conference. BJPs Rajeev Sharma won
from Akhnoor Assembly segment regarded as a stronghold of
Congress.
Two seats, each, have been won by BJP and PDP in Rajouri
district of Jammu region. Darhal constituency was won by PDPs
candidate Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali.
All the five Assembly segments in Kathua district have been
won by BJP. Two seats out of the total three segments have been
won by Congress in
Reasi district in Jammu
region and one by BJP.
Two out of three seats
in Udhampur district
have been won by BJP
and the third seat has
been bagged by an
independent candidate.
One seat, each, has
been won by PDP,
Congress and National
Conference in Poonch
district in Jammu
region.
One seat, each, has
been won by BJP and
Congress, respectively
in the two Asembly segVoters queue outside a polling station in Batamaloo constituency in Srinagar dist on December 14.
ments
in
district
from Anantnag Assembly constituency. His partys Syed Farooq Kishtwar. Both the seats in Doda district have been represented by
Andrabi won from Dooru and Abdul Rahim Rather from Kokernag BJP. One seat in Ramban district has been represented by BJP and
Assembly segments in the district. PDPs Abdul Rehman Bhat other by Congress. Ramban constituency has been won by BJPs
emerged successful from Bijbehara constituency in the district. Neelam Kumar whereas Banihal constituency has been retained
Congresss Gulzar Ahmad Wani won the election from Shangas by Congresss Vikar Rasool Wani.
Pertinently, PDP bagged 28 seats followed by BJP with 25
Assembly constituency whereas National Conferences Altaf
seats. National Conference got 15 seats, Congress 12, Peoples
Ahmad Wani bagged Pahalgam seat.
PDP bagged all the four Assembly seats in Pulwama district. Conference two, independents three and one each by CPI (M) and
The partys Mohammad Khalil Band emerged successful from Peoples Democratic Front in the 87-member State Legislative
Pulwama segment whereas noted economist and party candidate Assembly. In the previous Assembly polls in 2008, National
Dr Haseeb Drabu won from Rajpora constituency; Zahoor Ahmad Conference had bagged 28 seats, PDP 21, Congress 17, BJP 11
Mir won from Pampore and Mushtaq Ahmad Shah from Tral and others 10.
A month-long election (November 25 to December 20) in the
Assembly segment, respectively.
Out of five Assembly segments in Budgam district, two seats, state concluded on a positive note with brisk polling recorded in
each, were bagged by PDP and National Conference whereas one majority of the Assembly constituencies. 28 counting centres
was won by Peoples Democratic Front. PDPs Javaid Mustafa Mir consisting of 94 halls were set-up to conduct the counting
won from Chadoora and the partys Ghulam Nabi Lone won from process at all the district headquarters. More than 10,000 polling
stations were set-up in the 87 Assembly constituencies across 22
districts in the state to facilitate 72, 25,559 electorates. Besides,
BJP manifesto for J&K
around 20,000 Electronic Voting Machines were used for the poll
elections
process.
(http://www.bjp.org/images/
Both police and administration had taken certain measures in
pdf_2014_1/membership_a
the Kashmir Valley to thwart any untoward incident during the
udio/jammu_kashmir_visio
process of counting of votes. Police had deployed additional
n_doc_09.12.2014.pdf)
forces and district administrations had ordered ban on victory proSee page 10 under
cessions in several sensitive areas, apprehending law and order
Refugees and Border resiproblem during or after the counting of votes. Vigil around the
dents: It talks to reserve 3
counting centres was intensified.
seats
for
displaced
Despite poll boycott call by separatists, high voter turnout was
Kashmiris (a couched lanrecorded in the state with the overall poll percentage recorded as
guage for Kashmiri Pandits)
66 percent. The voter percentage is five percent more than the last
in 87 member assembly,
Assembly elections in 2008, where the overall voter percentage
which means nearly 4%
stood at 61 percent. Though the voter turnout in the current
reservation for a 2.5% popAssembly election had significantly increased but the number of
ulation community...
aspiring lawmakers had comparatively decreased from 1,344 in
2008 to 821 in 2014.


Ishfaq Ahmad Sheikh emerged successful from Ganderbal whereas Mian Altaf won from Kangan Assembly segments, respectively.
The three Assembly constituencies in Bandipora district were
won by National Conference and Congress. Gurez and Sonawari
Assembly segment in the district were retained by National
Conference whereas Congresss Usman Abdul Majid defeated
PDPs sitting legislator Nizamuddin Bhat from Bandipora constituency in the district.
Five seats in Baramulla district in north Kashmir were bagged
by PDP, one by Congress and National Conference, each. The
highly volatile Sopore seat in the district was bagged by Congress
whereas National Conference won the border constituency, Uri
and the remaining five Baramulla, Pattan, Sangrama, Rafiabad and
Gulmarg were bagged by PDP.
Yawar Ahmad Mir, son of PDP General Secretary Mohammad
Dilawar Mir, won Rafiabad Assembly seat. A three-time legislator
from Gulmarg Assembly constituency, Ghulam Hassan Mir lost to
PDPs Mohammad Abbas Wani by 2937 votes. Imran Ansari won
from Pattan after tough contest with National Conferences Agha
Syed Mehmood Al Mosavi. PDPs Syed Basharat Ahmad Bukhari
registered his second consecutive win from Sangrama constituency. The partys Javid Hassan Beigh won from Baramulla
constituency. Salman Anees Soz, son of state congress president
Prof Saif ud Din Soz, was also in the election fray from this segment.
Both the seats in Shopian district in south Kashmir were
retained by PDP. PDPs Mohammad Yousuf Bhat won from
Shopian whereas partys Aijaz Ahmad Mir won from Wachi constituency. Four Assembly seats out of the total six seats in south
Kashmirs Anantnag district were bagged by PDP, one, each, by
Congress and National Conference. PDP patron and Chief
Ministerial candidate Mufti Mohammad Sayeed retained his seat

You know we dont have the resources to advertise & promote ourselves, so until you tell your friends about us, we
wont be able to reach to them.

Please spread the word using any medium. Turn to page 20.
THE MILLI GAZETTE

First English Newspaper of Indian Muslims. Telling the Muslim side of the story fortnight after fortnight since January 2000

ANALYSIS
Speaking Out

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

www.milligazette.com

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

Saffron Brigades
Conversion Agenda
Each time communal fanatics linked with the
saffron brigade make noise over their religious
agenda of changing India into a Hindu State,
they succeed in gaining media attention and
providing opposition parties sufficient reason to
rock the Parliament against governments stand
on this issue.
Though Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have tried
asserting that their party and government have nothing to do
with these issues, the country is well aware that these are hollow claims. It is well known that BJP is the political wing of the
saffron brigade, a group of extremely communal, right-wing
Hindu parties. By simply stating that BJP is not linked with the
saffron brigades communal agenda, the party leaders cannot
escape criticism on crucial constitutional, legal and socio-political issues. This includes the recent hype raised by saffron
brigade and several BJP leaders about their conversion plans.
Their aim is to convert followers of other religions, especially
Islam and Christianity to Hinduism. In a few years from now,
they aim to convert the entire Indian population to Hinduism.
Undeniably, the few incidents of conversion that have taken
place over the past few weeks are condemnable, constitutionally, legally, politically and socially. By stating that BJP is not
responsible for these conversions, the party leaders are implying that they are least likely to interfere in whatever agenda
that the saffron brigade activists are engaged in. If BJP was not
in power, to a degree this stand may have been justified. But

since BJP is in power, how can it not be held responsible for

unconstitutional and illegal activities taking place in this country under its watch?
Constitutionally, India is a secular country. Each Indian citizen, whether a Muslim, Hindu, Christian or of any other religion, has the fundamental right and freedom to practice his
religious beliefs, without disturbing the religious beliefs of others. Thus, each time a saffron brigade activist pronounces his
aim of converting India into a Hindu State, he flouts the constitutional and legal principles of this country. Each time saffron
brigade activists force and/or lure followers of other religions
to Hinduism, they have broken the very principles of Indian law.
By turning a blind eye to their activities, BJP is refusing to live
up to its political and social responsibility of governing the
country as it is supposed to in accordance with legal dictates
laid out in the constitution.
BJP may be or may not be responsible for the conversion
agenda of the saffron brigade. However, as it heads the government, the BJP cannot permit the saffron brigade to continue
pursuing such divisive agenda. A few odd statements from
party leaders against conversion agenda of saffron brigade are
not sufficient. Legal and political action should be taken against
them.
Interestingly, however aggressively saffron brigade
activists may continue pursuing their conversion agenda, with
tacit support from BJP, the prospects of it being a success are
practically non-existent. On religious grounds, India remains an
extremely conservative nation. The majority remain firmly
committed to their respective religious beliefs. Within a range
of few kilometres, in Delhi, Indias capital city, it is not surprising to come across several places of worship of different religious communities, which include mosques, Hindu temples and
also churches. Even when communal tension prevails in the air,
there is hardly any decrease in Muslims gathering together for

11

their Friday prayers or the Christians going to their churches on

Sundays.
Besides, it would be erroneous to view the Hindu community as committed followers of similar beliefs. There are too
many castes and numerous sects, worshipping different deities
in this religion. There prevails the trend to treat newly converts
as outsiders, of another caste. In fact, it is the caste system,
responsible for treating extremely lower castes as untouchable, that has over the years prompted a large number of them
to start following other religions.
The hidden agenda behind the saffron brigades conversion
plan may be to lure these back to Hinduism. It may be noted
here that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader, Mayawati, is a
Buddhist. Buddhism is one of the religions that a large number
of lower caste Hindus have converted to, to escape being condemned as untouchables in the Hindu community. They also
constitute a significant percentage of the vote-bank in the Hindi
belt.
Recently, while pronouncing his conversion agenda, a saffron brigade activist said that converts can choose their own
castes and all would be treated equally. He probably deliberately stated this to convince others that there would be no discrimination and/or practice of untouchability against newly
converts.
In India, it is still not easy to convince one and all of such
profound claims made by saffron brigade activists. There still
remain separate water-wells in Indian villages for higher caste
and lower caste Hindus. Even in cities, where poor and people
of lower income reside, there remains a separate area for residences of lower caste Hindus.
However aggressive they may be, saffron brigade activists
do not represent the entire Hindu community. The majority of
legislators making the maximum noise against their conversion


agenda, from ranks of opposition, are Hindus!

My First Innings is over, But I am Still Around

At the moment, I have a particular plan to popularise the
philosophy and ideology of Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru
and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. I am making a start from the
Aligarh Muslim University along with students there.
MOHAMMED ADEEB
As a Member of Parliament, I called it a day, a
few weeks ago. This is the end of my first
innings as a parliamentarian. Nevertheless, I
feel contented that I fully utilised the opportunity to represent my countrymen, fellow Muslims
and all the poor and downtrodden in the prestigious Upper House of Parliament. During my
six-year term, I spoke on more than five hundred issues, most of them concerning Muslim
affairs. I raised my voice, with full might on all
issues, affecting minorities, weaker sections
and those facing injustice in society.
I feel pride that I, along with like-minded colleagues of mine challenged at least five such
bills which could harm the Muslim community
and society and the nation at large, if not
checked in time. For instance:
 I opposed the Enemy Property Bill and ultimately the government of the day had to relent
and the bill was dropped.
 When the Waqf Protection Bill was introduced in Parliament, I pointed out certain flaws
in it and forced the bill to be sent to a select
committee. And this move made it possible for
institutions like Muslim Personal Law Board,
Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Hind, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind
and some other organisations to offer their valuable suggestions. Thus the bill could be amended positively.
 The National Commission for Minority
Educational Institutions was earlier empowered
to grant minority status to colleges and schools
only. I raised a demand for the extension of its
authority to bring universities under its domain.
My efforts succeeded and the commission was
equipped with new powers. As a result, its
chairman, Justice Suhail Aijaz Siddiqui
bestowed minority status on several institutions, including Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi,
Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi and Muhammad Ali
Jauhar University, Rampur.
Here it should be noted that our alma mater,
Aligarh Muslim University, has the strongest
case among all other institutions for the grant of
minority status, but the commission was helpless as the matter was (and is), subjudice: Lets
hope that justice would at last prevail and AMU
would get its right one day.
 During UPA regime, there were preparations
for the formation of a Madrasa Board, with a
clear aim to make way for governmental interference in these purely religious institutions.
Therefore, I raised my voice against the move.
Finally, the decision was taken back.
 There are historical mosques in the capital in
a good number that are locked and sealed and

where prayers are not allowed. Instead, these

sacred places have been turned into hubs for all
sorts of unsocial activities. I put forward a
demand for these places to be given into care
and custody of either the Delhi Waqf Boad or
some Muslim organisation, so that the holy
places can be opened for public use and five
time prayers may be resumed there. My efforts
for this aim continue and I shall keep fighting, till
the achievement of the goal.
 Hundreds of Muslim youths (even teenagers)
were thrown into prisons, where they have been
languishing for several years, without any crime
or fault of theirs. I raised my voice for securing
their release, not only in the House, but outside
it, too, on roads. With my friends I ran a movement under P.C.T.P. I brought together Muslim
Members of Parliament, across party lines, to a
platform and visited the Prime Minister and
revised the demand for the release of all innocent young men.
These are glimpses of my humble efforts to
serve my community, society and nation. Now,
I am no more in Parliament, but I vow to work
tirelessly, for the above causes so dear to my
heart.
At the moment, I have a particular plan to
popularise the philosophy and ideology of
Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru and Maulana
Abul Kalam Azad. I am making a start from the
Aligarh Muslim University along with students
there.
In the next step, I would take the student
community-from institutions like Banaras Hindu
University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi University,
JNU and some universities from Bihar-into the
fold and spread the message of secularism and
communal harmony to all corners of the country. I shall invite all secular non-Muslims to join
our mission in the larger interest of the nation.
This is the greatest task to be undertaken now
as secular democracy faces clear and present
danger.
I was elected as an independent member of
the Upper House, with the support of
Samajwadi Party, Congress and Rashtriya Lok
Dal, etc. But, I never followed the dictates of
these supporting parties against my principles.
I always raised my voice on all issues I felt were
vital, in the interest of the Muslim community
and the nation at large.
My first innings may be over, but I am
always optimistic about entering the arena
again whenever the time is ripe. I assure everyone that in Parliament or outside it I am always
at your disposal, for all services, all the time,
against all odds.
The author is a former member of Rajya Sabha

Ghar Wapsi
unconstitutional,
Conversion
a constitutional right
New Delhi: Minorities, particularly Muslims and
Christians, are upset with the recent saffron
attempts for forced conversions and indications
from the Union government to press for a national legislation against conversion. Below are some
reactions:
Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari (National
President, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind):
It is utterly wrong. According to the Constitution
of India, everyone has a right to convert himself.
You cannot stop him. But this cannot be done
through threats or inducements. It is not permitted that, for example, you ask a Muslim to convert to Hinduism and offer him money, ration card
etc. Such activities are against the Constitution of
the country. Islam considers itself to be right but
it does not force anyone to accept it. If one wants
to accept it, it is his right. Anti-conversion law
would be against the constitutional right. Jamaate-Islami Hind has always spoken against conversion with force or inducements. Conversion issue
has been in debate for long in India. But when you
give freedom about belief and religion, then it is
not easy to pass anti-conversion law. While our
Constitution says that everyone is free to follow
any religion of his choice, you say that conversion is not allowed. There is a clash between the
two, he said.
Dr Zafarul Islam Khan (National President, All
India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat):
The ghar wapsi is an old plan. They have
repackaged it as they think that now they enjoy
full power and can do whatever they want. Ghar
Wapsi has been here with different names.
Shuddhi movement was started about 100 years
ago. The basis of that movement was the same:
that all people in India were Hindus so they should
come back to their original religion. If this return
journey continues, then who knows where we will
end up -- because there were other religions also
before Hinduism. This campaign is illegal and
unconstitutional. But governments have been
promoting such campaign. Earlier Britishers
would promote it because they wanted to divide
the society and rule. Then the first anti-conversion bill in independent India was brought by the
Congress party, and later by BJP in some states.
Minorities will not accept any such move. In the
context of Agra incident, BJP wants a national
anti-conversion law, which is not easy to achieve.
This is their old dream and agenda which they
want to implement now as they think their government is in place and the whole country is in
their grip. But they dont know that other communities particularly victims are not sleeping. They

will certainly react against such campaign. And

such reaction was seen in Agra also where their
efforts failed, and they got huge humiliation. The
whole conversion campaign and frequent small
communal clashes are part of a plan to polarize
the country. They want polarisation in the entire
country at all levels of elections - whether it is for
municipality, assembly or parliament. They raise
such issues not just to create polarisation but
also to maintain it. There is a division of labour
among the Sangh Parivar: one will talk good
things and about development. Our PM would say
Indian Muslims are very good and loyal, that they
would live and die for the country and they cannot think of terrorism. But other forces of the
Parivar are spreading hatred and dividing the
society and go scot free. The govt. or PM do not
speak about them. It is the responsibility of the
PM to speak, rather he should order probes
against them. They are engineering small riots on
a daily basis and in various parts of the country
to keep the atmosphere hot in order to encash it
politically when they need.
Dr. John Dayal (General Secretary, All India
Christian Council)
If people are converting due to poverty, the government should take steps to check it. If conversion is taking place due to caste factor, then steps
should be taken to annihilate caste as an institution and if somebody is being converted with
physical force, then law of land should be brought
in and a case of fraud under Section 420 should
be registered. But if they are converting out of
free will from any religion, then they must be
allowed to do so. Conversion is a constitutional
right. I support conversion. Religion and nationality are the only two things that a person can
change. Many NRIs have thrown Indian passports and embraced foreign nationalities. Even
Indian gurus are travelling all over the world,
spreading message of their spiritualism and Hare
Rama and Krishna sect has been converting tens
and thousands of western people into Hinduism.
Fr Dominic Emmanuel (Spokesman, Delhi
Catholic Archdiocese)
[On report that a Dalit family has converted to
Christianity in Bhagalpur of Bihar and BJP has
announced to send a probe team there] Let them
send a fact-finding team. They should find out the
truth. They are spoiling the atmosphere and openly targeting missionaries and organising Ghar
Wapsi and now they want to probe. They should
send an all-party and multi-party team to Bihar
and ascertain the facts and truth before making
allegations. The saffron affiliates have been making all types of allegations. There are allegations
against the church. Let people complain. People
who have converted are being threatened of
social boycott. Until and unless people complain
there cannot be any ground of targeting and making allegations. (Adapted from Mumtaz Alam,
IndiaTomorrow.net)

12

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

NEWSMAKERS

www.milligazette.com

OBITUARIES

MEN&WOMEN IN NEWS
Dr. HABEEL KHORAKIWALA, Chairman of Wockhardt Group
of Pharmaceutical companies, Mumbai has taken over as
Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard University, New Delh on 8
December. After taking over as Chancellor he said that he
wil try his best to make it a successful university of the
present century recognised all over the world. At present it
is recognised by China, Brazil, Russia and many other countries and students from these and other countries are studying in this University.
MIAN ABDUL QAIYYOOM, noted lawyer was re-elected
President of Kashmir Bar Association by J&Ks High Court
Bar Association and Muhammad Ashraf Bhat has also been
re-elected General secretary of this Association. Whereas
Qaiyyoom secured 329 votes and defeated his rival Nazir
Ahmad Ronga who secured 214 votes. Ashraf Bhat, general secretary secured 324 votes, his rival Ghulam Nabi
Shaheen secured 242 votes.
(Ms.) SANIA RANA, a 9-year old student of Ethinia Pre
School won Gold Topper Award in the form of a shield in a
competition held by Breno Brain Inter School in which hundreds of girls of English medium schools participated.
Dr. FAHEEM BAIG, a social worker of Jaffarabad, north-east
Delhi has been appointed by Chairman of Delhi Minorities
Commission, QAMAR AHMAD a member of newly constituted Advisory Panel. Dr. FAHEEM is an active social worker
working for raising the problems and difficulties of Muslims
in government and non-governmental organisations and for
their empowerment. Hence his inclusion in this panel has
been widely welcomed by local people and leaders
MUHAMMAD WASIM of Delhi who contested in
International Body Building Competition held in Italy was
declared Mr Universe-2014 and won a Gold Medal. Born in

AWARDS
Mrs RABIA KHAN of Indore and Dr. RASHID
AHMAD PUNDIT of Srinagar were among the
dozens of children, persons, organisations,
agencies, channelizing agencies, states, websites etc. who were honoured with certificates /
awards by President Pranab Mukherji on the
occasion of International Handicapped Persons
Day on 3 December 2014 at a function held at
Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi for their valuable
services rendered, treatment, rehabilitation of
physically, mentally, visually handicapped persons or suffering form paralysing diseases like
leprosy etc. The above mentioned persons were
honoured for their services to blind, semi-blind
(Mrs Rabia Khan) and physically handicapped
persons (Dr Rashid Ahmad) Pundit).
MUNAWWAR RANA, noted
Urdu poet is among the 22
men of letters representing
22 Indian languages of the
country including novelists,
authors, poets, critics,
essayists, fiction writers,
autobiographers etc. whose
names were announced by the Sahitya
Academy on 19 December for its annual
awards. In Hindi Dr. RAMESH CHANDRA SHAH,
author, poet and essayist was selected for its
award. Munawwar Ranas anthology of poems
titled Shahdaba was considered the best in Urdu
this year for the award which consists of a certificate, shawl and a cheque of Rs one lakh. In
English and Kashmiri languages, Adil Jassawala
and Shaad Ramzans names were announced.
The Awards will be given to the awardees at a
function to tbe held on 9 March 2015 in Delhi on
the occasion of completion of Sahitya
Academys 60 years.
According to Muhammad Ali Jauhar Academys
general secretary Ahmad Nadeem, 26th

Bijnor (UP) and graduated form Delhi University, he was

declared Mr Delhi 9 times. He had also won the titles of Mr.
South Asia and Mr Bhutan and Gold Medals in these competitions. He said that out of the body builders from 47
countries in Italy, he faced toughest competition from body
builders from Israel and America but he defeated both of
them as well as all others. He is however disappointed that
state government, central government as well as national
media totally ignored him and did not mention his victories
in their newspapers.
MUMTAZ ALAM, chairman of Bihar Madrasa Education
Borad has been sacked by Bihar government because of
corruption, flouting rules and regulations and many other
irregularities. Bihar government took this action in view of
High Courts decision against him. His term as Chairman of
Bihar Madrasa Education was to expire on 5 January 2015.
JUSTICE MUHAMMAD SUHAIL SIDDIQI, Chairman of
National Commission for Minorities Educational Institutions
(NCMEI) who was instrumental in granting minority status
to thousands of educational institutions including Jamia
Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar
University, Rampour and hundreds of other schools and colleges set up by minority communities like Muslims,
Christians, Sikhs, Jains, etc. NCMEI was set up in 2005 by
an Act of Parliament. Justice Siddiqi who was the brain
behind NCMEI was appointed first Chairman and headed
this Commisison for 10 years. Earlier he served as
Chairman of Railway Board. An author of Urdu, his collection of short stories titled Venice ka Phool was translated in
Hindi and published by Sahitya Academy. He has been honoured with many Awards like Maulana Azad Award,


Friendship Award etc.

Muhammad Ali Jauhar Awards were given to

Prof TALAT AHMAD, Vice Chancellor of Jamia
Millia Islamia; KHWAJA MUHAMMAD HALEEM,
former minister of UP; TOM ALTAR, film actor;
SYED ANWAARUL HODA, DGP of Andhra
Pradesh; SYED MANSOOR AGHA, journalist.
Social worker (Ms) TEESTA SETALWAD was
honoured with Bi Amman Award and SHAKEEL
AKHTAR, T V journalist was honoured with
M. Saleem Memorial Award. These Awards
were given on Muhammad Ali Jauhars birth day
/ anniversary on 10 December at a function held
at India Islamic Cultural Centre New Delhi which
was chaired by Naseem Ahmad, Chairman of
National Minorities Commission.
JASEEM MUHAMMAD has
been selected by Karuna
International, Chennai for
being honoured with its
award Acharya Hasti
Karuna Award - 2014 for
his sustained efforts and
valuable services in raising
his voice against cow slaughter in the country
and imposing a ban on cow slaughter all over
the country. In a letter informing him about honouring him with this Award, the co-chairman of
Karuna International, Padam Kumar said that the
Award consisting of Rs 50,000 will be given to
him on the occasion of 17th conference of
Karuna International to be be held at Shri Motheji
Mandir, Jodhpur (Rajasthan) on 27-28th
December. It was also stated in the letter that the
cost of his travel to Jodhpur by air and his
boarding and lodging will be borne by Karuna
International.
JUSTICE HOSBETT SURESH, who retired from
High Court 23 years ago has ever since been
working for protection of human rights and has
been raising voice against human rights violation
any where in the country including Gujarat genocide in early 2002 was honoured by Jamat-e
Islami Hind this year with "Hazrat Muhammad

FAIYYAZUL AZAM, former Lok Sabha MP and former minister of Bihar died
of heart attack in Delhis Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on 1 December at
the age of 82 year. He is survived by his wife, five daughters and three
sons. He was laid to rest in his home town in district Betia (Bihar).
MUHAMMAD AHMAD, a noted poet of Delhi died on
13 December at the age of 76 years in the citys Lok
Nayek Jai Prakash Narayen Hospital. He also used to
compose natiya poetry. He leaves behind his wife, three
sons and three daughters.
HAJI MAHBOOB ALAM of Kairana died on 7 December at
the age of 99 years. It is said that in his life he performed
Umrah about 45 times in the month of Ramzan in addition to Haj. He leaves
behind a large family of sons, daughters and grand children.
Dr. SHAHIDUL HAQ BORODE, a well-known homoeopath doctor of
Achalpur (Maharashtra) who was a convert to Islam died recently at the
age of 60 years. He had converted to Islam about 10 years ago.
Subsequently, his wife also converted to Islam. The couple had no children. He was very popular among people because of his good and
humane manners towards every body. He used to maintain good contacts
with his relatives even after conversion. Before his death he had donated
his entire wealth and property to Jamat-e Islami and had informed about
this to his relatives who expressed no objection to his will. A very large
number of people, including his former relatives were present at the time
of his burial.
TAHIR ABBAS noted and senior Urdu, Hindi journalist died in Luckonws
Lohia Hospital at the age of 60 years on 20 December. He had worked with
many Urdu and Hindi newspapers. He had started his journalistic career
40 years ago. He was well versed in both Urdu and Hindu and wrote boldly in both newspapers. He was associated with Hindi daily Swantantra
Bharat for a long time. He was a patient of cancer. Mulayam Singh Yadav
and chief minister Akhilesh Singh sent their condolence messages to his


family members.

Human Rights Award at a

function organised by it
(Jamat) at Marathi Patrakar
Sangh premises at Mumbai on
14 December in recognition of
his sustained efforts for protection of human rights. This
award consists of a cheque of
Rs 10,000, a certificate and a
memento. Others who were
honoured wit this Award earlier are Mrs. Anjum Inamdar of
Pune and Maulana Abdul
Hameed Azhari of Malegaon.
Dr. ASIF MASOOD, Project
Director of Smile Train Project
run by American Society of
Plastic Surgeons in Gorakhpur, has been honoured with International Scholar Award by the
Association of Plastic Surgeons of America and
Smile Train at a function held in Chicago (USA).
Dr. Masood is engaged in treating with plastic
surgery children who are victims of uvula, a rare
equestrian disease in which children have mutilated lips and uvula inside the mouth. Victims of
equestrian disease cannot talk properly and
because of mutilated lips they also look ugly.
They are obsessed with their ugly looks and their
smile generally disappears. Hence by removing
this defect through plastic surgery, their smile
comes back. Probably that is why it is called
Smile Train Project. So far he has treated more
than 7800 children and brought smile on their
faces. According to him this is a rare disease or
natural defect by birth and one such case in 600
/ 700 children is found.
Prof Dr SEEMA HAKEEM, Head of Womens
Diseases Department in AMUs JN Medical
College was honoured with Prof Meera Agnihotri
Oration Medal and Gold Medal in recognition of
her valuable services in the field of womens
diseases. Dr Nikhat Ansari, a resident doctor in
the same Department also was honoured with a

JUSTICE V R KRISHNA IYER

What redeems my mind and mood is the satisfaction that I have
dedicated my capacities not for making money but for wiping the
tears of others this being my tryst with destiny." These are the
lines from the preface to VR Krishnas autobiography, Wandering
in Many Worlds. Justice VR Krishana Iyer an eminent jurist,
statesman, and human rights activist died on 11 December at
Kochi. He was 100. He is survived by his two sons. His wife
Sarada passed away in 1974.
The legendary jurist was born to a leading criminal lawyer in
Thalassery in 1915. He had his education at Basel Mission School
in Thalassery, Victoria College in Palakkad and Anna Malai
University. After graduating in law from Madras University, Iyer
started his legal career in Thalassery, Kannur. He became minister in the Namboodiripad Government in 1957 after getting elected from Thalassery. It was during his tenure as law minister that
land reforms were introduced in the state. He went back to his
legal career in 1959.
Krishna Iyer became a judge in Kerala High Court in 1968 and
a member of the Law Commission of India in 1970. During his

career as a judge, he pronounced more than 700 judgments,

many of which became models of justice for courts even in foreign countries.

Hyderabads All India Majlis-e-Tameer-eMillat honoured ABDUL RASHID PATEL,

General Secretary of Anjuman-e-Talimul
Muslimeen, Malekpor (Surat dist.) by
Hamdard-e-Millat award for his work in the
education and social fields for the last 47
years.. He is a source of pride for the
Muslims of South Gujarat.
SALEHA KURESHI, Principal, and Sajid
Vora, teacher of Anjuman High School
Malerpor (Surat dist) were honoured by
awards for best teacher and brilance in
mathematics during the eleventh state festival organized jointly by All India Maths Club
and S. A. G. K. Savarkundla. (Yakubmama)
Gold Medal for presenting the Best Research
Article / Thesis on the occasion of 26th UPCOG
Conference held in Muzaffarnagar Medical
College.
Ms SABIHA KHAN of
Deoband who topped in
the University in the current years (2014) LLM
examination from MET
University, Noida was
awarded a Gold Medal at a
function held in Deoband
on 12 December. Leading personalities and
lawyers of the city, both Hindus and Muslims
congratulated her and prayed for her bright
future. She aspires to be a judge.
Ms
SYEDA
FALAK,
Golden Girl of Hyderabad
won Silver Medal in the
first Kuala Lumpur Karate
Championship competition held in Malaysia in the
first week of December.
She was felicitated by
Telanganas deputy chief minister Muhammad
Mahmood Ali for winning the Silver Medal for


India.

An untiring activist for human rights, Justice Iyer was the

chief patron of many social organizations and rights groups.
As a Supreme Court judge from 1973 to 1980, Justice
Krishna Iyer pronounced several landmark judgements which later
became guidelines for many law practitioners. In 1975, he had put
a conditional stay on the Allahabad High Court judgment that
unseated Indira Gandhi as MP from Raebareli.
Krishna Iyers humane bent of mind was on display when
braving ill health, actively campaigned against death penalty for
the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
Justice Iyer is known for a jurisprudence that stood out for its
emphasis on reforming the criminal justice system, and for the
environmental struggle.
In 2002, Mr. Iyer was part of the citizens panel for inquiring
into the Gujarat riots, along with justice RB Sawant and others. He
unsuccessfully contested for the post of president against the
Congress nominee R. Venkitaraman in 1987.
He has to his credit 70 books, mostly on law which include
four travelogues as well. He was honoured by Padma Vibhushan
in 1999. (Jawed AKhter)

SPECIAL REPORT

www.milligazette.com

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

13

Convention on State Excesses against Innocent Citizens

Aligarh: After the demolition of the Babri Masjid, the movement for its rebuilding was getting shrill and loud across the
nation and to smother that movement, thousands of innocents
were framed in Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention
Act (TADA) and thrown behind the bars for many years. I was
one of them. Since I have been a student activist, I continued
my activism in jail too. I opened the first jail university in Tihar
Jail, introduced many courses, said Khaliquz Zaman, acquitted of terror charges after spending five years behind bars. He
was addressing a convention on State Excesses against
Innocent Citizens organised by Aligarh Muslim University
Students Union in AMUs Kennedy Auditorium on
11 Decemebr.
He emphasized that we must stand united and combat
every tyranny and students can play a remarkable role in this
struggle.
Akhlaq Ahmad, APCR National Coordinator, said that once
Hitler had said that Terrorism is the best political weapon, for AMUSU President Abdullah Azzam speaking
nothing drives people harder than a fear of sudden death.
The same agenda of terror is being executed today across the world for gaining control over
states. Issues like terrorism, communal riots, love jihad, cow protection, Bangldeshi immigrant etc
are nothing but tools in the hands of the State to divide people in order to gain control over their lives Riyadh: Allama Shibli Nomani was an
iconic figure who heralded the new
and to facilitate corporate interests.
The ratio of Muslim population in India is 14.8 percent but 19 percent of the jail population is age with spiritual intellect in a critical
Muslim. In Maharashtra 10.6 percent of the population is Muslim but their ratio in the state jails is and formative period of the Muslims
32 percent. Several encounters in the name of counter-terror were proved fake by different inves- of the Indian sub-continent, said
tigating agencies and court judgments. Thousands of innocent Muslim youth are languishing in dif- scholars at an international seminar
ferent jails in the name of terrorism. Victims of mass murder during communal violence are waiting here in Riyadh to mark his death cenfor justice for 30-35 years in spite of the guarantee of justice, equality and liberty provided by the tenary.
The seminar was organized by
Indian Constitution to all, he said.
the
Riyadh chapter of Darul Uloom
Parveena Ahangar, chairperson of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) in
Ulama
Old
Boys
Kashmir, whose own son remains untraced ever since the Indian Army arrested him in 1990, urged Nadwatul
Association.
the gathering with teary eyes to join her struggle against enforced disappearances by armed forces
Addressing the seminar, Dr Ajmal Ayyub
in Kashmir.
Islahi,
an Islamic scholar, said: Shibli was a risPrashant Paikray, spokesperson of POSCO Pratirodh Sangam Samiti, said The policies of liberation, privatisation and globalisation clutched our natural resources devastating our livelihood and ing star during the decline of Muslim rule in undiputting our identity at stake. Fake encounters, custodial deaths and illegal detentions have become vided India with scholarly work to revive the
the norm at the hands of the security agencies to curb peoples movement of jal, jungle and jameen. glory of Islam and respond to the questions
Bazlul Basit Chaudhary, who hails from Assam and works as a research coordinator in Centre raised by Western scholars. His life, ideology
for Action Research and Planning, stated that false propaganda of Bangladeshi migration has been and above all his scholarship collectively testify
propagated for political gain and it is the root-cause of ethnic and communal violence in Assam. to a searching mind to encourage and inspire the
Addressing the issue of AFSPA in north-east and the atrocities being committed by the armed forces, Muslim ummah, which was facing scathing
attacks from the Christian missionaries, western
he entreated with students to be the part of their struggle against oppression and victimisation.
Abdullah Azzam, President of AMUSU, called upon the students to get engaged in the research scholars and their publicity bureau. He added
and documentation work on various human rights violation issues across the country and expose the that the great scholarly works of Shibli which
include his magnum opus work, Sirat-un-Nabi
conspiracy before the nation.
The chief guest of the convention was Abdul Mubeen, an AMU alumnus who was acquitted of (biography of Prophet Muhammad-peace be
terror charges after 14 years, addressed the gathering through video message. Mohammad Adeeb, upon him) and other masterpieces like Al-Farooq
former MP, also addressed the convention.

on the life of Holy Caliph Omar Farooq which has
been translated into many languages. Shiblis
Shirul-Ajam on the history of Persian poetry
was described by EG Brown in his four-volume
Literary History of Persia as the best critical
work on leading Persian poets from the earliest
times to the latter part of the 17th century.
Riyadh-based
educationist,
Hussain
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and
Wales (ICAEW) has selected Naziya Syed of Vice-President Hamid
Bangalore for Student of the year 2013-2014 Award Ansari inaugurating an
along with four other students across the globe who exhibition
on
appeared for the exam and overall academic per- Dr. Mukhtar
Ahmad
formance. Naziya completed her Certificate, Ansari, a leading light of
Professional and Advanced Level , in the year 2012- the Indian Independence
2013 respectively from ICAEW
Movement and a coThe award was given at Chartered Accountant founder of Jamia Millia
Halls at the headquarters of ICAEW in London on 17 Islamia
on
November 2014. Naziya, aged 21, is a qualified 24 December.
The
Chartered Accountant Article (Intern) at Ernst and exhibition has over 100
Young. When asked what special did she do that she exhibits on display.
was awarded student of year she said Dream big Later, interacting with
and commit yourself to your dreams, and believe the media-persons, the
that your hardwork will return you great rewards. Vice-President quoted
She is thankful to her teachers and family for their Mahatma Gandhi, who
support and guidance. Naziya did her 10+2 from called
Dr Mukhtar
RV College (Bangalore) and schooling from Ahmad Ansari an
Shantiniketan Educational Institute (Bangalore) in ambassador of Hinduthe year 2009. She said her future plans are to pur- Muslim unity.
sue MBA and Insha Allah lead a firm one day.

Shiblis role recalled during critical period

Yusuf/MG

Naziya Syed is Student

of the Year at ICAEW

For both of them, we were just kids...

Then why did they do this to us?

Zulqarnain, echoed the sentiment saying that

western scholars have done great damage by
engaging in propaganda against Islam such as
blaming Muslims for destroying the famous
library in Alexandria. One must hold Allama
Shibli in high esteem for his scholarly refutation
of the false allegations. He proved with logical
conclusion that the library was burnt down by
Christian rulers much before the entry of
Muslims in Egypt, said Zulqarnain.
Rashid Ali Sheikh, a prominent NRI businessman in Riyadh and a philanthropist, came
forward to lead an initiative to promote Shibli
College, founded by Allama Shibli in 1883, to the
status of a university, saying it will be a real tribute to his visionary leadership. Shibli founded
the college in Azamgarh to achieve a unique
blend between traditional and modern education.
Many colleges of those times have become universities, so it is logical that this college too
should become a university. I hereby announce
to lead the initiative to make this college a university, he said. (Based on Rashid Hassans report in
arabnews.com - 24 December 2014)

Need to show mirror to media:

Sheesh Narain
New Delhi: Media is not performing its duty and that is why
Muslims are at the receiving end. If we dont protest against the
negative news, national integrity will get ruined, said senior journalist Sheesh Narain Singh delivering the 9th Mahfoozur Rahman
Memorial Lecture on Role of Media in National Integration which
was jointly organised by United Muslim of India and Urdu
Development Organisation at Ghalib Academy on 19 December.
Delivering the memorial lecture on the death anniversary of
Ram Prasad Bismil and Martyr Ashfaqullah Khan, Sheesh Narain
Singh said that media is oblivious of its responsibilities and is
destroying the national integration. Referring to the Agra conversion as an Illusion created by
media, he said that people should raise their voice against biases of media. He further said that people should also accept the challenges they face, then only national integration could be preserved.
Honest officers like Hemant Karkare have exposed those who were blaming Muslims of terrorism.
He urged people associated with journalism to tell the truth and show mirror to media.
Former head of the department of Urdu, Delhi University Professor Abdul Haq during his presidential address said that The Ramayana also urges national integrity. He appreciated the boldness of
the people like Sheesh Narain Singh and said that the character of the justice-lover is to protest
against oppression. He accepted that the secular people of the country are highlighting the problems
of the oppressed. Professor Abdul Haq further said that it is part of the identity of Muslims to have
cordial relations with others and tolerance. (Jawed Akhter)

14

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

Muslim girls can marry at 15: Gujarat HC

Ahmedabad: Justice J. B. Pardiwala of Gujarat High Court, while
accepting a petiton filed by one Yusuf Lokhat, 21-year old husband
of a minor girl aged 17 years said in his order of 2 December that
according to personal law of Muslims, if and when a Muslim girl
attains puberty or completes 15 years of age, whichever is earlier, she is eligible to get married. The petition was filed by her husband Yusuf Kolhat seeking the quashing of an FIR against him
under Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. The girls (whose
name is not mentioned) father had written to the Childrens Home
for Girls, Surat in June this year (2014) that his daughter was 17
and was married to the 21-year old Yusuf Lokhat. After this a criminal case was registered against Yusuf under sections 10 (punishment for solemnisation of a child marriage) and 11 (punishment
for promoting or permitting solemnisation of child marriage) of
this Act. Justice Pardiwala upheld Yusuf Lokhats petition and said
that since both the boy and girl are Muslims, there is no problem
as under Muslim Personal Law even if the girl completes 15 years
her marriage is valid and permissible.
Siddiqui Group to start high-tech education
New Delhi: A delegation from the Chennai-based educational and
training group, Muhammad Siddique Group of Educational
Institutions organised a programme in India Islamic Cultural
Centre here on 4 December in cooperation with Noble Education
Foundation when one of its members apprised the people about
the educational activities being undertaken by this group. This
educational group is providing higher and standard education and
training on a large scale in South, particularly in Tamil Nadu.
Leader of this delegation. Aziz Chaudhari said that the engineering college of this group is one of those few colleges where aeronautical course is conducted. In addition to this there are many
other institutions of this group where professional educational
and training courses are conducted. He said that our main aim is
not to earn money but to benefit and help Muslim youth in making their career bright, not only the youth of south India but also
of north India. He said that all these institutions have been set up
not only for Muslim youth but non-Muslim students also benefit
from these institutions. Another member of the delegation, Faisal
Abdul said that matric pass students become capable enough in
three months only, to get jobs easily in Dubai and during this
training period their expenses on boarding and lodging are borne
by their group. He said that his group has so far trained hundreds
of youth who got jobs in Dubai and other Gulf countries, adding
that even non-matriculates and drop-outs can benefit form this
scheme. He said that even those students who are interested in
jobs in Gulf or other countries can do engineering, medical, paramedical, fine arts, architecture and teachers training courses for
very small fees and can do so with the help of their group.
Financial advisor of this group, Ravindaram said that more than
16 large institutions of his group are operating in Chennai and its
neighbouring areas. Another delegation member Hamid Ibrahim
said that he had laid the foundation of this group in a village, Kala
Karaaee in the neighbourhood of Chennai. Aziz Chaudhari said
that he is prepared to associate himself with people or institutions
which want to open such institutes in north India on the basis of
equal share or partnership. He made it clear that he and his other
colleagues are prepared to share their experiences with others for
the sake of Gods pleasure and with a sense of service to
Muslims. He said that further information about his group can be
got from IACCs Department of education and training and also
from Noble Education foundation.
Waqf properties and graveyards occupied by land mafia
Baghpat: Waqf properties and graveyard lands at different places
in this city and district continue to be illegally occupied and desecrated. The worst condition is in villages inhabited by the people
of majority community where land mafia has illegally occupied
these landed and other properties and has made these places
dumping ground of refuse and animal dungs etc. All this is in
spite of the fact that district authorities have been given clear
instructions by the state government to get graveyard lands
measured and boundary walls built. Necessary funds for urban
and rural areas have also been issued but nowhere in the whole
district implementation of government orders appears to be visible. On the other hand existence of Waqf Board also doesnt
appear to be in sight any where in the whole district. No record of
any Waqf properties or any information about it from government
sources is available, though there are a number of large and small
Waqf properties in many villages of this district but there is no
one to take care of these. There is neither any one to ask these
occupants how they came to occupy these Waqf properties and
land nor do these occupants have any fear of law. The biggest
graveyard in this city is known as Sheikh Bahaudidn Graveyard
which is spread over hundreds of bighas. Previously this graveyard was outside the city area but now it is within the town area
because of which its lands have become very costly. Large parts
of this graveyard are under the occupation of land mafia. Plots of
different sizes are being openly cut but there is no one to stop
them. Even if some people complain to government authorities
about this, no action is taken against them nor is there any one to
ask why the funds allotted by government for erecting boundary
walls were not utilised for erecting boundary walls. Similarly there
is another big graveyard known as Panj Peeran Graveyard in
which in addition to other graves there are graves of five peers or
saints. Not only the graves of ordinary mortals but even those of
saints which were pucca structures have been openly erased. In
the citys Nagar Palika Parishad Board there are 25 members,
about a dozen of whom are Muslims but even they never raised
any question about it in Parishads meetings nor did they ever
inspect these graveyards. There are about a dozen other small

www.milligazette.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Mobile-based software launched

for monitoring NCPULs computer centres
New Delhi: NCPUL is running 425 centres all over the country for
the promotion of Urdu and also for associating Urdu with employment opportunities and computer technology. In order to improve
the administration and coordination of these centres, NCPUL (or
briefly, the Council), with the help of National Informatics Centre
(NIC) has launched a software based on its mobile which was
inaugurated on 5 December by the new Vice Chairman of the
Council, Muzafar Husain at a function held at the Councils
Headquarters at Farogh-e Urdu Bhawan at Jasola in the presence
of the Councils Director, Prof (Dr) Khwaja Muhammad
Ikramuddin, Prof Akhtarul Wasey, former Vice Chairman of Delhi
Urdu Academy and others. Speaking on this occasion he said
that Urdu has all the characteristics and capabilities of being
associated with modern day needs and technologies which has
been proved by the Council with its own efforts. He said that with
the help of this software not only the activities of the Councils
centres at different places can be properly coordinated and managed but other problems of these centres can also be solved.
Councils Director Khwaja Muhammad Ikramuddin, giving the
details of this software said that the Council had been trying to
get this type of software (for monitoring the centres activities) for
about a year and now with the help of NIC this aim had been
achieved. Thanking NIC officers he said that this software for
monitoring the activities of its centres is based on mobile facilities through which all centres particularly classes, teachers will
be able to update students attendance, labs activities and performances etc daily and all details can be sent on Councils website through photos. He said that for the time being this software
will be used on experimental basis on Councils 18 centres at
Delhi after which it will be extended to all centres at other places.
Among those present on this occasion were NICs Dy Director
General Ms Manju Jindal, Sr Technical Director Pratik Shrivastava
and Delhi centres authorities, NCPULs Asstt Directors Kamal
Singh and Mrs Shama Kausar Yazdani and others.
On an earlier occasion (on 4 December) at Council
Headquarters, Councils new Vice Chairman Muzaffar Husain
who is also a journalist said while talking to editors and correspondents of Urdu newspapers that when Urdu language progresses, Indian nationalism and civilization will also progress. He
graveyards in this city but their condition also is more or less the
same.
Asaduddin Owaisi to adopt village in Azamgarh district
New Delhi: Chairman of All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen,
Asaduddin Owaisi has decided to adopt a village in Azamgarh district in accordance with prime minister Narendra Modis Saansad
Aadarsh Gram Yojna (MPs Ideal Village Plan) under which MPs
are expected to adopt a village anywhere in the country and
develop it in all possible respects from their MP (MPLAD) fund.
He said that under the MP Ideal Village Plan he will adopt a village
in Mulayam SinghsParliamentary constituency (Azamgarh).
Owaisi who belongs to Hyderabad, said that he will adopt a village in Azamgarh because Hyderabad is an urban Parliamentary
constituency where there is no village so he has decided to adopt
a village of Azamgarh because this district or city, which has of
late become notorious, on account of people suspected, rightly or
wrongly, of terrorism. There is Shibli College also and this region
made an important contribution in the countrys war of independence. In reply to a question whether after his partys success in
Maharashtra assembly elections, is he looking to expanding his
partys base in U P and win the assembly elections in 2017 he
said that in the first place 2017 is quite far away and secondly,
Azamgarh is not the fiefdom of any body. He said that he is a
politician and wherever he sees good chances for his partys
expansion and success, he will go there.
Abolish Haj subsidy, use it for education of Muslims: Owaisi
New Delhi: President of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) and
Lok Sabha MP, Asaduddin Owaisi, while speaking to BBC representative in Delhi on 4 December said that the Haj subsidy to
Hajis given by the central government should be abolished and
the amount thus saved be utilised for promotion of education
among Muslims so as to enable them get good jobs and remove
their educational and economic backwardness. He said that in the
year 2009 the central government had spent about 1.5 crore
Dollars on 1,21,000 Indian Hajis as subsidy which includes concessional air fares of Air India for Hajis and expenses on their
boarding, lodging and internal travels in Saudi Arabia. He said that
Muslims dont need subsidy. If the government wants to help
them, it should do so by promoting education among them and
by removing their backwardness. He said that he was working for
social, educational and economic progress of Muslims in the
country because so far they have got no justice. Regarding the
alleged injustice to Muslims and their overall backwardness he
said that there are and have been many leaders right from
Jawaharlal Nehru to Maulana Mulayam. Muslims accepted them
as their leaders and always supported them but what we / they
(Muslims) got in return from them in our country? He asked how
the hopes and aspirations of Muslims are being fulfilled in the
developing or developed India?
New syllabus of madrasas creates difficulties
Rampur: With the introduction of the new syllabus for madrasas,
madrasa management is facing difficulties, most important reason

said that today Urdu is spoken everywhere but what is needed is

that it should be associated with education practically. He said
that "on the advice and in consultation with Urdu speaking people
we will be able to work in a better way for the promotion of Urdu".
He advised the journalists to first confirm from the concerned
institutions before writing anything in newspapers. It is difficult to
guess what he meant by this sentence. Was it a threat to use the
said law for penalising those writing irresponsible or unconfirmed news? Others present in this meeting with Urdu media
persons also felt that instead of replying directly or in clear words
in response to many questions put by media persons he tried to
reply in vague and ambiguous words. Describing Veer Savarkar
as a great crusader of freedom he said that when no paper and
pen were given to him (Savarkar) in jail for writing he started writing on prison walls with iron nails in Urdu script. He further said
that the last 20 pages of the Constitution, which have not been
published so far, bear the signature of Maulana Azad in Urdu. He
requested the Council to seek governments permission for getting those unpublished 20 pages and publish those in Urdu. He
further said that Urdus burden is not on anybodys shoulder,
Urdu is standing on its own legs and does not need any baisakhi.
Prof Akhtarul Wasey, speaking on this occasion said that the
Council has done every thing possible within its powers to promote and associate Urdu with modern technology but the condition prevailing today everywhere for teaching Urdu is very disappointing. Referring to constitutional rights he said that according
to the Constitutin primary education of children should be provided in their mother tongue but today there are no arrangements
anywhere for education of Muslim children in their mother
tongue. He said that this problem is much more acute in UP than
in Delhi. Welcoming HRD minister Smriti Iranis 3-language formula he invited her attention to give Urdu its rightful place under
this (3-language) formula. However, Anjuman Taraqqi Urdus
general secretary Dr Athar Farooqi complained that the HRD minister is laying great emphasis on making Sanskrit compulsory but
showing no interest at all about promoting Urdu. One speaker,
Prof Naseer Ahmad Khan strongly spoke about Preservation and
promotion of Urdu script against some peoples thinking about
changing of Urdu script. (N. A. Ansari)
of which is that there are no teachers in madrasas to teach subjects which have been made compulsory by Madrasa Talimi Board
(Shiksha Parishad). In this connection a meeting was held in
Jamia-ul Uloom Furqania here in which the responsible persons of
almost all madrasas had taken part and it was unanimously
agreed that if subjects like science, history, geography etc are
made compulsory in madrasas, teachers for these subjects must
also be appointed in madrasas by the government to teach these
subjects and a request should be made to the government in this
respect. Some teachers suggested, and rightly so, that not only
teachers but books on these subjects must also be provided. It
was also agreed in this meeting that a written request for this purpose would be sent to the government soon. Dr. Shaerullah Khan
said in this meeting that the Talimi Committee will soon meet the
education minister for this purpose. The meeting was chaired by
the Principal of Jamiaul Uloom Furqania, Syed Ahmad Ali alias
Khushnood Mian. A prayer also was held at the end.
Statues of Akbars nauratns to be installed in Fetehpur Sikri
Agra: UP government has decided to install the statues of Moghal
King Akbars nauratns (ministers) in Fatehpur Sikri in a joint project by Agra Development Authority and Archaeological Survey of
India. Akbars nauratns include Abul Fazl, Abdur Rahim
Khankhana, Raja Birbal, Mulla Do Piaza, Sheikh Abul Faiz alias
Faizi, Raja Maan Singh, Raja Todarmal, Faqeer Azizuddin and
Taansen. According to a concerned officer this project will cost
about Rs 10 lakh. He said that these statues will be installed in a
centre to be built inside Agra Fort. It may be stated in this connection that Fatehpur Sikri near Agra was the capital of Emperor
Akbar for 13 years from 1572 to 1585. Ancient monuments of
this place were declared world heritage by UNICEF in 1986. The
concerned officer said that these statues will be installed in the
Fort in the same manner and style in which Akbars court was
held and the seats the nauratns or ministers used to occupy and
the detailed information about them will be provided to the
tourists. He said it is not yet decided where statues will be
installed but the plan is that these statues will be installed in the
Information Centre where a glimpse of Moghul periods history
and culture will also be presented. It is expected that this centre
will be completed by January next year.
Conversion to Islam solely for marriage not valid
Allahabad: In a judgement, the Allahabad high court ruled on
18 December that the religious conversion of girls "without their
faith and belief in Islam" and "solely for the purpose of marriage"
to Muslim boys could not be held valid. Justice Surya Prakash
Kesarwani passed the order while dismissing a batch of petitions
filed by five couples, hailing from different districts of Uttar
Pradesh, who had sought "protection as married couple". In each
case, the boys were Muslim while the girls were Hindus who got
converted to Islam for solemnising "nikah". In his order, Justice
Kesarwani quoted a Supreme Court order of 2000 wherein it was
laid down that "conversion of religion of a non-Muslim without
any real change of belief in Islam and only for the purpose of mar

riage is void".

COMMUNITY NEWS
Coaching centres for girls to start
New Delhi: Sirajuddin Qureshi, Chairman of India Islamic Cultural
Centre (IICC), while speaking on the occasion of the annual cultural programme of Rahimia Public School run by All India
Jamiatul Quraish on 1 December, said that a coaching and guidance centre for preparing girls of Quraish fraternity for civil services, engineering and medical examinations will soon be opened
by him. There are about 500 girl students in this traditional school
which is about a hundred years old but four years ago it was
turned into a English medium School. Most of these girls belong
to Qureshi fraternity but there are other non-Qureshi girls also. The
girls presented cultural and other programmes which highlighted
needs like moral values in society, marriage at young age, importance of education and the need for spending more money on
education etc. The programme on spending more money and
importance of education was very much liked by the audience.
Poet Mateen Amrohvi, who wrote the song (tarana) of this
school, music of which was set by Johny Foster, was honoured
with an award in this function. In addition to 178 girls who had
taken part in different cultural programmes in this function and
who were honoured with awards, other awards were presented to
women who were honoured with Parent of the Year awards, 16
girl students were honoured with student of the year awards.
This is a girl school. Among the 178 participating girls in different
cultural programmes, ten girls were honoured with trophies.
School principal, Mrs Shah Jahan Begum, who has been serving
in this school for 32 years, who did not avail of even a single leave
during these years, was also honoured with a special Award.
Proposed poetic rendering of the Quran angers Muslims
Saharanpur: Ravindra Jain, a noted poet and singer plans to render the Quran in the format of poetry which he plans to release at
a big function soon. This being a sensitive matter, he is visiting different dargahs, monasteries and ulama to get the approval of
Muslim divines and religious leaders so that if some opposition or
dissenting voices are raised by Muslims, he may defend himself
by saying that his initiative in rendering the Quran in poetry has
the approval of Muslim religious leaders. For this purpose he visited Khanqah Niazia in Bareilly on 2 December to meet the head of
this Khanqah (monastery). It is understood that the head or rector
of this Khanqah, Shabboo Mian has give his tacit support for
Ravindras venture. News to this effect was first published in the
Hindi daily Amar Ujalas 3 December edition on first page and
again on 4 December issues. He says that it took him 22 years to
render the Quran into poetry and according to him, he would
release the audio CD of his poetry in his own voice. He has started his poetry with the holy Surah Faatihah, after which he rendered all the ayats and surahs in the form of poetry. At the end he
has included some lines of his own poems or poetry. According
to him, after getting the approval from Khanqah Niaziah he would
bring it before the public. A statement from this Khanqahs head
Shabboo Mian has also been issued in this newspaper (Amar
Ujala) that this is the first attempt to give the Quran the form of
poetry and Ravindra Jain has ventured to do this. He said that
whatever he has heard so far (poetic version of the Quran) he
found it correct but he will give his final verdict after consulting
other haafizs and other ulama. Muslims, however are not amused
at this poetic translation. Rather, a feeling of anger prevails among
them and they are condemning and considering it a conspiracy.
Some of them have demanded the government to ban Ravindra
Jains poetry insofar as it concerns the Quran because it is a conspiracy to insult and desecrate the Quran in a different way. They
have also demanded that the mind or mastermind behind this
should be identified. They said that if the government does not
take any step against this, a chain of protest demonstrations will
be started not only in UP but in the whole country and since
Muslims can never tolerate desecration of the Quran, it will
become an international problem.
Talent search tests to be held by Human Welfare Foundation
Katihar: Human Welfare Foundation of (HWF) Indias area convener Muhammad Zahid said here that the Foundation will soon
organise a programme the National Muslim Talent Search
Examination, the objective of which is to bring out and promote
the capabilities of Muslim boys and girls. He said that HWF has
successfully completed seven years of this mission and so far
more than 70 lakh people have benefited by this programme. He
said that HWF is working towards this objective in 20 states of
India along with more than 50 non-official organisations. He said
that HWF has drawn up a big plan known as Vision 2016 for the
progress and welfare of backward sections of society in the coming years. He said that this plan in addition to working for the welfare and progress of humanity will also strengthen their relationship with God. He said that the fact cannot be forgotten that even
now educational awareness to the desired extent has not pervaded among Muslim boys and girls in this county because of which
Muslim youth have not been able to prepare themselves for competitive examinations on the national scale. He regretted that in
National Talent Search Examinations of central government the
number of Muslim students is only 2 percent or even less.
Similarly, through National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship exams
about one lakh poor and economically backward boys and girls
are selected but in this also the number of Muslim boys and girls
is virtually nil. In view of these conditions HWF has decided to
organise such a programme on the national scale in which NMTSE
tests will be conducted in 4 states of the country. This examination or test will be held in every district, application forms and
booklets for which will be made available to the participants. In
this examination only 100 students will be selected in the whole of
Bihar. Students obtaining 1st position will be given Rs 7000,
Rs 5000 for second position and for third position Rs 3000 will be
given. The remaining 97 successful students will be given Rs
1000 each. At the national level also 100 boys and girls will be
selected in which the student or candidate securing first position
will be given Rs 10,000 and to second and third position holders

www.milligazette.com

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

15

8th Ayodhya Film Festival

Faizabad/Ayodhya: The three-day 8th Ayodhya Film Festival
called Awaam ka Cinema, ended in Faizabad on 19
December. This festival is a forum on which problems
regarding social and political awareness are discussed
freely. The festival was inaugurated at Press Club of
Faizabad on 17 December. During the festival, exhibitions of
revolutionaries jail diaries and rare documents were
arranged.
For the past seven years, a local group is trying to reinvent the citys image and to revive the tradition of mutual
tolerance and brotherhood through this film festival.
Operated jointly by Hindu and a Muslim, the film festival
showcases cinema depicting patriotism and documentaries
on untold stories.
It usually begins on December 19, the day revolutionary Madhulika Singh with Shareef Chacha, the voluntary
Ashfaquallah Khan was hanged in a jail in Faizabad and his undertaker of un-identified corpses in Ayodhya
comrade-in-arms Ram Prasad Bismil was executed in
People got offended when they visited the site of martyrs of
Gorakhpur in 1927. In this way, the three-day festival celebrates Kakori where a gate dedicated to Chaudhury Charan Singh was
close friendship of the two freedom fighters.
put up in front the memorial of Ashfaquallah Khan. After returning
Madhulika Singh, a famous film writer, who inaugurated the from the site, the organisers of the film festival wrote a letter to
exhibition, said that social media has helped a lot to raise aware- the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh to bring this issue to his notice
ness in society. The advent of new media has not only made and asked him to take immediate steps to rectify the situation.
youth aware but it has also started various socio-cultural moveAfter screening of the documentary film Begum Akhtar, cinments which have marked its presence recently. She congratulat- ema acivist Shah Alam expressed pity that Begum Akhar has been
ed the organisers of the film festival for providing a platform for forgotten even in her own town. She was born in Bhadrasa,
discourse in a place like Faizabad.
Faizabad. She became a known singer at the age of only 15 years.
During the programme, socialist thinker Ashok Srivastava In recognition of her contributions to Indian music, Begum was
said, the martyrs sacrificed their lives for the freedom which is awarded Padma Shri in 1986 and Padma Bhushan in 1975.
being attacked now-a-days. Atul Kumar Singh said the new genShort Urdu films Qaid, Dharti Ke Lal of Khawaja Ahmad
eration must be familiar with the ideas of revolutionaries like Abbas and Satah Se Uthta Aadmi of Mani Kaul, were also
Ashfaqullah Khan and Bhagat Singh.
screened during this festival. (Jawed Akhter)
Rs 7000 and Rs 5000 respectively will be given. The remaining 97
successful candidates will be given Rs 1500 each.
Dark life of Zardozi workers behind the shine of their produce
Agra: In addition to the Taj Mahal, Agra is also famous for its
Zardozi or gold embroidery work in the country as well as in foreign countries for its elegance, lustre, finesse and delicacy of art
work and its finished products are sold at several hundreds and
thousands of rupees but very few people know about the dark and
dismal life of Zardozi workers who first have to learn this art from
experienced masters either from their own household or outside.
The intricate work also affects their eye-sight in the long run but it
is a pity that whereas an unskilled labourer after about 8 hours of
hard physical labour earns Rs 250 to Rs 300 a day, a skilled
Zardozi worker hardly earns 80 to Rs 150 for the same hours of
work. One can very well imagine how a worker engaged in this
trade requiring high quality skill, in which mostly Muslims are
engaged, can make both ends meet, educate his children and
meet other requirements of his family members, not to talk of
leading a decent life, having good food and clothing. And unfortuntely, if some one falls ill how can they afford good treatment.
Because of their poverty and lack of education, even children at a
young age are made to work in this trade. A demand was made to
UP government way back in 2007 to improve their working condition, provide financial help, provide other facilities like proper
and free training, making arrangements for marketing of their
products etc but what they got was only assurances and nothing
else. Compelled under adverse circumstances and with no government help forthcoming,, many of them left their traditional and
skilled job and adopted other small scale professions. One Raees
says that with such income, he could provide only bread (without
vegetables or dal) for the family and with advancing age, he wil be
unable to do this work because of weakening eye sight. He left his
traditional business and opened a paan shop. Another helpless
Zardozi worker, Gulazar who is now 54 says that till very recently
at this age his daily income was Rs 80 only. Hence he also left his
traditional job and opened a pan shop. Now he is in a better financial position to support his family. There are hundreds and thousands others like him who after becoming masters at gold
embroidery work, bid good bye to their ancestral profession in
spite of much appreciation and praise of these products. Some
have opened small general store shops, others have opened spice
shops and the like. They are not prosperous but in a much better
financial position than when they were skilled and master Zardozi
artists. There are dozens and scores of other arts also in addition
to this in which Muslims are engaged. In view of all this Justice
Rajindir Sachar Committee had stated in its report that large
majority of Muslims are artisans and they are engaged in these
types of trade and business.
Loans from Maulana Azad Corp not easy
Taking loan from Maulana Azad Minority Development Corporation
in Maharashtra has become complicated. The state government
has imposed the condition that the applicant for loan has to produce a guarantor who must be a government employee.
Protesting this decision, Dr. Faizan Ahmad Azizi, member of the
Monitoring Committee for Minority Education, has written letters
to the Prime Minister Narender Modi, Chief Minister Devendera
Fadnavis and state minister for minority development. Dr. Faizan
has demanded that the condition should be dropped so that the
needy could get loans without any hassle. He further said that getting loans from Maulana Azad Corporation was not so easy earlier, but after this condition it had become even more complicated.
The State government had established this corporation to provide
loans to the minorities so that they could stand on their feet. But
after the announcement of this new condition it has become more
difficult to get loans from this corporation. Dr. Faizan said that students from weaker sections too are provided educational loans
from Maulana Azad Corporation. He has doubted if loans for stu-

dents will be available easily once this order is implemented. He

said that there is a dearth of government employees in the Muslim
community, and if this new rule is implemented, students and
other needy people from minority communities would not get any
financial benefit from Maulana Azad Minority Financial
Development Corporation.
Muslim soldiers discriminated against
An incidence of partiality against Muslim employees in Army and
Air Force has come out. On the condition that their names are not
to be disclosed, the Muslim employees said that they have been
pressurised to shave their beards and the newly-recruited soldiers
are discouraged to have beards. These soldiers said that rules
permit them to have beards, but in the name of uniformity
Muslims soldiers are pressurised to shave their beards. It is noteworthy that in 2003, the Chief of Air Force had banned beards by
issuing an executive advisory. Though under the Main Regulations
of 1964, para. 425 (b), Muslim soldiers are allowed to have
beards. Muslim soldiers had appealed in different courts against
the 2003 executive advisory. After the courts verdict, Air Force
had to drop its decision. Muslim soldiers expressed disappointment saying that if Sikhs are allowed to wear turban and have
beard, why Muslim soldiers are being discriminated against.
DDA encroaches upon mosque land
Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is trying to encroach on the
land of an ancient mosque named Qanati as well as graveyard on
a hillock at Islam Colony near Mehrauli. People fear that the
mosque will meet the same fate as was done to Ghausia mosque
recently. DDA is planning to merge this land with the park on
which work has been going on next to the mosque. Earlier the land
of the park was under Waqf Board but later DDA acquired the land
for the park. A team of Delhi Waqf Board visited the place and is
planning to write a letter to DDA. When DDA started construction
to block the main passage leading to the mosque and the graveyard, to which local people objected. Shahzad Siddiqi, member of
the committee, which is the custodian of this waqf land, said
when he reached the place he saw stones were being taken away
from the mosque-site. When he complained to deputy director of
DDA, Jagdish Sharma, the personnel went away. Shahzad said
that he had already written letters to the President, PM, Lieutenant
Governor and CM of Delhi, and President has instructed DDA in
this regard. Yet, DDA is trying to encroach on the mosque-land.
Refugees in J&K likely to get Rs.30 lakh compensation
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has
recommended that the West Pakistani refugees in J&K should
be given permanent resident certificates and voting rights in
the Assembly elections. Being citizens of India, they enjoy the
right to vote in parliamentary elections. At the time of partition,
over 7,000 families had crossed over to the Indian side of Line
of Control (LoC) and International Border from the Pakistanadministered Jammu & Kashmir and the then-Western
Pakistan. Then, during the India-Pakistan wars in 1965 and
1971, about 10,000 more families were displaced from 47 villages of Chhamb area. In its 183rd report on the problems
being faced by refugees and displaced persons in the state,
which was tabled in Rajya Sabha on 22 December, the
Committee observed that the West Pakistani Refugees could
not purchase land in the state and due to non-protection of
their rights, they were living as slaves. The Committee said a
provision of reservation in jobs for the refugees should be
implemented soon. Apart from opening of government schools
for their wards, it recommended that the Centre impress upon
the state government for early finalisation of one-time financial
package for them. One-time compensation of Rs.30 lakh may
be provided within one year and there should not be any delay
in the matter, the report said. (Excerpted from The Hindu,
22 December, 2014)

16

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

The Myth of the Free Press

Those who work in the mass media, as I did for two decades, are acutely aware of the
collaboration with power and the cynical manipulation of the public by the power elites. It
does not mean there is never good journalism and that the subservience to corporate power
within the academy always precludes good scholarship, but the internal pressures, hidden
from public view, make great journalism and great scholarship very, very difficult.
CHRIS HEDGES
There is more truth about American journalism in the film Kill the
Messenger, which chronicles the mainstream medias
discrediting of the work of the investigative journalist Gary Webb,
than there is in the movie All the Presidents Men, which
celebrates the exploits of the reporters who uncovered the
Watergate scandal.
The mass media blindly support the ideology of corporate
capitalism. They laud and promote the myth of American
democracy-even as we are stripped of civil liberties and money
replaces the vote. They pay deference to the leaders on Wall
Street and in Washington, no matter how perfidious their crimes.
They slavishly venerate the military and law enforcement in the
name of patriotism. They select the specialists and experts,
almost always drawn from the centers of power, to interpret reality
and explain policy. They usually rely on press releases, written by
corporations, for their news. And they fill most of their news holes
with celebrity gossip, lifestyle stories, sports and trivia. The role
of the mass media is to entertain or to parrot official propaganda
to the masses. The corporations, which own the press, hire
journalists willing to be courtiers to the elites, and they promote
them as celebrities. These journalistic courtiers, who can earn
millions of dollars, are invited into the inner circles of power. They
are, as John Ralston Saul writes, hedonists of power.
When Webb, writing in a 1996 series in the San Jose Mercury
News, exposed the Central Intelligence Agencys complicity in
smuggling tons of cocaine for sale into the United States to fund
the CIA-backed Contra rebels in Nicaragua, the press turned him
into a journalistic leper. And over the generations there is a long
list of journalistic lepers, from Ida B. Wells to I.F. Stone to Julian
Assange.The attacks against Webb have been renewed in
publications such as The Washington Post since the release of the
film earlier this month. These attacks are an act of selfjustification. They are an attempt by the mass media to mask the
collaboration between themselves and the power elite. The mass
media, like the rest of the liberal establishment, seek to wrap
themselves in the moral veneer of the fearless pursuit of truth and
justice. But to maintain this myth they have to destroy the
credibility of journalists such as Webb and Assange who shine a
light on the sinister and murderous inner workings of empire, who
care more about truth than news.
The countrys major news outlets-including my old employer
The New York Times, which wrote that there was scant proof of
Webbs contention-functioned as guard dogs for the CIA. Soon
after the 1996 expos appeared, The Washington Post devoted
nearly two full pages to attacking Webbs assertions. The Los
Angeles Times ran three separate articles that slammed Webb
and his story. It was a seedy, disgusting and shameful chapter in
American journalism. But it was hardly unique. Alexander
Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair, in the 2004 article How the Press
and the CIA Killed Gary Webbs Career, detailed the dynamics of
the nationwide smear campaign.
Webbs newspaper, after printing a mea culpa about the
series, cast him out. He was unable to work again as an
investigative journalist and, fearful of losing his house, he
committed suicide in 2004. We know, in part because of a Senate
investigation led by then-Sen. John Kerry, that Webb was right.
But truth was never the issue for those who opposed the
journalist. Webb exposed the CIA as a bunch of gunrunning, drugsmuggling thugs. He exposed the mass media, which depend on
official sources for most of their news and are therefore hostage
to those sources, as craven handmaidens of power. He had
crossed the line. And he paid for it.
If the CIA was funneling hundreds of millions of dollars in
drugs into inner-city neighborhoods to fund an illegal war in
Nicaragua, what did that say about the legitimacy of the vast
covert organization? What did it tell us about the so-called war on
drugs? What did it tell us about the governments callousness and
indifference to the poor, especially poor people of color at the
height of the crack epidemic? What did it say about rogue military
operations carried out beyond public scrutiny?
These were questions the power elites, and their courtiers in

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the press, were determined to silence?

The mass media are plagued by the same mediocrity,
corporatism and careerism as the academy, labor unions, the
arts, the Democratic Party and religious institutions. They cling to
the self-serving mantra of impartiality and objectivity to justify
their subservience to power. The press writes and speaks-unlike
academics that chatter among themselves in arcane jargon like
medieval theologians-to be heard and understood by the public.
And for this reason the press is more powerful and more closely
controlled by the state. It plays an essential role in the
dissemination of official propaganda. But to effectively
disseminate state propaganda the press must maintain the fiction
of independence and integrity. It must hide its true intentions.
The mass media, as C. Wright Mills pointed out, are essential
tools for conformity. They impart to readers and viewers their
sense of themselves. They tell them who they are. They tell them
what their aspirations should be. They promise to help them
achieve these aspirations. They offer a variety of techniques,
advice and schemes that promise personal and professional
success. The mass media, as Wright wrote, exist primarily to help
citizens feel they are successful and that they have met their
aspirations even if they have not. They use language and images
to manipulate and form opinions, not to foster genuine democratic
debate and conversation or to open up public space for free
political action and public deliberation. We are transformed into
passive spectators of power by the mass media, which decide for
us what is true and what is untrue, what is legitimate and what is
not. Truth is not something we discover. It is decreed by the
organs of mass communication.
The divorce of truth from discourse and action-the
instrumentalization of communication-has not merely increased
the incidence of propaganda; it has disrupted the very notion of
truth, and therefore the sense by which we take our bearings in
the world is destroyed, James W. Carey wrote in
Communication as Culture.
Bridging the vast gap between the idealized identities-ones
that in a commodity culture revolve around the acquisition of
status, money, fame and power, or at least the illusion of it-and
actual identities is the primary function of the mass media. And
catering to these idealized identities, largely implanted by
advertisers and the corporate culture, can be very profitable. We
are given not what we need but what we want. The mass media
allow us to escape into the enticing world of entertainment and
spectacle. News is filtered into the mix, but it is not the primary
concern of the mass media. No more than 15 percent of the
space in any newspaper is devoted to news; the rest is devoted to
a futile quest for self-actualization. The ratio is even more lopsided
on the airwaves.
This, Mills wrote, is probably the basic psychological
formula of the mass media today. But, as a formula, it is not
attuned to the development of the human being. It is a formula of
a pseudo-world which the media invent and sustain.
At the core of this pseudo-world is the myth that our national
institutions, including those of government, the military and
finance, are efficient and virtuous, that we can trust them and that
their intentions are good. These institutions can be criticized for
excesses and abuses, but they cannot be assailed as being hostile
to democracy and the common good. They cannot be exposed as
criminal enterprises, at least if one hopes to retain a voice in the
mass media.
Those who work in the mass media, as I did for two decades,
are acutely aware of the collaboration with power and the cynical
manipulation of the public by the power elites. It does not mean
there is never good journalism and that the subservience to
corporate power within the academy always precludes good
scholarship, but the internal pressures, hidden from public view,
make great journalism and great scholarship very, very difficult.
Such work, especially if it is sustained, is usually a career killer.
Scholars like Norman Finkelstein and journalists like Webb and
Assange who step outside the acceptable parameters of debate

and challenge the mythic narrative of power, who question the

motives and virtues of established institutions and who name the
crimes of empire are always cast out.
The press will attack groups within the power elite only when
one faction within the circle of power goes to war with another.
When Richard Nixon, who had used illegal and clandestine
methods to harass and shut down the underground press as well
as persecute anti-war activists and radical black dissidents, went
after the Democratic Party he became fair game for the press. His
sin was not the abuse of power. He had abused power for a long
time against people and groups that did not matter in the eyes of
the Establishment. Nixons sin was to abuse power against a
faction within the power elite itself. The Watergate scandal,
mythologized as evidence of a fearless and independent press, is
illustrative of how circumscribed the mass media is when it
comes to investigating centers of power.
History has been kind enough to contrive for us a controlled
experiment to determine just what was at stake during the
Watergate period, when the confrontational stance of the media
reached its peak. The answer is clear and precise: powerful
groups are capable of defending themselves, not surprisingly; and
by media standards, it is a scandal when their position and rights
are threatened, Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky wrote in
Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass
Media. By contrast, as long as illegalities and violations of
democratic substance are confined to marginal groups or
dissident victims of U.S. military attack, or result in a diffused cost
imposed on the general population, media opposition is muted
and absent altogether. This is why Nixon could go so far, lulled into
a false sense of security precisely because the watchdog only
barked when he began to threaten the privileged.
The righteous thunder of the abolitionists and civil rights
preachers, the investigative journalists who enraged Standard Oil
and the owners of the Chicago stockyards, the radical theater
productions, such as The Cradle Will Rock, that imploded the
myths peddled by the ruling class and gave a voice to ordinary
people, the labor unions that permitted African-Americans,
immigrants and working men and women to find dignity and hope,
the great public universities that offered the children of immigrants
a chance for a first-class education, the New Deal Democrats who
understood that a democracy is not safe if it does not give its
citizens an acceptable standard of living and protect the state from
being hijacked by private power, are no longer part of the
American landscape. It was Webbs misfortune to work in an era
when the freedom of the press was as empty a clich as
democracy itself.
The Cradle Will Rock, like much of the popular work that
came out of the Federal Theatre Project, addressed the concerns
of the working class rather than the power elite. And it excoriated
the folly of war, greed, corruption and the complicity of liberal
institutions, especially the press, in protecting the power elite and
ignoring the abuses of capitalism. Mister Mister in the play runs
the town like a private corporation.
I believe newspapers are great mental shapers, Mister
Mister says. My steel industry is dependent on them really.
Just you call the News, Editor Daily responds. And well
print all the news. From coast to coast, and from border to
border.
Editor Daily and Mister Mister sing:
O the press, the press, the freedom of the press.
Theyll never take away the freedom of the press.
We must be free to say whatevers on our chestwith a hey-diddle-dee and ho-nanny-no
for whichever side will pay the best.
I should like a series on young Larry Foreman, Mister Mister
tells Editor Daily.
Who goes around stormin and organizin unions.
Yes, weve heard of him, Editor Daily tells Mister Mister. In
fact, good word of him. He seems quite popular with
workingmen.
Find out who he drinks with and talks with and sleeps with.
And look up his past till at last youve got it on him.
But the man is so full of fight, hes simply dynamite, why it
would take an army to tame him, Editor Daily says.
Then it shouldnt be too hard to tame him, Mister Mister
says.
O the press, the press, the freedom of the press, the two
sing. Youve only got to hint whatevers fit to print; if somethings
wrong with it, why then well print to fit. With a he-diddly-dee and
aho-nonny-no. For whichever side will pay the best.
(truthdig.com)

receded and people began to question the legitimacy and efficacy

of the demolitions, according to The New Republic.
Israeli authorities have destroyed 1,000 Arab homes in the southAccording to Palestinian officials, the practice of demolitions have
ern region of the Negev in 2014 alone, according to news reports
remained, particularly in towns across the Negev region. However
on 22 December. Israeli security institutions destroyed Arab
the practice is being used instead to intimihouses in order to put pressure on
date Arabs off what Israel considers to be
Arabs to leave their lands, said
its land, even though many Palestinians
Usama al-Uqaibi, the head of the
have been living there for over 60 years. AlIslamic Movement in South Israel.
Uqaibi said the Palestinians in Negev would
They destroy the Palestinians and
continue their resistance against Israeli
their properties, he added, according
forces and remain on their land.
to the Turkish news agency Anadolu
Demolitions were also used earlier this year
and the Middle East Monitor.
after two Palestinian men entered a synaIsrael has long had a demolition poligogue in Jerusalem and stabbed several
cy used to intimidate Palestinians and
worshipers. Though the assailants were
their families by destroying their
killed by police at the scene of the crime,
homes. It was last officially in effect
officials also demolished the homes of their
US-supplied
Israeli
bulldozer
demolishes
a
over a decade ago during the Second
families the next day. This has raised conhouse in Jabel Mukaber, East Jerusalem
Intifada when, according to Israeli
cerns that the controversial deterrence polofficials, it discouraged acts of extremism, such as suicide
icy would officially resume. At the beginning of the month, the
bombing, by threatening to retaliate against their families.
Israeli Supreme Court heard arguments demanding an end to the
However, the Israeli defense minister stopped employing the polidemolitions, but it has yet to rule on the matter. (telesurtv.net)
cy as a means to address such actions in 2005, after violence

Israel destroys 1,000 Arab homes

INTERNATIONAL

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

www.milligazette.com

17

Five Reasons Why 2014 was a Game Changer

RAMZY BAROUD
In terms of losses in human lives, 2014 has been a horrific year
for Palestinians, surpassing the horrors of both 2008 and 2009,
when an Israeli war against the Gaza Strip killed and wounded
thousands. While some aspects of the conflict are stagnating
between a corrupt, ineffectual Palestinian Authority (PA), and the
criminality of Israeli wars and occupation, it would also be fair to
argue that 2014 was also a game changer to some degree - and
it is not all bad news. To an extent, 2014 has been a year of clarity
for those keen to understand the reality of the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict but were sincerely confused by the contrasting
narratives. Here are some reasons that support the argument that
things are changing.
1. A Different Kind of Palestinian Unity
Although the two leading Palestinian parties Hamas and Fatah
agreed to a unity government in April, little has changed on the
ground. Yes, a government was officially established in June, and
held its first meeting in October. But Gaza is effectively still
managed by Hamas, which has been largely left alone managing
the affairs of the Strip after the Israeli war in July-August. Perhaps
Mahmoud Abbass authority is hoping that the massive destruction
would weaken Hamas into political submission, especially as Egypt
continues to seal shut the Rafah border. But while the factions are
failing to unite, the Israeli war on Gaza has inspired a new impetus
of struggle in the West Bank. Israeli plans of targeting holy sites in
Jerusalem, particularly the al-Aqsa Mosque, coupled with the deep
anguish felt by most Palestinians over the massacres carried out by
Israel in Gaza, are slowly reverberating into a wave of miniuprisings. Some speculate the situation will eventually lead to a
massive Intifada that will engulf all of the territories. Whether a third
intifada takes place in 2015 or not, is a different question. What
matters is that the long-orchestrated plot to divide Palestinians is
breaking apart and a new collective narrative of a common struggle
against occupation is finally forming.
2. A New Resistance Paradigm
The debate regarding what form of resistance Palestinians should
or should not adopt is being sidelined and settled, not by
international do-gooders, but by Palestinians themselves. They
are opting to use whatever effective form of resistance they can
that could deter Israeli military advances, as resistance groups
have actively done in Gaza. Although Israels latest war killed
nearly 2,200 and wounded over 11,000 Palestinians that were
mostly civilians, nevertheless, it has still failed to achieve any of
its declared or implied objectives. It was another reminder that
sheer military strength is no longer the only overriding factor in
Israels conduct towards Palestinians. While Israel brutalized
civilians, the resistance killed 70 Israelis, over 60 of whom were
soldiers; this was also an important step testifying to the maturity
of Palestinian resistance, which had previously targeted civilians
during the second intifada and reflected more desperation rather
than a winning strategy. The legitimization of the resistance was
to a degree, reflected in the recent decision by the European court
to remove Hamas from its list of terrorist organizations.
Resistance in the West Bank is taking on other forms.
Although it is yet to mature into a steady campaign of antioccupation activities, it seems to be forming an identity of its own
that takes into account what is possible and what is practical.
The fact is that the one size fits all modes of resistance debate
is becoming less relevant, giving way to an organic approach to
resistance devised by Palestinians themselves.
3. BDS Normalizes Debate on Israeli Crimes
Another form of resistance is crystalizing in the Boycott,

Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS) which continues to

grow, gathering steam, supporters and constant achievements.
Not only was 2014 a year in which BDS managed to win the
support of numerous civil society organizations, academicians,
scientists, celebrities and to reach out to people from all walks of
life, it did something else that is equally important: It normalized
the debate on Israel in many circles around the world. While any
criticism of Israel was considered a taboo in yesteryears, it has
been forever broken. Questioning the morality and practicality of
boycotting Israel is no longer a frightening subject, but is open for
debate in numerous media outlets, universities and other
platforms. 2014 has been a year that made the discussion of
boycotting Israel more mainstream than ever before. While a
critical mass is yet to be achieved in the US, the momentum is
constantly building up being led by students, clergy men and
women, celebrities and ordinary people. In Europe, the movement
has been hugely successful.

state. The objective was clear: to maintain Jewish superiority over

Palestinian Arabs, while continuing to present itself as a modern
western democracy - in fact, the only democracy in the Middle
East. While Palestinians and many others were never sold on the
democracy charade, many accepted the dichotomy with little
questioning.
While Israel doesnt have a constitution, it has a code, called
the Basic Law. Since there is no Israeli equivalent to a
constitutional amendment - the Netanyahu government is
pushing for a new law at the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. This
will basically put forth new principals under which Israel will
define itself. One of these principals will define Israel as the
national state of the Jewish people, thus casting all non-Jewish
citizens of Israel as lesser citizens. While, for all intents and
purposes, Palestinian citizens of Israel have been treated as an
outcast, and discriminating against in many ways, the new Basic
Law will be a constitutional confirmation of their state-enforced
inferiority. The Jewish and democratic paradigm is dying for
good, exposing Israels reality the way it is.

4. Parliaments are Feeling the Heat

While, traditionally, much of the southern hemisphere offered
unconditional support for Palestinians, the West conceitedly The Year Ahead
stood with Israel. Following the Oslo accords, a bewildering Certainly 2015 will bring much of the same: The PA will fight for
European position evolved, where they flirted with finding the its own existence, and try to maintain its privileges, bestowed
balance between an occupied nation and the occupier. At times, by Israel, the US and others by using every tool available; Israel
the European Union (EU) timidly criticized the Israeli occupation, will also remain emboldened by American funds and
while continuing to be one of Israels largest trade partner, unconditional support and military backing. Yes, the next year
providing weapons to the Israeli army, who then use them to carry will also prove frustratingly familiar in that regard. But the new,
out war crimes in Gaza and sustain its military occupation in the real and opposing momentum will unlikely cease, challenging
and exposing the Israeli occupation, on one hand, and
West Bank.
This debauched policy is being challenged by citizens of sidestepping the ineffectual, self-serving Palestinian Authority on
various European countries. The Israeli summer war on Gaza the other. 2014 was a very painful year for Palestine, but also a
exposed Israels human rights violations and war crimes like year in which the collective resistance of the Palestinian people,
never before, revealing along the way EU hypocrisy. To relieve and their supporters, proved too strong to bend or break. And in
some of the pressure, some EU countries appear to be taking that, there can be much solace.
Ramzy Baroud is an internationally-syndicated columnist, a media
stronger stances against Israel, reviewing their military
consultant, an author and the founder of PalestineChronicle.com. His
cooperation, and more boldly questioning the rightwing policies of
latest book is My Father Was a Freedom Fighter: Gazas Untold Story
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A spate of
(Pluto Press, London).
parliamentary votes
f o l l o w e d ,
overwhelmingly voting
to recognize Palestine
as a state. While these
decisions
remain
largely symbolic, they
represent
an
unmistakable shift in
EU attitude towards
Israel.
Netanyahu
continues to rail against
European hypocrisy,
assured, perhaps, by
For over Twenty years Halal Food Authority has been
Washingtons
endorsing meat & poultry slaughterhouses, cutting plants for
unconditional support.
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halal supplies and has nationally and internationally
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over
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authenticated scores of suppliers and manufacturers of halal
tumultuous
Middle
East, the Israeli prime
ingredients, additives and foodstuffs.
minister might soon be
forced to rethink his
HALAL FOOD AUTHORITY
obstinate attitude.

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5. Israels Democracy
Exposed
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defined itself as both a
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CONSTRUCTION OF HOMES FOR MUZAFFARNAGAR RIOT

VICTIMS BY CHARITY ALLIANCE
Work in progress, roof of new homes coming up as seen in
this picture dated 20th December 2014
We appeal to to you to come forward to make this project possible. We plan to build some 60 self-contained small houses but
CHARITY ALLIANCE, with the active support of MG and like-minded people, is helping the victims of starvation in Murshidabad since
our funds after buying the land scarcely suffice for 20 houses.
April 2005. More tasks are being undertaken in some of the most deserving areas and most backward sections of our community. This
Each house costs around 1.5 lakh rupees
charitable trust is channelising this long-felt effort. Almost every paisa is reaching the deserving people as MG is providing office and
administrative facilities free of cost as well as free advertising space, and the trustees are barred by the trust deed from receiving any
remuneration for their work and time.

CHARITY ALLIANCE
Registered trust

Charity Alliance is headed by Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, Editor of The Milli Gazette,

current President of All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat and Chairman, Pharos Media & Publishing Pvt Ltd.

CHARITY ALLIANCE
D-84 Abul Fazl Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110 025 India Tel.: (+91-11) 2694 7483, 2695 2825, 0-9868656614
How to make payments: We prefer cheques to bank drafts. Cheques/Drafts should be crossed / marked account payee and payable
to Charity Alliance. Individuals are welcome to pay cash in our office or send M.O. In some cities we may be able to arrange to collect cash from your doorstep. If you want to contribute through credit card or internet-banking visit www.charityalliance.in for secure
online payment.
List of donors may be seen on Charilty Alliance website (www.charityalliance.in).

Donations to Charity Alliance are eligible for tax liability deduction in India under Section 80G

Zakat, Sadaqat and bank interest accepted

See www.charityalliance.in for detailed reports on our work.

18

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

www.milligazette.com

INTERNATIONAL

Terrorism Strikes Pakistan at its Heart

KARAMATULLAH K. GHORI
k_k_ghori@yahoo.com
Pakistan and its people are all too familiar with the
Taliban and their murderous ways. In the ongoing war
against the Taliban-inspired terrorism it has, so far,
lost more than 70,000 people-a horrendous price in
blood paid by a country supposedly allied with US in
the war-against-terror.
But none, in Pakistan or elsewhere in the world,
wouldve imagined the bestiality and barbarism the Talibani vandals
and predators were capable of until the morning of December 16 in
Peshawar, the gate-way to the lawless terrain where the Taliban and
their ilk have thrived for so long.
December 16 always touches sensitive nerves in Pakistans
collective memory. It was on this day, in 1971, when Pakistan was
truncated into two, with its eastern-half becoming the sovereign and
independent state of Bangladesh. Insult had been inflicted over a
grievous injury when 93,000 Pakistani soldiers and civilians were
made to surrender to a triumphal India whose forces had entered
the then East Pakistan to lend a helping hand to the Bengali insurgents. The ignoble Fall of Dhaka has stayed, ever since, like a sharpedged dagger in the hearts of the Pakistanis.
But the wounds of Dhakas fall were revisited and reopened, on
that fateful day of December 16, this year, by the barbaric Taliban
when they forced their way into Peshawars Army Public School
and wrote a new and gory chapter in bestiality.
What the Taliban vandals did to the innocent children and teaching staff of the school that morning evoked the memory of the
Mongol hordes disparaging the lands and peoples unfortunate to be
in their marauding path.
In a carnage that dulled human conscience and harked back to
an age before mankind attained civilisation, 132 pupils and about a
dozen of the teaching staff had been killed and mercilessly
butchered. Reminiscent of what that latest scourge of barbarism,
ISIS, has been doing to its hapless victims, the Taliban predators at
that school lobbed off the heads of screaming children and shot into
their eyes from point blank range.
As if that wanton bestiality wasnt enough, the schools lady
principal was drenched in petrol and torched into a fireball right in
front of horrified children.
The most poignant-heart-wrenching in the extreme-is the
episode of that 7 year-old little girl who had entered the school
precinct that morning to start her first day at school. Little did she
know that it was also going to be her last day. She was shot
between her eyes in front of her father, who is still fighting for his life
in a hospital.
So gruesome was the blood bath that it touched soft nerves in
neighbouring India, too, which most Pakistanis believe to be their
mortal enemy.
Matinee idol and heart-throb of millions of Indians and
Pakistanis, the incomparable Dilip Kumar, nee Yusuf Khan, wrote a
heart-warming message of sympathy. He was born and raised in
Peshawar; his affinity with the place is genuine and authentic. The
great thespian,turned 92 only five days before this tragedy,
empathised with the parents of his native city losing their most precious treasures.
But the most touching obituary of the martyrs of the school was
written by another famous Indian film actor, AnupamKher. In a piece
written for the Hindustan Times, the day after the carnage, and
redolent with pathos, Kher grieved the loss of blossoming kids for
having totally shattered him. He shamed the Taliban barbarians for
having gone past every imaginable frontier of cruelty and inhumanity with their crass vandalism.
PM Modi of India condoled with his Pakistani counterpart over
this national calamity of Pakistan and asked all school children in
India to observe a token sharing of grief with the Pakistani children
in a two minute spell of silence. It was a great humanitarian gesture
that couldnt be lost on anyone.

The understandable enormity of the Taliban

crime against innocent children triggered a
national uproar unprecedented in the history
of Pakistans truck with terrorism. A grieving
nation, stunned to its core by the bestiality of
the crime against its children, demanded
immediate reprisal from their government
against the perpetrators.
The understandable enormity of the Taliban crime against innocent children triggered a national uproar unprecedented in the history of Pakistans truck with terrorism. A grieving nation, stunned to
its core by the bestiality of the crime against its children, demanded immediate reprisal from their government against the perpetrators.
The peoples backlash was so spontaneous that it jogged a
laid-back Nawaz Sharif into quick action. To assuage the nations
sense of grief and hurt he announced the immediate lifting of the
ban on the execution of death sentences passed against hundreds
of Taliban terrorists. The ban was a handiwork of the former
Pakistani President, Asif Zardari, whod imposed the ban to please
his western mentors, despite the fact that death penalty has been
there on the countrys statute books since its independence.
As before in similar situations, the army has been much quicker and alert than the civilian government in rising to the peoples
expectations in a time of national woe. The military chief lost no time
in signing the death warrants of seven Taliban criminals sentenced
to death for heinous crimes, including an attack on the military
headquarters in Rawalpindi three years ago and a murder attempt
against former military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf. As of the
writing of these lines, four of them have already been sent to the gallows.
As usual, the democratic government, made up of poltroons
and knaves mostly, is still far from getting its act together to measure up to the peoples expectations. There are more than 450 convicts awaiting the death penalty in Punjab, the countrys largest
province. Another 400 or so of such criminals are awaiting comeuppance for their dastardly crimes against humanity in the secondlargest province, Sindh. Altogether, nearly one thousand convicts
are on the death row all over Pakistan-a heavy and unnecessary
burden on its tax-payers.
Theres hardly a doubt that a lacklustre government is being
forced into doing something tangible in the fight against terrorists
because of the civil societys backlash. And the civil society has
been energised by the charismatic Imran Khans relentless campaign of the last four months against the sloth and corruption of the
ruling elite. His greatest contribution, to date, to the moribund political culture of Pakistan is that he has, for the first time in Pakistans
tortured history, brought its civil society into the political mainstream. Thats no mean achievement as its the same civil society
that had, until recently, kept itself aloof from politics.
The Peshawar massacre has convinced the civil society that
terrorism has now come knocking at the door of the urban class
after years of ravaging the countryside. No city is now beyond their
predatory incursions into the heart of Pakistan. Its a challenge that
must be met, squarely and resolutely, through a fusion of ranks
between the countrys civil and military leadership. Up until now its
only the military which has spearheaded the resistance to the
Taliban menace while the political leadership has largely behaved
like an ostrich, taking shelter behind their so-called pacifist initiative
to talk to the Taliban.
However, talking to the Taliban has been a waste of time. As the
cowardly attack against innocent school children has graphically
illustrated, the Taliban have used the time-while keeping the politicians engaged in a futile and clueless dialogue-to regroup and
rearm and take their nefarious campaign to the urban heart of
Pakistan.
Its fairly obvious that the Taliban, on both sides of the bound-

Israel Adopts the Principle

of a Racist Jewish State
Israel is about to become the nation-state of the Jewish peo-

Abbas: Ill Cut Ties With

Israel If UN Move Fails

ple. The government of Benjamin Netanyahu approved on 23

November a bill establishing this new legal status. But for its
opponents, this initiative weakens the democratic foundations
of the country and in particular the rights of its Arab minority.
Members of Israels Arab minority have termed this project a
racist law, noting that the text makes Hebrew the only official
language of Israel and reduces Arabic to a "special status".
For their par t, the Palestinians rejected Netanyahus
demand to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, saying it would
prevent the Palestinian refugees from demanding a return to
the lands they were forced to leave because of armed conflict.
This bill has accentuated the divisions within the government
coalition. While its final version is not yet completed, the
Minister of Justice has already warned against the temptation
to give to Jewish values, based on religion and history, a preeminence over democratic principles guaranteed by the legislative and judicial powers.
This initiative is supported by the ministers of the right and
the extreme right against their colleagues from the center.
Promising to "guarantee individual rights of all citizens of
Israel," Netanyahu added, however, that only the Jews have a
right to self-determination in Israel. (Adapted from Le gouverne-

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas warned on on 23

December that his administration would "no longer deal" with
Israel if a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a
final peace deal fails. "If the Arab-Palestinian initiative submitted to
the Security Council to put an end to (Israeli) occupation doesnt
pass, we will be forced to take the necessary political and legal
decisions," Abbas was quoted as saying by the Algerian APS
news agency.
"If it fails, we will no longer deal with the Israeli government,
which will then be forced to assume its responsibilities as an
occupier," he added.
The Palestinian draft resolution sets a 12-month deadline for
wrapping up negotiations on a final peace settlement and the end
of 2017 as the timeframe for completing an Israeli withdrawal
from Palestinian territories. A final peace deal would pave the way
to the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as a shared
capital, according to the text. According to Oslo Accords of 1992,
Palestine was to become a sovereign state within five years, i.e.,
by 1998 but Israels delaying tactics never allowed this to happen.
Speculation has been mounting since the death in December
of a Palestinian official who was struck by an Israeli soldier that
the Palestinian Authority could suspend security coordination with
Israel in the West Bank if the resolution fails to pass.
"We are determined to regain the rights of our people, includ-

ment isralien adopte le principe dun tat-nation juifand - francetvinfo.fr)

ary between Pakistan and Afghanistan, feel emboldened by the

withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan, now in its
home stretch. This is despite the recent, long delayed, security pact
between US and Afghanistan-signed under the new Afghan
President Ashraf Ghani-which will allow the Americans to keep up
to ten thousand troops on the Afghan soil for several more years.
President Obama has already taken a u-turn from his earlier stand
that these troops will not be engaged in combat. The Taliban must
feel sure that the can deal with a much reduced American presence
in their country after having deluded a much larger ISAF force of
150,000 for more thirteen years.
The Pakistani Taliban, hand-in-glove with their Afghan partners
in terrorism, also seem to have concluded that they have to demonstrate to Pakistan and its people that the ongoing operation, Zarb-eAzb, into their lair, now in its third month, hasnt weakened them to
the point where their capacity to incur into the heartland of Pakistan
has been completely neutralised. Their bloody campaign has only
one purpose: to instill the fear of their reprisal into the hearts of the
Pakistani people.
But the barbarity of their crime against innocent school children
is having just the opposite effect on the Pakistanis. Revulsion is
what they have expressed, en masse, against the predators that are
guilty of violating every canon of Islam and every tenet of civilised
society. The Pakistanis are determined to go after the beasts and
pursue their campaign to rid their country of the scourge of terrorism to its logical conclusion.
In addition, the civil society has also decided to hunt out the
Taliban sympathisers from their sleeper cells in urban areas of the
country. They have lodged a criminal case against the khatibof
Islamabads infamous Lal Masjid, which was the scene of a military-led security exercise to weed out its radical clergy and students
of its next-door seminary in July, 2007, under General Pervez
Musharraf. The khatibis a highly controversial cleric, Maulana Abdul
Aziz, who has defied the popular demand for him to condemn the
barbaric assault against the Peshawar school and the innocent
blood smeared on the hands of the Taliban.
Its a regrettable aspect of the Pakistani landscape that a considerable segment of its populace-mostly the lower middle-class in
the urban areas and illiterate rural areas-is still influenced by the
Taliban propaganda and feel a soft corner for these predatory murderers in their hearts. The denial syndrome is very much in evidence, with a lethal mix of conspiracy theories against Pakistan at
the crux of it. India and US are the favourite rogues held responsible for the scourge of terrorism rampaging across the country.
To stand any reasonable chance of wiping out the pestilence
ravaging Pakistan in the guise of the predatory Taliban and their fellow-travellers, the Pakistanis will have to come to terms with the
reality at the epicentre of their national malaise. And the reality is that
Pakistan has, for decades, been consumed by a nihilistic interpretation of Islam that has very little resemblance with the pristine Islam.
In their purblind fixation with Islamisingtheir polity, the Pakistanis
have ended up with a mishmash of a pseudo democracy lorded
over and ruthlessly exploited by a feudal-mullah diarchy of power.
Their leadership has failed the Pakistani people, repeatedly, and
misled them into subscribing to an agenda which doesnt serve their
interests while catering to the whims of a myopic oligarchy. The
Pakistani civil society, as demonstrated vociferously in the wake of
the Peshawar carnage, now seems to have reached the point where
enough is enough. The countrys military leadership is in sync with
the popular sentiment. It remains to be seen if the civilian leadership
is getting the message, or not yet, that the people of Pakistan will no
longer be tolerant of their anti-people shenanigans.
Pakistan stands poised, critically, at a tangent where salvation
will be contingent, entirely, on the people and their leaders taking to
a course that cures Pakistan of the virus of terrorism and religious
radicalism that has been gnawing at its nerves for so long. If that
threshold could be reached without further bloodshed and vandalismthen the heart-wrenching sacrifices of innocent school children
will not have been in vain.


ing the right of return (for refugees) and the freedom of all
Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails," Abbas said.

Israeli war crimes in Gaza

UNICEF has said in a recent report that the Israeli war on Gaza
killed 538 children, injured 3370 and made 54,000 children homeless (Al-Dastoor, Amman, 20 Dec., 2014)

Uprooted Muslims trapped in CAR

Hundreds of Muslims are "trapped" and living in "deplorable conditions" in enclaves in western parts of the Central African
Republic, Human Rights Watch said on 22 December. The international rights organisation said in a damning report that displaced Muslim residents, forced to escape the conflict in other
parts of CAR over the past 12 months, were now trapped in
camps in the western half of the country, living in abysmal conditions and under constant duress. "Those trapped in some of the
enclaves face a grim choice: leave and face possible attack from
anti-balaka fighters, or stay and die from hunger and disease,"
Lewis Mudge, Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in
the report. "While there are good reasons to ensure that the countrys Muslim population does not diminish further, under the current circumstances, the governments policy of no evacuations is
absolutely indefensible." HRW said that both the interim government and the United Nations peacekeepers were failing to provide
adequate security but were also blocking the displaced from fleeing abroad. Muslim civilians were forced to flee after brutal
attacks by Christian anti-balaka militia in late 2013 and early
2014.

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20

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

www.milligazette.com

Prophet Muhammad and Peace

When evil elements
failed in blocking the
Islamic tide, they
resorted to dubious
means and spread
false propaganda
which is continuing
till this day. ...
The
claim
that
Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh)
taught
Muslims to use violence and wage
Jihad against one
and all is baseless.
SHAKEEL SAMDANI
On 30 September, 2006, cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
were published by a Danish newspaper, including one in which the
exalted Prophet was depicted as wearing a time-bomb as his
head-gear. It was a pathetic attempt to denigrate the Prophet and
show him just the opposite of what he really was. The thesis
which was sought to be built up by the sketches, which were later
published by many western newspapers and websites, was that if
the Prophet of Islam was like this, what would common Muslims
be - a total nightmare for the world. Let us here explore the personality of Prophet (pbuh).
The rapid expansion of Islam in the seventh century surprised
all, particularly Christians and Jews. They tried to block the spread
of Islam but ultimately failed. Two tyrant superpowers of the day,
Byzantine and Persia, were destroyed by the Islamic tide. This
happened during the reign of the second caliph, Hazrat Umar.
Islam spread to two-thirds of the known world within a short span
of time and Islam ruled for at least the next seven centuries.
When evil elements failed in blocking the Islamic tide, they
resorted to dubious means and spread false propaganda which is
continuing till this day.
It was claimed that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was responsible for making Muslims violent by teaching them the concept of
Jihad, that he spread Islam by the power of the sword, that
through his teachings Muslims became terrorists, that the status
of women was reduced to that of a prisoner. It was claimed that it
is due to such teachings that there is violence in the world and that
Muslims are responsible for all that is evil in the world today.
The claim that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught
Muslims to use violence and wage Jihad against one and all is
baseless. During his own life-time, Muslims fought many wars
while they were in a disadvantaged position in terms of numbers
and arms. They had empty pockets and lacked horses and fighters. Despite such handicap, they came out victorious in all battles.
Historical evidence tells us that both Byzantine and Persia
indulged in creating towers of human heads after their victories
but the Muslim armies led by the Prophet and his lieutenants never
adopted such repressive means to celebrate their victories and
behaved in a civilized way with the war prisoners as well as the
people of the conquered lands. It is certain that the charge of terrorism, violence and meaningless Jihad is baseless, otherwise
Islamic armies would have been responsible for the genocide of
the conquered people in Iraq, Persia, Syria, Palestine, Egypt and

Spain etc after their thumping victories. They were in

a position to enslave people, show disrespect to
women and destroy cities and towns. But history is
witness that all Islamic rulers, especially the rightlyguided caliphs and a majority of the later rulers, such
as Mohammad ibn Qasim, Tariq ibn Ziyad and Sultan
Salahuddin Ayyubi had spread love, affection, compensation and peace after their victories and this policy was one of the most important factors behind the
rapid rise of Islam.
Another charge levelled against the followers of
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is that they had spread
Islam through the power of sword. I totally reject
such false propaganda. History stands witness that
Muslim rulers never forced their people to convert to
Islam. If Muslim rulers had adopted such questionable means, then after nearly 1000 years of Muslim
rule in India, Muslims would not have been in a
minority. If such a policy was indeed used, then the slave of the
second caliph Hazrat Umar Farooq would not have been a
Christian till the calihphs death. No one forced him to change his
religion.
If we go through the history of the battles fought by Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) during his life-time we find that in all these
battles only 759 non-Muslims were killed while 259 Muslims were
martyred. This leaves us with a total of 1018 causalities in all
those battles. Such a low causality during the greatest revolution
in human history proves that it was a bloodless revolution. We
have seen that in the French and Russian revolutions millions of
people lost their lives. In the light of such historical facts, it is hard
to accept the tendentious view of some anti-Islam propagandists
that the Prophet (pbuh) accomplished his mission by the power of
sword.
An analysis of all the battles fought by Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) and Muslims during the last one thousand years will be
revealing and surprising. During wars spread over these one thousand years Muslims did not kill even a fraction of the casualties of
European, American, Christians and Jewis wars. During each of
the first and second wars alone around 80 million people were
killed while the injured may be counted in hundreds of millions.
When the followers of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) were living in
peace and were engaged in spreading knowledge of science and
mathematics, Europe was fighting senseless wars spanning over
thirty years. Uncounted people were killed during pre- and postFrench Revolution. Millions were killed in Vietnam, Cambodia,
Yugoslavia and Chechnya. About 7.5 million people were killed
during the Chinese Civil War (1927-1949), about 5 to 10 lakh people were killed in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), about 5 lakh
people were killed in the Angolan Civil War (1975-2000), about 2
to 8 lakh people died during the Warlord Era in China (1916-1928)
and in Vietnam war about 8 lakh to 3.1 million men, women and
children were killed. The total number of the injured during these
conflicts may be imagined looking at the numbers of the fatalities.
All this was the end result of the wars fought by Christians, Jews
and Communists. Islam or its followers had no hand in these
killings.
Leaving old history, we see that after the fall of the Ottoman
Caliphate in Turkey (1924), Muslims became weak in all matters
while Christians and Jews registered tremendous growth in power.
Communism which had triumphed after a lot of blood-shedding,
finally collapsed in 1990. But Christian and Jewish sway has not

ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVES
stopped the spread of Islam. Reports of electronic and print
media and research data suggest that Islam is fast spreading all
over the globe. In Europe and America, large numbers of people
are embracing Islam. France and UK are not far behind. According
to a recent report, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the
world. In 1990, 935 million people were Muslims and this figure
rose to around 1.2 billion by 2000 which meant that around one
in five people in the world follows Islam. Although Islam started in
Arabia but by 2002, 80 percent of the believers in Islam lived outside the Arab world. In the period 1990-2000, approximately 12.5
million more people converted to Islam than to Christianity
(Guinness World Records 2003, p. 102). According to Readers
Digest Almanac Year Book, Islam grew by 235% in 50 years
between 1934-1984.
According to a report on CNN, the second largest religion in
the world after Christianity, Islam is also the fastest growing religion. In the United States, for example nearly 80 percent of more
than 1200 mosques have been built in the past 12 years. Some
scholars see an emerging Muslim renaissance as Islam takes root
in many traditional Christian communities. Islam has drawn converts from all walks of life, most notably African-Americans and
people of Spanish origin in the USA. These developments suggest
that teachings of Islam are for all mankind forever and that people
are embracing it through their free will even when Islam is weak
and is being attacked.
A non-Muslim scholar, Michael Hart, has given befitting reply
to those who accuse the Prophet in various ways. He has compiled a list of a hundred most respected, powerful, kind and successful men throughout history. He put the name of Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) on top of his list. Hart is, no doubt, a committed Christian but his assessment is based upon strict criteria. As
a result, he accorded the fist place to the Prophet of Islam in the
galaxy of political leaders, messengers, scientists, philosophers,
thinkers and reformers of the world. He devoted the opening chapter of his book to the Prophet, underscoring, as it does the dominance of the Prophets position in human history. Another equally
significant point is that Hart is a scientist by profession. As a
Christian or as a scientist he should have naturally bestowed this
honour upon Prophet Jesus or Newton. However, rejecting their
claim to primacy, he presents Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as the
most influential figure in human history. In his entire book, only
two Muslims have figured, one is Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and
the other is Hazrat Umar (RA) whom he placed at number 52 in
his book. He has also offered us the logic behind placing Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) over Prophet Jesus. Explaining why he chose
the Prophet over all others, Hard said in his book, my choice of
Muhammad to lead the list of the worlds most influential persons
may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but
he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on
both the religious and secular levels. Hart further wrote that, we
know that the victories of Arabs in seventh century have left a lasting impression and shaped the history of mankind. It is a mixture
of religious and worldly effects. It is the main reason due to which
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is placed at the top of the list of hundred personalities.
Study and analysis indicate that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
had brought a message of love and peace for whole of mankind
and world for all time to come. The world is facing violence, disturbances, disruptions and deprivations because people are not
following teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Islam. If
the world dreams of a peaceful, hospitable and affectionate
tomorrow then we all must embark upon the path shown by Islam
and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
The author is professor in the Faculty of Law, AMU and President Sir
Syed Awareness Forum. He may be contacted at
drshakeelsamdani@gmail.com

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BOOKS

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

www.milligazette.com

21

This Manjhi can move mountains

Book: Tooti slate, aadhi pencil say wazir-e aala kee kursee tak - Jitan Ram
Manji
Author: Ashraf Asthanvi (ashrafasthanvi@gmail.com()
Pages: 204
Price: Rs 175
Year: 2014
Publisher: Alankar Printers, Karmali Chak, Patna 800008

KAMRAAN GHANI
Editor, Ezazi Urdunet, Japan
Tooti slate, aadhi pencil se wazir-e-ala kee kursi tak: Jitan Ram Manjhi,
is the new book penned by the well-known Urdu journalist Ashraf
Asthanvi. The author has beautifully described the journey of the Bihar
Chief Minister, Jitan Ram Manjhi from his childhood to taking over the
charge of the Chief Minister of Bihar. The forceful narrative sometime
makes us cry while at times we are moved by the agonies of the downtrodden to which Manjhi belongs.
This book not only introduces us to the different facets of the life of
Jitan Manjhi but also unearths the pains and aches of his backward community. Ashraf Asthanvi, on one hand, has fulfilled the responsibility of a
journalist, on the other he showed his sympathy towards backward communities.
The first chapter of this book portrays how Manjhi and his ancestors
struggled for survival. The author has depicted the early years of Manjhis
life as if the author himself had experienced those situations.
Jitan Manjhi was very intelligent since childhood but being a boy from
the backward Mus-har community, he never enjoyed the social freedom
available to people of the upper castes. Education was a great sin for
backward people. Manjhi used to watch the children of his master going

for education to schools but he could not even think of getting education. There is a scene in the book in which a teacher asks children
some questions which they are unable to answer. The teacher gets
angry and was about to punish them. Here young Jitan requests the
teacher not to punish them as he will answer the questions. Then he
answered all the questions. The teacher was so impressed that he
met Manjhis father, Ramajeet Manjhi, and convinced him to give
education to his young son. Ramajieet Manjhi pleaded with his master to allow his son to get education but the master got angry. Yet
Ramajeet Manjhi did not give up and kept requesting his master to
allow his son to go to school. At last his master relented and threw
to young Manjhi a broken slate and a half pencil, saying Take this
and study. The author chose this incident as the title of his book.
In the succeeding chapters, the author tries to offer an analytical
look at the social, economic and political struggle of Jitan Ram
Manjhi. To know Jitan Manjhi closely, the author met with his family
members in addition to interviewing him several times.
The author has included three of Jitan Manjhis interviews which
tell about the vision of the chief minister. Answering to a question
Manjhi accepts that the state of affairs in the Bihar Madrasa Board is
not good and promises that soon the problems will be tackled. Now
we hear that the chairman of the Madrasa Board has been sacked
which means that Manjhi follows up on his promises.
One part of the book consists of photographs of Jitan Ram
Manjhi from his childhood to the post-CM era. These photographs
also include pictures of his family members.
The book not only tells us the happenings in the life of Jitan Ram
Manjhi but also offers a mirror of our society. It is a tribute to Jitan
Manjhi which could lighten the lives of the downtrodden. (Translated
from Urdu by The Milli Gazette)

Why media ignores issues of the masses

Book: Media in Our Globalizing World
Editors: Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam, Pronjoy Guha Thakurta,
Mohammad Zeyaul Haque, Raju Mansukhani
Publisher: Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi
Pages: 352
Price: Rs. 899 (Available from Pharos Media)

ABU WAQAS
Credibility is the main resource of a newspaper, magazine, radio
station or TV channel. Nobody will ever touch a newspaper or
magazine, switch on a radio or TV set if she or he suspects that
what she or he is going to read, hear or see is a pack of lies. This
situation is bad for media business, and this situation is right
before us. This book from the Delhi-based Institute of Objective
Studies deals with such issues.
The credibility of the traditional mass media - newspapers,
magazines, radio and TV - is falling steadily. Critics openly lambast the media for having failed the people so much so that many
concerned citizens wonder whether the media really fulfills expectations that came from its being the Fourth Estate.
Pronjoy Guha Thakurta, who is the contributing editor of this
volume, creates a composite picture of conventional media
across the world, the ownership patterns of which show that big
media houses across the world have tied themselves to the apron
strings of international capital, which has bought heavily into
media organisations worldwide.
As a result, big media organisations are less bothered by
issues like thousands of farmers suicide; a huge number of
undertrials rotting in Indian jails without trial (some of whom are
detained in jails for 10-20 years without trial because they have no
money to pay legal expenses); a huge number of underweight
children, anaemic women and more than a third of worlds poor
people living in India. Even the huge scale of poverty in the country is not the medias concern.
For the corporate media of India such disadvantaged people
do not exist. They do not figure in newspapers pages and on
prime-time TV. They do not exist, do not matter. They have been
sidelined, silenced and excluded from the media discourse. That

Big
media
organisations are less
bothered by issues like
thousands of farmers
suicide; a huge number
of undertrials rotting in
Indian jails without trial
(some of whom are
detained in jails for 1020 years without trial
because they have no
money to pay legal
expenses); a huge
number of underweight
children,
anaemic
women and more than
a third of worlds poor
people living in India.
Even the huge scale of
poverty in the country
is not the medias
concern.
For the corporate
media of India such
disadvantaged people
do not exist.
means they have been excluded from power, and are disempowered and disinherited. Media has played a sinister role in it.
Media companies shareholders want good dividends on their
investment and advertisers want to get heavy sales of their products which they advertise in media. Advertisement revenue being
the main source of income for the media, advertisers and shareholders carry real clout and no content that goes against their

Soon from Pharos Media

Another path-breaking publication from the publishsers of Who Killed Karkare?

Pharos Media will very soon bring out a well-researched book
on the Akshardham Temple attack 2002 episode which was used
to legitimise and lionise Narendra Modi

OPERATION AKSHARDHAM
(available only in Hindi / Urdu)
by celebrated journalists and Human Rights activists

Rajiv Yadav & Shahnawaz Alam

Pre-launch price : Rs 200 Urdu / Rs 200 Hindi

PHAROS MEDIA (See page 19 for ordering details)

interests is allowed to appear in it.

Readers are far less important in
the order of things. Big time advertisers of consumer goods - both
durable and non-durable - dont
give their advertisement in print
media or TV space that shows or
discusses poverty or the poor.
Hence, we see only well-fed, wellclad, well-shod, happy looking
people on TV serials and programmes and in newspapers. The
poor do not exist, they have been
wished away.
As Justice Katju used to
observe, the media is less interested in the underprivileged masses and more in flashy things like
cricket and fashion. Big business,
allied with international finance
and corporate interests, controls
the conventional media. The one
who pays the piper calls the tune.
This piper will not play our tune
simply because we are not paying
him. It will, naturally, silence us
and give voice to dominant economic and political interests.
The writers and editors of this
volume, particularly Mr Thakurta,
do talk about alternative media that
gives voice to the silenced. They
talk in detail about such media.
Divided in several sections, it reports on seminars and conferences organised by the IOS (especially on media) during its Silver
Jubilee celebrations. There is substantial writing (mainly by
Thakurta) on the state of media across continents that is not part
of seminar proceedings. Altogether, it makes for informative reading.

New Arrival

ON THEIR WATCH:
Mass violence and State apathy in
India, Examining the record
Edited by Surabhi Chopra & Prita Jha
Pages: 394, Paperback: Rs 500
Contents: 1. Introduction Part I: Extracting State Records
2. Exercising the Right to Information; Part II: Four
Episodes of Mass Violence 3. Nellie 1983 4. Delhi 1984
5. Bhagalpur 1989; 6. Gujarat 2002; Part III: Examining
the States Record 7. Access to Criminal Justice
8. Holding Public Officials Accountable 9. Relief,
Compensation and Rehabilitation 10. Conclusion
Appendix: Battling a Corrosive Menace

To order please see page 19

22

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

FAMILY

www.milligazette.com

Aaliyas kitchen

Word Jumble

Hareesa

His real name was Syed Fazlul Hasan. He was born on 1 January 1875 in Unnao district. His ancestors
migrated from Nishapur in Iran. A poet of Urdu language, journalist, politician, parliamentarian of British
India, he was jailed for many years by British authorities. He was the first person in Indian history who
demanded Complete Independence (Azadi-e-Kaamil) in 1921 as he presided over the annual session of
All India Muslim League. He died on 13 May 1951 in Lucknow. His pen name was?

Preparation & Cooking: 70-80 minutes, Serves 3-4

Ingredients:
500 gm Goat meat
1 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp black pepper powder
1 1/2 tsp fennel/saunf powder
1/4 clove/laung powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon/daarchini powder
1/2 tsp black cardamom/badi elaichi powder
2/3 tsp green cardamoms/choti elaichi powder
1 tsp roasted cumin/zeera powder
1 tsp turmeric/haldi
1 1/2 Salt, or to taste
1/2 cup ghee
4 big tomatoes, ground to a puree
3/4 tsp red chili powder
1/4 cup or less wheat flour
2 onions chopped and fried

Answer at the bottom of the page.

T S R H A A

M N A O H

Whats in Gods Names? Word Search

Allah has described Himself in the Quran through His Names and Attributes. Understanding these names
is an effective way of strengthening ones faith in God. Meanings associated with the names:
Al-Mu'min, Al-Muhaymin, Al-Aziz, Al-Jabbar, Al-Mutakabbir, Al-Khaliq and Al-Bari are hidden in this
puzzle. There are 12 words. See how many can you find.
www.pharosmedia.com / www.milligazette.com

(Answers are at the bottom of this page)

Method:
Add all the ingredients in the list except the last two; that is the wheat
flour and oil in a pressure cooker, and cover with water. Cook on medium high, turn it down after a whistle. Let it simmer for about 30-45
minutes, depending on the tenderness preferred. Turn off the heat and
leave it be till all the pressure is released. Sprinkle flour and add a bit
of water if the gravy seems too thick or sticky.
Pressure cook on low heat get the desired consistency
fry the onions till they are crunchy lightest golden brown, and mix this
in the meat mixture.
Garnish with fresh coriander. Serve with sheermal or pav.

AALIYA KHAN

M W

M W

M W

Jumbled clues: STECUYIR, OTRNOCERLL, ILYGHMAT, VILUNNARELBE, OBLHNROAE,

Queries/Feedback: aaliyah.khan@gmail.com

RSSTIEIILBER, PMLOECLRE, ICJMASET, EUSPEMR, ROECATR, OEVVLER, KAMER

Muslim students

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ANSWER TO THE WORD JUMBLE: Maulana Hasrat Mohani

ANSWER TO THE ABOVE WORD SEACH:
Al-Mu'min: The granter of security; Al-Muhaymin: The Controller; Al-Aziz: The Almighty, The
Invulnerable, The Honorable; Al-Jabbar: The Irresistible, The Compeller; Al-Mutakabbir: The Majestic,
The Supreme; Al-Khaliq: The Creator; Al-Bari: The Evolver, The Maker

Any Right page: 20% extra;

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REJOINDERS/OPINION/LETTERS
MG
I hope Milli Gazette will continue its glorious service to Ummah. It will be
a tragedy in the history of Muslims of India if this organ ceases its
publication. May Almighty help us all.
Mr. P. A. Rasheed, P. O. Niramaruthur, Tirur - 676109
II
Your decisions of closing down the Milli Gazette shocked us like any
thing. In fact, to start and to continue any newspaper/magazine, that too
with secular image & transparent polices is a mujahidana task. We
greet your efforts, courage and dedication. My humble request to you is
to continue it. Its a mirror you show to society, nation and country. This
way you bring the facts before people. My Salam and best wishes to the
whole team of Milli Gazette.
Abdul Hameed, Maharashtra
III
I earnestly appeal to you not to stop or close down the publication of MG.
Let me quote a couplet: Tera ho azm salamat, teri ho umr daraaz
Zamaana tujh say bada kaam lenay wala hai.
Mohammad Nizamul Haque, Varanasi 221003
Marriage vs live-in relationship
The institution of marriage needs to be upheld and protected. A newly
born child needs a family to grow up. It is the family that provides both
care, love and affection as vital for his or her growth. The live-in
relationship experiment of the west has done immense harm to our
society. We should resolutely refuse to follow the west and strictly adhere
to our ideal sacred moral principles. It is most unfortunate that the
Honble supreme court of the country, there is nothing wrong in live-in
relationship. This verdict is sure to play havoc with our highly precious
social system and will destroy our time honoured moral values are the
basis or our national culture and lead to sexual anarchy of the worst type.
India will become another USA and the institution of marriage wil
disappear and there will be an army of children legitimacy and that would
be the saddest day for the country.
Dr. M. Hashim Kidwai, ex-MP, Delhi - 110091
Birthday celebrations
The day of the hanging of Nathuram Godse,who killed Gandhiji, was
celeberated by some saffron groups as Shaurya Diwas.. BJP MP
Sakshi Maharaj called Nathuram a patriot. An Indian political party had
celebrated the birth anniversary of Prabhakaran, the LTTE head who had
killed Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi. Some groups celebrate birth and death
anniversaries of Bhindranwale due to whom Indian PM Indira Gandhi was
killed.
S. Haque, Patna
Indian bureaucracy
Today it is bureaucracy which is ruling ever the country. It reminds us of
an anecdote of Stuart England when an English satirist asked, who rules
England and he got the reply from a political scientist The King. Who
rules the king was the next question and came the reply The Duke, and
who rules the Duke the reply was the The Devil. In the present Indian
context if the question is asked who rules the country, the reply will be
Parliament as under democratic constitution Indian Parliament is
supreme and the reply to the next question, who rules the Parliament, the
reply, will be the bureaucracy. This reply reveals the reality. Indian
bureaucracy has become the greatest stumbling block and greatest
hurdle in the smooth working of India democracy. In fact it is quite in
compatible with democratic setup. The two cannot go together. In a
democratic setup the government is for the people must serve them and
do things for their welfare. Bureaucracy on the other hand become a far
more potent and vital part in our administrative system. It has indeed
become the most powerful and the most effective part of our system and
has been lampooned for this obsession with files and out of date rules
which are not in tune with times. Very many sufferings of the common
man are due to cumbersome and time consuming procedures followed
by bureaucracy. If Rafi Ahmad Kidwais sound suggestion of scraping this
system, would have been accepted an Indian would have made
marvellous progress. There is rightly a hue and cry on the corruption of
ministers and politicians but how strange it is that there is little hue and
cry on the corruption of bureaucrats although reports raids at the houses
of bureaucrats are published daily in news papers about their fabulous
wealth. Time has come when the bureaucratic setup is done away and is
replaced by a civil service whose members considered themselves ad
servants of the people are in view of the spirit of public service.
Dr. M. Hashim Kidwai, ex-MP, Delhi - 91
Salute to Justice N. Kirubakaran
Honble Justice N. Kirubakaran of TN high Ccourt (Madurai bench) has
delivered a land mark judgement in Syed Muhammad death case who
was shot dead by police SI A. Kalidass, ordering TN government to give
a job in the state to the kin of Syed Muhammad and asked the state govt
to enhance compensation as govt had announced Rs. 5 lakh ex gratia.
This landmark judgement by Justice Kirubakaran will have wide
repercussions in Indian judiciary.
S. Haque, Patna
Conversions and Re-converdions
Mr Rajeshwar Singh has adopted a wrong strategy for conversions of
Muslims. He is rather selling Hinduism @ of Rs 5 lakhs per Muslim. It is
a costly affair. Why does he not adopt the methodology of Dr Zakir Naik
who is converting people to Islam without paying a single rupee. Naik
appeals to the minds and convinces his audience by his speeches and
gives authentic references from Bible, Geeta, Upanishads and Vedas. To
convert Muslims to Hinduism is very bad. Hinduism has no charm.
Dr Maqdoomi Hyderabad
drmaqdoomi@gmail.com
II
1956,1982 and 2014 -- looking into all three years in order to finding a
few similarity of course is a hectic deed nevertheless looking into very
much deeper you may exactly get something similar. The discussion over
religious conversion have been boiled and people have devoted their heed
toward this specific issue in above years 1956 a huge really lead by a
face of wreakers oppressed and poor. in this rally he wiped out his
ancestor religion and went to a entirely new fold along his thousands of
follower. merely conversion in ambedkar rally expressed the true picture
of Indian enthusiasm for securing the higher values of secularism. after
sided 1956 both years rather it were 1982 when hundreds of chhattisgarh
residents came to completely new fold of their life or it is 2014 during
which forcibly conversation programme organised by few extremist
powers in order toflipping the communal hatred both marked the dark
spot over Indian secularism. conversion is something which is coming
from since long ages and must be prevail to next centuries because this
is something which is depend upon each individual freewill.
Syed Faiz Ali
syedfaizali2002@gmail.com
III
After creating communal tension BJP is suggesting to enact a law to Ban
Conversion and asking opposition parties for the cooperation in this

regard This is simply to divert the attention and mislead the people. BJP
should know that the Constitution of India has given the right to every
citizen to choose the religion of his choice. Actually BJP is trying for this
law since long. Now after creating lot of tension by threatening to covert
large number of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism it is trying to trap
opposition as if this law will solve all the Social problems of India. The
hidden agenda of BJP behind this move is to have one way conversion
from Christianity and Islam to Hinduism in the name of PRAVARTAN (
Ghar Vaapsi ).. Indian Constitution guaranty the Freedom of Religion. so
BJP will not succeed in this venture. More over even if Bhagwa outfits
succeed to continue this game of Ghar Vaapsi then there is every
possibility of Muslims producing more children. The only solution to
maintain Communal Harmony is that every religion or faith should be
respected. where every body have the right to propagate the teaching of
his Religion but not allowed to force any body to change his Religion.
which BJP is doing in the name of Ghar Vaapsi.There is only one way to
have communal harmony Doosron Ke Aqeede Ko Chedo Nahin, Aur
Apne Aqeede Ko Chhodo Nahi.
Prof. Shamim Ahmad, AMU
profshamim@gmail.com
US terror
America and its allies are still not satisfied even after slaughtering lakhs
of innocent Muslims and their leaders and rulers. Still the notorious global
terrorist hunting Muslim countries on fake and fallacious grounds in order
to loot them as if it was doing in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Kuwait, Afganistan,
Pakistan, Sudan etc. America looted all the wealth of Iran during the reign
of Shah when citizens turned against the Shah and he fled to America
with wealth loaded in several airoplanes under the dark of night. Now
America trying to enter Iran at many levels.
Raj Mohan, Trivandrum - 9
ISIS tweeter
Good morning. Youre the best person to give me a cogent explanation to
this query. The government of India and the dubious intelligence have
pounced upon one IT professional Mendi as a tweeter working for ISIS in
India. Its been reported that hes translating cryptic Arabic messages into
English and spreading them. My question is: Is this 24-year-old chap
erudite enough to master a difficult language like Arabic as to be able to
understand its cryptic meanings? There could be something grossly
wrong in the whole investigation and I smell a rat. Hes being framed by
the intelligence agencies. What do you say?
SP, Poona
MG: This man had no Arabic education and even if he had Arabic
education in India, he will not be able to even understand a simple
modern Arabic text let alone decipher cryptic messages [Whey there
should be cryptic messages if the same are going to be shared on
an open platform?]. Another information which came to me from a
reliable person is that Mehdis [not Mehndi] twitter account was
working even after his arrest which means that either he did not
control that account/it did not belong to him or that a number of
persons controlled that account with a shared password. A third
assumption is that this man is an intelligence asset and he is being
used/or made victim as in the past, to create the kind of environment
the new government is preparing in order to start afresh a vigorous
anti-terror campaign in right earnest. (Zafarul-Islam Khan)
SP:.Why dont people in India understand this simple thing that this guy
is being made a scapegoat? Here in India, even Arabic professors dont
understand colloquial Arabic and this English-educated, Calcutta born
chap is translating Arabic texts into English! Im groping for words...........
II
It has almost become evident with the Home Minister Rajnath Singhs
statement in the Parliament that the Bangaluru software engineer Mehdi
Masroor Biswas did not recruit for IS and his activities were limited to
expressing support to the organisation. The Muslim youth should take
cognizance of the episode and must be on their guard in using the social
network media like Twitter and Facebook. The organisations like ISIS and
Taliban have done colossal damage to Islam and its preaching of peace.
Any sensible Muslim cannot express sympathy to such outfits. Having
said that, hasnt the electronic media jumped the gun once again in
proclaiming a person as an offender even before the investigation is
incomplete? Doesnt the stigma haunt the whole family of the youth,
which may even afflict his professional career?
Syed Sultan Mohiddin, Kadapa (A. P)
sultan_awaz@yahoo.co.in
Wish List Of The Sangh Parivar
To declare 30th a National Holiday to celebrate the good riddance of
Mahathma Gandhiji by Desh Neta Godseji To declare 26th of May as
a National Rejoicing Day to mark the assumption of Narendra Modi as the
Prime Minister To declare 6th December as a holiday to celebrate it as a
National Kar Sevak Day To penalize those who refuse to participate in
Hindu festivals such as krishna Jayanthi. Holi, etc., To ban slaughter of
birds and animals and consumption of Non-Vegetarian Food and in short
See that non-hindus return to their original homes thro: ghar vapasi
ceremonies - officially as well as non-officially and In short, make
Secular India a Hindu India!
S. M. Pasha, Periamet, CHENNAI 600003
valimuhammad777@gmail.com
Five lakh animals sacrificed in a Hindu mandir
Every year in Gadi Maiee mandir near Indian-Nepal border in Nepal more
than 5 lakh animals are sacrificed during hindu festivals to please devis
placed in the mandir. The devotees have astha in the devi idol and believe
that godess would bestow her blessing on the devotees who sacrifice
animals. Animal rights activists are not against these sacrifice in Hindu
temple because they dont want to hurt hindu astha. (Reuters / Hindi daily
/ 29/11/14) And in INdia they protest against Islamic Zabiha (slaughter)
of Halal animals branding it as jeev hathya.
S. Haque, Patna
Hindutva
I struggle to understand what the Hindu Right is up to. While some of its
people organise religious conversions -- never mind what they are called
-- in Agra and propose to do the same in Aligarh, its parliamentarians like
Adityanath and Jaitley call for laws against such conversion. Is it a matter
of We may do it, you may not?
Mukul Dube, Delhi 110091
dube.mukul@gmail.com
Let Us Work For United India
Way back in May 2014, it was all jubilation in India. Modi had won with
a thumping majority. He had promised good days for the nation. Public
representatives while taking oath of office, re-affirm their faith in
constitution of India and they also pledge to uphold National unity.
Unfortunately, law makers are the law-breakers as well. Among other
news channels, NDTVs Barkha Dutt was also seen very happy at BJP
headquarters in New Delhi, covering the post-win celebrations. Rajdeep
Sardesai had said on CNN-IBN after Modis win Let us give a chance to
Modi to prove. Of course we must be cautious. Major credit for Modis

The Milli Gazette, P.O. Box 9701, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025

The Milli Gazette, 1-15 January 2015

www.milligazette.com

23

win goes to media. A section of media also lost its credibility due its over
coverage of Modi events. But, Asaduddin Owaisi in his first public speech
after elections had made it clear, the drama of development will fade in an
year and BJP will show its originals colours. Now the emerging scenario
makes it clear that within 6 months Modi has proved he is RSS
representative and he must act so. Irresponsible statements by BJP MPs,
peace disturbing actions by hindutva forces, and govt. inaction, does it
not mean the joint collusion of RSS / BJP?
Hassan Masood
hmasood1998@gmail.com
Inquiry commission and deceiving commission
A judicial commission led by Justice Madhvendra Sharan was given
responsibility to enquire into the police firing on a peaceful agitation in
Forbesganj during which four innocent Muslims were killed by police.
Four years have passed but Justice Sharan has failed to submit his
enquiry report. On the other hand, the committee headed by home
commissioner Aamir Subhani submitted its enquiry report into the
Ravan Dehan stampede at Patna within just two months of its
formation. On 28 November. Judicial commission to enquire into police
firing and rioting in protest of a killing in Madhubani submitted its report
within two years. Some enquiry commissions are meant for enquiry while
others are for deceiving people.
S. Haque, Patna
BJP policitcs
The endeavour by the BJP, on the strength of its majority, to make Gita a
National Book is nothing but violent nationalism, which is otherwise
known as imperialism and is a curse, according to Gandhiji- vide CWMG
Vol: XXV - page 369.
S. M. Pasha
valimuhammad777@gmail.com
Peshawar carnage
Dear sir I m happy to read the resolution. Darul uloom Deoband should
issue a fatwa against these organisations as Mushrik or Kafir
Organisation, they are sitting silent, they should not sit like his, the world
is weeping, most of the women in India and Pakistan burst into tears
when saw the scene on TV, no doubt they are fighting for the powers with
the cover of regions Islam and Islam is getting bad name through out the
world Darul Uloom played a sign if ant role freedom of the country, they
should come out.
Capt (retd) Zainul Abedin Kkhan, LA, USA
zabedin.khan13@gmail.com
II
The massacre of about 140 students and teachers in an army school in
Peshawar by Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan is a heinous crime which must
be condemned outright by all the humanity. While Pakistan must be
blamed for soft-peddling the terrorist outfit, the United States was actually
responsible to create the Frankestein called Taliban about two decades
ago in the Af-Pak region, to serve its imperial agenda of dislocating the
erstwhile U. S. S. R from Afghanistan. But as the irony would have it, the
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said over Pakistans flawed policy:
Its like that old story - you cant keep snakes in your backyard and
expect them only to bite your neighbours. Eventually those snakes are
going to turn on whoever has them in the backyard. Ms. Hillary wants
the world to conveniently forget that the so-called snakes were created
by her nation as a part of its foreign policy.
Syed Sultan Mohiddin, Kadapa (A. P)
sultan_awaz@yahoo.co.in
Commercialization of Education
All countyrmen have to lament that education in the country has now
become a thriving industry. Admissions to technical institutions and to
institutions imparting education in professional courses are give on the
basis of donations exceeding six figures. In flagrant violation of Indian
constitution which provides for free and compulsory education to
students up to the age of 14, public schools are charging excessive
amount of thousands of rupees from the parents and guardians of
students not once but after every three months during one academic
session. These publics schools are public only in name but are really
centres of worst kind of exploitation which is the norm of private sector
or privatization. One has to pay for admission forms of universities not on
payment of paltry amount. Mr. Kapil Sibal, the energetic H. R. D. Minister
will really do a national services by adopting strong preventive measures
to totally stop commercialization of education i. e. the conversions of
education into a thriving industry.
Dr. M. Hashim Kidwai, ex-MP, Delhi - 110091
Peshawar: A black day for the Muslim community
In Koran the holy book of Islam God says very clearly that He sent the
religion of Islam through prophet Mohammad as a mercy to mankind, to
remove oppression, injustice, mayhem, violence and anarchy from earth.
Under the banner of Islam mankind made much progress and achieved
much enlightenment. But presently we are in a period of time when some
misled Muslim groups are indiscriminately torturing and killing innocent
non-Muslims and innocent Muslims in large numbers almost every week
and almost everywhere. The Muslim majority countries are in worst
shape.
Kaleem Kawaja, Washington DC
kaleemkawaja@gmail.com
India and Palestine
The BJP government which is at the helm of affairs at the Centre is
contemplating to end support to Palestine at the United Nations. Mahatma
Gandhi had said - Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense as
England belongs to the English or France to the French. It is wrong and
inhuman to impose the Jews on the Arabs. His views echoed in Indias
long support to the Palestinian cause. The decades-long foreign policy
framed by the Indian policy makers during the Nehruian era had been
consistently watered down since the times of P. V. Narasimha Rao, which
continued during the period of A. B. Vajpayee and Dr. Manmohan Singh.
The tectonic shift in Indias relations with Israel was based on
enlightened self-interest as described by former Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh, referring to the massive arms deal between the two
nations. It is very unfortunate that the country of the Mahatma has started
believing in the notion of running with the hounds!
Syed Sultan Mohiddin, Kadapa (A. P)
sultan_awaz@yahoo.co.in
Muslims must revisit their agenda
Since 1901, Norway has given Nobel prizes to 864 individuals and 25
organisation for their splendid job in their respectivefields. Muslims bgged
on six Nobels whereas 165 jews, 115 Christians, 11 Hindus got Nobels.
Out of 205 countries, 57 are Muslim which have some 500 universities
but the tiny Japan has 1200 universities. Rich Arabs are busy building
tallest buildings, palm beaches, longest gold-chains, camel races, safari
shopping malls, aeroplanes etc, while Warren Buffet, the American
trillionaire, donated 13000 crore rupees for charity in 2014. To regain
self-esteem, Muslims must revisit their agenda.
S. Haque, Patna

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24

The Milli Gazette,1-15 January 2015

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Respected faithful readers of The Milli Gazette are earnestly urged to pray to Allah for increase in the
Raahat of my wife Ayeshas soul who expired after bearing suffocation for 144 hours which no one can
bear even for four minutes.
Sultan Akhtar U Patel, Amod, Gujarat

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