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THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

Issue - 4 JAMATHUL AVVAL - 14 April - 2014 Pages - 8 Monthly Price : Rs. 10/Annual Subscription : Rs. 20/-

Volume : 4

IUML Candidates to contest on Ladder Symbol

E. Ahmed - Malapuram Kerala, E.T. Basheer - Ponnani Kerala, M. Abdul Rahman - Vellore Tamil Nadu

Parliament Election 2014

IUML Vellore MP Candidate M. Abdul Rahman along with IUML President Prof. K.M. Kader Mohideen, meet DMK President Dr. Kalaignar Karunanithi and DMK Treasurer M.K. Stalin in DMK Head Quarter Anna Arivaliyam, Chennai. The First List of IUML Candidates for 2014 Parliament Election was simultaneously released from Calicut and Chennai on 10th March 2014. The IUML unanimousely elected E. Ahmed, E.T. Basheer and M. Abdul Rahman to contest from Malapuram - Kerala, Ponnani Kerala and Vellore, Tamil Nadu respectively, M. Abdul Rahman was unanimousely elected by the National Executive Committee meeting held under the Presidentship of All India IUML General Secretary Professor K.M. Kader Mohideen on March 10, 2014 in Chennai. Prof. K.M. Kader Mohideen annouced that M. Abdul Rahman would contest from vellore consititutency in alliance with the Democratic Progressive Front headed by DMK. E. Ahmed and E.T. Basheer were elected by the Kerala State Executive Committee Meeting held under the presidentship of State President Panakkat Hyder Ali Shihabthangal in the league house Calicut. After the meeting Panakat Hyder Ali Shihabthangal announced that E. Ahmed would contest from Malapuram and E.T. Basheer would contest from Ponnani in alliance with United Democratic Front Headed by the Congress Party in Kerala. It is the first time that the IUML Candidates are contesting on the Ladder Symbol on all India Level. Apart from the States of Kerala & Tamil Nadu the IUML Candidates are contesting in the following constituencies : Madhya Pardesh - Jabalpur Assam - Dhubri, Barpeta, Gauhati Uttar Pradesh - Kairana, Muzaffar Nagar, Sambhal, Meerut, Baghpat, Firozabad, Lucknow Punjab - Sangrur Jharkhand - Rajmahal (ST), Kodarma, Dhanbad, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Palamu (SC), Hazaribagh West Bengal - Jalpaiguri (SC), Maldaka Dakshin, Jangipur, Baharampur, Murshidabad, Krishna Nagar, Basirhat, Diamond Harbour, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin, Kokata Uttar, Tamluk, Asansol Karnataka - Bijapur (SC), Bidar, Dharwad, Shimoga, Dakshina Kannada, Mysore, Bangalore Central Andhra Pradesh - Nizamabad, Secunderabad, Chevella, Mahabu babad (ST) Bihar Valmiki Nagar, Paschim Champaran, Sitamarhi, Kishanganj, Purnia, Muzaffapur, Bhagalpur, Banka, Pataliputra, Jamui (SC) Maharastra - Buldhana, Akola, Amravati (SC), Wardha, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Hingoli, Nanded, Aurangabad, Bhiwandi, Mumbai North, Mumbai South.

April - 2014

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

Ive full faith in Rahul: Ahamed

Indian Union Muslim League national president E. Ahamed has full faith in the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. He says Narendra Modi is not committed to the democratic principles of the country. Excerpts from an interview: Question: Rahul Gandhi is widely criticised by the youngsters through the new media as childish. How do you rate him and his leadership? Answer: Mr. Gandhi has been guided by the principles of the Congress. Thats the biggest advantage he enjoys over other leaders of different hues. If given the responsibility to lead the country, he will definitely live to the expectations of the nation. He is good. Im sure he will deliver. Q: How do you rate BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi vis-a-vis Rahul Gandhi? A: Mr. Modi is a different kind of man with a different philosophy. There is little humanism in his perceptions. He is not a man who is committed to the democratic principles of the country. There is no comparison between the two. Muslims will be in future generations of the country. Q: The UPA government is accused of failing to prevent corruption. What do you say? A: The Congress took stringent action against those found to be involved in corruption. Do you think an alternative government could prevent corruption? The UPA government has been sincere in its efforts to stop corruption. How effective the measures taken by the UPA are to be watched in the context of administrative difficulties and legal hurdles. Q: How satisfied are you in fulfilling your dreams and promises? A: More than satisfied, in fact. None can be 100 per cent happy. For example, institutes like AIMS and IIT still remain a dream for Kerala. Q: As a national leader of the party, what would you project during the current campaign? A: The secular and democratic credential of the party. It stands for communal harmony. Courtesy : The Hindu, Chennai March 27, 2014

constant threat under Mr. Modi. Q: As a Minister in the outgoing UPA government, how do you evaluate yourself and the government? A: The people have realised the great initiatives by the UPA government. Initiatives like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the Right to Education, and the Right to Information have gone down well with the people of the country. It has been the Congress which provided a national perspective and national policy. The national outlook of the Congress is strong enough to lead the

Media Comes Together against Unlawful Arrests of Muslim Men

is to be decided that those men who have been arrested in the name of terrorism are terrorists or those who arrested them, aided in arrest and terrorized the whole community. Says Dr. Engineer during a combined press conference organized in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 26th to demand release of the victims of unlawful arrests. Addressing the combined press delegation organized at Indiana Classic Hotel in Jaipur, Jamat-e-Islami-e-hind National Secretary Dr. Mohd. Saleem Engineer demanded that politicians and the police stop dividing the society. He questioned one part of media which had accused and declared guilty those who were arrested pretending to do the courts job of passing judgments. Recently, many Muslim men have been arrested by police on the alleged charges of terrorism from Jaipur and other areas. He stressed that in all these arrests rules have been ignored and bypassed. PUCL state president, Prem Krishna Sharma said that these arrestees are being claimed to have found with huge amount of explosives but proper legal method has not been applied during such discovery.

This

Witness and their signatures are not to be found anywhere, but anything could be manipulated sitting in the police station. SadbhavManch, Rajasthan organizer Shri Sawai Singh said that if anybody seems suspicious inquiry should be held but rules should be followed. He commended Rajasthan medias spirit of enthusiasm towards showing the truth but the way Mirajuddin was arrested by the Rajasthan police, later released innocent by Delhi police lead to his and his familys insult. Woman social worker Smt. NishaSiddhu said that this being the time of elections many political parties are trying to benefit from such situations, and misusing hindu sentiments against the society by putting communities in conflict. Rajasthan muslim forum chairman QariMoinuddin opined that the image of police has been degraded because of fake arrests of innocent students, and entire muslim community feels terrorized and fearful. Parents always remain concerned that any moment police could abduct their wards. WaqarAzhars father Tasleemuddin pleaded that his son was innocent

and is framed under fake charges unreasonably. Vidyanand Sharma and Sumitra Devi from New Delhi said that he is a nice person whom they equally love as their own child. Mirajjuddins father Niyazuddin asked the audience that who will be accountable for the evil image that has been created of his son, who was released as innocent by Delhi Police. Another family member of another victim said that simple religious people are arrested without any reason. Irada Societys President Dr. Hasan demanded from public authorities that all those who have been victimized through such arrests be released right away and only suspicion should not be the reason for arrest. He requested media to not call names and guilty those who have not yet been declared so. This was proclaimed that if these arrestees are not released there will be grand protest on MotiDungri road in Jaipur coming Friday. On this occasion BhartiyaBauddhMahasabha state president T C Rahul, Habib Garnet, ImamuddinThekedar, and APSRs state president Pekar Farooq Advocate were among the audiences.

April - 2014

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

April - 2014

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

Court rap over riots worries Mulayam, Akhilesh

carelessness and laxity vis-a-vis the Muzaffarnagar communal riots is bad news for the ruling Samjwadi Party ahead of the LokSabha election. As opposition parties bay for Chief Minister AkhileshYadavs ouster, his party is haunted by the spectre of losing the crucial Muslim vote in western Uttar Pradesh April 10. The father-son duo of Mulayam Singh Yadav and AkhileshYadav have been fire-fighting since the violence left 63 people dead and thousands homeless. They felt they had succeeded somewhat -- in putting the blot on the government behind them. Insiders in the chief ministers office admit that the wounds of the riot victims have been revisited after the judicial rap. While hearing a petition on the riots that singed Muzaffarnagar and nearby areas in September, the apex court Wednesday said that prima facie the state government failed in the initial phases of the violence. The rebuke, old-timers warn, would spur fresh polarization among the Muslims and Jats in the region. Muslim votes might now get evenly divided between Ajit Singhs RashtriyaLok Dal (RLD), the Congress and the BahujanSamaj Party (BSP). The Samajwadi Party, many feel, will only get fringe votes in the area. This will eventually help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as Muslim and non-Muslim votes fragment. The BJP is looking for major gains in the sprawling region. It is significant that BJPs prime ministerial candidate NarendraModi began his Uttar Pradesh campaign from Bulandshahr in the region. He is scheduled to address more

A Supreme Court rap over official

rallies there including in Baghpat. Mayawati too has meetings lined up in Bijnore and Aligarh. Mulayam Singh and AkhielshYadav will address rallies at Baghpat, Hapur, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Bijnore, Kairana and Muzaffarnagar. The sizeable Jat community is cut up with the Samajwadi Party for what it says is police victimization after the riots. A businessman from the powerful Baliyan community told IANS that the ruling party would be taught a lesson in the election. Even insiders in the Samajwadi Party admit the court observations have nipped the hopes of its revival in western Uttar Pradesh. The BJP won only 10 of Uttar Pradeshs 80 seats in the 2009 LokSabha election. Its calculation is that it should sweep the state so that it is able to form a government in New Delhi. The LokSabha seats in the region include Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Bijnore, Bulandshahr, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Khurja, Amroha, Baghpat, Rampur and Kairana. The Congress, many feel, has no stakes in the region and has left things to its alliance partner, the RLD. Of the 6,405 people booked after the riots, only 390 have been arrested in the last six months. Final reports have been given in some 50 cases and chargesheets served in just 42 cases. The tardy investigation has hurt Muslims, who blame the Samajwadi Party for failing to protect them and ensure justice. Ghulam Mohammad Jaula, a prominent activist, accuses the police of doing nothing even as thousands of accused roam free in this election season.

India will forever see riots with Modi at helm: Mayawati

Alluding to the 2002 Godhra riots

in Gujarat, BSP supremo Mayawati Monday said India would be forever gripped in riots and face destruction if the BJP led by NarendraModi comes to power at the centre. The man responsible for the Godhra riots is aspiring to be the countrys prime minister. It will be grave danger, if, even by mistake, the man comes to power. India will be forever gripped in riots and the country will be completely destroyed, said Mayawati, launching her BahujanSamaj Partys LokSabha campaign in West Bengal. Taking a jibe at Modi, Mayawati said: This man claims he will change India if he comes to power. But I want to ask him, why didnt the BJP change the countrys fate when it was in power for six years? Mayawati accused the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party of pursuing anti-people policies at the behest of industrialists and capitalists who fund their election expenses. Despite so many years having gone after independence, there is widespread poverty, unemployment and inequality. This is because the Congress, BJP and other rival parties are funded by industrialists and capitalists and when they come to power they return the favour by formulating anti-people policies, she said. Turning to West Bengal, Mayawati attacked the erstwhile Left Front and the incumbent Trinamool Congress governments, saying they neglected the welfare of down trodden and failed to curb left wing extremism. There has been huge loss of life because Naxalism (Maoism)has been on the rise as these governments here have failed to address the issue. Not only here, but Naxalism as well as terrorism have been rising across the country because of the inaptitude of the central government, said Mayawati. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister criticised the AkhlieshYadav led Samajwadi Party government in the northern state over rising instances of communal tensions. The BSP has been in power for four terms in UP, but there were never any communal tensions. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the current regime. Riots are frequent and criminals are roaming scot free, running the show, added Mayawati.

Discussion for the distribution of free houses to the Musaffer Nagar riot affected people. Seen in the pictures are IUML National Secretary Kuram Aniz, IUML MP E.T. Basheer, IUML National President and Central Minister E. Ahmed

Azam Khan blames Babri razing for terrorism

Pradesh Urban Development and Minority Affairs Minister Azam Khan has cited the demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya as the reason for the growth of terrorism in India. The Samajwadi Party leader made the comment at an election rally in Faizabad city Sunday. Khan said no one had ever heard of AK47, RDX and terrorism until the Dec 6, 1992 event in Ayodhya. It is this act of the communal forces that the country continues to suffer from after two decades, said Khan, a close associate of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. He said the mosque demolition sowed the seeds of hatred between Hindus and Muslims.

Uttar

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THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

Sir Syed Ahmad Khans death centenary celebration:

An occasion to create awareness for education

the 116th Death Anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, KhudaiKhidmatgar organized a long cycle rally from Malkpura to Mansaoor in Shamli district on 27th March in which around 20 young people participated. The main slogan of the event was Aadhee roti khayengebachhokopadhayenge (We will eat half bread, educate children). The rally started at 11 AM from Malakpura and covering distance of 12km through Khurgan, Mandawar, Baserha, Balhara, Pather, Doghpura and Rotan, concluded at 3 PM in Mansoora. KhudaiKhidmatgar leader Faisal Khan said that this rally is real homage to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan because the pain which Sir Syed endured regarding the educational backwardness of Muslims is not hidden from anyone and is highly regarded and discussed at every world forum. SaazKidwai a student of Jamia Millia and KhudaiKhidmatgar said that there is urgent need of this type of initiative in community to promote education which will lead to resolving many issues in community. SaifEkram, another Khudai Khidmatgar leader, expressed his shock about many villages where he saw that around 50 percent children are not going to schools. Hence, KhudaiKhidmatgar decided to pay obeisance to this great soul through this combination of effort leading to importance of education.

20 Families in Punjab join Indian Union Muslim League

On

Muslim League prior to the lok Sabha Election in the presence of Party president Punjab Mahmood Ahmed Thind, Secretary Punjab Mamoon Rashid and District President Mohammad yamin Malik.

20 families from a village of district Sangrur join Indian Union

Ensure representation of minorities in civil services

Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung Friday called upon the academic fraternity to ensure adequate representation in civil services for minorities, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, and backward classes . One of the strengths of the constitution is the principle that guarantees equality and fraternity leading to affirmative action, Jung said after inaugurating the academic building of the Residential Coaching Academy at JamiaMilliaIslamia. He lauded the efforts of the institution for promoting the cause of minorities.
Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung Jung also interacted with stud ents who figure in the list of successful candidates for the civil services main examination of 2013. Jung, former vice chancellor of Jamia, told them about the importance of honesty, humility and truthfulness that every individual needs to inculcate. Vice Chancellor S.M. Sajid praised Jung, saying he was instrumental in helping build the infrastructure at Jamia. He said civil services aspirants should dedicate themselves to the creation of an egalitarian society.

IUML Andhra Pradesh State Vice President, Mirza Quddus Baig submits petition to the District Collector of Mahbub Nagar for Muslim Reservations.

April - 2014

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

Hamid Ansari highlights the importance of education while addressing the students during AMUs Convocation
The Honorable Vice President of India, Mr. Mohd. Hamid Ansari lamented the substandard undergraduate teaching and the resulting incapability of students to pursue scientific research and innovation and opt instead of lucrative callings. giving equal opportunity to women in educational and economic emancipation. Mr. Ansari urged the Aligarh Muslim University to take up reform in social customs without transgressing basic values. He emphasized the need distinguished entrepreneur of UAE, felt humbled by the award of D. Lit. on him. He paid his respects to Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and said that he was one of the architects of modern educated India who thought for the future AMU will soon become the first green university of India. He said that the University is investing Rs. 20 core on a solar power system to feed the Universitys power grid. He said that this investment will hopefully be recovered within

Mr. Ansari was delivering the Convocation Address at the Aligarh Muslim Universitys 61st Annual Convocation. He said, Our universities have been converted into degree awarding machines for the benefit of youth who do not receive sufficient guidance on career options at the school leaving stage and therefore drift through a degree course aimlessly. He called upon teachers and students to eschew mediocrity for excellence and pursue it in curricular and extra-curricular fields in this highly competitive global world. The Vice President also referred to the gap between the Muslims and others in some important fields, studied by the Sacchar Committee, which needs to be bridged at the earliest. He expressed the need to ensure gender parity saying that the onus lied on the youth to eliminate structured disempowerment, which entailed

for integration of minds and hearts as an ongoing national priority. By the same token, he said, every citizen has to contribute to it. Segregation, seclusion or selfimposed isolation is un-civic and a transgression of the spirit of a plural society, highlighting states responsibility too. Expressing a deep sense of gratitude on conferring D. Litt., honoriscausa, on him, the Uttarakhand Governor, Dr. Aziz Qureshi said that it was the best honour in his life and the degree added a lustre to his career. He also acknowledged the efforts of the Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah in maintaining discipline in the campus and upgrading the quality and standard of teaching and research in the University. The other recipient of honoriscausa degree, Mr. Yusuff Ali M.A., an Indian origin highly

generations. Mr. Ali announced a donation of Rs. 5 crore for the construction of a sports complex for female students in the name of his mother. He has already donated a separate sum of Rs. 5 Crore for boys sports complex. Presenting the annual report of the University, AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah highlighted the significant points of his Vision Document for the University for 2020. Gen. Shah also praised the inception of an innovative and historic one-year bridge course for Madrasa graduates to equip them to qualify in entrance examinations for various courses, which has recently been started in AMU. The Vice Chancellor said that

3-4 years. He said that responding to his call for a pay-back, the AMU alumni from across the world visited their alma mater this February and participated in the Alumni Meet organized by the AMU Alumni Affairs Committee while he mentioned generous donations and endowments to AMU Alumni Fund. AMU Pro-Vice Chancellor, Brig. (Retd.) S. Ahmad Ali and Registrar, Group Captain (Retd.) ShahrukhShamshad also took part in the proceedings of the convocation. On this occasion, about 5000 undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees were conferred on the students by their respective Deans.

An appeal by Karnataka IUML, Belgam District, Karnataka to Declare Public Holiday on the Birthday of Shaheed Tippu Sultan to President of India through Deputy Commissioner
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(IUML) President respected Mr.Ghulam Mehmood Banatwalla was born on 15th August, 1933 into a middle class Catchi Memon family in Mumbai. His fore-fathers were native of Cutch. (Now in Gujarat State). A gifted student, he obtained his B.Ed and M.Com., from S.T.College & Sydenhanm College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai, respectively. After graduation, he worked as a teacher and lecturer. He was married to Dr.Ayesha Banatwalla in 1960. From an early age he showed a natural acumen for social activitism & participated in several related activities. He became the president of the Cutchi Memon Students circle, Mumbai in 1954 & was later elected as the head of the Cutchi Memon Jamat. Throughout 1950s & 1960s, he served in various capacities in organizations as diverse as Muslim Ambulance Society, Anjuman-i-Islam Board for Commercial Education,Aligarh Muslim University Court, Maharash tra State Integration Committee, Bombay Metropolitan Regional Development Board and Justice of Peace. He quit his teaching profession to be full time in politics. He served two terms as a councilor of the Bombay Municipal Corporation. He was elected to the Maharash tra Legislative Assembly in 1967 on the Indian Union Muslim League ticket and remained an M.L.A. until 1977. He was a vocal, and often the lone advocate of Muslim issues there. When a resolution to make a family planning compulsory was introduced in the house, Banatwalla was the lone member to oppose it. He said no one should be forced to undergo sterilization and that only Muslims would be made the special targets of such schemes. A motion to introduce the bill was passed unanimously with only Banatwalla in opposition. He stood like a rock. But due to the uproar over the barbarity of such campaigns in North India the proposal was quietly buried. Mr.Banatwalla Saheb always highlighted the due straits that the states Muslims had fallen since independence. Armed with

Indian Union Muslim Leaues

A Selfless Disciplined Leader

Analyzed. Banatwallas pointed remarks against the BJP & the RSS made him a special target of the latter. He was also one of first MPs to seek a ban on Rushdies blasphemous novel Satanic Verses in India. In the aftermath of the demolition of Babri Masjid, his friend & colleague, Ebrahim Suleiman Sait left the party. Banatwalla stayed put with the IUML & worked to strengthen it. In 1993, he assumed the mantle of presidency of the league. In those trying times, he helped the party navigate its way served as a role model for the emerging young leadership. In his last stint in the parliament as an MP of the 13th Lok Sabha, Banatwalla continued his work. He presented a total of 25 private members bills, 141 starred and unstarred questions and 182 interventions during debates. His advocacy was not just limited to Muslims issues, but included universal issues like Right to work, Custodial deaths and Protection of farmers. Outside the Parliament, he presented the Muslim Cause on various forums including the India Today conclave in 2006 in which he squared off with likes Subramanian Swamy, a diehard Hindu Communalist and Pravin Togadia, a fire-brand Vishva Hindu Parishad leader and both Muslimhater. A voracious reader and a gifted writer Banatwalla was the author of several books, booklets including Religion & Politics in India, Muslim League Azadi ke Baad. Any serious student can write a thesis on Late Banatwalla

G.M. BANATWALLA (1924 2008)

By: Farooq Abdul Gaffar Bawani (Gujarat)

Saheb after reading his select Parliamentary speeches and can get Ph.D. from reputed University. Mr. Banatwalla Saheb passed away on June, 25, 2008 in Mumbai following a brief illness. He was 74. The great leaders funeral took place on 26th June in Cutchi Memon graveyard, Mumbai. Thousands of people attended his funeral rites & gathered at his residence in Mumbai for condolence. A number of social & political leaders including The President, The Vice-President, The Prime Minister, Chief Ministers of several states, Heads of Political Parties, MPs, MLAs paid tributes to Late Banatwalla Saheb and described him as an illustrious personality and a respected leader of the people. At a condolence meeting organized in Delhis Constitution Club by IUML General Secretary and MoS External Affairs, Mr.E.Ahamed, extremely rich tributes were paid to the departed leader. This is high time our political & community leaders realized the need of disciplined and clean politics as well as selfless service to the nation. He was a bold, gifted & outspoken voice in & outside the Parliament.

statistics he made impassioned pleas for the welfare of Muslims. He made his foray into national politics by contesting from Ponnani Constituency in Kerala in 1977. He won with a thumping majority even though he did not speak Malayalam and did not actively campaign in Parliamentary Constituency. He delivered his speeches in English and became increasingly popular among the masses. Voters trusted him so much that they elected him six times more. This speaks volumes about acceptability in his constituency. In the Parliamnet, Banatwalla worked overtime and was one of the few members who drafted their own speeches and questions. His oratory impressed everyone. He was often seen studying in the library. The issue of minority character of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was close to his heart & he had introduced a bill in the Parliament for its restoration. He had made a forceful protest over police firing on AMU Student demonstrators in 1979. His most memorable role in the Parliament was his introduction of the Shariat Bill in March 1985 which sought to exclude Muslims from the secular law of maintenance. The Govt. of India persuaded Banatwalla to withdraw his bill and introduced its own Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Divorce Bill which was passed into legislation in 1986 and achieved the desired result. He was an active member & leader of the Babri Masjid Action Committee. He offered his defence on the Babri Masjid issue in a small book titled Babri MasjidRam Janmabhoomi, Controversy

Kerala State IUML President Hyder Ali Shihabthangal addresses the press meet in Calicut. Seen in the picture are National Secretary Abdul Samad Samathani, National Treasurer and Kerala State Minister Mr. P.K. Kunnali Kutty, Kerala State General Secretary K.P.A. Majid and Malapuram District IUML President Saddiq Ali Shihabthangal.

April - 2014

Published : 4th of Every Month.

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

Muslim Brotherhood is not terrorist

Muslim Brotherhood (MB) won Egyptian parliamentary and presidential elections in 2012. This alarmed Israel and western countries. Egyptian army and the liberal class too was scared because the MB government in Egypt meant an end to the loot and plunder the army was indulging in since 1952 and with the army the fate of the lackey liberal class too was going to be sealed. These liberals, in return for some favours and insignificant posts, had allowed the army people to play with Egypts honour and to plunder its resources. Gamal Abdel Nassers administration clearly comprised of army officers. The situation continued with (Col.) Anwar Sadat and (Air Marshal) Hosni Mubarak. As a result, the Egyptian army, directly or indirectly, controls over 50 percent of the Egyptian economy today. Former army officers are occupying top posts in public and private sectors. It seemed for some time that all this was going to change as a result of the Arab Spring. Free elections were held for the first time in the countrys history. MB secured a majority in Parliament, Shura Council and Presidential elections. A constitution prepared by the Parliament and Shura Council was approved by the majority of voters in a free and fair referendum. All this happened but the Deep State continued to control and rule the country. Judiciary was dominated by handpicked judges appointed by the outgoing President Hosni Mubarak. This deep state did not allow President Muhammad Mursi to govern. The judiciary started nullifying his orders. So much so that on mere technical grounds it dismantled Parliament. Shura Council was the next target of Mubaraks judges which would have created a huge political vacuum in the country. At such a juncture, President Mursi issued a presidential decree outlawing challenge to his decrees in a court of law for a short period until the draft Constitution was prepared and approved in a referendum. Now all hell broke lose. Accusations flew thick and fast inside the country and outside that Mursi was enforcing the dictatorship of MB in Egypt. This was happening in a country where no individual or judge had the courage to challenge a presidential order all through 1952 to 2012. Because President Mursi and his government had no real control over the army, police and intelligence departments, the situation took such a turn that the intervention of the armed forces became acceptable. While the indigenous lackey liberal class and army supported this intervention wholeheartedly, foreign powers especially the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states supported it without reservations. Israel knew that MB was the only force which had fought against the Jewish terrorist militias in 1948 while Arab armies were either helping the Jews or standing by idly. Gulf rulers assured Egyptian army generals of their full political and financial support. Gulf rulers were apprehensive that their family sheikhdoms would be endangered if MB rule took root in Egypt. These Gulf sheikhdoms are run on Middle Ages lines even today. Although local populations have been silenced by economic and trade facilities, all political and administrative powers are in the hands of an individual or a single ruling family which treats the national treasury and wealth as if it was its personal or family property. All these ruling families offer some help to Islamic organisations or individuals so that no one would ever criticise them, although this help is a pittance while western political parties and influential individuals receive very generous help from these very rulers. Again, the aim is to silence them. In these circumstances, the Egyptian army overthrew the elected president, killed thousands of protesters in broad daylight, and packed off thousands of MB leaders and workers including the deposed President to jails under charges of treason and terrorism. Then, on 25 December last year, the Egyptian putschists declared MB a terrorist organisation. Now MB members are being arrested inside the country and outside, especially in the Gulf countries, on charges of terrorism. An Egyptian court has gone a step further and declared Hamas, the Palestinian movement ruling Gaza Strip, as a terrorist organisaiton. Naturally, Israel is very pleased by these developments. Israeli leaders have openly expressed their joy over the developments in Egypt and have declared that now Israel feels safe again. Saudi Arabia followed suit and banned MB as a terrorist organisation on 8 March. This was quickly followed by UAE and Kuwait although MB has no legal existence in these Gulf countries. Some Egyptians living in these states may be close to MB ideology while some local people are influenced by it. As a legal entity, MB is found only in Sudan and Jordan, and both these countries have not changed their stand on MB. The fact is that MB did not ever say or do anything against Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. The historical fact is that in the 1960s, when Arab regimes were collapsing, one after the other, under the pressure of Gamal Abdel Nassers Arab Nationalism and Arab revolution had reached Yemen and a powerful guerrilla war was on in Yemen/Omans Dhofar region in the southern part of the Arabian peninsula. At that crucial time, MB forcefully sided with the Saudi and Gulf rulers. They became their envoys and helped them by speaking and writing in their favour all over the world. Nassers pressure eased after the defeat of 1967 and MB too felt the relaxation in Egypt. Fugitive MB members began returning to Egypt and soon, under Anwar Sadat, they opened their office in Cairo although they did not get permission to form a legal party. Their publication, AlDawah, started appearing and MB leaders started contesting election from the platform of other political parties. MB relations with the Gulf rulers were good all these years and Saudi aid flowed freely to MB and its charitable institutions. But all this suddenly changed once MB won the Egyptian elections in 2012 and formed the government. MB was committed to a democratic and consultative (Shura) form of popular government and this frightened the Gulf rulers from day one. So much so that no sooner had they won the elections that Dubai Police chief DahiKhalfan openly said that he would not rest till the fall of MB government in Egypt. After assuming power in Egypt, MBs enemies and opponents found refuge in UAE where they fled with their ill-gotten wealth. This change in Saudi and Gulf policy is not only anti-Islam and anti-democracy, it is also the worst example of ingratitude. MB stood by them all over the world when these rulers were in dire need and created an atmosphere in which these rulers managed to survive. But when MB won the elections and formed the government, these rulers became its worst enemies and opened their coffers for the enemies of MB. Today, MB is surrounded by enemies but all this will change one day. No popular movement can be suppressed for long. MB will prove successful in this trial just as it braved the tyranny of Gamal Abdel Nasser and survived. And when they will enter the portals of power again, a lot of cobwebs and misgivings in their minds will have been removed. Muslims outside the world of Islam should take a clear stand on this injustice. If an honourable, moderate, enlightened and free from deviations group is allowed to go down, it will be a great crisis and trial for Islam and Muslims. Organisations and individuals who are supporting Saudi and Gulf rulers now for a pittance of monetary benefits, or are at least silent at this juncture, should revise their stand and support the truth. I have been participating in Saudi conferences since 1978, but I have never taken any financial help from the Saudi or Gulf governments or rulers or taken any personal benefit from them. Now, in the current situation, when I received an invitation last February to attend a conference called by the Makkahbased Muslim World League in early March, I declined. Then a plethora of Saudi personalities visited our country one after the other and I received many invitations for meetings and dinner parties but I declined to attend any of these. The reason was simple: at this juncture, when the Saudi rulers are perpetrating this great injustice, any such meeting will be considered supportive to their stand.

The Times of League - English Monthly - R.Dis. No. 1765/10 published by Mohamed Ismail on behalf of Muslim League Publication Trust, published at 36, Maraikayar Lebbai Street, Mannady, Chennai - 600 001 and printed by K.A.M. Muhammed Abubacker at Madras Media Press No, 36, Maraikayar Lebbai Street, Mannady, Chennai - 600 001. Editor : Prof. K.M. Kader Mohideen,