https://t.me/TheHindu_Zone https://t.

me/pdf4exams
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017
NOIDA/DELHI

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
OPED 9

THE WEDNESDAY INTERVIEW | BADER EDDIN MOHAMMAD ADIB HASSOUN

‘The West puts conditions, the East helps’

Syria’s Grand Mufti on India’s support for the country, the threat to Islam today, and the Kashmir issue
Peerzada Ashiq found this example in India — ence inflicted in places like vice to all women in India is
in universities, mosques and London, Spain, etc. We have to protect their country.
Grand Mufti Ahmad Bader Eddin Mohammad Adib Hassoun is temples. been warning not to let this
the highest Islamic authority in Syria. The Islamic scholar, who fire spread to Syria and the You choose to visit
openly supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, wields con- What poses a greater region because this will Kashmir, which too is
siderable influence over the entire Levant. In a rare visit to In- threat to Islam today: reach the sponsors too. We going through a rough
dia, Mr. Hassoun held a series of meetings with different sections extremism or sectarian are cooperating with India to phase of conflict.
of society besides visiting temples and Islamic centres in Delhi divide? reach the sources of
and Lucknow. In an interview in Srinagar, Mr. Hassoun spoke terrorism. ■ The sons of Kashmir
about the Syrian war, the difference between the West and East ■ The most dangerous thing should unify and say a big no
in their attitude towards Syria, and issues before the Islamic we face is that some Muslims In your meeting with to those who wish to divide
world at the moment. Excerpts: don’t understand real Islam Jammu and Kashmir Chief it. Kashmir is also a part of
and start issuing certificates Minister Mehbooba Mufti, ummah. Kashmir’s power
Syria is going through tions date back to the days of to non-Muslims. They do not you described her as a stems from India’s strength.
difficult times. Is peace on the ancient Silk Route. I pray represent the majority of role model and raised There are powers who want
the horizon now? this continues. Syria is re- Muslims. Today, terrorism many an eyebrow in to divide Kashmir, weaken
building itself. We will not and Islam are seen together, Kashmir and outside. Kashmir, and weaken India. I
We are at the gates of victory. rely on Western countries, which is wrong. If Islam What was the context of pray to Allah to guide leaders
We are highly thankful to, which destroyed it. Two preached terrorism, over 1.5 your reference? in the continent. BRICS was
and appreciate the role of, weeks ago, Syrian President billion Muslims would not be created to join the economy
India, Russia, China, and Bashar al-Assad told all Syr- practising it and living to- ■ When I saw Chief Minister and the people. It could be
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Iran. All these countries ian ambassadors in a rare gether with Hindus, Mehbooba Mufti, I wished replicated in the entire In-
stood by Syria against the meeting that we should not Buddhists and Christians that all Indian women, irre- dian subcontinent. It’s not
scourge of terrorism. Those rely on Western countries across the world. The real spective of their religion, difficult if honest people are
who claim that there is a sec- but should look towards the Muslim is one who facilitates should also learn to have a there and intend to have
tarian war going on in Syria East. The West puts condi- a life, not one who termin- bigger role in life and work peace for their future genera-
should also probe what tions if they extend any help. ates it. All those who show towards safeguarding their tions. If Bangladesh, India
stokes fighting in places like On the other hand, the East the way towards happiness nation. Ms. Mufti is an ex- and Pakistan join hands,
Libya, Somalia, Yemen, not only helps, but also sees You have held an stay within the country and are our brothers, irrespective ample by virtue of her ethics they will emerge as the
Palestine. Would they also
term these struggles as sec-
Syria as a partner. This is the
difference between the East
extensive tour of India
this time. What was the
should not wield weapons
against the government.
<
> Europeans are
trying to describe
of their religion. and work. I have never met
Ms. Mufti before. I was happy
biggest economical power.
India’s culture is a treasure
tarian ones? I am inviting all and the West. prime purpose of your Gandhiji could achieve his the war in Syria as How can Muslims fight the that an Indian woman has a for the whole world. Indian
of you to visit Syria and see On behalf of the govern- visit? objectives without holding or a sectarian or extremism prevalent in role in politics. This Indian culture has taught us about
the reality with your own ment of Syria, I request In- giving any weapon. If they religious war. In many parts? subcontinent has produced diversity and unification. It
eyes. People need to read dian companies and busi- ■ It was to deliver the mes- were the real opposition, reality, it’s a war people like Benazir Bhutto, has preserved Muslim,
again about Syria. nessmen to visit Syria. A lot sage of Syria. Europeans are they should not have des- ■ Only a culture of dialogue Indira Gandhi. I wish Ms. Buddhist and pre-historic
of Chinese, Russian, and Ira- trying to describe it (the war troyed their own country
against will help to end extremism. Mufti becomes more than an heritage sites, which is diffi-
What role could India nian companies are already in Syria) as a sectarian or reli- and brought outsiders and colonialism. Besides, the Western media example for Indian Muslims. cult to recreate otherwise.
play in restoring order there. India has advanced gious war. In reality, it’s a external forces under the needs to stop misrepresent- Prophet Muhammad has We need to learn from India
there? technology in many fields war against colonialism. It pretext of changing the re- all are one ummah or one na- ing the truth about Islam. We made it clear that education how to hand down to next
and bilateral visits are the started with the war in Iraq. gime, especially when the tion and not sons of different should also seek those who is a requisite for both men generations real treasure and
■ Syrians would like to thank need of the hour and should Then they tried to divide the government was an elected sects or madhab (religions). I sponsor the extremist ideo- and women. If we educate not hatred.
India for keeping its embassy be considered actively by Levant and Lebanon along one. This is what they have asked them to keep this na- logy. There are ideological women, it will spread to the I wish Kashmir develops
open in our country even both sides. Besides, we re- religious lines, which is what tried to do with Indian lead- tion strong and said, ‘Don’t sponsors and financial spon- entire family and society. An soon. The Almighty has
when there was pressure quire an engagement we have prevented. Amer- ers in the past, including fall prey to extremism.’ The sors. There are countries ex- educated woman serves not made it beautiful with awe-
from Britain and the United between Muslim scholars ican and European air forces (former Indian Prime Minis- diversity that India enjoys re- porting this ideology to the only her family but the some weather. The sons of
States to close it. These coun- here and there to see for came from the Mediter- ter) Indira Gandhi. flects its rich culture. I visited outside world. Who has whole of humanity and the the soil should spread love
tries exerted pressure on themselves that there is no ranean seas to target Iraq, an Islamic institute in Luc- given weapons to these ex- nation. The mother of all and peace all over the world.
other countries too to close sectarian divide. People are but Syria faced them and During the tour, you met know and similar institutes tremists? This question Muslims, Hazrat Khadijah, The powers that want to di-
their embassies. India stuck one there and belong to one prevented them from going Muslim and Hindu of Buddhists and Christians needs to be posed to the U.S., was the biggest merchant in vide and weaken India and
to its position on Syria all nation. over its territory. Later, they scholars and visited — this is the real wealth that France, especially Germany Mecca. Hazrat Fatima Zahra Kashmir won’t achieve it. I
along. It’s because our rela- gathered 3.5 lakh terrorists temples and Islamic India possesses. The more and Britain. All of Britain’s was an orator and produced could see India emerging as a
and mercenaries to enter centres. How fruitful were India increases it, the more it mosques are occupied by the poetry. Ayesha, the mother great power in the Indian
Syria to destroy it and co- the meetings? will make Indian culture extremists. If a scholar or of all Muslims, would deliver subcontinent. But don’t let
<
> Today, terrorism and Islam are seen together,
which is wrong. If Islam preached terrorism, over operated with some Syrian richer. Almighty Allah imam is tolerant, he is kicked the best speeches. All Muslim the Europeans divide you
people who don’t represent ■ I tried to spread one mes- wanted to see the universe out of Britain. We need to women should be like them. again. Some of them are with
1.5 billion Muslims would not be practising it and
any opposition. Such people sage to all the people I met in like this. We should make it a seek them in Tora Bora I asked Ms. Mufti too to fol- Pakistan and others are with
living together with Hindus, Buddhists and are settled in Riyadh, Istan- (different) parts of India, in- happy universe and allow (Afghanistan), in Riyadh low these great women and India. They love neither In-
Christians across the world. The real Muslim is one bul, Cairo and Europe. The cluding Islamic, Hindu and people to enjoy their lives. (Saudi Arabia), in Manhattan learn from Benazir Bhutto dia nor Pakistan. They are
who facilitates a life, not one who terminates it. healthy opposition should Buddhist scholars — that we And see all as one family. I (U.S.). We condemn the viol- and Indira Gandhi. My ad- afraid of any unification.

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

SINGLE FILE FROM ARCHIVES

Awaiting police reforms FIFTY YEARS AGO OCTOBER 4, 1967

Naval exercises in Arabian Sea

Only strong public opinion can move
The Indian Fleet sailed out of Cochin to-day [October 3] to
the political class to implement the take part in extensive exercises in the Arabian Sea. The three-
2006 Supreme Court directives day exercises, under the command of Vice-Admiral A.K. Chat-
terji, are being conducted with the primary aim of enabling
N.K. SINGH the Chief of Naval Staff to assess the operational efficiency of
the Fleet. Early to-day, one by one, the small ships slipped
The Indian Police Foundation was in- from their moorings in the Cochin channel and sped out to
augurated in 2015 to mount pressure predetermined search areas in the sea, to clear the harbour
on State governments to implement approaches of lurking “enemy submarines.” Later, the main
the directions of the Supreme Court on body of the Fleet, the carrier Vikrant and cruises Mysore and
police reforms (Prakash Singh v. Union Delhi steamed out of harbour to rendezvous with the re-
K.V.S. GIRI

of India). The court in 2006 had issued mainder of the Fleet.

seven binding directions to implement
those reforms. It took the court a little
over 10 years to give its verdict on the writ petition led by A HUNDRED YEARS AGO OCTOBER 4, 1917
Prakash Singh and me in 1996. We were happy when the or-
ders came because almost all the submissions made by us and Appeal to Anglo-Indians
several others such as the Commonwealth Human Rights Initi-
ative, the Human Rights Commission, and the Ribeiro Com- In view of the recent actions of the Government of India, the
mittee were accepted. Eleven years have passed, but States Honorary Secretary of the Federal Council of the Anglo-Indian
have taken only some grudging steps to implement the re-
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Association of India appeals to Anglo-Indians to join the Asso-
forms. September 22 is is observed every year by the Police ciation immediately so that when action is taken it may really
CONCEPTUAL NOTEBOOK be with the authority and support of the people [according to
Foundation as Police Reform Day to create awareness for the
much-needed reforms. Weekend effect a report from Bangalore]. He writes: Without exception, the
Finance From Delhi to Mumbai members of both Anglo-Indian Associations and the Empire
League are united in deploring the recent policy of the Gov-
Stronghold over the police
The fact is that political authorities still have a stronghold over This refers to a phe- The experience of reviewing lms changes from city to city ernment of India which they feel to be weak and unworthy of
the police. When a new government is elected, the rst thing it nomenon observed in fin- the dignity of British statesmanship. They view with alarm the
does (as it happened recently in Uttar Pradesh) is to replace ancial markets wherein Namrata Joshi critics WhatsApp group is Sunny Super Sound, results of the policy already apparent to a man the members
the Director General of Police (DGP) of the State. In some the returns that investors enterprising and organ- Lightbox, and The View seem prepared to support the action of the European Associ-
cases, this is also happening with the Chief Secretaries. There earn on stocks on There’s a WhatsApp group ised. Before a Friday ends, (its recliners are perfect to ation, but there are many hundreds of Anglo-Indians who
are a few exceptions, no doubt — the Chief Minister of Bihar Mondays is lower than that I am a part of called the next week’s films are practise shavasana when have not yet associated themselves with either Association or
changed neither the DGP nor the Chief Secretary, both of what they earned on them ‘Dilliwalas’ whose mem- listed; by the beginning of the film threatens to bore League and to such this appeal is made. No Anglo-Indian can
whom he inherited from his predecessor under rather acrimo- on the preceding Fridays. bers are film critics and the following week, show you to death). The chut- afford to remain outside or indifferent when such important
nious circumstances. There are many theories journalists in Delhi with timings are fixed and pos- ney sandwiches are nice crisis in his community’s history is at stake.
The result is that the police even today is not trusted by the that have been proposed whom I have spent most sible clashes of film pre- as is the cutting chai, but
people. They perceive the force as being partisan, politicised, by market experts to ex- of my career watching views averted after negoti- the samosas in Mumbai
and generally not very competent. Nothing conrms this more plain the prevalence of the movies. It is also a forum ations with PRs. Mumbai theatres just don’t match CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
than the frequent demand for probes by the CBI into crimes weekend effect. Some at- for venting — why does the is deeply involved with up to Delhi.
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

which can be handled by Criminal Investigation Departments. tribute lower returns on Mumbai press get to watch films; Delhi courts them On the flip side, late- DATA POINT
Even in the recent murder case of journalist-activist Gauri Mondays to the fact that all the films, that too in ad- from a distance. night screenings in Delhi
Lankesh, there was a demand for a CBI probe. companies usually release vance, while Delhi has to In Delhi, things are sim- would mean waiting for
And what about the CBI? Only a few years back, the Su- bad news on Fridays after remain largely clueless? pler. There is just one the office cab to safely
preme Court had called it a “caged parrot”. If at all, the lock of the market closes, so the Often I am told how the venue — the delightful, ferry you home. In peren-
that cage has become tighter. And very often now, the demand news has its negative im- right-hand corner aisle old-worldly Delite Dia- nially awake Mumbai,
for a CBI probe is accompanied by a Supreme Court-mon- pact on the stock price on seat at Delite Diamond in mond on Asaf Ali Road there’s always an auto to
itored probe. Monday rather than on Delhi, fourth row from the whose interiors look like jump into, without a care,
Friday. Others have dis- back, has been missing Mughal-e-Azam sets. In my even at 2 a.m.
Implementing Lokpal puted the validity of the me. I yearn for my favour- younger days there was Many of the screenings
Much of the problem would not have been if the 2013 Lokpal weekend effect arguing ite spot from where I have also the Films Division in Delhi were preceded or
legislation was put in place. The Lokpal would have the either that it never existed carried out my film review Auditorium on Mahadev followed by our own chai
powers to oversee the CBI’s work and would ease the burden or that its impact has ten- duties for the longest Road, where films were and sabudana vada ses-
of the court. However, even the Opposition is not enthusiastic ded to fade over the years. time, while eating a maha served to the press along sions at the Indian Wo-
about the Lokpal as parties across the political spectrum have samosa (four times the with a modest cardboard men’s Press Corps or tea,
a vested interest in continuing with the present police system. normal size) and drinking snack pack. pakoda and egg-on-toast
Ultimately, it is only strong public opinion that can move the ‘expresso’ from disposable In Mumbai there is no at the Press Club of India.
political class to implement the 2006 directives. But the police CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC styrofoam cups. dearth of venues — from In Mumbai, the possibility
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
has to set examples to win public trust. Reform must start at Reviewing a film comes Famous Studios in Ma- of nei idlis, rasam rice, ven
MORE ON
3
home. Since the political class has a vested interest in the with its own rituals which halaxmi for Marathi films, pongal and filter coffee at
present system, no amount of pressure will work. We will have change from city to city. to the NFDC preview Dakshinayan between
to fall back on the judiciary, which wants an impartial and pro-
THE WEB
The only constant for me theatre in Nehru Planet- noon and matinee screen-
fessional police force because it knows that the criminal justice from Delhi to Mumbai is arium for English releases, ings in Juhu brightens up a
America’s gun problem in
system cannot function without a healthy police and investig- my obsession with the to Cinepolis in Andheri critics’ day. The spoilers to
five charts
ative agency. aisle seat. I can’t do with and PVRs in Juhu and filmi dates in Mumbai are
http://bit.ly/ any other. Andheri for Hindi films. the city’s infamous traffic
N.K. Singh is a former Joint Director of the CBI and member, National AmericaGunProblem WhatsApp groups too But my favourites are the snarls, especially if it’s a
Executive of the JD(U) are different. The Mumbai small preview theatres — week of 10 Hindi releases.
CM A ND-NDE
YK