I n d i a n M u s l i m s’ L e a d i n g E n g l i s h N e w s p a p e r , p u b l i s h e d s i n c e J a n u a r y 2 0 0 0
www.milligazette.com
MG THE MILLI GAZETTE
HYDERABAD’S PRIDE, p. 16
Hafiz Goose, Gander Modi, Different Sauce!
NM SAMPATHKUMAR IYANGAR
ere the anti-Muslim riots in 2002 in Gujarat part
W of State-part of an orchestrated violence as
numerous quarters from across India and the
world think they were? The Nanavati-Mehta
Judicial Commission has, at last, taken a formal decision
that rubbishes persistent claims by human rights watchers
to that effect. The commission's order issued on Sept 18
and made public on Sept 19 characterized testimonies not
just of activists but of top police officers as well as "vague
allegations" and "unwarranted assumptions." It categorical-
ly refused to summon Narendra Modi to question him on his
actions and inactions, which his own Party supremo AB
Vajpayee described it as a "blot" on India's face.
Around the same time that the former Supreme Court
judge stuck to his position to not touch an alleged crimi-
nal responsible for massacre of hundreds of Muslims, the
honourable Home Minister of the country, P
Chidambaram, was singing an entirely different tune.
Commenting on the restriction imposed by Pakistan gov-
ernment on the movement of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed for
the second time in this year, Chidambaram said: "My
demand is that now that he (Saeed) has been arrested he
should be interrogated on the 26/11 incidents. His role in
the 26/11 attacks must be investigated."
Chidambaram is just back from a junket to US where
he urged anyone who cared to meet him to intervene in
the issue and press Pakistan to deal sternly with the Chief
of Jamaatud Dawa. Any person with a trace left of a sense
of balance would observe the striking double standards.
What is sauce for the goose must be sauce for the gander
too. It is simply not fair to divorce prosecution of a schol-
arly Islamic ideologue for alleged crimes from interrogation
of a street-smart chief scientist of the laboratory of [a bar-
baric brand of] Hindutva that called for the pogrom.
The judicial panel that so nonchalantly indulged in
whitewashing comprises of retired justices GT Nanavati
and Akshay Mehta currently. Funnily enough, it was to
shed authentic judicial light and bring the truth behind the
actual masterminds that the Commission is supposed to
exist. Both Nanavati and Mehta have no reason to short-
en their sinecure assignments, secured to reward loyalty
to appropriate regimes during employment. Another dig-
nitary - Justice KG Shah - was to originally head the
panel. But, the farce of a known BJP loyalist heading the
Commission was too obvious to continue. He was not
outright dumped, but allowed to work under Nanavati.
This he did for six years before dying in 2008 after serv-
ing the cause of 'justice' in India till the age of 73.
Nanavati had headed a Commission to probe the
1984 anti-Sikh riots. Predictably, he could not even move
his little finger against powerful cronies of Indira/Rajiv
MG/Yusuf
Some dissatis-
fied people in
the country
are helping the
terrorists
Rs 10
www.milligazette.com 1-15 October 2009
Fortnightly
32 pages
233 Vol. 10 No. 19
ISSN 0972-3366
Inside »
Terrorism 2,39,12,17 Books 28
Hindutva/BJP 4,9,13 Cartoons 1, 17
Muslim policy 5,7 Islamic Perspectives 29
Media 6 International 23-27
Gujarat 10,11 National 3-22
Kerala round-up 8 Speaking Out 18
J&K 5,14 Newsmakers 16
Human rights 11,28 Community News 19-22
Analysis 9,18 Rejoinders/opinion 15
Special Reports 13, 17-18 Classifieds 30
HYDERABAD’S SHAME, p. 17 Issues/Opinion 2,15 Letters 31
Gandhi, who 'bravely' taught a lesson to a whole commu-
nity. From all indications, the wizened 74-year-old
appears set to serve the cause of justice till in his late 80s.
Leader of Free Gaza Boat
Given the 'dynamic' pace of his work, he may surpass the
record of Justice Liberhan, who took 17 years to compile
a monumental record of the demolition of the Babri
Masjid.
The 'honourable' judges also rejected the plea to
Movement to visit India
Malegaon: The Palestinian lady who is spearhead-
ing the international movement to break the cruel
and illegal Israeli blockade of Palestine’s Gaza
Strip is visiting India partly sponsored by MG. She
summon two of Modi's lieutenants, Ashok Bhatt and
Gordhan Zadaphia. The same rationale to shield Modi will be in Delhi during 28-30 September. Huwaida
was employed to let them off the hook. Ashok Bhatt had Arraf will be reaching Mumbai on September 25
been a prominent don of Khadia area in Ahmedabad in and will come to Delhi on 28. A Palestinian-
his heydays. After providing "protection" to the wealthiest American, Huwaida Araf received her Bachelors
of traders in Gujarat concentrated in the busy locality, he degrees from the University of Michigan, and her
became a typical Indian trade union boss, much sought Juris Doctor from the American University
after by tycoons to buy industrial peace. Becoming Modi's Washington College of Law, where she focused on
health minister in 2002, he became law minister and is international human rights and humanitarian law. In
now the 'honourable' Speaker of the august Assembly of 2001 Huwaida co-founded the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), which has
lawmakers of the state. Zadaphia was the home minister twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. During 2007-2008, Huwaida taught
who oversaw the pre-preparations and the conduct of the human rights law at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem. She was one of the initiators
riots. Impatient to consolidate his power through more and organizers of a delegation of American lawyers to Gaza in February 2009, and
hawkish postures, he soon fell out with his boss. co-authored the report on their findings, "Onslaught: Israel's Attack on Gaza and the
However, Zadaphia has been lucky to escape the fate of Rule of Law." She made history when in July 2009 she set for Gaza on a ship as part
Haren Pandya - another Home Minister who fell out with of what she termed as 'Free Gaza Boat Movement'. The passengers included Nobel
Modi due to overambitions and got bumped off under laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. The
mysterious circumstances. ship also carried three tons of medical aid, children's toys, and rehabilitation and
As a saving grace, the Commission decided to get reconstruction kits for twenty family homes.
tough with three small-time staff of those days, who ran "The objective of Huwaida's visit to India is to get the country involve far
errands for the CM. The personal assistants Sanjay more deeply than hitherto, into the International Palestine Solidarity Movement",
Bhavsar, Tanmay Mehta and Om Prakash Singh have said Firoz Mithiborewala who is coordinating the tour.
been directed to file affidavits. They have been asked to
recall their mobile-phone communications at the height of Coming very soon
the riots between February 28 and 3 March 2002.
The Commission came to this decision on an applica- Book smashes “Islamic
tion moved on 31 August 2007 after a full two years of care-
ful analysis. Jan Sangharsh Manch, a civil rights organiza- terrorism” myth in India
tion fighting for 'justice' of a different kind incomprehensible A book by a very senior retired police
to the honourable judges, had asked it to summon them for officer, who knows the system inside
questioning. The learned judges could not agree with any
of the eight contentions submitted by its counsel Mukul
out, says it all in black and white: who
Sinha. The JSM counsel had wanted to question - apart started terrorism in India, who created
from Modi, Bhatt and Zadaphia - the three personal assis- and sustains the terrorism libel
tants as well as RJ Savani, DCP, Ahmedabad Zone 5 dur- against the Indian Muslims, how
ing the days of the disgraceful governance. investigations are manipulated by IB
"The commission does not think it proper to summon and security agencies which not only
the chief minister or any other minister of the government
play blind to the Hindutva terror but
and question them about the incidents merely on the
basis of vague allegations or wrong and unwarranted even encourage it, how innocents are
assumptions," the panel observed in the order. At the picked up with no proof and how evi-
same time, Tanmay Mehta and Sanjay Bhavsar have dence is cooked up to implicate them in crimes they never
committed, only to keep the myth of “Islamic terroism” alive,
been asked to state if they had talked to Jaydeep Patel, a
notorious VHP leader of Naroda in Ahmedabad. how the Hindutvites with the help of their supporters in the
Continued on page 18 system used the 26-11 Mumbai terrorist attack to kill ATS
chief Hemant Karkare in a side operation? This and many
For maximum utilisa- other questions nagging the country in general and the
tion of your Zakat, Muslim community in particular will be answered by this first
sadaqat & charity of its kind book on the phenomenon of “Islamic terrorism”,
HARITY rather
C terrorism agaisnt the Muslim community in India.
Reserve your copy now by remitting Rs 300 (US$ 20
A
LLIANCE abroad) per copy including registered mailing charges. You
may also pay by visiting www.pharosmedia.com or
Active for the uplift of www.milligazette.com
some of the most neg-
lected and deprived sec- Pharos Media & Publishing Pvt Ltd
tions of our community. D-84 Abul Fazal Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025
Help us build school in info@pharosmedia.com Tel.: 011-26947483
Murshidabad’s hunger
belt.
For details see pp. 25, 32 The 300+ page book will available very soon in English,
or visit
www.charityalliance.in
Urdu and Hindi editions, all at the same price
Please specify the language you prefer.
2 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009

ISSUES / OPINION
lack of consultations prior to the NIA Act being rushed through

Call out the NIA! has led to the Home Minister promising a revisit to the Act.
However, objections could have suspect motives such as restrict-
ing scope for additional scrutiny of the center so as to constrict
the possibility of unpalatable revelations. This increases the
FIRDAUS AHMED While the RK Raghavan-led Supreme Court appointed
firdyahmed@yahoo.com Special Investigation Team would likely throw up more light on immediacy with which New Delhi must take the checks and bal-
this angle as it culminates by end this year, the National ances introduced to their logical conclusion.
shrat Jahan died in an 'encounter', her life claimed by Investigation Agency, set up with considerable fanfare in wake of

I encounter specialist DG Vanzara, a DIG of the Gujarat Police

now in jail for the killing in yet another 'encounter' of
Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kausarbi. In the Sohrabuddin
case, a superintendent of police of the intelligence bureau and an
officer of the Rajasthan cadre were also involved. The Ishrat Jahan
26/11, should be put to work on this case. What requires probing
is the manner the intelligence bureau advisory on terror has been
taken by the Gujarat police as rationale for the killings of Ishrat
Jahan and three others. Filed by an under secretary of the
Ministry of Home Affairs on August 6 before the Gujarat High
A
nother long pending measure is warranted to be pro-
gressed using this juncture as opportunity, that of police
reforms. It appears from the pattern discerned here that
sections of the police stand compromised through infiltration of
majoritarian sympathisers. Their placement in key positions
case recently hit the headlines because of the courageous report Court, the affidavit confirms that Ishrat Jahan, Pranesh Pillai alias and unprofessional actions now constitute a threat to the sec-
of Metropolitan Magistrate, SP Tamang. Of consequence is the Javed Shaikh, Amjad Ali Rana and Zeeshan Johar as terrorists ular character of the state. Core values being threatened there-
supposed motive of the police officers involved, that of seeking pro- linked with Lashkar-e-Taiba. The affidavit was filed on a plea by by, they are an existential security threat. Underway is virtual-
motions based on their performance against 'terrorists'. This appar- Ishrat's mother for a CBI probe. The Times of India reports that ly an ongoing coup in slow motion from within, one that can be
ently understandable motive anchored in human greed serves only an IPS officer, Rajinder Kumar, of the Gujarat cadre, once the speeded up in case the political constellation at Delhi is right
to paper over a grimmer reality. state IB chief between 2002 and 2005 and now an Intelligence once again in future. Police reforms, mandated by the
Those killed were billed as members of the terror outfit Bureau joint director, was responsible for most of the intelligence Supreme Court in response to the PIL of former DGP, Shri
Lashkar e Tayyaba out to assassinate the chief minister of inputs on Gujarat encounters. Thus emerges a questionable con- Prakash Singh, require progressing and monitoring by the
Gujarat. This is a plausible construct in light of the strained com- nection stretching from Maharashtra, from where the abductions MHA. A professionalisaton of the police could set back this
munal relations in Gujarat post the carnage of 2002 and sus- for the fake encounters took place, through Gujarat where these agenda, to the extent it exists, besides being a project worth
tained propaganda on the suspect nationalist credentials of the were executed to New Delhi where the rationale was apparently pursuing on its own merits.
minority. The terror connection serves to justify 'encounters' in the manufactured. This is a fit case for the NIA to earn its credentials, India is a veritable conglomeration of minorities along dif-
public mind, creating heroes of 'specialists'. However, this serves set a precedent and lay out its own standards for itself. fering axes as ethnicity, persuasion etc. The difficulty of creat-
to eclipse a divergent construct. Such encounters, and media The NIA was created in December last through the NIA Act. ing a majority based on shared primordial affinities has not dis-
hype surrounding them, have instead served to create and proj- It was meant to enable the Center to act in cases of national suaded its activists. Their project requires creation of an 'Other'
ect an image of a minority with external linkages. When seen in import through the inclusion of a schedule of central acts cover- to succeed. They have managed partially to control the dis-
the light of the various bombings of questionable origin across the ing offences against the state, terrorism, atomic energy, anti- course through 'black propaganda', by succeeding in attribu-
country culminating in 2008, the political project appears to have hijacking, weapons of mass destruction etc. Since 'terrorism', of tion of all terrorist incidents as minority perpetrated. This has
been for creating and sustaining an image of a 'fifth column' in which the 'encounters' and bombings are part, acquired a nation political utility for such forces in marginalising the minority even
India's midst. The hope for fallout was likely as not to influence wide footprint, it requires a central agency to probe. With revela- while elevating their political agenda as the only way a cultur-
perceptions and craft an electoral majority nationally out of tions of Hindu terror groups, such as an army intelligence officer ally-defined nation can safeguard and cope with the externally-
denominational majority. It's a political project that has deeper led Abhinav Bharat involved in terror, and linkages in right wing inspired internally-abetted aggression. Therefore, the Ishrat
roots not only in compromised state structures, which by now subverted police and intelligence apparatus in concerned states, Jahan case has wider ramifications. Clearly, attribution of com-
describes the state of the Gujarat police accurately, but also in there is a case for central intervention for investigation and out- paratively innocent self-interest of the involved police officers
formations that claim a cultural rather than political agenda. ing of the truth. Some states having rightly raised objections in these killings would be to obfuscate the political connection
based on constitutional issues as center-state relations and the and context of these crimes.

followers are now counted among the most
Austere Measures Without The Ouster of Capitalism? wasteful spenders in the world. Regretfully,
Ramazan and Haj have become the biggest vic-
SOROOR AHMED very next day flying on a chartered helicopter or globalization should it be followed in India in this tims of the capitalist design. The television chan-
Those who spend lavishly and squander wealth plane to their destination not far away from their age of anti-Mahatma Gandhism. After all the nels beaming Islamic thoughts, discussions and
have been equated with the brother of Satan by city. Father of the Nation always advocated and prac- debates day in and day out are no exceptions.
Quran some 14 centuries ago. This was not an But all these cosmetic steps raise a very seri- tised "Simplify your Needs" policy. He said so in a See their 'Islamic' advertisements. Netizens, all
isolated statement or executive order issued at ous question: Can austerity and capitalism--the different social and economic milieu. He wanted over the world, are these days flooded with offer
the time of crisis, such as food famine etc, but a system, where everything is decided by market-- to make a different India, not the capitalist one. of Iftar at Rs 695 per plate--yes Rs 695--in certain
part of the basic teachings of Islam. The Hadith go together? We adopted this economic policy in A person's way of life depends on the philos- Karachi restaurant.
(Tradition) of Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be 1991 and have been championing it since then. ophy of life s/he adopts or propagates. Mamata is When the first masjid of Islam was just a
Upon Him), which says spend less water even if When it is market force, which decides the fate of known for her frugal living but it has something to thatched roof structure, mosques these days are
you are performing wazzu (ablution) with water a human being, the society, the country and the do with the general atmosphere of West Bengal, beautified like five-star hotels. Emperors of the
from sea, explains the fundamental philosophy of world where s/he is living how can we cut the where unlike many other states, even the chief past got built masjids like Taj Mahal. They have
this ideology. cost? minister, be it Jyoti Basu or Buddhadev their own design. Keep the simple Muslim souls
Today the Indian leadership has woken up to In a capitalist country what is wrong for a min- Bhattacharya, leads a relatively simple life. confined to these palatial masjid so that they can
realize the importance of austerity when the ister to live and dine in five-star hotels for months Similarly, defence minister, A K Anthony's wife offer namaz and do not pose any serious chal-
country came under the tight grip of drought and together. After all it is good advertisement for the may be found travelling in bus in Kerala, but that lenge to the concept of monarchy.
subsequent food shortage. First in the month of hotel industry in this age of recession, when there too has something to do with the overall political Two recent--one can call it Islamic--examples
August came an appeal by the Rashtriya Janata is less flow of international tourists to India. Why culture in that state. The relatively less flamboy- are enough to explain the digression in our prac-
Dal president, Lalu Yadav. He asked the affluent then the ministers were compelled to leave and ant life-style of the Left leaders--they can be fault- tice. A reputed young Islamic scholar often seen
lot to skip at least one meal a day as the country put up at less expensive places before they are ed on other counts-- can not be seen in isolation in a television channel went to a certain Gulf
has the stock of just 13 months of foodgrains. permanently accommodated? as it has something to do with their philososphy country. Before starting his television programme
A fortnight later came Union finance minister's If all the politicians, who form a sizeable num- which is totally opposed to capitalism, that he spent a few minutes applauding the grandeur
request to cut costs. External affairs minister, S M ber who travel in the executive class everyday, encourages wasteful expenditures through of the structure of a particular mosque and the
Krishna and minister of state in his ministry, opt for economy class the airline industry would attractive advertisements and other means. expnsive chandeliers worth millions. No word on
Shashi Tharoor, left their temporary stay in the face serious loss. What will happen to the private Curiously, this appeal to skip a food a day or the need of simplicity of the structure.
five-star hotels. Pranab even appreciated the firms running charter planes and helicopters if spend less on one's own life came during Another one is related to a retired Professor
simplicity of Mamata Banerjee. they are not hired by politicians? Liquor baron- Ramazan, the month of training for Muslims. Yet, who after returning from a trip to the Unites States
As if that was not enough Sonia Gandhi flew turn-MP, Vijay Mallaya or the then Punjab chief we as a community, failed to tell the world that organized a meeting where he lectured on the
to Mumbai and Mysore by economy class and minister, Captain Amrinder Singh, (obviously not this is the basic principle of our ideology. post-9/11 situation in that country. He explained
Rahul Gandhi went to (and returned from) now) treat their helicopters like taxis. It is other Tragically, Ramazan has now come to be associ- to the audience as to how the Muslims are
Ludhiana by Shatabdi Express. He opted for thing that a helicopter ride costs as high as Rs ated with more spending on lavish food and par- allowed to offer namaz even at the John F
much cheaper, chair car, while travelling. Other one lakh per hour or even more. What will hap- ties. So the first thing the Bihar chief minister Kennedy international airport. He then turned his
ministers in the cabinet too followed their leaders pen to these poor tour and travel operators if aus- Nitish Kumar did to cut cost in his home state is attention to the month of Ramazan. In a great
as the government has asked them to cut at least tere measures are implemented strictly? to skip this year's Iftar party. The fault is not in detail he discussed about delicious food and cold
10 per cent travel and administrative expenditure It can be argued that Vijay Mallaya (not of him, but in the Muslims, who failed to disseminate drinks people bring to mosques as they break
in view of the drought. Congress Party) and Captain Amrinder Singh are the basic message of Ramazan. The well off fast there. The left-overs are then kept in refriger-
Whether such exercises really help cut waste- rich people and can afford using private flight like among the community throw sumptuous Iftar par- ators for Sehri. The following day again people
ful expenditures or whether they cause much cars. But then Krishna and Tharoor too said that ties for those whose tummies are already filled-- bring huge amount of food for Iftar. Without a
hardship to the common passengers--in the they are paying from their own pockets to live in no not for under-nourished ones. tinge of regret he proclaimed that the previous
name of security to the VVIPs of course--is not five-star hotels; still they were asked to reduce What an irony it is: the Indian government day Iftar kept in fridge is simply thrown in the
the debate here. We have seen umpteenth expenditure in this year of food scarcity. having the capitalist economy policy is advocat- dustbin as there are enough of fresh things to eat
examples of netas pedalling down on a bicycle Since austerity is against the basic essence ing austerity today. In contrast the very founda- and drink. Are we rozadars or Satan's brothers--
for a day in the name of saving petrol and on the of the policy of liberalization, privatization and tion of Islam is based on simplicity but sadly its the Satan of capitalism.

Indian Muslims’ Leading English Newspaper
THE MILLI GAZETTE
REGISTERED NEWSPAPER
EDITOR ZAFARUL-ISLAM KHAN
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS
Habiba Azim, NA Ansari
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Syed Athar Hussain
D-84 Abul Fazl Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar,
New Delhi 110025-16 India Tel.: 2694 7483, 2694 2883
Email: edit@milligazette.com
Website: milligazette.com; Group: pharosmedia.com
Media database support: Orient Press International
For subscription rates please see p. 29
Advertisement rates on p. 30
DISTRIBUTORS: Central News Agency P Ltd (CNA) 011-43631313; A.P.: Cuddapah Islamic Welfare Society 9866927380; ALIGARH: Dr. M. Raziul-Islam
Nadvi, Tel:9412562972; Sir Syed Adabi Markaz, Tel. 2701068; AKOT: M. Mobinullah Tel. 9028407650; ALLAHABAD: Asad Book Depot 9335153647;
AMRAVATI: Amin Nisar, M.S., Tel. 9371270694; ASSAM: Mr. Sk. Ghani Ahmed, Panbazar, Guwahati 9435541136; Raza Academy P.O. Dispur 9864096688;
AURANGABAD: Maktaba Islami 9028938695 AZAMGARH: Al-Bader Book Centre, Mahajani Tola, Saraimir; BALLIA (U.P.): Alam Taleemi Markaz
09450513051, 09839714567; BANGALORE: Islamic Book Centre, 080-25928281; Mahboob Book Depot 080-22867138; SM Adam News Agency
9343728824; BEED: Azizpura 9420786464 BIHAR: Abdul Wadood Alam (Bhagalpur) 9939071026; Al-Kitab (Araria) Mob: 09934788628; Sayeedur
Rahman, Vill. Abdullah Pur, Dt. Saheb Ganj; Novelty Book Store (Darbhangha) 9334782146 CALICUT: Other Books, Tel. 2306808; CHATTISGARH: Abdul
Jalil, Bari Masjid, Byron Bazar, Raipur; CHENNAI: Quality Book Centre, Triplicane H Rd 28527118; DHULE: Maktaba Islami Tel. 02562-241941, 9221392722;
DODA: Furqan Book Centre 9018614601; GOA: Islamic Information Centre, Margao 0832-2734442; GORAKHPUR: Maktaba Nasir, Mob. 9451846364;
HUBLI: Islamic Book Centre, Dharwad Ph : 09242527896, 2260273; JHARKHAND: Islamic Book Centre - Hazaribagh 9955175039; JAIPUR: Madina Islamic
Book Centre 9460070856; JHANSI: Md. Usman Ansari, Tel. 2442462; KANPUR: M Hasan 9305255273; KARNATAKA: Zeenat-e-Urdu News Agency,
Dandeli Mob. 9900834792; Islamic Book Centre, Gulbarga 08472-256865; KOLKATA Islamic Book World 9831203436; Horizon Distributor 9831311918;
LATUR: H S Yousuf 9960749675; LUCKNOW: Dr. S. R. Khan, Mob: 9795515909; MANIPUR: Peace Distributors, Lilong, Tel. 9206168863; MALEGAON:
Faran Book Agency, Md. Ali Rd, Malegoan; MANGALORE: Moulana Book Stall 9901639856 MIRZAPUR - U.P.: M Ali, 9450886580; MYSORE: Hilal Book
Centre, BN Street - 9901858442; NAGPUR: Saleha Book Traders Tel. 2721069 NANDED: Habib 9403662310 ORISSA: Quraishi News Agency, Rourkela
9238223044; PATNA: Faiza News Agency 9835421193; PUNJAB: Mohd. Naseer, Maler Kotla 9988236310; SRINAGAR: Janta Agencies, Ph. 2474755;
VANIYAMBADI: Fizza Book House, 9363096364 Iqra Book Centre, Opp. Neel Field Mosque; VARANASI: Akhalqi Corner P.C.O. 0542-2503361;
VIJAYWADA Abdur Rahman 9966819797; W.B.: Md. Asfaq Hussain, Murshidabad, Mob. 9733522436; WARANGAL: Mohd Ali Tel. 0870-2425150; YAVAT-
MAL: Syed Abul Khair Tel. 0732-240509, 9860873766; Mo. Mohd Ali Johar News Paper Agency, Islampura
 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 3

NATIONAL
Batla House remembered ZANZIBAR UNIVERSITY
New Delhi: Jamia Teachers' Solidarity Faculty’s Jamia Teachers' Solidarity
Association (JTSA) organised a Torch
Light Procession in Jamia Nagar in the
Association has also organised an
online petition for judicial probe into
(Tanzania)
evening of 18 Sept, on the eve of 1st Batla House encounter. Readers are
anniversary of Batla House Encounter.
JTSA is demanding judicial probe into
encouraged to
http://www.PetitionOnline.
visit REQUIRES TEACHING STAFF
Batla House Encounter, speedy justice for com/jtsa2009/petition.html and sign the
the accused and arrested youths and an
end to communal stereotyping and minor-
petition.
In a communication the Jamia 1. LAW (2 posts)
ity witch hunting in Teachers' Solidarity
the name of War Association said that 2. ACCOUNTING (1 post)
against Terror. “after the revelation
The march start- that Ishrat Jehan 3. MARKETING (1 post)
ed from Khallillullah was killed in cold
Masjid at 6:45 on 18 blood, it is time University-level teaching experience is preferable
September. People again for us to re-
of all walks of life assert that a fair and but PhD is a must.
took part sporting independent probe
black bands to must be held in the Write/email with full details, copies of degrees and testimonials to:
protest 'encounter killings' and to Batla House 'encounter'. Note that a
observe 19th September as Black Day. magisterial enquiry was blocked by the The VC, Zanzibar University, c/o Pharos Media,
Faculty members of Nelson Mandela government through the refusal of the Lt.
Centre for Conflict Analysis and Peace Governor of Delhi to allow for the same.” D-84 Abul Fazal Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi- 110 025
Building, Jamia Millia Islamia are active- For more information contact Manisha
ly involved in this movement. Jamia Sethi at manisha.sethy@gmail.com Email: info@pharosmedia.com

Zakatul Fitr distribution made more effective
Malegaon: In an interesting development, Jamiat
Ahle Hadees in Malegaon this year took it upon
itself to collect the Zakatul Fitr - the Eid charity
and then distributed them to the poor and needy.
Earlier, food grains normally wheat was individu-
ally delivered at the doorsteps of the poor to pay
the Zakatul Fitr - the mandatory charity given at
the eve of Eid - the Muslim festival marking end of
Ramadan - the holy month of fasting.
However, deviating from the traditions,
Jamiat Ahle Hadees Malegaon this year pre-
pared hundreds of packets containing each of
food grains, flour, rice and edible oil, and distrib-
uted them to the needy after the crescent
appeared over the horizon.
"In Malegaon, Muslims are normally paying
Zakatul Fitr in the form of wheat after the new
moon is sighted. But looking at the overall
motive behind the Eid charity, the traditional
practice does not seem to be serving the actual
purpose", said Jamiat Ahle Hadees Maharashtra
president Dr. Saeed Ahmed Faizee.
Zakatul Fitr is mandatory on every Muslim to
mend, as the Prophet (pbUH) said, the mistakes
that intentionally or unintentionally committed
while fasting in Ramadan. It is paid at the eve of
Eid al Fitr, the day of celebrations that marks the
end of month long fasting. As the traditions go,
they are donated to the poor and needy so that
they also enjoy the festive season along with fel-
low Muslim brothers. "The traditions from the
holy sources about the Zakatul Fitr describe that
no Muslim should remain hungry on Eid al Fitr.
If we donate the poor with just wheat, that too
hours before dawn, it would be neither feasible
nor sufficient to prepare a suitable Eid meal for
them", said Dr. Faizee adding that "Hence this
year, deviating from the traditional practice, we
collected the charity amounts, purchased food
grains, flour, rice and edible oil, and distributed
them to the poor and needy."
The concept in fact finds its roots at some
places in Mumbai, Bhiwandi and few other parts
in the country where people were doing this
since years. However, it was the first time that
someone adopted the concept in Malegaon.
"On a recent visit to Bhiwandi, we came to know
of the idea. Back in the city, we discussed it with
the Jamiat authorities who immediately decided
to replicate it in Malegaon", said Hafiz Ashfaque
who was part of the delegation of that the tex-
tile town near Mumbai.
Meanwhile, dozens of youths accepting the
call given by Jamiat Ahle Hadees Malegaon vol-
This is a direct & free recruitment. No placement fees to be paid
unteered to manage the entire
affair instead of thronging the markets and
shopping malls for last minute Eid purchases.
Led by Hafiz Ashfaque and Hafiz Faisal, these
volunteers devoted themselves for the noble
cause the entire Chand Raat - the night that
precedes the Eid Day. On the expected lines,
the idea received applause also from the lucky
poor and needy who got the 'unique food packs'
at their doorsteps few hours before the Eid
prayers. "A good and touching initiative", one of
them could just say. (ummid.com)
Dismissal of student for sporting beard stayed
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on 11 Sept permit-
ted a Muslim student, who was sacked by a
Christian school in Madhya Pradesh for sporting a
beard, to continue his studies in the same institu-
tion. A Bench consisting of Justices B.N. Agrawal
and G.S. Singhvi stayed the dismissal order
passed by the Nirmala Convent Higher Secondary
School, a government-recognised minority institu-
tion, on an appeal by the student, Mohammad
Salim. Earlier, on March 30, a Bench headed by
Justice Markandey Katju rejected the student's
petition orally observing that secularism could not
be overstretched and that "Talibanisation" of the
country could not be permitted. Salim sought
review of the plea stating the observations on
"Talibanisation" caused incalculable damage to the
country's image and the judiciary, besides, hurting
Muslim sentiments. Salim said the order "needs to
be reviewed afresh as the core issue of a Muslim's
right to sport a beard as guaranteed by Article 25
of the Constitution [right to practise and profess
one's religion] was violated by the school."
On July 6, Justices R.V. Raveendran and
Katju withdrew the March 30 order and directed
that the matter be placed before Chief Justice
K.G. Balakrishnan for posting it before another
Bench. Accordingly, the appeal was heard by
Justices Agrawal and Singhvi. Justice Singhvi
asked senior counsel B.A. Khan, appearing for
the petitioner, whether the student was dis-
missed solely for sporting a beard. When coun-
sel said "yes," Justice Singhvi said: "In that case,
tomorrow they may say that no Sikh student can
be admitted. Nowadays it has become fashion-
able for boys to sport earrings. Will it not be
allowed? It is ridiculous." Justice Agrawal said,
"They may refuse admission on the colour of the
skin also." Counsel said the boy had already lost
one year. Salim had contested that he was dis-
criminated against for his religious beliefs.
Asif Mohammad Khan
victorious in Okhla election
New Delhi: RJD candidate Asif Mohammad 11,362 votes. Thus, Delhi's ruling Party
Khan won Okhla assembly bye election by a Congress lost at both seats mainly because
margin of 5007 votes, defeating his nearest of internal dissensions. (NA Ansari)
rivals Braham
Singh of BSP and
Farhad Suri of the
Congress Party.
Asif polled a total
of 23,394 votes.
The election was
held on 15
September (during
Ramadan) and the
counting took
place on the 17th.
Congress candi-
date Farhad Suri
with 17,604 votes
was relegated to
the third place.
There were as
many as 11 candi-
dates from this
Muslim-dominated
assembly con-
stituency which
was earlier held by
Congress's Parvez
Hashmi. BJP can-
didate Mohammad
Irfan who polled
only 2519 votes
lost his security deposit and in addition to him Asif Khan's victory widely welcomed
six other candidates too lost their deposits. In New Delhi: The victory of RJD candidate Asif
this election 3 candidates polled less than 100
Mohammad Khan in Okhla assembly con-
votes. This seat had fallen vacant after the
stituency bye-election was widely welcomed by
existing MLA Parvez Hashmi of the Congress
was elected to the Rajya Sabha. the people of Jamia Nagar and Muslim organi-
Asif Mohammad Khan described his victory as sations. Maulana Mufti Mohammad Mukarram
the victory of Okhla's poor, oppressed and inno- Ahmad said that his victory is in fact the victory
cent people. After his victory, he went to Panj of Atif and Sajid who were unjustly killed by
Piran graveyard in Nizamuddin and prayed on police and the defeat of Batla House encounter
the graves of Atif and Sajid who were killed in by police. All India Milli Council's general secre-
Batla House encounter (see photograph). tary, Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam described
Another bye-election on the same day his victory as that of democracy and an expres-
was held for Dwarka assembly constituency sion of people's anger over the insensitivity of
in which BJP candidate Pardhuman Rajput Congress governments at the centre and in
won, defeating his nearest rival Tilotma Delhi state over the killing of two innocent
Chaudhary of the Congress by a margin of Muslim youths.

Golden Opportunity for those seeking Shariah-compliant income from the stock market

Follow the laws of Allah and His grace will follow you. Which is why we at IDAFA - a Shariah com-
PERHAPS THE ONLY STOCK BROKING FIRM pliant equity investment firm - cater to hundreds of people who are interested in reaping the bene-
THAT’S FIRM ABOUT SOMETHING. fits not just Here but also in the Hereafter. This means carefully handpicking companies offering
Halal products and services. We facilitate investments through the Bombay & National Stock
NO MAKING MONEY THE HARAM WAY. Exchanges and offer subscription only to shariah compliant mutual fund schemes in India. Feel free
to contact us for a safe and secure future - the Shariah Way.
IDAFA INVESTMENTS
H.O.: Mimson House, 2nd Floor, 92, L. T. Marg, Crawford Market, Mumbai 400003. Phone: +91 22 23472118. Fax: +91 22 23438533. www.idafa.com PRIVATE LIMITED
Branch: B/24, Basement, Fazal Tower, Adajan Patia, Surat 395009. Phone: +91 261 277 0720. Fax: +91 261 277 0721. Email: invest@idafa.com WEALTH CREATION - THE SHARIAH WAY
4 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009
NATIONAL
Frenchman stokes Hindutva hate
A fundraiser in New Jersey on 16 Aug. raised $50,000 for a "Hindu
Holocaust" museum to be built in Pune. The museum is the brainchild
of a Frenchman, Francois Gautier, and is under the auspices of the
Viraat Hindu Sabha (VHS). They claim that over the past thousand
years, millions of Hindus were killed, with the intention to wipe Hindus
off the map. The numbers are vague, as one might expect, but the cul-
prit is precisely defined: Islam. The VHS uses the phrase "Islamic
genocide of Hindus" to make its case. To me this is remarkable stuff.
It reduces the complexity of the Subcontinent's rich history into a sim-
ple morality play that has only two characters: the Hindu and the
Muslim. The latter is the invader who has come and killed the former.
Nothing else matters. The idea of the Hindu Holocaust casts the Hindu
as history's victim, who should now become history's aggressor to
avenge the past. But the Hindu was not always the victim. If you read
the historical records carefully, you will find that many Hindus partici-
pated in the slaughter of other Hindus, and that the Hindu-Buddhist
battles of the ancient world were perhaps more bloody than anything
that comes afterward. Or indeed, that the systematic violence against
Dalits and other subordinate castes should hold our attention far more
than it does.
Between Hindus and Muslims there has not been an endless
rivalry for social power. When Islam enters the Subcontinent, it does
not come in the saddlebags of the Ghaznis or the Ghouris, but
amongst the rumble of goods brought by traders. Early conversions
are not by the sword but by the merchants. There was killing, but that
was as much for reasons of warfare and plunder as for reasons of
God and tradition. An interested reader might want to look at the dis-
tinguished historian Romila Thapar's superb book Somnatha: The
Many Voices of a History (Penguin, 2005). There, Professor Thapar
shows us that Mahmud Ghazni's destruction of the Shiva temple in
1026 was driven not so much by a fanatical religious belief but
because his father, Subuktigin, needed money to sustain his faltering
kingdom in Central Asia.
When one looks at the sources contemporaneous with the
Ghaznavid attacks, one finds that they mention these but only as a
series among many. There was nothing about them that merits the
term "Holocaust," even as they were certainly destructive of the tem-
ples and of the people who worshipped there. What Thapar points to
is that this was not all done by the Central Asia marauders. Many
Hindu rulers led attacks on Hindu and Jain temples at this same time,
and for similar reasons, as can be seen in the destruction of the Jain
temples of Karnataka (which were converted into shrines of Shiva).
Indeed, there is little evidence of animus between Hindus and
Muslims in the few hundred years after the entry of Ghazni. In the 13th
century, a local raja, Sri Chada, granted a merchant from Hormuz the
right to build a mosque on temple land. He also provided the mosque
with a disbursement for teachers and preachers, for the daily reading
of the Quran and for the celebration of festivals. The Veraval-
Somanatha inscription of 1264 shows us that even orthodox Shaivite
priests cooperated in the building of the mosques. In the centuries that
followed, common people of Gujarat followed the kind of tradition that
runs from the padas of Narasimha Mehta to the padmavat of Malik
Mohammed Jayasi, the ethos of mutual cultural development that was
the hallmark of India for hundreds of years. Things developed to such
a pass in Gujarat that in 1911, more than 200,000 people returned
themselves as "Hindu-Musalman." In Kathaiwar and Kutch, wedding
services were, until very recently, solemnized by both a Saraswat
Brahmin and a Qazi. Such is the history that is thrown to the wolves
by the creation of a "Hindu Holocaust" museum.
Gautier came to India from France about 30 years ago, and set-
tled in Pondicherry. He has written a few tracts and writes occasional-
ly for the newspapers. His work reads like another European apologist
for extreme Hindutva, Koenraad Elst. Both went to strict Catholic
schools and now hold a deep animus against Christian missionaries,
but seem to take their venom out mainly against Islam. Gautier and
Elst want to make plain the "Muslim genocide against Hindus." But
neither is a serious student of history, with little idea of how to read his-
torical texts. They draw more from a misplaced passion than from a
real, sober scientific exploration of the facts. That they are taken seri-
ously is a sign of the degradation of reason in the world of Hindutva.
Vijay Prashad
Professor of South Asian History Trinity College Hartford, Conn.
Hindu students break madrassa stereotypes
With the word “madrassa” emerge in the mind images of students clad
in sectarian attires, complete with a quintessential skull cap on the
head, reciting verses from the Holy Quran. Going by the results of
Bihar State Madrassa Examination Board the traditional roll model is
a part of the truth and not the whole truth.
Among the names emerging from the list of students who have
passed various grade exams conducted by BSMEB this year are
Surya Narayan Sah, Priyanka Kumari, Pooja Kumari and Preetam
Kumari. These students are among 100 Hindu students, both girls and
boys, of Madrassa Islamia, Sandalpur in Araria district. A total of hun-
dred non-Muslim students came out in flying colours in the Maulvi,
Fauqania and Wastania grade exams results of which were declared
on Monday. A list of non-Muslim candidates of Fauqania exam could
be procured from the madrassa board. A total of 37 students in the list
have passed the exam successfully. Names of Rupa Bharti of
Madrassa Munamia, Sanjay Kumar of Madrassa Islamia, Khardaur,
Sanam Kumari and Sandhya Kumari of Madrassa Rahmania, Joktia
(both in West Champaran), Balia (Begusarai) and Anita Kumari of
Madrassa Faiyazul Uloom (Chhapra) are included in the list.
What makes non Muslim or Hindu parents enroll their wards in an
institution which bears a religious tag of other sect and is being asso-
ciated with terrorism? According to the board officials, the quality of
education and the strict discipline observed in the madrassas is the
main draw for parents of the Hindu students. The religious tag and the
stigma of terrorism is no deterrent for them as they know it is all prop-
aganda.
resort.
Discussion on Quds in Jamia Millia
New Delhi: A meeting in conection with Quds Day was held in
Jamia Millia Islamia's Centre for West Asian Studies on 17 Sept.
in which ambassadors of various countries, intellectuals, ulama,
scholars and journalists in large number participated. Prof Anwar
Alam, director of the Centre speaking on this occasion said that
this meeting is held to express our solidarity with the people of
Palestine and to review their struggle from different angles.
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Nabi Zadeh said that
the government and people of Iran fully support the struggle of
the Palestinian people. Others who participated in this meeting
and expressed their views were ambassadors of Jordan, repre-
sentatives of Arab League, Egyptian embassy, former ambassa-
dor Ishrat Aziz, Prof Rama Krishnan and others.
Meanwhile, Quds Day was observed in different large and
small cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Hyderabad,
Bangalore and Kashmir Valley on 18 Sept. and special prayers
were held for the liberation of the oppressed people of Palestine.
Protest demonstrations were also held in these and other cities
wherein it was stated that durable peace in the Middle East can-
not be established unless an independent state of Palestine is set
up there. Special prayers were also held in Delhi's Jama Masjid,
Fatehpuri and other masjids, Nizamuddin Aulia's Dargah, Imams
of both the “Shahi” masjids, Syed Ahmad Bokhari and Mufti
Maulana Mukarram Ahmad asked people in their Friday sermons
to observe this day with special importance and respect. In spe-
cial prayers while expressing sympathy with the people of
Palestine, Israeli government was strongly criticised for its atroc-
ities and bombings on the innocent and helpless people of
Palestine. Demand was also made to United Nations to pass a
resolution in Security Council compelling Israel to vacate occu-
pied areas in Gaza Strip, West Bank and other areas illegally
occupied by Israel and this country should be tried as war crimi-
nal for unleashing war of attrition against Palestine and its inno-
cent and helpless people a number of times. Maulana
Amiduzzaman Kairanwi, working president of the Old Boys
Association of Darul Uloom Deoband, demanded trial of Israel as
a war criminal for unleashing war against Palestine.
A demonstration sponsored by the National Council of Shia
Ulama was held at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on 18 Sept to commem-
orate the International Quds Day for the liberation of the First
Qibla Baitul Maqdis and in support of the innocent people of
Palestine. Addressing the vast gathering of demonstrators, pres-
ident of the National Council of Shia Ulama, Maulana Syed
Mohsin Taqvi said that unity amongst us is very essential in order
to protect the honour and sanctity of Baitul Maqdis and to get rid
of the cruelties and exploitation of the oppressors. He said that
awakening of Muslims and their unity is what the big powers are
afraid of.
General secretary of the National Council of Shia Ulama
Maulana Sheikh Mohammad Askari while addressing the demon-
strators said that the Quds Day is in fact a symbol of opposition
against oppression and hence keeping silence over oppression
is not only cruelty in itself but also a support for oppression.
Another speaker, Maulana Syed Naeem Abbas, while condemn-
ing the oppression of innocent and unarmed Palestinian people,
Palestinian refugees protest against UNHCR
New Delhi: A group of Palestinian refugees staged a sit-in
protest on 22 September in front of the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights (UNHCR) office here. The
refugees, driven away from Iraq, accused the UNHRC of ignor-
ing them and appealed that they should be soon rehabilitated
and settled in European countries.
"The UNHCR neglect us. They don't care about us. About
me, I have been waiting here for one year and one month with-
out any progress. I don't have a blue card yet allowing me to get
a meagre stipend. There are people who are still waiting for
embassy interviews. There's no news,” complained Mohammed
Mousa, a Palestinian refugee living in India. Currently there are
about a hundred such refugees who had fled from Iraq after the
atrocities against Palestinians in particular and Sunnis in gener-
al. They started fleeing to India and other destinations during the
last four years. Some have been offered US visa but they have
refused to go there, fearing discrimination against them. Most
prefer European countries.
“This office is to help refugees. What about me? I have no
sleep. May be very soon I will go crazy because I don't get sleep
anymore. I feel my head will burst. My son's future has finished,
this is his fourth year and he will leave the college. I'm 52 years
old. What is this family? No nationality, no job, no money, no
future, no home!” cried Jamal Ibrahim Ahmed, another refugee.
Sabreen Hassan Mahmood, most of whose family members
have been living in Sweden for the past some months, lives by
herself in New Delhi. "I was in Iraq. I came here a year ago. After
some months all my family members were sent to Sweden while
I'm left to live here alone for the past seven months. No relative,
salary is very bad here. Promises are made again and again but
of no avail," said Sabreen Hassan Mahmood, a Palestinian
refugee living in India.
The Palestinian refugees are in India are not allowed to
engage in economic activities, including taking up a job or start-
ing a business.
Most of them get a monthly stipend from the UNHCR, which
they say, is not sufficient to make ends meet. About 50 refugees
are still waiting for an interview at the Swedish and Canadian
embassies, which are willing to accept them. However, this
made an appeal to prime minister Manmohan Singh to put pres-
sure on Israel and United Nations to stop oppression and bar-
barism on the helpless people of Palestine. Many others like Dr
Tasleem Rahmani, Maulana Mirza Imran Ali, Maulana Jalal Haider
Naqvi, joint secretary of Majlis Ulama-e Hind, Syed Qamar Abbas
Saraswi and a large number of people also addressed the demon-
strators. Thereafter, while raising slogans they march ahead from
Jantar Mantar towards Parliament Street where they were
stopped and arrested by the Parliament Street Police Station but
soon thereafter they were released. Subsequently a delegation of
National Council of Shia Ulama submitted a seven-point memo-
randum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding use of his
influence for immediate vacation of Palestinian areas particularly
Gaza Strip by Israel, stoppage of Israeli oppression on the inno-
cent and unarmed people of Palestine. The prime minister was
asked to use Indian government's influence to solve the problem
of Palestine.
In Lucknow, Ali Congress organised a meeting here on 18
Sept. on the occasion of Quds Day in which Muslims were asked
to get united to liberate the First Qibla from the occupation of
Zionist forces and be on the watch against the unholy alliance
and intentions of imperialist, Zionist and fascist forces. Al Haj
Mirza Irshad Husain said while addressing the meeting that we
should also be watchful to see if our governments and inimical
forces are not occupying our mosques anywhere in the country
and agents of imperialist and Zionist forces are not working in
our midst against our interests and whether we are sponsoring
people like Shaddad, Pharoah, Nimrod and Yezid. Speakers said
that leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Ayatullah Khomeini
had willed to go on observing Jumatul Vida as Quds Day for as
long as it is not completely liberated from the occupation of
Zionists and the oppressed people of Palestine do not get their
independence. He further said that Ayatullah Khameini's will and
directives teach us that voices of protests should be raised not
only against Zionist and imperialist forces but also against all
those forces which are exploiting oppressed people. We should
oppose all governments which not only deprive us of our rights
but are also heaping cruelties on us, occupying our places of
worship, conspiring to gobble up our valuable lands and helping
and sponsoring our enemies. He said that Baitul Maqdis is far
away from us but in our own city there are many mosques which
have been confiscated under Section 145. Government is occu-
pying the lands of Imambaras and Karbalas. We should raise our
voice of protests against these also. On the occasion of Quds
Day, together with the restoration of First Qibla and independ-
ence of Palestine, we should also pray for the destruction and
failure of people who want to harm Muslim Millat and destroy
God's properties and legacies of our ancestors. In the meeting,
concern was expressed over the increasing suspicious activities
of agents and personnel of Israeli embassy in UP and Muslims
were asked to beware against every danger and conspiracy. In
this meeting molvis were specially requested to avoid their mutu-
al recriminations and confrontations, greed for wealth and flattery
of people in power and apprise the people of Muslim Millat of their
Islamic responsibilities and duties. (NA Ansari)
process would take another a year. Palestinians say there is a
long wait ahead before they can be settled.
Muslim board to create awareness about divorce
Lucknow: All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has
decided to create awareness among Muslims against growing
trend of divorces in the community.
"A growing trend of 'talaqs' has been witnessed among members
of the community. Hence seminars and discourses will be held at
various places including mosques to make people aware of the
ills of divorce," a senior AIMPLB member and Naib Imam of
Idgah, Khalid Rasheed Firangimahli, said here on 13 Sept.
Through the discourses, people will be made aware under what
circumstances talaq (divorce) can be held valid as per the
Quran, he said adding that people's misconceptions with regard
to this practice will also be removed.
"Talaq cannot be justified... neither from the Islamic point of view
nor from the social point of view and all out efforts will be made
to check this growing practice among the community members,"
Firangimahali said adding that talaq is forbidden in Islam except
under plausible and pressing circumstances.
Informing that there has been a marked growth in matters relat-
ed to talaq which come before Darul Qazas (Islamic courts), he
said it is a matter of concern for all. Besides creating awareness,
the Darul Qazas will make efforts to dissuade couples seeking
divorce before starting the proceedings, Firangimahal said.
"Acting as councillor, the Darul Qaza will organise more than one
meeting between couples to try to work out an understanding,"
he said.
"It will have to be ensured as to why the couple was seeking a
divorce and whether it was the only and last option left for them.
"It would have to be seen whether the couple can work out their
differences and if they can save the marriage," he said. On the
reasons behind the growing trend, Firangimahali said during the
past few years, people have been found to be opting for divorce
as an easy remedy without working out their differences because
of the rise in the level of stress in everyday life but the effort of
the board would be to see that snapping of ties should be the last


 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 5

NATIONAL

Kashmir Valley awash in liquor

rinagar: Kashmir Valley has now become a centre for tres in large numbers and heavy sale of liquor took place even at were sold in the Valley whereas by the end of November 2008,

S sale and purchase of liquor. In the month of August

alone, liquor worth Rs one crore approximately was sold.
This is confirmed by government also. According to unof-
ficial sources, from 13 to 16 August liquor worth Rs 1½ crores
was sold legally as well as illegally which was used at tourist
resorts like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg and other places dur-
ing the holidays. However, police or excise department did not
take any action against any body for selling it illegally. According
to some sources, large scale sale of liquor in the Valley has
become an important source of income for the government and
therefore effort is being made to encourage the sellers of liquor
and bootleggers.
According to reports, because of holidays on 14 and 15 August
and earlier strike on Friday 13 August, people visited tourist cen-
much higher cost. According to another reports, people belonging
to police department alone consumed liquor worth Rs 37 lakh on
15 August. It is also reported that local and foreign tourists while
visiting tourist resorts on normal days purchase about 15000
litres of liquor daily and during the three days of holidays this fig-
ure had reached around 50, 000 litres. In view of all this one can
easily conclude that habit of consuming liquor is fast increasing in
the Valley and at tourist and health resorts large amount of liquor
is consumed. Though liquor was being openly sold and con-
sumed, neither any body made any complaint about this to
authorities nor police at its own initiative took any action against
this as a result of which these people i e sellers as well as con-
sumers are getting encouraged.
It may be noted that during 2006-07, 2.85 lakh bottles of liquor
this figure had reached 4 lakh bottles. It is estimated that at this
growing rate, by 2010 annual sale of liquor in the state will be
about a million bottles. In this way there will be a 25% increase in
the sale of liquor in two years only. According to official sources,
at present there are 226 shops in the state selling liquor, of which
218 are in Jammu region and only 8 in the Valley. At present
liquor is openly available in 45 bars and hotels of the state of
whom only 2 are in the Valley. The government gets an income of
Rs 245 crores annually. Many people are concerned over
increasing habit of consumption of liquor and while issuing licens-
es for sale of liquor many rules and restrictions are being violat-
ed. Many shops have been set up only a few metres away from
schools and places of worship and in spite of people's protests,
no action is being taken to remove them.

Equality panel’s challenges riage procession) of Lord Rama in November. It will travel from
Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh to Janakpur in Nepal along with the
rath of Lord Rama. The VHP spokesperson Sharad Sharma said
MOHAMMAD NAUSHAD KHAN made by the law ministry and had accordingly re- drafted the over 250 saints will take part in the marriage party. "Our leader
Cabinet note. According to minority minister once the Equal Ashok Singal will also participate in the rath yatra. Those who are
or the protection of the deprived, the United Progressive Opportunity Commission is set up people approaching the old and have difficulty in walking will follow the yatra in cars," he

F Alliance government is likely to table a draft Bill in the

coming winter session of Parliament, inorder to pave way
for setting up an Equal Opportunity Commission.The draft
Bill was prepared and distributed by the Ministry of Minority
Affairs among various ministries and concerned departments.
Questions were raised by ministries like Home, HRD and Law
over some points in the proposed Bill and on the basis of that
refused to accept and urged the ministry of minority affairs to look
again and redraft to make it acceptable to all.G K Pillay, Home
Secretary was of the view that the very definition of deprived
group was not clearly drafted and hence it was most likely to be
misused in the near future. He also said "equal opportunities
have to be given to individuals and cannot be given to groups
because within the groups there would be persons who are more
advantaged".The Minority Ministry after considering suggestions
made by different ministries redrafted the Bill and has sent to the
law Ministry for final inspection.Minority Minister Salman Khurshid
said "his ministry has incorporated substantially the suggestions
Commission will not have to bring data to redress their griev-
ances. All they need is just to trigger off an inquiry.
The EOC is in different name in various countries but the
basic purpose remains the same ie to safeguard the marginalised
sections of the society irrespective of their caste and religion. It
can be said to the extended version or the amalgamation of these
countries. In America it is known as the Civil Rights Act (1964), in
UK it is the Equality Act(2006), in Canada it is the Employment
Equity Act(1995), in Australia it is the Human Rights and Equal
Opportunities Act (1986) and in New Zealand, it is Employment
Relations Act (2000). But the big question is: will our government
be able to implement the EOC in the line of these countries or it
will be just like other Commission and Committee.
VHP plans rath yatra in November
Upset over the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) failure in meeting
the aspirations of its supporters, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad
(VHP) has planned a rath yatra in the guise of the baraat (mar-
added. Mr Sharma said the purpose of yatra is to communicate
with people. The VHP leaders and supporters will accompany a
rath carrying the idols of Lord Rama and his brothers Bharat and
Luxman. It will start on 14 November and reach Doodhamati vil-
lage on 21. Its procession will pass through Azamgarh in Uttar
Pradesh and Buxar in Bihar and enter Nepal via Raxaul.
The saints in Ayodya used to take Rama's baraat from Ayodya to
Doodhmati village in Janakpur district of Nepal on foot every year
in November. There the saints took part in the marriage ceremo-
ny of Rama and Sita. The procession was discontinued following
the demolition of Babri Masjid and communal violence in 1992. It
is believed that the marriage party of Lord Rama had gone from
Ayodhya to Doodhmati in Nepal's Janakpur in mythical Satyug
era. Earlier in the second week of September, VHP leader Ashok
Singal had alleged that LK Advani took out a rath yatra in 1990 to
use the Ayodhya Ram temple issue for his personal political end.
(Fahmi Rahmani)

Indian security - Israel knows better

srael has warned that “Islamist” militants are last year's attacks in Mumbai. 'Living allowance'-are being offered in govern- Monks in mosques are forced to preach to

I preparing attacks in India similar to those in

Mumbai last year. Major hotels and a Jewish
centre were among the targets in Mumbai,
the warning said.
Israel's counterterrorism unit said on 17
September that the group whcih launched the
Mumbai attacks was planning to target Western
or Israeli tourists across India. Israeli television
reported that a travel advisory warns Israelis
against travelling to India.
"The terrorist group that carried out the seri-
ous Mumbai attack in India is planning to carry
out a number of attacks across India, particu-
larly against concentrations of Western or
Israeli tourists," AFP quoted the counterterror-
ism unit as saying. The Israeli statement said
the planned attacks could target other Lubavitch
centres in India. The warning was based on "a
concrete, very serious threat", it said.
Reuters added from Occupied Jerusalem
that Israel received a "pinpoint" intelligence tip-
off that Pakistani militants may carry out a
series of attacks there in the coming weeks.
Citing a leaked copy of the travel advisory,
Israel’s Channel Two said the alleged militants
had al-Qaeda links and planned to target both
Western and Jewish tourists in attacks similar to
PTI added in a report datelined Occupied
Jerusalem, that the areas of attack include
Jammu and Kashmir and added that the Israeli
travel advisory to its nationals has rated the
threat as "imminent and concrete". The adiviso-
ry has recommended the Israelis currently in
India to avoid crowded areas, especially tourist
areas, which have no apparent armed security.
China's Muslim Uyghurs
Forbidden to Fast
Chinese authorities in Xinjiang Province have
issued a notice that any Uyghur cadres or work-
ers found not eating lunch during Ramadan
could lose their jobs.
It is part of the campaign of local authorities
in Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uyghur ethnic
group, to force the Uyghur people to give up
their religious rituals during the fasting month of
Ramadan.
Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic cal-
endar, which began this year on Aug. 22. It
requires not eating during the daytime.
"Free lunches, tea, and coffee-that authori-
ties are calling 'Care from the government' or
ment departments and companies. But it is
actually a ploy used to find out who is fasting,"
said Dilxat Raxit, World Uyghur Congress
spokesman, speaking to The Epoch Times.
According to Dilxat, Uyghur Communist
Party cadres throughout Xinjiang had been
forced to sign "letters of responsibility" promis-
ing to avoid fasting and other religious activities.
They are also responsible for enforcing the pol-
icy in their assigned areas, and face punish-
ment if anyone in these areas fasts.
For the first time, Dilxat said, the crackdown
has extended to retired Communist Party mem-
bers. Current cadres are required to visit them
to prevent them from participating in the fast. If
anyone violates the ban, local leaders will be
held responsible and severely punished, he
said.
Muslim restaurant owners are forced to sign
a document to remain open and continue selling
alcohol during Ramadan or have their licenses
revoked, he said.
Uyghurs arrested during the July riots in
Urumqi are also prohibited from fasting; those
who insist on fasting will be force fed food and
water while enduring insults for their misbehav-
ior, he said in the interview.
others that fasting is a "feudal activity" and
harmful to health, said Dilxat. Otherwise, their
religious certification will be cancelled.
When asked about Chinese Communist
Party (CCP) leader Hu Jintao's recent visit to
Xinjiang, Dilxat said: "Xinjiang's situation has
not yet returned to normal. Rather than asking
the local Han people to respect the religion and
culture of Uyghur people, Hu encouraged the
use of military troops to suppress and further
restrict our religious freedom. The communist
regime often talks about 'maintaining stability,'
but what they do is always different from what
they say. They are actually the ones who are
destroying stability."
An Epoch Times reporter contacted the
CCP's State Ethnic Affairs Commission to see
whether the restrictions claimed by Dilxat were
official, or what the official stance on Ramadan
was. The media contact wouldn't speak on the
subject, instead giving two numbers in Xinjiang
that he said the reporter would be able to call to
find out more. Both numbers were continually
busy, and when the reporter called the State
Ethnic Affairs Commission back, the man hung
up. (theepochtimes.com)
6 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009
NATIONAL
Meeting with RBI official over Interest-free Banking
Mumbai: A delegation of Indian Centre for Islamic Finance (ICIF),
consisting of General Secretary, H Abdur Raqeeb and two of its
trustees Dr. Rahmatullah and Mr. KM Abdul Salam, former
Manager of RBI met Dr. K C Chakrabarty, Deputy Governor
Reserve Bank of India at his office at RBI in Mumbai on 14 Sept.
They discussed the introduction of interest-free banking in
India in the light of the recommendations of Dr Raghuram Rajan
Committee on Financial Sector Reform which said that it would
be possible through appropriate measures to create a framework
for such products without any adverse systemic impact.
Mr. Anand Sinha working group constituted by RBI to exam-
ine the Islamic instruments had compared the conventional and
Islamic Banking in a commendable way but concluded that it is
not feasible in the current regulatory framework.
The delegation impressed upon the Deputy Governor that the
RBI should have taken the views of financial services industry as
well as the Islamic financial experts and recommended for regu-
latory amendment for according a level playing field for those who
want to engage in Islamic banking activities as done in UK and
Singapore. They submitted the documents of Islamic finance reg-
ulations in non-OIC jurisdiction which gives details of how regula-
tory amendments were carried out in UK, Singapore, Japan,
France and Hong Kong to prepare the way for a level playing
ground for Islamic banking to function.
FSA (Financial Services Authority) of UK and MAS (Monetary
Authority of Singapore) have brought out detailed documents on
Islamic finance institutions which can provide a roadmap for
Indian regulators to follow.
The delegation also submitted a copy of the document of HM
Treasury - The development of Islamic finance in the UK: The
Government Perspective of December 2008 and IMF Working
Paper “Introducing Islamic banks into Conventional Banking
Systems” by Juan Sole.
Emergence of Islamic financial institution in Kerala also came
into discussion. The Deputy Governor said that RBI is not against
Interest-free banking but needs a regulatory amendment of the
government through Parliament to include the same. The delega-
tion emphasized that Interest-free banking is imperative for the
inclusive growth of the minorities and marginalized sections of the
society and it will open the gate for the flow of investment from liq-
uidity-rich Gulf region to our country as they are considering India
to be a safe region to invest after 9/11.
The ICIF leaders are planning to meeting the Union Finance
Minister Mr Pranab Mukherji as a follow up on their discussions
with the RBI Deputy Governor and to press for regulatory amend-
ments in Parliament or issuance of an executive order of GOI in
this respect. (Mohammed Sadath)
Sychophancy is pastime of Bihar Muslim journos
SOROOR AHMED
soroorahmed@yahoo.com
ycophancy has its limit. And when one crosses it s/he
S loses all self-respect. But the journalists and opinion-
makers in Bihar, especially Muslims, are caring little
about it and are indulging in bootlicking of a unique sort.
Not to speak of Urdu media, which even fears to publish the
comment of the opposition leaders, Muslims working in English
and Hindi Press are going to any extent to come up with fantas-
tic stories about the so-called performance of the Nitish Kumar
government.
Read these opening lines of the story filed by Faizan Ahmad,
the Times of India's special correspondent in Patna: "Sometimes
incentives make a world of difference. Even when it comes to
education. Take for instance the state government's cash incen-
tive to Muslim students: money sure has helped mint merit. The
scheme has resulted in a record jump in the number of Muslim
students securing first division in the Matriculation exams."
Then in the very second paragraph of the same story pub-
lished on August 13, 2009 he quoted Shahid Ali Khan, minister of
minority welfare in the Nitish Kumar government: "The increase is
over 100 per cent and the credit goes to the state government's
policy of giving cash incentive to each Muslim student passing out
with a first division." The news story goes on to state that, "The
Nitish Kumar government in 2007 announced a reward of Rs
10,000 to each Muslim student securing first division at the
Matriculation exam. That year a total of 2,627 Muslim students
had passed out with first division. In 2008, this number swelled to
5,800 and in 2009 the number shot up to 11,500."
Wait a moment and read what Khan told the same newspa-
per in the same news-story: "Students of 2008 batch will be hand-
ed over the reward money very soon and applications are being
collected from the 2009 first divisioners."
May one ask Faizan Ahmad and Shahid Ali Khan as to how
is it that the Muslim students performed so well and the number
of first divisioners got doubled when according to them they have
With best compliments from
Syed Zahid Ahmad adds from Mumbai:
I attended FICCI's seminar at Hotel Grand Hyatt, Mumbai on 9
September where I posed a question to Dr. K. C. Chakrabarty,
Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India, in which I said, I am a
Muslim and my faith does not allow me to indulge in any interest-
based financial transaction. There is a large financial exclusion of
Indian Muslims due to non-availability of interest free banking in
India. Have you taken note of the fact that Muslims do not repre-
sent even one percent of the employees in RBI? For financial
inclusion of Indian Muslims, the Raghuram Rajan Committee has
already made recommendations to create financial infrastructure
for interest free banking. Have you studied that report? What RBI
is going to do with that recommendation? Have you ever evaluat-
ed the potentials of Islamic Banking for Inclusive growth of India?
Dr. Chakrabarty’s reply was as follows: We have not
designed the financial regulations of the country. Though we have
not studied these issues so far, but it does not mean that if some-
thing has not been studied so far, it will not be studied in future.
We would like to take these issues into consideration.
Azamgarh dharna on Batla House anniversary
Azamgarh: Supporters of Ulema Council and other organisations
staged dharna and submitted memorandum to the district officials
on the first anniversary of the Batla House encounter at various
place in Azamgarh district on 19 September.
"Our main demand is for a high-level probe into the Batla
House encounter," Kalim Jamai, state president of the youth wing
of Ulema Council (UC), told TOI over phone. He said the UC had
announced a protest programme at a large scale, but in view of
the festivals, the programme was cut short and only memoran-
dum was submitted to the officials at different places.
While UC chief Maulana Amir Rashadi Madni went to
Sanjarpur, the Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey and
activists of Peoples Union for Civil Liberties staged a dharna near
the collectorate. In view of the UC programme, elaborate securi-
ty arrangements were made in the district.
Sohrabuddin encounter: AP police under SC scanner
Ahmedabad: Supreme Court which is hearing the controversial
Sohrabuddin fake encounter case is now probing into the role of
Andhra Pradesh police in the episode. Gujarat government has
told the Court that the encounter of Sohrabuddin by Gujarat
police was fake, but it is yet not able to explain many important
issues like how Sohrabuddin's wife Kausar Bi and witness
Tulsiram Prajapati were killed. The new issue has come up before
the Court as amicus curiae in the case Solicitor General Gopal
Subramaniam raised the question of the role of the Andhra police
not received the reward money of 2008, not to speak of 2009?
The big question is if Muslim students did not get a single
penny, how is it that the number of first divisioners got doubled?
Both the minister and the journalist tried to cheat the readers by
hiding a very important fact. The number of not only the Muslim
first divisioners has increased, but the performance in general
has improved because unlike in the past, the Bihar State
Examination Board has now introduced the CBSE pattern of
questions. Earlier the pattern of question was subjective, there-
fore the percentage of those passing the examination and secur-
ing first division was much less.
It needs to be mentioned that 19.60 percent of the Muslim
students who passed in 2009 secured first division. The general
percentage is 19.53 per cent. It also needs to be made clear that
when the scheme was announced by the chief minister on
November 11, 2007 it was none else but the alliance partner the
BJP, which publicly issued a statement opposing it. Even the
finance department reportedly objected to it. And then too the
argument was that the percentage of Muslims securing first divi-
sion is slightly better in Bihar than the general, therefore, why
should they be given incentive or reward. How was the percent-
age of Muslim first divisioners better than the general in 2007
when the examination was held in March of the same year and
the chief minister’s announcement came in November?
ut the minister shamelessly went on to state in the Times of
B India story: "This sense of competition has yielded good
results." He further said that the scheme will motivate
Muslim children to join schools. The minister and the journalist
tried to take the readers and Muslim community for granted. The
fact is that the state government did not even publish the form for
applying for the reward money. Not to speak about this so-called
“reward” for the first divisioners, the state government has not
published a single form for the four central government scholar-
ships for minority students though the Centre created a separate
fund for it. Not a single form of Post-Matric, Pre-Matric, Merit-
cum-Means and Professional Courses scholarship was published
Kaleem Kawaja Washington DC
in helping Gujarat police unofficially. He claimed that AP police
had given logistical support to Gujarat police. With this argument
he pressed for the transfer of the investigations to outside agency
like CBI. "What was the motive of the Andhra Pradesh Police to
join the conspiracy? What could have actuated their action when
it was not officially done?" the Bench comprising justices Tarun
Chatterjee and Aftab asked. Two vehicles carrying AP Police per-
sonnel had escorted the three victims from the state to Gujarat to
facilitate the killings. Sohrabuddin, along with Kauser Bi and their
friend Prajapati, were picked up in a joint operation by Gujarat
and AP Police from a bus on its way from Hyderabad to Sangli in
Maharashtra on November 22, 2005. Gujarat police has claimed
that they had come to Gujarat to kill Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi. Besides the AP Police, the role of Rajasthan
Police also figured during the investigations conducted so far into
the killings. The amicus curiae also accused the state police of
leaving several loose ends in the investigations, as the state had
been consistently making efforts to shield the accused. "In a case
where investigations have never been fair and where the state
has not been fair in the advancement of the course of justice, we
must have thorough investigations into the incidents, as police
officers are involved in the murder," the amicus curiae urged the
Bench. He further pointed out that no efforts had been made till
date to establish how Kausar Bi and Prajapati had been killed.
The amicus curiae pointed out that Inspector Solanki of the
Gujarat CID, who had conducted preliminary investigations into
the fake encounters, had recorded a number of crucial state-
ments linking top police officers of the state to the killings, but the
report has neither been submitted in the apex court nor had
formed part of the charge sheet filed in the trial court.
RAW trained Pak Taliban militants?
A report submitted to senior officials in Pakistan by a joint inves-
tigation team has allegedly claimed that the 23 arrested com-
manders of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan have confessed involve-
ment of secret departments of India, including RAW, and
Afghanistan in supporting militants in Pakistan. According to
reports, the militant commanders, including Sim Khan, Mahmood
Khan and Maulvi Umer, who were arrested during operation Rah-
e-Rast, have confessed that they were provided financial aid,
weapons and special training by secret agencies from India and
Afghanistan to fight against the Pakistan Army. The report stated
that secret agencies from India were in contact with militants in
Jalalabad, Kandahar and Mazar Sharif and the militants went to
their collaborators via secret ways where they were invited to
feasts and they were provided weapons and money earned by
the narcotics trade, the Dawn reported on 19 September. The
report also revealed that some militants received special war
training from Afghanistan. (news.rediff.com)
in the last two years. The Centre announced these scholarships
after the recommendation of the Sachar Committee report.
It is the organizations like Al-Khair Charitable Trust, Students
Islamic Organization and Bihar Rabita Committee which jointly
formed the Alpsankhiyak Chatwirti Morcha (Minority Scholarship
Front), collected donations from people and published and distrib-
uted thousands of forms to students. In 2008, the central fund meant
for the scholarships was allowed to lapse on March 31, 2008. This
prompted the Morcha to stage a sit-in near Patna's busy Income Tax
roundabout on April 23, 2008. It was only after this protest that the
forms of the students submitted in the state minority welfare depart-
ment were sent to the Centre. And even when the cheques came
from the Centre to the state government it took months to be distrib-
uted among the beneficiary students.
This year too all the forms were published by the Morcha.
The state government failed to renew the scholarships of the stu-
dents of Professional Courses who got money last year. They are
supposed to get scholarships till their course is completed. As
there was no announcement, no advertisement and no notice
from the state government about these scholarships--though the
Centre has earmarked a separate fund for publishing forms, giv-
ing newspaper ads and other related works--according to sources
out of the total quota for Bihar in Pre-Matric scholarship only one-
fifth could apply this year. The last date of submission of forms
was August 15 and they would now be sent to the Centre for the
release of amount. Sources said that though Bihar's quota was
1,60,000, the number of applications received is something
between 30,000 and 32,000.
This is just the tip of an iceberg about scholarships. The real
story is known to both the minister and journalist. But they are
true clever by half and are befooling none, but themselves.
Shahid Ali Khan, being a minister, is paid for being loyal to his
chief minister, Nitish Kumar. But can a journalist like Faizan
Ahmad go to such an extent. He is paid to publish the real story,
not to butter up the powers that be. But in the name of journalism
this is happening now in Bihar.


“Muslims should be given reservation by including them in OBC category”
New Delhi: Union Minister of State for
Minority Affairs, Salman Khurshid said
while speaking at a seminar on “Minorities
and National Stream” at Delhi's St
Stephen's College that minorities should
be included in OBC category (27% reser-
vation) and given the benefits of reserva-
tion, as is being done in states like
Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu where
this facility at 6 percent, in proportion to
their population, is being given to them for
the past 10-15 years. He said that in Andhra Pradesh under this
system 4 percent reservation was intended to be given to minori-
ties but the matter is pending in the court there. He said that these
are his personal views but this problem, i.e., reservation for
minorities is under consideration of the government. He added
that Supreme Court has laid down the limit of reservation upto 50
percent, so from this point of view, minorities can be included in
OBC category and given reservation. Earlier the minister had said
in his first statement after taking over the ministry that no reser-
vation is possible for the Muslims.
PM's high-priority minority dist
scheme runs aground in states
New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may have accorded
high priority to the multi-sectoral development programmes being
implemented in the 90-minority concentrated districts of the coun-
try, but latest statistics reveal that the scheme has not taken off in
Trial of Azamgarh continues
HAIDER ABBAS
Lucknow: There is no sign of any respite for the residents of
Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh (UP) as the whole region is under a
siege, since the Batla House encounter of Sept. 19, 2008. " No,
it had started much earlier, when Tariq Qasmi and Khalid Mujahid
were accused of the blasts in courts in Lucknow, Varanasi and
Faizabad, all in UP, and were arrested on Dec 22, 2007," said
Rajiv Yadav, a resident of Azamgarh and an active member of
Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) while talking on phone.
His fact-finding report was released on August 28, 2009 by
Sandeep Pandey along with SR Darapuri, Vandana Mishra and
Aridamanjit Singh, all noted human rights activists. The report in
Hindi is named "Batla House ke baad Azamgarh". It was compiled
with the joint efforts of Mashiuddin Sanjari, Shahnawaz Alam,
Tariq Shafeeq and Rajiv Yadav. Three of them belong to
Azamgarh while Shahnawaz Alam is from Balia (UP).
The report was an outcome of their continuous tryst with peo-
ple who had been hounded by the police and administrative
apparatus in the wake of wild accusations of being involved in
various blasts all over the country.
The report begins by stating that the media hype after the
blasts in Delhi on Sept 13, 2008, and the people named in it from
Azamgarh, made the whole district tense. Reports from media as
well as from the Special Task Force (STF) officials, who descend-
ed on the district in vehicles without number plates, named a few
persons who were later forgotten after the fake encounter of Batla
House in which Sajid and Atif Amin were killed alongwith police
officer Mohan Chandra Sharma while another police officer was
injured.
The 22-year-old Atif Amin was a research scholar in the
Human Resource Department of Jamia Milia Islamia, Delhi. He
was staying in Delhi for the last couple of years. He was later
named by the police to have been involved in Sankat Mochan,
Gorakhpur, Ayodhya and various other blasts in courts in UP,
Ahmedabad, Delhi and Jaipur and was dubbed as a kingpin of the
"Ghaznawi Brigade" of an equally unknown "Indian Mujahideen"
which was held responsible for all the recent blasts.
People in Sanjarpur came to know from media that Sajid and
Atif were murdered and Saif had been caught. Atif hailed from
Sanjarpur village in Azamgarh, and his father had built a house in
the nearby town of Saraimir, where his whole family had shifted.
People in his village remember Atif as a nice athlete and that he
visited his village quite often. Sajid, on his part, had left Azamgarh
for the first time only three months before the fateful "encounter"
during which he had appeared in an entrance exam in Jamia Milia
Islamia, Delhi after which he came back to his village. He is the
son of Dr Ansarul Hassan. One month later he had again left for
Delhi where he enrolled in a computers course and joined
English-speaking classes. It took him just one month more in
Delhi to be killed in a fake encounter on which objections have
been raised by many human rights organisations. Now the clean
chit given to the Delhi Police by the National Human Rights
Commission for its role in the fake encounter has made NHRC to
lose its own credibility.
Another student arrested in the wake of the Batla House
encounter is Zeeshan, son of Professor Ehsan, who had stayed
in the fateful flat and left in the morning to appear in an exam. On
his return, he came to know that Sajid and Atif had been killed by
police, so he called up his father. Professor Ehsan told his son to
immediately surrender to the authorities. First he went to Aaj Tak
16 of the 20 states marked for the programme.
Minority Ministry statistics show that states like Jammu and
Kashmir, Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Sikkim
have not even submitted the development plans for their districts,
while Bihar and Manipur were late in utilising the funds sanc-
tioned by the Centre and Orissa is yet to seek the funds from the
government.
According to the Ministry, the scheme is progressing satisfac-
torily only in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Haryana.
The Centre plans to spend about Rs 2,500 crore for the scheme,
under which states recommend specific development projects for
the districts identified. The Centre approves the plans after which
the funds are released. Bihar, which has seven minority concen-
trated districts, tops the list of states which are slow in implement-
ing the scheme. The ministry has found out that the state simply
sat on the funds allocated to it in February this year and released
it to the district authorities only in August. Same is the case with
Manipur, which has six such districts.
The programme is yet to take off in Jharkhand, Uttarakhand
and Karnataka which received funds in the last three months,
while Maharashtra is yet to seek release of the funds although its
development proposals for three districts were cleared in July.
Interestingly, Orissa has not even bothered to seek release of
the funds from the Centre although the development plan for its
lone minority-concentrated district of Gajapati was cleared in
February, a status report prepared by the ministry on implemen-
tation of the scheme showed.
Even in UP, the scheme has got going only in 12 of the 21
minority-concentrated districts. The state has the largest number
news channel office in Delhi from where the Police later arrested
him. On Sept 21, 2008 Saqib Nisar, Ziaur Rehman and Shakeel
were also arrested.
After the Batla House encounter, dozens of youths from
Azamgarh were arrested by police and named in various blasts
across the country. Police raided their houses as a routine. The
first raid took place in Sanjarpur on Sept 22 , 2008 at about 6:30
pm when houses of Arif, Khalid, Salman, Sajid Bada, Dr
Shahnawaz (they all are the brothers of Saif who was caught
after the Batla House encounter) were searched. The behaviour
of police was criminal as well as communal. STF officials came in
their civvies riding vehicles without number plates, and misbe-
haved with women and tore copies of the Quran during the raids.
They shouted at people that 'because of this book your children
are becoming terrorists'. The STF would always arrive in their
civvies along with arms in large numbers and ropes and this was
reported to Police Station House Officer (SHO) Kamleshwar
Singh who said that whatever was happening was right. The
same was reported to District Magistrate, Superintendent of
Police, Director Inspector Police but none of them gave any
assurance, neither did they take any action. Instead, they sup-
ported the STF.
Police forces from other states also competed for their share
after the Batla House encounter, and therefore more suspects
were named. Mumbai police named a few on Sept 24, 2008, in
the 2006 train blasts of Mumbai, and arrested Arif Badr, Sadiq
Sheikh, Zakir Sheikh and Afzal Usmani, the last being a resident
of Mau, UP. Arif was shown to have been involved in the blasts of
Delhi and Ahmedabad too. Zakir Sheikh was accused of being a
participant of blasts in various courts in UP and at Sankat Mochan
temple of Varanasi.
What makes it important to note is that even after being
chargesheeted, in some cases and jailed, the arrested faced new
accusations after Batla House encounter. This comes to around
50 cases per accused. All of the accused are around 22-23 year-
old and were either engaged in higher education or in some tech-
nical work for their livelihood.
One who is "missing" is Abu Rashid who is a resident of
Sanjarpur and was working as an apprentice in an opticians shop
in Mumbai. Police had visited his place in Mumbai but at the time
Abu Rashid was visiting paternal village Sanjarpur; therefore, the
police interrogated his brother Abu Talib, and his uncle who were
living in Mumbai. Police forced them to call Abu Rashid to return
to Mumbai "without informing UP police". On Sept 23, 2008, Abu
Rashid informed media including Aaj Tak news channel that his
relatives were being coerced by Mumbai police, therefore, he
would be leaving for Mumbai. His relatives say that Abu Rashid
was to travel to Varanasi from where he was to take a train for
Mumbai, but since then Abu Rashid has gone missing.
When Abu Rashid did not reach Mumbai, his brother Abu
Talib was brought to Azamgarh by Mumbai police. Now Abu Talib
has abandoned his business in Mumbai and is too scared to go
back there. Residents of the village and their relatives allege that
their houses have all been surrounded by security personnel and
that one day they would unearth Abu Rashid and kill him in an
encounter. If Abu Rashid was to abscond, why did he speak to the
media before planning to return to Mumbai.
The report says that today there are more than a dozen such
Abu Rashids in Azamgarh who have been zeroed in by the police
and that some of them belong to peoples' movement and human
rights groups. Some of them have been already caught by police
The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 7
NATIONAL
of such districts and has so far been sanctioned Rs 180.57 crore
out of the overall allocation of Rs 1015.70 crore.
Bengal, Assam and Haryana have fared better. While Bengal
has sent proposals for 10 of its 12 identified districts and began
implementing the scheme in six of them, work has taken off in 11
of the 13 minority- concentrated districts in Assam. (indianex-
press.com - Manoj C G)
Interest-free micro credit best way to help the poor
Hyderabad: Vijay Mahajan, Chairman of Basix, a micro financing
company, says that interest-free micro credit or equity financing is
the best and most appropriate way of improving the lot of poor
people and enabling them to stand on their own feet. He said that
his company will soon start a pilot project based on interest-free
or equity finance. He said this while speaking at a 5-day orienta-
tion and training camp on interest-free micro financing organised
by Human Welfare Foundation at Hyderabad.
He said that one may call it Islamic finance or Shariah complaint
finance, it is equity finance in which both the investor and the
entrepreneur share both the profit or loss, good luck or bad luck.
This company (Basix) was launched in 1996 and has so far dis-
bursed loans worth Rs 2000 crores to about 12 lakh poor people
or households in many states of the country. The rate of interest
at which loans are given is, however, on the higher side i.e. at
24%. Considering that there are tremendous possibilities in the
equity or interest-free financing, the company plans to launch
soon its new scheme either in Hyderabad or Chennai. He says
that Islamic finance is more equitable for the poor.
and are under "illegal detention" at present and they would be
produced at a place and time convenient to the police. The fear
and terror has made many to keep mum and they dare not speak
about their missing kins.
Here is a list of people from Azamgarh who have been arrest-
ed, gone missing or have been "encountered" by the police:
Killed by the Police - two:
1. Atif Amin son of Muhammed Amin, village Sanjarpur. Killed in Delhi.
Accused in 52 cases of Ahmedabad, Varansai Sankat Mochan and
UP courts blasts.
2. Sajid son of Dr. Ansarul Hassan, village Sanjarpur. Accused in 52
cases of Ahmedabad, Varanasi Sankat Mochan temple and UP
courts blasts.
Arrested - 17:
1. Hakeem Tariq Qasmi son of Riyaz Ahmed, village Sammopur, accused
in UP courts blasts.
2. Abul Bashar son of Abu Bakar, village Binapara, accused in
Ahmedabad 19 blasts, one in Gandhi Nagar, involved in 15 bombs
recovered in Surat.
3. Sarwar son of M. Haneef, village Chandpatti, accused in eight cases
of blasts in Jaipur.
4. Saifur-Rehman son of Abdul Rehman, Azamgarh city, accused in
Ahmedabad and Jaipur blasts.
5. Muhammed Saif son of Shadab Ahmed, village Sanjarpur, accused in
52 cases in blasts in Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and a suspect in
Karnataka blasts.
6. Arif son of Mirza Naseem Beg, village Sanjarpur, accused in 36 cases
of blasts in Lucknow and Ahmedabad.
7. Saqib Nisar son of Nisar Ahmed (his whole family is staying in Delhi).
Accused in cases of blasts in Delhi and Ahmedabad.
8. Hakim son of Abdul Kareem, resident of Rehmat Nagar. Accused in
nine cases of blasts in Delhi.
9. Zeeshan son of Ehsan. Accused in 35 cases of blasts in Delhi and
Ahmedabad.
10. Sadiq Husain son of M. Amin Ansari, resident of Purabagh in
Mubarakpur. Accused of carrying arms from Mumbai to Azamgarh.
11. Khalilur-Rehman son of Mutiullah, resident of Nayapura in
Mubarakpur. Accused of carrying arms from Mumbai to Azamgarh.
12. Masoom Raza son of Riyazul Hasan, resident of Ranipura in
Mubarakpur. Accused of carrying arms from Mumbai to Azamgarh.
13. Nazre Alam son of Zafar Alam, resident of Mapura Rani. Accused of
carrying arms from Mumbai to Azamgarh.
14. Arif Badar son of Badrud-Din, village Israuli, Azamgarh. Accused in
cases of Delhi and Mumbai train blasts.
15. Sadiq Sheikh son of Israr Ahmed. Accused in Mumbai train blasts.
Ahmedabad, UP Sankat Mochan and attack on the American
Centre, Kolkata, West Bengal.
16. Zakir Sheikh, village Kaunragahni, Saraimir. Accused in Ahmedabad
and Mumbai serial blasts.
17. Afzal Usman, village Dhalahi, Firozpur. Accused in Mumbai serial
blasts and Ahmedabad.
Missing - 11:
1. Dr. Shahnawaz son of Shadab Ahmed, village Sanjarpur Accused in
Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai serial blasts.
2. Sajid Bada son of Quraish Ahmed, village Sanjarpur. Accused in 52
cases in Delhi, Ahmedabad and Jaipur.
3. Khalid son of Sagheer Ahmed, village Sanjarpur. Accused in 52 cases
in Delhi, Ahmedabad and Jaipur.
4. Salman son of Shakeel Ahmed, village Sanjarpur. Accused in 52 cases
in Delhi, Ahmedabad and Jaipur.
5. Abu Rashid son of Akhlaq Ahmed, village Sanjarpur. Accused in
Mumbai serial blasts.
6. Muhammed Ariz son of Zafar Alam. Resident of Azamgarh city.
Accused of firing at police after the Batla House encounter.
Absconding.
7. Mirza Shadab Beg son of Mirza Ehtesham Beg, Resident of
Azamgarh city. Accused in 52 cases of blasts in Delhi, Ahmedabad
and Jaipur.
8. Shahzad son of Sheeraz. Accused of firing at police after the Batla
House encounter. Absconding.
9. Asadullah son of Dr. Javed, resident of Muhalla Ghulami Ka Pura.
Accused in Delhi blasts.
10. Habeeb Falahi son of Abul Jaish, resident of Grambari Khaas.
Accused in Ahmedabad blasts.
11. Wasif Meyar, village Phariha. Accused in Ahmedabad blasts.
8 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009
NATIONAL
AMU campus: Kerala appoints fast track officer
howing its positive attitude towards minority development,
S the Kerala government, on 12 September, appointed S
Lalithambika as fast track officer to accelerate the land
acquisition procedures for proposed off-campus centre for
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in Malappuram. A report of high-
level committee had suggested the State government to complete
land acquisition procedures under a fast track method.
The high-level committee members Dr KP Gopinathan, deputy
director of Collegiate Education in the Higher Education
Department, Dr K Vijayakumar, special officer of land acquisition,
Ali Askar, assistant officer, and PK Gopalan, Deputy Collector, had
visited the place recently. Their report is supposed to have prompt-
ed the government to appoint S Lalithambika as the fast track offi-
cer of land acquisition for the off-campus centre of the AMU and the
Railway Coach Factory in Palakkad. The office for the land acqui-
sition has begun functioning in the Institute of Land and Disaster
Management Complex in Thrivandram.
Earlier on 7 September, a public convention was held at the
Perinthalmanna Town Hall regarding the land acquisition, begin-
ning of admissions in a temporary set up and other matters related
to the AMU campus. People representing different political, social
and cultural groups attended the gathering along with the general
public. The convention had expressed its concern over the delay in
land acquisition and the coldness in the appointment of officers.
The Central government had allocated Rs 25 crore for the
AMU campus in Malappuram, a Muslim dominated and education-
ally backward district in northern Kerala. After bitter controversy, the
Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala has selected
397 acres of land at Perinthalmanna for the campus. The primary
survey of 392 acres, which is spread over three panchyats, has
been completed. The 158 acre plain land on the mountain will be
used for the construction of the buildings and the rest land will be
used for other purposes. Water for the campus will be taken from a
river nearby. The Water Authority and the Revenue Ministry have
chalked out a plan and draft for the same.
MECA demands special quota for backward women
The Muslim Employees Cultural Association (MECA) urged the
State government to make a provision for special quota for the
backward classes in the proposed 50 per cent quota for women in
the upcoming elections to the local bodies. The State Assembly
has unanimously passed two bills seeking to reserve 50 per cent of
seats in local self-government institutions for women.
The Bills amend the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act and the Kerala
Municipality Act more or less on parallel lines to reserve not only 50
per cent of the wards in the local bodies, but also 50 per cent of the
positions in the committees (standing bodies) in each panchayat,
municipality and corporation in the State. The Bills are in the wake
of the Union government's decision to reserve a half of the local
bodies' positions to women. Kerala became the first State to legis-
late the provision.
Speaking after the passage of the Bills, Minister for Local Self-
Government Paloli Mohammed Kutty said the whole State wanted
the women to step on to a wider platform, on equal terms with the
men, to perform their role in society. This was the second phase of
the women's empowerment campaign of the State after the
Kudumbasree movement, which had brought women from all poor
families in the State under the umbrella of vibrant self-help groups,
he said.
N.A. Ali, general secretary of the MECA, said that the majority
of Union government-funded projects were now being implement-
ed through local self-government institutions with a view to benefit-
ing the minorities and backward classes. He noted that Muslims
and Ezhavas were the two major backward communities in Kerala.
MECA, a common platform for the Muslim government
employees of Kerala, has been fighting for the rights of the commu-
nity in various fields including education, government service and
reservation.
Acquire land for development projects: Ahamed
The Union Minister of State for Railways E
Ahamed said that the Railways would be
able to commence development projects
only if the Kerala Government acquires and
hands over land. He was talking to
reporters before flagging off the tri-weekly
day express in Trivandrum on 10
September that would run between
Kochuveli and Mangalore.
Mr. Ahamed expressed the hope that the State Government
would provide land in three months for the proposed coach factory
in Palakkad. People should cooperate with the State Government
in acquiring land for projects, he said. "The factory is the need of
the hour as we are facing shortage of coaches," he added. "The
setting up of the factory will be of immense help to the Railways as
there are only two such units in the country," he said. A sum of Rs.
113 crore had been allocated for the State. This is in addition to the
Rs. 90 crore provided earlier and the funds provided for develop-
ment of Kochuveli, Nemom and Trivandrum stations. "The tri-week-
ly will be made a daily once infrastructure is in place," he said.
Later on 12 September, the Kannur municipal authorities sub-
mitted proposals for railway development in the town to the
Kerala Round-up: Fahmi Rahmani
Minister. Municipal council members, led by its chairman, B.P.
Farooque, who submitted the proposals, said implementation of
these was important for the overall development of the town. The
council members met Ahamed at his house in Kannur. The propos-
als submitted to the Minister included a flyover in the town, widen-
ing of Railway Station Road here and construction of an under-
bridge at Thayatheru. The Minister told the delegates that the pro-
posals would be studied and considered positively.
Aboobacker Musliar, All India Jamiyyathul Ulama general sec-
retary inaugurating the mass prayer in Malappuram
Thousands attend mass prayer at Swalat Nagar
More than 500, 000 Sunni believers gathered at Swalat Nagar in
Malappuram to take the pledge against terrorism and pray for
peace on the Laylat Al Qadr, the holiest night in the month of
Ramadan, overnight on 16 September. The prayer meeting, organ-
ised by the Ma'dinu Ssaquafathil Islamiyya as part of its Swalat
anniversary, is billed as one of the largest Muslim gatherings
across the globe. The organisers said going by the count of food
packets distributed, the total number of devotees attended the
prayer meet could touch 600,000. The holy night of boundless
blessings is believed to fall on the eve of 27th day of Ramadan and
is considered greater than a thousand nights in sanctity and
rewards from Allah.
Inaugurating the prayer gathering, All India Jamiyyathul Ulama
general secretary A.P. Aboobacker Musliar termed people's indiffer-
ence to righteousness and lack of faith in God as the reasons of all
problems. He said that the light of virtue would be visible to the
humanity only when people purge their minds of bad thoughts. By
asking people to fast in Ramadan, Islam attempts to achieve this
goal, he added. Kanthapuram called upon the people to embrace
tolerance as a basic tenet for virtuous life. Quoting the Quran, he
said that if anyone took the life of another without justice, it was
equivalent to taking the lives of the entire humanity. "This is the
best message of tolerance," he said.
Sayed Ibrahim Khaleel Bukhari, chairman of the Ma'dinu
Ssaquafathil Islamiyya, delivered the keynote address. He called
upon the people to return to the fundamentals of respecting the eld-
ers. "Without respecting and loving your parents, teachers and eld-
ers, you can never aspire to win in this life and the next," he said.
He said Ramadan was giving the message to eradicate evil quali-
ties like enmity, envy, and greed. "Love should replace those qual-
ities," he said. Bukhari called upon the people to show mercy to fel-
low beings adding 'Only then God will show His mercy on you.'
A.K. Abdul Hameed, programme convener and former chair-
man of the State Haj Committee, Sayed Ali Bafaqui Thangal,
Sayed Abdurahman Al Bukhari, president of the Samastha Kerala
Jamiyyathul Ulama, Sayed Umerul Farooq Al Bukhari, Sayed
Husain Shihab Atakoya Thangal and Sayed Yousuful Bukhari
attended the programme.
Khaleel Bukhari also led the mass pledge against terrorism
and the participants expressed their solidarity with fellow citizens,
society and nation. They pledged that they would restrain from all
activities that jeopardise the unity and social harmony of the
country. The believers took the oath to respect other religions and
not to associate with any activities that pose a threat to the unity
and integrity of the country. They stayed awake throughout the
night chanting prayers for peace and forgiveness and took the
oath to 'eradicate the menace of terrorism and work for world
peace' in the wee hours just before the morning prayers. The
focus of the congregation last year was also world peace and reli-
gious extremism as Khaleel Bukhari made a fervent appeal for
showing "mercy to your fellow beings; then, God will be merciful
to you" and "an extremism of love and not hatred and terror is
what we needed."
Prominent personalities including Inspector-General of Police
(north zone) B.S. Mohammed Yasin, District Superintendent of
Police M. Patmanabhan, M. Ummer, MLA, and Malappuram
municipal chairman Kiliyamannil Yakoob along with thousands of
people from the various corners of the State attended the grand
iftar meet at Ma'din grounds. The organisers claimed it to be the
largest mass Iftar in the country.
Food was served for the participants who arrived from remote
areas at Ma'din Edu-Park. Apart from the main venue, people were
accommodated in other 10 grounds, spread across 10 kilometers
on either sides of the highway. Special facilities were provided for
women. The mass prayers were telecast live by television channels
while special video-screenings were held at centres in Chennai,
Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi in India and major cities in the Middle
East. Several people abroad joined the congregation utilising the
online video streaming, live telecast and screening facilities. A spe-
cial committee of 5555 members with 2222 specially-trained volun-
teers made the preparations perfect.
Controversy over American iftar party
The iftar party organised by the US Embassy in Kerala brought out
severe criticism from various corners including Muslim outfits and
political groups. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly
voiced against the iftar party. The party was conducted for repre-
sentatives of various Muslim organisations. The Minister-
Counsellor for Public Affairs at the US Embassy in New Delhi Larry
Schwartz organised the iftar party on behalf of the US Embassy in
New Delhi and the US Consulate in Chennai at the Hotel Ashoka
Inn in Thrisur on 9 September. CPI (M) Thrisur district secretary
Baby John termed the iftar party as 'a sign of the US plan to enter
all walks of life in the country.' He questioned Kerala Nadvathul
Mujahideen (KNM) leaders for attending the programme.
The Popular Front of India (PFI) had called for all Muslim
organisations to be careful of the tricks of the US. Earlier the US
had arranged free trips to their country for selected leaders from
the community. Now they are trying to penetrate into the communi-
ty through iftar parties. However, it is noteworthy that the major
organisations kept away from the iftar, the PFI said in a statement.
The Forum for Faith and Fraternity representatives attended the
meet but also wrote a letter to Mr Schwartz about the organisation's
disagreement with the American policies.
At the function, Mr Schwartz said the US was not the enemy of
Muslims, and that the iftar was organised to strengthen the friend-
ship between the US and Muslims. The videos of the famous Cairo
speech and the Ramadan speech of the US President Barak
Obama were shown. Larry Schwartz also held a special talk with
the guests. The guests opined that the US should admit the Iraq
invasion was wrong. They also criticised the US policies in
Palestine and Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Ittihadu Shubbanil Mujahideen (ISM), youth wing
of the KNM, organized a friendly meet of the leaders of youth
organisations in Kozhokode. The meet expressed concern over the
increasing influence of quotation groups in the State. The get-
together called for a common united move without considering reli-
gion, caste and political orientation against criminalisation which
destroys the stability and harmony of the society. KNM general
secretary CP Umer Sullami inaugurated the programme. The meet
was organised as part of the state conference of the ISM to be held
in Thrissur on 2 and 3, January 2010. 'Youth for Virtue and
Reformation' is the slogan of the conference.
Fake encounter: Jamaat for state government intervention
Kerala unit of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind asked the State government
to interfere in the issue of fake encounter of Javad. It added that
the Kerala government is morally responsible to ask for explana-
tion from the Gujarat government in the matter. Pranesh Kumar
alias Javed was a Keralite and hailed from Alappuzha district in
southern Kerala. The report of Magistrate Tamang has proved
that Prenesh Kumar alias Javed was killed by the Gujarat police
in a fake encounter. The report made public recently in
Ahmedabad has underlined the hollowness of anti-terror fights.
The incidents of killing innocent Muslim youth to gain medals
have increased in our country. Government agencies themselves
give leadership for terror activities. Detailed investigation should
be conducted on all the terrorist attacks in the country in the last
ten years, Jamaat State Secretariat demanded. Javed was
among the four that included Mumbai college girl Ishrat Jahan
who were killed in a fake encounter by the Gujarat police in
Ahmedabad in June 2004.
IUML offices attacked in Kasaragod
Tension broke out at Thrikkarippur in Kasaragod district as local
offices of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) were attacked by
suspected Communist Party of India (Marxist) workers in the early
hours of 23 September. A journalist working for IUML newspaper
Chandrika also attacked during the incident. The IUML branch
committee office at Vellap area was set ablaze by miscreants while
crude bombs were hurled at a building in memory of IUML leader
C H Mohammed Koya in the town, which recently had witnessed
clashes involving the rival CPI-M and the IUML.
The incidents followed the attack on a CPI-M local commit-
tee office, allegedly by IUML workers on September 21, police
said. The IUML observed a day long hartal in Kasaragod town
to protest against the attacks. Top police officials have camped
in the town. The police said the situation in the area was now
under control.
The IUML has condemned the attacks and warned that there
will be strong retaliation if the Left Democratic Front government
fails to put down violence. The State working committee expressed
the party's resentment at these incidents at a meeting at the
League House in Kozhikode on 24 September. Deploring the
attack, allegedly by policemen, on Rehman Thayalangadi, journal-
ist working for the Chandrika, and the attacks on party offices at
Thrikkarippur, a resolution adopted by the committee said 'these
incidents are an insult to the dignity of the people of Kerala.' The
State government had failed to provide protection to the people, the
IUML alleged.


Ishrat Jahan: Murder in Cold Blood
Ram Puniyani
ram.puniyani@gmail.com
In the aftermath of Gujarat carnage
the then Prime Minister, Atal
Bihari Vajpayee subtly reprimand-
ed Modi Government that Raj
Dharma should have been followed.
The implication was that state
should have actively intervened to
protect the innocents who were
killed during the violence. What
will one say if the same state selectively picks up inno-
cent citizens, kills them and presents false stories to save
its skin? While taking the oath, while joining the state
one is supposed to treat all citizens as equal irrespective
of their religion, caste and gender. What do we say about
the state, which goes on to kill its innocent citizens who
happen to belong to minority community?
As the Citizen’s Tribunal pointed out in the after-
math of Godhra train burning Gujarat State machinery
was told to sit back when the rioters were unleashed to
kill and maim, to loot and to rape during the carnage.
Now we know that in the same state, police officers have
become emboldened enough to pick up minority ele-
ments, kill them in cold blood and proclaim that it is an
encounter! The repeated cry of terrorists planning to kill
Modi has been a favorite ploy of the police officers for
killing innocents to please the CM, to seek promotions.
It also helps to create a larger than life picture of Modi.
When Ishrat Jahan was killed in June 2005, along
with three others, the police officers boasted of their
success that they have ably averted the attack on Modi
by killing four terrorists of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba. Forensic
and post mortem reports confirm that they were killed
in cold blood on 14th June, shot at close range in a police
custody and then, taken in a car, then put in a row on the
India will be a Hindu state in 30 years
New Delhi: RSS chief Mohan Rao Bhagwat said at a press con-
ference in Delhi on 28 August that in the next 25/30 years Sangh
will achieve its target i e India will become a Hindu Rashtra. In
reply to questions about the on-going crisis and confusion in BJP,
he avoided a clear-cut answer and said that it is BJP's internal
problem; let them solve it. Sangh is not concerned with it. Media
persons had been expecting that Bhagwat will express his views
about this but his reply disappointed them. He however said that
he is confident that its leaders will themselves solve the difficult
problem.
He said that the thinking of Indian Muslims towards Sangh is
changing fast and people of Muslim society are associating them-
selves with Sangh in large number which is a matter of great
pleasure for us. On persistent questions by media persons about
Sangh views on BJP, he said that Sangh neither gives advice to
any body nor interferes in political affairs of any party. On the
issue of Jinnah he said that people cannot forget his direct action
and he too remembers it. As regards other issues concerning him
(Jinnah) he said that these are topics of research with which he
has nothing to do. About the present situation of BJP, he said that
minor differences should do not be taken to mean that BJP's
decline is imminent. He said that if BJP needs help, Sangh is pre-
pared to help them. When asked about who will play the role of
Atal and Advani now, he said that the party will decide this. He
however hinted that after 70, leaders should retire.
Commenting on Bhagwat's target of India becoming a Hindu
Rashtra in 30 years or so, incharge of Rabta Madaris Islamia
Darul Uloom Deoband, Maulana Shaukat Ali Qasmi said at
Bangalore on 30 August that India is secular country where roots
of secularism are very deep and strong, Mohan Bhagwat can
never succeed in his target of India becoming a Hindu Rashtra in
30 or so years. He said that before this, the organisation Abhinav
Bharat had laid the target of 25 years and for which it adopted the
path of violence. He said that even if they take recourse to maxi-
mum violence, they will never succeed in converting this great
country to Hindu Rashtra.
Giving respectable position to
Bhagwa brigade is deplorable
New Delhi: Convener of National Democratic Forum, Akbar Fahmi
said while talking to media persons that after inclusion of Kalyan
Singh in Samajwadi Party people as well as media raised a great
hue and cry but after making Sudhir Kulkarni a member of Railway
Advisory Board by UPA government, the silence of media as well
as people is perplexing and at the same time significant also. He
said that giving an honourable position to Sudhir Kulkarni in this [Masjids and Madarasahs will also be listed on the network]
government not only reflects government's character but also
makes its intentions suspicious. He said that Sudhir Kulkarni is the Any literature (brouchure, leaflets, audited accounts etc) may also be submitted.
same man who had played an important role in the demolition of
Babri Masjid. He further said that giving respect to Bhawa
Brigade's think tank people in the above-mentioned government is
a matter of great pity.
The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 9
ANALYSIS
road on the outskirts of Ahmadabad. To show that it was Gujarat Government is just to show a brave face in the
encounter, arms-ammunition was kept on their body. At light of exposure of its brutality in killing the innocents.
this point of time National Human Rights Commission Incidentally Ishrat was wearing her college, Khalsa
asked for magisterial inquiry. Later state Government College Mumbai, Identity Card around her neck when
also confirmed of magisterial inquiry going on. At the she was killed in cold blood. Legal nuances and nitty
same time the police investigation was also started. gritty apart where are we heading in Twenty-first
Justice Tamang has come out Century?
with his report that it was not an Just slightly an year ago in the
encounter and that the four killed in Justice Tamang has come face of police arrest of many Muslim
cold blood by police were not having out with his report that it youth in the aftermath of bomb
any terrorist links. In response the was not an encounter and blasts citizens tribunals were held in
Gujarat government is leaving no that the four killed in cold Hyderabad and then in Jaipur. Legal
stone unturned to say that Justice blood by police were not luminaries and social activists
Tamang had no business to release formed the jury of these tribunals.
his report, the Gujarat high court having any terrorist links. In Both tribunals pointed out that the
has brought a stay on the report. But response the Gujarat govern - attitude of police is very biased and
already the contents of the report ment is leaving no stone many a Muslim youth are being
are known through the media unturned to say that Justice arrested without any proof whatso-
reports and Gujarat Government is
finding no place to hide its face, also
Tamang had no business to ever. Will such actions by state, will
such a defense of killing of inno-
Supreme Court has seen nothing release his report, the cents, not intensify the sense of
wrong in what Justice Tamang did. Gujarat high court has injustice amongst a section of Indian
The total lack of remorse on the part brought a stay on the report. citizens?
of Gujarat Government is not sur- But already the contents of Where are we heading to? On
prising at all! one hand there are inquiry commis-
The officer, D. G.Vanjara, who
the report are known sion reports showing as to how com-
killed these four, was also the one th rough the media reports munal organizations orchestrate
who had brutally killed and Gujarat Government is crimes and the section of police and
Soharabbudin and his wife finding no place to hide its part of state administration col-
Kauserbi, and is now behind the face, also Supreme Court ludes. On the other plane there is
bars. There is a section of Gujarat the phenomenon of terrorism, which
people, who are very appreciative of
has seen nothing wrong in has many factors contributing to it
what Vnajara has done, and the sit- what Justice Tamang did. but it is only Muslims who are
uation which Modi Government has The total lack of remorse on blamed for that. We are also witness-
brought in. Now the Gujarat the part of Gujarat ing a serious and by now inbuilt dis-
Government asks that when the Government is not surpris- crimination leading to exclusion of
police inquiry was going on, what is minorities from the social facilities.
the legality of magisterial inquiry?
ing at all! In such an atmosphere what will
On the contrary as per the law after happen to the psyche of the youth
the death of a person in police custody, or due to police and others from minority community? The social dis-
action of this type, inquest, magisterial inquiry and parities we are creating due to such policies are there for
police inquiry all these have to be done. all of us to see. The tragedy is that a section of people
It is not that it is the first time that encounter, fake have started asserting the correctness of these happen-
encounter killings, are taking place. The difference here ings. The situation which is being created due to all this
is the total identification and defense of such acts by the is further used to blame minorities for it. The Modi-
political leadership of state. The difference is that a sec- Vanjara duo, which is becoming a law unto them, is the
tion of people are being made to believe such dastardly symptom of deeper malaise of Gujarat. (Issues in Secular
acts are needed to make the society safe. The effort of Politics)
Milli Information Network
Time to network the community
The Muslim community’s many ills and problems stem from the fact that there is a marked lack of information-
sharing and dissemination. The leadership is limited to some big cities while the majority lives in thousands of
towns and lakhs of villages across the country. ... This makes it difficult to manage the two-way circulation of infor-
mation, from the leadership to the masses and from the masses to the leadership. To tackle this problem, a network
of information centres should be established all over the country. There should be one at least in each district head-
quarter, and more in larger towns and cities. These information centres will function from the offices of commu-
nity organisations or in libraries and reading rooms...
Acting upon the above editorial published in MG 16-31 Dec. 2007 we registered a website www.millinetwork.com.
We are in the process are developing a large network of milli NGOs. Kindly get yourself listed on the network.
Each listed organisation will have their own webpage on the network. Fill in the below form and send it to us by
email or post.
Name of Organisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pin Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Phone (std code) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Name of Main Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Geographical Reach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brief note of Nature of Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
............................................................................................
............................................................................................
............................................................................................
Category of Work: [Please encircle] Charity / Child Guidance Clinic / Children / Communal Harmony /
Community Development / Disabilities / Slum Children / Human Rights / Family Welfare / Literacy / Education
(scholarships/coaching) / Media / Medical / Orphan children / Religious / Social care / Social Justice / Social
Welfare / Vocational Training / Volunteer Mgmt / Widows / Women / Others
The Milli Gazette, D-84 Abul Fazl Enclave - I, New Delhi 110025 Tel.: 2694 7483 mg@milligazette.com

Cut or photocopy
10 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009
GUJARAT
GUJARAT ROUND-UP: ABDUL HAFIZ LAKHANI
Focus now on Sadik Jamal’s encounter
he magisterial report, observing the encounter of Ishrat
T Jahan and three others to be fake, has not only given a
sigh of relief to the families of the deceased, but also a
ray of hope for justice to another such family in
Bhavnagar which had lost one of its members in January 2003
when the Ahmedabad police shot dead Sadiq Jamal Mehtar
(20), an autorickshaw driver, in Naroda claiming he was a
Lashkar-e-Toiba operative on a mission to kill Chief Minister
Narendra Modi, VHP chief Pravin Togadia and BJP leader L K
Advani.
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch eliminated him on 13 January
2003 near the city's Galaxy Cinema. He, too, was alleged to be
part of a LeT conspiracy to kill Modi.
Mumbai-based scribe Ketan Tirodkar later said that he had
introduced Sadik to former Mumbai encounter specialist Daya
Nayak to help him get out of some petty gambling cases in
Bhavnagar. In an affidavit filed before a lawyer of Human Rights
Law Network, Tirodkar alleged that Nayak had detained Sadik
and created a criminal profile for him. He said Nayak had then set
him up as a militant to be killed in an encounter on the request of
a "big politician" from Gujarat. Sadik's brother Shabir Jamal filed
a writ petition before the Gujarat High Court on 10 May 2007,
seeking to reopen the encounter case.
Aari upper ni chhaap dhowai jase. Ame koi international
gunno nathi kariyo. Amne insaaf males (The blot on our family will
also be erased. We have not done any crime. We will get jus-
tice),” said Shabbir, younger brother of Sadiq.
D G Vanzara, who is now in jail in connection with the
Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Ishrat encounter cases, was the then
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad
After the “encounter,” Vanzara had announced that he was a
LeT man. Incidentally, the team of top police officials was the
same in all the three “encounter” cases. After the Supreme Court
ordered an inquiry into the Sohrabuddin case, Shabbir moved the
High Court on 13 May 2007, seeking registration of criminal
cases against Vanzara, the then Joint Commissioner of Police P
P Pandey, and others involved in the case. The petition is pend-
ing.
Sadiq’s 65-year-old father, Jamal, said that the taint has been
unbearable for the family, but they are hopeful of getting justice
one day. “Look at the Sohrabuddin case and where the Ishrat
case is heading. We trust the judiciary,” he said.
Gujarat High Court transferred the petition of Gopinath Pillai,
father of one of the persons killed along with Ishrat Jahan, to
Justice Kalpesh Jhaveri who is hearing the case of encounter of
Ishrat Jahan.
Justice H N Devnani was hearing the petition of father of
Gopinath Pillai who has moved Gujarat High Court seeking CBI
investigations into the killing of his son by Gujarat police. The
case has been transferred to Justice Jhaveri since the issue
involved in both cases is same and both were killed in the same
incident.
The case has hit headlines in media after five years as the
report of Metropolitan Magistrate S P Tamang says that Ishrat
and others were killed and later the murders were shown as
encounters.
Encounter case team gets six more officers
The three-member team appointed by Gujarat High Court to
enquire into the encounter of Ishrat Jahan and three others has
been added six members. The probe into the encounter of June
2004 has been started after five years as Ishrat Jahan's mother
moved the Gujarat High Court for CBI inquiry into the incident.
Those who have been appointed are ACP V R Toliya, S P P
K Jadeja, Inspectors M A Singha and P M Parmarand sub
Inspectors A M Syyed and R D Raval. Initially the committee had
DGP Pramod Kumar, DIG JK Bhatt and Mohan Jha.
Last month, the case had hit headlines in the media in the
country with Judicial Magistrate Tamang preparing a report of
investigations into the encounter in which he said that it was a
cold blooded murder turned into encounter.
New twist in Sohrabuddin encounter
Supreme Court which is hearing the controversial Sohrabuddin
fake encounter case is now probing into the role of Andhra
Pradesh police in the episode. Gujarat government has told the
Court that the encounter of Sohrabuddin by Gujarat police was
fake, but it is yet not able to explain many important issues like
how Sohrabuddin’s wife Kausar Bi and witness Tulsiram Prajapati
were killed. The new issue has come up before the Court as ami-
cus curiae in the case Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam
raised the question of the role of the Andhra police in helping
Gujarat police unofficially. He said that AP police had given logis-
tical support to Gujarat police. With this argument, he pressed for
the transfer of the investigations to outside agency like CBI.
“What was the motive of the Andhra Pradesh Police to join the
conspiracy? What could have actuated their action when it was
not officially done?” the Bench comprising justices Chatterjee and
Aftab asked.
Two vehicles carrying AP Police personnel had escorted the
three victims from the state to Gujarat to facilitate the killings.
Sohrabuddin, along with Kauser Bi and their friend Prajapati,
were picked up in a joint operation by Gujarat and AP Police from
a bus on its way from Hyderabad to Sangli in Maharashtra on 22
November 2005. Gujarat police has claimed that they had come
to Gujarat to kill Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Besides the AP Police, the role of Rajasthan Police also fig-
ured during the investigations conducted so far into the killings.
The amicus curiae also accused the state police of leaving sev-
eral loose ends in the investigations, as the state had been con-
sistently making efforts to shield the accused.
“In a case where investigations have never been fair and
where the state has not been fair in the advancement of the
course of justice, we must have thorough investigations into the
incidents, as police officers are involved in the murder,” the ami-
cus curiae urged the Bench. He further pointed out that no efforts
had been made till date to establish how Kausar Bi and Prajapati
had been killed. The amicus curiae pointed out that Inspector
Solanki of the Gujarat CID, who had conducted preliminary inves-
tigations into the fake encounters, had recorded a number of cru-
cial statements linking top police officers of the state to the
killings, but the report has neither been submitted in the apex
court nor had formed part of the charge sheet filed in the trial
court.
No house for Muslims in West Ahmedabad
If you are a Muslim, you cannot get a house in west Ahmedabad.
because your Hindu neighbours will be in trouble. Tag of Muslims
is not in the line of Builders of Gujarat as Institute of Housing and
Estate Developers’ (GIHED) exhibition, showed this serious trend
at the Gujarat University Convention Centre recently.
Even as around 1.5 lakh home-seekers thronged the
builders’ stalls during exhibition, Muslims looking to purchase
houses in the western part of the city were turned away. They
were told matter-of-factly, “There is no provision for Muslims in
our schemes.”
It didn’t matter that the Muslim buyers had money to invest. It
certainly didn’t count that they were educated and urbane. Many
Muslims came and went house-hunting at the GIHED exhibition.
Almost every stall said “no” to them. Some didn’t even give them
the scheme brochures.
Almost every stall that Muslims visited in the exhibition said
Gujarat State on Trial for extrajudicial killings
RANJIT DEVRAJ
New Delhi: When police in western Gujarat state claimed to
have shot dead four members of the militant Lashkar-e-Toiba
(LeT) group, including a 19-year-old girl student, on Jun. 15,
2004, in an 'encounter,' few believed them. For one thing, the
word 'encounter' has become popularly accepted as euphe-
mism for stage-managed, extrajudicial killings by police in
India. And for another, the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP), provincial government in Gujarat led by Chief Minister
Narendra Modi, was yet to live down the opprobrium of the
February-May 2002 anti-Muslim pogrom in which at least 1,000
people died and thousands were left homeless.
Human rights activists said there was something too pat
about the way the bodies of the victims, the weapons they
were supposed to have been carrying and the car they were
riding in were arranged at the scene of the shootout on the out-
skirts of the industrial hub of Ahmedabad, the largest city in
Gujarat. Curiously, no policeman was injured in the alleged
encounter.
On 4 Sept., allegations by human rights activists were
given credence when Ahmedabad metropolitan magistrate S.P.
Tamang pronounced the encounter a fake and said that the four
victims - Ishrat Jehan, a 19-year-old girl student, Javed Ghulam
Sheikh alias Pranesh Kumar Pillai, Amjad Ali alias Rajkumar
Akbar Ali Rana and Jisan Johar Abdul Gani - were not linked to
the LeT. Tamang stated in his report that police had, in fact,
shot the four in "cold blood using their service revolvers".
"Even if the occupants of the car were members of the LeT,
the police should have followed due process rather than resort to
what can only be described as cold-blooded murder,'' said Colin
Gonsalves, a leading Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist.
Gonsalves told IPS that the police officers involved should
be proceeded against as laid down by several rulings. The
Justice Jeevan Reddy committee, which dealt with encounter
killings, had recommended in 2005 that whenever a policeman
kills somebody, a criminal prosecution must be launched and it
should be left to a court to decide if a plea of self-defence holds.
Similarly, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC),
a statutory body, ruled in 2003 that although police had the
right to self-defence and may resort to reasonable force while
arresting suspects in serious crimes, "deaths caused in an
encounter, if not justified, would amount to an offence of cul-
pable homicide''.
The NHRC was also clear that a "magisterial enquiry must
invariably be held in all cases of death which occur in the
course of police action and the next of kin of the deceased be
invariably associated in such inquiry".
But far from moving against the 21 policemen involved in
what has come to be known as the 'Ishrat Jehan case,' the
Modi government petitioned the Gujarat High Court to have
Tamang's report scrapped as "illegal and doubtful".
there was no space available for Muslims. Even after Muslims
offered to pay more than the market price, they were turned away.
In fact, at the stall of Shree Balaji Constructions, some peo-
ple were told that they were welcome to invest in their scheme but
they cannot reside there. Now, what sort of a criterion is that?
Gafoorjiwala, a resident of Paldi, is a director of a sports
adventure company. In his quest for a house in Satellite or Bopal,
Gafoorjiwala went to the exhibition but was turned away by the
builders. He said, “I asked them on what grounds was I being
turned away. I have the money to invest, I have a clean record, I
am no trouble-maker, I am as patriotic as anyone. So why am I
not being sold a house in Ahmedabad West? The builders said I
am a Muslim, and their other customers will have a problem if I
live near them. It’s absurd and insulting.”
While it is no secret that builders shy away from selling hous-
es to Muslims in ‘non-Muslim’ areas, the fact that Muslims are
prevented from buying houses in an open forum like a GIHED is
shocking
Saffron rule in Gujarat cricket too
Saffron supporters in Gujarat are now in control of Gujarat Cricket
Association. Chief Minister Narendra Modi bowled his detractors
and critics with a new inning in his life. He became President of
the Gujarat Cricket Association at the annual general meeting of
the GCA held here beginning his journey into cricket politics, a
field which has all the intrigues and bitchy betrayals of power pol-
itics.
His election has come as a surprise to all since no one had
idea of this development at the AGM meeting. Till now, it was his
close confident Minister of State for Home Amit Shah who was
leading the coup in the cash rich Gujarat Cricket Association.
Shah has been suitably rewarded for the coup for his master
Modi with the post of Vice President of the GCA. Though the post
of VP is quite inconsequential, the equation between Modi and
Shah in the ruling BJP in Gujarat indicates that Shah will call
shots for his master Modi. With this win in GCA, Modi has joined
the club of politicians including former BCCI chief Sharad Pawar
and his own party leader Arun Jaitely, who is currently heading
Delhi and District Cricket Association.

Unfortunately for the state government, it is already
embroiled in another encounter case before the Supreme
Court, where it was compelled to admit that the death of
Sohrabuddin Sheikh on 13 Jan. 2003 was the result of a fake
encounter carried out by the state police. Sheikh was shot
dead by police outside Ahmedabad. They later murdered his
wife, Kausar Bi, on Nov. 27, 2005. Worse, a conscientious for-
mer director-general of police in Gujarat, R. B. Sreekumar, has
gone public over how so-called encounters were a "matter of
policy" in the state.
Sreekumar, now associated with the Mumbai-based non-
governmental organisation Citizens for Justice and Peace's
campaign to secure justice for the victims of the Gujarat
pogrom, released in November last year a book detailing collu-
sion between the police and the state government in the 2002
violence.
The Diary of a Helpless Man describes the Modi govern-
ment - in power since October 2001 and now running its third
term - as ''cruelly communal" and run by bureaucrats who are
"sophisticated sycophants" and by police who are "the most
corrupt in India,'' with some of its inspectors collecting as
much as 3.7 million Indian rupees (75,000 U.S. dollars) a month
in bribes.
But credit for legally nailing the fake encounters on the
Modi government must go to Ahmedabad-based lawyer and
human rights activists Mukul Sinha, who has been handling
several cases on behalf of the survivors of victims, including
Shamima Kausar, mother of Ishrat Jehan. "Things are finally
beginning to come together after all these years. The end is
now in sight to the many cases and investigations filed against
the Modi government that are related to the 2002 violence and
the series of encounter killings targeting a particular commu-
nity [Muslims]," Sinha told IPS over telephone from
Ahmedabad. "A real breakthrough came in the case of
Sohrabuddin Sheikh,'' said Sinha, a member of the Jan
Sangarsh Manch (JSM) or People's Revolutionary Forum.
Sinha said the common thread running through the cases
he has been fighting is the Gujarat police alleging that the peo-
ple they executed were members of the LeT and were plotting
to kill Modi and other top leaders of the BJP or its affiliates.
"It helped that the name of Vanzara figured as the police
'encounter specialist' in all of the cases," Sinha said. "Modi,"
said Sinha, "has stayed in power all these years by successful-
ly polarising the Hindu and Muslim communities in Gujarat and
constantly whipping up public fear that Gujarat was under
siege by the LeT."
The JSM is currently the only voluntary agency left in
Ahmedabad vocally opposing the Modi regime's policies. "We
have managed to survive by constantly keeping the people
informed about the truth and through our links to the powerful
Gujarat Union of Trade Unions,'' Sinha explained.
(ipsnews.net)
 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 11

Conditions For Reconciliation with Justice Do Not Obtain in Gujarat
Aligarh: “The State, Including Judiciary & the Civil Society Failed
the Victims,” said the well-known social and rights activist Harsh
Mander here during a book release.
Prof. Irfan Habib paying tribute to Harsh Madner in glowing
terms that it was reassuring to know that the country which wit-
nessed massacres like Gujarat has given birth to not only
Gandhi, but a person like him, of whom we were all proud,
summed up the sentiments of all teachers, students and social
workers who had assembled under the chairmanship of industri-
alist-philanthropist Zafar Alam on 16 September in the Arts
Faculty Lounge of the AMU for the release of his book, Fear and
Forgiveness: The Aftermath of Massacre (Penguin, 2009). Prof.
Habib characterized the Gujarat carnage, which constitutes the
background of the book, as not only an onslaught against
Muslims but against the entire nation.
The programme started with recitation from Hindu, Muslim
Christian ,Buddhist, Sikh an Jain scriptures on the theme of sanc-
tity of human life.The book was formally released by Dr.Zakia
Siddiqi. It was followed by reading of passages from the book by
Dr. Sami Rafiq and Haris.
Welcoming Harsh Mander, Prof. Iqbal A. Ansari, President
Citizens For Peace and Human Rights, which organized the pro-
gramme in collaboration with the Dept. of Political Science of the
A.M.U, observed that Harsh Mander combined rare intellectual
and moral integrity with compassion, which has made him under-
take dedicated work for all marginalized, poor and oppressed
people. Muslims in his view are not only target of violence of hate
groups but also suffer daily discrimination and are being treated
as second class citizens.
Introducing the book, Prof. Ansari said that the book affirms
that there cannot be any durable peace without punishing the
unrepentant guilty and fully rehabilitating the victims. However
going beyond legal retributive justice it explores chances of
restorative justice, by a process of healing and reconciliation
which required: (i) acknowledgment; (ii) remorse; (iii) reparation;
and (iv) justice.
The writer feels that none of them obtained in Gujarat.
Instead of even slightest signs of acknowledgment of guilt, Modi
and his gang celebrated the event as Gujarat's Gaurav (Pride) -
in the process Modi becoming a folk hero.
Prof. Ansari referred to passages in the book, which honest-
ly brought out how the State's institutions, the rights groups and
secular intellectual class failed the victim group. However the
book also points out that for the first time the efforts of civil soci-
ety groups supported by the NHRC resulted in the reopening of
cases and retrials leading to convictions under the direction of the
Supreme Court.
Inaugurating the session, the Aligarh industrialist and philan-
thropist, Mr. Pramoad Kumar, pointed out the general state of
lawlessness of the police and the law-enforcement system
wherein false encounter killings and torture were common - which
made situation like Gujarat passively acceptable by the people.
In his detailed analysis of the book, Prof. Masoodul Hasan,
one of the most distinguished scholars of the AMU, observed that
the book written in a superb literary style combining the clinical
and the artistic technique and tools was the outcome of sincere
heart searching of one who had a heart of gold. He expressed
appreciation of the coinage of the term Nyayagrah for people's
collective struggle for legal justice. Prof. Hasan also made copi-
ous references to Prof. Ansari's work as an activist and scholar,
including his work in the area of communal violence.
While complimenting Harsh Mander for his commendable
work both as an activist and writer Prof. Hamida Ahmad regretted
lack of any progress in the accountability of law-enforcement sys-
tem since early 1960s. She recalled how Subhadra Joshi's visit
after Hashimpura (Meerut) - Maliana massacre by the PAC in 1987
had inspired hope in her as a student, which was never fulfilled.
Dealing with reconciliation - the theme of the book - she
appreciated that Harsh Mander distinguished between subjuga-
tive reconciliation of the oppressed to her inferior status and rec-
onciliation with dignity among equals.
She made the perceptive observation that there was no
question of acknowledgment of guilt by those who planned the
carnage pursuing their agenda of hate and revenge. Recalling
the oft-made observation including that by Harsh Mander that no
riot could continue beyond a few hours, if the law was enforced
impartially, she wanted to remove the distinctions caused by
labels between 'riot' and 'terror'. Both were the same. She hoped
that Indians would remind themselves that they treated Ashoka
the Great and Akbar the Great not Alexander the Great, and
would remove the blot of Modi becoming the Great.
Prof. Khwaja Shamim Ahmad acknowledged the heart mov-
ing narrative of the book, which touched him. He recalled the
Aligarh riot of 1978 in which the PAC had done targeted killings
of Muslims. Were the rifles scientifically trained to recognise and
kill only Muslims? He put the question to Prime Minister Morarji
Desai, when he observed that when riots broke out, police would
resort to firing.
The retired district judge Dharam Sing Ram commended
Harsh Mander's work, to which, he felt, we should extend support
so that gross injustice to Muslims and other weaker sections
could be removed, without which India's claim as a law-governed
democracy would remain hollow.
Dr. Mufti Zahid recalled Harsh Mander's initial sacrifice by
resigning from the administrative service and undertaking the
mission of rousing people's conscience. His sincere dedication to
the cause made us regain hope. He felt that the facts of the inci-
dent of Ishrat Jahan's false encounter killing coming to light was
a hopeful sign of accountability.
Dr. Asim Siddiqi paid tributes to Harsh Mander, whose
columns in newspapers he looked forward to reading with inter-
est every week; and was moved by his recent account of the
HUMAN RIGHTS
Nellie massacre of 1983, in the Hindu. It appeared to him that he
wrote from the heart.
Dr. Shakeel Samdani recalled how as a mere Additional
Collector he got anti-Sikh riot in Indore controlled, by calling the
army without seeking permission from any political authority.
Paying tributes to him, he observed that we should all seek inspi-
ration from Harsh Mander's work. Prof. Shamim Ahmad forceful-
ly brought out pervasive injustice to Muslims, who were in a
unique situation of victimhood. He gave a call for trial of Modi
under some competent international authority.
In his concluding remarks Prof. Ansari pointed out that issues
of justice, peace and reconciliation in Gujarat could not be dealt
with in isolation. Gujarat 2002 is the outcome of the failure of the
judiciary since December 1949 till 1994 in Ayodhya. Why did
Ayodhya happen? It needs to be publicly debated, like the current
debate over why Partition happened, fixing responsibility for not
only 6 December 1992,but all events since 22-23 December
1949 He further observed that to be able to cope with the post-
Ayodhya situation of which Gujarat is an episode required para-
digm shift from pre-1947 secular communal polarized public dis-
course to a more comprehensive model of peace & reconciliation
for the entire subcontinent making us rethink our concepts of
nation, community, citizen and State in human rights perspective.
In his response Harsh Mander gave reasons for writing the
book based on his experience in Gujarat since 2002 till date -
especially the narratives of sufferings of the innocent victims,
which needed to be recorded - as he discovered in Nellie
(Assam) when he visited the victims of Feb. 1983 carnage, who
narrated the 25 year old events as if they had happened in the
recent past. Since his idea of India was based on equality of
rights of all citizens, especially equal justice for all, he initiated
Nyayagraha movement to struggle for securing legal justice while
adhering to truth.
Apart from the narrative of the pregnant Kausar, whose
abdomen was ripped open and foetus smashed, he recalled the
effacement of Wali Dakni's shrine and overnight building of a road
over it. However, it should be comforting to know that every night
after the traffic comes to a halt Hindu devotees offer floral tribute
to the Saint. Referring to the findings of Ashish Nandy he
expressed satisfaction over the fact that during 1947 holocaust
26 per cent of people on both sides of the Indo-Pak border saved
life of the other community as compared to one per cent savers
of Jews in the Holocaust in Nazi's Germany.
In his presidential remarks, Mr. Zafar Alam expressed his
sense of pride and achievement after meeting Harsh Mander for
the first time. He congratulated him as well as other human rights
activists who were serving as catalytic agents for an ongoing
change, and expressed his conviction that parliamentary democ-
racy in India would be able to bring about structural reform in the
model of governance so that recurrence of massacres and
pogroms could soon become a thing of the past.

Former employee wins case but High Court’s support of clean chit to Delhi
embassy not keen to honour Indian law New Delhi:Police challenged in Supreme Court
Delhi High Court's acceptance of National Human Rights Commission's investiga-
New Delhi: A dismissed Iranian embassy offi- is arbitrary, illogical and capricious," the peti-
cial has approached the Delhi High Court seek- tion filed through his counsel Saif Mahmood tion report giving clean chit to Delhi Police's Special Cell in Batla House encounter case has
ing a direction to the Centre to grant him sanc- and Sumant De alleged. been challenged by ANHAD (Act Now for Harmony and Democracy), an NGO in a petition filed
tion to move a civil court for executing a decree The Counter Affidavit was filed by the in Supreme Court on 18 Sept. The NGO has stated in its petition that the High Court has erred
directing his previous employer to pay him a Deputy Chief of Protocol (F), Ministry of in accepting NHRC's investigation report because this Commission did not thoroughly investi-
compensation of Rs 789,600. A district court, in External Affairs on 5 August 2008 while the gate the encounter which resulted in the death of Inspector MC Sharma and two alleged young
a decree order last November, had asked the rejoinder was filed by Rizvi on 17 November terrorists, that the Commission did not personally visit and inspect the place of encounter and
Iranian embassy to pay Rs 789,600 with nine 2008. Since my illegal termination I am jobless, its strategic surroundings nor did it meet and interview any eye witness, local people etc which
percent annual interest (till the payment is living on the mercy of others, Rizvi told MG. are essential for any kind of enquiry. The petition also said that the Commission relied totally
made) for removing him from his service seven Earlier there were two more cases against on the version of Delhi Police and did not base its report on its own independent investigation.
years ago. foreign missions which were disposed off at Hence in order to remove all doubts and suspicions, an independent judicial enquiry is essen-
The High Court sought its response on a the stage of permission to file the suit. One of tial, the petition said. It is however not known if the apex Court has admitted this petition for
petition filed by Syed Ashraf Hasnain Rizvi Mr. Ali Akbar Kashani sought permission from hearing.
(ashrafrizvi0025@yahoo.com), who worked in the MEA for filing a suit against UAE Embassy Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Maulana Ahmad Bokhari, supporting the demand for judicial
Science and Education Section of the embassy, in 1971, while the second one was by enquiry asked if government and Delhi Police think that Batla House encounter is true, why it
as secretary from 1 Oct. Harbhajan Singh Dhalla does not order an independent judicial enquiry? Referring to the result of the recent Okhla
1989 to 15 May 2002 who sought permission assembly bye-election he said that by defeating the Congress candidate people of Okhla have
when his services were "Rejection by the MEA to file a suit against the expressed their no-confidence in Congress governments, both at the Centre and Delhi state,
terminated by an oral Algerian Embassy during
communication “with- of his request for grant 1983-86. In both the
because of attempts to hide the truth behind Batla House encounter. (NA Ansari)
out any reason” accord- of sanction to execute a cases the MEA has
Accused in CRPF camp attack acquitted by High Court
ing to Rizvi who in his refused to give its con-
petition has sought
decree obtained in a sent for filing the suits New Delhi: Delhi High Court acquitted on Monday 14 Sept Maqsood Ahmad who was accused
direction to the MEA to suit, consent for which against the respective of his complicity in attack on CRPF camp at Jharoda Kalan, New Delhi in 2001 in which one
grant him sanction for embassies. The refusal CRPF man was killed and who was sentenced to death by a lower trial court in 2004. He was
execution of the decree
was earlier granted by was challenged by both also wanted by police along with his accomplice, Mohammad Saeed in Ayodhya Fidayeen
passed in 14 Nov. 2007 the same ministry, is the petitioners in the attack in 2005. The High Court acquitted him because the police had failed to produce any
by the additional district
judge DC Anand. He
arbitrary, illogical and Court Law. The MEA/UoI
lost both the cases.
concrete proof of his involvement in the attack, except that he had refused to join the identifi-
cation parade and that he was a Pakistani and had entered India without valid documents. The
also pleaded for setting capricious," the peti- Rizvi said, while High Court bench consisting of Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Indermeet Kaur said
aside an order issued tion filed through his speaking to MG, that it is that both these reasons for arrest have no relationship with attack on CRPF camp and killing
by MEA on 4 April deny- not a matter of a few of the CRPF man, a constable.
ing him the sanction. counsel Saif Mahmood lakhs rupees as ordered The High Court bench came down heavily on the police and said that it failed to draw his
"Rejection by the and Sumant De alleged. by the court, it is the mat- sketch and that it also failed to take the assailant (Maqsood)'s footprints. The bench further
MEA of his request for ter of the life and honour observed that the lone witness was the constable L.H. Fernandes (who was subsequently
grant of sanction to exe- of Indian citizens in their killed) who could not see the assailant properly and hence his (assailant)'s sketch could not be
cute a decree obtained in a suit, consent for own country. Are foreign missions not bound
drawn. In view of all this, the High Court bench acquitted him of the attack (on CRPF camp)
which was earlier granted by the same ministry, to obey/follow Indian laws, Rizvi asked.
and killing of the constable.

12 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009

ISSUES
A Note on Maharashtra & Guidelines for Muslim Voters

Maharashtra Assembly Election, 2009

SYED SHAHABUDDIN
Maharashtra ranks 4th among the states
of the Union from the point of view of
Muslim population. It comes immediate-
ly after UP, West Bengal and Bihar. With
a population of 10.3 million Muslims, it
has 7.43% of the National Muslim popu-
lation and about 10.6% of the total State
Population of 96.9 million (2001).
2. Muslims are not spread uniformly
throughout Maharashtra. In 14 districts.
their Proportion is more than the state average, but in remaining
districts their proportion goes down to even less than 5%.
3. Maharashtra Legislative Assembly has 288 members. The
average population per constituency is 3.35 lakhs. The due
number of Muslim MLA's in the state should be about 31.
Muslim population exceeds 3.35 lakhs in 10 districts and can
alone generate 16 seats proportionately. But the average
number between 1952 & 1999 was only about 9.5.In 2004
the number of Muslim MLA's rose to 11. However, addition-
al 8 Muslims from various parties were runners-up, and 23
more Muslim contestants were placed as second runner-up,
excluding the Muslim winners or first runners-up. Thus, a
total of 11+8+23 i.e., 42 constituencies had voted significant-
ly for Muslim candidates which shows that in ideal conditions,
the Muslim community can reach the due level of represen-
tation.
4. Maharashtra is divided in 7 administrative Divisions. Each is
subdivided in districts whose total number is 35. It is possi-
ble that within a division, some districts may have high
Muslim population to generate at least one or more seats.
But the other districts in the same Division put together may
exceed the magic figure of 3.35 lakhs of Muslim population &
generate a seat. A Secular party may field one additional
Muslim candidate in a suitable constituency in one of the oth-
ers districts.
5. The same is true of constituencies within a district. With a
large Muslim population, some constituencies may be Muslim
winnable with about 25% plus Muslim population. Other con-
stituencies which are contiguous may generate one addition-
al Muslim winnable seat, if their total Muslim population
exceeds 3, 35,000.
STATE POLITICS
6. Maharashtra has a tradition of anti-Brahmin movements dat-
ing back to two centuries. In modern times it crystallised in
the form of Republican Party which claims to represent the
Dalit masses. Unfortunately, this party has over the years
broken into several fragments and depending upon the caste
of its leaders, each faction nurses a particular social con-
stituency & uses it to make a deal with a major party.
7. Socially in Maharashtra the Marathas constitute the biggest
social group or community whose undisputed leader is
Sharad Pawar of the NCP.Brahmins and other high castes
generally support the BJP and Shiv Shena, apart from urban
middle classes.
8. The Muslims are often fragmented on baradari & sectarian
basis and even by geographical origin. Since Metropolitan
Mumbai has attracted people from all over the county in
search of livelihood and, new-comers generally find shelter
in the localities inhabitated by those who came earlier or
belong to the same caste or sect. Muslim Parties, during the
Lok Sabha Election 2009, tried to form a united Muslim front
but it failed to take roots
9. With their pattern of dispersal, Muslims cannot win many
Assembly seats under the present electoral system in their
own, as there are no Muslim majority seats & very few with
above 25 %Muslims. But they may win seats with a suitable
social partner on give-and-take basis. The best choice could
be the Dalits, if and only if Republican Party reinvents itself
as a viable force. It has recently made a beginning by form-
Chart of Winnable Muslim Constituencies
subgroup in the constituency, it is possible for the
Muslims to attain higher representation in the
Average Population—3,50,000 Assembly, than in 2004. Secondly, Muslims should
aim at such seats, in which no other social group or
Division District Due Constituencies
MuslimPopulation(Lacs) NameͲMuslimPopulation Seats No.NameͲ%ofMuslim community has a higher proportion.
1.Amravati12.4 Amravati(3.5L) 1 38.Amravati 11. All secular parties are however anxious to use
Akola(3.0L) 1 31.AkolaEast24% every election to expand their influence and they
Buldhana(2.8L) 1 22.Buldhana24% insist on contesting seats even with a low concentra-
YavatmalͲWashim(1.1L) 1 78.YavatmalͲ tion of their social group. But except high concentra-
81.Pusad tion areas, experience shows that with social affinity
79.Digras32%
35.Karanja22%
alone, no secular party except NCP can win many
2.Konkan34.5 MumbaiCity(7.4L) 1Ͳ2 177,BandraWest seats.
180,Wadala22% 12. On the basis of the election results of 1999 and
184,Byculla25% 2004 the estimated Muslim population in various con-
186,Mumbaidevi25% stituencies, a district wise chart (See table) has been
MumbaiSuburban(14.9L) 4 160,KandivaliEast20% tabulated to locate winnable Muslim constituencies,
101,Charcop division-wise and district wise. But, the weakness lies
165,MankhurdShivajinagar
175.Kalina20%
in that no accurate count of Muslim voters or propor-
Thane(8.8L)2Ͳ3 2or3 136,Bhiwandiwest30% tion of Muslim electorate is available. Only a local
137,BhiwandiEast30% Muslim organization is in a position to count & deter-
138,Kalyan mine the proportion of Muslim voters, This must be
145,MeeraBhayander31% done, particularly where it is likely to exceed 20%.
149,MumbraͲKalana30%
Ratnagiri(1.8l) NEED FOR MAHARASHTRA MUSLIM FORUM
Raigarh(1.7L)
Sindhdurg 2 193.Shivardhan
13. What is needed is to form a Maharashtra Muslim
3.Aurangabad11.3 Aurangabad(5.7L) 1or2 107.AurangabadCentral25% Forum with participation of the MMM, the JIH,the
108.AurangabadWest25% JUH, the Ahl-e -Sunnat and the Ulema Council to
104.Sillod20% negotiate with the leading political players in the field
109.AurangabadEast25% to persuade them to field Muslim candidates who
Parbhani(2.4L) 1 96.Prabhani command credibility in the eyes of the community and
Jalna(2.1L) 1 98.Pathrior99Partur are also acceptable to the non-Muslim electorate.
Hingoli(NA) 1 93.Kalamnuri25%
4.Nanded10.8 Latur(2.9L) 1 239.Ausa25%
14. General Guidelines
Nanded(3.9L) 1 86.NandedNorth30% (1) All eligible Muslim should be dully registered as
97.NandedSouth30% voters, particularly those who have just crossed 18.
Osmanabad(1.5L) 1 242.Osmanabad25% (2) All Muslim voters should cast their vote.
Beed(.5L) 230.Beed25% (3) The number of Muslim voters in every constituen-
5.Nagpur(2) Nagpur(3L) 1 55.NagpurCentral,or30% cy should be counted, polling station-wise; only the
5otherDists.(lessthan1Lea 1 58.Kampti30%
constituency which has more than 20 % Muslim vot-
BestMuslimConstituencyintherestofDivision
6.Nashik13.9 Dhule 1 7.DhuleCity35%
ers may be claimed as a Muslim winnable seat.
Jalgaon(4.6L) 1 13.JalgaonCity20% (4) Muslim opinion-makers in every constituency
Nashik(5.3L) 1or2 114.MalegaonCentral25% should form a small Committee to select the best can-
Ahmednagar(2.6L) 1 didate from the Muslim point of view. This should be
Nandurbar 1 conveyed to apex Muslim Forum in the state for nego-
BestMuslimConstituencyintheDist. tiation with major parties in the contest.
7.Pune16 Pune(4.5L) 1 214PuneCantt.or20%
(5) The Committee should also prepare the
215Kasbapet20%
Solapur(3.8L) 1 248.SolapurNorthor
electoral history of the constituency to find out, how
249.SolapurSouth much times it has been won by a Muslim candidate
Kolhapur(2.4L) 1 273.Kagal and how many times a Muslim candidate has lost by
Sangli(1.3L)Satara(4.5L) 1 281.Miraj a small margin.
Total 31Ͳ35 (6) As finally decided, all Muslim voters should
ing a Republican-Left Democratic Front(RLDI), under the vote for the common candidate.
leadership of the Republican leader Ramdas Athawale with 15. The Forum should target all Muslim Winnable Seats which
the objective of providing a third alternative to the people of should be identified by the following criteria:-
Maharashtra going beyond the INC-NCP alliance and the (1) Muslim voters constitute at least 20 %of the electrorate.
BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. The Front presently includes, apart (2) Muslim voters are more than those of any other identifiable
from the RPI, the Peasant and Workers Party, the CPM, CPI, social group.
SP, JD(S) and LJP, not to mention some minor local parties. (3) Muslim community is not divided by baradaris & sects.
Prakash Ambedkar a prominent dalit leader has not joined (4) Muslim community is on good terms with other social groups,
the Front. One major national party, the BSP, with about 5 % particularly, the Dalits.
of the voters remains out of this combination and has the (5) Muslim community has one or more suitable potential candi-
ambition of contesting as many seats as possible, winning at dates, active in public life and acceptable to all Muslims and
least 25 seats and playing the king-maker, if no alliance or some other social groups.
party emerges with a majority. Both the RLDF & the BSP are (6) Muslim community has formed a local consultative committee
likely to cut into secular votes & weaken INC - NCP against to choose a Muslim candidate and project him. The local
SS-BJP. committee should advise the apex Muslim Forum to place his
10. So far, the Muslim votes have been shared by the INC-NCP, name before the major contestants & negotiate their support.
SP and BSP. By contesting against each other, they divide (7) The agreed candidate is in a position to raise some resources
Muslim votes in almost every constituency. If Muslims sup- from his friends, sympathisers & well-wishers, apart from the
port one major well-selected contestant unitedly and mas- party which nominates him as its candidate.
sively in 30 odd Muslim constituencies of higher Muslim con- (8) The candidate is in a position to set up his polling machinery to con-
centration and if the candidate belongs to the biggest Muslim duct an effective campaign and establish contact with all the voters.

Ishrat Jahan murder: an open letter to the PM
“Mr.Prime Minister,
You are presiding over the destiny of a nation ,which claims to be
the largest democracy in the world without rule of law and a sec-
ular state without secular justice.”
The latest example of the lawlessness of the Indian State is
the recent report on fake encounter killing of Ishrat Jahan and
three others by police officers in Gujarat in which most damning
aspect is the collusive role of the Union Home Ministry .No less
harrowing is to recall the media – official collusive reporting of the
event by likes of Praveen Swami of the Hindu and most electron-
ic news channels as a definite case of L-e-T /J-e-M backed acts
of terrorism aimed at enabling one mass murderer wear the halo
of martyrdom .
What does the Unioin Minister for Law and Justice
,Mr.Veerappa Moily mean by stating that revelations in Ishrat
Jahan encounter case were “very serious matter for the country
and in any other foreign country Narendra Modi would have
been in some other place” ? as reported by the Indian Express of
9Sep 09.It is an obvious admission of absence of rule of law in
India ,which largely obtains in Western democracies, irrespective
of their lawlessness while dealing with others .
Why do Advanis ,Uma Bharatis,Kalyan Singhs ,Bal
Thackerays,Singhals,and Modis enjoy not only impunity but
respectability because even Human Rights activsts swear by
Indian Secularism which means equal respect for all religions
,not effective equal enjoyment of human rights including equal
protection of the law by all ,especially vulnerable minorities and
weaker sections.
Have the human rights groups ,like the PUCL,taken any
notice of the Special Report on India by the UN Special
Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief released in Feb 09
in which it has warned about repetition of Ayodhya /Mumbai 1992
and Gujarat 2002 if the guilty continue to enjoy impunity ?
It is time that victims asked senior human rights and peace
activists, who unambiguously gave their verdict of
genocide/pogrom about Gujarat 2002, why did they not show any
perseverance in demanding dismissal of the Modi government by
the UPA government soon after its coming into power in 2004,
followed by appointment of a special Tribunal for trial of mem-
bers of the government and officials responsible for mass hate
crimes on the additional ground of the Supreme Court’s stric-
tures about systematic subversion of justice in Gujarat and on
the ground of its non –compliance of norms and directions on
relief operatios by the NHRC.The fig leaf of Modi having won pop-
ular mandate was too thin to provide any real protection in the
Court against exercise of article 356 by the Union Government if
it had the will to punish the guilty and rehabilitate the victims
.Whenever article 356 has been or will be appropriately used,it
will be exercised against popularly elected government in the
event of serious breakdown of constitutional functioning of the
system in the state as was the justification for its recourse in
1992. ,which got upheld by the Supreme Court.
We know why the Government led by Manmohan Singh-
Sonia Gandhi,who had stalled the functioning of the Parliament
for a number of days in 2002 over their demand for dismissal of
the Modi Government ,lacked the will to try and punish Modi and
company.They must have got terrified by the ghost in the mirror
,very palpable in 1984 but also by very many others like Nellie
1983 ,Hashimpura-Maliana 1987,Bhagalpur 1989 etc etc
But why do we not muster courage and perseverance?
(Prof.) Iqbal A. Ansari, Aligarh
 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 13

Partition-Jinnah debate: don’t demonize Jaswant Singh
FIROZ BAKHT AHMED
firozbakhtahmed07@gmail.com
he ghost of Partition is haunting us even today. Though I
have been removed by either in Nehru or the Janata Party’s
regime as claimed by Laila Kabir, daughter of Humayun Kabir,
and by Nooruddin.
When the author visited Nooruddin at his house at his
SPECIAL REPORTS
Jaswant isn’t wrong when he states that Jinnah was a nation-
alist leader. The fact is that prior to the misunderstanding and bad
blood created first in 1929 on the issue of “Separate Electorate”
and then in 1946, regarding the Cabinet Mission Plan, Jinnah was

T am a staunch supporter of Maulana Azad and not Jinnah,

I feel that Jaswant Singh, the erstwhile Bhartiya Janata
Party leader has a point not necessarily about Jinnah
being a ‘great man’ but to peel off the years and years of falsifi-
cation of the truth behind Partition through
his path-breaking research, Jinnah - India,
Partition, Independence. Singh rightly
describes the Partition of India as the
“defining event of the 20th century” for this
entire Subcontinent.
Jaswant has done nothing historically
wrong other than raising curtains from
some otherwise embarrassing but true
facts leading to the vivisection of the coun-
try besides the “epic journey of Jinnah
from being the ambassador of Hindu-
Muslim unity, the liberal constitutionalist
and Indian nationalist to the Quaid-e-Azam
of Pakistan”. Jaswant Singh strongly con-
tested the popular Indian view that Jinnah
was the villain of the 1947 Partition or the
man principally responsible for it with
proven facts. So, why all this hue and cry?
Calling a spade a spade, Singh raises several pertinent and
thoughtful questions on Partition. “...How can you divide a geo-
graphic (also geo-political) unity?” Azad asked a question of the
same sort, “How can you divide water into two?” True, a nation
like India was not to be slashed into two through a surgical oper-
ation.
The BJP leaders’ affinity to Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali
Jinnah is not a newfound love. In the past too party heavyweights
like — Advani and Vajpayee — while on their Pakistan tours —
have expressed similar sentiments.
We also pity the way the BJP has demonized a man of
Jaswant’s stature in the same manner as Jinnah is demonized in
India. Jaswant is victimized today ironically by both — the
Congress and the BJP which have reasons common for doing so.
The way his book was banned in Gujarat and the way he has
been thrown out of the BJP, is tragic. Advani too went gaga over
Jinnah but he was not meted the same fate as Jaswant. In fact
the very ban will give the book a cutting edge. It’s human nature.
Partition is a very complex and complicated jinx to under-
stand. However, it couldn’t be understood unless we go into the
details with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, quite a few of which were
confided into me by his nephew (and my father), Ghulam Yasin’s
son, Nooruddin Ahmed at the time when 30 unpublished pages of
Maulana Azad’s India Wins Freedom were published in 1988, as
per his wishes, 30 years after his death. Nooruddin was brought
up by Maulana like his own son as Azad had no issue.
While on the other hand, similar allegations had been record-
ed by Maulana Azad in his last 30 pages of India Wins Freedom
that were to be published 30 years after his death (February 22,
1958) in 1988 by Orient and Longman. The real pages seem to
Kolkata (32 Bright Street), he was told by him of certain glaring
realities about Partition that hadn’t seen the light of the day that
got published in major newspapers and magazines of that time,
like The Times of India, Deccan Chronicle, The Illustrated Weekly,
The Telegraph, Sunday (Weekly). A lot of
Azad’s unpublished works had been
thieved or destroyed by some distant rel-
atives of my father living as a recluse in
Calcutta during the controversy of India
Wins Freedom. It was a time when dirty
linen was washed by some relatives of
Azad to grab the royalty rights of India
Wins Freedom.
Maulana Azad was quite aggrieved
about Partition on Nehru-Edwina front. He
had accused Nehru of being lured into
Partition by Lady Edwina Mountbatten.
Maulana had clearly stated that there
were times when Pandit Nehru,
Mountbatten and Lady Mountbatten were
seen sitting together while at others only
Nehru and Edwina were seen together.
Azad had also written a book Jashn-e-Azadi ya Taqseem-e-
Hind that never got published and contained some glaring truths
on Partition as per a page 1 report in The Times of India (10
October 1992) by Sakina Yusuf Khan. My father told me that the
book was basically a retort against Nehru, Patel and Gandhi
regarding their roles in Partition.
Since Maulana had a tremendous regard for these people
and he didn’t want to hurt them during their lifetime, he had made
a will that these last 30 pages of that book be published 30 years
after his death — a time when all these people too would be no
more.
Azad thinks that Patel was the one mainly responsible for
Partition. Page 201 of the 1988 edition of India Wins Freedom
states, “I was surprised that Patel was now an even greater sup-
porter of the two nation theory than Jinnah. Jinnah may have
raised the flag of Partition but now the real flag bearer was Patel.”
That proves Jaswant’s point.
The diary of Maniben, Patel’s daughter, who used to accom-
pany him to almost every place, from June 8, 1936 till Sardar’s
death on December 15, 1950 serves to highlight the deep regard
Patel held Gandhi in and also his serious differences with Nehru
on a host of issues, including Hyderabad, Kashmir, foreign policy,
especially with regard to Tibet, Hindu-Muslim problems, particu-
larly the problem of refugees who were being driven out from East
Pakistan, the Nehru-Liaquat Pact notwithstanding, and on corrup-
tion, socialism, centralized planning, Nehru’s autocratic style of
functioning, etc.
Mani’ben’s diary reveals differences between Sardar Patel
and Maulana Azad, particularly with regard to Maulana’s “secret”
dealings with the Cabinet Mission and later in respect of the
Hindu-Muslim problem.
head high above shoulders of all the nationalists. “He fought the
British for an independent India but also fought resolutely and
relentlessly for the interests of Muslims of India... the acme of his
nationalistic achievement was the 1916 Lucknow Pact of Hindu-
Muslim unity,” Jaswant has rightly written.
The seeds of discord for the Partition were sown in the mis-
management of the Cabinet Mission Plan as per the facts record-
ed in eminent scholar and editor-in-chief of Salar Urdu daily,
Bangalore, B Sheikh Ali’s book Maulana Azad: Vision and Action.
He states that according to the federal system, both Hindus and
Muslims were to be given their due and both were satisfied about
that.
During 1946, even Maulana Azad was in favour of the
Cabinet Mission Plan as the populace was sensibly categorized
into three areas, namely, A, B and C. ‘A’ represented the areas
with Hindu majority while ‘B’ stood for Muslim dominated areas
and ‘C’ stood for areas with Muslim majority in the North East.
This was a plan that had eased communal conflagration and
aimed at cementing communal concord.
It was all harmonious till a time when Maulana Azad sensed
that Sardar Patel had instigated Nehru to not only make changes
into the Cabinet Mission Plan but his intention to completely
shelve it. Azad ran to Gandhi at 10 AM on March 31, 1947 to
report to him that the danger of Partition was lurking and that he
must interfere. He was told by the Father of the Nation that no
changes would be effected into the Cabinet Mission Plan and if
that happened it would be on his dead body. A panicky Maulana
got pacified.
Nevertheless, by 4 PM the same day, no one knew what had
transpired between Nehru and Sardar Patel that they had finally
decided for Partition. Azad was a man of unsurpassable intuition
and got the feeler that Partition was on cards.
Jolted and jarred, Azad again ran to Gandhi realizing that
Partition had become inescapable. Gandhi who had said that
Partition would take place on his dead body, was now a totally
changed man and he too sided with Nehru and Patel on the issue
of Partition.
According to B Sheikh Ali, Azad said at that, “What shocked
me to the smithereens was the fact that Gandhi too started quot-
ing the same ideology for effecting Partition that was Patel’s.” In
fact, it was this moment that took all life out of Azad who had
doted on Gandhi particularly and on Nehru for warding off vivisec-
tion.
After that, Maulan Azad became a living dead body. Aruna
Asif Ali, pioneer of Independence, once told me in her daily Patriot
office at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg how inconsolably Maulana
Saab wept on the midnight of August 15 at a truncated freedom.
It’s time that the reality of Partition dawns upon people and
the blot from the Muslim community held responsible for the
Partition is washed.
The author is a Delhi-based commentator
on social, educational and religious issues

RSS and BJP script farwell of Adavni

MOHAMMAD NAUSHAD KHAN
For the time being there has been an uneasy
calm in the BJP camp.The dust seems to have
settled for now but not for too long. After initial
hiccup and confrontation L.K Advani has finally
bowed reluctantly to the will of the RSS after
having seen voices of protest from all sides. An
orchestrated forceful farewell to the tallest
leader of the BJP. RSS has scripted the final
political yatra of Advani.
Advani can feel like the patron of the BJP, but
without any command and say within the BJP.
He will be honoured but will not be heard. The
vociferous tirade against Advani will compel him
to be in political hibernation.The recent develop-
ment in BJP and its leaders making a beeline to
Mohan Bhagwat proves beyond doubt that BJP
works on the manifesto of the RSS.
The interference of Mohan Bhagwat has
brought some respite for the BJP but during the
process RSS could not protect itself from the
communicable disease of infighting and
groupism of the BJP. Behind the scene the BJP
is divided in pro and anti RSS group while RSS
pracharaks on the lines of promoting groupism
in the BJP camp. RSS is now polarising the BJP
camp in its favour to ensure its firm grip inorder
to promote its core ideology without any
resistence. Mohan Bhagwat is making all efforts
to place Sangh leaders or its hard core support-
ers in the BJP for the organisational restructure
likely to take place in the near future. Rajnath
Singh and his anti lobby like Arun Jaitely,
Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth
Kumar were invited to meet separately. Rajnath
Singh’s all out effort to woo Sangh for a second
term went in vain. RSS Chief also met separate-
ly with Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and some
state leaders of the BJP. If Mohan Bhagwat’s
purpose of meeting these leaders was to unite
them then he could have called them collective-
ly and advised them to forget their past bicker-
ing and work together.
Ironically the RSS has authorised L.K Advani to
ensure smooth organisational restructuring and
nurture young leaders like their guardian but at
the same time did not find even useful to invite
him and his men to the two day introspection of
the RSS during 9-10 September in Mumbai. On
the contrary leaders like Arun Shourie and son
of Jaswant Singh were invited ignoring recent
outburst of Jaswant Singh and Arun Shouri.
Dual standard of BJP was exposed from the fact
that Jaswant Singh was expelled without even
issuing any show cause notice. The BJP lead-
ers dared to take such a quick action against
Jaswat for he was not as close to RSS as was
Arun Shouri.Rajnath Singh issued show cause
notice to Shouri unlike Jaswant because he
could dared to to go against as Shouri praised
and even invited RSS to take over the affairs of
the BJP.Rajnath became so helpless that he did
not speak even a single line against Shouri. A
clear cut message to all cadre that you will be let
off even if you abuse leaders of the BJP no mat-
ter how tall he is in the party, but will not be
spared for raising head against Sangh.
The others who were invited include Rajnath
Singh, Bal Apte, Murli Manohar Joshi and some
intellectuals from other background. However
leaders close to Advani like Jaitely, Swaraj,
Venkaiah and Anath Kumar were not allowed to
attened the meet. Even in the RSS camp there
has been division of opinions as some of them
are in close proximity with the BJP and its lead-
ers often accused of working on their own agen-
da ie hobnobbing with the BJP leaders. Two
important Swayamsevaks like Madan Das Devi
and Suresh Soni were asked by the RSS chief
to keep away from the introspection meet of
RSS. Devi is believed to have a soft corner for
Advani. His presence could have politicised the
meet. Now with the prevailing groupism in
Sangh high rank whom will they call upon to
resolve their own differences.
Now it has become a contentious issue for both
the RSS and BJP to find successor of Rajnath
Singh. Given the differences and the self cen-
tered leaders of the BJP it is almost difficult to
have a concensus over the next party president
or in the restructuring of the organisation.The
RSS is in search of a leader who can be a yes
man of the Sangh along with the one having
good rapport with the BJP leaders. In other
words a non controversial figure to stop infight-
ing and groupism. During the process some
probable names like Jaitely, Sushma, Aapte,
Joshi, Shouri and some state leaders like
Parikker, Raman and Shivraj Singh are tossed
up to feel the mood and pulse within and outside
BJP. To find out leader who can keep the flock
under one roof at the present moment is really a
hard nut to crack for both the BJP and RSS. The
biggest concern for them is whether the newly
nominated president or generational change will
be able to pacify rivalry within BJP or will it fur-
ther aggravate it from bad to worse.
The tallest leader of the BJP L K Advani despite
his contribution is now marginalised and isolat-
ed like never before. The recent verbal attack on
him by so many leaders of the BJP on Kandahar
in particular and leadership in general has
pushed him into corner. Once a mass leader is
now a lonely figure in his own party. He is very
much dejected and perturbed by the tirade of
partymen once considered close friends and
admirers. Friends of Advani have now turned
foes. Even state leader like Parikar has done
the damage on Advani by sayig and comparing
him to be like a rancid pickle.This is the way the
leaders of the BJP treat their veteran
leaders.The party as a whole has now become
indisciplined and affected by hierarchy disorder.
If political immunity becomes weak in a leader
then he is attacked from one and all sometime
with a purpose and sometime without any rea-
son. With the prevailing situation and the voices
of protest one after another Advani has put off
his talent hunt yatra for now and it is believed
that he may tour after the assembly polls on 13
October.This yatra was aimed to revive the
party at all levels, in order to boost the morale of
the cadre. How can L K Advani revive the party
when he is attacked by all leaders of the BJP, no
matter how big or small. Is it possible for Advani
to motivate leaders when he himself has been
shown the door and has been asked to move
out gracefully.

14 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009
JAMMU & KASHMIR
Bail to Shopian accused
ammu and Kashmir High Court on September 11 granted
J bail to four police officials arrested for destroying evidence
in Shopian rape and murder case.
The single bench comprising Justice Sunil Hali granted the
bail to former superintendent of police, Shopian, Javed Iqbal
Mattoo, his deputy, Rohit Baskotra, the then station house offi-
cer, Shafiq Ahmed, and the then sub-inspector, Gazi Abdul
Karim. They were directed to furnish a bail bond of Rs 50,000
each.
The police officials were arrested on July 15 on orders given
by a division bench of the High Court for allegedly destroying evi-
dence in case of alleged rape and murder of Neelofar (22) and
her sister-in-law Aasiya (17), whose bodies were found on May
30 from a stream in Shopian.
Two police officials, the then SP and the then deputy SP, had
approached the Apex Court for bail. However, the Court had
rejected their application and asked them to approach local court
even as the state government had filed an affidavit justifying the
arrest. Later, on August 6, the Sessions Court Shopian, had
rejected bail to all four police officials.
Granting the bail, the High Court observed that Special
Investigation Team [SIT] of police, which was probing rape and
murder of Neelofar and Aasiya had failed to produce any evi-
dence against the arrested police officials.
"The SIT isn't expanding scope of probe and has restricted
investigation to the arrest of policemen," observed Justice Hali
while directing police officials not to proceed to Shopian or leave
the state without SIT's permission.
"If the SIT finds any evidence against policemen, it can
approach district and sessions court Shopian and initiate action
against them," he said.
The court observed that SIT had remained silent about fail-
ure of doctors to conduct a full post-mortem. "If the FSL report
was prepared on June 1, why wasn't it obtained for five days?
Nothing has been done (by SIT) with regard to fudging of slides."
The court had reserved its judgment after defence counsel
for police officers, Aseem Mehrotra, concluded his counter- argu-
ments by claiming that police officials were being made scape-
goats by government.
Advocate General Mohammad Ishaq Qadri and Kashmir
High Court Bar Association President Mian Abdul Qayoom, dur-
ing their arguments, had opposed bail plea of the officers.
The state government has already handed over the case to
Central Bureau of Investigation [CBI] and waited for the agency
to take up investigation. A high level team of CBI has reportedly
arrived in Kashmir on September 17 to take over the investiga-
tion. The 12-member team is likely to visit Shopian and interact
with senior officials and witnesses to gather material for a thor-
ough probe. Mehrotra had created sensation in the court earlier
by alleging that the injury form filled by doctors during first post-
mortem examination on bodies of the victims were removed from
case file.
Justice Hali had made some scathing observations during
earlier hearings about the investigations of the SIT saying it
seemed that it was restricted to determining the role of the
arrested police officers in the case.
"The directions of the Division Bench on narco analysis of
the witnesses (who deposed under section 164-A) and expand-
ing the scope of investigation have not been followed," observed
Justice Hali.
"The SIT has not gone into failure of doctors to conduct full
post-mortem. There is nothing on record to suggest that anything
has been done with regard to fudging of slides (containing vagi-
nal smears)," he added.
Mehrotra argued Dr Nighat Shaheen, the gynecologist who
was part of the second post mortem team, should be interrogat-
ed. Appealing the people to observe Kashmir bandh on
September 12, Mohammed Shafi Khan, president of Majlis-e-
Mushawarat said, "I appeal all Kashmiri brethren to observe a
complete shutdown on September 12. The protest is not against
the High Court judgment but against government, Special
Investigation Team and Jammu and Kashmir Police."
However, Hurriyat conference [G] chairman Syed Ali Shah
Geelani had appealed Majlis-e-Mashawarat to confine the strike
to Shopian only, according to the spokesman, Ayaz Akbar.
The shopkeepers in Shopian town downed their shutters and
transport went off the roads. People carried out protest demon-
strations and demanded action against culprits.
A protest demonstration was held by activists of Jammu
7 out of 10 subscriptions are through
»»» Ask your friends to get their copy now «««
THE MILLI GAZETTE
First English Newspaper of Indian Muslims, Telling the Muslim side of the story fortnight after fortnight since January 2000
Dateline Srinagar: AFSANA RASHID
Kashmir Liberation Front here on September 14 against 'delay'
in arresting those involved in rape and murder of two women in
Shopian.
JKLF leaders, including Noor Mohammad Kalwal, Shakil
Ahmad Bakshi and Sheikh Abdul Rashid took out a procession
here while raising slogans and holding placards.
They alleged that despite assurances, the government is not
taking adequate measures to nab those allegedly involved in
Shopian rape and murder case.
Spokesman of JKLF said that several activists were held by
police when it tried to disperse "peaceful demonstrators."
Meanwhile, police on September 8 recovered the body of a
member of Majlis-e-Mushawarat, a group that has been spear-
heading an agitation for justice in Shopian rape and murder
case.
The body of Mohammed Hussain Zargar [42], a property
dealer, was discovered in an orchard three days after he had dis-
appeared. The incident triggered protests in the area. Zargar
was one of the activists of Shopian Majlis-e-Mashawarat.
"Zargar was a pro-active member of the group," says
Mohammed Shafi Khan, president of the Committee. He said
that Zargar had gone missing on September 5 and it was sus-
pected that he had been picked up by Special Operations Group
of Kashmir Police.
"But police have denied it? Today, when we were returning
from Srinagar for a court hearing in the rape and murder we were
told that Zargar's body was found in an orchard," says the pres-
ident.
He added Zargar was found lying in a pool of blood. "We
can't say what kind of injuries he had because police quickly took
the body to a hospital. He had no injury on his face but his
clothes were blood soaked."
"Zargar had announced that he would sell his property to
support the family till those responsible for rape and murder
were exposed and brought to book," says Khan.
Death in custody
Expressing concern over the death of Sheikh Jamal-ud-din
Afghani in custody at Jodhpur jail, Mohammad Ahsan Untoo,
Chairman-International Forum for Justice/Human Right Forum,
Jammu and Kashmir said that Pakistanis lodged in various jails
are serving imprisonment despite Public Safety Act (PSA) being
quashed against them.
Addressing media persons on September 8, Untoo said that
Jamal was 'tortured to death' at Jodhpur jail while he was lodged.
"It was on August 20 this year that this militant commander orig-
inal resident of Mandukhail-Afghanistan presently residing at
Karachi-Pakistan succumbed to torture inflicted on him," he
adds. The chairman said that Sarfaraz Khan, resident of
Muzaffarabad in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) who was
lodged at Kote Balwal jail has been shifted to Tihar jail in Delhi.
In the same way other detainees such as Raja Farooq Khan,
resident of Koili-Pakistan, Khan Nasarullah, resident of Punjab-
Pakistan and Sajid Ali Bukhari, resident of Koili-Pakistan are also
languishing in various jails of India despite them passing through
failing health, he said.
Giving details about foreigners lodged in various jails of
India, Untoo said that 18 persons are behind bars in Jodhpur jail,
25 persons in Tihar jail whereas this number stands at 2, 1, 3, 4,
3 and 3 for Sangrur, Varanasi, Banaras, Allahabad, Agra and
Mumbai jails respectively.
"Government of India has time and again never implement-
ed recommendations and directions of Supreme Court and the
other courts. This shows that courts are working under political
pressure and they are not able to work in a free environment. We
demand that international human rights groups like Amnesty
International, Human Rights Watch and International Red Cross
Committee should investigate the death of Afghani so that truth
comes out," says the chairman.
He added that these international human rights groups
should pressurize Government of India so that 'torture' is
stopped on people serving imprisonment in various jails.
"I myself was imprisoned for five and half years at Tihar jail
and I can easily narrate the ordeal detainees have to go through.
Our demand is simple and that is the foreigners should be
released and they should be deported to their respective coun-
tries," says Untoo.
The chairman said that Supreme Court has recently issued
directions those foreigners especially Pakistanis languishing in
WORD OF MOUTH
various jails and those who have completed their term should be
sent to their native countries. He however, expressed his dismay
over the breach being resorted to by New Delhi.
Workshop of RTI
Asking the members of legislative assembly more so belonging
to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to act as watchdogs in dis-
bursal of funds meant for developmental activities, PDP patron
and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Syed on September
9 said that Right to Information (RTI) Act is a powerful tool pro-
vided it is used in right earnest.
Speaking at a one day workshop organized by youth wing of
PDP on RTI Act, PDP patron said that officers have a moral
authority and they should not be swayed by favours to politicians
or 'influential' people. He added that government should provide
information to people on varying issues in same manner as it
does in assembly. "I am glad that during the budget session of
legislature we got information on important issues like occupa-
tion of land by security forces. The government is bound to pro-
vide information on floor of the house and same parameters
need to be followed vis-à-vis dissemination of information under
RTI Act," says Mufti. The PDP patron said that government
instead of setting its own agenda is following the agenda set out
by PDP. "PDP's agenda on issues like demilitarization, water
resources and revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act
(AFSPA) is being followed by government," he adds.
Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, convener-RTI Movement says that
his members intend to seize vehicles being used by under-sec-
retaries and deputy-secretaries of various departments in the
Civil Secretariat. "We filed an RTI application with Director, State
Motor Garages asking him to provide information about vehicles
being used by under-secretaries and deputy-secretaries. In the
answer it has been stated that no such vehicle is being used,
which we known is a blatant lie. Now we have decided to confis-
cate vehicles being used by these officers," says Dr. Muzaffar.
The RTI activist expressed his dismay over hike in registra-
tion fee from rupees five to rupees fifty and said that 90 percent
government departments are yet to designate Public Information
Officers (PIO's) as per provisions of amended Jammu and
Kashmir RTI Act, 2008. "We moved an RTI with Divisional Forest
Officer (DFO) Budgam asking him to provide list of persons
booked for timber smuggling over the past one decade. FIR's
have been lodged against 18 such persons and arrests of some
are likely to be effected in near future," said the convener.
J&K woos investers
Stage is all set for prospective investors of the country to come
to Kashmir valley with Confederation of Indian Industry [CII]
more than hopeful to invest in development sectors.
A CII team headed by its chairman, Harpal Singh during its
visit to the valley in first week of September met politicians,
bureaucrats and businessmen to seek their assistance while
motivating entrepreneurs to come and invest in Kashmir valley.
"We are hopeful that CII would be able to contribute to devel-
opment of state. We have got positive response from bureau-
crats and local businessmen, though the latter have expressed
worries as well," says Harpal Singh. Dwelling upon purpose of
visit the chairman said that confederation aims to clear the air
regarding investment in Kashmir. "We have brought some busi-
ness leaders of northern region to this place and would bring
some others in future," he said adding "CII along with state gov-
ernment has framed joint task force to look for overall develop-
ment of state." Singh said that Confederation has begun to inter-
act with the government. "We look forward for long term relation-
ship." He said that issues like connectivity with the region hold-
ing key for development of state were discussed in regional
council meeting of confederation held here on September 6
afternoon.
The chairman said that investments in region would be car-
ried out in sectors like health, education, tourism, power, renew-
able energy, handicrafts and skill development. "Youth need to
be trained so that they are employed by the industry. This has
lead to focus on skill development," he said.
CII is taking up six Industrial Training Institutes in the valley
and 14 schools in Baramulla district to impart information tech-
nology to learners. "In many areas like health, education and
power, public-private partnership is possible. Besides, CII can
raise a platform for issues important to large number of members
of the society," says Singh.


News from Modi jail
Ahmadabad Central Jail is now moving to police raaj. After beating
blast case accused last July, now the prisoners are not allowed
even to offer Eid prayers with other prisoners. All 64 accused of
blast case who are here from nine different states, confined in
Ahmedabad Central Jail, are now on the target of Ahmedabad
police. Visiting hours with their family members are cut and now
they will meet their families only two days a week, i.e., Thursday
and Friday. Kindly forward this to the the Human Rights
Commission and also do something in July 09 attack matter.
Khalid Shaikh, Advocate, Ahmedabad
II
The Magisterial Enquiry, which is mandatory in every encounter
case (ironically which was never done in the Batla House
encounter) has finally termed it Ishrat Jahan's killing as a fake
encounter on 7 Sept.in a metropolitan court. It is not a matter of
surprise for us as to know that how Ishrat Jahan was killed was
nothing but in cold blood. Perhaps one will also agree that such
things are happening and happened in Gujarat under Modi. The
famous case of Shohrabuddin also falls into this category.
Unfortunately, in India, things had been happening in this fashion,
some handful of police officers perpetrate such crime in broad day
light just appease some filthy minded and communal politicians like
Modi etc. Its ironic though, that despite all hue and cry made on
people like Modi, hardly anything is done against him. Even the
recent mayhem in the BJP disclosed, how much deep is the hand
of Modi dipped in the blood of innocent people butchered in the
2002 Gujrat riots. If we remember the recent interview of Mr. Arun
Shourie, it would reveal, how disturbed was Mr. Vajpayee, and he
really wanted to do something, but thanks to the pressure within or
whatever, nothing came out of this. Its high time, that the Indian
judiciary should act against the culprits as no one is above the law
despite how powerful he or she stands anywhere.
Md Ziyaullah Khan, Mehrauli, New Delhi 47
writeziya@gmail.com
Has not Hijrat become compulsory?
The latest anti-Muslim impressive intolerance at Kalalti village
seems to warn us Muslims that the sooner we throw away all mate-
rial wealth and move to live and die together the better because the
honour especially of our woman folk is more valuable than anything
else in this transient life. However, prior to it, Muslims living in very
small number everywhere should perform namaz in buildings until
the unavoidable migration (Hijrat) is possible.
S. Akhtar, Khanpur Deh, Gujarat
Diminished US President Lectures to the World at UN
Another fine piece of rousing oratory and US President had done
his bit for the day. He rushed out of the UN premises as if his tail
was on fire. In fact, his oratorical high notes were drowned by
behind the scene guffaws he earned for trying to tame Israel and
falling on his face. Weeks his special envoy has spent in Israel,
feeding media with daily photo ops shaking hands with Israel's
indomitable hard-line Prime Minister but there was no news if the
Mount Sinai moved even a measly centimeter. And still Barack
Obama soldiered on. Though Obama has much tougher chal-
lenges testing his mettle, Israel stands out as the barometer to the
Fake encounter, cruel smiles
Read more letters on page 31 and on MG website. Readers who do not want their email IDs printed should indicate so in every letter
world of US President's limits of credibility. If he cannot tackle
America's most lauded 'ally', to fall in line with his worldview, the
stark gossamer fragility of his presidency could only generate deri-
sion among his detractors and pity in his admirers.
Time is flying and given the past record of Israeli-Palestinian nego-
tiations, delays and procrastination favour only one side that has
dragged on the peace process of any kind for the last forty years.
The drama starts with the every new US President taking office and
ends with the end of his presidency, with Israel using the interreg-
num to dug in more and more in ways that would leave hardly any
thing left to negotiate. Obama has come with a bold new commit-
ment to change the US and the world with it. But half a way in his
first 4-year presidency, he has barely touch the contours of war in
Afghanistan, a monumental economic recession, his pet project of
universal health care, and the way his cards are played out, he
seems to be playing more of a bluff game than a winning hand.
Israel has cleverly positioned Iran as the most pressing issue for
the world to come to terms with while it merrily whips up its assem-
bly line in West Bank creating facts on the ground. The UN spon-
sored Goldstone report on war crimes in Gaza is snowed under by
Jewish dominated world press's cabalist propaganda of bias, even
though the South African judge, Richard Goldstone is himself a
Jew and a self- confessed Israel supporter. The dire train of event
that may land Israel in International Court of Justice at The Hague
is so alarming to Israel that it has mounted a concerted attempt to
discredit the Human Rights report.
The worst part is that even the Muslim governments around the
world are so insensitive to the plight of their brethrens in Gaza;
there is no world-wide move to get Israel into the docks for its most
horrendous crimes on Palestinian civilians including children,
women and old people.
President Obama is seized of the fact that war on Al Qaeda could
not get any support from even the well meaning masses in the
Muslim world, unless US makes Israel-Palestine settlements its
number one priority. Israel will use every trick in the trade to turn
world focus away from its rape of Palestinian entity, in any shape it
tries to survive. It is up to Barack Obama not to be taken in by
Israeli ruses to postpone the inevitable as far into the future as pos-
sible. It is for the US, to realize how its acts of commission and
omission are encouraging Israel to lead a life of an outlaw nation
that thrives in defying international laws and committing genocidal
attacks on hapless Muslims of Palestine.
Ghulam Muhammed, Mumbai
ghulammuhammed3@gmail.com
II
This refers to the U.N. report that Israel had deliberately targeted
civilians in Gaza earlier this year, by using disproportionate force
killing over 1400 Palestinians. It was a shame on the so-called civ-
ilized nations who watched in shrilled silence for three weeks, the
inhuman assault carried out by one of the powerful armies of the
world in the name of "Dahiya doctrine".That a lethal chemical like
white Phosphorous was used even on the U.N. compound shelter-
ing hundreds of civilians, speak about the ruthless character of the
Israeli army. The U.S. had no qualms in conducting trial in a kan-
garoo court and executing Saddam Hussein for using chemical
weapons.Why the same yardstick is not applied for Ehud Olmert
and Ehud Barak who were responsible for targeting the Gaza civil-
ians? Is it not a sheer hypocrisy by the sole super power?
Syed Sultan Mohiddin, Kadapa (A.P)
sultan_awaz@yahoo.co.in
Ishrat Jahan (19), a second
year student of Mumbai’s
Khalsa College, and three
others were shot dead in a
fake encounter on the out-
skirts of Ahmadabad by
Gujarat Police on the
grounds of being terrorists.
It was a gruesome scene
where police constables and
others are seen laughing at
dead bodies. No civilised
society would laugh at dead
bodies. This is the highest
point of sadism and cruelty
to be cheerful at such
events. The police
Constable’s face expres-
sions and body language
are tell the tale of what is
running inside him. We,
members of Civil Society
expect some respect to the
deceased from others and
particularly from state
machinery. This was seen in
the photograph published in
The Indian Express,
Ahmadabad edition (9
September 2009).
Farooq Abdul Gafar Bawani
Bhidbhanjan Street No. 1,
Rajkot - 360 001, Gujarat
The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 15
REJOINDERS / OPINION
9/11 still haunts Muslim world
The tragedy of 9/11 was too serious, too terrible to give up hope so
quickly that common sense will prevail, that horrible scenes would
be replaced by positive ones, that dialogue would replace hostility,
and that Obama will meet even if the minimum expectations of his
fans in the Muslim world, before the number continues to double.
9/11 should not be a political episode to underscore the reason of
why the fight in various Muslim countries should continue; nor
should it be an opportunity to rejoice at the death of the Muslims.
We should collectively abhor the rationalization of violence on the
basis of vengeance, and consider what it might take to relieve
those afflicted with a sense of hostility: Could it perhaps be that our
common aspirations for peace and freedom are somehow out of
reach? Could it be possible that we just might be culpable for the
denial of those simple aspirations of peace and freedom. We must
embrace again the anguish of what happened on 9/11, ever aware
that the body count grows even today. And although the wreckage
of that horrible day was cleared away years ago, the lessons of that
day are still buried beneath our anger, frustration, and prejudice. To
unearth these lessons, we must widen our horizons, from New York
to Baghdad, from Kabul to Gaza, cities which are in some way
worlds apart, but in other ways much closer than we may innocent-
ly suspect.
Md. Ziyaullah Khan, New Delhi
writeziya@gmail.com
One day NHRC would express apology
National Human Rights Commission was asked to enquire into the
police claims about the encounter in L-18 Batla House. Police
claimed that during the Batla House encounter two “terrorists” were
killed and police inspector Sharma died. The Government has
boasted that its RTI rule is a big achievement of UPA. We saw
many officers were fined under this rule but when some Muslims
demanded post mortem report of two Muslim youth (students)
killed in a fake encounter as well as the inspector’s post mortem
report, the government refused to release the reports. In general
case a certain rule would be effective but when Muslim right comes
the same rule fails. Police claimed that Atif and Sajid accounts in
Azamgarh had made transactions of 30 lakhs within three months.
But the concerned bank manager said that Atif and Sajid did not
have more than 3 thousand rupees. This was the sort of encounter
where Atif and Sajid had 8 to 10 bullet wounds on the top of their
heads. Even then NHRC gave a report that it was a genuine
encounter. Furthermore, many more loopholes are obvious in the J
police claim. In its report, the NHRC simply copied the police S
claims. a
Let us see how Supreme Court judge Mr Katju expressed apol- Is
ogy for his “Taliban” remarks and his decision in Mohammad b
Salim’s expulsion from a Christian missionary school due to sport-
ing beard. Justice Katju observed in this decision that beard and
purdah are means to Talibanisation and the schools have their own
law which should be obeyed.
Later on, Justice Katju apologised and withdrew his decision
and the case was transferred to CJI. CJI bench gave decision in
favour of Salim and allowed him to study in the same Nirmala
Convent, Vidisha. Similarly great Hindu Shankaracharya also apol-
ogised to Muslims for his book The History of Islamic Terrorism.
This book is widely circulated by Hindutvawadi forces. But Swami
Laxmi Shankarcharya now knows the facts of Islam and Sirat. He
wrote a book Islam-Terror or Ideal (Madhur Sandesh Sangam, E-
20, Abul Fazl Enclave, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi- 110025 priced at
Rs 40, pp. 110). Swami Laxmi Shankaracharya wrote in this book
that "due to lack of knowledge and facts earlier I wrote about Islam.
So I seek apology from Muslims and the Prophet for what I wrote
about the history of Islamic Terrorism which is now null and void".
A Supreme Court judge and a Shankracharya seek apology. We
expect that one day NHRC too would correct its fault and seek
apology.
S. Haque, Patna
Say no to genetic food
Over 25,000 people like me wrote to Nestle telling the company to go
GE-free in India. Hundreds of phone-calls have been flooding their
voicemail. And hundreds of people have returned their Nestle prod-
ucts to the company. Nestle's response to all this? They will sell
genetically-contaminated food in this country if consumers prefer to
eat such food. I say it's time to tell Nestle what consumers really pre-
fer. After all, if Indian companies like Ruchi Soya, MTR and Britannia
can commit to selling GE-free food in India, why can't Nestle? Please
do what I have done. Just click here to give Nestle a taste of 'con-
sumer preference'. And thanks for your support!
shirinabbas@gmail.com visit: http://greenpeace.in
safefood/poll/?tyf=1 In a span of more than 30 days, 257 deaths were
confirmed due to swine flue. Death toll per day works out to 8.5 per-
sons. But during the same 30 days period, India lost 1,72,800 under-
5 children due to malnutrition. Because of rural economic stress, on
an average one farmer commits suicide every 31 minutes. So in 30
days, about 1400 farm lives were lost. During the same period of one
month, about 43,000 Indians died due to TB. Farm crisis kills 5.5
times the deaths due to swine flu. TB kills 167 times and malnutrition
swallows 670 times that of swine flu death toll. Every life is precious.
But why this special hue and cry over swine flu crisis? Because
unlike malnutrition, farm crisis and TB, swine flu does not differenti-
ate club class and economic class. Swine flu is very egalitarian in its
attack. It hits our classes also. There lies the secret of our state's
alacrity and media's super hype.The plague crisis a decade ago cre-
ated a similar hue and cry from our classes. All lives are not precious.
But some lives are very very precious.
Sankara Narayanan
psn.1946@gmail.com
16 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009

NEWSMAKERS
MEN & WOMEN IN NEWS
Prof AKHTARUL WASEY, educationist and well versed in Islamic
Studies has been appointed a member of Planning Commission's
Advisory Group for primary and secondary education. Prof Akhtarul
Wasey who is presently the director of Dr Zakir Husain Institute of
Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, is the lone Muslim member
of the 32 member group for school education headed by Narendra
Jadav in the Planning Commission.
Prof FARASAT ALI SIDDIQI of AMU's Department of Geography
has been appointed Head of this Department and has taken over
the charge from the outgoing head, Prof Abdul Munir. Many of his
research articles have been published in national and international
journals and he has represented AMU in more than 35 national and
international conferences. He is also a member of at least four
National Geographical Societies of India.
Prof A.M. QIDWAI of Delhi University's Department of Chemistry
has been appointed Vice Chancellor of Jivaji University, Gwalior
(MP) in place of Prof Shashi Prabha, the outgoing VC. An M Sc and
Ph D from AMU, he has also done post doctoral research from
Leeds University (UK). Prof Qidwai is one of the 5 members of the
International Advisory Board of Green Chemistry from Asia and is
the coordinator of International Chapter of Green Chemistry in India.
In 2000 he was honoured with World Green Award and a Gold
Medal by Delhi Green Award Committee.It may be noted that he is
the third Muslim to be appointed Vice Chancellor within a month,
after Prof Furqan Qamar (VC, Jaipur University) and Prof Imran
Saleem (VC of Singhania University). Yet another VC appointed this
month (Sept.) is Najeeb Jung of Jamia Millia Islamia.
MOHAMMAD ALI ZAIDI, a social worker who at the risk of his own
life had saved many Sikh families and their members in Tirlok Puri's
Block No. 32 of Delhi during anti-Sikh riots of 1984 was honoured
with Memorial Certificate at a function held at Press Club's
Convention Hall, Rafi Marg organised by All India Sikh Students
Federation. It may be noted that for the 'crime' of protecting Sikh
brethren and taking them at safe places in those days, his own
house was set on fire by anti-social elements and 3 plots owned by
him were also forcibly occupied by those elements.
Dr S.M. HUSAIN, President of Maharashtra State Tibbi Congress
has been appointed by Indian government as adviser to government
on Unani system of medicine and treatment and export of Unani
medicines. Dr Husain is an author of dozens of books on Unani Tibb
and also the Chief Editor of Unani Medical Journal and Al Tibb.
Prof MOHAMMAD MAHMOOD ASHHAR of AMU's Civil
Engineering Department has been appointed new Programme
Coordinator of National Service Scheme (NSS) by Vice Chancellor
Prof P.K. Abdul Azis with immediate effect till further orders.
HAJI MOHAMMAD ISLAM QURESHI has been appointed
Chairman of UP branch of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) of
Sharad Pawar. His appointment as chairman was widely welcomed.
MAHMOOD AHMAD of CNEB has been elected president of
Journalists Association for People (JAP) in the Association's annual
meeting held on 17 Sept. at New Delhi.
Dr S.U. KHAN, a prominent hakeem of Muzaffar Nagar has been
re-appointed secretary of Nawab Azmat Ali Khan Waqf Board after
being ordered by Allahabad High Court. It may be mentioned in this
connection that a dispute between him and Imran Siddiqi for secre-
taryship of this Waqf had been going on for two years when the dis-
pute was taken to Court whose verdict went in favour of Dr S.U.
Khan. After Court's order, Muzaffar Nagar's DM, Ameet Abhyaat
asked Waqf Board members to conduct an election. In this election
Waqf Board's 7 members elected him secretary of this Waqf Board.
Prof ASIF ALI KHAN has been appointed new Dean of AMU's
Faculty of Life Sciences till November 2010. He has taken over the
charge from outgoing Dean, Prof Absar Mustafa Khan. Another
appointment is that of Prof. S. Mehdi Abbas Rizvi who has been
appointed new Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering
for a period of theree years. His appointment is in place of Prof
Mohammad Hamiduddin. Yet another appointment is that of Prof
Mohammad Ali who has been made this University's new Head of
the Department of Applied Chemistry.
Javed Abidi is one of the
five short-listed for the
Guardian Achievements in
International Development
Award 2009 for his work for
the cause of Disabled
Welfare. He is the only
Indian and the only one
from the Subcontinent to
have made the top 5. He
heads NCPEDP
(www.ncpedp.org / Madras Muftahul Uloom, Jalalabad died on 16 Sept at the
www.dnis.org). MG readers
are requested to visit
http://internationalachieve-
mentsaward.guardianpro-
fessional.co.uk/judgesnomi-
nation/Index and vote for
him.
KHURSHEED AHMAD, senior Congress leader has been appoint-
ed a member of Election Committee by Sonia Gandhi. Earlier,
Khursheed Ahmad was an MLA and MP from Haryana and also a
minister in the state.
Prof S. MUFEED AHMAD of Business School and Founder Director
of Convocation Complex of Kashmir has been selected by
International Publishing House, New Delhi for being honoured with
'Best Academic Achievements Award' in recognition of his excep-
tional calibre and outstanding research contributions in his chosen
area of Human Resources Development in the country. He has also
been honoured with 'Excellence in Teaching Award' and Shiksha
Rattan Award.
KAVIKO ABDUL RAHMAN, famous Tamil poet and Islamic scholar,
has been elected as the new chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Wakf
Board. Known as one of the top ten Tamil poets of the era, 'Kaviko'
has bagged several state and national awards including the Sahitya
Academy Award for his famous work 'Aalaapanai', thus making him
the first Tamil Muslim to get the prestigious honour. Kaviko hails
from Madurai, the literary hub of Tamil Nadu since ancient times. He
was a professor and the head of the department of Tamil in the
Islamiya College, Vaniambadi. His father Mahdi also was a famous
scholar and poet, who has translated many famous Islamic works to
Tamil. Kaviko has been elected for a term of five years.
MEERAN SAHAB MATTE of Deshnur village in
Belguam Dist completed this year's month long fasting
at the age of 103 years according to the Islamic calen-
der and 100th year of Christian calender. (Dr. Sabir
Momin)
daughters.
OBITUARIES
DR SAYED MAHMOOD NAQVI, a prominent scientist of
India died in Hyderabad. A native of Amroha, he had been
living with his son in Hyderabad. He was honoured with
many awards for his valuable contribution to science such
as the prestigious Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Award,
Lifetime Achievement Award given by Union ministry of
MYF Geology etc. He was 71 and is survived by three sons.
JAMUNA DAS AKHTAR, noted Urdu journalist and writer
died in Delhi on 1 Sept. at the age of 93 years. He started
his journalistic life in Lahore before partition of the country
after which he came to India and continued his journalistic
and literary activities in Delhi. He was a great champion of
Hindu-Muslim unity and Indo-Pak good relationship. He
also worked for bringing about social reforms. He wrote
novels opposing slave trade and trafficking of women and
children and strongly condemning those who patronised
this great evil. He was honoured with a number of journal-
istic and literary awards by Delhi government, Urdu
Academy, ATU (Anjuman Taraqqi-e Urdu) Birmingham etc.
He wrote more than two dozen novels in Urdu (most of
which have been published in Hindi also) and about half a
dozen novels and books in English.
MAULANA MOHAMMAD YASEEN, Sheikhul Hadith of
age of 95 years. He was confined to bed for the past about
5 years. He was well versed in Hadith and taught Hadith
Bokhari Sharif for about 25 years. He leaves behind his
wife, four sons and two daughters.
HAKEEM ANJUM, a famous Unani physician and expert in
feeling pulse died on 21 September, Eid Day at the rather
young age of 45 years only which left his family in mourn-
ing on the happy occasion of Eid. He was such an expert
physician at such young age that even the much senior and
experienced hakeems rarely disagreed with his diagnosis
of diseases and prescriptions. He was also expert in identi-
fying different herbs that are used for treatment of diseases.
MAHMOOD HASHIM, noted author and critic died in New
Delhi's AIIMS on 22 September after a prolonged illness at
the age of 74 years, according to his family members. He
was a dynamic and brilliant author and his writings fully rep-
resent his sharp intelligence, vast studies, maturity of
thoughts and farsightedness. He is survived by wife, four
sons and one daughter.
TAMIZUDDIN 'TAMEEZ', a senior poet who truly represent-
ed Delhi's Culture and Civilization died in Delhi on 16th July.
He had lost his eye sight about 20 years ago but his blind-
ness did not in any way affect his poetry and other activities.
Born on 16th July 1929 in Koocha Chelan locality of Delhi,
coincidentally he died also on 16th July, 80 years later.
MAHMOOD AHMAD SIDDIQI, a prominent personality of
Delhi and president of Saajhedari Welfare Education
Foundation died on 11 Sept. at the rather young age of 45
years. He had been actively working as president of the
Foundation in the field of education and environment. He
had in fact gone to Dehradoon for business purposes
where he died. He is survived by his wife, one son and two

International Lakes Environment Foundation in the first week of Hasnain is the first Indian to get this coveted German fellowship.
AWARDS Nov. '09 in Japan. The honour conferred upon him at a function organized by the
SHAMSUR RAHMAN FAROOQI, famous Urdu critic, novelist, poet PROFESSOR HAMID ALI of the Department of Petroleum Studies, Robert-Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin, Germany. The Institute is one
and Padma Shri has been selected by America's Urdu Markaz AMU Aligarh has been conferred upon the Best Educationist Award of the central institutions for health protection in Germany.
International Award Committee for being honoured with 'Asar by the Solidarity Council, New Delhi. Prof. Hamid Ali received the Delhi based inde-
Lucknavi's Urdu International Award 2009' in recognition of his life- award in a Seminar Education and Industrial Development held at pendent documentary
time literary services. The Award, consisting of a beautiful shawl, Constitution, Speaker Hall, New Delhi. filmmaker MERAJUR
Memento and a cheque for USD 5000, will be given to him at a func- Principal DR Z J KHAN is awarded with Gold Medal for best RAHMAN BARUAH
tion to be held at Los Angeles on 8 November. This information was Research Paper by IOE (India) in Electrical Engg. Division at 23rd won the 55th National
given by Mrs Nayyar Jahan, secretary general of Urdu Markaz Indian National Congress held at NIT, Warangal. Award for his docu-
International Award Committee, California. DR. SHAHAB FAZAL, Reader, Department of Geography, Aligarh mentary film 'Shifting
MOHAMMAD AYAZ AHMAD, a research scholar in Experimental Muslim University has been awarded with prestigious Canadian Prophecy." The film
High Energy Physics Lab of AMU's Department of Physics has been Government's Shastri Faculty Research Fellowship. Dr. Fazal was awarded Rajat
honoured with Best Scientific Secretary Award at the International would be visiting Montreal University, Canada to work on a research Kamal for the 55th
School of Sub-Nuclear Physics Conference held in Italy. project entitled "Livelihood transformation in the Montreal peri urban National Award in the
Mohammad Ayaz is also a member of Indian Physical Society. interface". Dr. Fazal has availed prestigious doctoral and post doc- Best Film on Social
Dr SHAKIL ROMSHO of Kashmir University's Department of toral fellowships such as CSIR Fellowship, British Government Issue category.
Geology and Geo-Physics has been selected by Japanese govern- Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship, Department of Science Mr. Baruah is an
ment for being honoured with Sixth International Kasmiguara Award and Technology's Young Scientist Project etc. Dr. Fazal has also accomplished docu-
in recognition of his services for keeping lakes in Kashmir Valley pol- been a member on Indo-German Joint Research Team working for mentary filmmaker
lution-free through his researches in geo-informatic techniques. The DST-DAAD Research Project. Presently he is working on a major with several docu-
Award, consisting of 2, 50, 000 Japanese Yen, will be presented to research project sponsored by ICSSR. mentaries and awards to his credit. He won the Best Director Award
him on the occasion of 13th World Lakes Conference organised by Union Minister of State for Railways E. Ahamed urged the students at Hyderabad International Film Festival in 2008 for the same film.
of Malappuram to come up with more number of "Sifting Prophecy" is about the struggles of Muslim women in Tamil
IBRAHIM HAFIZ SYED AHMED, a 12th ranks in competitive examinations. In a talent Nadu. The film is woven around Sharifa Khanam who is trying to
standard student of Al Joudha Secondary meet organised by the District Panchayat on 23 build a mosque for Muslim women.
School, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, hails from June, Mr. Ahamed distributed the District OMAR ABDULLAH, J&K chief min-
Hyderabad has won the first place in the Panchayat awards to the toppers of medical and ister, is among this year’s awardees
13th Session of Dubai International Holy engineering entrance examinations of this year of “Videocon India Youth Icon
Quran Award. Mr Ibrahim who clinched from the district. Six students in the engineering Awards” whose aim is to to identify,
the top price by contesting 76 participants entrance and 14 students in the medical honor and celebrate young exem-
from different parts of the world, is the first entrance who secured ranks in the first 100 plary Individuals for extraordinary
Indian who wins the coveted price of were honoured. Besides, the first, second and contribution towards society being
250000 UAE Dirhams. He received the third rank winners of Calicut University in vari-
hosted by izcraft International and
award from Sheikh Hamdan Bin ous examinations were also given awards.
Samay news network. Other
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum , the University of Hyderabad Vice-Chancellor
crown Prince of Dubai. He studied Quran SEYED E. HASNAIN has honoured with the awardees include FARHAN
at Hifzul Quran College, Markazu prestigious Robert Koch Fellowship for this year. AKHTAR (cinema), SHAFI
Saqafathi Sunniya, Kozhikode, Kerala. He received this fellowship for his contributions QURAISHY (Artist) and
to the study of infectious diseases. Professor SHEHNAAZ (Social Activist, Pukar).

 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 17

SPECIAL REPORTS

An evening with a “terror mastermind”

oday I received a wonderful gift. It was nothing one can do. One should enter the sys-

T from a boy called Imran, one of the 40

innocent Muslim boys (all between 17
and 25 years of age) who were arrest-
ed in relation to the bomb blasts in the twin
cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. They
were released after a long campaign led by
Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee and
Hyderabad Forum for Justice against the ille-
gality of their detention and torture. Out of
these, Imran was named a 'mastermind' and
kept away from other boys in a top security
barrack with Naxalite leaders. He was the last
to be released, after 16 months detention,
longest period among the detained Muslim
youth.
I saw him for the first time when Civil
Liberties Monitoring Committee began video
documentating of the detainees' testimonies.
First we recorded Rayees' testimony who was a
named witness in the killing of Mojahid, the son
of Moulana Islahi, during their protest against
arrest of Moulana Naseeruddin. He was tortured
and also made to confess to his “crime.” Imran
looked hardly out of teenage, dressed in mod-
ern clothes, with a latest edition of Nokia cell-
phone, extremely articulate in English.
Once he started, there was no stopping him,
we hardly needed to prod him to speak. He was
21 or 22 when he got arrested, a student of
engineering, working in ICICI as a part-time
employee, a dutiful but happy go-lucky young
man, with more Hindu friends than Muslim.
Having been a resident of Bowinpally all his life,
with a father working in NGRI, having studied in
Kendriya Vidyalaya, he said, he never 'felt he
was a Muslim' nor did his neighbourhood,
friends, school made him feel so. More than
angry, he still retains the surprise that, of all the
people, he was arrested for being a “Muslim”,
that too being "a terrorist". The charge looked so
outrageous to him that he never believed,
despite terrible torture, that anything can come
out of it. He was arrested for a 'high tech crime'
- of assisting the terrorists to launder money -
because of which he was named a mastermind.
"Do police know what bank employees do?
Don't they know what engineering students
read? My textbooks were shown as evidence of
my knowledge of 'high-tech' crime, is there any-
thing more ridiculous than this?"
During the torture in a private farm house,
he heard screams of other detainees but did not
get to meet them. And, alongside the rest of the
detainees, he also had to “confess” to his
“crime”. "I challenge all the officers. If anyone is
tortured like that for two days, he will confess to
any crime," he siad. Police threats to his family's
welfare also made him to 'admit' to his 'crimes'.
What made him survive the prison and the tor-
ture was the experience of staying with the
Naxalite leaders, whom he affectionately calls
Ganeshanna, Shankaranna etc., from whom he
derived a lot of inspiration. He told us, 'they eat
only one meal a day, though they are given food
twice. They are in the prison not for personal
gain, but for other people. If people who do such
good things get arrested, its ok for me to get
arrested too".
After Imran came out on bail, police harass-
ment still continues, he and his family are
marked as Muslim, people in the local mosque
have stopped speaking to him; his sister's mar-
riage prospects are in jeopardy. But he is deter-
mined to write for civil services and join the sys-
tem. "If one stays out of the system, there is
tem and change it from within". The boy exuded
such faith in India, India's secularism, Indian
courts, contrary to my own much depleted one.
One could not miss the youthful naivete, or the
liberal innocence when he speaks (me, a
Muslim?) but to speak it after the brutal torture
for being one! One really did not have the
courage to puncture that professed faith or
innnocence or hope. Last heard, he was work-
ing with LokSatta and was giving passionate
election speeches.
We met him today again at an Iftar party
organized by Lateef Khan and Rafat Seema.
Juanid had also come. So we exchanged pleas-
antries as usual. Towards the end, suddenly
Imran says he wants to give something; comes
out with a neatly packaged gifts, distributes
them to three of us and says, "When I was in jail,
it was statements of you people that gave me
hope. While the entire media was calling me all
kinds of things, it was people like you who said
I may be innocent. The work that you do is
tremendous. I also want to do such work, not
only for Muslims, but for people of all communi-
ties." The packaged thing was deeply
embarassing but what he said was worth a
treasure! A.SUNEETHA
Anveshi Research Centre for Women's
Studies, Hyderabad

AWMELA holds awareness program for Swine Flu

Hyderabad: Eid namaz was offered by lakhs of Muslims at Ujale Shah, Akber Bagh Eidgah here. The
sermon (khutba) was delivered by Moulana Naseeruddin who was recently released by Supreme
Court on bail after long incarnation without trial in Modi’s Sabarmati Jail at Ahamadabad.
Azamgarh: Association for Welfare, Medical, Educational and Legal Assistance organized a pro-
gram on 13 September 2009 in the Hall of Shibli National Inter College, Azamgarh, to create
awareness for Swine Flu. Dr. K.M. Agarwal, CMO Azamgarh, Dr. Furqan (President, IMA), Dr. DP
Rai (Secretary IMA), Dr. Ghayasuddin, (District Hospital) enlightened the gathering about Swine
Flu. Dr. Agarwal informed that there is no patient of Swine Flu in Azamgarh but advised precau-
tion in gathering especially educational institutions. In case of child suffering from this kind of Flu,
he should be quarantined, advised the CMO. Abu Mohammad, Principal SNIC condemned the
media hype in exaggerating the menace of Swine Flu and warned against evil design of devel-
oped nations. Maulana Umair-us-Siddiq Nadwi, Senior Rafiq Darul Musannefin Shibli Academy,
Azamgarh appreciated the formation of AWMELA and its initiative. He told about the outbreak of
Swine Flu in epidemic form in 1918 when a lot of people died. However, he emphasized on good
sanitation and hygiene and strongly condemned the loitering of Swines on roads and public
places that is a carrier of a number of diseases. Dr. Javed Akhtar presented details about Swine
Flu, its definition, treatment, and prevention etc. through a power point presentation. Use of
gloves, masks and mock examination of patients were demonstrated.
SALMAN SULTAN

Sale of children by father

Hyderabad: Mohammad Aiyub, a resident of this city's Mumtaz that he was employed as security incharge at
colony went to Hyderabad Press Club to sell his children. His 5- Vapade. In 2007 officers falsely accused him of
year daughter was holding a placard on which was written 'Aulad theft in order to hide their own act of theft and
barai farokht: Panch bachchian, do ladke' (children for sale, 5 got him sacked from service. From that time
daughters and 2 sons). On that occasion he told media persons onwards he is jobless. He said that 'my children
are hungry. I
Yusuf/MG
could not
This is not a arrange even
wolf; it is a their clothes for
Eid. We bring
lamb iftari from
mosque to
break fasts and
I am indebted to
the tune of Rs 3
lakhs'. He fur-
ther said that he
works on daily
wages of Rs 150 and is unable to times not. He said that he approached different ministers and
meet the expenses. Sometimes went to offices of political parties also (for job) but could not get
he gets the daily job and some- any help. He said 'I cannot see my children die of hunger and
hence have brought them to sell'.

18 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009
Speaking Out NILOFAR SUHRAWARDY
Political Iftars:
just a farce?
ow critical should one be of Iftar parties hosted partic-
H ularly by Indian politicians to apparently attract
Muslims to their respective political parties?
Undeniably, each individual- whether politically associated
with any group or not- has the right to her/his own views on
the issue. Those viewing these critically as a cosmetic show,
only to assert their support for Muslims, certainly have a
point. Expressing support for Muslims, through these Iftars,
without assuring them security - social, economic as well as
political- certainly demands explanation about how genuine
their claims really are. At the same time, one is forced to delib-
erate on whether there should be a call for boycott and also
cancellation of Iftars deliberately hosted for political gains
and some media coverage. Frankly speaking, not really.
It must be accepted that these Iftars play some role in
making rest of the country aware of the importance Indian
Muslims are assumed to have politically in the country.
Objectively speaking, though Muslims form the largest
minority in the country, less than 20 percent of the entire
population, it must be noted that considerable sections of
majority community are not yet totally aware about their reli-
gious beliefs and practices. The role played by several
extremist elements and groups in projecting only a negative
image about Muslims, linking them with terrorism, cannot
Continued from page 1
The honourable judges directed Om Prakash to inform it through an
affidavit whether or not a mobile phone, number 9825000836, was
registered in his name or whether it belonged to him otherwise. He
is to confirm whether or not he had talked with any or both of the hon-
ourable ministers (NOT the honourable CM!) over the phone. The
Commission wants to know the nature of conversations if he does
not choose to deny them outright. Nanavati and Mehta obviously find
it difficult to sweep under the carpet the data of mobile calls collect-
ed by IPS officer Rahul Sharma about conversations between key
characters during the pogrom.
Jaydeep Patel had proudly taken credit for teaching some essential
lessons to hundreds of "Muslim upstarts" in the state during and after
riots. He was nabbed along with Madam Maya Kodnani, a sitting
minister in Modi's cabinet, only after the Supreme Court-appointed
Special Investigation Team could not delay it any further. It is anoth-
er matter that it is business as usual for both the dignitaries current-
ly, who are happily out on bail. That should not surprise anyone con-
versant with trends in India ever since the country became 'free'.
Ruling as well as opposition groups, whether at the state or at the
Central level, have been artfully collaborating with one another to
destroy any semblance of human rights that existed for minority
communities under colonial rule.
The nexus between "communal fundamentalist" state governments
on the one hand and New Delhi and its supposedly independent
arms on the other hand is particularly striking. Occasional "remedies"
to undo injustice come about only after so much of delay as to make
them a cruel joke. That too is limited to cases where international
human rights groups exert tremendous pressure. Not just in Gujarat,
the conspiracy to rob life and liberty of individuals is nationwide. The
prosecution invariably can go on extending custody of uncomfortable
suspects till they go insane. Courts have no qualms to readily deny
bail to hapless victims who lack enough resources to feed parasites.
In order to prove their loyalty to authorities, they have robbed hun-
dreds of families of their breadwinners.
A person needs to be as wealthy as Rubabuddin Sheikh - brother of
Sohrabuddin Sheikh who was eliminated in cold blood by top IPS
officers of Gujarat - to interest the Apex Court in gross inhumanities.
Sheikh and his wife Kausar Bi were kidnapped in broad daylight from
an APSRTC bus in connivance with top cops in Maharashtra to
stage a bizarre 'encounter' in Gujarat.
Often, the occasional churning of the 'conscience' of high-profile
judges fails to have any impact either on victims/their kin or the mur-
derers. For example, the murderer IPS officers who fraudulently
cooked up a conspiracy by Sohrabuddin to kill Narendra Modi are
enjoying five-star comforts in jail. It should not be surprising to see
them one day as honourable ministers like Bhatt and Kodnani!
Investigations by Anti-Terrorist Squad into the "conspiracies to kill
Modi" are still going on and the Muslim youths picked up for alleged
role are rotting without trial.
t is interesting to observe the trashing by Nanavati-Mehta duo of
IDelhi's
the widespread demands to question Modi in the light of New
persistent demand for prosecuting Hafiz Saeed, who it claims
is the alleged mastermind behind November 2008 terror attack in
Mumbai. It is not entirely impossible that the JuD chief played a
direct role in the carnage, as India claims he had. Nor is it right to rule
out offhand that he has distanced himself completely from the activ-
ities of LeT, as he claims. While LeT continues its struggle to "liber-
ate" Kashmir from "occupation forces", JuD has been an NGO since
it was formed, from all available evidence. JuD is known for deep
dedication to charitable activities, efficiency and dynamic manage-
ment. Like any respectable Church group, the constructive work it
does is beyond governments' capabilities.
Perhaps, Hafiz was indeed involved in the Mumbai attacks, in which
ten gunmen went on a 60-hour rampage that killed 166 people.
Perhaps, what the Lahore High Court found to be mere "hearsay &
also be ignored. Against this backdrop, Iftar parties at least
help others in learning a little about religious principles fol-
lowed by Muslims and positive approach held towards them
by politicians in the fray. Irrespective of whatsoever is the
political motive of the parties/leaders hosting these Iftars,
their being held certainly plays a major part in highlighting
positively an important part of Muslims' religious practices.
The situation would have been different if the percentage
of Muslims' population was closer to 50 or even more than 25
percent of the country's total population. The prospects of
non-Muslims' approach towards Muslims being dependent
on negative reports presented to them by anti-Muslim
extremist elements would then have been negligible. With
their being naturally aware about religious beliefs and prac-
tices followed by a large number of Muslims (because of
their numerical percentage), their views would have been
based on their own interaction with them. The reality is that
one out of two or four Indians is not a Muslim, but only one
or two of 10 Indians is a Muslim. Numerical statistics are
such that except for in Muslim majority areas, non-Muslims
in other parts of the country may tend to have a wrong, sub-
jective and even negative views about Muslims with whom
they have probably never even interacted and/or have learnt
about only through secondary sources.
esides, with due respect to criticism voiced about these
B Iftars being a farce as they are simply a political exer-
cise to win over Muslim votes, one may look at the
same point from another angle. Accepting that it is time the
same leaders took constructive steps towards development
of this community, it would be erroneous to assume that
Muslims who choose to attend these parties have closed their
eyes towards the same point. Rather, these Iftars also give an
conjectures" on examining the dossiers prepared by the Indian
authorities was only a part of the unveiled facts. It must be recalled
that Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Maharashtra's CM
Deshmukh had been quietly removed from public view after the
attacks, apparently to keep disturbing facts about highly placed
Indian dignitaries in the dark.
Be that as it may, the "crime" was more than a full 6-1/2 after close
to 2000 innocents were slaughtered and tens of thousands driven off
from habitats in 2002. The whole world is aware of the person whose
actions and inactions fueled the pogrom. He allegedly instructed the
administration not to restrain rampaging Hindutva goons from taking
revenge. He justified the violence as "action-reaction phenomenon"
for the burning of two rail coaches full of passengers and said the
mobs must be allowed to "vent their anger." Yet, the Nanavati-Mehta
Commission supposed to facilitate dispensing justice "does not think
it proper" to inconvenience the gentleman by questioning him, let
alone arresting him!
The only work that India's security agencies have managed in the
last ten months, apart from staging fake encounters and stepping up
security to VIPs, has only been to produce bulky dossiers. P
Chidambaram, who became the boss of New Delhi's internal securi-
ty machinery after the sacking of Shivraj Patil, did not bat an eyelid
to claim: "Evidence is in Pakistani soil. When Pakistan says give us
evidence, evidence is not on Indian soil, all the evidence against
Hafiz Saeed is on Pakistani soil… Therefore, one must investigate in
Pakistan and find the evidence in Pakistan(!)"
It is not that Chidambaram is so naïve as to be blind to the problems
of the fledgling civilian government in Pakistan to bow to the diktats
of the big brother even if wants to. Unfortunately, the governmental
structure in that country is different from India's. For one thing, courts
elsewhere are not as pliable as Indian courts. It is possible in India
to keep anyone, particularly a Muslim, in jail without trial with courts'
nod by following "proper" procedure. Arbitrarily picked up suspects of
terror dramas can be convicted and sentenced to death based sole-
ly on "confessions" extracted in custody. The interior minister of
Pakistan Rehman Malik has repeatedly told the Indian high commis-
sioner that their judiciary wants authentic documents "particularly
that information which we need from India."
When the JuD chief was put under house arrest for the first time, the
courts directed his release because the charges were "sketchy".
Currently, Saeed has been booked in two cases under Anti-Terrorism
Act in Faisalabad for making "provocative speeches, urging people
to wage a jihad against infidels." No self-respecting judge anywhere
in the world will consider sympathizing per se with a struggle against
suppression of popular aspirations in an "occupied territory" as ter-
rorism. In any civilized country, prosecution can be based only on
specific offences and no one can be punished simply for beliefs.
Chidambaram, however, crossed all limits of diplomatic decency
when he termed the Lahore High Court's verdict setting Hafiz Saeed
free on grounds of insufficient grounds as "charade." It is anyone's
guess whether the independent judiciary will sanction indefinite
detention of the Professor, as long as Indian rulers attempt doctoring
their dossiers, blacking out disturbing facts about Indian citizens,
without whose knowledge such an attack could not have taken
place. It is uncomfortable for both the ruling elite and the ones in
opposition to admit that the countless terror bomb blasts, including
the Mumbai attacks, cannot be blamed on JuD or Syeed alone.
Warmongering with a neighbour, already badly bruised in a different
conflict, happens to be a compulsion to the ruling elite of India. It
needs to cover up not just glaring intelligence and security lapses in
case of the Mumbai attack. All round tyranny and corruption have led
to breakdown of constitutional institutions and failures of all govern-
ing structures. No wonder, numerous foreign affairs bureaucrats,
high profile politicians and the Media were pressed to mount a stri-
dent rhetoric, short of declaration of war. Scaring the neighbour and
the international community about a flare up between nuclear armed
adversaries, the rulers calculate, can secure some sort of "triumph"
over the imaginary enemy. Showcasing the imaginary 'triumph',
ANALYSIS
occasion to both invited ones and those who stay away from
the same gatherings to voice their stand on issues concern-
ing them regarding development of the community.
The multi-religious nature of Indian secularism must
also be given due importance. Indians of all religions are
fairly at home in adding quite a few celebrations to their
respective beliefs and practices. The Iftar parties fall in the
same bracket, that of displaying the spirit of Indian secular-
ism, particularly when non-Muslim politicians host them.
Irrespective of what their main political objective be, per-
haps, one should give some importance to their using the
occasion to let the rest of the country and world know about
the importance they are giving to Indian Muslims and their
Iftars. Every time the Indian politicians make the extra effort
to display their "secular" spirit, it must be also be viewed as
a blow for those still keen on fuelling communal fire and
painting a negative image about Indian Muslims. Definitely,
this does not imply that the community members should be
satisfied only with such parties. They are not. The blow suf-
fered by Congress in the recent by-polls for Okhla assembly
seat is just a minor indicator of this hard fact. The Congress
may have tried its best to evade Batla House "encounter"
and other problems faced by voters here, but the people
have not. Thus, while the respected leaders are welcome to
display their "secular" spirit by holding Iftar parties, they
must remember that however well attended these gather-
ings may be, they certainly do not suggest that they have
won over the Muslim-vote. The leaders need to implement
proposals -outlined on paper- and display their success in
contributing constructively towards development of Indian
Muslims. Today's Indian Muslim voter is far too shrewd to be
taken for a ride by only political gimmicks, including Iftar
parties.

achieved at mind-boggling costs to the public, has repeatedly been
successful in drumming up patriotic frenzy to let them continue reign-
ing over the masses.
The Indian political class has managed to erect an invisible
apartheid system, right since the British Empire vacated all its
colonies, transferring power to home-grown leaderships. The
apartheid affected the minority community of 27 million Christians
only to a limited extent, mainly because of their highly developed
institutions in economic and social spheres. The 160-plus million
Muslims who are comparatively poor and backward due to the
migration of a big chunk of the well-off sections to Pakistan and else-
where, on the other hand, are the worst victims.
Perpetration of the apartheid system is the main objective for pro-
voking conflicts deliberately and repeatedly. It is also behind the sim-
mering dispute over Kashmir. Stationing of seven lakh troops in the
disputed territory, resulting in routine human rights abuses, can only
fuel retaliatory terror. After every incident of terrorism and riots, it is
normal to pick up a number of Muslim youth on mere "suspicion" and
let them rot without trial in jail indefinitely with courts' consent. Also,
any disapproval from this section for suicidal war advocacy is equat-
ed to treason. In the cruelest manifestation of the apartheid system,
Muslims are expected to declare their unconditional allegiance to the
powers-that-be after every riot and every outbreak of conflict, or face
social ostracism.
It is ironic to find that the Muslim leadership in India has routinely
herded the masses steeped in ignorance and backwardness to back
the Congress party. This translates into covertly supporting the
apartheid policy, because it was Congress that had sown and has
been nourishing the invisible apartheid. It will be no exaggeration to
state that the likes of BJP and Shiv Sena have only taken advantage
of this policy to a limited extent. In most cases, including in the eye-
wash probe into the Gujarat pogrom, they have been partnered by
the Congress top brass and the constitutional authorities that have
been thoroughly corrupted.
Take the unceremonious burial given to Sri Krishna report into the
Mumbai riots; take the 'effective' follow-up actions on Liberhan's 17-
year eyewash of probing Babri demolition; take the Apex Court's wis-
dom behind jailing an unfortunate riot victim on contempt charges for
flip-flopping in her deposition before it, frightened to the spine by
powers that the court is powerless to touch; take the indifference to
the plight of the POTA-accused in the Godhra train burning incident
in 2002 who had to rot in jail for seven years without bail after POTA
itself had been repealed but their release was stayed while the court
took its own sweet time to dispose off a challenge to the repeal itself;
take the hundreds of thousands of breadwinners behind bars in sev-
eral states ruled by "secular" parties; take the case of NHRC's clean
chit for the fake encounter at Batla House where the murderer cop
was given top State honours... These are just a few of the nightmar-
ish fruits of blindly allying with hypocritical groups that promote the
apartheid. Unless the minorities assert themselves and bravely raise
their voice against the bogey of war advocacy, it will be impossible to
escape the vicious circle.
It is time that Indian rulers are forced to dismantle the invisible
apartheid and end State-orchestrated terrorism within the country
rather than spoiling for deadly conflagrations, which only adds to the
agony of the people. As popular outrage gets out of control, there is
every risk of their being overthrown through terror attacks. This can
be averted only by instilling a sense of justness in State machinery
and not by terrorizing people who demand that. Crying hoarse
demanding prosecution of foreign citizens running NGOs to serve
the people there cannot be the substitute for credible prosecution of
highly placed goons responsible for mass murders. India must give
utmost priority to purge the machinery if the goal of human rights pro-
tection and justice dispensation is to be achieved. The entire struc-
ture needs to be cleansed of parasites that use their top positions of
office to sabotage justice from within, if India is not to implode.
The author is an independent analyst of South Asian issues, based
in Ahmedabad, India.

Supreme Court upholds
right to grow beard
Vidisha/New Delhi: Supreme Court, in response to the petition
filed by Mohammad Saleem, a 10th class student of Nirmala
Convent Missionary School of Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha dis-
trict who was removed from the school for his insistence to
keep beard in defiance of the School's dress code, upheld his
case and directed the said School to re-admit him in the school.
Supreme Court's 2-member bench consisting of Justice B.N.
Agarwal and Justice Sanghvi in its interim order described
Convent School's action as 'funny' and ordered that till its final
verdict, neither his (Saleem's) education should be stopped nor
he should be asked to shave off his beard. The Court also said
that on the basis of beard, which is a religious symbol, no stu-
dent should be prevented from pursuing his education.
School's Principal Mrs Rosy said that in deference to Supreme
Court's verdict, School management, in spite of his beard, has
allowed him to continue his studies. Welcoming Supreme
Court's verdict, Maulana Wali Rahmani of Khanqah Rahmani,
Munger said that though the Court's order is interim, it has
upheld the Constitutional provisions about religious freedom.
Objection to AMU being described as a community refuge
Aligarh: A former member of Aligarh Muslim University,
Surendra Kumar Azad has strongly objected to AMU being
described by some people as a refuge of a particular commu-
nity. While condemning this statement, he said that late
Mohammad Ali Jinnah alone was not responsible for partition of
the country, adding that the opponents should study the histo-
ry of partition of the country. He said that Aligarh Muslim
University has neither ever been the fiefdom of a particular
community nor it is so today and even today the example of
Hindu Muslim unity that is found here is difficult to find any-
where else in the country. He asked those people what they
would say about the conditions in BHU where a particular com-
munity is occupying and controlling every thing and how many
teachers, non-teaching staff, employees and students of minor-
ity community are there? Taunting the people of such mentali-
ty he said that crying about the vote bank politics does not
behove those people who want to collect votes after inciting
religious feelings of people on the pretext of building temple
after demolishing the mosque. He further said that a number of
schemes are being implemented by central government for the
progress and welfare of minorities, Dallits, poor and backward
class people without any kind of discrimination. He also made
it clear that mischievous, terrorist and hate mongering ele-
ments who are trying to harm the people and country and sow
the seeds of discord have never been given any place in AMU,
adding that AMU is a living example of communal harmony in
the country and the world.
Urdu, Hindi, English dictionary
New Delhi: Delhi University's Directorate of Hindi Language
has prepared for the first time an Urdu, Hindi and English dic-
tionary which was released on Hindi Day on 14 Sept. along
with 4 other books by the University's Dean of Colleges.
Running into 1389 pages, this Dictionary is in two volumes, first
volume consisting of 717 pages. According to Dr Asha Gupta,
Director, it took 7 years of hard work for compilation and com-
pletion of this Dictionary by M.S. Usmani, Sudhendra Kumar
and Meena Usmani. One of these three i e Sudhendra Kumar
is no more now. Delhi University's Head of Hindi Department,
Prof Sudesh Pichori has thanked the Hindi Directorate for the
stupendous task of preparing this unique Dictionary.
CDs of Johnny Foster sent to many VIP and VVIPs
Aligarh: Muslim and non-Muslim student of AMU in celebration
of the holy month of Ramzan took part in the preparation of a
CD of Johnny Foster's small poem on Ramzan and its mes-
sage of spirituality and harmony. Johnny Foster said that in
addition to important personalities in AMU and Aligarh city,
copies of this CD have also been sent to important personali-
ties like the President of India, Prime Minister, Vice President,
Mrs Sonia Gandhi, UP chief minister Mayawati, Oscar Award
winner AR Rahman, Atal Bihari Vajpaee, Mulayam Singh
Yadav, Prof Gopi Chand Narang, Khushwant Singh etc as gifts.
The poem is in Urdu whose English translation is like this:
Ramzan has come with the blessings of Allah/Ramzan has
come and there are prayers and worships everywhere/People
of all faiths are participating in iftars/Once again Ramzan has
come to distribute and spread love.
Rs 10 lakh for Imam Ahmad Raza Library
Bareily: Virendar Gangwar, MLA from Bareily Cantt area has
donated Rs 10 lakhs for building of Aala Hazrat Imam Ahmad
Raza Library which will be built in Maulana Azad Inter College
campus here. Permission for building of this Library has also
been accorded by Nagar Nigam and city administration. The
Library will be built and its foundation will be laid after Eid.
While donating the amount, MLA Virendar Gangwar said that
the whole world knows Imam Ahmad Raza who wrote 740 reli-
gious books and has done great work for the nation, millat and
religion.
Hindu students in Bihar Madrasas
Patna: Results of Bihar State Madrasa Examination Board
(BSMEB) for Molvi, Fauqania and Wastania grade examina-
tions were declared on 7 Sept. from which it was known that
more than hundred Hindu boy and girl students passed these
examinations. In Fauqania examination alone, as many as 37
non-Muslim (Hindu) students passed in madrasas at different
places in the state like Madrasa Islamia at Sandalpur in Araria
district, Madrasa Rahmania at Jaktia in West Champaran,
Madrasa Faiyyazul Uloom in Chhapra etc. Board chairman,
Maulana Ejaz Ahmad says that he talked to parents of many of
these students who said that education at madrasas was bet-
ter than other schools and their wards were more disciplined.
He also said that the fact that more girls are joining madrasas
and pursuing education is an encouraging trend, and that
Muslim girls outnumbered and also surpassed boys in
Fauqania (equivalent to matric) and Wastania (equivalent to
middle school).
Vice Chancellor launches the official AMU website
Professor P. K. Abdul Azis, Vice Chancellor, has launched the
official website of Aligarh Muslim University (www.amu.ac.in).
The new website provides all relevant information regarding
the functioning of Aligarh Muslim University, Vice Chancellor's
Office, Registrar's Office, Controller's Office, faculties and
departments of studies that are linked with the new website.
Information related to admission and details of various courses
are also available on the concerned link. While inaugurating
the new website Professor P. K. Abdul Azis expressed the hope
that people from all over the world can now get information
about the ongoing academic activities and other research work.
This is necessary for collaborations with other Universities as
well. Prof. M. T. Ahmad, Director of the Computer Center and
Mr. Mallik Hashmi, Computer Programmer explained the
salient features of the new website. Mr. Afzal Ahmad, System
Manager proposed vote of thanks while Mr. Saleem Ali,
Assistant Computer Programmer conducted the programme.
Land offered to AMU for Bihar Campus
Following a shocking defeat in the just concluded Assembly by-
elections, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has decided to
hand over 100 acres of land at Kishanganj free of cost for
opening an off-campus centre of Aligarh Muslim University
(AMU) in the State. In a letter to AMU vice-chancellor PK Abdul
Azis, the chief minister invited the university authorities to set
up the campus in the Muslim-dominated area. "You will be glad
to know that the government of Bihar has decided to give 100
acres of land, free of cost to AMU for opening its centre in
Kisanganj district," the letter said. The AMU administration has
decided to establish five off-campus centres in different parts of
the country. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee also
announced fund allocation for this purpose in his Budget
speech in July. Apart from Bihar, AMU will open branches in
Murshidabad (West Bengal) Malappuram (Kerala), Bhopal
(Madhya Pradesh) and Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh). The
rivals accused political interests in shifting the place of campus
from Katihar district to Kishanganj district. Nationalist Congress
Party (NCP) accused chief minister Nitish Kumar of 'doing dirty
politics' by opening the centre in Kishanganj district. NCP gen-
eral secretary Tariq Anwar said the AMU administration had last
year decided to open its centre in Katihar district, but chief min-
ister played dirty politics by shifting it to Kisanganj district. The
project's initial site was Katihar for which Tariq Anwar had lob-
bied hard. Those opposing the State government's move are
questioning its authority to make such change. Justifying his
decision to give land at Kishanganj Mr Nitish, in the letter to
AMU VC, said, "Kishanganj is a Muslim-dominated district with
ISHRAT JAHAN’S SISTER OFFERING SWEETS TO HER MOTHER AFTER THE RELEASE OF MAGISTRATE REPORT
The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 19
COMMUNITY NEWS
poor literacy figures. The AMU centre would be very helpful in
imparting quality education to the students of minority commu-
nity and will improve the educational atmosphere in the State."
After all, Katihar is better connected and has a much better
infrastructure than Kishanganj. This too is a Muslim-concen-
trated district. Besides, Kishanganj is also close to
Murshidabad, which too has been selected for the AMU centre.
Meanwhile, the activists of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad
on 20 September burnt the effigy of Nitish Kumar in protest
against the granting of land to the AMU in the district. On the
other hand, the AMU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis
while thanking the Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar in tak-
ing the decision to give 100 acres of land free of cost to Aligarh
Muslim University for opening its centre in Bihar, has request-
ed him to urgently provide an additional 150-200 acres of land
contiguous to the currently identified site for establishing the
AMU centre in Bihar. He said this will allow the university to
prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and Feasibility
Report (FR) as required by the Government of India.
Islam not synonymous with terrorism: Shabana
Johannesburg: Participating in a discussion on Islam, well-
known Bollywood actress Shabana Azmi said, "(Islam) is liber-
al in some countries, moderate in others, intolerant in some
and extremist in the others. But it is not homogeneous. To say
that Islam is synonymous with terrorism is unjust, unfair and
cannot be accepted because it is a blatant untruth." To say that
Islam is synonymous with terrorism is "unjust and unfair", Azmi
told an audience here as she launched a retrospective of her
films. "I think that the 9/11 crisis also became an opportunity; it
was the first time that Muslims got together to make the world
realise that Islam is not homogeneous, that it resides in 53
countries of the world, and becomes the culture of the country
in which it resides," Ms Azmi said.Questioned on the situation
with Muslims in India, Ms Azmi said that Muslims in India had
"ample room to aspire", but that did not mean that discrimina-
tion does not exist there. "Discrimination exists against minori-
ties, it exists against women; it exists against Dalits. But the
important thing is that there is a very robust civil society, and at
the level of politics, that fights back and says this is not how we
do it; so we have to draw comfort and strength from that."
Nobody can be legally compelled to sing patriotic song
New Delhi: Member of Law Commission of India, Prof Tahir
Mahmood said, while clarifying legal position of patriotic songs,
that the country's law and Constitution do not recognise any
song other than 'Jan, Gan, Man….' as national song. Moreover,
it is also not legally compulsory to sing this song, he said. He
said that long ago in response to a petition filed by Christian
community, Supreme Court had made it clear while pronounc-
ing its verdict that under the Parliamentary Act 1977 regarding
national symbols, respect for the national song Jan, Gan,
Man…. is compulsory and standing in token of respect while it
is being sung is enough and its singing is also not compulsory.
He said that according to this judgment of Supreme Court, if
some one objects to the national song on religious or any other
ground, he cannot be compelled to sing it, adding that when
even for a patriotic and wholly national song Supreme Court's
judgement does not make it compulsory to sing, there is no
question of making compulsory singing of any other patriotic or
other song. Commenting on the agitation and protests against
the fatwa regarding Vande Mataram, Tahir Mahmood said that
in such sensitive matters, instead of religious fatwas, if guid-
ance is sought from laws of the country, the aims and inten-
sions of communalist forces can be defeated. Hence it would
be better if before issuing any religious fatwa, knowledge about
national laws may be obtained.
20 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009
COMMUNITY NEWS
JIH to contest in Maharashtra elections
Mumbai: Jamaat-e Islami Hind, Maharashtra branch after study-
ing social, political and economic conditions in the country and
state in detail, has decided to contest 38 seats and put up Muslim
candidates in these assembly constituencies in the forthcoming
assembly elections in Maharashtra. This was stated by Jamaat
(Maharashtra)'s secretary and spokesman, Aslam Ghazi. He also
said that JIH will support only those secular parties/candidates
which accept its following demands and who will be secular in
outlook and of good character. Three important demands of JIH
are: security of important interests of Muslims and Islam, to pre-
vent people and parties of communal, fascist mentality from com-
ing to power, and to ensure the rights of backward classes peo-
ple and women to them. Other demands are: controlling the
prices especially of essential commodities, government should
be serious about solving the problems of farmers and putting a
ban on mahajani (money lenders) loans, implementation of
Narendra Jadhav, Sri Krishna Commission and Gundewar
Commission’s reports, preventation of cruelties to minorities and
dalits, ensuring regular supply of electricity and reduction of its
charges, ending privatization, rejection of MERC recommenda-
tions, immediate trial of people arrested on the charge of terror-
ism and they should be given full opportunity of proving their
innocence, misuse of MCOCA should be stopped, terrorists
attack of 26/11 in Mumbai and murder of Hemant Karkare and
others should be got investigated by a sitting judge of Supreme
Court etc, enactment of law against foeticide, providing legal sta-
tus to minorities commissions and Waqf Boards and occupied
properties of Waqf should be returned, Bihar government's law of
Waqf should be implemented in Maharashtra, at least 38
Muslims should be given tickets from areas where population of
Muslims is 20% or more.
Only 14 Muslims in Cong-NCP first list for Maharashtra
Mumbai: Contrary to their popular claim of Muslim uplift and
seemingly working on a policy to deny fair Muslim representations
in the parliament and legislative assemblies, the Congress-NCP
alliance in Maharashtra gave party tickets to only 14 Muslim can-
didates when they unleashed the first list of the candidates on 23
September. Out of these 14, 12 Muslims are in the first list of 159
Congress candidates whereas NCP has given the party tickets to
two Muslims in its list of 80 candidates. The Congress party has
an alliance with Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party
(NCP) for the ensuing assembly elections in Maharashtra.
For the total 288 assembly seats that will go to polls on
October 13 this year, Congress will be contesting on 174 seats
whereas NCP would be fielding 114 candidates on its party tick-
ets.
Muslims in Maharashtra are already disgruntled against the
ruling Congress-NCP alliance due to its lackluster attitude
towards the community in the past ten years. The mishandling of
the 2008 Malegaon blast case that made the headlines few
months before the polls had only intensified their anger.
However, at the time when the community was expecting
from the ruling alliance to compensate for the poor representation
given to the Muslims in 2009 Parliamentary elections, the alliance
ditched the community once again when it included only 14
Muslims in its first list.
On the basis of the Muslim population in Maharashtra, com-
munity leaders were demanding alliance tickets for 35 Muslim
candidates. Congress High command too had promised during
the Lok Sabha elections that it would field enough number of
Muslim candidates in the assembly elections.
"During the 2009 parliamentary elections in a meeting at
Islam Gymkhana in Mumbai the Congress had promised a fare
Muslim representation in the assembly elections", said Fareed
Khan of Qaumi Majlis-e- Shura. The Congress-led UPA had
received overwhelming support from the Muslim community dur-
ing the 2009 parliamentary elections. However, in Maharashtra it
had fielded just two Muslim candidates - both of them lost the
elections. As of now there is no Muslim MP from Maharashtra.
"Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his visit to Mumbai
during the parliamentary elections had admitted that appropriate
number of Muslim candidates was not given tickets. He had prom-
ised to compensate it in assembly elections", said Fareed Khan.
"However, the ongoing development reveals that the alliance
is not serious about its promise and it is again taking the commu-
nity for granted", he added. As a reminder to the alliance leader-
ship, Fareed Khan had even written a letter to Chief Minister
ISSUES
AVAILABLE
T HE M ILLI G AZETTE
D-84, Abul Fazl Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar,
New Delhi-110025 India Tel.: (+91-11) 2694 7483
Ashok Chavan and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar demanding 35
Muslim candidates in the ensuing assembly elections in
Maharashtra. The 12 Muslim candidates who find the place in the
first list of the Congress candidates include Baba Siddiquee, Dr.
Sayyad Ahmed, Amin Patel and Mohd Aslam from Mumbai, Javed
Dalvi from Bhiwandi, Shaikh Rasheed from Malegaon, Saleem
Patel from Jalgaon, Anees Ahmed from Nagpur, Razia Baigum
from Balapur, Anwar Bapu Deshmukh from Pator and Abdus
Sattar from Sillod. Babajani Durrani is one of the two candidates
that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has included in its first
list of 80 candidates. (ummid.com)
Darul Uloom's fatwa against Vande Mataram
invites threats and action
Saharanpur: Threats to Darul Uloom, Deoband and action against
it is being demanded by some radical Hindu organisations for its
fatwa against Vande Mataram. Rashtravadi Maha Sabha, an
organisation which was hitherto unheard of has jumped in the field
in opposition to this fatwa and in spreading communal hatred. A
few days ago it had burnt an effigy of Darul Uloom Deoband in
protest and anger against its fatwa in opposition to singing of
Vande Mataram by Muslims. Now on 5 Sept. it issued an ultima-
tum to Darul Uloom to withdraw its fatwa within 15 days otherwise
a movement against it will be started and its effigies will again be
burnt at different places in the country.
Darul Uloom's rector Maulana Marghoobur Rahman and almost
all other Ulama and religious leaders have strongly condemned
the campaign and threat of communalists led by Rashtravadi
Maha Sabha. They have also expressed their surprise and disap-
pointment over government's inaction in controlling the activities
of this communal organisation and its supporters and giving it a
free hand. Darul Uloom's Maulana Abdul Kaliq Madrasi said that
if government authorities don't rein in this organisation's activities
and its hate mongering campaign, it will become a great danger
to communal harmony and peace. He said that communal organ-
isation appear to have made Rashtravadi Maha Sabha a pawn in
their plan of bringing bad name to Darul Uloom Deoband and
spreading the virus of communalism and demanded strong action
against its activities.
Religious Madrasas Board to set up University
Saharanpur: President of All India Deeni Madaris Board, Maulana
Ya'qoob Buland Shahri announced at a press conference that
Deeni Madaris Board will set up a University somewhere in west-
ern UP which will be named Faqihul Islam University and
demanded the state government to allot land for this University.
He said that a conference to review and discuss the problems of
Muslims was held in Delhi's India Islamic Cultural Centre on 7 July
in which this Board had made clear its stand that in view of all-
round backwardness of Muslims, which was also pointed out by
all commissions appointed by government like Gopal Singh
Commission, Sachar Commission and Ranganath Mishra
Commission, education must be promoted among Muslims and
for this, Deeni Madaris Board had made a plan to set up a
University and for this, government should provide land.
Taking up other topics, he demanded that in view of Ranganath
Mishra Commission's recommendations, reservation to Muslims
in different departments should be provided. Regarding Aligarh
Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi he said that gov-
ernment knows very well that these institutions were set up by
Muslims but now their minority character is in danger. He
demanded that government should enact a law in Parliament and
declare both these as minority institutions in the same way as the
former NDA government had made Jamia Hamdard in New Delhi
a minority institution.
He said that many Muslim majority areas and districts where
Muslims have a decisive role were deliberately and under an
organised plan declared reserved constituencies in order to weak-
en their (Muslim) voting power. In view of this he demanded that
such reserved constituencies in Muslim majority areas and dis-
tricts should be abolished so that there should be more represen-
tation of Muslims in state assemblies, Parliament and other elec-
tive and legislative bodies.
He said that people of Meena community who had embraced
Islam and have come to be known as Mayo in Haryana and
Punjab etc have not been entered in notified lists for the purpose
of reservation but Hindus of Meena communi-
ty have been entered in the notified list for the
KCAB
BACK
Email: mg@milligazette.com
ALHABIB TRUST REP & JAIL SUPR. SIDHU DISTRIBUTING SWEETS AMONG PRISONERS
purpose of reservation. He demanded that Muslim Meenas or
Mayos should also be included in notified list and given reserva-
tion benefits. Another demand he made was that the process of
special recruitment of Muslims in local police and para military
forces started by late Indira Gandhi may be restarted. He also
demanded that large number of Muslims who were arrested under
POTA may be released because the committee appointed by
court to find out whether their arrest under POTA was necessary
or not, had found that it was not at all justified, but even then they
are in jails. He therefore demanded their release.
Compensation to Bhagalpur riot victims
Bhagalpur: The process of payment of compensations to
Bhagalpur riot victims at the rate of Rs 3.5 lakh per head/family
on the pattern of compensations to victims anti-Sikh riots of 1984
has begun. This was stated by Bhagalpur's Additional Collector,
Mr Mushtaq. He said that the district authorities had sent a list of
861 persons who were killed or are still missing. At that time the
central and Bihar governments had given Rs 1.10 lakh per fami-
ly of the dead. The present Bihar government had demanded the
central government to give compensation to these families at the
same rate which were given to family members of the dead per-
sons in anti-Sikh riots. Accepting the demand of Bihar govern-
ment, the Centre has provided a total of Rs 2, 57, 42, 000.
Accordingly, the compensation now will be Rs 3.5 lakh per fami-
ly of the persons killed. President of Bihar United Front, Amman
Khan who had also been trying to make increased payment to
the family members of the persons killed, said that this has been
made possible by the efforts of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and
Shahnawaz Husain, MP from Bhagalpur for which he and the
affected family members are very grateful. He also said that
some people, acting as dalals, are visiting the houses of people
who will be getting increased amount and on the pretext of
obtaining affidavits from them in token of having received the
amount are demanding money. He demanded that government
should find out such people and take strong action against them.
Newspapers more reliable than channels
New Delhi: A survey of different sources of media conducted by
Media News and Media System showed that almost 80 percent
people believe that while presenting political news on TV chan-
nels, electronic media is partial because political news are pre-
sented in accordance with channel's relationship with the party or
parties. Those interviewed said that news channels and newspa-
pers of our country are guided to some extent by same particular
political ideology or thinking. About 35 percent of the people said
that in matters of presentation of political news, newspapers are
more reliable than news channels. Thirteen percent people have
belief neither in newspapers nor in news channels while 66 per-
cent believe that at the time of elections there is not much differ-
ence in news, reports and advertisements. In the views of 77 per-
cent people, election is a political drama for news channels and
they are more concerned with earning profits.
Conditions normal in Sangli
Kolhapur: Curfew has been completely lifted from 6 in the morn-
ing in Maharashtra's Miraj Sangli areas famous for powerlooms.
It may be recalled that on 7 Sept. communal tension and riot had
erupted when some posters showing Chhatrapati Shivaji killing
Moghul general Afzal Khan outside Ganesh Mandal were torn
during Ganpati pooja function in Miraj. Therefore, tension and
riots had erupted in Sangli and Miraj also and in order to avoid
further riots, complete curfew was proclaimed in the whole of
Kolhapur. As situations began to improve, curfew also was being
removed gradually except night curfew. From 17 Sept. night cur-
few also was completely removed.
Quran exhibition at Salar Jung Museum
Hyderabad: As part of the ongoing Muslim holy month Ramadan,
the Salar Jung museum in Hyderabad organised an exhibition of
rare Quran manuscripts at the Mir Abbas Yar Jung Hall. It is
believed that Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad more
than fourteen hundred years back in this month. Besides having
the manuscripts ranging from the 14 and 16 centuries, the exhi-
bition titled as 'Exegesis of the holy Quran' is having on display
some rare Quran documentation dating back to the 9th century,
spread across around 1500 calligraphic panels. (ummid.com)

Build trust relationship with minorities: PM
New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked the heads of
state police forces to build a relationship of trust with minorities.
"Special efforts must be made to establish a relationship of trust
and confidence between our police forces and the minority com-
munities. You must not fail in this aspect," Singh said addressing
the All India Conference of DGPs and IGPs here on 15
September. The statement came a week after a magisterial
probe noted that the Gujarat Police had killed four youths, includ-
ing teenager Ishrat Jahan, in a fake encounter in 2004.
Dr Singh reminded the police officers to protect the weak and
defenceless. "Indeed, it is your solemn duty. Those who seek to
promote communal violence and discord have to be dealt with
firmly," he said. The common man should go about his daily life
with a sense of security and should have faith in policemen and
police stations. "I believe this to be the real test of our efforts, a
test that we cannot afford to fail," he added.
The Prime Minister desired that 'new-age policemen' deal
with terror issues. "A police station has to be the fulcrum around
which this should take place. We need higher numbers of police-
men to improve the present low police-population ratio," he said.
Emphasising the importance of technology, Dr Singh mentioned
the need of more professionals, better-motivated and well trained
police forces.
Too many cancer patients in Mewat district
Mewat: It is appears that the dreaded disease cancer has got a
foothold in Mewat region because of which hundreds of people
have so far died here. In addition to those already dead, thou-
sands of other people are suffering form this disease but even
then the department of health is paying no attention to this dis-
ease as well as the affected region. The inhabitants of this region
say that they made a number of complaints to high officials of
Health Department but they did not bother to either visit this place
or take necessary steps for the treatment of people. Being disap-
pointed at their indifferent attitude, the people have now decided
to approach central and state governments for help saying that if
the government does not pay any attention to this they will start
a movement against this because before the recent Lok Sabha
elections, state government had promised that a cancer research
centre and a medical college will be opened in Mewat but today
neither the state government remembers its promise nor is it pay-
ing any attention to the campaign being carried on by the people
against government's careless attitude. It may be stated that hun-
dreds of people, including some prominent and well-known peo-
ple have died of this dangerous disease and it has now reached
dangerous proportions and if necessary steps are not taken on
emergency basis, thousands more may die soon.
A rare manuscript of Qur'an in Azamgarh's village
Lucknow: A rare copy of hand written Qur'an has been found
which is safely preserved in Madrasa Darul Uloom Husainabad in
Azamgarh's Anjan Shaheed village. Of the 30 paras (chapters) of
the Qur'an, 26 are gold-plated. Historians describe this rare
Qur'an of Moghul period and written by Emperor Aurangzeb him-
self. It is estimated to be about 300 years old and gold polish on
its verses maintains its shine and brilliance even today. It is well
known that Aurangzeb did not use official treasury for his person-
al use and used to write Qur'an or knit mats and caps and with
their sale proceeds, used to meet his personal expenses. It is
also interesting to know how this rare Qur'an reached this
madrasa. It is said that in 1957 a 60-year old man gave this
Qur'an to the trustee of this madrasa, Maulana Abdul Haee
Chishti. This man was in the habbit commuting theft in younger
days. One day he stole some ornaments and clothes etc from a
big wooden box. This Qur'an also was there which he did not see
at that time. When he brought the booty at home and examined
them he found that this Qur'an was also there. When he failed to
decide what to do with this Qur'an, he gave it to the trustee who
kept it in Madrasa Darul Uloom Husainabad and ever since it is
lying there.
Demand for Urdu Pradesh
Muradabad: Milli Council's general secretary and president of All
India Muslim Federation, Haji Naseem Ahmad, advocate said
here that his Federation will campaign for a separate state by
including Western Uttar Pradesh and to be named Urdu Pradesh
for the promotion of Urdu. He said that the present state of UP is
too big to be governed efficiently from Lucknow and when a sep-
arate state of Urdu Pradesh will materialise by including Western
UP, the problem of High Court bench will be solved automatical-
ly. He further said that the Federation has been demanding from
the very beginning that a separate state of Urdu Pradesh is
essential for the promotion of Urdu and progress of Western Uttar
Pradesh. Therefore a campaign for this on a mass scale will be
launched.
Ahmad to represent India at Saudi university's inauguration
New Delhi: Union minister of state for railways, E. Ahmed has
been deputed by prime minister Manmohan Singh to represent
India at the inauguration of Saudi Arabia's 'Shah Abdullah
Science & Technology University'. This University, situated at a
place 80 kilometres away from Jeddah and spread over an area
of about 6000 acres, will be inaugurated on 23 Sept. and will be
of revolutionary importance in Saudi Arabia's history because it
will be a co-education University.
Kerala will host global Islamic finance conference in Oct.
Jeddah: An international conference on Islamic finance and inter-
est-free banking will be held in Farook College in Calicut on Oct.
3-4 with the support of the Jeddah-based Islamic Development
Bank (IDBA) and Kerala State Industrial Development
Corporation (KSIDC). The conference, organized by the post-
graduate department of Rouzathul Uloom Arabic College
(RUAC), will be historic as it comes at a time when financial
experts and investors are seeking effective solutions to the glob-
al crisis, said Hussein Madavoor, principal of RUAC.About 200
delegates from India and abroad will take part in the two-day con-
ference. "We have invited IDB President Ahmed Muhammad Ali,"
Madavoor told a press conference at Al-Noor Medical Center in
Sharafiya. Apart from finance ministers, bankers and economists,
commerce department students and teachers will also be invited
to the conference.
Most people in India and elsewhere in the world are still
unaware of the features and benefits of Islamic banking and
finance, said Madavoor, a member of Kerala State Wakf Board,
while highlighting the significance of the conference.
"An American team of experts, which recently visited Riyadh
to study prospects of Islamic finance, reached the conclusion that
it is the right alternative to contain global financial crisis," said
Madavoor, a graduate of Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah.
The Reguram Committee, appointed by Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh, recommended the introduction of
interest-free finance and advised the government to take meas-
ures for the delivery of the service on a large-scale, including
through the banking system. Madavoor said the conference
would urge the Indian government to license institutions to pro-
vide Islamic banking and finance services and open degree
courses in the subject. Such courses will create more job oppor-
tunities for Indians in the Gulf countries, he added. (P.K. Abdul
Ghafour, Arab News)
Essay Writing Competition
Aligarh: AMU is organising an essay writing competition on "Sir
Syed's Vision & Mission: Relevance in the New Millennium" with
the following Rules and Regulations:

The participant must be a bonafide student of a University or a
College.

The essay should be submitted on A4 size paper in double space
typed on one side and should contain around 3000 (three thousand)
words duly forwarded by Head of the Institution. A soft copy is also
required.

The essay must be original, not already published in any book,
magazine and newspaper.

Bonafide certificate from the College/University, two passport size
coloured photographs, correspondence and permanent address
including contact number and E-mail ID of the participant must be
provided on a separate sheet attached along with the essay.

There are three cash prizes viz., First Prize of Rs. 25,000.00,
Second Rs. 15,000.00 & Third Rs. 10,000.00. Besides State level
toppers of aforesaid competition will also be given a sum of Rs.
5,000.00 as consolation prize.

The first, second and third prize winners will be given both ways AC-
II class railway fare and State level toppers will be given second
class sleeper fare.

All prize winners shall be provided boarding and lodging in the
University along with one relative (Father, mother, brother or sister).

The essay must be sent to the Public Relations Officer, AMU;
Aligarh latest by 1st October 2009.

Information about the life and achievements of Sir Syed Ahmed
Khan, founder of the Aligarh Muslim University is available on the
University website www.amu.ac.in.
The prizes shall be presented on the occasion of Sir Syed
Day celebration on October 17, 2008. For further enquiry,
participants may contact AMU PRO Dr. Rahat Abrar at
rahatabrar@gmail.com
National Meet On The Status Of Muslims
New Delhi: Anhad is organizing a National Meet during 3-5
October at Delhi on the Status of
Muslims to document the continu-
ing ways of discrimination, exclu-
sion, persecution of Muslims in
India today, to document overt as
well as low intensity violence and
the insecurity that they live with,
and to prepare a charter of
demands for the present govern-
ment. We also plan to develop a
strategy paper for voluntary
organizations who are working for
the minority rights. During the
three day meet senior activists,
academicians, grass root workers
and victims would present and lis-
ten to testimonies and reports,
and reflect on these conditions.
Panel of distinguished jury mem-
bers will come up with recommen-
dations on the last day. For more
information, write to: JIH MAHARSHTRA LEADERS MEETING THIRD FRONT LEADERS IN MUMBAI
The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 21
COMMUNITY NEWS
anhad.delhi@gmail.com / arunanhad@gmail.com
367 Urdu and English newspapers being published in J & K
Srinagar: In Jammu & Kashmir 367 Urdu and English newspa-
pers were being published in the year 2008-09 to whom an
amount of Rs 8.12 crores was given for advertisements. This was
stated in the state assembly by Ali Mohammad Sagar, minister for
law and Parliamentary affairs in reply to a question by
Mohammad Yusuf Jang of National Conference. He said that 240
newspapers in Urdu and 127 newspapers in English are pub-
lished in the state. He further said that from Srinagar 142 news-
papers in Urdu and 39 in English are published and from Jammu
98 are published in Urdu and 88 in English and that during the
year 2008-09, Rs 4.60 crores were given to English newspapers
advertisements and Rs 3.52 crores were given to Urdu newspa-
pers for this purpose.
Churches constitutes forum in Karnataka
Bangalore: To obviate the growing Sangh Parivar attacks against
Christians in the state the Churches across Karnataka have
come together to form the Karnataka United Christian Forum for
Human Rights with the objective of protecting human rights, pro-
moting unity among churches, and promoting peace in the com-
munity. "We felt the need to come together as we needed to know
ourselves. A code of conduct is being put in place for all church-
es. In this way, we are trying to help ourselves and prevent
attacks and accusations against churches," Archbishop of
Bangalore Bernard Moras told presspersons here on September
10. All the churches that enter into a memorandum of association
have to adhere the code of conduct, he pointed out. "So far,
nobody has openly said that they would not join the forum. We
are trying to educate all of them. Though resistance may come
from individuals, churches have not resisted the move," he said.
Muslim Groups Meet 3rd Front In Maharashtra
Mumbai: Disgruntled by the Cong-NCP’s mishandling of the state
of Maharahstra, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maharashtra, started con-
sultation with the Secular and Muslim NGOs’ and the leaders of
the 3rd Front. Jamaat has decided to pull out a party-wise support,
i.e., to the Congress and NCP in Maharashtra assembly Election.
Engineer Nazar Mohammed Madu, President of JIH Maharashtra
said, “The Cong-NCP Govt. failed to stop the communal violence
in the state, the latest is the Miraj riots. This Govt. failed to imple-
ment Sri Krishna Commission Report and played a hypocratic role
in Hari Masjid Firing and Sadhvi Pragya, Malegaon Blast Case.”
He is also disappointed after seeing the list of the candidates
declared by the Cong and the NCP. “They have allotted only 16
seats as against our demand of 38 seats and even drop the sitting
MLAs like Bashir Patel and Yusuf Abrahani.” Going against the
spirit of secularism and democracy, the election in India is basical-
ly based on caste, region and religion. All parties select their can-
didates according to the population of the constituencies. Nazar
shunned this notion and said, “It’s like reservation in politics. When
seats are reserved for SCs/STs etc then why not for Muslims? We
are not demanding the reservations of seats but we demand the
political empowerment of the underprivileged community and like
to have a representation according to ratio in the population.
Proper representation is the pre-requisite of real democracy,” he
said. Even Rangnath Mishra Commisssion has supported the eco-
nomical and educational reservation. The Third Front in
Mahrashtra is weak, it would play a spoilers role and ultimately
benefit the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, opponents of this approach
said. To this, Nazar replied saying that “Cong-NCP do not have
the monopoly of secularim and they must accommodate leaders
of all the castes and communities.” As far as spoilers are con-
cerned, he replied, “Frustrated workers of Cong-NCP who did not
get the ticket will be the biggest spoilers. What plans these parties
have to control them?” Jamaat-e-Islami Maharashtra decided to
support strong secular candidates who are in agreement with the
Peoples’ Manifesto released by the Jamaat. Besides legalising
waqf board, reservation, preventing communal violence, Jamaat
has also demanded special action to regin in the inflations, imple-
mentation of Sri Krishna Commisssion and Gundewar commission
reports and special care for the farmers in Maharashtra.
22 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009
COMMUNITY NEWS
Rs 30 lakh reward for memorising Qur'an
Dubai: Ibrahim Hafiz Saeed Ahmad of India who took part in the
13th Dubai International Qur'an Kareem Award's annual compe-
tition won an award worth Indian Rupees 30 lakh for memorisa-
tion of Qur'an. There were 77 competitors from Asian and African
countries. The concluding function was held at Dubai Chamber
of Commerce. Chairman of the Award's Managing Committee,
Ibrahim Boo Maliha said while addressing the audience on this
occasion that the Award Committee promotes the campaign for
memorisation of Qur'an in the country and in foreign countries.
Communal violence at Jumatul Wida namaz
Bareily: It appears that communal elements were waiting for
some opportunity to spoil peaceful atmosphere and indulge in
communal violence on some pretext. They succeeded in this on
the occasion of Jumatul Vida in Gosai Gotia of Bareily District.
In this village there is a 20-year old mosque which is known as
Kali Masjid which is situated in a Hindu area. Muslim population
is at some distance from this place but they come to this
mosque for offering namaz. Since this mosque is not in good
condition, Muslims wanted to make some repairs and renova-
tions but Hindu population did not allow them to do so. On the
Jumatul Vida day when Muslims in somewhat larger number
came to this mosque for offering namaz, the local population
did not allow them to perform ablution on the road. When they
wanted to offer namaz outside the mosque at open and vacant
place because of shortage of space inside the mosque, they did
not allow this also and prevented them from doing this by force.
Perforce, Muslims offered namaz inside the mosque but since
all of them could not offer namaz in one group, they wanted to
perform namaz in another shift after completion by the first
group but those who were bent upon making mischief did not
allow this also and were ready to fight if Muslims tried another
shift of namaz. Feeling quite helpless, they informed police.
When police force arrived, the Imam led another shift of namaz
in the presence of police but as they were offering namaz, the
communal and mischievous elements reached the top of the
mosque and started pelting stones from there on the namazis
in the presence of police itself as a result of which at least three
namazis received serious injuries on their heads, including
Khalid, a photographer of Hindi daily Dainik Jagran who fell
down in an injured condition. Thereafter there was stampede on
all sides. Police, in order to stop stone pelting by the unruly ele-
ments, started chasing and beating them. At this, others who
were watching the 'drama' started raising slogans and they also
indulged in violence. Since the existing police proved insuffi-
cient, another reinforcement was sent by high police officials
who also arrived at the scene along with D M and other officials.
Two companies of PAC arrived there to control the situation.
The entire area turned into a police cantt. Situation was brought
under control with great difficulty but possibility of recrudes-
cence of violence is not ruled out after PAC is withdrawn.
Inauguration of Kashmiri language dictionary
Srinagar: A Kashmiri language dictionary compiled by Kashmir
University's Department of Linguistics was inaugurated by
University's Vice Chancellor, Prof Reyaz Punjabi at a function
held on 2 Sept. Speaking on this occasion, Prof Punjabi said that
need for a Kashmiri language dictionary was badly being felt so
that students receiving education in Kashmiri could benefit from
it. This dictionary is named 'Kashmiri Zabaan' and the
Department of Linguistics has published it in 3 languages i e
English, Kashmiri and Hindi. For English, Roman script has been
used, for Kashmiri, Persian and Arabic script and for Hindi,
Devnagari script has been used. The dictionary includes more
than 12000 words. This dictionary is being very much appreciat-
ed by academic and literary circles because it will be very help-
ful for those learning Kashmiri language and also for the steps
taken/being taken by the government to promote and popularise
Kashmiri language.
Namaz and iftar in temple
Lucknow: One of the many examples of mutual love and religious
cooperation can be seen in Chandoli district’s Naubatpur village
where at Sankatmochan Temple Muslims offer namaz in the
Temple's compound and break fasts with the eatables cooked by
Hindus. This has been going on every year during the holy month
of Ramzan for several years. 65-year old Alakh Narayen of this
village says that he feels proud to see that this temple of our vil-
lage presents a true picture and spirit of secular values and reli-
gious tolerance where Muslims offer namaz and Hindus prepare
items for iftari and dinner and all eat together. Another resident of
the village Inderjeet Pande says that he feels a strange kind of
inner pleasure in serving Muslim brethren during the month of
Ramzan. No one in the village knows since when and how this
tradition started in this 150-year old Sankatmochan Temple.
There are about 3000 inhabitants in this village of whom about
800 are Muslims.
Jinnah' advice to Kashmiris
Srinagar: Way back in 1944 a delegation of some Kashmiri
youths had met late Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Nishat area of
Srinagar. One of the members of this delegation was Mohammad
Yusuf Khan who is now 85. According to him, at that time
Mohammad Ali Jinnah had told the delegation members that 'You
should not raise the slogan of Pakistan because your (Kashmir's)
accession to Pakistan is not good. The political struggle that we
(Muslim League) are doing is the politics of British India and
hence you should not get involved in it. You have a state; your
Raja is a Hindu. Because of our struggle and campaign we are
in a great dilemma. Therefore you also should not be a victim of
another dilemma. Your slogan is all right and therefore you
should be firm on your slogan of Azad Kashmir.'
According to Yusuf Khan, before partition of India Jinnah had no
plan to include Kashmir as a part of Pakistan. At the time when
the delegation had met Jinnah, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah had
been leading a campaign against Dogra Maharaja but, according
to Yusuf Khan his (Sheikh Abdullah's) inclination was towards
Jawaharlal Nehru. In the second decade of 20th century elec-
tions had taken place in 16 or 17 Indian provinces under
Government of India Act in which Congress had secured a major-
ity. The state government discriminated against Muslims
because of which they (Muslims) felt that their social and eco-
nomic rights are not safe under Congress. Thus the politics of the
Valley was divided between pro-India and pro-Pakistan camps.
Yusuf Khan was an active member of pro-Pakistan Muslim
Conference. When Jinnah had come to Kashmir in 1944, Khan
had received a head injury in a clash with the supporters of
Sheikh Abdullah. He had met Jinnah along with the delegation
with his injury. Khan had met Jinnah for second time at Mumbai's
Malabar Hills. Khan said that by that time his friend K.H. Khurshid
had become Jinnah's secretary. Subsequently, he had become
prime minister of Azad Kashmir also.
Khan in no case is prepared to believe that Pakistan was the
demand of Jinnah. He is sure that demand for Pakistan was
thrust on Jinnah by Congress. He also agrees with the views of
Jaswant Singh and Advani that Jinnah was purely a secular,
political leader.
Government plans three universities for minorities
New Delhi: After allocating Rs. 25 crore (Rs.250 million) for two
more campuses of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), the gov-
ernment is planning to set up three more universities for the
AMU STUDENTS' GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE IN PROGRESS
country's minorities, according to officials. "Three universities pri-
marily for the students of minority communities will be set up with
a view to providing them better higher education," a senior offi-
cial of the minority affairs ministry said, requesting anonymity
since he is not authorised to speak to the media.
These universities will be set up in Mysore (Karnataka),
Kishanganj (Bihar) and Ajmer (Rajasthan). According to the offi-
cial, "Fifty percent of the seats in these universities will be
reserved for minority students to make them more competitive in
the job market." To be set up on land owned by Waqf boards,
these universities will provide education in all modern subjects
along with theological teaching. However, officials said the
biggest problem in establishing such universities will be to over-
come es for providing 50 percent reservation for students from
minority communities. "Our effort is to find a solution according to
constitutional provisions so that the proposal doesn't get stuck in
legalities as it happened in n legalities asthe case of AMU."
In a 1968 lawsuit, the Supreme Court of India scrapped the
minority status of the AMU. Then prime minister Indira Gandhi
restored the AMU's minority status through legislation in 1981.
But in 2006, a division bench of the Allahabad High Court struck
down the provision of the AMU Amendment Act, 1981. It rejected
the central government's plea for restoring the minority status of
the AMU and scrapped 50 percent reservation for Muslim stu-
dents. This was challenged by the centre in the apex court, which
is yet to take a decision on the matter. Minority affairs ministry
officials said the government was trying to work out a new model
to overcome such legal hurdles. According to this model, the
"land for these universities will be given by the Waqf board and
the government will set up a university on it. Since these univer-
sities will be for the minorities, reservation for 50 percent minori-
ty students will be justified". The draft has been prepared and will
be sent to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD).
(Khalid Akhter, IANS)
AMU Students' Grievance Committee
Aligarh: The Students' Grievance Committee set up as a stop-
gap alternative to Students' Union in the Aligarh Muslim
University, has set in motion a slew of measures in the University.
The newly established students' body has started addressing the
genuine problems and difficulties faced by the students both in
the academic departments and residential halls.
The AMU Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Abdu Azis has initiated
a novel procedure to provide a 'voice' to the students through the
instrument of face-to-face interaction. All the top University func-
tionaries including the Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Controller of
Examinations, Proctor, DSW and Finance Officer interacted with
the students holding top ranks in each class and course of the
University. The students air their grievances and the administra-
tion takes on the spot decision to redress the problems. The
system has set in place a new and powerful mechanism that pro-
vides the students of the University an access to address the
issues of main concern to the student community.
In a two-day interactive meeting presided over by the Vice
Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis held on 9-10 September (see
photograph below) in which more than 300 students representing
325 courses spoke on various issues both student-centred and
department-specific. Without mincing words they openly criti-
cized the existing flaws and deficiencies and demanded immedi-
ate action to improve the quality of teaching-learning process in
the University. The meeting bears testimony to the emerging
trend that girls have replaced boys in securing top scores in the
University examinations. The girls have outnumbered the boys
and they were seen to be more vociferous in pinpointing the gaps
and shortcomings.
 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 23

INTERNATIONAL
Algerian kids falling prey to Jewish ‘organ harvest’
newspaper article suggests that Algerian children The story is based on statements made by Mustafa Khayatti, ficking and political corruption.

A are kidnapped, trafficked to Morocco where they are

sold to Israelis or American Jews for the sake of
organ harvest. An international Jewish conspiracy to
kidnap children and harvest their organs is gathering
momentum as another shocking story divulges Israeli plot to har-
vest organs from Algerian children.
The story, published in the Arabic-language Algerian daily al-
head of the Algerian National Committee for the Development of
Health Research. Khayatti maintains that the abduction of
children in Algeria is linked to arrests made in New York and New
Jersey at the end of July, in which several Jewish men were
arrested in connection with an investigation into illegal organ traf-
The story comes in line with the article published last month
in Aftonbladet, Sweden's largest circulation daily, suggesting that
the Israeli army kidnapped and killed young Palestinians to har-
vest their organs. It shed light on the case of Bilal Ahmed
Ghanem, a 19-year-old Palestinian man, who was shot dead in
1992 by Israeli forces in the West Bank village of Imatin.
Bostrom, who witnessed the man's killing, said Ghanem's
Khabar, charges that Interpol, the international police organiza- body was abducted following the shooting and was returned at
tion, has revealed the existence of 'a Jewish gang' that was midnight -- during an imposed curfew -- several days later by the
'involved in the abduction of children from Algeria and trafficking Israeli military with a cut from the stomach to the neck that had
of their organs.' been stitched up.
According to the story, bands of Moroccans and Algerians Bostrom argued that an autopsy would be required if the
had been roaming the streets of Algerian cities in an attempt to cause of death was not apparent, while in this case it was clear
hunt for young children. They then trafficked the kids across the that Bilal was shot dead. After that incident, at least 20
border into neighboring Morocco. Palestinian families told Bostrom that they suspected the Israeli
The children were then sold to Israelis and American Jews in military had taken the organs of their sons after they had been
Oujda, the capital of eastern Morocco, for the purpose of organ killed by Israeli forces and their bodies had been taken away.
harvesting in Israel and the United States. (presstv.ir)

Military officials at Bagram are caught on tape urging

Containing the Iranian ‘Threat’ US soldiers to evangelize in the Muslim country
ran is the sheep surrounded by hungry a threat to the mighty US and Europe? Obama’s JEREMY SCAHILL peace, for stability."

I wolves, including the vulture like Zionist-

hyena. A cursory examination of the region
shows, the US bases surround Iran from all
directions. In addition, Israel armed with
nuclear weapons is constantly urging the west-
ern powers to launch a pre-emptive strike using
the same old pretext of holocaust-weapon;
move may not be as benign as it looks. This
move appeased Russia and ultimately, the aim is
to get Russia on board to confront Iran, or at the
very least persuade Russia not giving weapons
or others forms of assistance to Iran. In response
to shelving this plan, the US hopes that Russia
will reciprocate by halting the planned delivery of
N
ew video evidence has surfaced
showing that US military forces in
Afghanistan have been instructed by
the military's top chaplain in the
country to "hunt people for Jesus" as they
spread Christianity to the overwhelmingly
A US military spokesperson, Major Jennifer
Willis, denied that the US military has allowed
its soldiers to attempt to convert Afghans and
said comments from sermons filmed at Bagram
were taken out of context.
She said the bibles were never distributed.
"That specific case involved a soldier who
Muslim population. Soldiers also have import- brought in a donation of translated bibles that
somehow Israel are the victims or potential vic- sophisticated anti-aircraft systems to Iran that
ed bibles translated into Pashto and Dari, the were sent to his personal address by his home
tims of Iranian aggression. The lying treacherous would enable Tehran to shoot down any US or
two dominant languages of Afghanistan. church.
Zionists always masquerading themselves as Israeli planes seeking to attack its nuclear facili- He showed them to the group and the
What's more, the center of this evangelical
victims, but they are the ones kill without ties. chaplain explained that he cannot distribute
operation is at the huge US base at Bagram,
remorse and in far greater number, the stench of Sanctions has not worked against Iran, and one of the main sites used by the US military them," she said. "The translated bibles were
blood still emanates from the women and chil- history shows it is unlikely to work, as every to torture and indefinitely detain prisoners. never distributed as far as we know, because
dren of Gaza testifying to this fact! nation is resilient to foreign pressure, especially In a video obtained by Al Jazeera and the soldier understood that if he distributed
The Zionist dominated western media is when that pressure has no justification. The US broadcast Monday, Lieutenant-Colonel Gary them he would be in violation of general order
filled with suggestions that Iran is on the march, made it no secret that they had role in agitating Hensley, the chief of the US military chaplains 1, and he would be subject to punishment."
it is ready to conquer the Middle East, Europe the demonstrators to destabilise the country, in Afghanistan, is seen telling soldiers that as The video footage was shot about a year
and the rest of the world. A check on reality weaken its resolve. That too has failed. Obama followers of Jesus Christ, they all have a ago by documentary filmmaker Brian Hughes,
shows the US military bases in distant lands is has stated he wishes to engage Iran rather than responsibility "to be witnesses for him." who is also a former US soldier.
construed as self-defence (not empire building), confront it militarily, which is frustrating the "The special forces guys - they hunt men "[US soldiers] weren't talking about learning
and Iran protecting its borders and resources is Zionists. This might be one of the reasons basically. We do the same things as Christians, how to speak Dari or Pashto, by reading the
a threat! Iran has always been confined to its behind the recent Israeli decision to build more we hunt people for Jesus. We do, we hunt them Bible and using that as the tool for language
borders unlike the US and Israel. The claim settlement. The Times reported on a quid pro down," he says. lessons," Hughes told Al Jazeera.
about Iranian threat is ominous of a self-fulfilling quo deal where Israel would give concession on "Get the hound of heaven after them, so we "The only reason they would have these
prophecy; you claim a threat exists, so you agi- its illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian ter- get them into the kingdom. That's what we do, documents there was to distribute them to the
tate the enemy into action by applying sanctions ritories in return with a green light from the west- that's our business." The translated Bibles Afghan people.
and constantly demonising it. ern powers for an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear appear to be the New Testament. According to And I knew it was wrong, and I knew that
It is the traits of cowards to pick a fight with facilities. “Israel has chosen to place Iranian Al Jazeera, US soldiers "had them specially filming it ... documenting it would be important."
printed and shipped to Afghanistan." The broadcast of this video comes just days
weaker nations, and the vultures to feed on the threat over its settlements,” a senior EU diplomat
On the tape, one soldier describes how his after a new poll of White Americans found that,
dead corpses. Thus, note the contrast in told The Times on July 16.
church in the US helped raise money for the in the US, church going Christians are more
response with a resolute North Korea armed with Obama should be truthful with the Islamic likely to support the use of torture than other
bibles. Al Jazeera reports that "What these sol-
Nuclear weapons. This proves that Iran needs to world is he really wants to uphold the bold decla- segments of the population.
diers have been doing may well be in direct vio-
possess nuclear weapons to protect its sover- rations made at the Cairo speech. For example, lation of the US Constitution, their professional The Pew Research Center poll found:
eignty and of course, the lucrative oil from he stated recently that he wishes with conviction codes and the regulations in place for all forces "White evangelical Protestants were the reli-
thieves and pirates. to see a nuclear free world, but it seems that he in Afghanistan." The US military officially forbids gious group most likely to say torture is often or
The recent decision by Obama to shelve is only seeking a nuclear free Iran, as he is silent "proselytising of any religion, faith or practice." sometimes justified - more than six in 10 sup-
Bush’s plan to build the Missile Defence System about Israel’s nuclear weapons. But, as Al Jazeera reports: ported it. People unaffiliated with any religious
in Eastern Europe to contain the Iranian missile Similarly, Obama stated earlier that the US [T]he chaplains appear to have found a way organization were least likely to back it.
threat has once gain raised this issue of the so- would extend a hand if Iran would be willing to around the regulation known as General Order Only four in 10 of them did."
called Iranian threat. This Missile defence System unclench their fist. The Iranian response is sim- Number One."Do we know what it means to This is certainly not the first scandal where
was originally conceived by Ronald Reagan, dur- ple, if you are truthful Obama, then you should proselytise?" Captain Emmit Furner, a military US military forces or officials have been caught
ing the cold war era to confront the Soviet Union. recognise that it is your fists that extends across chaplain, says to the gathering. "It on tape promoting an evangelical Christian
The plan waned as the cold war era ended, but it the Atlantic Ocean to our borders. If you remove is General Order Number One," an uniden- agenda. Perhaps the most high-profile case
was subsequently revived by George Bush as a your bases, sanctions, and keep the ugly hyena tified soldier replies. But Watt says "you can't involved Lieut. Gen. William Boykin, who was a
defence against the Iranian missile threat. on your leash, you will find that Iran has the mag- proselytise but you can give gifts." Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for
Obama says the intelligence reports show ical carpet rolled out for you to fly into Tehran. Trying to convert Muslims to any other faith Intelligence under Bush. Boykin was part of
that Iran does not really have intercontinental Yamin Zakaria, London, UK is a crime in Afghanistan. Donald Rumsfeld's inner circle at the Pentagon
ballistic missiles; even if it did, does it really pose yamin@radicalviews.org The fact that the video footage is being where he was placed in charge of hunting
broadcast on Al Jazeera guarantees that it will "high- value targets." Boykin was one of the key
Hundreds of Chinese working in Saudi Arabia embrace Islam be seen throughout the Muslim world. U. S. officials in establishing what critics alleged
Riyadh: About 660 Chinese working on Al Haramain's mega train project in Saudi Arabia have It is likely to add more credence to the per- was death-squad- type activity in Iraq.
embraced Islam. In addition to Chinese, about 50 men and 15 women from other countries ception that the US is engaging in a war on In October 2003, Boykin was revealed to
working on the same project have also embraced Islam. They were brought into the fold of Islam with neo- crusader forces invading have gone on several anti-Muslim rants, in pub-
Islam by Macca Al Mukarrama region's under secretary Dr Abdul Aziz Al Khaziri by making Muslim lands. lic speeches, many of which he delivered in mil-
them recite Kalima Taiyyaba. Commenting on large scale conversion of non-Muslims he said Former Afghan prime minister Ahmed Shah itary uniform. Since January 2002, Boykin had
that this is a direct reply to those who were strongly opposing the employment of non-Muslims Ahmedzai told Al Jazeera there must be a "seri- spoken at twenty-three religious-oriented
i e Chinese and others on this project in the holy cities and were demanding the cancellation ous investigation," saying, "This is very damag- events, wearing his uniform at all but two.
of their contracts. He said that this is a matter of pleasure that by the grace of God more than ing for diplomatic relations between the two Among Boykin's statements, he said he knew
10 percent of the 5000 Chinese who are working on this project have converted to Islam, counties." the U. S. would prevail over a Muslim adversary
adding that this is the beginning and many more may follow. Sayed Aalam Uddin Asser, of the Islamic in Somalia because "I knew that my God was
Front for Peace and Understanding in Kabul, bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real
Dutch MP: Fine women for wearing headscarf told the network: "It's a national security issue ... God and his was an idol." Boykin also charged
A controversial Dutch lawmaker has urged the country's parliament to pass a law to fine our constitution says nothing can take place in that Islamic radicals want to destroy America
women who wear Islamic head coverings. Geert Wilders said women observing the Islamic Afghanistan against Islam. "because we're a Christian nation" that "will
dress code or Hjiab should be fined 1,000 euros (1,461 dollars) per year. The leader of the lib- If people come and propaganda other reli- never abandon Israel." Our "spiritual enemy,"
eral-right Freedom Party PVV made his remarks during a parliamentary debate about the gov- gions which have no followers in Afghanistan Boykin declared, "will only be defeated if we
ernment's budget plans on 16 Sept. [then] it creates problems for the people, for come against them in the name of Jesus."

24 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009

INTERNATIONAL
My Flower to Bush, the Occupier—The Story of My Shoe
MUTADHAR AL-ZAIDI shoe was the appropriate response when all values were vio- order to gain their objective. It is not strange, not much different
lated. from what happened to the Native Americans at the hands of
Mutadhar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi who threw his When I threw the shoe in the face of the criminal, Bush, I colonialists. Here I say to them (the occupiers) and to all who fol-
shoe at George Bush gave this speech on his wanted to express my rejection of his lies, his occupation of my low their steps, and all those who support them and spoke up for
recent release. In the name of God, the most country, my rejection of his killing my people. My rejection of his their cause: Never.
gracious and most merciful.Here I am, free. plundering the wealth of my country, and destroying its infrastruc- Because we are a people who would rather die than face
But my country is still a prisoner of war. ture. And casting out its sons into a diaspora. humiliation.
Firstly, I give my thanks and my regards After six years of humiliation, of indignity, of killing and viola- And, lastly, I say that I am independent. I am not a member
to everyone who stood beside me, whether tions of sanctity, and desecration of houses of worship, the killer of any politicalparty, something that was said during torture -- one
inside my country, in the Islamic world, in the free world. There comes, boasting, bragging about victory and democracy. He time that I'm far-right, another that I'm a leftist. I am independent
has been a lot of talk about the action and about the person who came to say goodbye to his victims and wanted flowers in of any political party, and my future efforts will be in civil service
took it, and about the hero and the heroic act, and the symbol and response. to my people and to any who need it, without waging any political
the symbolic act. Put simply, that was my flower to the occupier, and to all who wars, as some said that I would. My efforts will be toward provid-
But, simply, I answer: What compelled me to confront is the are in league with him, whether by spreading lies or taking action, ing care for widows and orphans, and all those whose lives were
injustice that befell my people, and how the occupation wanted to before the occupation or after. damaged by the occupation. I pray for mercy upon the souls of
humiliate my homeland by putting it under its boot. I wanted to defend the honor of my profession and sup- the martyrs who fell in wounded Iraq, and for shame upon those
And how it wanted to crush the skulls of (the homeland's) pressed patriotism on the day the country was violated and its who occupied Iraq and everyone who assisted them in their
sons under its boots, whether sheikhs, women, children or men. high honor lost. Some say: Why didn't he ask Bush an embar- abominable acts. And I pray for peace upon those who are in their
And during the past few years, more than a million martyrs fell by rassing question at the press conference, to shame him? And graves, and those who are oppressed with the chains of impris-
the bullets of the occupation and the country is now filled with now I will answer you, journalists. How can I ask Bush when we onment. And peace be upon you who are patient and looking to
more than 5 million orphans, a million widows and hundreds of were ordered to ask no questions before the press conference God for release.
thousands of maimed. And many millions of homeless because of began, but only to cover the event. It was prohibited for any per- And to my beloved country I say: If the night of injustice is
displacement inside and outside the country. son to question Bush. prolonged, it will not stop the rising of a sun and it will be the sun
We used to be a nation in which the Arab History mentions many And in regard to professionalism: The pro- of freedom.
would share with the Turkman and the Kurd stories where professional- fessionalism mourned by some under the aus- One last word. I say to the government: It is a trust that I carry
and the Assyrian and the Sabean and the ism was also compromised pices of the occupation should not have a from my fellow detainees. They said, 'Muntadhar, if you get out,
Yazid his daily bread. And the Shiite would at the hands of American voice louder than the voice of patriotism. And tell of our plight to the omnipotent powers' -- I know that only God
pray with the Sunni in one line. And the policymakers, whether in if patriotism were to speak out, then profes- is omnipotent and I pray to Him -- 'remind them that there are
Muslim would celebrate with the Christian the the assassination attempt sionalism should be allied with it. dozens, hundreds, of victims rotting in prisons because of an
birthday of Christ, may peace be upon him. against Fidel Castro by I take this opportunity: If I have wronged informant's word.'
And despite the fact that we shared hunger booby-trapping a TV cam- journalism without intention, because of the They have been there for years, they have not been charged
under sanctions for more than 10 years, for era that CIA agents posing professional embarrassment I caused the or tried. They've only been snatched up from the streets and put
more than a decade. as journalists from Cuban establishment, I wish to apologize to you for into these prisons. And now, in front of you, and in the presence
Our patience and our solidarity did not TV were carrying, or what any embarrassment I may have caused those of God, I hope they can hear me or see me. I have now made
make us forget the oppression. Until we were they did in the Iraqi war by establishments. All that I meant to do was good on my promise of reminding the government and the offi-
invaded by the illusion of liberation that some deceiving the general pub- express with a living conscience the feelings cials and the politicians to look into what's happening inside the
had. (The occupation) divided one brother lic about what was hap- of a citizen who sees his homeland desecrat- prisons. The injustice that's caused by the delay in the judicial
from another, one neighbor from another, and pening. And there are ed every day. system. Thank you. And may God's peace be upon you.
the son from his uncle. It turned our homes many other examples that I History mentions many stories where pro- (Translation by Sahar Issa).
into never-ending funeral tents. And our won't get into here. fessionalism was also compromised at the
graveyards spread into parks and roadsides. It hands of American policymakers, whether in Opposite brain drain
is a plague. It is the occupation that is killing us, that is violating the assassination attempt against Fidel Castro by booby-trapping
the houses of worship and the sanctity of our homes and that is a TV camera that CIA agents posing as journalists from Cuban
TV were carrying, or what they did in the Iraqi war by deceiving
World's talented workers
throwing thousands daily into makeshift prisons.
I am not a hero, and I admit that. But I have a point of view the general public about what was happening. And there are opt to leave USA
and I have a stance. It humiliated me to see my country humiliat- many other examples that I won't get into here. More skilled immigrants are giving up their American dreams to
ed. And to see my Baghdad burned. And my people being killed. But what I would like to call your attention to is that these sus- pursue careers back home, raising concerns that the U. S. may
Thousands of tragic pictures remained in my head, and this picious agencies -- the American intelligence and its other agen- lose its competitive edge in science, technology and other fields.
weighs on me every day and pushes me toward the righteous cies and those that follow them -- will not spare any effort to track ECONOMY: Driving emigration "What was a trickle has become
path, the path of confrontation, the path of rejecting injustice, me down (because I am) a rebel opposed to their occupation. a flood," says Duke University's Vivek Wadhwa, who studies
deceit and duplicity. It deprived me of a good night's sleep. They will try to kill me or neutralize me, and I call the attention of
reverse immigration. Wadhwa projects that in the next five years,
Dozens, no, hundreds, of images of massacres that would those who are close to me to the traps that these agencies will set 100,000 immigrants will go back to India and 100,000 to China,
turn the hair of a newborn white used to bring tears to my eyes up to capture or kill me in various ways, physically, socially or pro- countries that have had rapid economic growth. "For the first time
and wound me. The scandal of Abu Ghraib. The massacre of fessionally. in American history, we are experiencing the brain drain that other
Fallujah, Najaf, Haditha, Sadr City, Basra, Diyala, Mosul, Tal Afar, And at the time that the Iraqi prime minister came out on
satellite channels to say that he didn't sleep until he had checked countries experienced," he says. Suren Dutia, CEO of TiE Global,
and every inch of our wounded land. In the past years, I traveled a worldwide network of professionals who promote entrepreneur-
through my burning land and saw with my own eyes the pain of in on my safety, and that I had found a bed and a blanket, even
ship, says the U. S. economy will suffer without these skilled
the victims, and hear with my own ears the screams of the as he spoke I was being tortured with the most horrific methods:
workers. "If the country is going to maintain the kind of economic
bereaved and the orphans. And a feeling of shame haunted me electric shocks, getting hit with cables, getting hit with metal rods,
and all this in the backyard of the place where the press confer- well-being that we've enjoyed for many years, that requires hav-
like an ugly name because I was powerless.
And as soon as I finished my professional duties in reporting ence was held. And the conference was still going on and I could ing these incredibly gifted individuals who have been educated
the daily tragedies of the Iraqis, and while I washed away the hear the voices of the people in it. And maybe they, too, could and trained by us," he says. Wadhwa surveyed 1,203 Indian and
remains of the debris of the ruined Iraqi houses, or the traces of hear my screams and moans. Chinese immigrants who had worked or been educated here
the blood of victims that stained my clothes, I would clench my In the morning, I was left in the cold of winter, tied up after before returning to their homelands and found the exodus has
teeth and make a pledge to our victims, a pledge of vengeance. they soaked me in water at dawn. And I apologize for Mr. Maliki less to do with the faltering U. S. economy than with other factors:
The opportunity came, and I took it. for keeping the truth from the people. I will speak later, giving Career opportunities. At NIIT, an information technology compa-
I took it out of loyalty to every drop of innocent blood that has names of the people who were involved in torturing me, and some ny based in New Delhi, about 10% of managers in India are
been shed through the occupation or because of it, every scream of them were high-ranking officials in the government and in the returnees, mostly from the U. S., says CEO Vijay Thadani. Most
of a bereaved mother, every moan of an orphan, the sorrow of a army. go into mid- to senior management and make "excellent employ-
rape victim, the teardrop of an orphan. I didn't do this so my name would enter history or for materi- ees," he says. "They're Indian, so they understand India, and they
I say to those who reproach me: Do you know how many bro- al gains. All I wanted was to defend my country, and that is a legit- have lived outside the country." China's government entices
ken homes that shoe that I threw had entered because of the imate cause confirmed by international laws and divine rights. I some skilled workers to return with incentives such as financial
occupation? How many times it had trodden over the blood of wanted to defend a country, an ancient civilization that has been assistance and housing, says Wang Baodong, spokesman for the
innocent victims? And how many times it had entered homes in desecrated, and I am sure that history -- especially in America -- Chinese Embassy in Washington. "China needs a lot of well-
which free Iraqi women and their sanctity had been violated? will state how the American occupation was able to subjugate Iraq trained personnel" in fields such as finance and information tech-
Maybe that and Iraqis, until its submission.
They will boast about the deceit and the means they used in nology, he says. 

We’ve got mail..... VOICE OF KASHMIR.

The most popular English Weekly published from Srinagar-Kashmir

for you!
Editor-in-Chief: Ghulam Nabi Khayal

Kashmir problem, current affairs, Kashmiri culture &
literature, Pakistani press, global events and much more.

Published every Wednesday on imported glossy paper.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RS 300 MAY BE SENT TO:
The flow of news never ceases, so between our fortnightly print issues
we send out email newsletter - MG e-Alerts. VOICE OF KASHMIR
P.O. BOX NO: 200, G.P.O, SRINAGAR -190001, KASHMIR
Get our eNewsletter FREE! Sign up today at www.MilliGazette.com Phones: (0194) 2431122, 2482600. Mobile: 9419005909
E-mail: voiceofkasmir@rediffmail.com
 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 25

INTERNATIONAL
How Israel’s Nuclear Arsenal Endangers Us All
JEFF GATES the American Zionist Council-funded by the Jewish Agency-regis- for nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament. Not since then has
n September 24th, U. S. President Barack Obama ter as the agent of a foreign government. JFK was then president Thomas been allowed to ask another question. Instead she was

O will preside over a U. N. Security Council session on and brother Robert his attorney general. Edward ("Ted") Kennedy
nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament. In March was elected to the Senate that year to fill his brother Jack's seat.
2010, Moscow will host a Global Nuclear Summit that In October 1963, the Department of Justice-led by Robert
the U. S. has agreed to attend.
The next six months could prove hopeful or harmful-depend-
Kennedy-demanded that the Council register as a foreign agent.
Following the Kennedy assassination in November 1963,
subjected to a withering barrage of personal attacks by pro-
Zionist broadcasters who sought to make it appear that she-not
the answer to her question-is the problem.
At every opportunity, Tel Aviv insists that Tehran's nuclear
energy program poses an "existential threat." That claim is cor-
ing on the impact on Israel's nuclear arsenal. With U. S. backing, Nicholas Katzenbach succeeded RFK as Attorney General for rect though not for the reason that the Israel lobby would have
Tel Aviv has thus far avoided compliance with the Nuclear Non- Lyndon Johnson. To avoid registration, the Zionist Council mor- Americans believe. If Israel cannot persuade the U. S. to join (or
Proliferation Treaty- joining North Korea, India and Pakistan. phed into the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). condone) an attack on Iran, some faint semblance of stability may
President John F. Kennedy tried to stop Israel from starting a That umbrella organization-still disguised as a domestic lobby- yet be attained in the Middle East. With stability will come an
nuclear arms race in the Middle East. In a continues to coordinate the efforts of dozens of organizations that opportunity to confirm the common source of the fixed intelli-
June 1963 letter to Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, he sustain a U. S. policy environment favorable to a foreign nation. gence that induced the U. S. to invade Iraq in response to the
insisted on proof "beyond a reasonable doubt" that Israel was not The Kennedy brothers shared a little-known insight into the mass murder of 911.
developing nuclear weapons at its Dimona reactor facility. confidence with which Israel wields political influence across Only one nation had the means, motive, opportunity and,
Though his letter was cabled to the U. S. embassy, Ben-Gurion party lines. In the closing weeks of his 1960 presidential cam- importantly, the stable nation state intelligence to mount such a
resigned (citing undisclosed personal reasons) before the mes- paign, candidate Kennedy traveled to New York to seek financial deception inside the U. S. As that fact becomes apparent, an
sage could be physically delivered. support from Jewish business leaders. On his return to informed American public will insist that its leadership revisit the
With Israel's nuclear ambitions under attack by its key ally, Washington, he called his old friend Charlie Bartlett who had legitimacy of the Zionist enterprise along with the costs that this
that strategically well-timed resignation duped an inexperienced introduced Jack to Jackie. "special relationship" has imposed on the U. S. in blood, treasure
young president and denied him a diplomatic victory that might According to Bartlett, Kennedy was livid after those he met in and hard-earned credibility.
well have precluded the wars now being waged in the Middle Manhattan assured him that the funds he sought were available
East. With Ben-Gurion's resignation, JFK was left without an but only if he turned over to them the formulation of U. S. policy Israel is the Real Threat to Israel: The existential threat to Israel
Israeli government with which he could negotiate. By the time a in the Middle East. With brother "Bobby" his chief campaign is real but its source is not Iran. The real threat is the facts that
new government was formed, the Kennedy threat had been elim- strategist, that experience doubtless came to mind when, in Tel Aviv may again obscure if it succeeds in provoking yet anoth-
inated and Tel Aviv could start haggling from scratch with succes- 1963, JFK confirmed that Israel-while portraying itself a U. S. ally- er crisis in the region. Those facts confirm the illegitimacy of the
sor Lyndon Johnson who was far more sympathetic to the goals repeatedly lied to him about its development of nuclear weapons. Zionist enterprise as a nation state.
of the Zionist state. The threat to Barack Obama could become existential should
That strategy resurfaced in the recent resignation of Prime Israel vs. the Kennedys: At the height an unpopular war in he act consistent with his oath of office. As yet he has shown no
Minister Ehud Olmert just as the Road Map gained traction and Vietnam, Robert Kennedy emerged to challenge the policies of inclination to address the perils that this entangled alliance with
the threat of peace loomed on the horizon. Olmert's successor, the Texan who replaced his brother as president in 1963. No one Jewish extremists imposes on U. S. national security and on the
Benjamin Netanyahu, then used the terms of the knows for sure that, as president, RFK would prospects for peace.
Road Map as a bargaining chip to start haggling- With the war in Iraq have followed JFK's stance on the Zionist As the source of the duplicity that induced the U. S. to war
with an inexperienced young president-over sanc- poised to expand to state's nuclear arsenal. Nor do we know for becomes known, Americans will insist on accountability. Zionist
tions against Iran. Iran, the next six certain that he would have renewed his insis-
tence that the Israel lobby register as the
fanatics may choose another course. A modern-day Masada is a
nuclear possibility. With their vast arsenal (estimates range from 200
Democrat Lyndon Johnson proved himself a
reliably pliant pro-Israeli president as did his suc-
months offer a rare agent of a foreign government. to 400 warheads), these religious extremists could preempt account-
cessor, Republican Richard Nixon. Described by opportunity to When a second Kennedy threat was elim- ability by creating chaos worldwide while affixing blame on "Islamo"
Prime Minister Golda Meir as "the best friend revisit not only inated with an assassination in June 1968, Tel fascists in an attempt to keep their victim status plausibly intact.
Israel ever had," Nixon agreed in 1969 to endorse Israel's nuclear Aviv welcomed to the White House Richard To eliminate the existential threat posed by nuclear-armed
"constructive ambiguity" as a means for Tel Aviv Nixon who supported Israel's strategically religious extremists requires that the U. S.- as Israel's key ally-
to obscure its nuclear arsenal. Meanwhile arsenal but also-in essential "ambiguous" policy on nuclear arms. isolate the Zionist enterprise, withdraw its recognition as a legiti-
Colonial Zionists brandished the threat of that light of the consis- Nixon Attorney General John Mitchell was a mate state and reclassify its advocates as foreign agents. That
arsenal to seize land they sought for tency of its behav- partner in the same New York law firm long overdue change in the legal status of the Israel lobby-first
(Mudge, Rose, Guthrie & Alexander) that sought in 1962-will enable U. S. law enforcement to pursue its
Greater Israel: Israeli incursions provoked the
ior over six Nixon joined in 1963 after his failed bids as operatives for giving aid and comfort to an enemy within.
reactions one would expect, enabling Tel Aviv to decades- the legiti- president, losing to JFK in 1960, and as gov- The focal point for peace in the Middle East should not be
portray itself as a hapless victim in need of U. S. macy of the Zionist ernor of California two years later. In honor of those nations that do not have nuclear weapons but the one
support in a hostile and anti-Semitic neighbor- enterprise. Nixon's arrival, the dominantly Jewish firm was nation that does. Absent external pressure, Israeli behavior will
hood. Four years after Kennedy wrote to Ben- renamed Nixon, Mudge, Rose, Guthrie & not change. Those who seek peace in the region must boycott
Gurion, Israel mounted a massive six-day assault on neighboring Alexander. Israeli exports, divest from Israeli firms and insist on sanctions
nations, occupying lands that remain at the heart of the hostilities In 1973, five years after RFK's death, Senator Fulbright could against Israel akin to those it seeks against others. Anything less
against which Tel Aviv insists it needs nuclear weapons to defend announce with confidence that "Israel controls the U. S. Senate." will ensure that Zionist extremists continue to endanger us all.
itself. By 1974, he was replaced in the Senate. Journalist Helen
See also:
With the war in Iraq poised to expand to Iran, the next six Thomas was then covering Nixon, one of ten presidents in her "How Israel Controls the US"
months offer a rare opportunity to revisit not only Israel's nuclear lengthy career as White House correspondent. In Obama's first http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7&section=0&article=124829&d=2
arsenal but also-in light of the consistency of its behavior over six press conference, she sought to clarify the ambiguity about just 4&m=7&y=2009
decades- the legitimacy of the Zionist enterprise. who posed a nuclear threat in the region. Her question for this lat- "Appeasing Israel - At What Cost?" http://intifada-
est Commander in Chief: which nation in the Middle East has palestine.com/2009/08/25/appeasing-israel-at-what-cost/
Managing the Threat to Zionism: JFK, RFK and Fulbright In nuclear weapons? "McCain Family Secret: The Cover-up"
1962, Senator William Fulbright of Arkansas, chairman of the In response, Chicagoan Barack Obama did the "Tel Aviv Two- http://criminalstate.com/press/Chapter4.pdf "Facts vs. Beliefs:
Foreign Relations Committee, convened hearings to ensure that Step." Rather than answer the question, he spoke about the need Today's Ancient Warfare"

“Invest”
and save CHARITY ALLIANCE Registered trust
tax! CHARITY ALLIANCE, with the active support of MG and like-minded people, is helping the victims of starvation in
Murshidabad since April 2005. More tasks are being undertaken in some of the most deserving areas and most backward
sections of our community. This 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.
Indian nationals anywhere in the world can contribute by cheque, draft, money order, postal order payable to
“Charity Alliance” and send it to:

CHARITY ALLIANCE
D-84 Abul Fazl Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110 025 India Tel.: (+91-11) 2694 7483, 2695 2825
We prefer cheques to bank drafts. Cheques/Drafts should be crossed / marked account payee.
Individuals are welcome to pay cash in our office or send M.O.
If you want to contribute through credit card or internet-banking visit www.charityalliance.in for secure online payment.

The full list of donors may be seen on Charilty Alliance website (www.charityalliance.in).
Donations to Charity
For annual reportAlliance
for the are
yeareligible for taxplease
2006-2007, liabilitysee
deduction in India
page 1 of under
the 1-15 DecSection 80G
07 issue.

Zakat, Sadaqat and bank interest accepted

26 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009
INTERNATIONAL
Pakistan: A Country for Sale?
KARAMATULLAH K. GHORI
Pakistan is a unique country in more sens-
es than one. One of these extraordinary
realities that set it apart from almost all
those countries that gained their independ-
ence from the British Raj after WWII is that
it has been ruled for the better part of its 62
sovereign years by Bonapartes: military
dictators who dressed themselves up as
‘liberators’ of its people from tyranny and
oppression.
In reality, however, these masquerading liberators opened up
the country, and its resources, to their foreign masters and men-
tors, while shackling the people of Pakistan into bondage of a
kind that wasn’t easily visible to the lay-
man. Pakistan went through myriad vari-
eties and experiences of servitude at the
hands of its military adventurers and sol-
diers-of-fortune who didn’t mind pawning
the country to interested parties in return
for guarantees of their continuation at the
helm.
For instance, the first military dictator,
General Ayub Khan, allowed the
Americans to set up a spy base and air
force facility, against the then rival super-
power, the Soviet Union, at Bada Beir, out-
side Peshawar. U.S., then locked in the
Cold War against the Soviets had been
seeking that facility for years but had been
thwarted by the civilian rulers that preced-
ed Ayub. The military adventurer had
seized power from the civilians on the plea
that they had failed to deliver to the expec-
tations of the nation. However, he didn’t
lose a moment before living up to the
expectations of his overseas patrons and
awarded them the prize they were so desperate to have.
In the summer of 1960 the Soviets brought down an
American U-2 spy aircraft in their territory and put its captured
pilot, Gary Power, on public display to the whole world. Power’s
spy craft had taken off from the Peshawar base. That put
Pakistan promptly in the eye of an international storm; the coun-
try was caught in the middle of a serious row between the two
contending super powers. Within days of the much publicized
incident, Nikita Khruschev, then the strongman of SU, collared
the Pakistani Ambassador at a largely attended reception at the
Kremlin and told him, in so many words and a threatening tone
that he had drawn a red circle around Peshawar and warned the
cowering ambassador that if another spy aircraft was brought
down over the Soviet territory, Peshawar would cease to exist on
the world map. Ayub Khan’s much-trumpeted ‘security’ for his
country-which his minions boasted his alliance with U.S. had
ensured-lay in tatters at the feet of Khruschev.
Ayub’s anointed successor, another Bonaparte, General
Yahya Khan, presided over the dismemberment of Pakistan when
its eastern wing was forced to cede from the union. But equally
tragic was the fact that while East Pakistan was clearly drifting
apart from Pakistan, Yahya and his cohorts continually tried to
dupe the Pakistani people that China and U.S. wouldn’t allow
Pakistan to be dismembered. Unsuspecting Pakistanis were still
being fed the fantasy that the American 7th fleet was speeding on
its way to East Pakistan to rescue it even when Yahya’s chosen
military commander in Dhaka was signing the instrument of sur-
render to the victorious Indian forces.
General Ziaul Haq, the third adventurer in the ignoble series
of military dictators of Pakistan, had not only political ambitions
like his two predecessors but also messianic pretensions. He was
close to the Wahabi school of thought in contemporary Islam and
sought to change Pakistan in his image of obscurantism.
Zia’s God-send chance to cast Pakistan according to his tem-
plate came with the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. He
seized that opportunity to get into the good books of the Pakistan
army’s traditional mentor, U.S. But Zia availed himself of that
chance-of-a-lifetime to steer Pakistan toward his goal of an ortho-
dox Islamic society steeped in his archaic ‘vision’ of Islam.
Pakistan was well and truly launched into the orbit of a cler-
gy-dominated, obscurantist, Islamic polity on Zia’s watch. But a
more damaging thing done by Zia was to open Pakistan to the
barrage of Afghan refugees, who flooded into the country by the
millions. With them came a culture of drugs and terrorism, which
flowed like a river in full fury as millions of Afghan refugees made
their way into every part of Pakistan, from the Khyber Pass to
Karachi.
Pakistan is still reaping the deadly harvest of the seeds, of
religious fanaticism and use of terror to make political statements,
sown in its fertile soil under the impact of Afghanistan’s cultural
invasion. It has become a violent society where tolerance of any
kind is conspicuous by its absence, more so in its political culture
nurtured in the shadow of the Afghan Jihad sponsored and
patronized by U.S. to settle its own score with the Russians.
The fourth, and to date last, military dictator, General Pervez
Musharraf, added more shameless fringes to Pakistan’s humiliat-
ing status of a client state, to American interests and agendas, by
avidly and enthusiastically signing on to George W. Bush’s whim-
sical ‘war against terror.’
Musharraf’s basic motive in becoming a frontline soldier in
America’s much-touted global war against terror was the same as
Ziaul Haq. Both wanted American umbrella over their head to
strengthen their autocratic rule. But while Zia’s obsession with an
obscurantist Islam veered Pakistan toward orthodoxy, Musharraf
sought to hawk himself, and Pakistan under him, as an ‘enlight-
ened’ and ‘moderate’ state qualified to receive Washington’s seal
of approval. But Washington’s cachet of ‘moderation’ was
bestowed only on Musharraf himself, while Pakistan was brand-
ed as the most notorious and dangerous country in the world,
despite its avowed position of a principal ally in the war against
terror.
Musharraf couldn’t care less how his people were treated by
Musharraf’s basic motive in becom-
ing a frontline soldier in America's
much-touted global war against ter-
ror was the same as Ziaul Haq.
Both wanted American umbrella
over their head to strengthen their
autocratic rule. But while Zia's
obsession with an obscurantist
Islam veered Pakistan toward
orthodoxy, Musharraf sought to
hawk himself, and Pakistan under
him, as an ‘enlightened’ and ‘mod-
erate’ state qualified to receive
Washington’s seal of approval. But
Washington’s cachet of ‘modera-
tion’ was bestowed only on
Musharraf himself, while Pakistan
was branded as the most notorious
and dangerous country in the
world, despite its avowed position
of a principal ally in the war
against terror.
Washington. He had George W. Bush’s patronage and unstinted
support and was guaranteed to stay in power under American
tutelage. Musharraf returned the favour by turning Pakistan into a
rentier state par excellence. Pentagon was given a free hand by
Musharraf to extend its jurisdiction over Pakistani military bases
inside Pakistan. Such was the American control over Pakistan
that Pakistanis were forbidden from entering those bases given
over to Pentagon to wage war against Afghanistan, with no ques-
tions asked.
Not only that Musharraf behaved like a landlord owning every
inch of Pakistan, and doing with it whatever pleased him and his
masters, he also pawned every Pakistani under his jurisdiction to
American interests. Hundreds of them were literally sold to
Washington as terrorists, or their sympathizers, a fact proudly
owned by Musharraf in his own ‘autobiography,’ which was actu-
ally ghost-written for him.
On top of it, hundreds of Pakistanis-men and women-’disap-
peared’ in Musharraf’s frenzy to serve his masters and carry out
their wishes without demur. A majority of these missing persons
remains untraced, despite valiant efforts by Pakistan’s re-invigor-
ated higher judiciary to force the government to reveal their
whereabouts.
One of these ‘disappeared’ Pakistanis is Dr. Afia Siddiqi, a
scientist trained at M.I.T., one of the most prestigious American
universities, at Boston. Dr. Afia resurfaced in New York, last year,
after years of her disappearance. Apparently, she was kidnapped
by Musharraf’s touts working in Pakistan’s notorious intelligence
agencies and handed over to the Americans who kept her
detained in Afghanistan and tortured her. She has since been
accused of attempting to murder American intelligence operatives
and is being tried in a court in New York. Her case has become a
cause celebre for those in Pakistan and abroad calling for
Musharraf to be tried for his gross violations of human rights in
Pakistan as well as for trashing the Pakistani constitution, not
once but a number of times.
However, these legitimate demands of well-meaning
Pakistanis to bring a military adventurer to book-now that, at long
last, at least the highest judiciary in the country has become inde-
pendent of the political masters-are being
thwarted by those who have succeeded
Musharraf at the pinnacle of power in
Pakistan.
These so-called ‘democrats’ of Pakistan
are reluctant to put Musharraf in the dock for
a variety of reasons: one, they owe their priv-
ileged status to Musharraf’s largesse; and,
two, they are pursing the very same policies
of serving foreign masters and mentors with a
zest that could easily pale Musharraf..
The Zardari regime in Pakistan is serving
American imperialist interests in the region,
especially in Afghanistan, with far more ener-
gy and devotion than Musharraf, with no
question asked. It’s obviously so beholden to
Washington that it doesn’t, now, mumble even
a word of protest over routine violations and
bombing of its tribal region by unmanned
Drones. Hundreds of people-men, women
and children have been killed, to date, in
these missile attacks, which Washington jus-
tifies, and continues to carry on, in the name
of going after terrorists and their alleged hideouts.
The incumbent civilian setup in Pakistan tightly regimented
under Zardari, is refusing to try Musharraf also for the reason that
his ouster from the office of president of Pakistan, in August
2008, was the result of a deal sponsored and guaranteed by
Pakistan’s ‘friends’ and stake-holders from abroad. The powers
being hinted at are U.S. and Saudi Arabia which, according to
Zardari’s own version, promised Musharraf a ‘safe passage’ out
of Pakistan in return for his abdication of power.
Whatever the veracity or validity of a ‘deal’ dictated by
Pakistan’s well-wishers, or king-makers, to allow Musharraf to go
scot-free in spite of breaking Pakistan’s laws at will, the new real-
ity in Pakistan is also one where the Zardari regime is itself enter-
ing deals a plenty to put Pakistan virtually on sale to the world.
The military adventurers, from Ayub to Musharraf, may have
been guilty of pawning Pakistan’s security and strategic interests
to overseas stake-holders for personal power and pelf. However,
the current, civilian, dispensation seems to be selling Pakistan’s
economic and societal interests to the highest bidders.
The incumbent rulers in Pakistan have already ‘leased’ the
management of the strategically sensitive Gawadar Port, on the
Arabia Sea coast within hailing distance of Iran, to Singapore
entrepreneurs for 42 years. The port in Gawadar was built by the
Chinese in a gesture of friendship with Pakistan. However the
present dispensation in Islamabad is so shameless that it didn’t
mind, at all, turning its back on its benefactors, because the deal
offered by the Singaporeans was too lucrative, to the power
barons in Pakistan, to refuse.
But the latest scandal taking Pakistan by storm may pale all
previous deals by a hefty margin. The present rulers, whose cor-
ruption preceded them in power, are ready to ‘lease,’ virtually in
perpetuity, hundreds of thousands of acres of land, in Punjab and
Baluchistan provinces to entrepreneurs and governments of
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait et al. to grow their food on it and
exploit it entirely according to their whims and fancies.
The practice of ‘leasing’ Pakistani lands to rich and powerful
potentates from the Arab part of the Gulf countries started with
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto; he gave away huge tracts of land to his afflu-
ent Arab friends, from U.A.E., and a number of other places, to
serve their hunting pleasure for birds and other game. These rich
Arabs have built air strips for their aircraft and palatial palaces for
their comfort in their ‘exclusive land zones’ which are out-of-
bounds to the Pakistanis. But now those claiming to be succes-
sors to Bhutto are ready to go a step further and sell the Pakistani
soil to their Arab friends, not for pleasure of hunting but for seri-
ous economic exploitation.
It’s the bane of the Pakistanis that they have had to put up
with military adventurers and pawn brokers in the past who bar-
gained with national interests to dig their heels into power. But
their misery now seems worse-compounded at the hands of
those feigning as denizens of democracy but behaving as worse
touts and brokers of foreign interests and ready to sell Pakistan’s
national assets to the highest bidders.
The Pakistanis, caught in a deadly squeeze between imperialis-
tic forces and their own corrupt rulers, are entitled to beseech
heavens to let them know to what sins they owe their dealers-
and-wheelers foisted on them as ‘leaders’ and ‘saviours.’

 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 27

INTERNATIONAL
tims, all of them and they won-

Perpetual Grief over September 11th
RAMZY BAROUD
he anniversary of the infamous
And while one simply cannot pardon blind
hate or terror, how can one honestly argue
that the millions who perished in Iraq, prior or
Muslims — and in fact the world — are still
waiting to see.
When the US president spoke in Cairo, on
der if the death count will
cease any time soon.
The tragedy of 9/11 and
the previous and subsequent tragedies are too
serious, too terrible to give up hope so quickly
that common sense will prevail, that horrible

T tragedy of 9/11, 2001, and the subse-

quent ramifications indeed induce,
throughout the world, a plethora of
feelings of sorrow.
The 9/11 event should have never taken
place. Regardless of the situation, targeting
civilians is unconditionally reviled. No matter
where we stand on war, and how do we wish
to rationalize and define extremism, and even
terror, we must pause to remember those who
died on that day, and the many, many more
who died in the months and years that fol-
lowed.
Sadly, we must even pause today for
those who will die tomorrow, to avenge the vic-
tims of the twin towers. 9/11 was a tragedy
that should have been studied within the
parameters of US foreign policies vis-à-vis
Muslim countries, in the Middle East region in
particular. If we wish not to venture that far,
then an honest look at the period that followed
the first Gulf War of 1990-91, and the tragic
sanctions that took the lives of hundreds of
thousands of Iraqis, is certainly warranted.
Anger, when becomes protracted and mul-
tifaceted, is at risk of inspiring extremism and
rationalizing terror. But there are other facets
to be examined when political violence is to be
scrutinized. 9/11 cannot be divorced from sur-
rounding events, preceding tragedies or sub-
sequent ones. By not doing so, one under-
mines the seriousness of the tragedy.
following 9/11 ought not to be remembered on
that day as well.
Does their fate have any correlation to the
tragedy? And what about the many thousands
who died in Afghanistan, including the latest
90 people who were burned alive when the
NATO forces bombed two fuel tankers in the
northern part of the country a few days ago?
Do they not deserve commemoration as well?
Are not their destinies somehow intimately
intertwined? This cannot be denied.
Yet, such a view is overshadowed by
another, which in some way reflects man’s
most basic primal instincts and the lust for
sheer revenge. Examining the Bush legacy —
which, if anything, gave life and credence to
the idea that violence is a justified political
means to achieve set goals and even econom-
ic interests — one comes face to face with
the ultimate antitheses of such a notion.
But with the help and expertise of media
czars, especially the likes of Fox News, such
primeval ways of thinking were embraced with
ease. “Shock and Awe” was much more
sophisticated than 9/11; it was accompanied
by a voice over, and eloquent commentators
who kindly explained exactly what we saw on
the screen, but the idea was still the same.
Innocents died so horribly that political scores
would be settled and gains could be exacted.
But Barack Obama is not George W. Bush, we
are told. The new president has promised to
fix what his predecessor had destroyed, and
June 4, he said: “So let there be no doubt:
Islam is a part of America. And I believe that
America holds within her the truth that regard-
less of race, religion, or station in life, all of us
share common aspirations — to live in peace
and security; to get an education and to work
with dignity; to love our families, our communi-
ties, and our God. These things we share. This
is the hope ?of all humanity.”
Obama spoke and Muslims listened. They
clapped and cheered when he greeted the
Cairo crowd with “Assalamu alaikum”. As
sadly as it were, they were desperate for vali-
dation, for hope, that perhaps in the recogni-
tion of these common aspirations of which he
spoke of, that perhaps there would be some
softening of the US iron fist that is slowly
strangling Muslims in so many parts of our
stricken world.
And although Obama went to great
lengths to express a common humanity, his
forces continue to ravage Muslims without
pause: news from Afghanistan is ever grim.
Iraq’s calamities are also compared. His state-
ments on Palestine are lukewarm and faithful-
ly precluded with a solemn pledge of
America’s undying allegiance to the Jewish
State.
Keeping these things in mind, it is at times
difficult to have full trust in the sincerity of the
president’s proclamations. Muslims, like the
rest of humanity, remember 9/11 with a
somber pause. They remember the day’s vic-
scenes would be replaced by positive ones,
that dialogue would replace hostility, and that
Obama will meet even if the minimum expec-
tations of his fans in the Muslim world.
9/11 should not be a political episode to
underscore the reason of why the fight in var-
ious Muslim countries should continue; nor
should it be an opportunity to rejoice at the
death of ?the “infidels”.
We should collectively abhor the rationali-
zation of violence on the basis of vengeance,
and consider what it might take to relieve
those afflicted with a sense of hostility: Could
it perhaps be that our common aspirations for
peace and freedom are somehow out of
reach? Could it be possible that we just might
be culpable for the denial of those simple aspi-
rations of peace and freedom?
We must embrace again the anguish of
what happened on 9/11, ever aware that the
body count grows even today. And although
the wreckage of that horrible day was cleared
away years ago, the lessons of that day are
still buried beneath our anger, frustration, and
prejudice.
To unearth these lessons, we must widen
our horizons, from New York to Baghdad, from
Kabul to Gaza, cities, which are in some way
worlds apart, but in other ways much closer
than we may innocently suspect.
Ramzy Baroud (www.ramzybaroud.net) is an author &
editor of PalestineChronicle.com. His work has been pub-
lished in many newspapers & journals.

Our struggle is against

An Open Letter to President Obama
Dear President Obama: Your administration should be praised for at
least reframing the rhetoric and ideological vision of America's intentions
in the Middle East, away from the archaic and reactionary "us versus
them" posturing to a more inclusive, conciliatory partnership fostered by
mutual interests. After many years of deterioration of US-Muslim rela-
tions due to mistrust, misunderstandings and a lack of information and
knowledge on both sides, I should say that, your Cairo speech set a new
course. I would like to restrict my comments in four areas:
1. An analysis of your Cairo speech on 4th of June, 2009
2. An analysis of a small remark made by you
3. Why Muslim World still hates the U. S?
4. A Call to Return to the Message of Jesus Christ
1. An Analysis of Your Cairo Speech on 4th of June, 2009
You have, indeed, extended a hand of friendship to the Muslim world
in your Cairo speech. You criticized the Palestinians far more than the
Israelis in your speech despite the heavy power imbalance between the
two and Palestinians being victims of brutal suppression. While talking of
violence by Palestinians, I wish you would have also commented on
much worse violence inflicted on the Palestinians by Israelis, as is obvi-
ous by the death toll in many of the Israeli military operations. The toll of
violence in Gaza in 2009 January was approximately 1300 Palestinian
killed, mostly civilians, to about 6 Israeli soldiers. How can one disregard
it?
Democracy was one among your speech's major themes. While
your speech opened hearts and minds in the Muslim world, people in the
Middle East would expect concrete, policy-based follow up to your
words. You don't mention whether the track record of the United States
to align with oligarchies rather than governments promoting democracy
as per the ordinary people's aspirations, would be corrected.
I am quoting a passage from the remarks made by you to the
NAACP centennial convention Hilton New York on July 17, 2009 where-
in you said, "Make no mistake: The pain of discrimination is still felt in
America. By African American women paid less for doing the same work
as colleagues of a different color and a different gender. By Latinos
made to feel unwelcome in their own country. By Muslim Americans
viewed with suspicion simply because they kneel down to pray to their
God." This sentence is remarkable with an obvious misunderstanding
and belief that Islam believes in a separate God other than that of
9 Judaism and Christianity. The Qur’an says, 'Say: "We believe in God,
and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham,
Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in [the Books] given to
Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinc-
tion between one and another among them, and to God do we bow our
will"' (2:136). Thus we say that Jesus was a Muslim, that is one who sub-
mitted to Jehovah, to God Almighty or as the present day Muslims know
Him, as Allah. God chose Arabic language, not for its inherent value as
a language, but simply for its expediency that is because the message
was addressed primarily to the Arabic-speaking people.
The message is very clear: Islam believes in a universal conception
of God; the belief in the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus Christ. I
would urge you, President Obama, to correct your mistake.
The blind support for Israeli colonization, for several decades, is the
gross mistake of US Middle East policy. It is a clear fact that Israel has
occupied Palestine, expelled most of its population, has changed the
demography of Jerusalem and refuses to honour a solemn treaty (Oslo)
that allows Palestinians to regain sovereignty in only 23 percent of their
original homeland. The Muslim animosity to the US is closely linked to
the American blind support to the Zionists.
For all the talk in Washington about peace in the Middle East, it is
very clear that US policymakers are not much concerned about peace.
History attests that US leaders don't mind peace so long as it is within a
system that doesn't threaten US control of oil. For the sake of 5 million
Israelites, should America antagonize 1.5 billion Muslims? In Palestine,
if the U. S were serious about promoting peace, it would have long ago
joined the international consensus for a political settlement built on a
viable State for the Palestinians and security for Israel. Instead, it has
long blocked such a consensus. The simple fact is that there are well-
organized and well-funded groups in the U. S lobbying very effectively
for Israel and even people like you, dear Obama, is incapable of break-
ing their power. The inevitable conclusion to draw from this is that U. S
cannot be a positive force in the Middle East without a fundamental shift
in goals: The U. S must replace its quest for control with a commitment
to peace and justice, under international law. For this, you should be
courageous to crush the war-mongering forces of your country with the
firm support of the justice loving people.
The following are some broad features of the US policy vis-à-vis the
Muslim World: U. N resolutions against Israel are ignored if not vetoed
by your country in the first place while similar UN resolutions are used to
wage war against Iraq and subject it to genocidal blockade; US role in
the genocidal blockade of Iraq and sanctions against Iran, Sudan and
Libya; Constant media onslaught against Islam and Muslims, making an
escalated Islamophobia around the world with the official patronage of U.
S. administration, without trying to understand their points of view or try-
ing to alleviate their hurt feelings; Double standard in supporting a mili-
tary regime in Algeria when 'democracy' led to the election of an Islamic
party; supporting dictatorships against popular and freely-elected gov-
ernment and a Call to Return to the Message of Jesus Christ.
Dear Obama, You have to become a paragon of peace, harmony
and friendliness, if your claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ is true.
Jesus set very high standards for his followers on love and forgiveness;
including non-retaliation against evil and love of enemies (Matthew 5:38-
39). He stood against the powers of oppression and evil. Jesus shows
us what it means to 'live' with the power of love, truth and justice, peace
and suffering. Following Jesus also means practicing forgiveness as an
essential step to restoring and repairing relationships that have been
shattered through violence and oppression.
A truly religious person will negate all that is unjust and will carry on
'jihad' against unjust social structures. He should encourage all believers
and people of good-will to engage in a dynamic dialogue of action and
interaction, awareness building, breaking stereotypes, ending overgen-
eralization and the dehumanization of others who are different from us,
regardless of faith, religion, or political beliefs. We must stand united
against those who believe in clashes of civilizations and religions.
Dear President, unlike your predecessor's approach (which was
arrogant), yours is mild. You seem to be willing to listen to others. I see
some fine qualities in you, President Obama. In line to the expectation of
the justice-loving people of the world, there should a major change in
your foreign policy. The gross injustices committed against the people of
Palestine should be corrected by your administration. A fresh-faced US
president speaking the language of human rights may be refreshing
indeed after eight years of neo-Fascist discourse, but the wind of change
won't be blowing until we see the tanks and warplanes of America
retreating back to the shores of your country.
V. A. Mohamad Ashrof
Joint Secretary, Forum for Faith and Fraternity, Kochi, Kerala.
vamashrof@gmail.com
those who invaded our
homeland
Khaled Mishaal, the supreme leader of the Hamas
Movement, has said that Palestinians do not resist
the Zionists because they are Jews but because they
"invaded our land and dispossessed us". Mishaal
was speaking in an interview with the New
Statesman magazine conducted by Ken Livingston
the former mayor of London. The Hamas leader said,
"We do not accept that because the Jews were once
persecuted in Europe they have the right to take our
land and throw us out. The injustices suffered by the
Jews in Europe were horrible and criminal, but were
not perpetrated by the Palestinians or the Arabs or
the Muslims. So, why should we be punished for the
sins of others or be made to pay for their crimes?"
Asked about the ideology and goals of Hamas,
Mishaal said, "Our people have been the victims of a
colonial project called Zionist entity. For years, we
have suffered various forms of repression. Half of our
people have been dispossessed and are denied the
right to return to their homes, and half live under an
occupation regime that violates their basic human
rights. Hamas struggles for an end to occupation and
for the restoration of our people's rights, including
their right to return home." (qassam.ps)
US staged 9/11 attacks: Charlie Sheen
London: Hollywood actor Charlie Sheen has request-
ed US President Barack Obama to hold a new inves-
tigation into the 9/11 attacks as he believes them to
be staged by the Bush government. The Wall Street
star made the outrageous claims through a short film
20 Minutes With The President which was made
public ahead of the eighth anniversary of the attacks
that killed 3,000 people, reported Telegraph online.
The actor followed it up with a video, addressed
to Obama, which he posted on You tube. Sheen, 44,
the highestpaid actor on US TV, argues that "the offi-
cial 9/11 story is a fraud" and says the commission
set up to investigate was a whitewash. He claims the
attacks served "as the pretext for the systematic dis-
mantling of our Constitution."
The actor says the administration of the former
president, Mr George Bush, was behind the attacks,
which they were then able to use to justify an inva-
sion of Iraq, even hinting that Osama Bin Laden was
working with the CIA up until 9/11.
He urged other Americans who were sceptical of
the probe, to demand the truth. "We cannot allow
governments to continue to advance their political
agendas by exploiting forged pretexts and the fact
that big budget-hit pieces against 9/11 truth are still
being rolled out proves that the establishment is
upset that the population is waking up to the false
terror," he said. (http://www.dc-epaper.com)
28 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009
BOOKS
Pseudo-Messianic Movements In Contemporary South Asia
Book: Pseudo-Messianic Movements In
Contemporary South Asia.
Author: Yoginder Sikand
Publisher: Global Media Publications,
New Delhi
Price: Rs 399
Pages: 137 pages
Year of Publication: 2008
MUSHTAQ UL HAQ AHMAD SIKANDAR
islamicmushtaq@yahoo. co. in
he emergence of a supernatural being who would
T restore the supermacy, hegemony and influence world
over of a certain community or chosen ones during the
End Times is a hope of a majority of religions. This
messianic character whether the Awaited Imam Mahdi for
Muslims, Kalki Avtar for Hindus, Messiah for Christians or Anti-
Christ for Jews is a common similiarity among all these faiths.
From time to time scores of people have declared and present-
ed themselves as the Awaited Ones. The case with Islam has
been the same and a majority of these claims were made dur-
ing the colonial period when Muslim nations were reeling under
the hegemony and power of non-Muslim ruling elites. Though
these claims had to face a stiff resistence and were sparsely
successful in accomplishment of their respective goals but still
they were able to drive a good chunk of Muslims to their ranks
resulting in the formation of new sects, thus making the divid-
ing wedge draw deep.
The present book under review is a study of three of these
pseudo-messanic movements which emerged in the twentieth
century in Muslim South Asia. The book is divided in three chap-
ters each focusing on these respective movements.
The first chapter deals with the Deendar Anjuman whose
founder Siddiq Husain claimed to be the Kalki Avatar awaited by
Hindus so as to win them over to Islam but in doing so the move-
ment lost its track, hence unable to forment a revolutionary
change. It was also difficult for the Hindus to believe Siddiq
Husain as the promised one because according to the Anjuman
sources itself, "In early 1926, 33 Indian gurus had put forward the
claim of being the Jagat Guru or 'Teacher Of the Whole World” (p.
27). So it was a Hobson's choice for the common folks.
The second chapter deals with the Atba-i Malak Bohra
Jamaat which is a sect among Shia Muslims of India. As little has
been written about the beliefs of this sect of Shia, this chapter is
a pioneering effort in this field. It deals with the origin of this sect,
its division in Badri and Vakili sub-sects and its emphasis on eso-
teric phase of Islam nullifying the exoteric one.
The third chapter deals with the messanic movement of
Riyaz Ahmad Goharshahi, i. e The Mehdi Foundation
International (MFI). Though Goharshahi Movement later split into
two factions, Pakistan-based Anjuman-e Sarfaroshan-e Islam
(ASI) and London-based MFI but the latter is more outspoken
though ASI claims that MFI head Yonous al-Gohar concocted and
interpolated the teachings of its founder. This chapter deals with
the emergence, evolution, split and present stance of this move-
ment, which as MFI claims is the saviour of the whole humanity
as the image of this cult's founder appeared in large number of
places, including the moon, the sun and numerous stars as well
as churches, mosques, imam-bargahs and temples in addition to
From the publishers of this newspaper
JOURNALS
Muslim & Arab Perspectives (MAP) [Eng] Since 1993
Annual subscription: Rs 250/d25 (Institutions: Rs 500/d50)
[MAP is running late, latest volume is 2004]
Journal of Islamic History (JIH) [Publication suspended]
[English and Arabic] Published since 1995
Annual subscription: Rs 200/d30 (Institutions: Rs 400/d60)
BOOKS: ENGLISH
M Ayub Ali Khan, Representing Indian Muslims: Selected
Parliamentary speeches of Asaduddin Owaisi
112pp, Rs 120/d 7
Ram Puniyani, Terrorism: Facts Vs Myths 96 pp, Rs 40/d 4
Shamsul Islam, Golwalkar’s “We or our nationhood
defined”: A critique with full text of the book, 200 pp, Rs 120/d 8
M.A. Roshash, Islamic Company Law 302 pp., Rs 600/d20
IK Shukla, Hindutva: Treason & Terrorism
184 pp., Rs 130/d10
Russian Military Intelligence (GRU) daily reports on the
Iraq war 112 pp., Rs 75/d4
Mustafa Kamal Sherwani, Secular Horror: 15 years
ordeal with Indian secularism 96 pp., Rs 80/d10
Nur Ali Qabobe, Somalia: From Nation-State To
Tribal Mutiny 152 pp. (HB) , Rs 300/d20
the Hajr-i-Aswad, according to their claims. The last topic dis-
cusses MFI's stance and America's War On Terror which the
author has vividly depicted as pro-Imperialistic and anti-Muslim
which MFI's statements try to camouflage by claiming that this
War On Terror is a Divine punishment for Muslims because of
their outright rejection of Riyaz Goharshahi as the Messiah whom
even Prophet Muhammad (SAW), according to MFI claims, pre-
dicted and revered with high respect.
What were the causes which led these people claim
Messanic interpretations leading to the creation of different cults?
Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi answers these quries surprising-
ly: "When I read the histories of Batinite movement, of Ikhwan al
Safa, of Bahaism in Iran and Qadianism in India, it seems to me
that when the founders of these movements read the history of
Islam and the life of the Prophet it struck them that a man, all by
himself stood up with a mission in Arabia without any money to
back him or any army to support him, he summoned people
towards a creed, towards a religion and not after very long there
came into existence a new ummah, a new state, and a new cul-
ture. They also noticed that single-handedly, the Prophet
changed the direction of human history and forced events to flow
into a different channel. The ambitious natures of these men then
whispered to themselves: "Why not try?" These people knew that
they had intelligence, remarkable mental capabilities and organ-
ising ability. They thought, therefore, that history might repeat
itself in their case too, following the natural pattern of cause and
effect. These people had expected the same kind of miraculous
success to crown their efforts as had crowned the efforts of the
unlettered Prophet of Arabia in the sixth century for, they thought,
Book: Sir Syed's vision of India and its
people
Author: Professor Shan Muhammad
Publisher: Zenith Books International,
Delhi
Price: Rs 550
Pages: 186
Some are born great, some achieve greatness in life. Sir Syed
with his conscientious effort and support from his loyal friends
achieved greatness which was beyond imagination of the com-
mon man. A multi faceted personality and a farsighted man. It is
generally said that beauty lies in eyes of the beholder.The geo-
graphical description of India, its cities and landscapes was out-
lined by him in its true colour, with the sense of belonging. What
he found that the cities and its culture were second to none as
compared to the developed world.The author professor Shan
Muhammad is Director of Sir Syed Academy in AMU, who is an
erudite scholar and at the same time an authority on Sir Syed
has made an attempt to highlight the inner feelings and care of
Sir Syed towards India and its people. Sir Syed was a man of dis-
tinct identities. During his lifespan he had written and spoken and
had also worked on various issues and topics like education,
social reform, Hindu Muslim unity, agriculture, economy, land
reforms, village and panchayat and on number of issues that was
important at that time for the growth of wholesome personality of
individual, growth and development of various class groups and
religion and overall an amicable ambience for society. Sir Syed
will be credited in eyes of generations to come for his role in
Zafarul-Islam Khan, At the threshold of a
new millennium 32 pp., (Out of print)
Tahir Mahmood, Minorities Commission: minor
role in major affairs viii+286 pp., Rs 300/d 15
Iqbal Ahmad Khan Suhail, What is riba? 208 pp., Rs 200/d 13
Muhammad Iqbal, Islam & Ahmadism 46 pp., Rs 20/d5
Zafarul-Islam Khan (ed.), Palestine Documents
1897-1998 894 pp. (HB), Rs 500/d20
Zafarul-Islam Khan, Hijrah in Islam 398 pp (Out of print)
Muslims in India (2-part special issue of MAP),
360pp., Rs 110/d15
Palestine (3-part special issue of MAP), 460 pp., Rs 195/d25
Irfan, Punchline (cartoons), 112 pp., Rs 50/d4
ARABIC
Zafarul-Islam Khan, Waliullah al-Dihlawi 50 pp., Rs 20/d3
Iqbal Ahmad Khan Suhail, Ma Huwa al-Riba?
196 pp. (HB), Rs 180/d 9.5
URDU
Feza Aazmi, Azab-e-Humsaigi (The Agony Trail)
(with English Translation) 224 pp., Rs 120/d10
Zafarul-Islam Khan, Milli masael - chand aham
sawalon ke jawabat 42 pp., Rs 15 (Out of print)
Iqbal A Khan Suhail, Riba kya hai? 230 pp. (HB), Rs 120/d10
Zafarul-Islam Khan, Usul-e tahqiq
[on methodology of modern research], 192 pp., Rs 120/d10
human nature remained always the same and if it had responded
to Muhammad in the past, there was no reason why it should not
respond to them now. ”
These persons did have a glimpse of the greatness of
Muhammad (pbuh) who carried his movement to a successful
end, but could not see the Divine support which was his real
strength, nor the Divine will of which he was an instrument. The
result was that for a very short period of time, the efforts of these
ambitious people did bear some fruit. There gathered behind
them a following, sometimes of several hundred thousand peo-
ple. Some of them (e.g., Batinites) even succeeded in establish-
ing a state of their own (the Fatimide State) which for sometime
covered a fairly wide area from Sudan to Morocco. But all this
remained only as long as they were able to maintain their organ-
isational efficiency, their wizardry and their secret administrative
network. But when these things were gone, all their power and
glory also became a poignant memory of the past. With the loss
of worldly power, the religious movement shrank and obscured
and lost significance for human life. Against this, is the true Islam
preached by the Last Messenger of Allah (pbuh). It constitutes
today, as it constituted yesterday, a great spritual force in the
world, the guiding star and inspiration of a great ummah. It still
possesses a distinctive culture which sprang from the spirit of its
teachings. It is still the religion of a number of states and peoples.
The Sun of Muhammad's Prophethood is still shining brilliantly in
the sky. Never in history has it suffered an eclipse and it never
will" (Qadianism: A Critical Study).
The author deserves our appreciation as he had delved on a
unique topic which a majority of our researchers and scholars still
continue to ignore. 
opening the mental horizon of the Muslims and the road ahead
for higher education or western education for Muslims in particu-
lar and the rest in general.The timming of the book becomes
even more important as the Alumni across the globe will be cele-
berating the greatness of Sir Syed on 17th October. May be this
could have been the last word from Sir Syed before going into a
deep sleep ie "Even if I am dead, O the responsible of the com-
munity please don't let the Aligarh Movement die"
Mohammad Naushad Khan
Book on India’s Islamic period
Delhi Sultanate - Urbanization and Social Change
Author: Iqtidar Husain Siddiqui
Publisher: Kanicka, Viva Books, Delhi (publicity@vivagroupin-
dia.net)
ISBN: 9788130910147
Pages: 352 pp HB
Year: 2009
Price: Rs. 795.00
Breaking the conventional belief that urbanization was shaped
solely by economic factors, Delhi Sultanate seeks to highlight
social and cultural processes that accompanied economic
changes, thereby transforming little-known trading towns into
full-fledged centres of learning and culture. I.H. Siddiqui draws
on a rich corpus of Persian sources to establish links between
economic change and changes in language, literature, teaching,
book trade and even pyrotechnics. Delving into unconventional
markers of change like food makes the work interesting and
informative. The case study of the city of Kalpi is valuable, for it
outlines the political, social and cultural ramifications brought by
its transformation into an urban city. 
Ahmad Muhammad Kani, Maghribi Afriqa ki tahrik-e
jihad (Sokoto Caliphate), 106 pp., Rs 40/d4
Malik Ben Nabi, Jadid Islami fikr par mustashriqin
kay asarat, 50 pp., Rs 20/d4
BOOKS DISTRIBUTED
Tahir Mahmood, Uniform Civil Code 208 pp.(PB), Rs 175/d20
&
We supply books published
by other publishing houses
(both course books and general books).
Write to us about your requirements.
FORTHCOMING PUBLICATIONS
Muslims in Manipur by Farooq Ahmad
Muslims in Assam by KA Ahmed
Islam and Human Equality by Abu Masood Azhar Nadwi
Women in Islam by Safia Amir
PHAROS MEDIA

PUBLISHING PVT LTD
D-84 Abul Fazl Enclave - I, New Delhi 110 025
Tel.: 2694 7483, 2695 2825, 2694 2883
E-mail: info@pharosmedia.com
Visit us at www.pharosmedia.com
 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 29

ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVES
Health Guidelines From Qur’an & Sunnah - i
SHAHID ATHAR, MD I. Wadu: Washing all the exposed areas of the body, hand, the Hajj.
feet, face, mouth, nostrils etc. 5 times a day is a healthy preven- After describing pillars of faith as a basis for the spiritual
his article is not about the glory of Islamic Medicine of tive procedure. Hand washing is being emphasized more and health, let us talk about the maintenance of the physical structure

T past 1000 years which produced great physicians like al-

Razi and Ibn-Sina. This article is also not about virtues of
honey, the center point of discussion in most of the arti-
cles written these days on Islamic Medicine. This also is not an
article saying that since science has now confirmed certain
more in hospitals now in order to prevent spread of germs.
However non-Muslims did not know that hand- washing is so
important - it has been ordered in Qur’an (Al_Qur’an_005:007)
1400 years ago. And for complete cleanliness bathing is advised
(Al_Qur’an_004:043)
in which the spirit resides.

(A) Nutrition: Allah loves his creations so much that he is con-

cerned even with what we eat and put in our body. Our muscles,
bones, lungs, liver, brain and secretions are made from the raw
Qur’anic statements, therefore Qur’an must be a divine book. To product we feed it. If we provide the factory with junk raw prod-
the contrary, we begin with the belief that all Qur’anic statements 2. Recitation of Qur’an: Has a healing effect on body, mind ucts, the factory will not produce tough bones, strong muscles,
are true, science has confirmed some of them in the past, and will and heart. These healing effects are due to the effect of sound good pump (heart) and clean pipes (vessels).
confirm the rest in the future. If science has not confirmed it yet, (Echo) and the meaning. The letter Alif resounds unto the Echoes "O you mankind: Eat of what is lawful and good on earth.
it needs to examine its data more deeply, or may be it should to heart and the letter YA resounds unto Echoes to the pineal (Al_Qur’an_002: 168)
repeat the experiment, rather than question the authenticity of gland in the brain. "Eat of the things which god has provided for you lawful and
Qur’an. The Qur’an is not a book of medicine or of health sci- good, but fear God in whom you believe". Forbidden to us are
ences, but in it there are hints which lead to guidelines in health "O Mankind: There has come to you a direction front your dead meat, blood and flesh of swine (5:4) and intoxicants
and diseases. Prophet Mohammed (P.B.U.H.) has set as an Lord and a healing for the (disease) in your hearts - and for those (Al_Qur’an_005:091-093 and 002:219).
example to the mankind so his traditions in matters of health and who believe a guidance and mercy!!" (Al_Qur’an_010:057)
personal hygienic are also a guide for his followers. Science so far has not confirmed any beneficial effects to the
"We sent down in the Qur’an that which is healing and a prohibitions.
We start our discussion with the following verse: mercy to those who believe: to the unjust it causes nothing but The blood and meat of the dead could be full of germs and
"Everything good that happens to you (O Man) is from God, loss after loss". The movements in Salaat are mild, uniform, and other harmful elements like antibodies. The pork meat is high in
everything bad that happens to you is from your own actions". involve all muscles and joints. The caloric output is desired to cholesterol, salt and may have worms, and alcohol and other
(Al_Qur’an_004:079) keep the energy balance." (Al_Qur’an_017:082) intoxicants cloud our mentation, our inhibition and interfere with
Therefore, the pathology (disease) is defined by the famous our normal capacity of judging good and bad. Therefore, a person
pathologist William Boyd as physiology (natural state) gone C: Zakaat (Charity): The word itself means purification and under the influence of alcohol may want to take off his dress,
wrong. It is our tampering with natural process that leads to growth. Here it is meant to imply the purification of legitimately engage in unlawful sexual acts, become violent and abusive with-
unnatural outcomes. earned wealth. Many of our crimes are committed with money or out even knowing what he is doing. On medical damages due to
Human body can be compared to some degree with a for love of money, and in the love of money one becomes violent alcohol, whole books have been written.
machine created by man. The fascinating tape recorder has in behavior. The second component in nutrition (after Permission of the
many mechanical and electronic parts but life does not come to it lawful and probation of the unlawful) is the moderation in the law-
till electrical current is passed through. Similarly, in the compo- And he is violent in his love of wealth: (Al_Qur’an_100:008) ful.
nents of human body there are the anatomic parts and fluids but In Islam the ownership of wealth belongs to God. We are the Obesity is a major American tragedy, a form of malnutrition,
also the spirit (the soul). As the care of a machine requires keep- disposer of that trust. Therefore, this concept establishes peace affecting million of people, of all age. 99% of obesity is due to
ing it clean, giving it some rest, and passing electricity of proper at heart and our behavior in the loss of money or unusual gain, in overeating. Allah advises as to be moderate in quantity.
voltage, and using it carefully and wisely, so are the requirement either way, we thank God. "But waste not by excess for God loves not the wasters."
for the body and of the body as whole. (Al_Qur’an_007:031)
Before we come to the physical care of human body, let us D. Sawm: The Islamic fasting: Islamic fasting is prescribed as "Eat of the good things we have provided for your suste-
talk about the spiritual care. way training of our mind, and body in self-restraints. nance, but commit no excess therein, lest my wrath should justly
The spiritual care involves the acts of worship. The problem "O you who believe fasting are prescribed to you, as it was descend on you, and those whom descends my wrath do perish
is that Eemaan cannot be translated into belief, nor Salaat into prescribed to those before you, so that you can learn self- indeed." (Al_Qur’an_020:081)
prayer, Nor Wadu into washing hand, face and feet nor; Sawm restraint." (Al_Qur’an_002:183) According to one Hadeeth of Prophet Mohammed (P.B.U.H.)
into fasting nor Zakaat into charity nor Hajj into pilgrimage to Therefore, during the period of fast one may not only get rid we are advised to leave one third of our stomach empty after fin-
Mecca. They are entitles in themselves. of nibbling food, coffee, and smoking but also of anger and exces- ishing the meal. I understood this Hadeeth only when I broke my
sive sexual passion. blender/mixer in the kitchen after stuffing it to the top and then
A. Eemaan: The belief in God is the first and foremost impor- In fact, the fast not only gives rest to stomach but also stabi- turning the machine on. After all, what is stomach, if not a blender,
tant need for spiritual stability. Belief in God includes belief in his lizes the secretion of harmones which control our behavior. grinder, mixer and food processor, all in one!!
attributes, his angels, his books, the Day of Judgment, the heav- Certain types of food i.e. fruits are especially emphasized in
en and hell and belief that - all good and bad is within his reach. E. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca): The morale is Prophet Qur’an (36:57, 43:73, 16:67, 50:68)
Imam Rumi has called faith being superior to prayers. In illness, lbrahim's submission and absolute surrender to God's will, the "And the fruits of date palm and grapes you get wholesome
according to Imam Ghazali, the awareness of God increases and opportunity for repentance, and the social and political gathering drink and nutrition: Behold in this is a sign for those who are
man becomes closer to God by realizing his own weakness. of the Ummah depicting brotherhood, and equality. However this wise." (Al_Qur’an_016:067). Fruits are low in calorie, high in vita-
Without true belief, neither our prayer, nor charity, nor fasting nor can be used for programming and testing us for physical mins and minerals, and fiber and sugar is fructose and not
pilgrimage will be accepted. The essence of belief is to rid our- endurance, a requirement for all able men and women. The long sucrose. In a recent study by Dr. Anderson fructose has been
selves of all false Gods around us, or within us, and to worship no walks, the heat, the sun, the thirst, the physical exercise, etc. is shown to cause no rise in blood sugar and even lowers the high
one except God alone. to remind us of the Day of Judgment. We should perform Hajj blood sugar of diabetics. Honey is fructose.
when young and physically well rather than wait for the old age.
B.Salat: There are three health aspects of Salaat We should keep ourselves in good shape before and years after To be continued in the next issue

PLEASE PHOTOCOPY OR CUT THIS FORM

MG
MG SUBSCRIPTION FORM OR SEND THE REQUIRED DETAILS
ON A PLAIN PAPER SUBSCRIPTION
ALONG WITH YOUR PAYMENT RATES
32 pages per issue
THE MILLI GAZETTE
Indian Muslims’ Leading English Newspaper

ALL PRICES INCLUDE POSTAGE

I would like to subscribe to The Milli Gazette in the following ways: 24 issues per year

 RENEW  SUBSCRIBE subscription by paying one / two / three year(s) subscription [24 / 48 / 72 issues] 1 YEAR
A lot can happen
within the communi-  GIFT a subscription to a friend/relative by paying one / two / three year(s) subscription (24 issues)
India Rs 240
ty and beyond in a  With your subscription payment you can INTRODUCE MG to a friend for 3 months absolutely free. Foreign*: US$ 48,
fortnight. Riots (Give address in gift subscription part below) Euro 35 / UK £ 30
erupt, wars blow up,
reputations are won Please complete the subscription order form and send it to:
THE MILLI GAZETTE, D-84 Abul Fazal Enclave–Part-I, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025 Tel. 011-26947483 2 YEARS
and lost, scandals (48 issues)
blow over and pretty India Rs 450
much everything in Foreign*: US$ 86,
Mr/Dr/Mrs/Ms........................................................... .....................................................................Profession:.................................. Euro 61 / UK £ 55
between can take a
different turn. Make Address: ....................................................................................................................................................................................... ...
sure you get your 3 YEARS
.............................................. .........................State.............................Pin Code.........................Tel.(................)...................................
hands on the real (72 issues)
picture - subscribe Mobile .................................................................E-mail:................................................................................................................................ INDIA Rs 650
to Foreign*: US$ 127
THE MILLI  Gift subscription or  Free introduction recipient’s Name & address:............................................... .......................... Euro 90 / UK £ 80
GAZETTE. We’ll ................................................................................................................................................................................. .......................
*By Airmail
keep you posted - .............................................. .........................State.............................Pin Code.........................Tel.(................)...................................
wherever you are.
ENCLOSED Cheque payable to The Milli Gazette for Rs* / r** / UK£** ...................No.........................dated......../......../........ Payment
Don’t miss drawn on...................................................bank. Or sent by M.O. No. .................dated......................P.O................. .....................
* For rupees cheques payable outside Delhi please add bank charges of Rs 25 Email us at sales@milligazette.com for details about
options:
an issue ** For cheques drawn on any bank outside India please add bank charges of Euro 3 / UK£2 / US$ 4

1
convenient payment methods like Net Banking or
dropping your cheque at any HDFC Bank dropbox.
DELIVERED AT YOUR DOORSTEP THE MILLI GAZETTE TELLING THE MUSLIM S I D E OF T H E S T O R Y S I N C E J A N U A R Y 2000
AEFX-233
30 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009
MG CLASSIFIEDS
MATRIMONIALS
GROOMS WANTED
SM for Shia B'ful Girl 5'7"/29 MBA wrkg
in Delhi seek edu well Settled boy Pref
Delhi. Contact: 9335815123, Email:
seemaacqua@gmail.com
MATCH 4 Shiekh Conv Edu. 26/51" M.
Sc (AMU) pretty fair slim girl. Caste no
bar. Cont: zahiralig09@gmail.com, Ph
# 09411491462, 05712720370
MATCH for Ansari girl very fair slim
27/5'4" wkg HRD MNC NOIDA. Prof
Qlfd boys frm rptd fmly email: mashal-
lah786@rediffmail.com
SYED gori b'ful 26/5'4" B.A. NTT
Namazi homely girl respectable family
seeks well settled boy # 09935255310 e-
mail: himayet@sify.com
SM MD/MS/Businessman/MBA boy
required for ANSARI fair bful 27/51"
MBBS girl caste no bar E-
shaq.ansari@gmail.com
SM4 Sheik girl 24/5'4" BDS Delhi con-
tact: 9319653620 www.muslimshaadi-
point.com, email- muslimshaadi-
point@gmail.com
SMART girl 27/5'3" convt edu BA,
DU+MBA, IMT Gazbd wkg German
Co. Chennai seeks Upp. Caste equally
qlfd wkg Muslim boy. # 9771656402
SUNNI Muslim Pathan parents invites
alliance 4 homely Convent Edu.
Daughter BE/24/5'5" wrkg top MNC.
Father Gazzeted Officer. Pls forward
bio-data & photograph to Eml: khans-
delhi@gmail.com Contact: 9654899218.
M4 SM Rajput girl 24/5'4" MA B. Ed
Purs. Ph D (Eco) good looking, slim,
religious from well placed and educated
family of Western UP. Email:
matribpt@gmail.com
SM for B'ful fair & Slim Sunni girl
25/5'4" PGDCA looking for well settled
boy Cont: 9810255449, 9455763217.
SUNNI Pathan D/o Gztd Officer 26/5'6"
Delhi based wkg Sr. Mgr MNC B'ful,
Pkg 6 LPA umarkhan00786@gmail.com
# 9654184655, 01147567210.
LOOKING for a Muslim Sunni Boy for
daughter, 6 Jan 1984, B. Com (P), NIIT.
Working MNC.
mahreen.ahmed@gmail.com,
9873117806
Human Welfare Foundation
announces scholarships for stu-
dents
For details visit:
www.vision2016.org.in
or call 011 23288575
The Ministry of minorities -
Karnataka, has called for appli-
cations for pre metric, post met-
ric and merit cum means schol-
arship (2009 fresh and renewal)
for minorities.
For Application forms visit:
http://minorityaffairs.gov.in/newsite/
schemes/schemes.asp
For list of organisation helping
students financially visit:
www.milligazette.com
Advertisers alone are responsible for the claims and contents in their ads
REACH YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE
READERSHIP: International – India, Gulf, North America and Western Europe, especially
among Indian Muslims and NRIs of Indian Muslim origin.Your ad will also appear on the
newspaper’s website www.milligazette.com until the next issue. Banners with links to your
websites may also be placed on MG website with prior arrangement.
Classifieds: Rs 15 / Euro 0.25 per word per insertion. Minimum charges Rs 300. Display: Rs 40 / Euro 0.80 per sq. cm
Send your ad to D-84 Abul Fazal Encl-Part -I, New Delhi-110025 with cheque/DD/postal order/M.O. payable at Delhi
BRIDES WANTED
SMART boy 29/5’10" MS (Gen. Surg.)
PGI Chandigarh prep. MCH seeks upp
caste Muslim bride doing MD MS or
just comp. # 9771656402
SUNNI Syed 27/5'10" MBA Production
Mngr MNC seeks syed/shek/Siddiqi fair
convt edu prof qlfd girl 09335325179 e-
mail: alldprop@ymail.com
EDUCATED & Status B'lore Bsd
Parents, inv rishta frm status/afflnt
parnts fr lovng son, 30, 5'10" rlgs, Haji,
cheerfl, M. Tech, S. ware, presently in
Busns frm parents of Relgs homly
profl/P.G girl, Syed/Sheikh, less than 25
yrs, ht 5'5" or ab. Boy v. fr & v. hndsom
Girl mst b excptnly beautfl & v.fair pl
reply with photo to
pyara.rishta@yahoo.com
SUNNI Sheikh Siddiqui Lko H'some
Boy 27/510" B. Tech IIT wrkg US-MNC
B'lore seeks for B'ful girl Engg-Grad
Cont-09235604419. E-mail: anjum.sid-
MUSLIM INDIA
MONTHLY JOURNAL OF REFERENCE,
RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION
Bound Volume of Muslim India
for 1983-2002
for 2003-2004 see below box
Bound Annual Volumes for 1983-2002
Available for Rs. 250/- each plus postal charge 9451948371, 05222353332.
20% discount on order for complete set
D- 250, Abul Fazal Enclave,
Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110025,
Tel.: 2694 6780, 2694 7346
E.mail: muslim@del3.vsnl.net.in,
syedshahabuddinexmp@gmail.com,
mushawarat@gmail.com
50% Discount for Life Subscribers, Universities,
Colleges and Libraries.
SUBSCRIPTION RATE
Inland:
Life Rs.2,000; Annual Ordinary Rs.200
Annual Donor Rs.500
Overseas: (By Airmail)
Life US$100; Annual US$10
Annual Donor US$25
Note: Overseas Subscribers may contact
Dr. K.A. Mallick in USA
(Ph: 0011-630-969-6755)
Dr. Roohi H. Majid in UK
(Ph: 0044-208 455 6281)
Please send your Cheque/Draft/Money Order
in favour to Muslim India Monthly, New Delhi
to:
The Manager, Muslim India Monthly
D-250, Abul Fazal Enclave, Jamia Nagar
New Delhi - 110025-16. Phone: 2694 6780
Fax: 2694 7346
* Includes postage within India
For Muslim India’s 2003 & 2004
volumes contact
PHAROS MEDIA & PUBLISHING P LTD
D-84 Abul Fazal Enc-I, Jamia Nagar,
New Delhi 110025 INDIA
Email: info@pharosmedia.com
Complete Set of Vol. 21 (2003)
Rs 550 / Euro 70 (Including postage)
Complete Set of Vol. 22 (2004)
Rs 550 / Euro 70 (Including postage)
diqui@live.com
For IIT IIM S/W Prof. Busi.
Indus. 24-40 Grooms Contact
for Registration to Shabana:
9415580893, 0522-4041090
Caste no bar.
slimb99@gmail.com
SM Edu. F'mly frm Bihar
Seeks alliance for Software
Engr. 29/5'6" Wrkng in MNC
Mum. Girl should be well
edu. fair B'ful Pis reply BHP
to Em:
786sayeeda@gmail.com
UP based Sunni Muslim par-
ents seek well educated
match for their son 29/511"
BE/MBA/CFA working in
London as an investment
banker Ph: 09559772022 Em:
snh2406@gmail.com
PROP SM Bros. 22-50 Grad
B'men, 30 CA, 28/33- BE
MBA, 28/30 MBA, 37 MCA.
Delhi: 28 MD, 30 Pilot. US:
27 MS, 30 BE, 28 MD. D'ai:
30 B. Tech, 29 MBA. UK: 29
M. Tech. Call Mrs. Khan 022-
26317442/ 0-9321028666.
SYED Sunni boy 29/511" in
Engr in Moscow. 15 LPA
Fathr Retd. C-l Officer seeks
b'ful, tall & smart girl frm edu FAIR H'some Sunni Muslim Boy 5'8"/ 28
fmly. No dowry. Simple marriage. BE. SM wrkg in USA needs qlfd.
Muslim Girl. M: 09359303939 Send with
RESPECTED edu. well estd. Sunni BHP E: aslamyasmin@gmail.com
Muslim fmly in India & America look- SM Boy 35/175, B. Tech MBA. Sr.
ing for b'ful fair edu. bride for son U.S Mgr.In MNC Dubai Based.Seek Smart
Citizen 28/5'7" slim Bio Medical Engr. Slim Fair Girl. Send B/P at
Send Bhp: Dr. Faiyaz Sulaiman 6/1, pretoria@eim.ae
Mistry Para Lane, Kol-
14/mogalmd@gmail.com/09748863197.
FREE ONLINE
HEALTH CONSULTATION
Ph: ++91-44-28481344
Email: drameen@vsnl.net
FOR ALL TYPES OF DISEASES &
HEALTH COUNSELLING BY UNANI
HERBAL WAY
Dr. Syed M. M. Ameen
BUMS (OSM), MD (Herbal Med), PhD
(Med), MNSA (IND)
S.K’s Herbal Medical Hospital &
Research Centre
36, J.J.K. Road, Chennai-14, INDIA
Subscribe ‘HERBAL UNANI MED’ a
monthly English Health Magazine.
Annual Subscription Rs. 180/-
CLIPPINGS SERVICE
O P I N E W S & F E AT U R E S S E R V I C E
Unique clippings, database and
documentation service
covering a vast range of subjects.
Over 5000 individual subject-files on
almost any aspect, especially India,
Islamic issues, Palestine, Kashmir,
Muslim minorities etc. etc.
PHAROS MEDIA D-84 Abul Fazl Enclave-I,
Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110025-16
Email: opi@pharosmedia.com
http://www.pharosmedia.com/opi.htm
ADVERTISEMENT RATES: THE MILLI GAZETTE
Full page (24.4 x 37) cm Rs 31,000 / Euro 650
Half page (12 x 36.6 cm) Rs 18,000 / Euro 400
Half page (24.4 x 18.5 cm) Rs 16,000 / Euro 350
Qtr page (12.2 x 18.5 cm or 225 cm2 area) Rs 8,500 / Euro 180
Custom size (per sq. cm space) Rs 40 / Euro 0.80
Classifieds (per word; minimum 20 words) Rs 15 / Euro 0.25
Title: Back / Back inside: 50% extra (B/W); Any right page: 20% extra;
Colour: 50% extra. For details email to sales@milligazette.com
 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 31

LETTERS P.O. Box 9701, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025 Email: letters@milligazette.com
do justice to him. Poor Nariman was heart-broken and his public life Yasir PV
MG came to an end. G. Hasnain Kaif, Bhandara (M.S.) 441904 yasirpv@diplomats.com
It is heartening to see Milli Gazette being quoted in The Hindu (Op-
Ed: September 22). Congratulations to MG team whose persever-
Shoot-at-sight order Twit but don’t mock
ance and hard work is paying off. Keep it up.
A caste panchayat in Uttar Pradesh Muzaffer Nagar district has Of late the austerity drive by the Congress was the talk of the town
Salman Sultan, Azamgarh, UP
allegedly asked its members to shoot a Dalit widow and her lover if posed by in a form of a Twitter comment about it which landed the
shibli.ncol@gmail.com
they were seen in the vicinity of their Village. It is a wonder how such Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shashi Tharoor in
MG: MG is not only quoted by mainstream papers in India, even
an order of sever punishment the caste Panchayat can pass. The trouble.Tharoor, who twitters on just about everything, made a flip-
abroad it is frequently quoted by mainstream newspapers, jour-
high court judges are acquitting the persons who had killed 40 inno- pant remark on the social networking site about flying cattle class.
nals and websites as well as by parliaments and human rights
cent girls after raping them due to want of proof. All the charges lev- But has the austerity drive got the Congress going round in circles?
organisaitons at home and abroad.
eled against the poor servant and he was senesced for life. If the Well, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna could certainly say so. If
II
Taliban want to enforce the same severe punishment they are he'd taken his usual government jet he could have got to Belarus in
Jazakallah; may Allah bless you and us all with his forgiveness. May
branded as barbaric. Widows are also human being they too have four hours, but it'll take 18 hours as the austerity bug makes minis-
He reward you for the sincere service you are rendering to the com-
the sexual desire. Why they should be deprived of love and mar- ters take a commercial flight. Krishna has at least got permission
munity.
riage. Why the bigamy should be banned. These are all man made from the Prime Minister no less to stretch his legs in executive class.
Prof. Iqbal A.Ansari, Aligarh
laws which are against nature. The pancahyat at the most can com- And leaving budget restrain behind, Tharoor has flown to Liberia.
iqbalansari35@gmail.com
pel the lover to get marry and maintain her as second wife. In the But nobody knows whether he is, indeed, flying cattle class since
III
same UP thousands of men are there who are having keeps and given how earnestly the Congress is pursuing its austerity mantra,
May Allah lengthen the life of the Milli Gazette for presenting (MG,
second wives. I suggest that the honorably so called members be his staff seems to have clammed up.
Sept. 16) the full three-page survey of the misdeeds of Modi who
ousted from the village and Bahenji who is also a Dalit should come Md Ziaullah Khan, New Delhi
can never be called a maanav as he is the biggest enemy of
to the rescue of the couple before some mad and hysteric youth shot writeziya@gmail.com
maanav.
them dead.
S. Akhtar, Khanpur Deh 392150
Dr. Abdul Hameed Maqdoomi, Gulbarga An honest admiration
IV
drmaqdoomi@yahoo.com A visitor from Delhi recently admitted to being 'shocked'. He had
We whole-heartedly and heart-rootedly welcome you and your
taken an auto from Andheri to Sion and the fare was Rs 86. Before
cause.
Chidambram’s advice to Delhites he had taken a Rs 100 out of his pocket, the auto driver had the Rs
Dr. Masih Massino, Minority Soc. Dev. Centre, Beed - 431122
Mr P Chidambarm, I will not be surprised if spectacles of ministers 14 change ready and ready to hand over. This, by his own honest
V
and of judges fail to locate bare sufferings of "roadside existence" of admission, was unheard of anywhere else in the country. Apparently
Kindly improve the coverage in MG and include more topics on edu-
delhites; and the mere joy of little innocent kids seeking alms at in Delhi, it is taken for granted that the "driver is never going to return
cation, interviews with Govt agencies/officials.
every other corner of traffic points. Whereas it requires courage and any change" (his words, not mine). Mr auto driver - I don't care if
Hony. Secretary, Muslim Educational Social and Cultural
convictions a lot, I wonder if the minister finds commonwealth games your name is Salvi or Khan or Mishra or Singh - you have done us
Organization (MESCO) Hyderabad - 500024
the occasion to push for India to reclaim a look of year 1835. To proud. Bharatram Gaba, Bombay
know the state of our country in 1835 I am reproducing Lord bratgaba@yahoo.com
Charity Alliance
Macaulay's address to the British Parliament on 2/2/1835. He said,
I am indeed grateful to you for allowing me to be part of this good
"I have travelled through the length and breadth of India and not Rahuls Trip to UP Laudable
work you have begun and continue relentlessly. Those who con-
seen one person who is a beggar who is a thief. Such wealth I have Mr. Rahul Gandhi, the general secretary of Indian National Congress
tribute monetarily are not the real doers. It is you and your team that
seen in this country, such high moral values, such people of high cal- and MP of Ammethi can tour any time and any where .The brave son
must get the greater ajr from Allah SWT. May Allah Keep Us on
iber, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country unless of a brave father and a brave grand son of a grand mother. They
Siratal Mustaqeem.
we break the backbone of this nation, which is her cultural and spir- never care for their safety and security of their life .They know pret-
A Rasheed Qureshi, Advocate-Supreme Court of India
itual heritage, and therefore I suggest we replace her old and ty well that their life is in the hands of God .With this lofty characters
rasheed1357@yahoo.co.in
ancient educational system, her culture for if the Indians think that all we anticipate that he will become prime Minister of India
that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they His coherence with Dalit by staying in a family is an additional
Partition: Eight Muslim Parties Were Against Partition
will loose their self esteem, their native culture and they will become wing in his crown .Tomorrow he can marry a dalit, Christian, Sikh.
To blame only Muslims for India's partition is baseless and unjust. In
what we want them, a truly dominated nation". Muslim or a Buddhist girl who is beautiful and educated .We know
fact Hindus and Muslims and British imperialists all were responsi-
Sandeep Jalan, Mumbai his father had married Christian Girl and his grand mother had mar-
ble for partition. In true context of history Hindu-Mahasabha,
legallyspeaking.jalan@gmail.com ried a Parse youth, his sister has married a Christian boy. He has
Congress and Muslim league all were responsible for partition.
told many times that Indian flag is his religion. It means the interest
Muslims were against the two nation theory and partition of India till
Sheer hyprocrisy by the U.S. of the Indian nation is his primary option. The Brahmin lobby in the
1932. Even upto the time when the matter of partition was being
This refers to the U.N. report that Israel had deliberately targeted Congress may think it is a snub to them .They always try to impose
supported in many quarters as the only solution, large sections of
civilians in Gaza earlier this year, by using disproportionate force Brammenical views on him prefer and safeguard the interest of their
Muslim opinion were opposed to the partition. In frontier province,
killing over 1400 Palestinians. It was a shame on the so-called civi- community on the interest of the nation. The objection raised by
Khudai Khidmatgar Party of Sarhadi Gandhi Abdul Ghaffar Khan in
lized nations who watched in shrilled silence for three weeks, the Mayawathi is fake and purely political. Her formula of Social
Punjab Unionist Party of Khizar Hayat Khan, in Kashmir Sheikh
gory assault carried out by one of the powerful armies of the world Engineering has failed flat .The caste Hindus who are her advisers
Abdulla's National Conference Party, in Sindh CM Syeds's Party,
in the name of "Dahiya doctrine". That a lethal chemical like white are responsible for her downfall. She utilized the funds for erecting
and National Muslim Party like Jamiatul Ulama, Jamaat-e Islami,
Phosphorous was used even on the U.N. compound sheltering hun- the statues instead of using for the wellbeing of the downtrodden
Majlis Ahrar, Khaksar Movement etc were strong opponents of par-
dreds of civilians, speak about the ruthless character of the Israeli .The best way for her to marry a caste Hindu youth and declare
tition. When the time for the British to depart came near, the strong
army. The U.S. had no qualms in conducting trial in a kangaroo court some attractive incentives for inter caste marriages .In this way she
protagonists of partition were Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr
and executing Saddam Hussein for using chemical weapons. Why could raise the dignity of Dalits in the whole country .Her thesis of
Rajendra Prasad. Mahatma Gandhi also surrendered before them.
the same yardstick is not applied for Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak social engineering would good result in the country
On June 14, 1947, All India Congress Committee had passed the
who were responsible for targeting the Gaza civilians? Is it not a Dr Maqdoomi, Gulbarga
historic resolution for partition of India. Maulana Azad strongly
sheer hypocrisy by the sole super power? drmaqdoomi@yahoo.com
opposed it.
Syed Sultan Mohiddin, Secretary, Madrasatul Haram -- The
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's book India Wins Freedom, third edition
Muslim Educational & Welfare Society, Kadapa (A.P) In Bihar’s Sushashan
of 1964, has the following on pages 15 and 16 "One incident hap-
Bihar is a politically sensitive state but for the state’s development
pened which left a bad impression about the attitude of the
A solo talk of Ramzan people commit blunders. Earlier when NDA was in power in the
Provincial Congress Committees. In Bombay province Mr. Nariman
"As I am saying good night at the end of the month Centre, Bihar was under RJD rule; on the other hand, when UPA
was the acknowledged leader of the Congress. When the question
And you are in festive mood came to power at the Centre, Bihar elected NDA to rule the state.
of forming the Provincial Govt. in 1937 arose there was general
Miles away, my heart is so empty and so lonely inside. Nitish Kumar calls rule as “susheshan” with justice. In Bihar 18 per-
expectation that Mr. Nariman would be asked to lead it new of his
As I wipe away with new crescent of Eid, cent Muslim population lives on the margins. Muslims are denied
status and record. This was not however done. Sardar Patel did not
Just meet at my doors of Rayyan representation in any job. On 5th Sept. Teachers Day was celebrat-
like Nariman and the result was that B.G. Kher became the first
Waiting for you, I will be… ed. HRD Minister Hari Narayan Singh felicitated eight Govt teachers
Chief Minister of Bombay. Since Nariman was a Parsi and Kher a
When calendar tends to keep us apart, at a grand function held at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall. OUt of these
Hindu, this led to vide speculation that Nariman had been by-passed
I can see the stars and your good deeds of my month eight teachers, none was Muslim. 18 percent of Bihar population is
on communal grounds." Maulana Azad further writes that Nariman
Oh! How beautifully arranged Muslims but their representation is nil in Nitish-led sushashan with
approached Congress President Jawaharlal Nehru who rejected
Meet you at my Rayyan" justice? Similarly, 1.5 lakh teachers were appointed. Opposition
Nariman's appeal. He then approached Gandhiji who also failed to
with regards and prayer says that only four to five thousand Muslims got jobs among these
What is Jihad towards it. The Hadith goes to quote Rasoolullah: "I want to alien- 1.5 lakhs. 15 thousands constables and 2000 doctors were appoint-
Dear Mufti Dr Mohammad Mushtaq Tijarwi, ate myself from those Muslims who reside along with non- ed, many more jobs were created but merely 2 to 2.5% Muslims got
Assalaamu Alaikum warahmatullah wabaarakaatuh Muslims." They must maintain a distance from those who lead their representation. Mazharul Haque Urdu Persian University is function-
I saw your article in the Milli Gazette of 1-15 June under the cap- life in plural and aristocratic society and seek protection from Batil- ing in a Government flat. Urdu is treated as an obsolete language.
tion “Jihad is unlawful in plural societies.” It is good presentation Nizam of taghout. They are always worried about their well-being. Minority school teachers and Madrasa teachers are reeling under
and a perfect misleading of thoughts. I wonder how a Mufti of They do not want to take any kind of risk in their life. Almighty in debt because salaries are overdue by 8 to 12 months.
Deoband and a PhD of Jamia Millia nurture such thoughts? It is His Holy book, Surah Baqar, Ayat 216, has clearly mentioned tem- S. Haque, Patna
only vested interests the writer serves. Dr Mohammad Iqbal has perament of such people. If we think ourselves weak in practicing
long back said, "Khud Badalte Nahin, Qur'an ko Badal Dete Hain". Islamic Laws and accept our inability to follow the laws in spirit, Landmines In Bosnia-Hercegovina are still a problem
You have mentioned the Holy Qur'an 36 times in various forms. Allah may forgive us. But He will not forgive those who object to Landmines continue to be a problem for the people of the Former
The sense which you have taken is Qital but not “utmost effort”. the Laws. This is punishable. Prophet (pbuh) had adopted different Yugoslavia even more than 14 years after the end of the 1992-1995
World leaders such as Bush and LK Advani are against Islam strategies in waging Jihad. In his period, Jihad was waged 56 genocide in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Injuries, trauma and death are
which prefers Jihad. You are also favouring them in one sense. times, and the Prophet had led 23 battles personally. In the 23 usually felt most by children who are often unaware of the mines
Jihad in India by Indian Muslims is an Ijtehadi problem. As a years, 56 battles were fought. It means one Jihad every 6 months. existence in fields, forested areas and even near roads. Unexploded
Muslim you know that Jihad is the most superior Ibadat in Islam, Dr Mushtaq, you might have read a Hadith in Mishkaat. The ordinance is always a problem in every war zone however Bosnia-
superior to the namaz. Why is it superior? It is superior because it Prophet has predicted that one Jamaat of Muslims will do Jihad Hercegovina predessor Yugoslavia was one of the top producers of
leads to Shahadat. What is the importance of Shahadat, you know with kafirs till the last day of this world. Therefore, it will not be pos- landmines, a list of nations that also includes the United States,
pretty well. A Muslim who does not have the desire of Shahadat is sible for Muslims of the world to completely forget the obligation of South Korea and China. Many of the landmines in Bosnia-
a hypocrite. Even the Prophet (pbuh) saidso. It is his desire to Jihad and die the death of patients. The Maoists are waging war Hercegovina are clearly marked by Danger Warning signs however
come out from Heaven and die on the death as a martyred and against the present government. They want that their system of life the signs get stolen, disguarded and destroyed leaving no clues as
enter Paradise; he repeated the same desire thrice. So Jihad and be imposed on the public. They are distributing land among poor to the hidden death that awaits the visitor, hikers, skiers or people
Shahadat was affectionate to him. farmers. They are also sacrificing their precious lives without antic- walking. Floods sometimes move landmines and even criminals
What is the purpose of Jihad and Qital? You know, it is not for ipating the heavenly boons. Muslims, if they die in Jihad, 74 heav- take apart and steal the explosives components and use them in
power, wealth or women but only to exalt the name of Allah and to enly damsels come to welcome a Shaheed. If someone does not other sinister ways. In the war in Bosnia-Hercegovina entire commu-
enforce the Laws of Allah and to bring the humanity under the believe in all such promises and become satisfied with some world- nities were involved in using landmines and now after the years of
Laws of Allah and to shun the reign of men. Muslims should strive ly pleasures, it is alright for him, but he should not reject the text war and destruction those activities continue to take their toll on
for the Nizam-e-Haq. Living in a pluralistic society for a long period of Ahadiths and their implications. society from accidents, misuse and injuries.
was uncalled for by the Prophet of Allah. He said, if any azab falls Dr. Abdul Hameed Maqdoomi, Gulbarga Kevin Beck, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
upon such a society, the Prophet will not have any obligation drmaqdoomi@yahoo.com kevinbeck1@hotmail.com
32 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2009 REGISTERED DL(S)-18/3215/2009-11
RNI No. DELENG/2000/930
Sponsors of MG website
LICENCED TO POST WITHOUT PREPAYMENT U (SE)-57/2009-11
NAMA FOUNDATION POSTED ON 29.9.2009 ADV. FORTNIGHTLY AT KALKAJI HPO ND-19

The genesis of Charity Alliance in early 2005 was current student strength is 189.
out of the necessity to do something about the Charity Alliance is very conscious to use every

DID YOU PAY

starvation deaths in Murshidabad area of West
Bengal. Since then our work in Murshidabad in
continues without any break because of the sup-
port of people like you, alhamdulillah. We have
penny of your donation to help some of those
who are really poor in our society and cannot rise
without the help of an extended hand. Thanks to
the administrative and media support by The

ZAKAT FOR YOUR

been distributing food every week to about 150
families and offering medical aid as well. Each
year we have been paying the fees and buying
Milli Gazette, almost every paisa of your support
reaches the beneficiaries.

Please visit www.charityalliance.in to see our

BUSINESS?
It is paid on Total Net Assets of the busi-
ness calculated according to the rules of
Zakat. To know how to calculate visit:
http://tinyurl.com/yesnz2a
books for about 100 students there. Since last year
we have also started a Vocational Training Centre audited annual reports.
there teaching tailoring and embroidery to begin
with. This year, Alhamdulillah, we have been able Your donations to Charity Alliance are Tax
to setup Alliance School in Murshidabad and the exempted u/s 80G.
To help CHARITY ALLIANCE go to page 25 in this issue
Donations, Zakat, Sadaqat, Charity and bank interest
accepted by cheque / online Internet Banking transfers or credit card payments / Money Order.

Teaching
SITUATIONS
VACANT
in
Zanzibar University
(Tanzania)
See page no. 3

MG
Spread the
word offer
continues!

50%
discount
“Spread the word offer” continues till
7th October 2009.
Here our subscribers can gift subscrip-
tions to friends, relatives, libraries,
madrasahs, schools, colleges etc etc at
50% of the 1 year subscription rate.
That’s just
Rs 120 for a year!
Quote your subscription code to avail
this offer. If you are not a subscriber
you can subscribe at full rate and
immediately become eligible to gift sub-
scriptions at 50% while this offer is
valid. No limit on the number of sub-
scriptions you can gift. This offer is
valid only for gifting ONE year sub-
scriptions to addresses in India.
Offer not valid for renewals.
For any clarification call us at
0-9818120669 or email us at
sales@milligazette.com

Printed by publisher, printer and editor Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan at Nice Printing Press, Khureji, Delhi 110051 and published by him from D-84 Abul Fazal Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025