24 pages ` 15 ISSN 0972-3366 FORTNIGHTLY Vol. 15 No.11 Issue Serial # 345 facebook.com/milligazette www.milligazette.

com 1-15 June 2014

Modi 7,8,9
Elections 1,2,6,10,11
State Terrorism 3,4,5,8
J&K 10 Analysis 11 Special Reports 3,13
Issues 2,11,13 Speaking Out 11 Books 21
Newsmakers 12 International 16-20
Community News 14-15 Islamic Perspectives 20
Our Publications 19 Classifieds 22 Letters 23
Inside
MG
MG/Yusuf
ZAFARUL-ISLAM KHAN
Results of the recently held parliamentary elec-
tions were indeed surprising for all parties much
more than for Muslims. Even BJP itself did not
expect this result. One is dismayed by the atti-
tude of the media which has been speaking day
in and day out about BJP and Modi wave and
historic win, though the results show that this
is far from the truth. During this very period,
elections for 1560 assembly constituencies
were held across 13 states where the BJP man-
aged to win only 39 seats - so where was the
Modi Wave then?
Results of the present elections are in no
way extraordinary nor has this happened for the
first time. According to the Election
Commission, this time BJP has secured 31 per-
cent of the votes cast, whereas Congress
secured 19.3 percent votes yet there is a great
difference in the seats won by each of these two
parties. BJP won 282 seats whereas Congress
won only 44 which is, factually speaking, a
result of our defective electoral system. Under
this system, even if 20 candidates secure 90
percent votes, the 21st candidate will get elect-
ed even if he gets only 10 percent or even less
votes, and all the remaining votes will become
worthless. Many countries have trashed this
system and adopted the system of proportional
representation (PR). Under PR, each party gets
as many seats as its share in the total number of
votes cast in its favour across the country. In
other words, every vote matters in PR and is
represented in the political system. Till recently,
BJP itself had been demanding PR because at
that time it stood to lose under the existing sys-
tem. Hence it is now that political parties and
society as a whole should earnestly demand PR
to ensure just and proper election results as is
practiced in many countries like Germany,
Switzerland, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, Israel,
Brazil, Netherlands, Russia, South Africa,
Democratic Republic of Congo and European
Union.
The present government is the first one
since Independence which is forming the gov-
ernment in spite of securing lowest percent of
votes (see chart). In the just-concluded election,
only 66.48 percent people out of the total num-
ber of registered voters have cast their votes, of
which 31 percent votes went to the BJP. In other
words, BJP has got the support of only 21 per-
cent registered voters of India. If this is viewed in
the background of the total population of India,
BJP enjoys the support of only 12 percent of the
countrys total population. Obviously then, sup-
port of of only 12 percent or 21 percent or even
31 percent is in no way a wave or historic.
If the system of PROPORTIONAL REPRE-
SENTATION was adopted in our country, the
results of some of the important parties would
have been quite different as the following chart
shows:
If we had the just proportional representa-
tion system in our country, BJP would be sitting
on the opposition benches, Congress along with
its allies would be trying to form the new gov-
ernment and Modi would be nursing his wounds
in Gandhinagar.
The second problem is that of the ELEC-
TRONIC VOTING MACHINES (EVMs) which we
have readily adopted in our country for some
time, although many countries have found them
wanting and discarded them because these
gadgets can be manipulated easily. Votes cast in
these machines cannot in any way be rechecked
and verified. Every body knows that this time the
corporate sector has helped Modi in all possible
ways. This is the same corporate sector which
manufactures these machines and also servic-
es them. Hence it would be no exaggeration to
say that these machines must have been manip-
ulated and tampered with during these elections.
We have received information from different
places where people are surprised that results
do not tally the way voting had taken place. In
the year 2000 manipulation of EVMs took place
in Florida (USA) and ever since, these machines
are not being used in America. Dutch TV showed
a documentary in 2006 to demonstrate how
easily these machines may be manipulated.
Thereafter, the Netherlands pulped these
machines and reverted to the paper ballot sys-
tem. Germany has constitutionally banned the
use of EVMs. Ireland after spending US$ 75 mil-
lion on procuring EVMs, found they were not
reliable and pulped them and reverted to the old
system of ballots. Even in India, during the 2009
general elections, Pune Chief Information
Commissioner Anupam Saraph and Manipal
University Professor MD Nalapat found that
results of certain constituencies were present on
the Election Commission website a month
before the counting was to take place! Upon
their complaint, those pages were deleted from
the ECI website and the issue was hushed up.
Later, ECI announced that in future a verifiable
printed slip will
come out of
EVMS after each
vote cast but this
promise was
honoured this
time in only eight
const i t uenci es
out of the total of
543. BBC report-
ed on 18 May
this year that an
American scien-
tist has demon-
strated that
Indian EVMs can
be easily manip-
ulated. Hence
this issue should
be investigated at
the highest level
with the partici-
pation of interna-
tional experts.
The third
problem in this
election was
EXCESSIVE USE
OF MONEY. It is
estimated that only
for advertisements
and paid news,
Modi spent ten thou-
sand crore rupees.
Three thousand com-
plaints of paid news
were made to the
Election Commission.
The way different chan-
nels were singing
Modi, Modi all day-long
since much before the
elections, cast doubts
upon the whole elec-
tion process. It is,
therefore, necessary
that both the Election Commission and the Press
Council of India enquire into the paid news issue
during this election process, bring out the truth
and take action in accordance with law against
each and every candidate who is found guilty.
The fourth problem was the excessive use
of Hindutva and communal propaganda during
this election which tears apart our secular sys-
tem. With controversial and double-meaning
statements, instigating riots, propagating
rumours and lies, Hindu votes were consolidat-
ed for an ideology which is unconstitutional and
anathema to our secular polity. Election
Commission has been an utter failure in dealing
with this onslaught. A case needs to be thor-
oughly prepared and filed in the Supreme Court.
Muslims and Parliamentary elections
THE
MILLI
GAZETTE
INDIAN MUSLIMS LEADING ENGLISH NEWSPAPER SINCE 2000
HASRAT MOHANI REMEMBERED...12
Continued on page 15
G.M. BANATWALLA...12
Party
Seats won under
the existing
system
Percentage of
votes won

Seats according
to votes won
Difference
BJP 282 31 168 114
CPI 1 0.8 4 -3
CPIM 9 3.2 17 -8
INC 44 19.3 105 -61
NCP 6 1.6 9 -3
AAP 4 2 11 -7
AIDMK 37 3.3 18 19
Trinamool 34 3.8 21 13
AIUDF 3 0.4 2 1
BJD 20 1.7 9 11
Lok Dal 2 0.5 3 -1
IUML 2 0.2 1 1
JD(S) 2 0.7 4 -2
JD(U) 2 1.1 6 -4
LJP 6 0.4 2 4
RJD 4 1.3 7 -3
Samajwadi 5 3.4 18 -13
Shiv Sena 18 1.9 10 8
Telangana RS 11 1.2 7 4
Telugu Desam 16 2.5 14 2
Independents 3 3 16 -13
BSP 0 4.1 22 -22
If we had the just proportional representation system in our
country, BJP would be sitting on the opposition benches, Congress
along with its allies would be trying to form the new government
and Modi would be nursing his wounds in Gandhinagar.
The Modi-led
BJP government
has the
distinction of
winning lowest-
ever votes
secured by
a Union
government
Source: Times of
India, 19 May
2014
2 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 ISSUES / OPINION
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KHALID KAMAL RUMI
The thumping victory of Narendra Modi-led NDA in the general
elections for the 16th Lok Sabha is potentially poised to be the
best thing to have happened to the Muslims of India in the last one
decade. The emphasis, in bold, is on potential here! Now it is up
to the community to invest and reap richly by turning imminent
challenges into opportunities. I stick my neck out here taking cue
from Winston Churchill who once remarked: a pessimist sees the
difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in
every difficulty.
Many would deem this electoral result to spawn a very pre-
carious situation for Muslims, considering the unanimous projec-
tion by most media houses in India that the community had unit-
ed (banishing all internal and sectarian differences) to vote tacti-
cally and en masse to keep a certain person or party away from
getting hold of the reins of the state (if it was true, did it serve as
a great unifier?). A linear consequence will thus be that a different
mandate by the nation is a perilous outcome in terms of the
inevitable headwinds ahead now for the group which chose to put
its eggs in every basket except one.
Obtuse Opposition?: Popular presumed bases for this supposed-
ly blind resistance by Muslims carry many hues ranging from
nave to maliciously crooked ones. The community got subtly
branded as the one which sided with a corrupt, anti-growth and
development camp.
Let me read aloud the assumptions behind such twisted
notions: Muslims dont need jobs, healthcare, roads, electricity
and water. Rising prices pose no challenge in running their house-
holds. They sail smoothly through the quagmire of corruption in
daily life, and are indifferent to scams in high offices, loot of pub-
lic exchequer and natural resources. National security is their least
concern as terrorist-hurled bombs selectively evade Muslims at
public places. Bunkum! - did you say?
Mishap Averted: My assertion here is that, had the UPA reclaimed
power buoyed by the assumed unconditional support of the
minority community, Muslims would have gulped a potion of slow
poison this time. Let me explain how.
Firstly, the community would have just slipped into compla-
cency for the next five years before any external threat awakened
it from its loathsome slumber again. Indeed, it would have felt
relieved with an arguable sense of security for life, but breathing
critically on government freebies and grants with a semblance of
life support systems. It would have continued begging for rights
to be given as favours (chastised by others as appeasement), and
pleading for crutches like reservation.
Secondly, this ephemeral sense of false pride in its numbers
as the king-maker was destined to dent its self-confidence in
the very near future, since in the life of nations its quality that pre-
vails, not quantity. A lioness once reminded a goat when asked
about the count of her children: One! she said defiantly, but he
is the king of the jungle!
Thirdly, the community was spared from self-destructive day-
dreaming. Their fantasy for the last six and a half decades has
been that the favourable government will wave its magic wand and
bestow it with panacea that will make all its internal and external
problems vanish instantly. This wishful thinking has cost the com-
munity dearly, and now its condition has reached its nadir (worse
than that of the SCs/STs). The fate and ultimate impact of the likes
of Justice Sachar Committee Repor t, Ranganath Mishra
Commission Report, and Prime Ministers 15-point programme
are recent memory.
Perpetual Demands: Let me enumerate what Muslims in India
have incessantly aspired for: education for their children, employ-
ment and livelihood opportunities for their youth (remember
demands for reservation are deemed means, not ends in them-
selves), affordable housing and healthcare, no discrimination in
public life, prevention and control of communal riots, safety and
security for their cultural and religious insignia, and dignified polit-
ical participation alongwith others. Some of these are generic
challenges faced every day by most citizens of India, but a few are
chronic issues pestering the community since independence.
The Opportunity: Contrary to the dawning doom and gloom, BJP-
led NDA in power is destined to usher many unprecedented and
unexpected windfall gains for the Muslim community.
The immediate positive upshot would be that the strife-strick-
en community would bolster its rank and file leading to greater tol-
erance among themselves over superficial differences of sect
(maslak), caste (zaat-biradari), and ideology (jamaat). The
changing socio- political milieu would also facilitate in bridging the
stark disconnect between the Muslim haves and have-nots.
This watershed election also exposed a gaping leadership cri-
sis in the community. Not just on the political front, but an acute
paucity of spokespersons who are both intellectual and credible
community representatives, capable to deliberate and debate on
national issues, and not just on their immediate community con-
cerns. This election led to heightened social awareness, instilled
political sense, and underlined the need for impressive represen-
tation on the national landscape. The leadership pipeline is
earnestly asking only to be flooded from now on.
The upcoming government is duly expected to give huge
impetus to the development of social and economic infrastructure
in the country. This will lead to development of schools, colleges,
hospitals, accessible roads, water and electricity supply, and
employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. These are simply
going to benefit all. If inflation is stemmed and per capita income
rises, it will bring prosperity and cheer to every household in the
nation. Social unrest brews less with abundance mentality, and
more in an environment of scarcity. Maintenance of law and order
and peace are an essential corollary to this.
In a nutshell, Muslims in day-to-day life will be better off under
the new government in normal circumstances.
There is a genuine concern related to religious and cultural
insecurities of minorities owing to the saffronization (Hindutva)
agenda of the ruling party. Muslims being the followers of a pros-
elytizing religion would please their Lord better by proactively
engaging with the majority community in a constructive manner.
A lot of hatred and confusion ensues when people are ignorant
about the scriptures, beliefs and practices of each other. The
enlightened ones rarely get agitated, and are more appreciative
and tolerant towards the differences among people. Anyway, with
atheism being the fastest growing religion in the world and with
the rising influence of western civilization, parents have more to
worry about the shifting value system in their homes, than fret
about their neighbours of a different faith with whom they have
cohabited amicably for over fourteen centuries now.
Another rallying point for a lot of unhappy Muslims in India is
the lack of government jobs for them. Indias workforce is esti-
mated to be around 480 million, out of which around 90% are
employed in the unorganized sector. Now, it is evident that despite
all benign intentions of the government, the problem of unemploy-
ment among Muslim youth cannot be solved with limited availabil-
ity of government jobs. The solution lies in acquiring a positive
and competitive mindset where the focus is on enhancing
employability by acquiring marketable skills, and creating jobs for
others through entrepreneurial activities. Yusuf Khwaja Hamied
(Cipla) and Hashim Premji (Wipro) are great examples to emulate
for enterprising Indian Muslims who provided means of livelihood
to lakhs of people in India.
To conclude, the next five years might be a very gainful peri-
od for the Muslim community where it learns to stand on its feet,
and rebuilds itself like all proud and respectful communities of the
world do. It could challenge itself to be self-reliant, and brace for
a healthy competition with its compatriots in all secular spheres of
life where merit trumps affiliation.
The Author: is a consultant with a global Fortune 500 company,
based out of Kolkata in India, but is presently in the US on a profession-
al assignment. The views expressed here are personal.
Election results: a blessing in disguise!
The next five years might be a very gainful period for the Muslim
community where it learns to stand on its feet, and rebuilds itself like all
proud and respectful communities of the world do. It could challenge itself to
be self-reliant, and brace for a healthy competition with its compatriots in all
secular spheres of life where merit trumps affiliation.
MUSINGS
Choose Godhra,
Pandya or
Akshardham
Gujarat Police gave him the choice of being implicated in the
Godhra train burning, Haren Pandya murder or Akshardham ter-
ror, one of the men acquitted by the Supreme Court in the temple
attack case alleged on May 20). Mohammad Saleem was even-
tually sentenced to life imprisonment under POTA for alleged
involvement in the Akshardham case. On May 16, the very day
Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi won his historic man-
date, the SC set Saleem and five others free, pulling up the Gujarat
Police for framing innocent people and blaming the then state
home minister -- Narendra Modi -- for non-application of mind.
Four of the six men had already spent over 10 years in jail (The
Indian Express, May 21).
This is the way many poor Muslim youths are framed and
branded as terrorists. Police, especially the completely corrupt
and unethical Gujarat Police, have the power to elicit a confes-
sion from any person (read, a Muslim). Yet this highly communal
Modi feigns ignorance and projects himself as if butter doesnt
melt in his mouth. So many Muslim youths were either killed in
premeditated police encounters or put behind the bars to lan-
guish there till they die. Such incidents have taken place all over
the country, but mostly in Modis rich and vibrant Gujarat, where
government machinery, police and judiciary have an unhealthy
and dishonest nexus.
Now when his hand-picked Anandibeh is the new CM of
Gujarat, brace yourself for more such miscarriages of justice and
blatant cases of the violation of human rights.
Save Yakub Memon
from the gallows
Following the rejection of his mercy plea by the President of
India, Yakub Memon is all set to be hanged for his involvement in
the 12 March, 1993 Bombay serial blasts that claimed 257 lives.
But the Government, especially the President of India, mustnt
forget that his conviction is based largely on the statements of an
approver in the case. Memons hanging will be witness forever to
our biased system which has failed to punish those in khaki and
otherwise who killed, raped and uprooted thousands of Muslims
of Bombay in two riots shortly after the demolition of the Babri
Mosque. Srikrishna Commission report was never implemented
by subsequent governments which exhibited exemplary enthusi-
asm to catch Bombay Serial Blasts accused while shielding
those responsible for the riots which led to those blasts.
If Sikh terrorist Bhullars death rap can be commuted to life
imprisonment on the ground of inordinate delay and unsound
mental state, cant the same be applied to Yakub Memon, who
also has been languishing in jail for two decades and has lost
mental balance?
Delay in hanging for such a long time is tantamount to exe-
cuting a convict everyday. This is a travesty of justice and also
shows the judiciarys lopsided approach to dealing with those
who belong to the minority community (read Muslims). Im not
exonerating Yakub Memon and absolving him from his implica-
tion in the case. The enormity of his crime cannot be measured
or condoned. What I want to drive home is the inequality in deliv-
ering justice and deprivation of fundamental human rights. Okay,
dont free Memon, but dont hang him either. Itll also send wrong
signals that a majoritarian government has immediately empha-
sised its political presence by executing a person from the minor-
ity. Will anyone think over these sensitive issues and their long
term repercussions? Finally, capital punishment has no place in
a civilised society.
SUMIT PAUL
sumitmaclean@hotmail.com
NATIONAL The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 3 www.milligazette.com
New Delhi: Supreme Court on 16 May acquitted
Akshardham terror strike convicts, slammed
Gujarat Police probe and censured the Gujarat
home minister [Narendra Modi] who permitted
their prosecution for not applying his mind. This
news came out just as TV channels were going
gaga over Mr Modis historic win..
The two-judge bench of the Supreme Court
slammed the Gujarat Police for the incompetence
with which it investigated the 2002 Akshardham
terror attack case as it acquitted all the six accused
including three who were sentenced to death by a
lower court which was later approved by the
Gujarat high court although the case was based on
confessions given to police which all know are
extracted through third degree torture. The bench
was looking in the appeal of only five convicts as
the sixth had opted not to appeal but the court
ordered his acquittal as well as his case was
based on the very same evidence used to impli-
cate the other five. Being extra cautious lest
Gujarat police use delaying tactics, ordered that all
the acquitted persons be released that very
evening.
Acquitting all the six convicts, a bench of
Judstice A. K. Patnaik and Justice V. Gopala
Gowda in their judgment said: We intend to
express our anguish about the incompetence with
which the investigating agencies conducted the
investigation of the case of such a grievous nature,
involving the integrity and security of the
nationInstead of booking the real culprits
responsible for taking so many precious lives,
police caught innocent people and got imposed the
grievous charges against them which resulted in
their conviction and subsequent sentencing,
Justice Gowda said speaking for the bench which
further observed, the story of the prosecution
crumbles down at every juncture. The judges said
in their verdict the minister [Modi] committed
clear non-application of mindin granting sanc-
tion, since it was based neither on an informed
decision nor on an independent analysis of
facts
Pulling up the Gujarat Police, the court said
that the courts below had ignored these basic
legal principles while admitting the statement of
witnesses while weighing the case against the
accused persons as it set aside the conviction
and sentencing of six accused by the special court
which had been upheld by the high court.
We allow the appeals accordingly by setting
aside the judgment and order of special court
(POTA) in dated July 1, 2006 and the impugned
common judgment and orders dated June 1, 2
2010 of the Gujarat High Court, the court said
acquitting all the convicts.
On the basis of the issues, we have already
answered the facts and evidence on record and on
the basis of the legal principles laid down by this
court, we are convinced that accused persons are
innocent with respect to the charges leveled
against them, the court said.
T
he terror strike on Akshardam temple, which
claimed 33 lives and left 85 injured, started in
the afternoon of 24 September, 2002, and lasted
till next morning.
Adambhai Sulemanbhai Ajmeri, Abdul Qaiyum
Mufti, Mohmed Bhai and Chand Khan were sen-
tenced to death in July 2006 by the special POTA
(Prevention of Terrorism Act) court set up to try
the terror case. While Mohammed Salim Shaikh
was sentenced to life imprisonment (entire life),
Abdulmiyan Qadri was given a 10-year term and
Altaf Hussain was awarded five year imprison-
ment. At the time of release, four of them had
spent eleven years in the Sabarmati Central Jail.
Even your Allah cannot
help you; I am your Allah
here
In a press conference held at Delhi by Jamiat
Ulama-e Hindi on 20 May, Maulana Arshad Madni
said that terrorism has nothing to do with any reli-
gion yet Muslims are still being implicated in false
and fictitious terror cases. Maulana Madni said his
organisation has been busy fighting cases of such
innocent persons since long and the acquittal of
six persons on 16 May in the Akshardham attack
case is a major success in these efforts.
The press conference was attended by five
persons exonerated of all charges and set free by
the Supreme Court on 16 May.
Maulana Madni said medias attitude has been
negative. It highlights when someone is arrested
but ignores if the same person is honourably
acquitted years later. Media played this same role
in the case of the Akshardham accused who were
acquitted on 16 May after spending 11 years in
jail.
Maulana Madni said he has complete faith in
the judiciary and will continue to fight these cases.
When these people were arrested, he said, media
screamed saying police has achieved a great suc-
cess but it kept mum when they were acquitted. He
said that the biggest criminal is the person who
held the [Union] home portfolio at that time who
kept hammering into peoples minds that Muslims
were terrorists. He said we demand action against
those police officers who implicated these people
in false cases.
T
he accused were awarded varying sentences -
Altaf Hasan Akbar Hasan Malik - 5 years
imprisonment, Adam Bhai Sulaiman Bhai Ajmeri -
death by hanging; Muhammad Sultan Muhammad
Haneef Shaikh - life imprisonment; Abdul
Qayyoom Mufti - death by hanging; Abdullah
Miyan Yasin Miyan Mansoori - 10 years imprison-
ment and Shan Miyan - life imprisonment. The
sentences were confirmed by Gujarat High Court
although the confessions were obtained through
third degree torture.
Maulana Madni said he will file a fresh PIL in
the Supreme Court seeking compensation for
these people. He said there are some accused lan-
guishing in jails for the last 20 years. They have
grayed in jails while their parents have lost their
sight due to constant weeping for their children.
Maulana Madni said the home minister under UPA,
Shiv Raj Patel, was an RSS man who indulged in
implicating innocent youths in fake cases. He said
Respond now if you care about your
community
White Paper on Terrorism
The issue of fake terrorism charges and the unjust arrests and defamation of our community,
especially since 2001, is the biggest challenge facing the community ever since. A grand con-
spiracy hatched by the powers that be, IB, Police and media, has sullied and defamed our com-
munity. This campaign has affected our lives, peace of mind and has thwarted our efforts to
progress and educate our children to join the national mainstream.
Our efforts so far to present our case, to bring out our innocence and force the national and
state governments to listen to our grievances have mostly failed. All we have received are a few
words of solace which have no real meaning and have not changed the situation on the ground.
Our children by their thousands are still languishing in jails on the basis of fake confessions
obtained through torture and blackmail.
As a long-term solution and a serious response to this problem thrust upon us, AIMMM
decided last year to bring out a white paper on the Muslim-related terrorism in the country.
The work is going on with all seriousness and many researchers, scholars and journalists are
busy preparing writeups on various aspects of this issue, covering the history, genesis, com-
munalism, vested interests in various related fields, analysis of various laws like TADA, POTA
and UAPA, fake encounters, narco tests, torture, acquittals, IB & Police role, media attitude,
case studies, statewise surveys, SIMI, Indian Mujahidin, Hindutva terror, individual tragedies
of victims, Azamgarh, Bhatkal, Malegaon, Darbhanga modules, some basic documents, etc.,
etc.
The target is to bring out this white paper during the next few months and to release it in a
big convention at Delhi as a combined effort of major Muslim and civil rights organisations, and
thereafter present this huge document of over 600 large format pages to politicians, media,
human rights organisations, especially outside the country, in order to enlighten public opinion
at home and abroad as well as to build pressure on our blind and deaf government.
The estimated cost of this white paper is Rs 35 lakh divided as follows: Rs 15 lakh cost of
preparation and payments to contributors plus six months salaries to researchers and experts;
Rs 15 lakh for designing and printing the document in a world-class format; while the grand con-
vention at Delhi will cost at least 5 lakh. Effort will be made to release the White Paper in some
state and world capitals also.
You can help this effort in four ways,
1. To buy copies of the White Paper on Terrorism in advance to help defray part of the huge cost
of research, printing, publication and distribution of at least one thousand complimentary
copies. The estimated price of the white paper is Rs 2000 per copy in India. You may place
an advance order by paying Rs 1000 only per copy in India including postal charges).
Payments for the copies may be made to The Milli Gazette, D-84 Abul Fazal Enclave-I, Jamia
Nagar, New Delhi 110025. Email: edit@milligazette.com. Individuals and organisations order-
ing a minimum of 100 copies in advance will be included as Sponsors of the White Paper.
2. Contribute to the cost of the grand convention to be held in Delhi. This should be payable to
the All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat, D-250, Abul Fazal Enclave, Jamia Nagar, New
Delhi-110025. Tel.: 011-26946780 Fax: 011-26947346. Email:
mushawarat@mushawarat.com.
3. Donate your time: If you are a scholar, researcher, journalist: join our team for a few
months working in our Delhi office or from your own home to complete this project - write
to the Editor, MG now at edit@milligazette.com.
4. Contact us if you have vital information/documents about this issue.
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Basic requirements: good command over English, interest in and knowledge
of Muslim community issues, knowledge of Urdu
SC acquits Akshardham
convicts, slams Gujarat Police
and Home Minister [Modi]
we have spent Rs 52.24 lakh (5.224 m) on this
case alone. He added that JuH is fighting the
cases of 350 persons and has been success-
ful in a number of cases.
Sulaiman Bhai Ajmeri said, My family
was ostracized by society. Only a few gath-
ered the courage to suppor t me for they
knew the real Sulaiman - a poor mechanic
who worked with his father to make ends
meet, he said adding that the only hope for
terrorists like him and his five co-accused
was the judiciary. Azam Ajmeri, one of the
accused, said that the jail staff in general
treated them well as if they knew that these
people were innocent.
Mufti Abdul Qayyoom said police intercepted
him on 17 August 2003 when he was on his way
to Masjid Sakhi to perform Maghrib prayer. He
was taken into custody on the pretext of interro-
gation and was taken to a certain place where he
was tortured. Tears rolled down his eyes when he
remembered those days. He said, ACP G. L.
Singhal pressured me saying cooperate with peo-
ple who have come from Hyderabad. He kept
telling me to accept what they wanted me to say.
For this they tortured me day and night, hitting me
at least 300 times with a stick. This continued
until 24 August when they took me to the court.
Mufti Qayyoom said Singhal had already pre-
pared a story and wanted me to sign on the dot.
He said that D G Vanzara, who was later arrested
and lodged in the same prison, asked him for for-
giveness. Mufti Abdul Qayum recounted how he
was forced to sign the confessional statement
prepared by the police under coercion. The
police tortured and forced me to write the letters.
Later they claimed the same letters were found
from the pockets of the fidayeen killed during the
Akshardham attack. But the SC noticed that the
letters were clean, not torn or soiled/stained with
blood or soil - which was highly unnatural and
improbable as the terrorists bodies were covered
with blood and mud, and their clothes had multi-
ple tears and holes due to the bullets, Qayyum
recounted.
Mufti Abdul Qayyoom added that both
Vanzara and Singhal, who had implicated him,
later came to the same jail where they met these
people on a number of occasions and expressed
their remorse and asked for forgiveness. Mufti
Abdul Qayyoom said when news came that
Singhals son had tried to commit suicide, he met
Singhal and offered him his sympathies which
made Singhal sentimental and he asked Mufti
Qayyoom: what can I do for you?
Maulana Abdullah Miyan said he was
going to the Kederyapur Mosque in
Ahmedabad to lead the Fajr prayers when he
was ordered by the police to go with them for
interrogation. Crime Branch officer Ashok
Chauhan took him to his office where he was
tortured day in and day out. He was subjected
to third degree. When he used to call Allah
while crying, DG Vanzara used to tell him,
your Allah cannot save you; I am your Allah
now.
the story of the prosecution crumbles down at every juncture...
the minister [Modi] committed clear non-application of mindin
granting sanction, since it was based neither on an informed
decision nor on an independent analysis of facts
Continued on page 21
4 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 NATIONAL www.milligazette.com
My entire family is worried and facing difficulties because of the cruel-
ties and harassment by the ATS and crime branch. Serious accusa-
tions are made by Afzal Usmani who is imprisoned on charges of
bomb blasts and of having connection with Indian Mujahideen and his
case is pending in court. In his 6-page letter Afzal Usmani has tried to
expose the complete drama of the ATS.
Mumbais Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) itself staged the drama of the
escape from the courts compound of Afzal Usmani who is accused of
complicity in Ahmadabad bomb blasts and association with Indian
Mujahideen and had been locked up as a hostage in a farm house for
several days. It was the ATS again which made his sisters son
(cousin) a hostage and was compelled to be a prosecution witness.
His brother Faiz Usmani died in the custody of crime branch because
of harassment but the CBI has given Mumbai crime branch a clean
chit. Afzal Usmanis relatives, who are residing in Govindi, a suburb of
Mumbai, are very worried these days but now Afzal Usmani has made
this serious and sensational accusation in writing that ATS itself had
made him as well as his sisters son hostages. The story of his escape
was repeatedly being told through media: He (Afzal Usmani) in his 6
page letter in Hindi has made many important revelations and has also
exposed the secret of his re-production in court from the courts com-
pound.
Now we are reproducing Afzal Usmanis letter here which Afzal not
only presented in court but has also sent from jail to important per-
sons and an MLA also. In his letter he has also disclosed how the ATS
compelled him to become the prosecution witness and Raja Thackeray
also was presented before him. Below is Afzals letter in which he has
levelled many serious charges against ATS:
On 20 September 2013 when I was brought from Taloja Jail to the
session court, my sisters son had come to see me in court. When I
was talking to him in the presence of my guard and asking about the
welfare of my children, mother and other members of my family, two
persons came there and spoke something to my guard and told him
Take Afzal out of the court. My guard told me that we are going out to
have a meal. You also accompany us. I came out of the court along
with the guard where there is an army restaurant at a small distance.
Two men had already talked to the guard outside the gate. After show-
ing his card to the guard he said that we are ATS people, leave Afzal
with us and tell the court that Afzal has escaped. These two ATS men
told me that we are doing all this for your good or benefit. Have faith in
us. Soon ATS men threatened me and my sisters son and ordered us
to sit in a car otherwise we can shoot you also. I was very afraid and
surprised also because my sisters son was also with me and I was
worried for him also. I began to remember my brother whom the police
had shot on the pretext of questioning. As I was thinking about all this,
both of them compelled us to sit in the car. The car started. I was made
to sit in the middle seat. They had put a police board outside the car. I
was asked to keep my face down and not to look outside. After a short
while we reached Kasara Ghat. Whenever I raised my head while trav-
elling, they abused me by using dirty and vulgar words. And then they
used to tell me politely that we are doing all this for your good and
hence you should not have any tension. We will release your sisters
son. When we reached Kasara Ghat Highway they blind folded me.
When I asked where are you taking me, they said that this is Kasara
Ghat. We will keep you very comfortably; but keep quiet and do not talk
much otherwise it will harm you. After a while the car stopped. They
made me walk some distance where they removed the strip covering
my eyes. I realised that it was a room the window of which was cov-
ered with plywood. They handcuffed me and after linking it to a long
chain tied it to the rod of another window. They threatened me that your
sisters son is with us. If you try to escape we will shoot your sisters
son. Live here quietly and if you need something to eat or drink, let us
know. Saying this they went away. There was a 22-year old girl along
with the two persons who had left me there. She looked like a lady
police. There was another man also who showed his pistol to me and
said that if you try to be smart or play some trick, Sahebs have orderd
me to shoot you down.
One of them always used to be there (with me). There was a bath
room there too. Whenever I wanted meals etc, they used to give it to
me on time and sometimes they used to abuse me also. After four or
five days two officers of ATS came there whom I had seen earlier also
in crime branch unit No 3. They asked do you know why we have
brought you here? We want to make you prosecution witness so that
you also may be released and we also may benefit. For this very objec-
tive we had put you in this case so that you become prosecution wit-
ness in the Mumbai and Gujarat case but you dont listen to what we
say. Try to understand; we will bring your case to an end. They also told
me that Saheb will be present in court. We shall talk to you there.
Thereafter you should tell the judge that I want to be a prosecutions
witness. The rest will be taken care of by Sawant Saheb and
P. P. Saheb. I told them that if instead of being the prosecutions (or
governments) witness, judge Saheb sentences me, who will take care
of my family members? And how should I trust you when you have
killed one of my brothers? They said that we killed your brother
because you had refused to be a witness in the Gujarat case. We have
much power and we can do whatever we want. There is no one to stop
us from doing whatever we want. We as well as Gujarats crime branch
had told you that if you want your family members to be protected and
safe, you confess your crime and become prosecution witness but you
did not agree. Now one of your brother has been killed and after that
your other brother is also there and your entire family is in Mumbai.
Think about them. You should do whatever we ask you to do. If you
dont believe us we can arrange your meeting with PP Raja Thackeray.
Then you will believe whatever we say. After saying this they went
away.
After many days they brought PP Raja Thackeray also along with
them. He (Raja Thackeray) also asked me to become a prosecution
witness and at the same time he threatened me also that if you dont
become a prosecution witness, we will kill you and throw you in Kasara
Ghat but if I become prosecution witness, I will be released from this
MCOCA case and another case of escaping that was being planned
against me, will also not be pursued otherwise we will kill and bury
you here itself. I said OK Saheb, I am willing to become a prosecu-
tion witness. I had said this in the hope that at least I will be presented
in court.
PP Raja Thackery went away. Meanwhile, the two ATS officers who
had come in the beginning, used to come to me and used to threaten
that if I refuse to become prosecution witness or if I tell any thing to the
judge, think with a cool mind if you want to go to your (deceased)
brother or you want to live with your family members. In the room
where I was kept it was difficult to know whether it is day or night. One
day two ATS officers came there and asked me to accompany them.
They gave me a T-shirt and jeans and asked me to put them on, after
taking a bath and put the clothes given to me earlier, in a bag. The kurta
and pant that I had was taken away by them. My bag, in which there
were some court orders etc and which I had brought with me in court
was also taken away by them. Thereafter they covered my face with a
piece of cloth and got me seated in a car in which there were some
other people also. When they removed the cloth from my face, I came
to know that they had taken me to Kala Chauki. My sisters son was
also there. They kept me in an AC room but kept my cousin in some
other room. They did not allow us either to meet or talk to each other.
Next day the ATS people presented me in Sewdi court and got me
seated on a bench. Another man was sitting by my side. I told him
slowly (in a low voice) that my name is Afzal Usmani. ATS men have
accused me of running away though I have not run away. They had
kept me in Kasara Ghat. I told him to kindly write all this (on a paper)
and give it to the session court. I will be very much thankful to you for
this. He promised me that he would definitely send the letter to the ses-
sion court. After this ATS people got a remand of ten days. From there
they brought me to Kala Cowki. They kept me in the AC room for full
10 days. They used to come and tell me that your cousin too will be
released. Both of you are governments guest. I was given all facilities
there. Thereafter I was presented in Qila court from where I was
brought on a 4 day remand. They said to me that if some one asks, tell
him / them that they have arrested me at Nepal border but if you tell the
truth to any one, we can get you murdered in the jail in same way as
we got Qateel Siddiqi killed. No body can do us any harm. After that I
and my cousin were taken to Taloja jail.
While going to jail, ATS people gave me Rs 500 and also to my
cousin so that he and I could buy something in jail. ATS people said
that both of you will be kept in the jail and we have talked to the jail
authorities about this. If you find some difficulty or need any thing, tell
the jail people about it;. They will remove your difficulties. In Taluja jail
my sister came three times to meet us but she was not allowed to meet
us, but she was allowed to meet her son only once. After a few days,
I and my cousin were sent to Arthur Road Jail on 10 December 2013.
In Arthur Road when I was presented before judge Saheb, Sawant
Saheb said to me Afzal, do you remember what you have to say before
the judge today. In reply I did not say any thing to him. You should say
what ATS people have told you to say otherwise you will be killed
unnecessarily. After that I gave the judge a written request. After that,
Sawant Saheb had also requested the (judge) to talk to me but judge
Saheb said that permission for this will be given later. After this, gov-
ernment prosecutor was asked to reply to my application. Sawant
Saheb did not talk to me after that but on the next date of this case on
23 December Sawant Saheb threatened me outside court that we will
have to take you on remand again, then you will know how much
power is vested in ATS and crime branch. I said nothing in reply and
went inside the gate of the jail.
I was falsely implicated in many cases earlier also so much so that
even MCOCA was invoked against me but I have been honourably
released in all cases. One of my cousins is a police informer in
Mumbai. He runs matka business also. Because of his illegal business
activities police framed all these charges against me and filed many
false cases also and accused me of being in contact with gangsters
also but my brother (cousin) by hiring lawyer/s got all the cases dis-
posed of; but subsequently I was implicated in a terrorism case. In
Mumbai and Ahmadabad and in the village there was a quarrel between
me and my cousin. He did not allow the division of a farm. I had most-
ly been living in my village along with my mother and family members.
In Mumbai there is a bakery of mine which is being looked after by my
brother and my (third) brother. After his marriage he began to live sep-
arately. I have worked in many hotels also.
I have been implicated in cases of theft also. Crime branch and ATS
people in league with each other have destroyed my family and house-
hold life. even after killing one of my brothers they continue to threaten
me and my family members.
Affidavit:
I, Afzal Usmani, present address: Arthur Road Jail, Unit NO. 2085/14,
Mumbai, Indian citizen swear in the name of Allah and affirm that what-
ever I have written in this application / letter from page NO. 1 to 6 is all
true and a fact and I request you to take suitable and appropriate action
against ATS and crime branch (Mumbai).
Yours faithfully
Muhammad Afzal Usmani
Mumbai.
(Translated from Azizul Hind Urdu daily, Delhi, 3 Feb. 2014)
It was the ATS which had forced me to
escape from court: Afzal Usmani
Jamaat Islami
Maharshtra lodges
complaint against
controversial
police circular
Mumbai: Last year in the month of March, in com-
plicity with secret agencies, Mumbai police and
some communal organisations and newspapers a
circular was issued against Jamaat-e Islami Hinds
subsidiary organisation, Girls Islamic Organisation
being impar ted training in terrorism. Jamat-e Islami
Hinds Maharashtra Branch had lodged a written
complaint in Agri Pada police station against the
state (Maharashtra) government, state police, secret
agencies and irresponsible officers including Special
Branchs Additional Police Commissioner Naval
Bajaj and Deputy Police Commissioner Sanjay
Shantre, Samna and other irresponsible media. It is
stated in this complaint that the local police, ATS and
secret agencies falsely implicate Muslim youth on
the pretext of so-called terrorism and illegally extor t
money from them. JIHs Maharashtra Branchs sec-
retary for national and international problems said
that they wanted that Agri Pada police station should
register their FIR against police, secret agencies,
Samna and other irresponsible newspapers but
when they refused to file and FIR, a complaint
against them had to be lodged. He further said that if
no action is taken on their complaint within a week,
they would file a criminal case against police author-
ities, adding that by the next week they would file a
case and for this they were consulting lawyer
Mahmood Pracha.
N A . ANSARI
Points to ponder
Is the election result a big deal? One view was
expressed succinctly by Nirmalangshu Mukherji on
FaceBook: With just 31% of actual votes (21% of elec-
torates, 14% of population), Modi is repeatedly compar-
ing his performance with that of Congress in 1984. In
1984, Congress won 404 seats with 49.1% vote share.
Even NDA vote share will be just about 35% in 2014.
This BJP government is the most unpopular and unrep-
resentative in republican India.
MUKUL DUBE, Countercurrents.org
19 May, 2014
Its Regime Change?
Cat out of the bag. Times of India uses the notorious
CIA operational term - Regime Change for Modi take-
over Times of India inadvertently used the oft used
coded term Regime Change in its heading on Page:11
of its Mumbai print issue of May 22, 2014. Regime
Change is the most common technical word used by
world journalistic community for describing CIA opera-
tions all around the world, where US used all options in
its command to topple an unwanted government and
put its own proxy in power. From Communist Soviet
Union to latest Egypt change of regime, all bear the
handiwork of CIAs organisation of democratic, or unde-
mocratic means, to disintegrate and destroy the
unwanted regime and bring in government of its own
choice. The fall of Congress and the coming to power of
Modi with a seemingly proper democratic election, was
so staggering in figures put out by Election
Commission, that it came out like a Tsunami. The
amount of money spent Modi for media blitz and for
organizing foot soldiers all across the land, is mind-
boggling. Those who have witnessed other General
Elections in India, will agree that this time around the
entire scenario was altogether very different. The Modi
operation was so well-honed, so well financed, so over-
whelming for all the opposition, that the true nature of
democratic election appears to be completely reordered
to suit Modi and company. There was no level playing
field. Even Congress was shocked into inaction. It was
not its usual fighting self. Probably, those at the helm of
Congress, knew what is coming and decided to go low
and wait for a more suitable future, when they will be
called to serve. The entire Regime Change exercise, if
carried out by CIA, will pose a great threat to people of
India, as in practical terms, Indias freedom is now
deeply compromised and we are not the same nation
that Gandhi, Nehru, Sardar Patel and Maulana Azad had
struggled to free from the British colonists. As Modi
could muster only about 30 percent of the popular vote,
the balance of 70 percent have every right to fight back
and get true democracy and freedom back for the entire
nation.
Ghulam Muhammed, Mumbai
ghulammuhammed3@gmail.com
NATIONAL The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 5 www.milligazette.com
M R SHAMSHAD
...we intend to express our anguish about the
incompetence with which the investigating
agencies conducted the investigation of the case
of such a grievous nature, involving the integrity
and security of the Nation. Instead of booking
the real culprits responsible for taking so many
precious lives, the police caught innocent people
and got imposed the grievous charges against
them which resulted in their conviction and
subsequent sentencing.
Justices A K Patnaik and V. Gopala Gowda
Supreme Court
May 16th (2014) was the day when the entire
country was eagerly waiting for the results of the
16th Lok Sabha Election and had kept fingers
crossed to see as to whether the candidate with
prime ministerial ambition would get the
adequate numbers to form the next Government.
On the other hand, on the same day, two Judge-
Bench comprising Justices AK Patnaik and
V. Gopala Gowda of the Supreme Court sat at
1.30 pm to pronounce the fate of one of the
most maligned set of convicts in relation to the
attack on Akshardham Temple in Gujarat in the
intervening night between 24-25 September,
2002. In the said incident, 33 persons had died
due to indiscriminate firing by two alleged
fidayeen. To control the said situation, NSG
commandos had airdashed from Delhi to
Ahmadabad by a special chartered flight and
they had taken control of the situation by
midnight. An FIR was registered on
25 September, 2002 and the investigation was
handed over to Police Inspector V.R. Tolia. Later
the investigation was transferred to the ATS on
3 October, 2002.
Again, on 28 August 2003, the investigation
was transferred to the Crime Branch, almost
after 11 months later, at the instruction of
D.G. Vanzara. The very next day, 29 August five
persons, namely, Altaf Malek, Adam Bhai
Ajmere, Mohamad Salim Sheikh, Abdul Qaiyum
Bhai and Abdullah Miyan, were arrested. The
sixth accused, Chand Khan, was brought from
custody of Kashmir Police to Ahmadabad on
12 September, 2003.
In this background, the entire matter
proceeded. The Gujarat Police made a list of
376 witnesses in support of prosecuting these
six persons but at the end they could only
examine 126 witnesses before the Special POTA
Court. The trial proceeded and all six were
declared guilty by the Special Cour t on
1 January, 2006. Three, out of six, were
awarded death penalty in addition to other
sentences, one received life imprisonment and
others got 5-10 years imprisonment.
In appeal, the High Court of Gujarat, a bench
comprising of Justices (Mrs) R.M. Doshit and
K.M. Thaker affirmed the Special Courts
conviction and sentence and, accordingly, the
matter reached the Supreme Court on appeal by
five persons while the 6th preferred not to appeal
since he had already undergone five years
imprisonment.
Before moving to the contents of the findings
of the Supreme Court, I must state that it is a matter
of chance that I was sitting in the court-room at the
time of the pronouncement of the judgment. For the
lawyers who had defended the accused, the verdict
sounded to be simply satisfactory because they
knew the facts of the case and expected a fair
pronouncement.
The Honble Judges read the important
parts of the 287-page judgement for about 30
minutes. I and my colleagues, present in the
court-room, were extra-ordinarily shocked to
hear the actual facts as was being pronounced
one after the other. I could see in the court-
room, as usual, reporters of all the major
national newspapers were present, who also
took note of the pronouncement but I could not
find reporting of this judgment in any major
newspaper next day except in an Urdu daily.
One of the colleagues, one year old to
Advocacy, could not stop himself from putting
his emotional feelings on paper which was taken
by two Circles.net http://twocircles.net/
2014may20/day_modi_won_sc_acquitted_six_
akshardham_terror_convicts_away_media_glar
e.html#.U3tcfdKSwa8. Another, intern who had
joined my chamber as trainee, was assigned to
do the meticulous study of the judgment. He
came under shock for quite some time and was
not in a position to explain to me as to what has
happened to him.
While acquitting all these accused, the Court
in its judgment stated that A careful observation
of the above said dates would show that the ATS
was shooting in the dark for about a year without
any result. No trace of the people associated
with this heinous attack on the Akshardham
temple could be found by the police. Then on the
morning of 28.03.2003, the case is transferred
to Crime Branch, Ahmedabad. This was
followed by D.G. Vanzara giving instructions to
the then-ACP G.S. Singhal (PW-126) about one
Ashfaq Bhavnagri (PW-50). PW-126 was
thereafter made in-charge of the case on the
same evening at 6:30 p.m. and the statement of
PW-50 was recorded at 8 p.m., i.e., within one
and a half hours. The courts below
accepted the facts and evidence produced by
the police without being suspicious about the
extreme coincidences with which the chain of
events unfolded itself immediately, that is, within
24 hours of the case being transferred to the
Crime Branch, Ahmedabad.
It is a matter of serious concern that the
courts (including the High Court) have decided
the matter of extreme sensitivity and
seriousness with utmost callousness and hurry
by ignoring basic legal principles while
admitting the statement of witnesses and
weighing the case against the accused persons.
The finding of facts (also in this case) that Police
detained the innocent people much prior to the
time of arrest is shown on paper, has become a
matter of general routine as in this case also the
accused were indicated to have been arrested
much before the date of the arrest shown, i.e.,
29 August, 2003. It is important that the
investigation was transferred from one set of
investigators on 28 August 2003 when they had
failed to collect any evidence against anyone.
The reason for showing the arrest of the
accused on 29 August, 2003 was obvious. The
ATS had struggled for 11 months prior to the
arrest of the accused(s) and all of a sudden the
mystery was resolved not due to the positive
evidence collected against the accused(s) but
the evidence being confessional statement of the
said accused(s).
The said series of recording of confessional
statements did not only relate to the culpability
of Police officers but the finding of the Supreme
Court Judges also indicate that it was highly
improbable that the confessional statement
running to more than 15 pages could be read
back to them within half an hour. The position
prior to recording the statement, the accused(s)
were subjected to torture, they would not make
a complaint before the CJM due to fear and
apprehension, since they were taken back to
Police custody after their statements were
recorded.
The Supreme Court, ultimately, was of the
opinion that neither the Police officer recording
the confessional statements nor the CJM
followed the statutory mandate laid down in
POTA and even the minimum compliance of
...presenting the accused persons before the
CJM for half an hour was a mere formality to
show compliance with the provisions of
Sections 32(4) and 32(5) of POTA.
It further held that the statements made by
the CJM show how casually the mandates of
POTA laws were followed, rendering the said
requirement a hollow and empty exercise.
POTA itself was a draconian law where
confessional statements could become the
basis of conviction and sentence. If the Police
and Magistrates act in such reckless manner,
where the Supreme Court has to record the
finding about the working process of Police and
shocking part of judicial process is a matter of
concern.
Confessional statements, if made basis of
awarding capital punishment to the accused,
not only gives an impression that the basic
humanitarian principles are given go-bye while
trying to show results and to become favourite
Police officers in the eyes of their political
masters, who in turn, would encash the said
story to achieve their higher political goals.
As a lawyer, I would lose complete
confidence in the Police and to a great extent in
the judicial process at the level of District
Courts/Trial Courts in trial of terror-related
cases in Gujarat. There are many cases outside
Gujarat where the judicial process did not allow
the prejudices to dominate their function to
discharge their Dharma. I am conscious of
the fact that I may be accused of crossing
certain boundaries but the findings of Supreme
Court in the present case have compelled me to
think on these lines when I pass through
findings of the learned Supreme Court judges
stating that The statement made by PW-51
during the cross examination along with the
legal principle laid down by this Court leads us
to the conclusion that there was a serious
attempt on the part of the investigating agency
to fabricate a case against the accused persons
and frame them with the help of the statements
of the accomplices, since they had not been
able to solve the case even after almost a year
of the incidence.
The next process of granting sanction to
prosecute under POTA, comes after huge
deliberation and discussion but the sanction to
prosecute in this case came without application
of mind and the Supreme Court had to observe
that the act would go to show a clear non-
application of mind by the Minister in granting
sanction. Therefore, the third custodian of
basic human rights could also not consider to
act at least in technically correct way as the
prejudice in their minds became so writ large,
none would bother to follow the law of the land.
From the chain of events, having started
from 24 September, 2002 till 1 July, 2006,
when the conviction and sentences were
awarded to the accused, it is apparent that the
three important constitutional sets of criminal
justice system, i.e., Police, political
representatives and Judiciary at the Trial Court
level completely closed their eyes and wanted
to show the results with collective efforts
through by-passing the basic legal formalities to
show results.
In most of the criminal cases, for a judicial
mind, there are certain issues which lead to the
conclusion of not proving the case beyond
reasonable doubt and the accused, as a result,
is acquitted. That is not the case here which is
the most disturbing factor.
The finding of the Supreme Court about the
attempt to fabricate the evidence against the
accused persons and the same having been
ignored by two judicial authorities, including the
High Court, is a matter which would go a long
way. The Supreme Cour t, realizing the
seriousness of the application of a draconian
law, has analyzed the entire facts and taken a
view which is the only view that can be taken in
the light of the facts of the present case.
The principle of law laid down by the
Supreme Court way back in 1958, in the case
of Anwar Ali Sarkar, had laid down a proposition
that in each case judges must look straight into
the heart of things and regard the facts of each
case concretely much as a jury would do; and
yet, not quite as a jury, for we are considering
here a matter of law and not just one of fact: Do
these laws which have been called in
question offend a still greater law before which
even they must bow?
It is not that this kind of serious irregularity
has happened for the first or the last time.
POTA and TADA cases have seen so much of
irregularities. Some irregularities have been
corrected while many became final for failing to
go straight into the heart of things.
The present one is one of those fortunate
cases where things have been corrected.
Upon the verdict of the Supreme Court, at
least one final finding came which declared an
innocent as the innocent being convinced
that accused persons are innocent with respect
to the charges levelled against them. Not only
the appellants were acquitted from all charges
but the conviction of Altaf Malek too was set
aside despite the fact that he had not filed an
appeal in the Supreme Court. The Supreme
Court invoked its extra-ordinary power to set
aside Maleks conviction to absolve him of the
stigma he was carrying of that of a convict,
wrongly held guilty of offence of terror, so that
he is able to return to the family and society,
free from any suspicion.
Why one should not be proud of the gesture
shown by the highest court to Altaf to uphold
his basic rights as a citizen?
The author is advocate-on-record,
Supreme Court of India.
Trial of Akshardham attack exposes Criminal Justice
Day Modi won, SC
acquitted six
Akshardham terror
convicts away from
media glare
ABDULLAH UMAR
Advocate, Suprenme Court of India
I never had this strange feeling of mixed emotions. There were
tears in my eyes, yet I was smiling. There I had goose bumps,
yet I was so happy. Such was the feeling when, on the 16th of
May, 2014, the Supreme Court in a historic judgment acquitted
all the six unfortunate convicts who were alleged to have partici-
pated in the terror strike on Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar
on 24 September, 2002.
As the word Acquitted reached one of the ears, the other
could sense some silent weepings from the visitors gallery of the
Supreme Court. After the pronouncement, as I stepped out of
Court No. 2, I could witness those silent weepings had turned into
unstoppable tears which were reflecting the pain, agony and
anguish they had gone through for the past 11 years and seven
months and these weeping faces were none other than the par-
ents and relatives of those six unfortunate convicts.
Being human and that too an emotional one, I couldnt hold
back tears for long and just to avoid them from rolling down my
cheeks and making a sketchy mark, I immediately held my neck
high and for what I saw made me smile. There was the National
Emblem of India just above the Chiefs Court inscribed with the
words SATYAMEV JAYATE (Truth Ever Triumphs).
It makes me feel happy that the Supreme Court is one of the
few institutions which to a great extent is not affected by any
Wave or Tsunami. It still make us believe in Secular, Socialist,
Republic and Democratic features of this country.
The only areas of concern are, firstly: whenever such alleged
terrorists are acquitted, why they are not duly compensated for
the loss of their honour, dignity and integrity.
Secondly, why there is no inquiry, disciplinary action or penal action
against such police and government officials, why there is no FIR lodged
against such officials for falsely implicating innocent persons.
Thirdly, the concern is over the role played by the media be it
print, electronic or social. Whenever any person is apprehended
for any such terror-linked activity and if he happens to be Muslim,
then it is sonay pe suhaga -- he is immediately showcased as a
terrorist without any FIR, investigation, charge-sheet, witness-
es, cross-examination, trial and judgment. He is immediately
labelled as a terrorist. On the contrary, whenever any such
alleged terrorist is acquitted with all due respect from all the
charges there is hardly a whisper either in electronic, print or
social media. I hope before our politicians make irresponsible
statements, they realize that every Muslim carrying a tasbeeh
(mala) or wearing a skull-cap or beard is not a terrorist.
(twocircles.net -- 20 May , 2014)
The statement made by PW-51 during the cross examination along with the legal
principle laid down by this Court leads us to the conclusion that there was a serious
attempt on the part of the investigating agency to fabricate a case against the
accused persons and frame them with the help of the statements of the accomplices,
since they had not been able to solve the case even after almost a year of the
incidence.
...neither the Police officer recording the confessional statements nor the CJM
followed the statutory mandate laid down in POTA and even the minimum
compliance of ...presenting the accused persons before the CJM for half an hour
was a mere formality to show compliance with the provisions of Sections 32(4) and
32(5) of POTA.
[the act] would go to show a clear non-application of mind by the Minister [Home
Minister of Gujarat, i.e., Narendra Modi] ] in granting sanction.
SUPREME COURT JUDGEMNT IN AKSHARDHAM CASE
RAM PUNIYANI
ram.puniyani@gmail.com
The results of Parliamentary
Elections are very interesting.
With a mere 31% vote share
BJP-Modi won 282
Parliament seats, Congress
with 19% vote share got only
44 seats, BSP polled 4.1 per-
cent of votes and drew a total
blank, the Trinamool Congress won 3.8 percent of
vote share with 34 seats, Samajwadi Party won
3.4 percent with five MPs, AIADMK with 3.3 got 37
seats, Mamta with 3.8% of vote share got 32 seats
while CPIM with 3.3 percent of vote share got nine
seats. We should note that this time around
Congresss 19.3% votes translated into 44 seats
while during last general elections of 2009 BJPs
18.5% had fetched it 116 seats. Thats a tale by
itself, the crying need for electoral reforms which
has been pending despite such glaring disparities
which weaken the representative character of our
Parliament. Many social activists have been ask-
ing for these reforms but in vain.
Modi has been, of course, the flavor of the
season and this time around it is being said that it
was his plank of development which attracted the
voters to him, cutting across the caste and reli-
gious equations. How far is that true? Keeping
aside the fact that Modi was backed to the hilt by
Corporate, money flowed like water and all this
was further aided by the steel frame of lakhs of
RSS workers who managed the ground-level elec-
toral work for BJP. Thus Modi stood on two solid
pillars, Corporate on one side and RSS on the
other. He asserted that though he could not die for
independence he will live for Independent India.
This is again amongst the many falsehoods, which
he has concocted to project his image in the pub-
lic eye. One knows that he belongs to a political
ideology and political stream of RSS-Hindutva,
which was never a part of freedom struggle. RSS-
BJP-Hindutva nationalism is different from the
nationalism of the freedom movement. Gandhi,
freedom movements nationalism is Indian
Nationalism while Modi parivars Nationalism is
Hindu nationalism, a religious nationalism similar
and parallel to Muslim nationalism of Jinnah:
Muslim League. From the sidelines, RSS and its
clones kept criticizing the freedom movement as it
was for inclusive Indian nationalism, while Modis
ideological school, RSS, is for Hindu nationalism.
So there is no question of people like him or his
predecessors dying for freedom of the country.
There are multiple other factors which helped
him to be first-past-the-pole, his aggressive style,
his success in banking upon weaknesses of
Congress, his ability to communicate with masses
supplemented by the lackluster campaign of
Congress. Presidential style of electioneering
added weight to Modis success. Congress, of
course, has collected the baggage of corruption
and weak governance. The out of proportion dis-
crediting of Congress begun by Anna movement,
backed by RSS, and then taken forward by
Kejriwal, contributed immensely knocking
Congress out of reckoning for victory. Kejrival, in
particular, woke up to BJPs corruption a wee bit
too late and with lots of reluctance for reasons
beyond comprehension. Anna who at one time
was being called the second Gandhi eclipsed into
a nonentity after playing the crucial role for some
time. Kejriwal pursuing his impressive looking
agenda against corruption went on to transform
the social movement into a political party and in the
process raising lots of question on the nature and
potentials of social movements. Kejrivals AAP,
definitely split the anti-Modi votes with great suc-
cess. AAPput more than 400 candidates and most
of them have lost their deposits. Many of these
candidates have excellent reputation and contribu-
tion to social issues and for taking up challenges
related to social transformation. After this experi-
ence of electoral battlefield how much will they be
able to go back to their agenda of social change-
transformation through agitations and campaigns
will remain to be seen.
Many commentators-leaders, after anointing
Anna as the Second Gandhi, are now abusing
Gandhis name yet again by comparing the likes of
Ramdeo and Modi to Mahatma Gandhi. One Modi
acolyte went on to say Modi is better than Gandhi!
What a shame to appropriate the name of Gandhi,
the great unifier of the nation, with those whose
foundations are on the divisive ideology of sectari-
an nationalism.
Coming to the development plank, it is true
that after playing his role in Gujarat carnage, Modi
quickly took up the task of propagating the devel-
opment of Gujarat. This make-believe myth of
Gujarats development as such was the state gov-
ernments generous attitude towards the
Corporates who, in turn, started clamoring for
Modi as PM right from 2007. While the religious
minorities started being relegated to the second
class citizenship in Gujarat, the myth of Gujarat
development started becoming the part of folk lore,
for long unchallenged by other parties and schol-
ars studying the development. When the data from
Gujarat started being analyzed critically, the hoax
of development lay exposed, but by that time it
was too late for the truth of development to be
communicated to the people far and wide.
On the surface, it appears as if this was the
only agenda around which Modi campaigned.
Thats far from true. Modi as such used communal
and caste card time and again. This was done with
a great amount of ease and shrewdness. He did
criticize the export of beef labeling it Pink revolu-
tion, subtly hinting the link of meat-beef to Muslim
minorities. This converted an economic issue into
a communal one. Modi spoke regularly against
Bangla-speaking Muslims by saying that the
Assam Government is doing away with Rhinos for
accommodating the Bangladeshi infiltrators. He
further added that they should be ready to pack
their bags on 16th May when he will take over as
the Prime Minister of the country. The communal
message was loud and clear. BJP spokesmen
have already stated that these Bangla-speaking
Hindus are refugees while the Muslims are infil-
trators.
If one examines the overall scatter of the
areas where BJP has won a very disturbing fact
comes to ones mind. While on the surface the
plank of development ruled the roost, there is def-
initely the subtle role played by the communal
polarization. BJP has mostly succeeded in areas
where already communal polarization has been
brought in through communal or terrorist violence.
Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP, MP, Bihar and Assam
all have seen massive communal violence in the
past. While the states which have not come under
the sway of BJP-Modi are the ones which have
been relatively free from communal violence: Tamil
Nadu, Bengal and Kerala in particular. Orissa is a
bit of an exception, where despite the Kandhamal
violence, Navin Patnaiks party is managing to be
in power. The socio-political interpretation of the
deeper relationship between acts of violence and
victory of RSS-BJP-Modi needs to be grasped in
depth; the polarizing role of communal-terrorist vio-
lence needs a deeper look. While on surface the
development myth has won over large sections of
the electorate, it has taken place in areas which
have in the past wintnessed bouts of violence.
Most of the inquiry commission reports attribute
violence to the machinations of the communal
organization, RSS.
While overtly, caste was not used, Modi did
exploit the word Neech Rajniti (Low level Politics)
used by Priyanka Gandhi and converted it into
Neech Jati (low caste), thereby flaunting his
caste. At other occasions also he projected his
caste, Ghanchi, to polarize along caste lines.
What signal has been given by Modis victory?
The message of Mumbai, Gujarat Muzzaffrnagar
and hordes of other such acts has created a deep
sense of insecurity amongst sections of our popu-
lation.
Despite Modis brave denials and the strug-
gles of social activists, justice delivery seems to
be very slow, if at all, and it is eluding victims.
The culprits are claiming they are innocent and
that they have got a clean chit. While there are
many firsts in Modi coming to power, one first
which is not highlighted is that this is the first
time a person accused of being part of a car-
nage is going to have all the levers of power
under his control.
So what are the future prospects for the India
of Gandhi and Nehru, what are the prospects of
the values of Indias Constitution? Can Modi give
up his core agenda of Hindu Nationalism, which
has been the underlying ideology of his politics, or
will he deliver a Hindu nation to his mentors? No
prizes for guessing! (pluralindia.com)
Modi Wins 2014 Elections: Victory of Development?
6 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 NATIONAL www.milligazette.com
DR SYED ZAFAR MAHMOOD
Duly supported with authentic data, the Justice
Rajindar Sachar Committee gauged in 2006 the
Muslim deficit in India vis--vis any other com-
munity or social group. This Committee and the
Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission (2008)
recommended a series of affirmative actions to
be taken by the Government in order to restore
justice to Muslims and ameliorate their plight to
the level of national averages. However, very little, say less than
ten percent, of follow up action has been taken up so far that
includes amending the Waqf law, instituting the national minorities
scholarship schemes and establishing the national commission
for minority educational institutions. A host of major recommen-
dations whose implementation would make the real difference still
remain confined to the portals of these two landmark reports of
recent Indian history. The 2014 parliamentary election manifestos
of the Congress Party and Aam Aadmi Party did belatedly take
note of some of these many remaining recommended steps.
The main reason of Muslim backwardness is the communi-
tys gross under-representation in the Lok Sabha (lower house of
parliament) and provincial assemblies as well as the judiciary and
the bureaucracy. The presidential order of 1950 denies to
Muslims (13.4% of total Indian population), Christians and
Zoroastrians access to 15%+ seats in every legislature, judiciary
and the civil service. Justice Mishra Report says its a black law
infused in the statute from the back gate; the Supreme Court
agrees. Yet, this anathema remains on the statute book mostly to
the chagrin of Muslims who are the dominant minority.
Simultaneously, as a double jeopardy, Justice Sachar Committee
has pointed out that a large number of the parliamentary and
assembly constituencies with huge Muslim population and quite
low presence of the Hindu/Sikh/Budhist barbers, tailors, black-
smiths, sweepers etc named in the Constitution as Scheduled
Castes (SC) have been reserved for the latter. On the other hand,
there is another set of constituencies with high SC population but
low Muslim visibility that have not been reserved for SCs. Thus,
Sachar Committee recommended that the Delimitation
Commission should be appointed and mandated to remove these
anomalies. Secondly, the definition of Scheduled Caste needs to
be purged of religious parochialism. These actions are yet to be
taken.
In the meanwhile, Muslims themselves need to take crucial
affirmative action. We are not in the habit of doing that even
though our faith mandates us to do so; in fact the basic elements
of Islamic system warrant devotion of at least one third of the indi-
viduals existence for the sake of the community. In Surah Al-Qadr,
Allah says that the night of mystic glory is better that one thou-
sand months. Thats a strong divine indication that from inception
to infinity the average human life is of about 84 years. The first
one third segment is for self, the second for self and family and
the third is mostly for the community.
Using Allama Iqbals terminology, Ive named the members of
the third segment as Keemiyagar, the alchemist who turns ordi-
nary metals into gold. They continue to have robust limbs and
brain but have fulfilled their responsibilities. They will have to
come forward to change the communitys track. Zakat Foundation
of India runs a Department of Delimitation. According to its
research, even among the 85% unreserved constituencies there is
abundant potential for substantial Muslim win. For instance, in U.
P., that sends the largest number of members (80) to Lok Sabha,
there are 63 unreserved seats. Out of these, in 18 seats Muslims
are 25-52%, in 23 Muslims are 15-24% and in another 18
Muslims are 10-14%. Similar is the demographic-electoral reflec-
tion in most of the states.
In every Indian constituency with 15% Muslim population or
more, the local Keemiyagars will have to form a group of 10-12
persons of their ilk, name it KGP (Keemiyagars Political) and begin
working from a room in one of their own houses. They can google
and collect information from the Registrar of Census Operations
and Election Commission regarding the Muslim population and
percentage in their respective constituencies - otherwise obtain it
from the ZFI office by writing an email. They need to comprehend
the major Muslim issues at the national, provincial and local lev-
els and their solutions and start intensely working on these with-
in the constituency by way of advocacy and meaningful activism.
The next parliamentary election will be held after five years or
less. During this period every state assembly will also be re-voted.
But within the next two years or so the KGP would have won the
hearts of the local Muslims so much that they will tend to vote en
masse a candidate of the KGPs choice.
Another parallel group of Keemiyagars will have to be formed
in each constituency, named as KGA (Keemiyagars
Administrative) that would select the academically ablest gradu-
ates or PG boys and girls and encourage them to prepare well and
appear at the civil services competitive examinations organized by
the central and provincial public service commissions. These fel-
lows will have to be sent for coaching in professionally and pri-
vately-run most successful coaching institutes for civil services
for which funds will have to be garnered from within the local
community. Mind you, the main purpose of this exercise will not
only be getting good employment to the community youth but to
empower the community.
With these measures in place, within the next 5-7 years
Muslims of India will, Insha Allah, begin feeling a fresh breeze of
optimism, buoyancy, confidence and a useful sense of direction.
All this will catapult them to a pedestal of equality thats our cher-
ished constitutional aim.
The author is President, Zakat Foundation of India ZakatIndia.org
He can be reached at info@zakatindia.org
While the religious minorities started being relegated to the second class
citizenship in Gujarat, the myth of Gujarat development started becoming
the part of folk lore, for long unchallenged by other parties and scholars
studying the development. When the data from Gujarat started being
analyzed critically, the hoax of development lay exposed, but by that time
it was too late for the truth of development to be communicated to the
people far and wide.
Let us take charge of our Ummah
Very little, say less than ten percent, of
follow up action [on Sachar report] has
been taken up so far that includes
amending the Waqf law, instituting the
national minorities scholarship schemes
and establishing the national commission
for minority educational institutions.
Muslims themselves need to take crucial
affirmative action. We are not in the habit
of doing that even though our faith
mandates us to do so; in fact the basic
elements of Islamic system warrant
devotion of at least one third of the
individuals existence for the sake of the
community.
NATIONAL The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 7 www.milligazette.com
FIRDAUS AHMAD
From their allowing Modi the benefit of doubt, it may appear that
Hindus who have voted to propel him to power with an untram-
melled majority have let their Muslim brethren down. This could
prove disappointing for Muslims if taken to heart. However, it
would be a travesty were Muslims to give up on the good sense
of their Hindu counterparts. It is best therefore for Muslims to also
give Hindu voters who backed Modi the benefit of doubt and give
them a second chance at the next hustings.
Modis exceptional mandate can be taken as a chance for him
to make good on his promise of development and good gover-
nance. His media and corporate backers convinced people to look
towards him to replicate the so-called Gujarat model, in particu-
lar in UP and Bihar that have seen a relative decline in comparison
to southern and western India. Clearly, Modi is on trial and will
attempt to deliver with the expectation of another shot at the top
in the next elections.
Since it would not do for Muslims, already among the
deprived, to be left out of any advances that India may make,
Muslims would need to reconcile with the majority verdict and
participate to the extent feasible. The condition for such an
engagement can only be on the footing of equality. This may be
necessary since there may be a programme afoot to make any
sops of development coming the way of Muslims conditional on
their exhibition of either subordination or national loyalty. Since
Muslims have no call to bow, they need to engage with the regime
straight backed. This would deter any aggression in the regime
even as it accepts Muslim offer of joining shoulders in the prom-
ise of national development as equals and partners.
Aware that secularists have been complacent in keeping
Muslims backward, the new regime can be taken as an opportu-
nity for conditional engagement to better the lot of common
Muslims. Not doing so would lead to another five years of waste
and, who knows, even a decade. Also, keeping an open mind will
ensure that the regime does not get an excuse to lock Muslims out
of any gains India may make. Concerted community action will
also deter those in their own midst who may be out to sow dis-
cord. Instead, a positive outreach may assure the majority com-
munity of Muslims continuing faith in their judgment. After all,
majority-minority relations remaining in good health is the best
guarantor of minority security. It is also a sign of respect for Indian
democracy that Muslims abide by the choice of the majority.
Clearly, this cannot be unconditional. Modi would require
proving capable of reining in the Hindutva brigade. This is a tall
order since their backing of Modi has been as consequential as
corporate power and money to have taken him to the top. Modis
own personal predilections, evident in his adamant refusal to take
responsibility for the Gujarat carnage and to reach out to Muslims
as a leader with national aspirations, will perhaps be asking too
much from him. However, respecting the peoples mandate must
imply that Muslims allow Modi to make amends, perhaps not vis-
ibly, but in practice by ensuring Muslims their rightful share of any
growth in the national pie. Therefore, the first stone must not be
cast by Muslims. Modi must be allowed to fail on his own so that
the majority community shows him the door next time round as
resoundingly as it has ushered him in.
This is not impossible to visualise. Rajiv Gandhi squandered
his mandate of greater proportions by getting into a communal
quagmire by opening the locks of the Babri Masjid. His twist
towards neo-liberalism in the mid-eighties led up eventually to
India having to send out gold by air to UK banks lest it default on
loan repayments. Since Modi has promised a decisive turn to
neo-liberalism under a second generation reform package, that it
would create an army of have nots can well be imagined.
Authoritarianism is the expectation of his corporate backers to
push through these reforms. It is not a coincidence that the
Gujarat model in which Modi ran a fearful administration has been
chosen by them for India. The outcome cannot but be in expand-
ing the foothold of Maoists from their rimlands in central India into
the Indian heartland of towns and cities.
Also, there is the Hindutva dividend that his RSS mentors will
demand. Modi may have to at a minimum give them sops where-
by they can stay out of his developmental agenda with their
swadeshi ideology and confine themselves to a cultural reset of
India. This may lead to a confrontation with Muslims since in the
main the RSS fixation is to take revenge, in the words of Modis
UP campaign manager, Amit Shah, on Muslims for what they con-
sider has been a millennium of subjugation. Therefore, it is possi-
ble that despite Muslims putting their best foot forward, if not their
right hand itself, they may find the pitch queered for them. The
steps that Muslims may then take in safeguarding themselves will
then be used against them for invective and hatred.
In case Muslims were to rethink their strategy, depending on
the nature of the Modi regime as it unfolds, it is quite clear that
they would not be alone. There would be Indias expanding army
of disaffected, those imposed on by the economic reforms
which in reality will be an oligarchic loot of Indias treasures with
Modi as national security and corruption minder. There is little
doubt that ethnic minorities such as Kashmiris and Bengalis will
feel put upon by Modis impending policies on the Article 370 and
illegal migration respectively. Pockets of India by voting for region-
al parties have already demonstrated that they are not enamoured
of the so-called Modi wave. Also, liberals will likely stage a
comeback with the majority itself revolted by the initiatives and
innovations on the cultural front that Modis ideological storm
troopers will seek. In particular, the fillip that Brahmanism hopes
to receive will prompt its own backlash.
Modi will of course try to avert this inevitability. He will
employ media hype to keep the counter narratives under wraps.
He will use the suppressive might of the India state for his ends.
He will seek time to create the rising tide economically to see him
through to another term. This will give majoritarian extremists the
time they need to reshape India in their image. Therefore, it is not
unlikely that it may take till end of the decade for the cracks to
begin to show. Once this happens the regime will seek scape-
goats. Muslims are their traditional scapegoats and therefore need
to have a prevention and responsive strategy in place by then.
There being no call to invite such retribution, Muslims must take
care to ensure the regime lacks a justificatory narrative for scape-
goating. Consequently, Muslims need to wait out the Modi regime,
without backsliding in the interim. At the opportune time, perhaps
in the elections after next, they can make their move to, in con-
junction with the majority, displace Modi democratically. This will
finally and emphatically expose him to justice for 2002.
Strategy is not an outcome of sulking. It emanates from prag-
matism. Even as the regime strategises, Muslims too must reflect.
It is not a time either for provocation or hot-headed response to
motivated provocation. A time shall come as it must when
Muslims, in step with the very majority that has temporarily disre-
garded Muslim sentiment, will show Modi the door. Awaiting that
time is necessary to have Indias majority exhaust any attraction
for Hindutva.
The writer blogs at subcontinentalmusings.blogspot.in/
ABDUL BARI MASOUD
New Delhi: It seems that the post of Secretary
of the Maulana Azad Education Foundation
(MAEF) has been turned into a war of attrition
between outgoing Minister of Minority Affairs
K Rqhman Khan and senior IPS officer
Mohammad Wazir Ansari who was abruptly
removed from the office of Secretary on May 1
in the thick of elections when such an action is
not allowed under the Election Commissions
model code of conduct.
In a meeting with MG, the minister strongly
refuted the charge that Ansari was summarily
sacked saying in-spite of committing serious
procedural lapses, he has been repatriated to
his earlier post. Sources close to Ansari said he
was made sacrificial lamb for the alter ego of
the minister whose wishes for grants to certain
NGOs and largesse to some people were not
honoured by Ansari known as an honest and
upright officer who brought life to MAEF.
Giving a graphic account that led to removal
of Ansari from the post of Secretary, Rahman
Khan, who as MoMA is the ex officio President
of MAEF, told MG that the decision was taken in
the governing body of MAEF to relieve Ansari
from office after he was found guilty of seri-
ous financial irregularities. We have appointed
a sub-committee to look into the allegations of
financial indiscipline and the expenditure of Rs
64 lakh incurred by the Foundation for the repair
and renovation of MAEF campus and it found
him guilty. Khan further said whatever the reply
and documents submitted to the sub-committee
and explanations personally given by the
Secretary made it clear that he did not follow a
single legally-required procedure while under-
taking the repair and renovation work of the
MAEF campus. The Ministry has asked the pub-
lic sector company National Buildings
Construction Corporation (NBCC) to evaluate the
work carried out by the Secretary in March this
year. The report of the NBCC, based on a theo-
retical assessment of the costs, submitted to the
Ministry stated that 10-15% extra cost was
incurred on the project. For example, MAEF
repaired the Rest House through a contractor
spending Rs 4,09,580 while NBCC puts its the-
oretical assessed amount at a mere Rs 90,781.
On roof, veranda and inside boundary wall, gen-
erator shed, etc, MAEF spent Rs.6,05,116,
while NBCC assessed the amount to be
Rs.3,26,729.
According to Minister Rahman, Ansari was
also accused of self-withdrawing the money and
keeping the cash with him. Sources told MG that
this not correct. Monies were withdrawn, kept
and disbursed by the MAEF accountant.
How can he self-withdraw the money and
insists that this is his own way of carrying work,
the minister asked. Casting doubts on Ansaris
competence, Rahman Khan said he did not live
up to the expectations. The Foundation has 12
objectives but except distributing scholarships
and grants for construction of hostel and school
buildings, he failed to expand the activities of the
Foundation, Khan added. When asked, you
wanted to do a favour to certain NGOs and to an
individual but the Secretary refused to oblige,
Khan said it is an absurd and baseless allega-
tion. If the Secretary has any such file that I rec-
ommended someone for grant, then he should
show it to the world. I will be happy for this,
said Khan adding that I asked Ansari to digitize
all the records and computerise the whole
process of all schemes with a view to bring
transparency but he failed to do so. In reply to
another question that the ministry wanted to give
contract to NBCC for constructing a signature
building for MAEF, he said it was a proposal as
the Foundation building is situated at a prime
location and the proposed building would fetch
huge income to the Foundation. Khan also men-
tioned that the Foundation has a corpus fund of
Rs. 910 crore but it cannot be invested other
than keeping it in public sector banks. Because
of this rider, we cannot put the money in private
banks or other ventures and this is causing loss-
es to the tune of Rs1.5 crore per month to the
Foundation.
Ansari, on the other hand, is determined to
stick to his ground despite removal from the
post. Sources close to him said that he sent a
detailed missive to the minister pointing fallacies
and inaccuracies in the charges levelled against
him. Sources said Ansari has defended his case
forcefully saying the total amount withdrawn in
case as mentioned in the minutes is Rs. 64 lakh
which is factually incorrect, because the fact is
that this includes the amount of Rs. 10 lakh
spent on repairs through contractors by follow-
ing due procedure. Withdrawal of Rs. 5 lakh
each time as mentioned in the minutes is also
factually incorrect as I have never withdrawn Rs.
5 at one time. Ansari also pointed out in his let-
ter that the name of the then Treasurer, MAEF
who was qualified CA and supposed to be a
financial expert [a nominee of the Minister], has
not been mentioned as he is equally responsible
as Joint Signatory for withdrawal of cash.
The letter sent to the Minister, a copy of
which is in the possession of MG, refutes the
charge of self-withdrawing of cash. It further
says, Initially, I had withdrawn advance of Rs.
1.5 lakh for fencing work and thereafter advance
was withdrawn on need basis as and when
required and submitted the bill for repairs and
renovation work from time to time against those
advances.
Defending the work carried out by him,
Ansari said in his letter the NBCC report did not
indict any malpractices -- The whole report of
NBCC is very much clear but it appears that no
one has gone through this report minutely
except the last para where they have mentioned
about percentage of likely variation on theoretical
assessment which means they had not conduct-
ed physical assessment of the work. They have
mentioned that the building is very old and its
repair is not like repairs in modern buildings.
Hence paras 3 to 8 of the said report should be
read carefully to understand the gist of the
report. Ansari further said in his letter, It is
worthy to note that NBCC is a leading civil con-
struction company which has given
Theoretically Assessed Report which is not
realistic and practical and where other factors
such as profit margin of contractors/builders etc
have not been added to it, otherwise the cost
would have been escalated manifolds.
While Ansari admitted that he did not follow
the due procedure in carrying out the repair
work, he explained the same by saying, The
only thing which I am lacking is following due
procedure and that too because of the special
nature of the repair work and shortage of time.
Just because of the fencing, repair & renovation
works carried out by the undersigned, this por-
tion was made habitable within the shortest pos-
sible time and kept the entire premises under the
possession of MAEF. Otherwise both the
Ministries [MoMA and Min. of Social Justice and
Empowerment] were not having interest even to
carry out partition work. The entire work has
been done in full view and in the best interest of
MAEF. It is only due to efforts of MAEF, this
campus is now famous as Ml. Azad Campus.
Sources pointed out that the governing body
of MAEF at its 86th meeting held on
3 December, 2013 had approved the expendi-
ture of Rs. 34 lakh and authorized the Secretary
to carry out the remaining repair/renovation
works at the earliest i.e., by the end of
December, 2013 as directed by the Ministry.
New Developments: Arbitrariness and flip-
flop of the outgoing Minister were demonstrated
by his later actions. His first choice to replace
Ansari as Secretary as an additional charge was
DS Bist, managing director of National Minorities
Financial Development Corporation on 3 May.
Days later a MoMA officer, MA Imam, was
appointed in this post on 15 May. Imam too was
removed within two days and the charge was
given to Ali Ahmad Khan, a deputy secretary in
MoMA, who took charge late on 21 May. All this
happened at a time when UPA had lost and PM
Manmohan Singh had already resigned on 17
May as a result the outgoing Minister had no
moral or even legal authority to take any such
decision.
The whole sage is a story of a scheming
neta making even with an upright officer who
rejected his verbal orders to dole out largesse to
CERTAIN NGOs and individuals. The officer's
only guilt is that he chose unconventional ways
to meet the deadline of two months to repair a
dilapidated building to take possession of the
campus given to MAEF. That property, worth
hundreds of cores, could have been lost had he
failed to take possession within the stipulated
time-frame, for which he deserves gratitude, not
revenge by a Minister who as President of MAEF
did not allow it to function, then blamed the
Secretary who enjoyed no real powers to run the
institution as he wished.
MAEF controversy: Minister places his version
Since Modi has promised a decisive turn to neo-liberalism under a second generation reform package,
that it would create an army of have nots can well be imagined. Authoritarianism is the expectation of
his corporate backers to push through these reforms. It is not a coincidence that the Gujarat model in
which Modi ran a fearful administration has been chosen by them for India.
Strategising for the Modi era
Upright officer vs. scheming neta
Minister Rahmans first choice to replace
Ansari as Secretary was DS Bist, managing
director of National Minorities Financial
Development Corporation on 3 May. Days later
a MoMA officer, MA Imam, was appointed in
this post on 15 May. Imam too was removed
within two days and the charge was given to
Ali Ahmad Khan, a deputy secretary in MoMA,
who took charge late on 21 May. All this hap-
pened at a time when UPA had lost and PM
Manmohan Singh had already resigned...
1. According to IB (Intelligene Bureau), Indian Mujahideen has
spread its network in Bihar and UP and they are getting support
from local people, (Asian Age, 10 March, and other newspapers.)
2. According to NIA, riots in Assam in 2010 were provoked by
Indian Mujahideen (ToI - 10 March).
3. Delhi Police, by arresting four IM terrorists from Ajmer and
Jodhpur on 22 and 23 March had foiled the possibility of a very
large terrorist attack on the occasion of elections. (IE - 24 March.
An important news on 1st page).
4. Indian Mujahideens biggest bomb maker Waqas had entered India
3 yeas ago. (IE - 24 March. Second important news on first page).
5. Intelligence Bureau by issuing an alert has warned that a sui-
cide bombing can take place on Modi in a rally. (IE - 24 March.
Third important news on first page).
6. In 2008, attack on Indian embassy in Kabul was carried out by
ISI (IE - 24 March. Fourth important news on 1st page).
In 2010 during bomb attack at Sheitla Ghat two fingers of
Waqas were burnt. Later, Yasin Bhatkal had provided first aid to
him. (IE - 25 March. One of the many important reports).
This process (of terrorist attacks) goes on
8 Gujarat police arrested Hyderabads religious scholar Maulana
Abdul Qawi on 23 March evening from Delhi airport. He was want-
ed by Gujarat police in many cases of terrorism. (All newspapers
of 25 March).
9. Secret police agencies have reached closer to the arrest of
Indian Mujahideens Indian mastermind. Bangladesh government
had given a tip about Waqas to Indian police (TOI - 25 March. An
important news on 1st page. Its details inside on page 9 and other
big stories of this type).
10. Delhi Polices Special Cell has arrested Indian Mujahideen
leaderships last and real chief or mastermind from Naxal Badi (IE
26 March. Important news on 1st page and all other newspa-
pers.).
11. Delhi Polices Special Cell suddenly took Anwar Yasir and
Abdul Wahid from Jamia Nagar Okhla into custody early morning
on 23 March. Subsequently, on protests by local people they were
released after preliminary questioning. (Newspapers of 24
March).
12. At least two students of a Chennai College have joined jehadi
group of Syria for jehadi training. (Hindu - 25 March, page 1)
13. Islamic Jehadi movement is thriving in India and is becoming
a source for the strength of World Jehadi Movement (Hindustan -
25 March, page 10).
14. Uttar Pradesh ATS have arrested two Pakistanis on charges of
planning attack in Ayodhya. (Inq - 27 March),
The above are only some hints
The above mentioned news items are simply some samples of
the news and stories which are, as usual being published in
newspapers and highlighted on TV channels during the past
few days in an extremely sensational way. There is no mention
of the news and stories of world media, nor any mention of the
reign of terror let loose by Arab rulers nor those in Egypt and
Bangladesh. The activities of Indian agencies and their repor t-
ings in media are so distressing and painful that only the peo-
ple with strong nerves can see or read them or those common
Muslims who are capable enough to understand the hidden
meaning of these news or their background, or do not under-
stand the necessity of these things, or those affluent and mod-
ern educated Muslims who are pacifists, or those Muslim lead-
ers who either do not understand the circumstances nor
believe only in rhetoric, hard hitting and inflammatory speech-
es. Nothing can be expected from those Muslim leaders also
who consider toys and lollypops like reservations and promo-
tion / progress of Urdu as the climax of progress and develop-
ment of the Muslim community. Not to talk of Muslim leaders
who are interested in getting tickets for contesting elections
(from any par ty). But if a group of sensitive, self respecting
and religious and modern educated Muslims seriously consid-
ers national and international circumstances and situations,
link the series of incidents and foresee the agenda of vicious
aims, objectives and hidden conspiracies and analyse and
explain these in different fora, at least some heat and activity
can be generated in the community. This group also must try
to learn about the real face of IB and what or who is Indian
Mujahideen. (Translated from Dawat Sahroza, Delhi 1 April, 2014)
Terrorism news at a glance
8 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 NATIONAL www.milligazette.com
RAJINDAR SACHAR
T
he Public disgust with Congress (UPA)
government of the last decade has seen it
being defeated - no it is decimated. But
BJP must not over-exult by assuming that
the majority has endorsed its policies. It should
be politically honest enough to admit that it is
corporate-created TV, SMS, publicity image of
Modi that has scored.
A delusional image of "development" being
unleashed by Modi has somehow temporarily
sanitized the young into Modi club. BJP electoral
expense of Rs. 20,000 to 40,000 crore is con-
sidered a modest estimate. This strengthens the
demand for prohibition of corporate funding in
elections.
That Modi is obviously a deeply religious
man is shown by his doing Puja of Mother
Ganga. No one can take any exception to his
personal belief and action. But Modi is now the
Prime Minister of this country where 20 percent
are non-Hindu minorities, out of which 80%
(nearly 18 crores) are Muslims. Modi has been
proclaiming that he intends to function evenly
and without any discrimination either in favour of
Hindus or against Muslims and other minorities.
Could Modi in this hour of his unimaginative
triumph do only two humane gestures to clear
the fears amongst Muslims - first could he pay a
similar visit to Ajmer Dargah and offer chadar -
this revered place has been for centuries a sanc-
tuary of repose for men and women of all faiths
as an assertion that all religions are on equal
pedestal in this country.
As for the Modi developmental model, which
is similar to Congress model, there is obviously
going to be a deep conflict - between the neo-
liberal strategy of development and of decentral-
ized development as envisaged by the 73rd and
74th Constitutional Amendments of our
Constitution. On this matter the peoples immedi-
ate resistance would be on the UPA- sponsored
Japanese financed Amritsar-Calcutta and Delhi-
Bombay corridors development plan which is
going to displace millions of small landholders
and poor (which Modi is likely to follow up
because this fits in with his developmental pat-
tern). So this is a continuing danger - one which
socialists and other human rights activists will
collide with - this conflict is acceptable and is
natural in any democratic nation.
But the biggest challenge facing Modi is
as to how to act in a manner so as to avoid
divisive conflict in the society - this is depend-
ent on how he acts towards the minorities,
especially to the Muslims. This is because
under our Constitution no religion can claim
superiority of status against any other reli-
gion. All religions under our constitution have
equal acceptance and status.
It is a truism that in any country the faith and
the confidence of the minorities in the impartial
and even functioning of the State is the acid test
of being civilized State. This is accepted wis-
dom, and was expressed succinctly by Lord
Acton; "A state which is incompetent to satisfy
different races condemns itself; a state which
labours to neutralize, to absorb or to expel them
is destitute of the chief basis of self- govern-
ment". We need only substitute minorities for
races in the above quotation to apply the test in
India.
Thus inclusive development in India and
for that matter in any country alone is the path
to prosperity. It is an undeniable truth and
needs to be irrevocably accepted by all in
India, namely that minorities, Muslims and
Christians are not outsiders. They are an inte-
gral par t of India. This was emphasized by
Swami Vivekanand, (whom Modi will cer tain-
ly accept as one of the greatest Indians we
have produced) thus: "He also told Hindus not
to talk of the superiority of one religion over
another. Even toleration of other faiths was not
right; it smacked of blasphemy". In his letter
to a Muslim friend in 1898, he again empha-
sized, "For our own motherland a junction of
the two great systems Hinduism and Islam -
Vedanta brain and Islam body - is the only
hope. the future perfect India."
Modi often purports to show his neutrality
by proclaiming that he does not recognize any
special rights for minorities - he treats all people
as Gujaratis or Indians. This apparently impartial
approach for all is similar to the taunt by the
French Author Anatole France - who ironically
commented at the neglect of the poor by the
French State thus: "Law in its majesty gives
equal rights to the rich and poor to sleep under
the bridges". Thus to say that minorities who are
admittedly far behind in the race of development
as against the others should not be given special
treatment is not only sheer injustice but violative
of the mandate of the report of the UN Human
Rights Council Forum on Minority, issued on
December 14th, 15th, 2010 which has said:
"Consequently, the right of minorities to partici-
pate effectively in economic life must be fully
taken into account by governments seeking to
promote equality at every level. Governments
should gather and regularly publicize disaggre-
gated data to measure and monitor the effective
participation of minorities in economic life."
Thus it is a mischievous propaganda that
targeted programme for minorities is not legal or
constitutional.
Modi rightly reveres Gandhiji. Surely, Modi
would remember what he said in 1921 and
March1947, namely, "I would say that Hindus
and Muslims are the two eyes of Mother India -
just as the trouble in one eye affects the other
too, similarly the whole of India suffers when
either Hindu or Muslim suffers."
Would Modi not like to pay obeisance to
the memory of Gandhiji if in his inaugural
speech on being sworn as Prime Minister he
was to declare that Government of Indias 15-
Point Minority Programme, which has contin-
ued under different governments, will contin-
ue as before and that he is open to meeting
with minority leaders so as to make it even
more effective. This declaration, if made, will
act as a balm and relieve the tension in the
country especially amongst Muslims, and
thus enabling Modi to attend to other urgent
problems.
Will Modi like to be remembered as a
statesman or as a par tisan politician - he
alone can decide, because this victory has
given him an unparalleled position amongst
his colleagues. This situation poses a dan-
ger to democracy as pointed out by Dr.
Ambedkar thus: "There is nothing wrong in
being grateful to great men who have ren-
dered life-long service to the country. But
there are limits to gratefulness - for in India
unlike in any other country in the world,
Bhakti in religion may be a road to the sal-
vation of the soul. But, in politics, Bhakti or
hero-worship is a sure road to degradation
and to eventual dictatorship". We must
never forget this warning by the architect of
our Constitution.
The author is a former chief justice of Delhi High
Court and head of the Sachar Committee appointed
by the Prime Minister in 2005 to enquire into the
conditions of the Muslim of India
Priorities for Modi government
I have lost heart and
I have failed to get
my husband freed:
Ishrat Abdi
M
umbai: Mrs Ishrat Abdi, troubled wife of Syed Abid
Imam, an employee of the Kolkata branch of Food
Corporation of India, in a letter to Jamiat Ulama-e
Hind Maharashtras Legal Aid Committees secre-
tary Gulzar Azmi has requested him to extend legal assistance
to secure her husbands release. In her letter she wrote that
her husband has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the
Kolkata arms smuggling case and that now she is unable to
continue pleading against this sentence after her mother-in-
law died due to shock. Her two daughters are students. She
herself and her elderly parents, after making frequent rounds
of courts, are now tired and heart broken. Hence for Gods
sake "please help us," she wrote in her letter adding that her
husband was arrested in 2003 and two years ago hearing of
this case had started. Courts verdict was pronounced in July
2014 when her husband was sentenced to life imprisonment.
She said in her letter, "Now I have become very disap-
pointed and worried. Whatever money I had has been spent.
After selling some of my household goods I pleaded the case
but now I am very exhausted and totally disappointed. One of
my daughters is in BSc (Final) and the younger one is in the
9th class. I am somehow continuing their education so that
they may become self dependent and may not be compelled
to lead a troublesome and painful life like me. My education
was only upto the 9th class in Urdu medium, hence I am
unable to get any job or do some other workWhen this case
happened, both my daughters were very young. I was living
in a rented accommodation along with my daughters and my
mother-in-law who was very sick. She died in 2004 due to the
shcok of my husbands arrest. Now for the past ten years I
am living with my elderly parents. My husband Abid Imam
used to get half of his salary but after the courts verdict even
that was stopped. Now I find it very difficult to meet my and
my childrens expenses. My elderly parents did for us what-
ever they could and now they also are tired and disappointed
after frequently visiting lawyers and courts etc I am now
finding it extremely difficult to manage my affairs. For Gods
sake, please help me in this case and get my husband
released at the earliest
When I read about you and the way you are helping
falsely arrested people, I felt as if my sinking boat will be
saved. I had written a letter to you earlier also which prob-
ably did not reach you. Any way, I am now writing this sec-
ond letter to you I badly need my husbands suppor t
and my daughters need their fathers guardianship. They
have grown up and I have no longer the courage and hope
to wait. I am now afflicted with depression My husband
is in Alipur Central Jail"
The head of Jamiatul Ulama (Maharashtra)s Legal Aid
Committee Gulzar Azmi said that he had received the letter
form Kolkata and it is under consideration. He said that
only after considering the nature and other aspects of the
case, Jamiat Ulama-e Hind can render any help to the wife
of Syed Abid Imam. (Translated from Azizul Hind Urdu daily, 22
February, 2014)
It is a truism that in any country the faith and the
confidence of the minorities in the impartial and even
functioning of the State is the acid test of being civilized
State...inclusive development in India and for that matter
in any country alone is the path to prosperity.
NATIONAL The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 9 www.milligazette.com
Open Letter to PM Modi: Will you empower the powerless?
In the post-election period, so far you have conducted yourself
with dignity and magnanimity. The awe of the responsibility seems
to have had a sobering effect on your demeanour and speech. You
have sounded humble and responsible with a deep sense of duty
towards the nation. You have so far also not said anything which
will further compound the fears the minorities appeared to harbour
if NDA under your leadership comes to power.
If you have a clearer view of Raj Dharma than in 2002 when you
had claimed its knowledge on being reminded by Vajpayee, you can
certainly hope to enhance your popularity even among those who did
not vote for you. If you fail, even those who shouted Modi, Modi dur-
ing your campaign will have second thoughts.
You have vowed to work for the poor. Hopefully, the poor
includes all those Indians who are powerless irrespective of their reli-
gion, caste or region.
Thanks to the historic triumph of BJP under your powerful lead-
ership, the political empowerment of minorities has become the first
casualty. The BJP parliamentary party has a single minority member
from Sikh community; NDA has a Muslim in addition. Two out of 335
do not even make one percent for minorities that form around 20 per-
cent of the population. With the passage of time, Rajya Sabha too
can be expected to have a decreasing percentage of Muslims and
other minorities unless your party takes an extraordinary step of nom-
inating a large number of them. This is indeed a sad commentary on
Indias democratic system, which has constantly failed to give ade-
quate representation to all the sections of society. What is sadder is
the fact that this is being justified by your party in the name of not
giving tickets on the ground of religion and caste. The truth is that it
is not the question of giving but denying on the ground of religion
which is hurting the Muslim community in the country. If the deprived
Hindu sections like SCs and OBCs get preferences while the
deprived Muslims are ignored, it becomes a case of denying on the
ground of religion. If this is what the Constitution implies or is thus
interpreted, there is an urgent need to rethink. Your position on the
issue will certainly be the first test of your slogan of Sab ka saath,
sab ka vikaas. And of course sab ka vikaas cannot be possible
unless everyone feels secure and safe under your government. Till
everyone does feel safe you cannot hope for Sab ka Saath.
Your assertion on working for the poor will be another challenge.
Who knows it better than you that the single-minded support of the
corporates has been one of the biggest if not the biggest factor in
your stupendous win. The corporates found the welfare economics
of the emerging leadership pf UPA and the aam aadmi approach of
AAP as unacceptable and chose you and your party as the only one
deserving support. If you start doing more than simply talking about
the poor, the corporate India will fume with anger. Can you cope with
their disfavour is a big question. Time will tell the answer. The nation
is waiting to see how you control the inflation and bring cheers on the
faces of the poor.
Muslims of India are bound to be apprehensive considering the
ideology your party has and considering your past record. The onus
is on you and not on them to reduce these apprehensions. They will
wait and watch, and will react accordingly. Hopefully, you prove their
apprehensions wrong and after five years you can claim Sab ka
saath, sab ka vikaas.
DR JAVED JAMIL, New Delhi
doctorforu123@yahoo.com
II
As a citizen of India, I want to have faith in my government. No
matter who is elected, I want to feel that the only thing that mat-
ters when the government looks at me is the fact that I am an
Indian. Given that you, Shri Narendra Modi, are about to be the
Prime Minister of my country, I have some questions. Before I ask
these I want to preempt the usual diatribes that will be levelled at
me and say to those who might disagree with my questions, at
least allow me to ask them because I do so in complete sincerity.
As an Indian I want to believe, in fact I need to believe, that the
Prime Minister will not only be representative of me and all my fel-
low countrymen but will also continue the proud traditions of
equanimity, equality, harmony and justice that I grew up with. I too
want to celebrate democracy in my country and participate in wel-
coming a government that has promised so much but I do not
want to feel that just because my views on certain things might be
different I might be excluded.
There is no doubt that the Congress Party has yet again
demonstrated an arrogant callousness about their role in politics
in India. Compared to the well-managed, well-funded and indeed
overwhelming campaign of the BJP, the Congress attempts sug-
gest a complete dereliction of duty and are therefore inexcusable.
Rahul Gandhis snub of his own Prime Minister recently when he
did not attend a farewell dinner, his un-remarkable speech and
what could easily be interpreted as a supercilious expression dur-
ing and after it, only add to the public perception that the Gandhi
family is disconnected and unconcerned about its role in Indian
politics. He was a study in contrast to Tarun Gogoi who
announced his decision to resign following the results in Assam,
a state that has consistently voted for the Congress Party.
However, certain features of the BJPs campaign are worry-
ing to me. I do not think that only a Muslim can represent Muslims
or only a Hindu can represent Hindus but I do believe that whoev-
er leads India has to instill confidence in all sections of society that
they are impartial and non-partisan. Thus, what worries me is that
although you only spoke using the rhetoric of development and
have rightly castigated the Congress for its shortcomings, people
who have openly declared hatred for sections of the Indian popu-
lation are nonetheless in the BJP. There are many people who
believe that religion is an inextricable part of Indian citizenship.
Would this be the governments point of view?
Some time ago when I was in rural Uttar Pradesh, a state that
has given the BJP a huge mandate, an old farmer said to me
Look! I eat bread from the same soil that my neighbour Shakeel
tills. We used to go to the same well and now we share hand-
pumps. The same wires bring us electricity, when I have crops to
sell we walk on the same road and sell in the same market.
As was implicit in what you said in Ahmadabad, and as I am
sure you would agree, suffering and poverty have no religion.
Not long ago I, born 35 years after independence, was asked
by a compatriot about whether Muslims regret not going to
Pakistan? Very few people have the honour and privilege of con-
sciously choosing their homeland. The fact is that millions of
Indians chose to remain Indian after we acquired our independ-
ence and continue to be proud and happy to be Indian. Every sin-
gle day since then, many of them have prayed and prostrated
themselves on the soil of the homeland they embraced 67 years
ago and in doing so have affirmed their belief in the sanctity of this
land. These feelings are borne out of their respect for and trust in
our constitution and our institutions and so I am sure that arbitrary
and unfair legislation will not be used to undermine these institu-
tions or our bond to them. Today if some of my fellow countrymen
persecute me or others on account of our views, beliefs or even
backgrounds will you fulfill the duty of protection that the govern-
ment owes to all its citizens?
History is more a prism to understand the present than a mir-
ror that reflects the past. Our country is only 67 years old and
before that many things happened which today would be unjusti-
fiable. The reasons for injustices are manifold. They are not
reducible to simple binaries. So would you agree that history
should not be placed as a burden on any citizens of independent
India? Especially not the overwhelming number who were born
Indians, remain Indians and are committed to the idea of India?
Finally, I would like to end by saying Hindustan Zindabad! I
know that you began your speech in Vadodara by saying Bharat
Mata ki Jai. I reaffirm and respect the extent of your veneration for
our homeland but I hope the new government will allow me to
express my feelings of patriotism in my own language: Jai Hind!
ALI KHAN MAHMUDABAD, Cambridge
bilehra@gmail.com
And one to the Opposition too
Doubt is essential to politics as it is to other spheres of life. At the
outset it is important to underscore that doubting or questioning is
not an end in itself but merely a way to ensure that the matter in
hand is as rigorously thought out as possible. To doubt for the
sake of doubting is undoubtedly wrong. However, since elections
are not the only measure of democracy, other processes, institu-
tions and organisations that safeguard the rights of citizens must
take over in the time between elections. Amongst these are an
independent judiciary, an efficient and honest bureaucracy, an
accountable, impartial and vigilant police force and an nonparti-
san media. However, these are not enough and in a diverse
democracy such as India, in which the recent elections vote
shares point to multiple divisions in peoples political choices, it is
crucial for there also to be a viable opposition.
Before addressing some of the issues that the opposition
must take into account it will be pertinent here to insert a brief
caveat. Japan is increasingly being touted as a model of emula-
tion and inevitable comparisons are being drawn between
Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe. There is no doubt that viewed
from afar the Japanese seem to present the very model of eco-
nomic success. But this has not been without cost. Since 1955
the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) managed to cre-
ate a one-party system with a weak opposition. In 2009 the cen-
trist Democratic Party broke their hold over power only to be oust-
ed again in the 2012 elections by the LDP. The long period under
LDP rule was at the cost of democratic freedom, civil liberties and
civic political engagement. As scholar Ethan Scheiner has said,
this, in large part, was due to a government structure based on
patron-client relationships. So even though there is much to
admire about Japan, there is equally much to be wary about too.
Historically, Indian governments have previously been formed
without the existence of a credible opposition but people across
the political spectrum will acknowledge that those years are some
of the most shameful in our countrys history.
Today, although the oppositions presence in the Indian parlia-
ment has diminished, their responsibility will only increase. Just
like a government is meant to guarantee the rights and promises
offered by the constitution of the country, the opposition is simi-
larly duty bound to guard and protect these rights. With the kind of
vote-share the government has, not only in the Lower House but
potentially also in the Upper House, it will be crucial for members
of the opposition to be vigilant in order to preserve the sanctity of
our institutions and to prevent the erosion of our fundamental
rights and civil liberties.
In India, we now face a situation where our other largest
national party is reduced to parliamentary group status, as they
were unable to meet the minimum 10% needed to declare some-
one leader of the opposition. No other party has got the requisite
seats either and so what is needed is a consolidated block where-
by various political parties come together to provide an opposi-
tion.
During this process the Congress needs to accept that respect
is earned. It cannot continue to assume a sense of privilege on the
basis of history and past accomplishments. Thus, it will have to
have an non-patronising, equitable and trusting relationship with
other opposition parties such as the Trinamool Congress, the BJD
and the AIADMK if they so desire.
While the Congress reflects on its loss, remembering perhaps
that doubting is often the beginning of wisdom, it is necessary to
highlight some issues.
First and foremost, it is well known that the Congress Party,
like other parties, has in the past resorted to the use of undemo-
cratic and illegal measures in order to create divisions and take
advantage of social and religious fissures. This is something
which is often pointed out by both their detractors and their sup-
porters. This cynical form of politics must be abandoned in order
to build trust with the electorate once again. In a parliament in
which 21% of the new members, including those from the BJP (98
MPs) and Congress (8 MPs), have serious criminal cases against
them, vigilance will be all the more imperative. This of course is
something that Modi has promised to address.
Often oppositions are disruptive for political gain but I hope
this shall not be the case in the newly elected parliament. If there
are bills and acts that will truly contribute to the uplift of the coun-
try and will not be to the detriment of or at the cost of the rights of
any citizen of India then these must be wholeheartedly supported
by the opposition. It is not important who becomes the leader of
the opposition. What is of great consequence is the duty of our
opposition to act as the conscience-keepers of the government.
ALI KHAN MAHMUDABAD, Cambridge
bilehra@gmail.com
Indias democratic system...has constantly
failed to give adequate representation to all
the sections of society. What is sadder is the
fact that this is being justified by your party in
the name of not giving tickets on the ground
of religion and caste. The truth is that it is
not the question of giving but denying on the
ground of religion which is hurting the Muslim
community in the country.
As an Indian I want to believe, in fact I need to
believe, that the Prime Minister will not only
be representative of me and all my fellow
countrymen but will also continue the proud
traditions of equanimity, equality, harmony and
justice that I grew up with. I too want to
celebrate democracy in my country and
participate in welcoming a government that
has promised so much but I do not want to
feel that just because my views on certain
things might be different I might be excluded.
Unbelievable results
The more election results are being analysed, the more it appears
the sweep of Modi is too overwhelming to be believable. Besides
the huge margins, the pattern of those from the non-BJP winning
seats in the Lok Sabha elections, appears to be entire arbitrary
and tailor-made to suit a Modi strategy to give the sweep a cred-
ible face. Why BJP sacrificed Smirti Irani? Why Maharashtra
BJPs clean sweep still made room for Sharad Pawars daughter
and nephew against the Modi wave? There are questions galore
that will engage the analysts, in the aftermath of this incredible
election, smacking of the practice of some banana republic elec-
tions, where the leader practically and invariably gets to near
100% mandate. With todays communication technology control-
ling entire world, it is quite feasible to treat Indias EVM system
interlocked to a central control mechanism, with someone like
Chanakya giving exact figures even before the official figures are
out. It is possible that more and more disgruntled losers like sit-
ting MP Sanjay Nirupam will resort to judicial reviews and play
havoc with the Modi mandate. And they will do Indian democra-
cy a big favour. Now that elections are over and media is no
longer in the pay, may be they too will join in investigation of how
this miracle was achieved.
GHULAM MUHAMMED, Mumbai
ghulammuhammed3@gmail.com
BJP Victory and Indian Muslims
Instead of being bitter and sullen, we have to try to make the BJP
victory an opportunity for our own course correction. First of all,
quality education has to remain the top priority for Indian
Muslims. We have to veer away from demanding reservations
and government doles and rely more and more on our own indi-
vidual and community resources. In public life we have to learn
to be Indians rather than Indian Muslims. Being Muslims is our
private affair. We are Muslims both at home and in the mosque
but not in the public square where we should be in the main-
stream. Let Indias economic development be OUR agenda. If we
find that the BJP is better at economic development, let us sup-
port it or even join it. If Congress has better ideas or plans for
economic development, let us support Congress. We may dis-
agree with Narendra Modi on many issues, but we can surely
agree with his slogan: India first!.
GHULAM MOHIYUDDIN, New York USA
AFSANA RASHID, SRINAGAR
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) swept the polls in Jammu and Kashmir. Coalition-partners,
National Conference and Congress, couldnt get even a single
seat.Both National Conference and Congress stalwarts, Dr Farooq
Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Azad lost the elections.
Out of the six Parliamentary seats in the state, PDP and BJP both
won three seats, each. PDP won all the three Lok Sabha seats in
the Kashmir valley and BJP won both seats in Jammu region and
a seat in Ladakh. The coalition-partners contested elections on the
basis of pre-poll alliance, wherein National Conference contested
from all the three Parliamentary seats from Kashmir and Congress
contested from both the Lok Sabha seats in Jammu region and a
lone seat in Ladakh.
PDPs Tariq Hameed Kara defeated National Conference
patron, Dr Abdullah by 42,183 votes from Srinagar-Budgam
Parliamentary constituency. NOTA (None of the above) option was
chosen by 4958 electors, in the constituency.
In north Kashmirs Baramulla-KupwaraLok Sabha constituen-
cy, PDPs Muzaffar Hussain Baig, defeated National Conferences
Shareef-ud-din Shariqby by a margin of 29,229 votes. 4568 vot-
ers opted for NOTA.
A similar situation prevailed in south Kashmir. PDP president,
Mehbooba Mufti defeated National Conferences sitting Member
of Parliament, Dr Mirza MehboobBaig by 65417 votes. 5936 elec-
torates opted for NOTA.
In Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary constituency, BJPs Jugal
Kishore won the seat by a margin of 2.56 lakh votes. NOTA option
was exercised by 4343 electorates and 942 votes, in the con-
stituency, were rejected.
In Udhampur-Doda constituency, BJP won by a margin of
60,976 votes. BJPs Jitendra Singh defeated Ghulam
NabiAzad.About 10,477 voters exercised the NOTA option.
In Ladakh Parliamentary constituency, BJP won by just 36
votes. BJPs ThupstanChhewang secured 31,111 votes followed
by an independent candidate, Ghulam Raza, who got 31,075
votes.
Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir were held in five
phases, from April 10 to May 7. Cross- voting developed serious
fissures within the coalition-partners, who accused each other of
not working towards the success of alliance partners.
Though the tussle started much earlier, but the differences
came to fore after senior Congress leader and Minister for Medical
Education, TajMohi-ud-Din, May 11,stated that National
Conference workers in Uri voted for PDP.Uri is part of Baramulla-
Kupwara Parliamentary constituency that went to polls on May 7.
Reacting to this, senior National Conference leader from Uri
and a Rajya Sabha member, Mohammad Shafi accused Mohi-ud-
Din of trying to cover up his failure. He alleged that the minister
should explain how 12 panchayat representatives affiliated with
Congress met Baig and pledged their support to him. He further
alleged that senior Congress workers in Uri worked to support
Peoples Conference candidate, Salam-ud-Din Bajad.
It was National Conferences Additional General Secretary,
Dr. Mustafa Kamal, who initiated the entire debate of cross-voting,
May 2. He claimed that its coalition partner, Congress had
ditched them. But his statement was termed irrelevant by
Dr Abdullah, May 3.
State Congress chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, May 11, said that
he tried his best to ensure support for National Conference provid-
ed they supported them in Jammu. There could be other reasons
responsible for cross-voting, he added.
Incidentally, the incidents of harassment of some voters in
north Kashmirs Sopore and Baramulla, who voted during the last
phase of elections in Baramulla-Kupwara Parliamentary con-
stituency, May 7, was condemned both by mainstream politicians
and separatists. They appealed to people to maintain calm and
unity.
Youth in Sopore and Baramulla had reportedly stopped vehi-
cles coming from Kupwara and checked the index fingers of peo-
ple for indelible ink marks and then thrashed them publicly, a day
after balloting took place in north Kashmir. Reports added that
some people were even stripped.
Pressure on panchayats
Though the separatists asked the Panchayat representatives to
resign en masse, panchayat leaders decided to continue with the
development work in their respective areas.
In wake of the recent killings of Panchayat members,
sarpanchs and panchs staged a protest here, May 12, stating that
mainstream political parties like National Conference, Congress
and Peoples Democratic Party, and not the militants, were behind
their killings for their political interests.
Leading the protest, Khurshid Ahmad Malik, General
Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Association, said
United Jehad Council chief Syed Salahudin has clarified that mili-
tants wont do anything to panchayat leaders as they work for
local development.
Malik, who is also a sarpanch from south Kashmirs
Kokernag, shared that all the 33,000 sarpanchs and panchs
across the state are facing a fear-psychosis following a series of
killings of their colleagues, since Panchayat elections in May-June
2011. A six-member committee has been formed that would meet
the separatists, in this connection, he added.
The Panchayat leaders met Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali
Geelani and JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik, May 14, to seek
their opinion. While Geelani asked them to resign on moral
grounds, JKLF chairman suggested to them to take a decision by
consulting everybody and the decision should be consistent and
irrevocable. Stressing upon Panchayat representatives to listen to
their conscience and resign instead of becoming tools in further-
ing the political interests of India Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz
Umar Farooq, May 17, said that democratic process is meaning-
ful only in a situation where people are politically free and enjoy
full political rights.
All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC)
chairman, Shafiq Mir, May 12, said they would wait till the new
government is formed at the Centre. Nine Panchayat representa-
tives and two relatives of a sarpanch were killed and 15 injured in
various attacks since 2011, Mir added.
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali
Mohammad Sagar, May 12, has been quoted as saying that there
is no doubt that militants are killing panchayat leaders.
Deciding not to resign, AJKPC, May 20, said that panchayat
representatives shall keep good relation with all, who are able to
play key role in development of their areas and overall develop-
ment of the state, irrespective of any political thought or ideology.
It further added that sarpanchs and panchs will not act as office
bearers of any political party as they fought elections on non-polit-
ical basis and were voted for developmental works only.
Gun licences issued to dubious people
Around three lakh gun licenses have been issued to a particular
section of society in the state, claims Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed
Ali Shah Geelani.
In addition to eight lakh guns of the Indian army, Indian gov-
ernment has secretly issued 3 lakh gun licenses to selected peo-
ple, said Geelani, May 9, adding, many of these licenses have
been issued to relatives of armed forces and non-state subjects.
Terming it a serious issue, Geelani said, these weapons will be
used for dirty games by India, sponsored by its agencies.
Demanding cancellation of these licenses and withdrawal of
weapons, Geelani added New Delhi was using tactics and poli-
cies to suppress the freedom movement and convert it into a civil
war.
Meanwhile, communal clashes once again surfaced in
Zanskar-Kargil in Ladakh region. A group of Muslims was
attacked by a mob of a par ticular community in Zanskar, May
9, as repor ted by a local news gathering agency, CNS. A youth,
Amanullah, sustained injuries in the attack. As the news
spread, people took to the streets in Padum. Police swung into
action to prevent clashes between the two communities.CNS
fur ther repor ted that the relations between the two communi-
ties got strained after 22 members of four families embraced
Islam in 2012. Since then, the majority community has com-
pletely boycotted the Muslims residing in main Padum town, it
said. Police has registered FIR number 2/2014 under section
323, 147 of RPC against the three persons involved in the
attack.
7 out of 10 subscriptions are through WORD OF MOUTH
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THE MILLI GAZETTE
First English Newspaper of Indian Muslims. Telling the Muslim side of the story fortnight after fortnight since January 2000
10 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 NATIONAL www.milligazette.com
DR SANDEEP PANDEY
Rambabu is a dalit activist
working for the empowerment
of marginalized sections of
the population in rural Hardoi.
He feels for the first time in
any elections that people are
being divided on communal
lines. His religious identity is in conflict with
this caste identity and is beginning to create
pressure on him to vote in the forthcoming
elections on communal lines. Needless to say
the result could be disastrous for the country.
Narendra Modi has claimed that he will rid
the parliament of criminals including those in
BJP or NDA. He doesnt have to look very far.
His trusted lieutenant Amit Shah is an accused
in more than one encounter case. Modi himself
is not completely absolved of involvement in the
2002 violence in Gujarat. Mystery surrounding
the death of former Gujarat home minister Haren
Pandya is yet to be cleared. It is amazing that
coming from a murky background as this Modi
has been able to project himself as a person
wholl give good governance.
While Modi has been able to ward off the
communal image, his colleagues from the
Sangh Parivar ensure that people are reminded
of the basic character of Modis associations.
Pravin Togadia has graphically described how
Bajrang Dal people have been capturing houses
belonging to Muslims. A not so well known fact
about the Gujarat model, which means different
things to different people, is that Hindu and
Muslim populations have been totally segregat-
ed. If Modi becomes the PM chances are that
this aspect of Gujarat model will be implement-
ed countrywide. The entire country is under
threat of division second time in history on com-
munal lines.
Muzaffarnagar was probably just a trailer.
Physical division will take place internally. BJP
leader from Bihar Giriraj Singh says people who
dont agree with Modi must all go to Pakistan.
Now even if Modi becomes the PM, his party is
not going to get more than 50% votes. This
implies that more than half the country should
be packing their bags to move to Pakistan.
The communal politics is taking over the
minds of people and even affecting other par-
ties. Shazia Ilmi became a victim of this. She
couldnt help herself saying that Muslims should
become a bit communal as by being secular
they were paying a price. It shows how bad the
situation has become. Secular leaders have to
use a communal argument.
Such a large population as that of Muslims
will have to live as second grade citizens in India
under Modi rule as they are living in Gujarat now.
This will create a volatile situation. The country
is already paying a heavy price for Babri Masjid
demolition, which too was the handiwork of
Sangh Parivar, in terms of the emergence of the
problem of terrorism. Had Babri Masjid demoli-
tion not taken place, this country would probably
not have witnessed bomb blasts anywhere. The
Sangh Parivar is ready to give another blow to
the secular fabric of this country and will cause
irreparable damage. If Modi becomes the PM
and continues to rule for five years, the future of
democracy in India is threatened. He is a person
who will not only muffle any dissent coming
from outside but will also suppress the emer-
gence of any competition from within his party.
People who have got fed up of corruption
promoted by Congress party dont realize what
they are bargaining for when they talk of bring-
ing in Modi.
Congress is to blame itself for giving Modi a
chance to emerge in the manner he has been
able to do. The Congress, in spite of having done
a few good things, has appeared to have run a
very weak government, allowing its ministers
and allies to loot the public exchequer. It is seen
as a party which accepts dynastic rule and pro-
motes the interests of Gandhi family. What
Robert Vadra has done is indefensible and yet
Priyanka Gandhi is trying to shield him. The
more Congress will try to defend its wrong
doings, Modi and BJP will gain in reaction.
It took some time for people to figure out
that Arvind Kejriwal was taking a secular stand.
In the beginning he kept people in
dark about this with taking a stand
just against corruption. But now it
is patently clear that Arvind is sec-
ular. This is the reason Muslim voters are sup-
porting him in a number of constituencies.
When the results of Delhi Assembly elec-
tions were out it became clear that AAP had pre-
vented BJP from attaining a clear majority. It was
seen as a force which could check the rise of
communal politics as Arvind was raising real
issues. For example, BJP is after Congress on
the Vadra land deals. But the fact of the matter is
that it was Arvind Kejriwal who exposed the mat-
ter. BJP is just using it.
However, the manner in which Arvind aban-
doned the Delhi government without consulting the
people as he had done when forming the govern-
ment, a message has gone out that he cannot run
a government. He can do protest politics very well
and he is a tremendous street fighter but when it
comes to governance it is not his cup of tea. For
this reason people have stopped considering him
as a serious contender to run the national govern-
ment. This is the main reason why hell not be able
to repeat the Delhi performance in the national
elections. Hence, unfortunately, what appeared to
be a challenge to the comeback of communal
forces to Delhis seat of power is fading away.
(Citizen News Service)
The author is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee and a
senior social activist. He is a member,
National Presidium, Lok Rajniti Manch.
This article was wrtitten befoe the election
results were out.
Dividing the country on communal lines
Unexpected election results bring PDP to the fore
Should Modi-wave really be credited for
having ensured Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) a stunning victory in elections to 16th
Lok Sabha? As the new government takes
charge, now is the time to reflect on factors
that may have contributed to BJPs return to
power. Ostensibly, it seems that Modis
emphasis on development helped him con-
vince the electorate that this is what his aim
really is. Of course, Modi is not expected to take major steps
on this path in a short while. But yes, it may not be long before
voters start deliberating on development the country is head-
ing for with Narendra Modi as its 14th Prime Minister.
Modis development-agenda was not, however, the only
cause of BJPs electoral success. Had BJP not succeeded in
winning 71 of 80 seats from Uttar Pradesh (UP), the scenario
may have been quite different. BJPs strategic planning in UP
focused primarily on preventing its key rivals Bahujan Samaj
Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) from performing well
here. Ahead of elections, a BJP leader revealed that the
partys aim was to ensure that BSP was wiped out in UP. As
per BJPs planning, BSP failed to win even a single seat in UP.
BSPs basic political strength in UP has rested on support
of Dalit votes (and on Muslim votes to a lesser extent). Modis
campaigning and his own caste background played a crucial
role in turning the lower caste Hindu votes from BSP to BJP in
the Lok Sabha elections. BJPs decision to include several key
lower caste Hindu leaders in its party and/or align with them
just ahead of the polls was a part of its strategy to strike at
the very foundation of BSP.
BJPs success against regional parties extends to Bihar
also. Realization of the role played by Dalit-vote in BJPs vic-
tory has prompted Janata Dal (U) leader, Nitish Kumar to
resign from Bihars chief ministerial position and select a
Mahadalit, Jiten Ram Manjhi, to hold this office.
In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
(MP), BJP prevented Congress from winning even a handful of
seats. The Congress won only two seats in MP and none in
other states. With regional parties practically non-existent in
these states, the key battle here has always been between
BJP and Congress.
The BJP may be credited for having secured a sweeping
victory in Indias Hindi-belt, where either Congress or region-
al parties have performed miserably against it.
The scenario is different in the non-Hindi belt of India. In
fact, statistics indicate that regional parties have improved
their performance in these states. In West Bengal (WB), com-
pared to 18 seats held by Trinamool Congress (TC) in the 15th
Lok Sabha, the party has won 34 in the 16th Lok Sabha.
Similarly, in Tamil Nadu (TN), All India Anna Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) had only nine members in the
15th Lok Sabha and has won 37 seats in these elections. From
Odisha, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has won 20 seats, while earlier
it had only 14. True, National Conference (NC) has failed to
win even a single seat in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) from where
it was represented by three members. Its rival, Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) has won three seats from J&K. Less
than a dozen members from regional parties represented
Andhra Pradesh (AP) in the 15th Lok Sabha. The scenario has
changed with regional parties having won 38 of 42 seats from
AP.
The stunning fact that small parties, dominated largely by
Muslims, have not been wiped out from several states, cannot
be ignored. From Assam, All India Democratic Front (AIDF)
has won three seats while in the 15th Lok Sabha it had only
one member. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has
retained its strength of two members from Kerala in Lok
Sabha. Likewise, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
(AIMIM) retains it single seat from AP.
True, BJP has to a certain degree extended its political
reach beyond the Hindi belt by winning three seats in AP, three
in J&K, two in WB, one in Odisha and one in TN. But against
the dominance of regional parties in these states, BJP appar-
ently carries little significance. The same point is also proved
by percentage of votes secured by BJP. Statistics released by
Indian Election Commission indicate that BJP has won 31% of
votes. This also implies that 69% of votes have not gone in
favour of BJP. Of these, 19.3% have been secured by
Congress, 4.1% by BSP, 3.8% by TC, 3.4% by SP and so forth.
What an irony, despite having secured a greater percentage
of votes in UP than that secured by TC in WB, BSP has failed
to win a single seat from its own home state. Undeniably, out-
side the Hindi belt, several regional parties have increased
their strength in the 16th Lok Sabha. Had religious polariza-
tion, resting on saffron brigades Hindutva-agenda been
entirely responsible for BJPs victory, the party would have
probably secured around 80% votes across the country. And
this only further supports the point that Modi-wave has suc-
ceeded primarily only in the Hindi belt!
Speaki ng Out
Caste-Card Helped
BJP Win Hindi-Belt!
NI LOFAR SUHRAWARDY
ANALYSIS The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 11 www.milligazette.com
M HASAN JOWHER
1. 16th LOK SABHA 2014
a. Parliamentary elections were
held at the end of the UPAs 2nd
term in the background of
sweeping anti-incumbency sen-
timents and wide-spread accu-
sations of corruption which
resulted into perceptible slow-down in gover-
nance.
b. By and large the Election Commission did a
magnificent job of securing the polls and ensuring
a clean poll, a world class achievement undoubt-
edly. The elections registered a record 66% turnout
of the voters.
2. MODIs VICTORY
a. Gujarats infamous Chief Minister, Narendra
Modi, nominated BJPs prime ministerial candi-
date, swept the polls bagging 282 seats in the
543-member house, more than doubling the
partys 2009 tally of 116.
b. Thus he decimated the Congress to its all-time
low tally of 44, far below the minimum of 10%
required to register as the Opposition Party.
Congress has been wiped out from several states
including such large states as Maharashtra,
Gujarat and Rajasthan.
c. Modi worked very hard, addressed far more ral-
lies than any other major leader, travelled far and
wide, struck smart - if unprincipled - alliances,
courted media successfully, played to the gallery
with well-researched local issues, used technolo-
gy to the hilt, and marketed himself systematically
and successfully. If this is all politics then he
turned out the smartest politician and is reaping
the fruits of a flawed system of governance.
d. In the process, he commands a clear majority
in the Lok Sabha, the first ever non-Congress
party to do so, and the first since Rajiv Gandhi in
1984.
e. On the flip side, he mustered only a third of pos-
itive votes of Indian voters, effectively meaning
that 2/3rd of the voters rejected him. But - thanks
to our first-past-the-post polls - he could register
impressive wins almost in every part of India.
f. The writing was there to see on the wall weeks
before the verdict: massive crowds in his rallies,
huge media hype, deafening publicity drive at
incredible costs, live coverage of speeches, vari-
ous Modi artefacts and shows and impressive
endorsements.
3. MUSLIM MARGINALIZATION
a. Never before have the Muslim votes been
proven so useless as in this election, virtually a
negative vote leading instead to subtle counter-
mobilization of Hindu votes in favour of Modi.
b. Not a single Muslim MP from BJP has entered
this Lok Sabha. Therefore, ministers, if any, will be
entirely a matter of courtesy, or will come from
some dispensable alliance partner.
c. I have said this before and repeat - after all the
political punditry, and nuanced narrative ends -
that a vote for Modi was a vote against Muslims. I
am, however, not absolving the Muslims from the
blame for this situation. I note repeatedly that
Indian Hindus had opted for secularism - ideolog-
ically or strategically - in 1947. As Pakistan slid
into theocracy, India steadfastly struck to secular-
ism going on to make it a matter of constitutional
doctrine.
d. Therefore, it devolves upon Muslims to examine
how the situation deteriorated so much that a man
that belonged to the gallows came to rule the
nation.
e. The international pariahs that the Muslims have
become, their ill-conceived priorities, failure to
manage public perception [not one credible and
secular national newspaper or TV channel by
Muslims, for instance], a completely sold out,
morally bankrupt and utterly self-serving leader-
ship, interference of ill-informed clergymen in pol-
itics etc contributed to their dispensability. If
Gujarats Muslim victims gave Modi the assembly,
Muzaffarnagars gave him Parliamentary seats of
UP and Bihar, and those of Assam delivered him
the North East. Every Muslim loss of life has prof-
ited this man.
4. MODIS WEAPONRY
a. Undoubtedly communal polarization was the
chief factor, for all the hypocritical talk of develop-
ment. Notice that UP and Assam where commu-
nal polarization was engineered returned the
largest proportionate victories.
b. The bogey of anti-corruption crusade was
another subterfuge for the soft-saffronites [else
Nitish wouldnt lose, Jagan and Yadurappa would-
nt win]. By design or accident, this started the
beginning of the end of the Congress chances this
election. Annas movement - may history unveil -
appeared a calculated move to malign this party.
Arvind played into their hands - hopefully unwit-
tingly - with AAP contributing to nothing but the
division of the secular vote - thanks to Arvinds
single act of taking on Modi.
c. The over-hyped anti-Congressism and its
demonization by the Left [largely due to the ego of
Prakash Karat], the electronic media [undoubtedly
a large section properly greased and oiled, with
India TV actually telecasting Modi interview a
dozen times including on the polling day], the
loose talk of pseudo-secular ones creating an
environment as if nothing good ever happened in
67 years and particularly during UPAs two terms,
as if the Gandhis was the only dynasty and it was
seeped into corruption [although other than
against Vadra no semblance of credible evidence
was ever produced].
d. It is nave to deny Gujarats infrastructural devel-
opment and its very effective marketing by Modi.
The migrant labourers of UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, MP
carried these tales back home and the word of the
mouth spread. Obviously they did not have to feel
the pain of the 2002 victims, which the Muslims
did not drive home properly anyway.
e. He successfully show-cased his agricultural
achievements to sarpanchs invited from the whole
of India and were photographed for the proposed
Sardar museum.
f. His smart moves initiated months in advance to
involve common Indians, such as collecting iron
from every village for Patels statue, offer of schol-
arships etc. attracted nation-wide attention.
g. Modi thus creating myriad vested interests in
his victory across a wide spectrum of classes and
sections, from corporates to carpenters, farm
owners to farmers.
5. CONGRESSs FAILURES
a. Arrogance of the party perhaps resulting from
two successive terms led to a huge disconnect
from both the reality and the masses.
b. Rahul was ensconced amid a bunch of tech-
nocrats devoid of political sense, discarding old,
tried hands. He arrived on the scene too late and
experimented ideas without adequate trial-runs.
The High Command failed to connect with the
workers until it was too late. [This authors warn-
ings post-Nirbhaya outrage over a year in
advance, remained unacknowledged.]
c. The colossal failure of the Manmohan govern-
ment to communicate, to use the official media to
explain its point of view on scandals from the
Commonwealth games to Coalgate, and the eerie
silence of the party on serious charges led to the
perception of complicity.
d. Their failure to fix the guilty including Modi on
2002 carnage, fake encounters, stalking etc, in
time, and letting the likes of Gen V K Singh, Baba
Ramdev etc off the hook led to villains turning into
heroes.
6. MODIS GOOD LUCK
a. Whether or not Modi was complicit in Gujarats
infamous pogrom, he surely reaped the fruits of
polarization it created. This resulted in a massive
majority for him in the state assembly, nullifying
the MLAs and neutralizing their political pressure.
Modi put this to good use by effective, even if arbi-
trary and dictatorial, governance, which enabled
him to deliver economic dividends faster. The cor-
porate patronage followed and so did the
resources. Thus avoiding the label of personal cor-
ruption he put political corruption to massive use
for his own marketing and branding over his suc-
cessive terms.
b. Monsoons favoured him throughout these 12
years. No major calamity struck Gujarat since
2001.
c. And now thanks to the foregoing he is handed a
massive majority in the Parliament. Combining the
two Houses he can manage to pass any number -
and kind - of legislations, overrule ministers and
bureaucrats. For all you know he may be able to
deliver even at Delhi to a rapidly enriching money-
focused middle class, thus immortalizing his lega-
cy and forever erasing the blame he justly carries.
Effectively this puts an end to the pursuit of justice
for his misdeeds.
d. On the plus side, badly hungry and gravely in need
of international recognition, he may well play the
statesman by striking a healthy relationship with
Pakistan, and perhaps resolving the Kashmir dispute
through a stick-and-carrot approach. To placate his
saffron brigade he may well go for a Ram Mandir, by
purchasing the loyalties of appeasing Muslims.
Not only as a Gujarati Muslim do I feel badly let
down at this turn of events but as an Indian I feel
ashamed at the rise of the right-wing just when a
21st century India should have produced a pro-
gressive, science-driven and ultra-secular dispen-
sation. But more than others I am angry with
Indian and global Muslim leadership for landing
their hordes into this despicable situation.
The author runs a Gujarat NGO focused on communal
harmony and scientific temper and can be reached at
mhj@sprat.in
Cry Beloved India
The international pariahs that the Muslims have become, their ill-conceived
priorities, failure to manage public perception [not one credible and secular
national newspaper or TV channel by Muslims, for instance], a completely
sold out, morally bankrupt and utterly self-serving leadership, interference
of ill-informed clergymen in politics etc contributed to their dispensability. If
Gujarats Muslim victims gave Modi the assembly, Muzaffarnagars gave
him Parliamentary seats of UP and Bihar, and those of Assam delivered him
the North East. Every Muslim loss of life has profited this man.
Praveen Swamy is back!
Praveen Swamy on 21 May published a story
about a new terrorist organization which was
reported a day earlier in a DNA report.
Mr. Swami is Indias most prominent terror
journalist whose reports have helped Indian
government to nab many terrorists and bust
many sleeper cells. It is not clear if Mr. Swamy
has came to to know about this story only after
DNA published it. The videos mentioned in the
report were available on youtube since
22 January 2014. For what the great terror
expert was waiting to report it? There are some
more questions for him:
Why his report is silent on the identity of the
person Abdal Rahman who is the speaker in
the Ansar-ul-Tauheed videos? Is there any diffi-
culty to ascertain audio analysis of these
speeches which were allegedly, according to
Swamy, made in Waziristan? Why these videos
have different voices and different physical
appearances of the speaker introduced as
Abdal Rahman whom Praveen Swamy failed
to introduce? Why these videos may not have
been shot in India itself? What makes him so
certain about Waziristan? Is there any audio-
video analysis of these Youtube postings? Did
Swamy and or Indian government try to find out
the source of these videos, who posted them?
One finds that young men in these videos are
so lean and thin which is generally not seen in
Pakistan. Praveen Swamy is quite resourceful
to ascertain the location of the posting of these
videos on Net, location of their website activi-
ties. Why does he not want to inform his read-
ers about it also?
OMAIR ANAS, JNU
omairanas@gmail.com
12 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 NEWSMAKERS www.milligazette.com
A. R. NOORJAHAN who is doing post graduation in Chemistry in
Bangalore University has topped in the whole University. In recog-
nition of her feat she was honoured with six gold medals at a
felicitation function held in the University on 20 May. Her father
Abdul Rafiq is a worker at a meat shop whose monthly salary is
Rs 6000. To add to familys income she undertakes tuition. Last
year she was also granted a scholarlship by UGC which is very
helpful to her in her post graduate studies.
Ms TAMSEEL FATEMA, a 7th class, Old Delhi student of
Presentation Convent Sr Sec School, who secured a total of 95%
marks was honoured with a prize by the School authorities. Last
year also i.e. in 6th class she had secured a total of 95% marks
in 100 percent in other subjects.
AWARDS
MUKUL SINHA, a plasma physicist turend
human rights activist, lawyer and Messiah
of victims of Gujarats 2002 massacre, nay
genocide who fought many court battles
against fake encounters against Muslims,
including Sadiq Jamal, Ishrat Jahan and
many others against fascism and Modi
government, died of cancer in Ahmadabad
on 12 May at the age of 63 years. He used to run an NGO Jan
Sangharsh for helping and taking up the causes of victims of
2002 riots and many fake encounters. A scientist turned human
rihts activist he was an alumnus of IIT Kanpur but after getting law
degree he started fighting legal cases of victims of injustice. He
leaves behind his wife and one son.
SYED ZAMEER HASAN DEHLVI, Urdu
writer and compiler died in Delhi on
16 May at the age of 74 years. He
suffered a stroke of paralysis a few
day ago and admitted to hospital but
could not survive. He was par ticular-
ly fond of Delhis old life style, lan-
guage, history etc. Author of more
than a dozen books on different subjects, his Dilli se Dilli
Tak was very popular. His last book Bahadur Shah Zafar ki
Dilli was published recently. He was honoured with Delhi
Urdu Academys award for Creative Prose. He leaves
behind two sons.
SYED ALI ABBAS, senior Urdu journalist who worked hard for
the promotion of Urdu language & literature died at his home-
town Marahra (Gorakhpur district) on 15 May. He worked in
different Urdu newspapes. He was also associated with UPs
Press Information Bureau. He was well versed in Urdu as well
as English. He was laid to rest in Delhi and leaves behind his
widow, three sons and one daughter.
MAULANA SAYEDUR RAHMAN of Basti
town of Gorakhpur died of cancer at the
young of 38 years. After completing his
education at Darul Uloom Deoband he
had been teaching in 3 madrasas viz
Mahad Aaisha Lil Banat, Darul Uloom
Fauqia and Jamia Ummahaat Al
Mominat, all in Deoband simultaneous-
ly. About 2 months ago he was diagnosed as a cancer
patient and taken to Mumbais Prince Ali Khan Hospital but
doctors found that cancer had reached the terminal stage
when any treatment will not be of any use. Hene they dis-
charged him and he was brought to Deoband about 4 or 5
days ago and died on 18 May. He leaves behind wife and
four minor children (one son and three daughters).
SUFI ABDUL AZIZ QADIRI, noted Urdu
poet of Saharanpur died on 27 April in
Saharanpurs district hospital at the age
of 85 years. His anthology of naats titled
Taufeeq-e Sana was recently published.
He leaves behind five sons and two
daughters.
New Delhi: Maulana Hasrat Mohani Foundation organised a sem-
inar here on 12 April on the great freedom fighter, poet and mem-
ber of Constituent Assembly. The seminar was inaugurated by
Dr Aziz Qureshi, Governor of Uttarakhand, who also released the
following books during the seminar 1. First complete
Independence Resolution / Trial of India (1921-1922) & Hasrat
Mohani Jail Experiences; Bharat Ka Pratham Sampoorn
Swatantrata Ka Prastav Wa Mukadma (1921-1922) Aur Hasrat
Mohani Ka Jail Aulokank (both written by Nafis Ahmad Siddiqui);
Nukaat-e-Sukhan by Hasrat Mohani.
During the first session, Prof. Salim Qidwai (JNU), Prof.
Aslam Jamshedpuri (Meerut University), Prof. Tauquir Ahmad
Khan (Delhi Uni.) spoke of the legendary freedom fighter and
poet and referred to various written notes on his contribution in
the freedom movement and in the revival of Ghazal and Urdu
journalism.
Dr Aziz Qureshi spoke on Maulana Hasrat Mohanis selfless
contribution to the freedom of our country. He suffered much for
this and went to jail a number of times. As a member of
Constituent Assembly, he did not accept allowances, neither used
government banglow or even the telephone allotted to him during
1946-1951. Dr. Aziz Qureshi expressed sorrow that Mohanys
contribution in the freedom of the country has been ignored. He
suggested that Hasrat Mohani Chairs should be established at
Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawahar Lal Nehru
University and also at Maulana Azad National Urdu University.
Moreover, a chapter on Hasrat Mohani should be included in the
school syllabus.
During the second session, papers were read by Dr. Karim
Ansari, Zakia Rukhshanda, Dr. Sahmeen Ahmad, Dr. Ali Ahmad Idrisi,
Bashir Ahmad, Dr. Nafis Jahan Ansari, Dr. Salim Malik and others.
Earlier, on 25 February 2014, Vice President Hamid Ansari
had released a postal stamp on Maulana Hasrat Mohani.
HASRAT MOHANI
Sitting MP HUSSAIN DALWAI from Congress party
and leading criminal lawyer MAJEED MEMON of the
Nationalist Congress Party were elected unopposed to
the Rajya Sabha. While Dalwai, who was the only
Muslim MP from Maharashtra, retained his seat,
Majeed Memon entered the upper house for the first
time. Memon has an experience of over 4 decades in
has appeared in several high profile national and international matters.
Prof IBN KANWAL, a senior professor in Delhi Universitys Urdu
Department has for the second time been appointed (and taken over)
President of Delhi Unis Department of Urdu. Earlier also he was Head
of this Department from 2005 to 2008. In view of his valuable services
in academic and litrary fields he has been honoured with many awards
by Delhi, UP, Bihar, Haryana Urdu Academics and also with Sir Syed
Millennium Award, Delhi for Urdu fiction.
Prof SYED MUHAMMAD HASHIM of AMUs Urdu Department has been
appointed by Vice Chancellor Zamiruddin Shah as editor of Urdu quar-
terly magazine Fikr-o Nazar, in place of Prof Abul Kalam Qasmi for two
years. In addition to being a teacher he is also a researcher and an
authority on poet Allama Iqbal. During his student days he was a Gold
Medalist and now is an author of many books.
Prof (Dr) BAADSHAH ALAM of Jamia Millia Islamia Universitys Faculty
of Engineering has been elected President of Jamia Teachers
Association in the election of new office bearers of this institutions
Teachers Association. Prof SULTAN BHAT has been elected Secretary
of the Association. This year out of the total 589 members of JTA, 490
(maximum so far) members took part in this election. Ms Sabiha Alam
was elected Joint Secretary.
MEN & WOMEN IN NEWS
OBITUARIES
G.M. BANATWALLA
Indian Union Muslim Leaue (IUML) President
Ghulam Mehmood Banatwalla, M.Com.,
B.Ed.,LL.B., was born on 15 August, 1933 into a
middle class Catchi Memon family in Mumbai.
His forefathers were natives of Cutch (in
Gujarat). A gifted student, he obtained his BEd
and MCom, from ST College & Sydenhanm
College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai,
respectively. After graduation, he worked as a
teacher and lecturer. He was married to
Dr. Ayesha Banatwalla in 1960.
From an early age he showed a natural acu-
men for social activitism and participated in
social activities. He became the president of the
Cutchi Memon Students Circle, Mumbai, in 1954
and was later elected as the head of the Cutchi
Memon Jamat. Throughout 1950s and 1960s,
he served in various capacities in organizations
as diverse as Muslim Ambulance Society,
Anjuman-i-Islam Board for Commercial
Education, Aligarh Muslim University Court,
Maharashtra State Integration Committee,
Bombay Metropolitan Regional Development
Board and as Justice of Peace. Later, he quit
teaching to be full-time in politics.
He served two terms as a councillor of the
Bombay Municipal Corporation. He was elected
to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1967
on the Indian Union Muslim League ticket and
remained an MLA until 1977. He was a vocal,
and often the lone advocate of Muslim issues
there. When a resolution to make family planning
compulsory was introduced in the house,
Banatwalla was the lone member to oppose it.
He said no one should be forced to undergo ster-
ilisation and that only
Muslims would be made
special targets of such
schemes. A motion to intro-
duce the bill was passed
unanimously with only
Banatwalla in opposition. He
stood like a rock. But due to
the uproar over the barbarity
of such campaigns in North
India the proposal was quiet-
ly buried.
Banatwalla Saheb
always highlighted the due
straits that the states Muslims had fallen in
since independence. Armed with statistics, he
made impassioned pleas for the welfare of
Muslims.
He made his foray into national politics by
contesting from Ponnani Constituency in Kerala
in 1977. He won with a thumping majority even
though he did not speak Malayalam and did not
actively campaign in the constituency. He deliv-
ered his speeches in English and became
increasingly popular among the masses. Voters
trusted him so much that they re-elected him six
times. This speaks volumes about acceptability
in his constituency.
In the Parliamnet, Banatwalla worked over-
time and was one of the few members who
drafted their own speeches and questions. His
oratory impressed everyone. He was often seen
studying in the library.
The issue of the minority character of the
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was close to
his hear t and he introduced a bill in the
Parliament for its restoration. He had made a
forceful protest over police firing on AMU stu-
dent demonstrators in 1979.
His most memorable role
in the Parliament was his
introduction of the Shariat Bill
in March 1985 which sought
to exclude Muslims from the
secular law of maintenance.
Government of India persuad-
ed Banatwalla to withdraw his
bill and introduced its own
Muslim Womens Protection
of Rights on Divorce Bill
which was passed into legis-
lation in 1986.
He was an active member and leader of the
Babri Masjid Action Committee. He offered his
defence on the Babri Masjid issue in a small
book titled "Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi,
Controversy Analyzed".
Banatwallas pointed remarks against the
BJP and the RSS made him a special target of
the latter. He was also one of first MPs to seek a
ban on Rushdies blasphemous novel "Satanic
Verses" in India.
In the aftermath of the demolition of Babri
Masjid, his friend and colleague, Ebrahim
Suleiman Sait left the party. Banatwalla stayed
put with the IUML and worked to strengthen it. In
1993, he assumed the mantle of the presidency
of the League. In those trying times, he helped
the party navigate its way and served as a role
model for the emerging young leadership.
In his last stint as an MP of the 13th Lok
Sabha, Banatwalla continued his work. He pre-
sented a total of 25 private members bills, 141
starred and unstarred questions and 182 inter-
ventions during debates. His advocacy was not
just limited to Muslim issues, but included uni-
versal issues like right to work, custodial deaths
and protection of farmers.
Outside the Parliament, he represented the
Muslim cause on various forums including the
India Today conclave in 2006 in which he
squared off with the likes of Subramanian
Swamy, and Pravin Togadia, a fire-brand VHP
leader.
A voracious reader and a gifted writer,
Banatwalla was the author of several books and
booklets including "Religion & Politics in India"
and "Muslim League - Azadi ke Baad".
Any serious student can write his thesis on
late Banatwalla Saheb after reading his select
parliamentary speeches.
Banatwalla Saheb passed away at the age of
74 on 25 June, 2008 in Mumbai following brief
illness. The great leader was buried next day in
the Cutchi Memon graveyard, Mumbai.
Thousands attended his funeral rites and gath-
ered at his residence in Mumbai for condolence.
A number of social and political leaders
including the President, the Vice-President, the
Prime Minister, chief ministers of several states,
heads of political parties, MPs and MLAs paid
rich tributes to him and described him as an
illustrious personality and a respected leader of
the people.
At a condolence meeting organized in
Delhis Constitution Club by IUML General
Secretary and MoS External Affairs,
Mr. E. Ahamed, rich tributes were paid to the
departed leader.
It is high time our political and community
leaders realized the need of disciplined and clean
politics as well as selfless service to the nation
of which Banatwalla Sahib was a model. (Farooq
Abdul Gaffar Bawani)
A Magnificent Masjid takes shape in Delhi
SPECIAL REPORT The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 13 www.milligazette.com
SUHAIL ANJUM
Delhi is a great centre of Islamic tradition and
civilization. Islamic architecture dots almost the
entire landscape of the city which brings solace
to souls and relief to eyes. Old mosques scat-
tered all over the city rekindle faith in the hearts
of visitors.
Nothing can be said with absolute certainty
as to how many mosques are spread all over
Delhi. While many have been encroached upon
(and acquired) by others, several have suffered
neglect and destruction at the hands of Muslims
themselves.
In and around Delhi, there are several
mosques hidden from eyes or buried in the texts
of history. When Muslims got a little respite from
partition riots and felt a little comfort, they turned
their attention towards repair and construction of
mosques.
As the Muslim population began moving out
of the walled city and started settling in the out-
skirts, they realised the acute shortage of
mosques in new localities. Hence construction
of new mosques began on a large scale. Now
most of these areas have become a part of the
capital.
However, the fact remains that there has not
been a single mosque among the newly con-
structed ones which could claim attraction as an
architectural wonder and might be included in
the list of reputed monuments. However, at the
junction of Delhi and Noida, near Kalindi Kunj,
Jama Masjid Sanabil is taking shape over a vast
area which may be included among prominent
mosques of the city. It is called Umar ibn Khattab
Mosque. Its construction was started by the
famous scholar late Maulana Abdul Hamid
Rahmani, chairman of Abul Kalam Azad Islamic
Awakening Centre. His successors in the Centre
are now completing this huge monument.
I had the privilege of visiting this modern
mosque. When one looks at hundreds of pillars
outside and inside the mosque, one sponta-
neously begins recalling Allama Iqbals poem,
Masjid Qurtuba (Cordova mosque of Andalus).
Iqbal had composed the poem Masjid
Qurtuba wonder-struck by the grandeur of the
Andalusian mosque. He had exclaimed, mit
nahin sakta kabhi mard-e musalman (A Muslim
cannot be ever wiped out). This immortal poem
too would remain beyond extinction. It keeps
reminding Muslims of the robust enthusiasm
they nurse for mosques in all their habitats.
This mosque is going
through various phases of
construction and development.
Even at the present stage, it
charms the viewer. This
mosque has a capacity for
5500 males and 2000 females
to pray at a time. For elderly
and handicapped persons who
cannot climb stairs, there is a
separate area on the ground
floor for both males and
females.
The cost of construction is
estimated to be over seven
crore rupees. The mosque has
hundreds of pillars. The lower
ground floor has 177 pillars.
Built according to the Islamic
architecture, the mosque has
three storeys. The lower
ground floor has provision for
car parking, separate toilets for
males and females, bathrooms
and space for wudhu (ablu-
tion) covering an area of
3503.29 square meters. The
total ground floor covers
2284.19 sq. m, the first floor
covers 1638 sq.m. with a total
carpet area of 7425.48 sq. m.
The ground floor is for males
while the first floor is exclu-
sively for ladies.
It has to be remembered
that quite often there is opposi-
tion and controversy over womens presence for
prayer and statements are published about their
attendance at mosques for prayer. However,
according to Maulana Azad Islamic Awakening
Centre sources, wherever the Centre got
mosques constructed throughout the country, it
has always made arrangements for ladies while
maintaining purdah. The Jama Masjid Abu Bakr
Siddiq, built by the Centre at Jogabai, also has a
basement meant exclusively for ladies for five
times daily prayers, Friday prayer as well as for
tarawih prayers during Ramadan. There are two
staircases for ladies with provision for toilets,
bathrooms and wudhu.
This Jama Masjid is five-storeyed which
includes the basement with an accommodation
for 4500 males and 1000 females prayer.
In other parts of the country, whenever the
centre has under taken the construction of
mosques, totalling 50 until now, there has been
provision for ladies.
There are several mosques throughout Delhi
dating back to medieval and Mughal periods.
Many of these have been taken over by
Archaeological department. Under the pretext of
safeguarding heritage prayer has been banned in
these mosques although the same rule is not
applied to heritage temples and churches.
There are several mosques which Muslims
themselves have occupied illegally. However,
there are thousands of mosques where daily
prayer is offered. Masjid Shahjehani, popularly
known as Jama Masjid of Delhi, and Masjid
Fatehpuri are well known for their spacious
accommodation. The mosque at village Khidki is
also quite spacious. Thousands can pray here at
a time. People from the outskirts
of Delhi rush to Jama Masjid for
Eid prayers.
When the Muslim popula-
tion in the post-Independence
period began increasing, new
constructions were undertaken
at several places demonstrating
Muslims sense of devotion and
interest as well as attachment
with mosques. However, none
of these post-Independence
period mosque can accommo-
date large numbers except this
mosque on the bank of Jamuna.
Author of Delhi Ki Tarikhi
Masajid (Historic mosques of
Delhi) Maulana Ataur Rahman
Qasmi says, There are several
mosques belonging to pre-
Independence period which can
accommodate 4-5 thousand
persons at a time. However, no
such spacious mosque was
built in the post-Independence
period.
The construction of Umar ibn
Khattab mosque has given a
pleasant and decisive turn to his-
tory of mosques in Delhi. It is a
distinction that Delhi has added to
its pride. It enjoys a unique reputa-
tion not only for its vastness and
spacious accommodation but
also for its architectural grandeur
and strong build. It is the only
mosque in Delhi with more than 3500 sq. meters at
lower ground floor meant for parking as well as
separate provisions for ladies and men for toilets,
ablution and bathrooms. There is perhaps no
mosque in Delhi which has separate arrangements
for ladies and men for saying prayer. According to
Maulana Qasmi, There are separate chambers for
ladies in mosques belonging to the medieval peri-
od but there is no such provision in mosques of the
modern period.
Eid prayers have been regularly offered in
this new mosque for several years where people
from adjoining localities have been flocking irre-
spective of sectarian differences. Construction
of this mosque kindles the hope that many more
would rush here for Eid prayers and the passers-
by would find an excellent arrangement for say-
ing prayer. (Translated from Urdu by AG Khan)
New Delhi: Delhi Development
Authority (DDA) has finally agreed to
demarcate 14-acres Muslim grave-
yard land at Millennium Park.
Demarcation work started on 23 May
more than nine months after the
National Commission for Minorities
ordered the DDA to demarcate the
graveyard land that it had usurped
and surreptitiously included in the
citys Millennium Indraprastha Park.
After hearing the case on 1 August
last year the NCM had ordered DDA to
demarcate the land. The 14 acres land was given
to the Management Committee of New Cemetery
for Mohammedans by the President of India on 10
January 1964 but the DDA occupied it and erect-
ed the Millennium Indraprastha Park. The park
spreading over 85 acres of land including the 14
acres of graveyard was built by DDA in 2004.
Intizar Naeem, assistant secretary of Jamaat-e-
Islami Hind, who was the first to raise the issue in
2011 with DDA and later petitioned to NCM, was
present during the demarcation.
DDA to demarcate 14-acres graveyard
Silver Jubilee of Milli Model School
New Delhi: The Silver Jubilee of the Milli Model School in Abul Fazl Enclave was observed on
5 May. The function was chaired by Muhammad Jafar, deputy Ameer of the Jamaat-e Islami
Hindi. Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Govt of India, was the spe-
cial guest on this occasion. Boy and girl students of the school presented colourful cultural pro-
grammes of hamd, naat, poems, drama, the school anthem, speeches, mushaira etc. Parents
and relatives of students were also present in large numbers. In this annual programme prizes
of three types were given, one to boy and girl students whose performance in studies and extra
-urricular activities was considered praiseworthy, another to parents and guardians for good
upbringing of their children and the third to teachers who had worked hard and sincerely in
teaching their students. Schools manager and secretary of Ishaatul Islam Trust presented the
annual report of the schools activities and achievements which showed that good arrange-
ments are made for childrens education, sports and extra-curricular activities at comparatively
low fees because of which the school is running at a loss. In the examinations of the 10th and
the 12th classes, performance of most girl students was much better. An exhibition of students
works in science, home science, arts and crafts etc was very much appreciated by parents,
guardians and other invitees for the silver jubilee function. Prof Akhtarul Wasey and Muhammad
Jaafer praised the schools efforts in providing good education to girls and said that Jamaat-e
Islami and Ishaatul Islam Trust were paying special attention to the education of girls because
of which the school had developed a special identity of its own. Prof. Wasey released a book-
let, Rahnuma-e Sarparast, guide for the guardians which included the history of the school and
its syllabus etc.
Yusuf/MG
Masjid Umar ibn al-Khattab from outside
An interior view of Masjid Umar ibn al-Khattab
The graveyard area being demarcated
We must sort out
our difference
first
Prof. Wasey releasing Rahnuma-e Sarparast
Rahmani 30's success in 2014
Patna: Rahmani 30 (Patna)'s 22 students had appeared in JEE-
MAIN-2014 competitive examination held on 6 April '14. Results of
this examination were declared on JEE-MAIN site on 3.5.14
according to which 19 out of 22 students were declared eligible
for admission in JEE-ADVANCE-2014. In addition to Rahmani 30
(Patna), 28 students of M. S. Rahmani 30 (Hyderabad) had simul-
taneously appeared in JEE-MAIN examination of whom 22 were
declared successful and eligible for admission in JEE-ADVANCE-
2014. Thus a total of 41 students (19 from Patna centre and 22
from Hyderabad centre) were declared eligible for admission in
this all India examination. The success rate of Rahmani 30 (Patna)
was 86 percent whereas that of MS Rahmani (Hyderabad) was 78
percent. All the successes of Muslim students are the result of
untiring and selfless services of Maulana Muhammad Wali
Rahmani, Sajjada Nashin of Khanqah Rahmani, Moonger and
Abhyanandji who is Director General of Police (Bihar). With their
efforts, together with that of the teaching staff, youngmen, mostly
Muslim youths are trained for all India competitive examinations of
IIT, NIT and other engineering fields and all their boarding, lodging
and other expenses are borne by Rahmani Foundation. After
Rahmani 30-Patna and Hyderabad, now Rahmani 30 has been
extended to Mumbai also in cooperation with Anjuman-e Islam,
Mumbai.
Making animals unconscious before slaughter is compulsory
New Delhi: Central government, in an affidavit filed in Supreme
Court in response to a PIL petition regarding illegal slaughter
houses filed in the same court, said that it has now made it com-
pulsory that before slaughtering animals, they must be made
unconscious. The central government further said in its affidavit
that slaughtering animals directly i.e. when they are conscious, is
an inhuman and cruel act. Hence making them unconscious
before slaughtering has been made compulsory because in this
way their pain during the slaughtering process will be reduced or
even removed. It is also stated in the central government's affidavit
that for meat products, Food Safety and Standard Act was passed
in 2006 and under this Act, animals can be made unconscious by
carbon dioxide. In addition to this, there are some other methods
also through which animals can be made unconscious such as by
passing electric current and by bolt pistol. The affidavit containing
the central government's replies, in response to PIL petition, was
submitted by Mahinder Yadav, secretary in the union ministry of
environment and forests. It was further stated in this affidavit that
for making goats and sheep unconscious, electric current is
passed on their heads. The affidavit further said that these rules
which have been prescribed for making animals unconscious
before slaughtering have been sent to all slaughter houses and it
is hoped that they will observe all these rules for slaughtering ani-
mals.
Social networking site 'Zamber' invented by AMU students
Aligarh: It appears that Social Media Site Facebook is now going
to face a big challenge from AMU. Two students of AMU, Usman
Ahmad Usmani and Akram Khan of AMU's Department of
Computer Engineering have achieved this success after two years
of untiring efforts. Usmani is presently a student of B. Tech (3rd
year) and Akram is a student of 2nd year. Both have jointly pre-
pared a website named www.zamber.in which maximum attention
has been paid to security so that nobody could hack your account.
According to Usmani, Zamber is in many ways better than
Facebook; the most important characteristic is that many users
can simultaneously video chat and also can see live telecast of
matches; including AMU's matches directly. It has also been pro-
tected against cyber attacks. Zamber has also been linked to the
tool bar. Its advantage will be that even while chatting on Zamber,
any thing can be searched through google. It can also be known
through digital timing, for how long one was on this website.
About a year ago while the two students were working on the new
social website they had got a shock. According to the team mem-
ber, while preparing the website it was repeatedly being tested by
hacking. Akram said that whenever the site was hacked, more and
more security code was added and finally they succeeded. The
real test comes now after the preparation of website in the same
way as the American youth Mark, had faced while making the
facebook. Indian angel network can make investments only when
the Zamber site can get more users.
Cheques written in Urdu acceptable in AMU Bank Branch
Aligarh: Cheques written in Urdu are being accepted in the State
Bank of India's AMU branch. This scheme has been started with
the approval of the Manager of SBI branch in AMU campus which
has been welcomed by the Alig fraternity. SBI branch manager
Pritam Singh said that for the past few months demands were
being made by University students and teaching staff that cheques
written in Urdu should be accepted and in deference to their wish-
es we had put up a display board for accepting cheques in Urdu.
He said that there is no prescribed rule by government or bank
officers for acceptance of cheques written in Urdu but we have
done this on our own initiative only in view of the fact that bank's
job and duty is to provide better facilities to people, particularly to
our customers and account holders. President of Bazm-e Urdu
Khalid Ansari said that they had been making the demand of
cheques in Urdu being accepted by banks for a long time and on
the manager's instructions such cheques are now being accepted
here, adding that they have also put up an announcement about
this to make the people aware of it and it is good that a beginning
in this direction has been made from here. Now more and more
people should submit their cheques written in Urdu so that the
beginning made from here could spread to the whole country and
demand for Urdu knowing people would also increase all over the
country. A research scholar Muhammad Furqan also expressed
the same views.
No action by HRD ministry on NCMEI's recommendations
New Delhi: A Conference jointly organised by All India
Confederation for Women's Empowerment through Education and
National Commission for Minorities Educational Institutions
(NCMEI) was held at India Islamic Cultural Centre on the topic of
'NCMEI's role in strengthening and promoting minorities educa-
tional institutions in India' on 9 May. Speaking on this occasion
NCMEI's chairman, Justice Suhail Ejaz Siddiqi said in his presiden-
tial address that this Commission's Girls Committee for the
Promotion of Education among Muslim Girls under the leadership
of Dr Shabistaan Ghaffar had submitted a detailed report of more
than 600 pages to HRD minister Pallam Raju in December 2012
which contained many recommendations for removal of difficul-
ties and other problems faced by Muslim girls in the acquisition of
education. The said minister had greatly appreciated this report
but sadly none of these recommendations were implemented. He
(Siddiqi) also regretted that Muslims did not so far derive much
benefit from NCMEI which, during its 10-year existence, gave or
granted minority status to more than ten thousand educational
institutions. Giving his impression about the pitiable condition of
Muslim educational institutions of north India, particularly of UP,
he said that it appears that the capability of Muslims in running
and managing educational institutions is disappearing. Chairman
of Maharashtra's Cosmopolitan Education Society, P. A. Inamdar
while lauding the achievements of NCMEI said that it has really
made enviable progress during a short period. Prof Anita Nona of
NCERT said while speaking on this occasion that governments
should also ensure the implementation of whatever schemes
made by them. Mrs Shabistaan Ghaffar, moving spirit behind this
Conference who is also the chairperson of the Confederation said
that despite its limited resources the NCMEI has played an impor-
tant role in creating educational awareness among minorities and
for this purpose it (NCMEI) has prepared and got published the
book titled Role of NCMEI in Strengthening the Minority
Educational Institutions in India which was released in this
Conference. On this occasion Institute of Women's Studies was
also inaugurated which will study and review women's problems
and affairs in different fields. Others who expressed their views in
this Conference were S. Bhardwaj of National Open Schooling
Institute; Qamar Ahmad, Chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission
and Ibrahim M. Patiani, member of this Commission; Dr
Fakhruddin Muhammad, Chairman of MESCO and Ravi Gupta of
Techno Media.
Study Fund of NCM slashed
New Delhi: Chairman of National Commission for Minorities
(NCM) Naseem Ahmad said that last month (April) they were told
by union ministry for minorities affairs that the Commission's
study fund for the year 2014-15 has been put at Rs 7 lakh only
which is obviously very insufficient for them, particularly when
last year there was some deficit. He said that for the year 2014-
15 they had submitted a budget proposal of Rs 30 lakh but the
ministry reduced it to Rs 7 lakh only. He said that this fund is very
important and essential because they get research work done with
the help of this fund, particularly when some study report is to be
prepared on some incidents or events and if this study fund is
reduced, the commission's work would suffer. He said that a
meeting of the Commission's members was held to consider this
and it was decided that the concerned ministry should again be
approached for this. He said that they got in touch with the min-
istry and it is hoped that their fund would be restored to the same
amount which they had suggested.
Arabic and Persian excluded by central govt order
New Delhi: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)'s under sec-
retary P. K. Arora said, in reply to a notice by court as to why and
on what basis Arabic and Persian languages were excluded as
optional subjects in civil services examinations, that it was not
UPSC but the union government (Congress-led) UPA govt) which
in its gazette of 5 March 2013 had excluded these languages as
optional subjects in civil services examinations conducted by
UPSC. The court had issued this notice to UPSC in response to a
petition filed by Shahid Ali (advocate), a social worker and chair-
man of Muslim United Front of India on 5 March last year (2013)
requesting the court to direct UPSC to restore Arabic and Persian
languages as optional subjects in UPSC-conducted civil services
examinations. The under secretary P K Arora further said in his
reply on behalf of UPSC that the reason for removal of these lan-
guages as optional subjects was that these languages were not
included in the 8th schedule, but he did not clarify as to why
English, which too is not included in 8th Schedule of the
Constitution, was not similarly excluded from UPSC examinations.
It may also be stated that changes in civil services examinations
scheme were made from 2013 itself on the basis of suggestions
and recommendations of a committee constituted by UPSC after
which it was notified by the government. He said that this is in vio-
lation of the Constitution's Articles 14-26 which gurantees equal
opportunities of employment etc to all citizens of the country with-
out any discriminations. He further said that Mahatma Gandhi also
in his autobiography had stated that Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian,
Arabic and English should be included in higher education's syl-
labus. He said that Persian relates to Aryans whereas Arabic
relates to Semitic languages and there is a very close relationship
between Arabic and Persian. He said that he would soon file a PIL
petition in Delhi High Court regarding this.
Urdu cert. course introduced for the first time in Jamia Millia
New Delhi: This year Jamia Millia Islamia, along with new courses
in different departments, has also started Urdu certificate course
in the Department of Urdu for the first time. This is a regular
course of one year, particularly for those students who are
desirous of learning Urdu privately. After declaring Urdu compul-
sory in all courses at the graduate level last year (2013), this is
another attempt by Jamia Millia to promote Urdu under this insti-
tution's Urdu department. These classes will be held in the evening
(after school or college hours) so that those who are employed as
well others also, who are regular students, can attend this class.
Head of Urdu Department, Prof Wahajuddin Alvi said that this
course is for every body and students who have completed High
School education can take part in this course. He hoped that this
course will have good results.
Hyderabad's Dargah Shah Khamosh caretaker found guilty
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Central Crime Station authorities have
gathered clinching evidence against Syed Akbar Nizamuddin
Hussaini to prove his involvement in misappropriation of funds
and selling Wakf land belonging to Dargah Shah Khamosh, in his
capacity as its mutawalli (caretaker). In a communication to the
AP State Wakf Board, the police authorities informed that it was
proved that he had misused 9.17 acres of dargah land for his own
purpose since 1982, the cost of it being Rs 72 crore per govern-
ment records. Mr Hussaini, who is also the vice-chancellor of
Jamia Nizamia and chairman of Darussalam Cooperative Bank,
was placed under suspension as mutawalli of Dargah Shah
Khamosh and a case was lodged against him with the CCS.
Sources in the Wakf Board revealed that the investigation authori-
ties have informed the Board that the caretaker had sold away a
portion of 867 acres of te land under the Dargah Shah Khamosh
and also 121 acres and 17 guntas of dargah land at Maqta
Khanojiguda at Alwal. The investigation revealed that 9.27 acres,
which was meant to be a place to feed the poor, was converted
into a farmhouse with a bungalow, dog-house and swimming pool
for personal use. Sources said that the investigators have collect-
ed evidence that the caretaker obtained No Objection Certificate
from the Board to construct an engineering college and then con-
structed a clinic and then converted it to a farmhouse.
Noh: Reyaz Khan and his daughters of Chandini, a village about 7
kms away from Noh, the headquarters of Mewat district have set
up a unique example for others, the like of which can rarely be
found in the country. Living in a rural and backward area where
sending girls to schools for education was considered taboo, par-
ticularly in a Muslim society, Reyaz Khan right from the very
beginning had made up his mind to educate his daughters and he
started sending his daughters to school one after the other, for
which he faced great opposition not only from people in the vil-
lage but from his relatives also. He impressed upon his wife and
daughters the necessity and importance of education and the
need to continue it. Unfortunately he is no more now but his
daughters are carrying on his mission even after his death.
Employed as a rent collector in Punjab Waqf Board he not only
faced financial difficulties but also the opposition of his commu-
nity people for sending them to school and educating them.
About three years ago he died after an illness. His eldest daugh-
ter who had become educated by that time, decided to fulfil and
pursue her father' dream and in spite of financial difficulties con-
tinued the education of her younger sisters. In this modern and
enlightened age if some one has three daughters one after the
other and no sons, he becomes disappointed but Reyaz Khan
was blessed not only with three but eleven daughters without any
son but without losing heart he continued to educate them. Today
his wife and the people of the village are very proud of late Reyaz
Khan because eight of his daughters have MA, B.Ed etc degrees.
Some are doing LLB, MBA and course in architecture. Some have
become teachers and Principal in schools. The youngest daugh-
ter Lado is doing graduation in Political Science. In 1998
Haryana's then Governor Babu Permanand had honoured 10
bright graduate girls of Mewat with prizes. Reyaz Khan's two
daughters were also among these 10 bright graduate girls. (Late)
Reyaz Khan and his daughters have put those parents to shame
who consider their daughters a burden and do not want to edu-
cate their daughters.
Eldest daughter Nafisa says that their father not only faced
great financial difficulties but also the opposition and sometimes
taunts of village people for educating them. Moreover, he was not
disappointed at not having a son. Their mother Rashida Begum,
after initial indifference and reluctance about their daughters edu-
cation, fully cooperated subsequently and encouraged her hus-
band for their daughters higher education. It may be stated inci-
dentally that in Mewat the literacy rate among Muslims is only 4
or 5 percent. Because of their poverty many Muslims do not want
to send their daughters to school. That is why, after 4th or 5th
class, 60 to 65 percent Muslim girls become drop-outs and give
up education. Under such circumstances it is really an uphill task
to educate daughters. According to Nafisa and Razia, Abbu and
Ammi encouraged them to study at every stage and because of
their efforts and encouragement 'today we are at this stage'.
Names and educational qualifications of these girls
1. Nafisa: MA, B.Ed, JBT, Prabhakar
2. Shabnam: MA, LLB, JBT, Prabhakar
3. Afsana: MA, B.Ed, JBT
4. Farhana: MA, B.Ed, JBT
5. Shahnaz: MA, JBT, NTT
6. Ishrat: BA
7. Nusrat: MA, B.Ed, MD, JBT, NTT
8. Aamna: MA, B.Ed, JBT
9. Razia: BBA, MBA, IIT (from Ghaziabad)
10. Nazia: BA Architecture
11. Bushra: BA (Hons) Pol. Science
N. A. ANSARI
Daughters of a Mewat family set an example in
education for others
14 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 COMMUNITY NEWS www.milligazette.com
Islamic madrasas are cradles of peace
Kairana / Shamli: A prominent French journalist, Fredric Bobbin,
the chief of South Asia bureau of Frances leading newspaper
Le Monde said after visiting Kairanas old religious institution
Eshaatul Islam that Islamic madrasas are centres and cradles of
peace and I was very happy to see the style of living, way of life
and educational standard of madrasa students. He said while
talking to media persons that I had heard about Darul Uloom
Deoband, that it is a big university of the followers of Islam and
hence I was directed by the editor of my newspaper to tour the
camps and madrasas where the oppressed and communal
riots-affected people are taking shelter. Therefore I have come
here (Eshaatul Islam) today (5 May) along with any interpreter,
Prashant Kumar where I had a detailed meeting with this institu-
tions chief Maulana Barkatullah Amini, Master Samiullah Khan
and camps spokesperson Dr Azmatullah Khan. He said that I
was told that more than 10 thousand riot-affected people had
taken shelter here in helping whom people without any religious
discrimination cooperated with us, and added further that he
was extremely happy to learn that modern sciences are also
taught in the madrasa. He asked the madrasa chief Maulana
Barkatullah Amini if Modi will be the prime minister in 2014 elec-
tions in reply to which Maulana said that the office of countrys
prime minister is an exalted and responsible post for which sec-
ular leadership is necessary otherwise there is the danger of the
countrys division into pieces, social and cultural and civiliza-
tional life style will become bankrupt and secularism will die.
After Eshaatul Islam, Bobbin toured Malikpurs refugee camp
and found that riot-affected people were satisfied with the gov-
ernments help and assistance and that the government was
providing assistance to them. District administration is quite vig-
ilant from this point of view.
Jamia Hamdards renewal of licence refused by MCI
New Delhi: Medical Council of India (MCI) has refused renewal
of licence of Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and
Research for the year 2014-15 whereas it has renewed the
licences of dozens of medical colleges of the country including
5 medical colleges of Gujarat. According to the latest notice on
MCIs website it is stated that in its executive committee meet-
ing held on 16 April it was decided that the licence of Hamdard
Institute of Medical Sciences & Research for the year 2014-15
will not be renewed. In this connection MCI in its letter of 28
April had informed the government that the licence of Hamdard
Institute of Medical Sciences & Research cannot be renewed. It
may be stated in this connection that MCI had received applica-
tions from about 80 medical colleges but the licence of most of
the medical colleges of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, UP, Delhi were
not renewed, though the licences of five medical colleges of
Gujarat (at Ahmadabad, Vadodra, Gandhi Nagar etc) were grant-
ed renewal. Jamia Hamdard authorities are not only surprised
but worried also with this decision of MCI that after great diffi-
culties medical college of Jamia Hamdard was started in 2012
but after only two years renewal of its licence was refused.
Jamia Hamdards Vice Chancellor G. N. Qazi, expressing his
views on MCIs refusal to renew its licence said that MCI had
raised certain objections on the working of their college but
these were rather unnecessary and they had replied to their
objections. He said Jamia Hamdard was allowed to start MBBS
course in 2012 with 100 seats after which it was named
Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. He said
that the matter is with the government and they have got in
touch with government and they hoped that soon they would get
a positive reply from the government.
Tihar Jail prisoners get jobs offers by reputed companies
New Delhi: Like universities where placement cells have been set
up to provide jobs to students, in Delhis Tihar Jail also placement
cell has been set up for providing jobs to prisoners who have
completed their sentences and are expected to lead normal life.
On 6 May as many 66 prisoners were selected by representatives
of different companies through placement office in the Jail cam-
pus. Of these prisoners, Raju got the best offer of an annual pack-
age of Rs 4, 20,000 from Taj Mahal group of hotels. He (Raju)
was a murder convict and was released on bail in December after
spending 7 years and six months in jail. While in jail he passed
12th class from National School of Open Schooling and did grad-
uation BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) from IGNOU. He also learnt
to speak English fluently. His monthly salary will now be about Rs.
35000. Similarly, another prisoner Mobin Khan of Delhis Jamia
Nagar Okhla area, who too was a murder convict and is still in jail,
has been given a job of Rs 25000 per month by ARZ Media group.
After release on bail he can join his new job. Similarly, as stated
above, a total of 66 prisoners have been offered jobs through
Tihar Jail Campus Placement Cell.
Home ministry failed to push communal Violence Bill
New Delhi: All India Ulama wa Mashaikh Boards President and
founder, Syed Muhammad Ashraf Kachhochhvi, strongly react-
ing to union minister for minorities affairs, K. Rahman Khans
arguments and accusations that Communal Riots and Targeted
Violence Prevention Bill could not be presented in the
Parliament because the home minister did not show any inter-
est in this bill. Refusing to believe his (Rahman Khans) lame
excuse, Ashraf Kachhochhvi said that he has tried to give this
excuse and put the entire blame on the home minister in the
final stage of the sixteenth Lok Sabha elections whereas under
the principle of collective responsibility he too is equally
responsible for this bill not being presented in Parliament. He
said that he (Rahman Khan) is even more responsible for this
because by misleading the government in the final session of
the present Parliament he got the Waqf (Amendment) Bill
passed which was par t of his agenda. He also got the
announcement made of setting up of National Waqf
Development Board and also got the arrangements made for
the transfer of 123 Waqf proper ties to Waqf Board. He said
that Communal Riots and Targeted Violence Prevention Bill
was not the priority of any minister. Every minister had his own
priority or priorities for which he had been working and the
government got an excuse to ignore this bill. Maulana
Kachhochhvi said that bill should have been introduced and
passed in this very Parliament but on the excuse of opposition
by some so-called secular par ties this bill could not be intro-
duced and now the minorities affairs minister, in order to evade
his own responsibility is trying to put the blame on the home
minister.
Special court rejects 72 proofs of Maulana Qawis inno-
cence
Ahmedabad: Maulana Abdul Qawi, a respectable citizen who
was accused of training terrorists and arrested by Gujarat police
was declared by Mirzapur Bhadra special court (POTA) (Gujarat)
as absconder for ten years and his bail application refused. He
was to be brought in court on 22 April but because of shortage
of police on account of on-going elections the administration
and police expressed their inability to produce him in court on
the fixed date. The court however rejected his application for
bail. Copies of the courts verdict were sent by Jamiatul Ulamas
advocate Ilyas Pathan and Gujarat JUHs Ahmad Sheikh by
email to JUHs general secretary Maulana Mahmood Madni and
secretary Maulana Hakimuddin Qasmi, legal adviser, advocates
Mahmood Paracha and Tahoor Pathan Khan. After perusing the
verdicts copy, Maulana Mahmood Madni in consultation with
Mahmood Paracha and other authorities of JUH said that this
verdict would be challenged in Gujarat High Court. Meanwhile
Jamiatul Ulama authorities deeply regretted the courts verdict
and expressed the fear that probably the courts verdict and
rejection of Maulana Qawis bail application was because of
some pressure because the Gujarat police also appears to have
arrested him because of the same pressure. Moreover, JUHs
advocate Mahmood Paracha had submitted, during the courts
proceedings, as many as 72 proofs along with other relevant
documents about his innocence, emphasising the point that
Maulana Abdul Qawi had not spent even a single day of his life
as an absconder or had gone underground for even a single day.
However, in spite of all these solid arguments the said court had
rejected all proofs and rejected his bail application. Maulana
Madni however assured all concerned people that they would
not lose heart and continue their battle for justice. He also made
an appeal to Muslims not to lose heart at such verdicts.
Muslim youth arrested again after being found innocent
New Delhi: Yasser Ammar, a final year student of Global
Engineering College, Jaipur who was arrested by the Delhi
Polices Special Cell on 23 March 14 from Delhis Abul
Fazal Enclave on suspicion of this involvement with Indian
Mujahideen and after about 16 hours questioning was
found innocent and released the same day. After being
released by Special Cell he proceeded to Saudi Arabia for
Umrah. After per forming Umrah and after his return to India
he proceeded to his home town in Gaya (Bihar) districts
Sher Ghati. Hardly a month after his release by Delhi Police
(Special Cell) and his return to his home town after per-
forming Umrah, he was again arrested on 6 May in a joint
operation by Bihar and Rajasthan police. Bihar police was
informed by Rajasthan polie about his (Ammar) being need-
ed by Rajasthan police for questioning. When told that
Ammar was arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell and after
questioning was given a clean chit by the Special Cell, the
Rajasthan police said that we do not know the activities of
Delhi Police (Special Cell) or police of any other state. We
were asked officially through a proper procedure and hence
the concerned person (Ammar) has to be arrested and
taken to Rajasthan for questioning. Peoples Union for Civil
Liber ties (Rajasthan) and Jamia Teachers Sol idarity
Association while questioning this and many other arrests
of educated Muslim youth have expressed doubts about
police intentions and said that all these arrests clearly show
police, secret service and investigating agencies crass bias
and prejudice against Muslims, par ticularly educated and
promising Muslim youths. And this has been going on for
years and even decades.
Meerut: Communal riots erupted in Meerut on 10 May in a local-
ity, Mohalla Tirgran because of a minor dispute on the question
of fixing water facility near a mosque. There is also a Jain tem-
ple nearby. The water facility, a piao is already there which was
being used by every body for drinking water. When some people
belonging to the Muslim community tried to make this piao more
baordbased so that more people could drink water at the same
time instead of waiting to drink water one by one, people of the
Jain temple opposed it on the ground that water will spoil the sur-
roundings of the temple. Meanwhile, BJP councillor Vijay
Prakash Anand went there along with some other people who
demolished the newly built facility which enraged the people of
the other community. In no time several hundred people from
both communities assembled there and resorted to stone pelting,
setting fire to shops and vehicles etc. This went on for a long
time and spread to other neighbouring areas also. According to
police, at least 50 to 60 persons were injured including some
policemen and two journalists who were admitted to different
hospitals. One man was allegedly killed also but this could not be
officially confirmed.
In any case, many markets wre closed as the news of the riots
spread. Since the police force was felt to be not adequate, help
from other districts was sought. Some journalists were also
attacked and cameras broken. Police officers along with police
force in large number reached the affected areas and brought the
situation under control.
A few days later communal riots erupted in Hyderabads old
city areas of Kishan Bagh and Rajinder Nagar police station areas
where the Sikh population is in large number. Hence these riots
were between Muslims and people of the Sikh community.
According to available reports on 14th (May) morning a Sikh reli-
gious flag was found burnt. It was not known who had burnt this
flag but since Muslims also live in this locality in large numbers
the people of the Sikh community thought that it must be the
Muslims who had burnt their religious flag (Nishan-e Mubarak).
Hence, equipped with swords, which is their traditional weapon
and lathis they attacked Muslim localities in the morning. When
conditions became serious, police tried to scare away the crowd
by firing in the air and then directly on Muslims. Shujauddin alias
Taufiq, Muhammad Wajid Ali and Muhammad Farid were killed
on the spot and one more person died in hospital. All the three
people died in police firing and according to police one person
died in mob vilence.
Since at present Presidents rule is in force in Andhra
Pradesh and Governor rules the state as Presidents representa-
tive, the state governor, ESL Narasimhan (who is himself a for-
mer high ranking police officer) reviewed the situation with other
top police officers. According to police report, in addition to
those killed, at least 18 to 20 people, including about 10 police-
men, were injured in these riots. In stone pelting incidents from
both sides and arson at least 4 residential buildings and 10 vehi-
cles were either burnt or seriously damaged.
According to eye witness, police selected only Muslims for
targeting and fired at them directly on the upper portions of the
body so as not to leave any chances of their survival. This clear-
ly shows their enmity and bias against Muslims. Lok Sabha MP
and President of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen Asaduddin Owaisi,
taking quick action, sent a report of this violence and the police
attitude to Human Rights Commission and demanded an enquiry
into these riots by a High Court Judge.
According to Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag
Sharm, conditions are now under control but police is patrolling
in the city. Another officer, Additional Police Director General
(Law) V. S. Komudi, large number of security forces, including 3
companies of Rapid Action Force and 2 companies of A P
Special Police have been deployed. Section 144 is in force in
Kishan Bagh area. As a precautionary measure, shops in the
affected areas have been ordered shut. (N. A. Ansari)
Communal riots in Meerut and Hyderabad
COMMUNITY NEWS The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 15 www.milligazette.com
Different stories and statements about Muslims, particularly
the role of Muslim organisations and religious leaders in these
elections are being circulated to show that these organisations
and religious leaders led Muslims onto a wrong path and that they
alone are responsible for the results of these elections. This can
justifiably be said about Muslim leaders who had shaken hands
with BJP leaders and had given statements in their support, but
what else others could have done who were watching the
approaching tsunami of fascism and communalism, who had the
record of BJP, Modi and Amit Shah, who knew the facts about the
pogroms of 2002, the 21 encounters in Gujarat, and were aware
of the facts of the much-touted Gujarat model?
The advent of Modi and Hindutva on the national scene is not
the problem of Muslims alone. It is the problem of the whole coun-
try and this should be viewed in this general perspective.
Everyone will be affected by the rise of fascism which will be a
storm that will not distinguish between people. Under fascism,
whatever leaders like Hitler and Mussolini say, the entire nation
has to blindly follow.
There is certainly a historic challenge before us. Some people
say that today Modi is not what he was earlier and that he will take
everybody along with him. If this really happens, it will be good for
all, including Muslims who will play their constructive and positive
role for the betterment of the country. But what Gujarat Model
has shown us during the past 13 years is completely different.
There, not only Muslims but even Hindus live in fear. There is no
freedom to ask questions and to dissent but only the freedom of
supporting fascist system. If this happens in the whole country, it
will not be the battle of Muslims alone but the problem of all of us
we will have to fight together for a real democracy and true free-
dom.
Muslims are not worried about difficulties and hardships.
In Muslims dictionary, five or ten years have no meaning. They
have seen great catastrophies like the invading Tar tars and
Crusaders, and, have survived. Insha Allah, we shall come out
with flying colours with courage and virility in the face of this
challenge too.
Contd. from page 1 Muslims and Parliamentary elections
KHALID AMAYREH
in occupied Palestine
In two weeks' time, the Pope of the Vatican, Pope
Francis, will arrive in Occupied Palestine in a visit
that will last for a few days. He is slated to meet
with religious and political leaders representing
Muslims, Christians and Jews. He is expected to
visit religious shrines belonging to the main
monotheistic faiths in the Holy Land.
We Palestinians wish the Pope a successful and rewarding
visit. We also hope and pray the visit will help enhance relations
between the followers of the Roman Catholic Church and the fol-
lowers of Islam.
Needless to say, the stabilization and possible reconciliation
of relations between Muslims and Christians, especially
Catholics, is a human and religious obligation incumbent on true
believers of all confessions.
Muslims and Catholics live as neighbors and compatriots
nearly everywhere in the world. Hence, it is paramount that the
political and especially the spiritual leaders of both communities
work together in a spirit of good will to create serenity and con-
cordance amongst believers.
I know the task may not be easy. It is actually not easy. But
we ought to the future generations of Muslims and Catholics to
inculcate tolerance and mutual respect in our respective commu-
nities.
We must teach ourselves and our children to accept the other,
without ifs and buts.
As humans and especially as Muslims, we know that the
upcoming papal visit will not achieve miracles. However, we do
believe that with his unique status and influence, Pope Francis can
significantly, even radically, influence the cause of Christian-
Muslim relations.
That is why we expect the pope to stand on the side of jus-
tice, not passively or through noncommittal rhetoric, but through
effective, concrete and pro-active deeds.
We would like to see His Eminence condemn, preferably in
the strongest terms, the despicable apartheid system practiced
by the Israeli regime. Needless to say, Israel's protracted and
uninterrupted repression of Palestinians-all Palestinians irrespec-
tive of their religious affiliation-constitutes a real desecration of
the Almighty.
We must display honesty and rectitude on this matter. It is
Israel's enduring repression of Palestinians that has forced thou-
sands of native Palestinian Christians to leave the Holy Land. This
is a sad fact for which Israel ought to be squarely blamed.
Moreover, the Vatican must not allow itself to be misled or
deceived by Israeli lies and false propaganda in relation to
Christians' flight from Palestine.
Similarly, we would like to see the Pope condemn Israel's
lebensraum policy in the West Bank, the very policy that has
effectively decapitated any remaining real chances for true peace
in the Holy Land.
We all know the disastrous ramifications of the lebensraum
policies in Europe some eight decades ago. Hence, it would be
unforgivable if we allowed the same nightmare to repeat itself
once again.
Yes, it is true, the Vatican is not a political or military super-
power that can impose its will on evil players on this planet. But
the Vatican is a moral authority for hundreds of millions of people
around the world. And as such, it can make a difference.
Vatican-Jewish relations must not be at the expense of
Muslims. We, as Muslims, do understand the Vatican's propensi-
ty to improve Catholic-Jewish relations. In fact, Muslims appreci-
ate and value the ideal of universal harmony whereby peaceful
and brotherly relations prevail amongst the followers of various
religions. We also have no problem seeing good relations prevail
between Jews and Catholics.
However, it is imperative that "good relations" between the
Vatican and Israel be kept within the confines of equity and fair-
ness and in no way prejudices the human rights and civil liberties
of other peoples.
Hence, the Vatican is advised to exercise utmost caution with
regard to Israel's unending efforts to exploit things like the
Holocaust in order to silence the Holy See, especially in the face
of Jewish oppression meted out to both Christians and Muslims
in the Holy Land.
Your eminence: The holocaust, or whatever happened to
European Jewry in the course of the Second World War, doesn't
give Jews a license to commit another holocaust, even a low-
combustion holocaust against our people.
I am not indulging in excessive exaggerations, for Israel has
killed the prospects of peace in this part of the world by way of
dotting the map of occupied Palestine with Jewish colonies.
This means that Zionism can only be maintained by either vio-
lent military occupation and apartheid or a combination of geno-
cide and ethnic cleansing.
Needless to say, the Vatican wouldn't be faithful to its moral
ideals if it kept silent in the face of Israeli criminality and nefari-
ousness. Indeed, meeting Israel's evil policies in Palestine with
either silence or apathy is very much like similar reactions to Nazi
policies and practices. In the final analysis, when Jews think,
behave and act like the Nazis thought behaved and acted, they
should be viewed as Nazis, pure and simple.
Troubles elsewhere: It is clear that the overall outlook of
Christian-Muslim relations is far from being impressive. In the
Central African Republic, a real genocide by Christians against
Muslims has been going on for months. Thousands of innocent
Muslims have been brutally massacred there despite the belated
presence of French "peace keeping" troops.
In Nigeria, a heretic group, known as Boko Haram, has been
committing savage acts of murder and kidnappings, causing an
unprecedented deterioration in relations between Muslims and
Christians in the most populous African country.
And, unfortunately, in Egypt and Syria, the Christian minori-
ties have been embracing the criminal tyrannical regimes that
deny the masses basic human rights and civil liberties. This in
turn prompted many Muslims in both countries to view their
Christian countrymen with suspicion.
I don't really know what the Pope can do to alleviate the situ-
ation. What is amply clear though is that the rectification of
Muslim-Christian relations, in the Middle East and beyond,
requires some extraordinary efforts by sincere people from both
sides. Let us pray for peace.
Khalid Amayreh is a senior Palestinian journalist living in Occupied
palestine.
16 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.milligazette.com
What do Muslims expect from the Holy See?
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Vatican-Jewish relations must not be at the expense of Muslims. We, as Muslims,
do understand the Vatican's propensity to improve Catholic-Jewish relations. In
fact, Muslims appreciate and value the ideal of universal harmony whereby
peaceful and brotherly relations prevail amongst the followers of various
religions. We also have no problem seeing good relations prevail between
Jews and Catholics.
Get Ready for
the Next Terror
PAUL ROSENBERG
If I had to bet, I think I'd put my money on some type of "cyber-
war" event coming in the not-too-distant future. But whether it's
that or something else, a
new terror will be coming.
That much is more or less
inevitable.
The reason is easy:
We have people with con-
trol-biased minds in posi-
tions to create such
events, or at least to make
the most of them when
they do occur.
The Problem
Put bluntly, our problem is
that our current world sys-
tems place people with
dominator minds into
power over everyone else.
We can call this the "alpha
gorilla" model. These peo-
ple need power over oth-
ers. They get comfor t
and/or a thrill from domi-
nance. And they certainly
get rewards from it.
To illustrate, here's an
image I pulled from the
newsfeed just this morn-
ing:
Terrifying event
The faces and the slogans
change, but the need to
dominate drives such peo-
ple into positions of power,
whether it be in national
governments, police enforcement, or bureaucracies that control
other people's movements. As Robert Heinlein wrote:
Political tags, such as royalist, communist, democrat, pop-
ulist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth, are never basic
criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want
people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.
Those who desire to control others, however, have a prob-
lem: In order to accomplish their "great ends," they need the
peaceful people - those who have no desire to dominate others -
to obey them and to pay for their plans.
The problem with humans, however, is that they can think.
Such beings don't follow orders from random people; they must
be convinced. And convincing free people to be subservient is
hard. In order to dominate them, their ability to think must be
overcome.
Once you have them obeying you, they'll keep it up, no mat-
ter how silly, for a shockingly long period of time. But to get them
to give up autonomy in the first place, or in some new way, is
hard. Something that bypasses reason is required.
That thing, as you may have guessed, is fear.
We all saw this very clearly in 2001: Terrified people let the
alpha gorillas take away their rights in the name of saving them
from crazies. Some people objected, but not enough to sway
events. Fear was in the air, the dominators promised safety, and
most people either agreed or were too confused to object.
So, the structures of dominance became bigger and reached
farther than ever before. This would not have happened without
fear. Fear works.
The Great Enemy
Fear stands above all the
other tools of human dom-
ination, even above legiti-
macy. That's because fear
overrides reason. Fear
focuses our thoughts only
on the object of terror. Then
the alpha gorillas step in
and promise to protect us,
if only we will
_____________ (fill-in the
blank).
This game has been
running for thousands of
years, and it will be used
again soon enough.
There's always a need for
people to suspend thought
and acquiesce to domina-
tion. And so long as life on
Earth features structures of
dominance, alpha-gorilla
types will use them.
Even in daily life, the
imposition of fear upon us
is thick. Rober t Ringer,
commenting on getting
ahead financially, correctly
hit on this point when he
said:
The results you pro-
duce in life are inversely
proportional to the degree
to which you are intimidat-
ed.
The Bible tells us that people are "all their lifetimes subject to
bondage" because of fear.
Our great enemy is fear, and, unfortunately, systems for har-
nessing fear currently dominate life on this planet.
What Will Happen?
I don't know which terrifying event will take place next, and
whether this event will be staged or authentic matters very little.
All that matters is that people are terrified, which gets their rea-
soning out of the way and gives the dominator types what they
crave.
The antidote for this is for people to understand the con and
to overcome their fear. Then to act rationally.
This might be a good thing to discuss with your neighbors,
before the next terror hits because it will.
(FreemansPerspective.com)
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.
CHARITY ALLIANCE
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to Charity Alliance. Individuals are welcome to pay cash in our office or send M.O. In some cities we may be able to arrange to col-
lect cash from your doorstep. If you want to contribute through credit card or internet-banking visit www.charityalliance.in for secure
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List of donors may be seen on Charilty Alliance website (www.charityalliance.in).
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INTERNATIONAL The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 17 www.milligazette.com
Islamabad: Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani on
Tuesday remarked that according to Pakistan Penal Code's Article
295, offence against any religion comes under the blasphemy law
while expressing annoyance for non-registration of cases against
culprits involved in setting Hindu temples ablaze in Sindh. He
expressed these remarks while chairing a three-member bench in a
suo motu case over Peshawar Church bombing and rights of minori-
ties.
The chief justice announced that due to importance of the case,
the court would appoint amicus curiae including Munir A. Malik,
Khawaja Haris and Hassan Aurangzaib who would assist the court
in the matter without charging any fee.
He also directed the minorities representatives to submit a
report which indicates sections where the material has been used to
abuse the minorities and identify areas where law enforcing agen-
cies failed to secure their lives and property.
Justice Jillani said that the court would share grievances of the
minorities, hinting establishment of a new force to safeguard the
minority communities.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Dr Ramesh
Kumar apprised the court that during last two months six untoward
incidents happened with the Hindu community where their temples
were set ablaze and their religion was not properly honoured and
miscreants were not brought to book. He said that four of the inci-
dents come under the blasphemy law.
5,000 Hindus migrating to India every year, NA told
Additional Inspector General (AIG) Sindh Police Ali Sher Jhakrani
informed the court that the police has arrested five suspected crim-
inals involved in torturing people belonging to minorities but cases
were not registered under the blasphemy law.
The chief justice directed him to submit a detailed report over
the action taken by police in this context within a week.
The court also directed Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
to submit a detailed report over the Hindu samadhi in Karak district.
Salim Michael, a member of Justice Helpline informed the court
that Young Man Christian Association is a prestigious institution
based in Karachi. He complained that the building was being mis-
used by some people and the matter was subjudice in the Sindh
High Court (SHC) for a while.
He said the SHC had appointed a 'Nazir' - a court official who
serves processes, acts as treasurer, and performs other similar
duties - to look after the affairs of the club till final decision.
Dr Ramesh Kumar apprised the court that according to the
Liaqat-Nehru pact, the chairman of the evacuee property trust
should be a Hindu. On this, the chief justice remarked that the polit-
ical situation among the two nations was not good so that the
accord was not implemented on both sides but the apex court is try-
ing to facilitate them on humanitarian grounds.
During the hearing, the chief justice also hailed the role of Indian
Supreme Court for the welfare of minorities in India. (dawn.com)
Pak blasphemy law covers offence against all religions
66 years of ongoing Nakba
Back to Basics: The Right of
Return is a national and
inalienable right
On the 66th commemoration of the Nakba, the movement for
Palestinian liberation is in disarray. Political parties are divided, the
Palestine Liberation Organization is dysfunctional, the Palestinian
Authority is dependent on foreign donors with ulterior agendas and
a collective national strategy is absent. Institutions do not fulfill their
purposes and the Palestinian people's capacity for grassroots mobi-
lization is frayed.
These elements provide an opportunity for the Israeli regime to
unilaterally impose 'facts on the ground' and its advocate, the USA,
to strong-arm an unjust political solution. Both developments under-
mine the Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees - the core of the
Palestinian cause.
Israel denies the Right of Return to the homes of origin for 7.4
million Palestinian refugees and Internally Displaced Persons.
Meanwhile, Israel maintains efforts to resettle Palestinian refugees in
exile and its leadership increasingly demands international recogni-
tion of the State of Israel as an exclusive Jewish state. As the Oslo
negotiations falter forward, Israel attempts to legitimize 'land swaps',
annexation of Area C, and control over natural resources especially
fresh water. Additionally, Israel displaces Palestinians particularly
targeting the Gaza Strip, the Jordan Valley, East Jerusalem and the
Naqab.
As a consequence, Palestinians live under military control in the
West Bank, under siege in the Gaza Strip, under institutional discrim-
ination within Israel-proper and East Jerusalem, and in heartbreak-
ing conditions throughout the exile.
Palestinians previously seeking refuge in Syria are living a mul-
tiplied catastrophe. They are undergoing war, further displacement,
and the destruction of their lives in Yarmouk, Nierab, Sit Sainab,
Khan Al Shiekh, Dar'a and other locations throughout Syria where
Palestinian refugees resided. Palestinians doubly displaced to coun-
tries including Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt face further
humiliation and unbearable conditions leading many Palestinians to
attempt escape by sea - a desperate act resulting in the deaths of
hundreds of Palestinian refugees and those who disappeared with-
out public acknowledgment.
66 years of continuous displacement instructs the Palestinian
people to revert to our fundamental principles of justice and equali-
ty, and place faith in our people across the globe rather than inca-
pacitated international and Palestinian institutions. This era calls for
a return to the basics.
We, the undersigned organizations, affirm the following:
1. After 66 years of targeted displacement by the Israeli regime, 66
percent of the Palestinian people are refugees or Internally Displaced
Persons. Both in principle and practice, the Right of Return is a nec-
essary condition for achieving self-determination of the fragmented
and exiled Palestinian body politic;
2. International law endows Palestinian refugees with the right to vol-
untary return to their homes, to restoration of their properties and to
compensation. This inalienable Right of Return is not subject to
negotiation, bartering, surrender or expiration;
3. Displaced Palestinians hold the Right of Return collectively and
individually. The right is only fulfilled when an individual is able to
exercise his or her free choice;
4. United Nations resolution 181 (1947) to partition Palestine into
two states led to the displacement of between 750,000 and 900,000
Palestinians. Thus, the international community codified its respon-
sibility to provide legal and physical international protection, human-
itarian assistance and enable the Right of Return to the homes of ori-
gin for all refugees and displaced Palestinians through General
Assembly resolution 194 (1948) and Security Council resolution
237 (1967);
5. The Palestinian people's heroic resilience and resistance to Israel's
denial of the Right of Return, to ongoing displacement of
Palestinians and to absent international protection requires that an
institution such as the Palestine Liberation Organization be based on
authentic representation and inclusivity.
Longing for freedom and liberation, we say YES to Palestinian repre-
sentation and holistic international protection, and NO to detracting
from any of the rights of refugees.
Signed by the following organizations, institutions and coalitions:
1. BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights
2. Occupied Palestine and Syrian Golan Heights Advocacy Initiative (OPGAI)
3. Defence for Children International - Palestine
4. Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
5. Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights "Hurryyat"
6. Popular Struggling Coordination Committee (PSCC)
7. Palestinian Grassroots Anti-apartheid Wall Campaign (Stop the Wall)
8. Kairos Palestine
9. Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem
10. Union of Health Work Committees
11. Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights
12. Golan for development
13. Alternative Information Center
14. Alternative Tourism Group
15. Joint Advocacy Initiative
16. Land Research Center (LCR)
17. Palestine land Society
18. Environmental Education Center
19. Baladna - Association for Arab Youth - Palestine
20. The Palestinian Center of Youth Action for Community Development
(LAYLAC)
21. Lajee Center, Aida Refugee Camp
22. Popular Committee for Refugees, Qalqeliah
23. Popular Committee for Refugees, Salfit
24. Social Youth Center, Aqbat Jaber Refugee Camp
25. Social Youth Center, Aida Refugee Camp
26. Muntada Al-Tawasol Association, Gaza
27. Shoruq Association, Dhiesheh Refugee Camp
28. Ansar Center, Walajeh
29. Ibda'a for the Development of Children Capacity, Dhiesheh Refugee Camp
30. Al- Rowwad Center, Aida Refugee Camp
31. International Women's Peace Service/ Palestine
32. International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination (EAFORD)
33. Union of Arab Jurists- Geneva
34. General Arab Women Federation
35. Housing and Land Rights Network/ Habitat International Coalition
36. International Youth and Students Movement at the UN
37. Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l'amiti entre les peuples (MRAP)
38. Association Latino-Amricaine Nueva Utopa
39. Geneva International Centre for Justice
40. Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel- Spain
41. Red Solidaria contra la Ocupacin de Palestina (RESCOP) -Spain
42. Asociacion Palestina Biladi- Spain
43. Slovenia Solidarity Committee- Slovenia
44. Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement- Slovenia
45. Greece Committee for the Right of Return- Greece
46. Association of Tunisians in Switzerland- Switzerland
47. Tamkeen-Arab Group- Switzerland
48. Association Belgo-Palestinienne- Belgium
49. Palestina Solidariteit- Belgium
50. Friends of Al-Aqsa- United Kingdom
51. Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Italia- Italy
52. Palestina Rossa- Italy
53. Fronte Palestina- Italy
54. Rete di Solidarieta' con la Palestina - Milano - Italy
55. Friends of Sabeel - Sacramento Region- United States of America
56. Palestinian Association of Stockholm- Sweden
57. Committee for Fair Peace in the Middle East (CPJP) - Luxembourg
58. Finnish-Arab Friendship Society- Finland
59. French Jewish Union for Peace (UJFP) - France
60. Nederlands Palestina Committee (NPK)- the Netherlands
61. Palstinensische Gemeinde Deutschland (PGD) e. V.- Germany
62. Palstinensische Gemeinde Bonn e. V.- Germany
63. Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Group Bonn - Germany
64. Palestine Aid - North Ireland
65. Society for Austro-Arab Relations- Austria
66. Women in Black- Vienna- Austria
67. Services and Research Centre Palestine - the Netherlands
68. Solidarity for Development and Peace(SODePAZ)- Spain
Construction of homes for Muzaffarnagar Riot Victims
(24th May 2014) by Charity Alliance
Work in Progress, Land filling of the plot. Around 3ft mud was
filled to make it in level of road.
We appeal to come forward to make this project possible. We
plan to build some 60 self-contained small houses but our
funds after buying the land scarcely suffice for 30 houses.
Israel denies the Right of Return to the homes of
origin for 7.4 million Palestinian refugees and
Internally Displaced Persons. Meanwhile, Israel
maintains efforts to resettle Palestinian refugees
in exile and its leadership increasingly demands
international recognition of the State of Israel as
an exclusive Jewish state...
KARAMATULLAH K. GHORI
k_k_ghori@yahoo.com
Indias PM-elect, Narendra Modi has
been a source of concern to Pakistan
and its people from the days when he
allegedly presided over the wholesale
carnage of Muslims in his Gujrat state.
That decade-old concern seems to have
gathered not only more mass but also
greater immediacy following Modis
landslide triumph at the recent polls in
India.
As of the writing of these lines, Modi seems to have fired the
first shot off his bough to test Pakistan and its leadership by
inviting PM Nawaz Sharif to his inauguration as Indias new PM
on May 26.
Modis invitation poses a test to Nawaz Sharif in more sens-
es than one. The uncanny early move by the new Indian leader
catches Nawaz Sharif in an awkward bind at an awkward time
in his ongoing battle of nerves with Pakistans meddlesome mil-
itary generals and Bonapartes.
Technically, Modis invitation to Nawaz has nothing extraor-
dinary attached to it. Nawaz has been invited to Delhi as one of
the leaders of SAARC countries to do honours to Modi at his
swearing in as the new Indian PM. In other words, its not an
invitation exclusively to Nawaz Sharif; hes one of seven South
Asian leaders beckoned to Delhi.
But as the whole world knows, Pakistan is special to India
just as India is special to Pakistan. The nature of relationship
between the South Asia twins being what it is-ultra-sensitive-
Modis invitation to Nawaz carries far more significance and
sensitivity than, for instance, his invitation to the King of Bhutan
or the President of Sri Lanka. So the outside world will spare not
a moment of attention to, for instance again, the President of
Maldives in this context; its not important whether he comes to
Delhi or not. But the world attention will be focused intently on
Islamabad to know what treatment Nawaz Sharif accords to
Modis invitation.
Nawaz Sharif is one leader, amongst so many others in the
constellation of Pakistani politicians, who has consistently
favoured reconciliation and peace with Indian. He stuck his neck
out in his second stint in power as Pakistans PM, in the late
1990s, when he invited the then BJP leader and Indias PM, Atal
Bihari Vajpayee, to his native Lahore. That was the famous one-
time episode of bus diplomacy that brought Vajpayee to
Lahore on a bus, in February 1999, and the two leaders had
signed the short-lived Lahore Declaration calling for normalcy
and peace between the two traditional rivals.
Nawaz Sharif paid the price of his bravado when-within
months of his initiative for peace with India-he was toppled by
a power-hungry General Pervez Musharraf. The then military
command, headed by Musharraf, loathed Nawaz initiative to
mend fences with India and held him culpable for what they
considered a reckless move. What followed is history well-
known enough to discourage its repetition here.
However, Nawaz seemed never to regret-or be apologetic
about-his bold initiative to put enmity with India behind him and
turn a new leaf in relationship with Pakistans arch enemy. This
desire of his was quite manifest during his election campaign
last year when peace and friendship with India found a promi-
nent place on his election manifesto. He didnt shy away from
making normalcy with India a major plank of his policy if he
returned to power.
Within days of returning to the helm of Pakistan for an
unprecedented third time as PM, Nawaz extended an invitation
to his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, to visit Pakistan.
Its another matter that Manmohan-too weak and vulnerable in
the context of permutation of political forces arrayed against
him-never found time to take up Nawaz on his invitation.
But the Nawaz government-remaining apparently undaunt-
ed by lack of matching warmth in Delhi about Pakistan-moved
with deliberate alacrity in non-political sectors, such as trade
and commerce, to leave no doubt in anyones mind that its aim
was to mend the torn fences with India. The younger of the
Sharif siblings-Punjabs Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid a
well-orchestrated visit to Delhi and the Indian Punjab to sign a
number of agreements with his counterpart to bring the two
halves of Punjab closer to each other.
However, the rise of NarendraModi as the new star on
Indias firmament did seem to take Pakistan as much by sur-
prise as it did much of the world beyond India. The force of
Modi bursting on to Indias national scene, from his erstwhile
niche in Gujarat, was an entirely new phenomenon for Pakistan,
its leaders and policy pundits, to contend with. The develop-
ment was crucial and significant enough to send everyone in
Pakistan concerned with India-and with the demanding task of
seeking the means for a modus vivendi with it-scurrying back
to their drawing-boards.
Modi carried with him a load of dubious baggage that
offended not just Pakistan but much of the outside world. His
hands were tainted with the blood of tens of thousands of inno-
cent Muslims on the Indian Gujarat and, somehow, he found it
hard to convince the world of his innocence in that grisly
episode when Muslims were slaughtered with impunity in
Gujarat under his watch. So offended the world felt over his
alleged involvement in that gory drama of carnage that countries
like U.S. and Canada wouldnt allow him to enter; he had
become a pariah to the world.
The feeling of outrage in Pakistan on Modis role in the
Muslim pogrom in Gujrat was special. Many in India-even
among its Muslims-may bristle at its mention but its a fact that
the Pakistanis have an especially soft corner in their hearts
about their brothers-in-faith in India. Its a relationship of blood
that no factor of physical distance or barriers can impact.
Factored into this sense of being one with their Muslim brothers
in India are some many other elements that need not be men-
tioned as such. To put it mildly and succinctly, the Muslims of
India are a very special and very sensitive issue for the people
of Pakistan-and will always remain so irrespective of political
dynamics ruling the roost in either India or Pakistan.
Modi became a culprit to the Pakistanis as much as he was
to the aggrieved Muslims of India. This should suffice to high-
light the concern ingrained and organic to howsoever the
Pakistanis may interpret Modis meteoric rise in India. They can
never put Modis role in the barbaric treatment that was meted
out to the Muslims of Gujarat and how casually the rest of India
has dismissed this villainy.
As the leader of Pakistan, Nawaz cant be unconscious or
insensitive to this fling pervading the common Pakistanis per-
ception of Modi as a leader. That perception is unlikely to be
wiped off or watered down now that the same Modi has been
elevated by the Indians to the pinnacle of power, and that too
with a sweeping mandate for his largely sectarian and ultra-con-
servative BJP.
However, leadership brings in a lot of other forces and fac-
tors into play, which may often force the hand of a leader in a
direction that may not sit well with the prevalent mood or sense
of his people.
Nawaz was, perhaps, the first leader of a neighbouring
country to felicitate Modi on his thumping victory at the polls.
Arguably, his message of congratulations was on its way to
Delhi even before the Election Commission of India had formal-
ly announced the election results. That underlined Nawaz still
keen and vibrant sense to keep his momentum of reconciliation
and amity with India alive and actively on the front burner. He
not only congratulated Modi on his impressive triumph but also
extended the new Indian leader an invitation to visit Pakistan at
his convenience.
Hardliners in Pakistan took issue with the alacrity and
warmth of Nawaz invitation to Modi, or why hed rushed into
showering accolades on the tainted Indian leader. But their carp-
ing was misplaced and could be dismissed as unnecessary.
What Nawaz did made imminent sense. His was a canny, cour-
teous, diplomatic move to send the message out for the whole
world to take note of that Pakistan was ready to do business
with India even with a controversial leader like Modi at its helm.
Modi is said to have reciprocated Nawaz gesture with
matching fervour: according to Pakistani sources, he told
Nawaz that he too desired good relations with Pakistan and, sig-
nificantly, emphasised that on his watch India would be ready to
take two steps forward in reaction to each step taken by
Pakistan. Pundits saw in it an encouraging sign that a hawkish
Modi who caused consternation in Pakistan with his hard-hitting
rhetoric in the course of his campaign was simmering down
and talking like a statesman.
But, all said, none in Pakistan anticipated Modi putting
Nawaz to test so early as Indias new leader with the invitation
to come to his inauguration as PM. Heads of government dont
hold a darbar of fellow leaders from beyond the home territory
to grace what is supposed to be a simple oath-taking and
swearing-in. Heads of state are a different breed; its quite com-
mon for new presidents or kings to invite others of their ilk to
their swearing-in or coronation. But Modi may have a grandiose
perception of his leadership and deemed it necessary to invite,
if not those from beyond the shores of South Asia, at least those
from closer home to make his inauguration a grand affair. This
should jolt pundits to take note of Modis ostentatious entry into
the seat of real power in India and seek clues into it as to how
the son of a tea-seller intends to rule the largest democracy in
the world.
Its immaterial whether Modis move is innocuous or has
more meaning to it than one may think. His invitation to Nawaz
to be part of his inauguration puts Nawaz into a bind.
Modis tainted and controversial past is one element that
must be factored into any pros and cons exercise underway in
Pakistan as to how Nawaz should respond to the invitation from
Delhi. But there are other issues too that cannot be ignored or
minimised by the pundits and mandarins tasked with the chal-
lenge to tender Nawaz the right advice: should he honour the
invitation and go to Delhi for the ceremony on May 26 or should
he politely and appropriately excuse himself?
Theres another powerful element that must be weighed
carefully in any analysis. Its the element of timing of the invite
from Delhi. It has come at a time when Nawaz is thickly into a
battle of nerves with the powerful and power-addicted Pakistani
generals whose feathers have been ruffled-badly to them and
their cronies-in the recent episode of Geo Televisions ace
anchor, Hamid Mir. Mir was the target in a murder attempt on his
life, last April 19, in which he pointed the finger at Pakistans
notorious spy outfit, ISI, and its chief; ISI is an essential arm of
GHQ.
Nawaz battle with meddlesome generals is old, as pointed
out above. It goes back to his very first stint in power, in the
early 90s, and aggravated to oust him from power in his second
stint, in the late 90s. For a change in his fortunes, hes in a far
healthier position this time around because of the emergence of
a robustly independent judiciary and a vibrant and vocal news
media in Pakistan. This combined force of judiciary and media
does amount to putting a damper on the erstwhile unbridled
ambitions of the Pakistani Bonapartes.
However, experience should have made Nawaz wiser to
avoid unnecessary brush with the haughty military command.
That necessitates a cautious and calculated response to Modis
invitation, knowing that the Pakistani brass has always had its
doubts with regard to India. The generals have found it to their
advantage-in terms of their larger-than-life influence on the pol-
itics and governance of Pakistan-to portray India as an implaca-
ble enemy. If nothing else, that perception, reality or myth (one
may feel free to take their pick from this assortment) accords
the military a towering role in Pakistan as defenders of both its
physical and ideological frontiers.
Nawaz will be taking all these intricacies and delicacies
into deciding whether he should go to Delhi on May 26 or
stay home. As of the writing of these lines, Islamabad hasnt
spoken yes or no to the invite from Delhi. But, given Nawaz
known preference to take relations with India to a new level
of understanding, amity and peace, this scribe has no hesi-
tation into endorsing what many pundits have been urging:
Nawaz should honour the invitation and go to Delhi on May
26. Turning it down and saying no would be an avoidable
affront. Leadership demands bold moves. Modi has made
his; Nawaz needs to reciprocate..
Modi and Pakistan: Testing Each Other?
18 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.milligazette.com
Nawaz was, perhaps, the first leader of a neighbouring country to felicitate Modi on his
thumping victory at the polls. Arguably, his message of congratulations was on its way to Delhi
even before the Election Commission of India had formally announced the election results. That
underlined Nawaz still keen and vibrant sense to keep his momentum of reconciliation and
amity with India alive and actively on the front burner. He not only congratulated Modi on his
impressive triumph but also extended the new Indian leader an invitation to visit Pakistan at his
convenience.
Pope, Israeli lies and more
The Pope is coming to Palestine, a country under a regime of
apartheid and colonialism. The Zionists are greeting him by
insisting that they will continue to occupy the site of the last sup-
per and insisting that he visit "Yad Vashem" (a museum exploit-
ing one tragedy to create more holocausts), and "Mount Herzle"
named after the guy who is a key architect of ethnic cleansing
and colonialism here that cost hundreds of thousands of Arab
lives. Christians here (and all other people) have become more
and more active in boycotts, divestment, and sanctions against
the Zionist regime.
Meanwhile Palestinian leadership in Ramallah still seems
mired in its old ways of sanctifying pope Abu Mazen. Text of
signs here in Bethlehem initially welcomed the Pope as a guest
of Abu Mazen not the guest of Palestine; this text was changed
after some uproar though Abu Mazen's pictures remained. The
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and many
others complained about the unilateral moves and decisions by
Abu Mazen without consulting the Palestinian people (and not
just his key financially connected yes-men from Fatah). PFLP
was promptly denied its financial share from the PLO umbrella
(small as it maybe since the PLO was subsumed to the
Palestinian Authority and its corrupt officials).These issues and
problems portray a liberation movement gone awry after Oslo
treacherous agreements. Yet, this does not take away from the
justice of the Palestinian cause or the fact that it is inevitable that
truth and freedom will prevail.
Meanwhile we continue here struggling and sacrificing.
Below are glimpses of reality and in particular please note the
plight of youth assassinated and prisoners in "administrative
detention". Maybe the Pope will say something about this contin-
uing suffering and the lies and mythology that make it all possi-
ble.
Israeli military commit crimes and are caught lying (again).
This is not the first time the Israeli army assassinates Children
and lie about it. In this case two young people are shot with live
ammunition and Israeli military said they posed direct threats and
that they only used rubber bullets. Footage and other evidence
was then released by Defense of Children International which
shows the military lied (http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-
abunimah/video-shows-unprovoked-cold-blooded-killing-pales-
tinian-boys-israeli-forces). After significant uproar, even the US
State Department and CNN had to pay attention but the arrogant
Israeli military is still sticking to its lies.
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20 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVES www.milligazette.com
FIRAS AL-KHATEEB
From the 1500s through the 1800s, European nations were engaged
in a tragic and barbaric practice known as the slave trade. During this
period, over 12 million Africans were kidnapped or bought in Africa,
boarded onto ships and taken to North and South America to work as
slaves. The legacy of this inhuman treatment lives on today, in the
form of racism and economic disadvantage for blacks in the
Americas, and disunity and wars in Africa. One aspect of slavery that
has been overlooked in historical studies is the impact of slave
revolts in the New World. Needless to say, the African slaves did not
go willingly to their new lives. In many cases, they fought back
against their masters, refusing to accept the life theyd been thrown
into. One of the most notable (and successful) of these rebellions
was the Bahia Revolt, which took place in 1835 in Brazil. This revolt,
unlike some others, was planned and led entirely by Muslims. The
story of how they were able to plan a revolt in such horrid conditions
and have such a large impact is remarkable. The most interesting
and defining factor of the revolt was its Islamic character.
Background: Brazil was originally a Portuguese colony, up until
1822 when it gained its independence. Regardless of the govern-
ment, however, the slave trade went on from the earliest Portuguese
settlements through the late 1800s. In the eastern state of Bahia,
slaves made up about one third of the labour force.
Understanding the origin of these slaves is very important to
understanding how the revolt was so successful. Most of the slaves
came either from Senegambia (on the western coast of Africa), or
from the Bight of Benin (modern-day Benin, Togo, and Nigeria). The
slaves from these areas were almost entirely Muslim. The Wolof and
Mandinke people of Senegambia were entirely Muslim by the 1400s
and were very learned in Islamic matters, with many scholars among
them. The Yoruba, Nupe, and Hausa people from Benin were also
entirely Muslim since at least the 1500s.
The location of the revolt, Salvador, in Brazil: When these Muslim
slaves arrived in Brazil, they carried with them their religious beliefs,
with most refusing to submit to Catholicism like their Portuguese and
Brazilian masters. Even as slaves, they managed to carry on an
Islamic community with imams (scholars), mosques, schools, and
communal prayer. In the capital of Bahia, Salvador, where the revolt
would take place, over 20 different mosques existed, being built by
both Muslim slaves, and freedmen (former slaves who had gained
freedom).
Organizing Revolt: In 1814 and 1816, the Muslims of Bahia attempt-
ed to organize a revolt against the Portuguese. They wanted to over-
throw the local law enforcement, free all the slaves, and commandeer
ships back to Africa. Unfortunately, some slaves were serving as
informants to the local police, and the revolt was crushed before it
even started, with its leaders being killed. Over the next 20 years,
intermittent minor revolts by Muslims and non-Muslims alike were
met with no success in bringing freedom to Bahias slaves.
Before discussing the revolt in 1835, we must understand the
unifying factor Islam played in the organization of the slaves. The
Wolof, Mandinke, Hausa, Nupe, and Yoruba all spoke different lan-
guages. While some people have ignorant ideas about Africa being
one monolithic entity, it is a diverse continent of different people, cul-
tures, and nations. These Muslim slaves in Bahia were as diverse as
a group of French, German, Russian, and Greek speakers. Despite
their ethnic differences, the unifying factor between all of them was
Islam. Islam provided them with a common language to speak
(Arabic), common customs, dietary habits, and behaviours. The
Muslims of Bahia would be much more connected to fellow Muslims
of a different ethnicity than non-Muslims who spoke the same lan-
guage as them. Throughout Islamic history, unity such as this has led
to greater strength and solidarity.
Muslim slaves in Bahia, Brazil: The failed revolts of 1814 and 1816
forced Bahias Muslims to go into hiding. Outward expressions of
Islam were repressed by the authorities. Despite this, throughout the
1820s and 1830s, the Muslim leaders and scholars focused greatly
on converting other Africans (be they Catholic or animist) to Islam.
Even the Brazilian authorities noticed an increase in the number of
people practicing Islam, but did not pay it much attention.
The people who organized the revolt were exclusively Muslim
scholars. Due to the strength of the Muslim community, they were
well respected by the people and held in a position of honour and
esteem. Among these leaders were men such as:
Shaykh Dandara - a wealthy freedman who was an imam;
Shaykh Sanim - an elderly slave who established a school to teach
people about Islam;
Malam Bubakar Ahuna - the leading scholar throughout Bahia, who
organized Muslim community events.
These Muslim scholars, as well as many others, used the
mosques as a base of operations. There they discussed plans for
revolt, stored weapons, and educated the local Africans. It was
through these mosques that Malam Bubakar distributed his call to
jihad (holy struggle, or military resistance). He wrote out a document
in Arabic that called on Muslims to unify in preparation for the com-
ing revolt against their Brazilian masters.
The Revolt: The authorities had received some information that a
rebellion was brewing, so they took proactive steps and exiled Malam
Bubakar six months before the revolt was scheduled. Despite this,
the plans for the revolt were already finalized and distributed to
Muslims throughout Bahia. The revolt was to take place after the Fajr
(dawn) prayer on January 25th, 1835, which was the 27th of
Ramadan, 1250 AH in the Muslim calendar. Some Muslims consider
the 27th to be the most probable date for Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of
Destiny, when the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. The
Muslims of Bahia chose this date in the hope that the heightened
spiritual state of the community would lead to greater chances for
success.
Because of the massive size of the planned revolt, word was
bound to reach the Bahia police about the revolt. The night before the
revolt was scheduled to take place, they raided one of the local
mosques and found Muslims armed with swords and other weapons.
The fight that ensued led to the death of one officer. Thus, the revolt
had to start early.
Albeit a few hours early, the Muslim rev-
olutionaries from this mosque marched out
of the mosque, ready to begin the revolt in
the dead of night. They were dressed in long
white thobes (tunics) and kufis (skullcaps)
that clearly identified them as Muslims.
Because the revolt was scheduled to begin
at dawn, not all the mosques came out in
revolt at the same time. Regardless, those
that did start the revolt around midnight
marched throughout the streets of Salvador,
gathering other slaves (both Muslim and
non-Muslim) to join them in their revolt.
Before the rest of the mosques even joined,
there were about 300 slaves and freedmen
marching through the city.
Eventually, the governor of Bahia man-
aged to mobilize the local armed forces to confront the rebels. The
few hundred Africans now met over 1,000 professional soldiers with
advanced weaponry in the streets of Salvador. The battle lasted for
about an hour, and led to the death of over 100 Africans and 14
Brazilian soldiers. The Brazilian authorities clearly won the battle.
The revolt never managed to overthrow the local government, nor to
board ships headed back to Africa. It appeared to be a failure.
Aftermath: The leaders of the revolt, the Muslim scholars, were put
on trial and executed. The numerous slaves who took part in the
revolt were given punishments ranging from imprisonment to lash-
ings. Although on the surface the revolt appears to be a failure, there
is more to it than that.
After the revolt, a general fear of Africans, particularly Muslims,
gripped the people of Brazil. The Brazilian government passed laws
that led to a mass deportation of Africans back to Africa. One of the
original goals of the Bahia Revolt was to be returned to Africa, so this
can be seen as a partial victory for the rebellion.
More importantly, however, the Bahia Revolt spurred the anti-
slavery movement throughout Brazil. Although slavery continued to
exist in Brazil until 1888, the revolt began the public discussion about
the role of slaves and the benefit or detriment they provided to
Brazilian society. It is seen as one of the most important events in
leading towards freedom for Brazilian slaves.
It is important to note that the single defining factor for the Bahia
Revolt was its Islamic character. It was organized and led by Muslim
scholars, planned in mosques, and supported by a largely Muslim
African population. Without Islam as a unifying factor, such a revolt
would never have been possible, nor would the effect it had have
been so great.
Furthermore, Islam continued as a strong force in Brazil for
decades. The violent Brazilian reaction to oppress Islam in the after-
math of the revolt did nothing to stamp Islam out. It is estimated that
in 1910, there were still over 100,000 Muslims throughout Brazil. This
is a testament to the strength of the Muslim community of Brazil and
their dedication to Islam.
Any discussion on the history of Islam in the Western
Hemisphere must include the heroic actions of these Muslims. Islam
is not a new religion in North and South America, brought by recent
immigrants from the Middle East and South Asia, as many tend to
believe. Rather, it is a religion that has greatly influenced the course
of North and South American history in the past, and will continue to
do so in the future.
Bibliography: Shareef, Muhammad. The Islamic Slave Revolts of Bahia,
Brazil. Pittsburg: Sankore Institute, 1998.
The Muslim Slave Revolt in Bahia, Brazil
BAHIA REVOLT
Date: January 1835; Location: Salvador, Bahia; Result: Legalist victory, repelled rebellion.
Strength: unknown, at least 3 battalion of guards, 600 insurgents; casualties; losses: 7 dead
soldiers; 80 dead; 300 captured rebels
A sketch of a battle during Bahia Revolt
BOOKS The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 21 www.milligazette.com
Book Indias Muslim Spring - Why is Nobody Talking about It?
Author: Hasan Suroors
Publisher: Rupa Publications, New Delhi, 2014.
ABHAY KUMAR
Hasan Suroor is a London-based veteran journalist. He began his
career with The Statesman and later he worked as The Hindus UK
correspondent for over a decade. He continues to write in news-
papers on important issues such as Muslim identity, secularism,
communalism and Islam. He was brought up and educated in
Delhi after his family left Lucknow for the national capital post-
Partition. Their new destination, at least in the beginning, did not
receive its guests warmly as his parents identity as Muslim
worked as a hurdle for them to rent a flat in New Delhi. Eventually
they had to seek refuge in the Muslim-majority Ballimaran of the
Walled City where his mother worked as a Communist Party
activist.
Suroor, who is regarded as one of the progressive and lib-
eral voices among Muslims, has recently been in news for an
interesting thesis which he offers in his new book, Indias Muslim
Spring: Why is Nobody Talking about It?
He argues that for the first time since Independence a seis-
mic and tectonic shift has taken place in the Indian Muslim
community with an emergence of liberal spring among the new
generation Muslims, who were born after the late 1970s.
For Suroor, the elder generations of Muslims were funda-
mentalist and emotional, intolerant of freedom of speech, pri-
oritized cultural and identity issues over substantive ones, had
contempt for women and blamed others for the plight of Muslim
community while the young Muslims are just the opposite of their
elders -- they, are tolerant, pragmatic, moderates, secu-
lar, cosmopolitan, optimistic, confident and forward-look-
ing as well as nationalistic. In short, he creates a binary
between the fundamentalist old Muslims versus liberal young
Muslims.
Notwithstanding his argument that these young Muslims are
secular, liberal and modern, Suroor at the same time, in the book,
depicts them as deeply religious as these young Muslims greet
each other with salaam alaikum instead of more secular aadab,
dutifully offer namaz, keep fast, grow beard, avoid haram meat
and so on. Does not he contradict himself by saying that the new
generations of Muslims are, at the same time, both deeply reli-
gious and secular? He would strongly argue that the new genera-
tions of Muslims have been able to reconcile these contradictory
values. For him, the appearance of religiosity and the rise of
Muslim consciousness among young Muslims are reactions to
Islamophobia post- 9/11 and the fact that they wear their religios-
ity on their sleeves does not come in the way of their being liber-
al and moderate Muslims.
In the words of Suroor, the younger generation of Muslims is
more inclusive, more cosmopolitan and more forward-looking
than their parents generation was. Dont judge them by their
beards and hijabs. Go and talk to them, which is what I did, and
you might be surprised, as I was, to discover how well-adjusted,
optimistic and nationalistic todays Indian Muslim youth is
(p. xii).
To recap, he contends that for the first time since 1947 there
has been an arrival of Muslim spring amid religious fervour as
the moderate sections of Muslims, argues Suroor, are now in a
position to dominate fundamentalist forces.
In what follows I shall examine his claim and argue that his
generalisation of the Muslim spring is not empirically sustainable.
Besides, I will also problematize some of his views about the
Muslim community.
A Critique of Muslim Spring Thesis: As mentioned above, his
thesis of the Muslim spring is based on an untenable binary of
fundamentalist old generations of Muslims versus liberal and new
generations of Muslims. The author does not provide sufficient
empirical materials to convince readers that the old generations of
Muslims were indeed fundamentalists. However, my interest lies
in understanding why does a well-informed journalist like Suroor
often wails that the early generations of Muslims were not liber-
al? One plausible answer may be found in the works of anthro-
pologist Talal Asad, whose book Formation of the Secular
(2003) gives a critical insight to recognise the violence of secular-
ism. Asad shows how a secularist -- such as Suroor in India --
operates within the notion of linear progress of time from a tradi-
tional, religious and communitarian self into an individuated,
autonomous, rational, secular and moral self. Thus the secularist
Suroor is deeply uncomfortable with Muslim organisations,
self-styled communitarian leaders and ulama (religious leaders)
and he, therefore, does not miss any chance to bash mullas by
projecting them as villains!
Even if Suroor likes or dislikes, it is a fact that the hold of these
Muslim organisations and communitarian leaders, whom Suroor
calls fundamentalists, seems much stronger in the Muslim com-
munity than a secularist like him is willing to recognise.
I think Suroor would have done much more relevant work had
he instead studied how these organisations and communitarian
and religious leaders enjoy so much support among the Muslim
community.
Having lamented that the old generations were conservative
and fundamentalist, Suroor suddenly begins to celebrate the flow-
ering of the liberal spring among young Muslims. But his claim
lacks empirical evidence. As he himself points out that Muslims
are not a monolithic community and the community is sharply
divided on class, caste, sect, and regional lines how could he
then base his thesis on just a few interviews?
As he mentions that his method is based on good old-fash-
ioned journalism in which he appears to have interacted with a
dozen of urban middle class Muslims mostly in Lucknow, Aligarh,
Meerut and Delhi. Among his interviewees are a businessman, a
hotel executive, a young theatre actor, a car dealer, a young
Muslim graphic designer, a mass-communication student etc. Are
they representatives of around 20 crore Muslims of India? The
persons whom Suroor interviews come from a well-off social
background and their views are likely to be articulated from their
locations.
Therefore, Suroor commits an error to equate their views with
the views of the entire community. He also fails to critically evalu-
ate the statements of his interviewees. Further, Suroor ends up
propagating some highly problematic assumptions and sugges-
tions about the Muslims community, which often come through
his interviewees. Let me begin with one such interviewee who
ends up supporting free-market economy.
First, Razia Siddiqui, 28, who works with a multinational cor-
poration, completely dismisses the idea that market excludes a
large section of people. Instead, she gives an argument based on
meritocracy. Post-globalization, opportunities have increased
manifold. Institutions only look for the right attitude and sincerity
in individuals. I have never come across a meritorious and diligent
Muslim who has not progressed. It is not a case of discrimination;
it is a case of working hard, working diligently, and keeping one-
self away from negative thoughts of all kinds. Unfortunately,
Muslims have remained so archaic in their approach that they
become a case of missed opportunities (p. 138.).
At another place Siddiqui cites the life of nuclear scientist and
former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam as a role model who
has reached the top from a modest background. However, the
problem with such a formulation is that it reduces poverty to an
individual level and overlooks the fact of inbuilt unequal social
relations.
Similarly, Suroor, despite his inclination towards the Left, cel-
ebrates the last two decades of growth in India, arguing that there
has been a high expansion of higher education for Muslims
women but he overlooks the fact that the State, as argued by
Marxist political economists, has also rolled back in this period
and there has been a massive cut of expenditure on social sec-
tors. At times, he seems to contradict himself when he mentions
that Muslims are facing discrimination but his overall argument
appears to have been informed by limited set of data. As the
Sachar Committee and the Mishra Comission have shown,
Muslims of India, with their internal variations, are socially and
economically a backward community. Therefore, they need urgent
ameliorative policies from State but Suroors celebrated young lib-
eral Muslims instead solely blame individuals for the plight of the
community.
Second, at another place, an interviewee of Suroor claims that
India is the safest and best place for Muslims in the world. The
politics of such a statement is that it silences the cries of millions
of Muslims who are victims of post-Independence communal vio-
lence. For example, in recent times, within a hundred kilometers
from the national capital New Delhi, as many as 50 thousands
Muslims remain displaced in the wake of Muzaffarnagar commu-
nal violence last September. Nine months after the violence, many
of them are still living in relief camps amid the reign of social ter-
ror. Had Suroor visited these camps and interviewed them about
whether India was the safest place to live for Muslims, the answer
would have been quite different. His claim that young Muslims are
well integrated in the mainstream, stands questioned as thou-
sands of young boys and girls, who have been living in these
camps, remain uprooted from society.
Third, Suroor argues that the young Muslims, unlike their eld-
ers, are pragmatic. But what does this pragmatism mean? On one
occasion, Suroor seems to suggest that pragmatism for Muslims
means their willingness to support and vote for BJP/Modi! He,
therefore, offers Muslims a suggestion, if voting BJP in special
circumstances was in their interest, vote BJP. I think this is a very
problematic advice. Suroor, who has written against communal-
ism for decades, seems to argue in favour of compromising with
it. He may call a Muslim supporter of Modi pragmatic but millions
others, who are waging a relentless struggle against communal-
fascism, would beg to differ with him.
Fourth, Suroor seems to agree with the views of a Meerut busi-
nessman and a Jamia Millia Islamia student who talk about the neg-
lect of education on the part of Muslim community and the need to
take a leaf from another minority communitys book, Parsis.
While his emphasis on the need to have a self-introspection
among the Muslim community is welcome, my differences with
Suroor lie in his equating the issues Muslims with those of Parsis.
Needless to say, history and social and economical conditions of
Parsis and Muslims are quite different. Muslims, much more than
Parsis, encounter anti-Muslim prejudices in society in their every-
day life. And unlike Parsis, Muslims have been victims of many
State-sponsored riots since Independence.
Fifth, the secularist Suroor, who is burdened with the ideolo-
gy of secular nationalism, does not give an impartial account of
history too. While discussing the history of Partition, he is overt-
ly critical of the Muslim League and Jinnah while he is complete-
ly silent about the role of the Congress. Though he is right to point
the finger at the role of elite sections of Muslims who saw the cre-
ation of Pakistan as beneficial for serving their own interests, he
does not even mention in passing the failures of the Indian
National Congress. Historians have rightly shown that the
Congress, which had powerful Hindu communalists, masquerad-
ing as nationalists within its fold, was not willing to accommodate
the legitimate demands of Muslims, paving the way for Partition.
Besides my disagreement with some of his basic arguments,
Suroor also makes some factual errors in the book. I was sur-
prised to find that a writer on the Muslim issue and Islam was not
able to write the correct meaning of salam alaikum, which is
peace/blessing be upon you, not God is great as he says (p. xi.)!
Contrary to Suroors assumptions and views, Muslims, par-
ticularly the youth, continue to face a serious problem of unem-
ployment and discrimination at the hands of State and society. The
account of Suroor fails to sufficiently capture the growing frustra-
tion of Muslim youths. Instead of locating Muslim youths partic-
ipations in various struggles for wages, employments, dignity and
civil rights, Suroor sticks them with his pet labels (liberal,
nationalistic and well-integrated).
My critique of Suroors labels does not mean that Muslims are
just the opposite of what he argues, i.e., fundamentalists or anti-
nationalists. What I mean is that Suroors thesis of the Muslim
spring is not attentive to capturing the complexities of contempo-
rary Muslim lives. (kafila.org)
Abhay Kumar is pursuing PhD at Centre for Historical Studies,
Jawaharlal Nehru University. He can be reached at
debatingissues@gmail.com
Fundamentalism, Liberalism and Indian Muslims
Muhammad Saleem said he was arrested
on 1 August and was badly thrashed - so much
so that he suffered a fracture in his leg. They
used to make him lie down on his back and
rode on his shoulders hitting on his waist with
belts and sticks.
Muhammad Altaf said that he was only two
days into marriage when he was arrested on
6 August 2003. He was constantly beaten but
was not told why he had been arrested. His only
crime was that he had collected funds for the relief
of Gujarat riot victims and was trying to help peo-
ple in camps. The police was trying to force him
to accept that he had helped terrorists.
Adam Bhai said he was arrested at 1:30
am and was taken to the Crime Branch office in
Guekwad Haveli where he was interrogated
about the riots. He told them I dont know any-
thing, for which he was tortured and accused
of doing recce.
The sixth person, Chand Khan, has gone to
his home town of Barielly after his acquittal and
release.
Maulana Gulzar Azmi, who looks after
these cases, said these people were accused
on ten counts and all were proved fictitious in
the Supreme Court.
Qayyum and the other victims of State ter-
ror will move to the Supreme Court for compen-
sation for the precious 11 years of their lives that
were wasted in most inhumane manner.
Meanwhile, JD(U) on 21 May accused BJP
leader Amit Shah and Gujarat govt of misus-
ing state machinery against a par ticular
community and demanded that other such
cases should be transferred out of that state.
JD (U) general secretary KC Tyagi said, SC
judgement clearly raises the doubt on the
intention of Gujarat govt against the inno-
cents and minorities in their state. BJP has
called cases against Amit Shah in three
staged killing as politically motivated. If
cases against Shah are politically motivated
then why not such cases of innocents like
Adambhai Sulemanbhai Ajmeri and Abdul
Qayyoom should also be treated as political-
ly motivated?. Tyagi said, strict actions are
required against police officials and the then
Home Minister for implicating innocent peo-
ple in false cases and making their family
lives miserable.
Contd. from page 3
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...an interviewee of Suroor claims that
India is the safest and best place for
Muslims in the world. The politics of
such a statement is that it silences the
cries of millions of Muslims who are
victims of post-Independence
communal violence.
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Narendra Modi
The long-dreaded day has dawned. Narendra Modi has been chosen PM
of our motherland. The day is not far when Modi will usher in a "saffron
revolution" and convert secular Bharat into a total Hindu "asthan" . The
success of the BJP reminds Muslims what Allah says about the defeat of
the Romans in the Surah Rum that tables turn and the vanquished become
victorious by His Infinite Grace. In Allah, we must trust but at the same
time we must tie our camels, as enjoined by our Holy Prophet (pbuh). The
imperative of the hour for us is to be united and to strengthen the one and
only umbrella body of Muslim organizations in India viz., the Muslim
Majlis-e- Mushawarat- the earlier, the better. May Allah guide us aright.
Aameen.
S. M. Pasha, Chennai
valimuhammad777@gmail.com
II
The president of Muslim Majlis-e Mushwarat with all its members should
meet the new Prime minister Mr Narenfra Modi and congratulate him after
the oath taking ceremony and put the urgent demand of release of thou-
sands innocent Muslim youths. Who have been apprehended and were
sent to jail on fake charges of terrorism they are languishing in jails since
years together this sheer injustice meted out to them in the congress
regime .Hope Modi will release them and allow them to lead a peaceful life.
Dr Maqdoomi, Hyderabad
Golden words
Sharad Yadav was the NDA convenor when JD(U) was with BJP.
Seventeen years they were partners. They separated as Modi got centre
stage in BJP. Sharad Yadav addressing an election rally in Katihar on 12
April said: "home breaks when elder brother becomes unfair". His golden
words must be remembered.
S. Haque, Patna
G-50 leaders should find-out solution for the communal strife
'BJP-led alliance in the 2014 Parliamentary elections has gained a huge
majority. So much so that with its alliance partners of NDA, it can even
muster two thirds majority required for even Constitutional amendment, as
in case of Article 370 of Constitution by taking support from non-alliance.
This has created a gory liability on BJP due to it's election manifesto where
BJP promised (i) Construction of Ram Temple in place of Babri Mosque
(which was demolished in 1992 by BJP and Sangh-Parivar namely RSS,
Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajarang dal etc) (ii)- Removal of Article 370 of
Constitution from the State of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) which will allow
Hindus from rest of India to go and purchase land and landed properties
in Muslim majority Kashmir in order to transform demographic composi-
tion of J&K in favour of Hindus (without solving gory and chronic Kashmir
problem) and (iii)- Common Civil Code where Muslims will not be able to
marry as per Sharia Laws (which as per Hindu propaganda allows
Muslims to marry four wives, as if in Muslims sex ratio is 1:4)...Now it is
left to time to tell that how much people of India are intelligent, responsi-
ble and wise, who despite knowing above mentioned background of BJP
and Sangh-Parivar, have given huge majority to BJP for implementing this
gory Hindutva agenda, which was made public through BJP election man-
ifesto. Hem Raj Jain, Pennington, NJ - 08534, USA
hemrajjain1@gmail.com
BJP victory and Indian Muslims
Instead of being bitter and sullen, we have to try to make the BJP victory
an opportunity for us for course correction. First of all, quality education
has to remain the top priority for Indian Muslims. We have to veer away
from demanding reservations and government doles and rely more and
more on our own individual and community resources. In public life we
have to learn to be Indians rather than Indian Muslims. Being Muslims is
our private affair. We are Muslims both at home and in the mosque but not
in the public square where we should be in the main stream. Let India's
economic development be OUR agenda. If we find that the BJP is better at
economic development, let us support it or even join it. If Congress has
better ideas or plans for economic development, let us support Congress.
We may disagree with Narendra Modi on many issues, but we can surely
agree with his slogan, "India first!". Ghulam Mohiyuddin, New York USA
Muslim girls opting non-Muslims: reasons and solution
The first reason for a Muslim girl to marry a non Muslim is the lack of the
knowledge of ISLAM. A very large section of the by birth Muslim's are
devoid of the least knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh). And the parents who raise their children away from
the commandments of the Creator are prone to fall in the trap of this
duniya and destroy their akhirah. It is the responsibility of the parents to
make their children adher to the five main pillars of ISLAM and God willing
results will be better for the Ummah. Dowry which is HARAM in ISLAM is
becoming a reason in many cases for the Muslim girls to marry a non
Muslim. Dowry must be dealt strictly and all the Imam`s of respective
Masjid should speak very strictly against the system of dowry. It is a major
responsibility of the Imam`s to let the common Muslims know that if
Dowry is taken from the girls side it Invalidates the Nikah as it is against
the traditions of the Prophet (pbuh). All of us Muslims also have a respon-
sibility to eradicate the system of Dowry from the Muslim Society. I appeal
to all Muslims reading this article to avoid or boycott any Muslim marriage
where dowry is involved and also let the people know why you are boy-
cotting the marriage. This type of strict steps have become the necessar-
ily of this time to eradicate Dowry and please don't worry about the soci-
ety or your relatives as your LORD will definitely be happy with you.....
Dr. N Rahman, Karimnagar, Telangana.
nabibrahman@gmail.com
Modi
Modij, heartiest congratulations for the great victory. Hope there will be a
new definition of politics where each sector of our society will be benefit-
ed with a standard level of civilization. Where every citizen must have
accommodation, health wealth and social security with dignity. All political
party have been ignoring their own people for centuries. India is great but
why then people are so helpless. Please try to eradicate poverty from its
root, tears and heart breaking grief. I wish you all the best.
Abu Taha
abutaharahman@yahoo.com
II
As a mark of mercy and good will Modi should release all detainees in jails
who have not been given charge sheets even the kliiers of Rajiv Gandhi
should be released they have been in jails more than 20 years It is sheer
injustice towards the accused and the common Indians who are tax pay-
ers. Maqdoomi, Hyderabad
drmaqdoomi@gmail.com
AAP
Strangely Arvind Kejriwal wants to stake a claim to form the government
in Delhi. He takes Congress support for granted although the Congress is
dismissing any such possibility. Kejriwal also wants people to advise the
party through interaction whether they want reelection in coming months
or they want AAP to form the government again. One wishes Kejriwal had
not forgotten to consult the "janata janardan" before taking the foolish deci-
sion to resign on the 49th day of their erstwhile government.
***
For an admirer of Arvind Kejriwal it is quite unbelievable that he must have
made the statement which he is supposed to have made and for which EC
has sent him a notice. He has said that voting for Congress or BJP will be
equivalent to treachery against God and the country. In Hindi with the use
of the word "Khuda" for God it sounds more communal and hence more
detestable: "ek bhi vote agar Congress ya BJP ko pada toh Khuda ke saath,
desh ke saath gaddari karoge." This statement of Kejriwal is quite compa-
rable to much condemned statement of Abu Azmi of Samajwadi party that
Muslims who do not vote for his party are not true Muslims. The Muslim
community has hauled him over the coals for this statement.
Dr Mookhi Amir Ali, Mumbai 400054
drmookhi@hotmail.com
Suggestion to Mulayam Singh
Some Muslim social activists want to start a movement to pressurize
Mulayam Singh to put some Muslim candidate on Mainpuri seat to be
vacated by him. Their argument is let the true face of Mulayam Singh be
exposed , I feel there is no use for such move. Is it not yet Exposed . What
will be the community gain if one more Muslim goes to Parliament. Give
name of any Muslim MLA. MP or Minister who has taken any stand on any
of Muslim Problems including Akhilesh Govt inaction on Muzaffer Nagar
Riots. So it is immaterial that how many Muslims are elected it is the party
or person concerned which should matter. If Muslim is elected and he is
criminal or Bharasrt then? If you see the behaviour of Muslim elected rep-
resentatives they are not lagging behind others in Corruption and Criminal
activities. They rarely work for the community but for their own welfare.
There are few exceptions like Zafer Alam of Aligarh and Berk sb of Sambal
etc who are honest but even they did not open their mouth regarding
Muzzaffer Nagar Riots. So try to elect clean ,honest and Secular person
without seeing his cast or religion. Both BSP and SAPA are Bharast the
only difference between them is on Law and Order . BSP is comparative-
ly better on this account. So we have to sit and discuss.
Prof Shamim Ahmad, AMU
profshamim@gmail.com
29 residential SC/ST schools, none for Muslims...
Bihar government has decided to establish 29 residential high quality
schools for the SCs/STs. District magistrates have been asked to acquire
5 to 10 acre land. For this mega project a budget of 150 crore is ready.
Construction, monitoring, quality maintenance agencies have been
finalised. On the other hand, during the last 10-12 years only two minori-
ty hostels could be completed; the remaining 32 district minority hostels
are still incomplete. Bihar government gave jobs to 3.5 lakh teachers. BJP
manifesto in the name of Muslims education promised madrasa moderni-
sation while Congres president Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation stone of
the AMU campus on 30 Jan 2014 at Kishanganj without any budgetary
allocation or fund allotment. Madrasa modernisation scheme brought by
Congress is pushed back. Muslims are so nave that they quickly deceived
with promises and their namesake, sycophant and timid leaders have no
milli jazba to oppose these verbal promises.
S. Haque, Patna
BJP
The BJP is deriding Dr. Manmohan as the weakest Prime Minister India
ever had. It is true, that the only occasion Dr. Manmohan Singh had shown
doggedness to the extent of relinquishing his post as Prime Minister was
during the end of UPA-I tenure, over the issue of signing civilian nuclear
deal with the U. S. His second innings was marred by scams followed by
an uncanny Congress strategy to pass on the reigns to Rahul Gandhi. But
wasn't it true that Atal Bihari Vajpayee who was about to reach an agree-
ment with Parvez Musharraf in the Agra summit was also restrained by his
deputy L. K. Advani. And the meeting of Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh
with the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat doesn't portend that the power centre
of the impending NDA government also lay elsewhere.
Syed Sultan Mohiddin,
Kadapa (A. P)
sultan_awaz@yahoo.co.in
Hyderabad riot
The author conveniently forgets to mention that a Sikh religious flag was
burned by Muslims. Look for the true deeper malaise Mr. Khan!
SG - shivgaurgmis@gmail.com
MG: There is no proof, there is no enquiry showing that Muslims burnt
the flag. We have evidence of umpteen incidents where Hindutva hot-
heads did such things in order to cause riot or get Muslims arrested.
II
Indian Muslims have been discriminated on ground of their religion only
and the State should not spare the offenders and the action by State
should be taken within seven days otherwise the Indian Muslims leaders
and organisations should take all possible steps permissible under the
laws and the Constitution.
Naved Yar Khan, on MG Website
Involving UN Human Rights In Indian Internal Affairs
ALLAH helps only those who wish to help themselves. The community
stands divided almost on every issue and is as corrupt/ dishonest as any
other section of the society not only in India but Internationally. So the sug-
gestion by one of our valued social activist that UN Human Right should
assign a special team to India for maintaining Social equalities is very
damaging and impractical. When we ourselves can not sit to gather to
have minimum common program for the welfare of Community then the
above suggestion of UN intervention is senseless.. Secondly UN is also
controlled by Super Powers and the Credibility of UN Agencies is also very
low. Why should UN involve itself in the internal affairs of Country like India
which is strong and great. What UN has done in case of Palestine ,Syria,
Egypt and so many other countries? We are Indians and shall continue to
live in India with 100% loyalty .Let the new Govt work, when any Injustice
shall be done then certainly we have to stand up and face the situation
with cooperation of secular forces. No doubt the BJP ideology is based on
Muslims hatred but we have to learn to fight against injustice. Those who
are working/settled abroad are not well aware of the ground realities in
India. Certainly the days ahead for the community may be full of turmoil
Prof Shamim Ahmad,
AMU
profshamim@gmail.com
Elections end but Muslim-bashing continues
I agree with Dr Jamil ,unfortunately we don't have right debaters to put our
view point in right and convincing way.Most of so called muslim leaders
and panelists should get themselves trained in public speaking.Every issue
concerning with community should be well researched before being on
panel.
Nadeem, on MG Website
Noted lawyer and activist Mukul Sinha passes away
Its the spirit which never dies. In humanity never dies. Good bye Mukul
Sinha. The spirit with which Sinha lived will born us many more Mukul
Sinha.
M Naqqaad, on MG Website
Congress parting kick: K Rahman Khan humiliates upright officer
Indian Muslims badly need Special Education teachers,Vocational
Education teachers,librarians and guidance counsellors.The Educational
Leadership should try to fill strategic gaps in teacher education.For mutu-
al fights they can find time later on.
Azam Siddiqui, on MG Website
II
Congress is no different from Hindutva gang while dealing with upright
officers. Mr. Ansari's going out will be a great loss tot he organization
which was activized by him.
Shamsul Islam, on MG Website
Who are suspects and terrorists?
Darbhanga police caught a person suspected of clandestine activities at
the BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi rally. The young lad was holding a
briefcase and immediately news was spread and NIA and other security
agencies converged there on 24 April 2014. He was from Koeti and son of
Budhu Ram. Then the very next day media wrote that chargesheet has
been filed against terrorist Imtiyaz (Hindi daily / 26/04/14). On the day of
chargesheet filing media, without any judicial process, branded Imtiyaz as
a terrorist.
S. Haque, Patna
Wages of capital punishment
Congress thought that the hanging of Afzal Guru and awarding Sachin
Tandulkar the Bharat Ratana is sufficient to win the election 2014
Mohammad Khan, Dargah Sharif, Bahraich
ryt2mazhar@gmail.com
Is Kashmiriat going to die
A full size photo flashed by an English daily at Nagpur in its 2nd May / 14
issue showing that a burqa clad woman accused of impersonating a voter
outside a polling booth at Srinagar being man handled by two male police
constables downed my head with great shame, shambling and shattering
as the incident took place at Srinagar, Capital of J&K, the state dominated
by Muslims with chief minister and majority of ministers is Muslim.
Without peeping into the merit and demerit of the case one is sure to
believe that no respect and honourable status is bloomed in the state for
feminine gender which is a matter of great regret. In case she proved guilty
she was liable to be punished by the Law but not by male members of
custodian of law as shown in the picture. The question is as to how and
what provision of Law, male policemen were allowed to touch the woman
bodily or to deal with the womanhood whereas Law has not equipped
them with such interaction. Are the lady police guards not there or the lady
constables were not posted at the said polling booth, if so why and for
what reason? If nothing was like that than how the male policemen tried
to disturb the modesty, dignity and chastity of a burqa clad woman for
which not only these constables but even their highups are answerable
and expected to be tried and punished under the provision of Law. Sorry,
the incident put Kashmiryat and the Government there in a bitter taste.
Faheemuddin
Nagpur - 13
Strategising for the Modi Era
Muslims should keep themselves trained, fit, ready to respond any distur-
bance, but should should not indulge in any provocation which could fuel
clashes. If some untoward happens in this era, be prepared to defend and
not to flee from homes leaving behind property children, women and
daughters for hooligans to prey upon...............
Bhatt Aurangzeb Alamgir, on Facebook/MG
Walima the same day, just after nikah
Muslims should make it common to have walima on the same day as
Nikah & complete the marriage ceremony in a single day so that burden
on any of the family can be shared. According to a Fatwa, forcing bride's
family to feed people on day of Nikah is wrong.
Khalid Hasan, on Facebook/MG
II
Some people think that for the walima consummation of a marriage is a
must. Which is a wrong belief. One should prove authentic reference
according to Islam if they think so.
Zafar Badar Uddin, on Facebook/MG
Kejriwal in Jail for call Gadkari Corrupt
Bribe were paid to the top Maharashtra politicians, including Nitin Gadkari.
Documentary proof included supporting documents, diaries and papers
seized from the residences of the director of Mahalaxmi Infraprojects
(MIL), Dhirendra Anant Bhat, one of the parties to the irrigation scam. In
October 2012, government began investigating charges that a vast busi-
ness empire Nitin Gadkari founded was configured with dubious funding.
Of the 18 different firms that invested in Purti Power and Sugar Limited,
many share directors and addresses appear implausible. One of the direc-
tor of firms linked to Mr Gadkari include an astrologer, his former driver.
Who is defamed kejriwal or gadkari ?
Imteyaz Ahmad, on Facebook/MG
Dalits are not Hindus
BSP supremo Mayawati straightforwardly announced that Dalit are not
Hindus (27/04/14). The father of Indian constitution Dr Ambedkar had
announced that "he was born in Hindu religion. In his birth he had no role
but he would not die as a Hindu."
S. Haque, Patna
POSTS ON MG FACEBOOK PAGE
14 May 2014: Rahul skips PM farewell dinner is a bigger news than lives
lost in Hyderabad in communal clashes?
19 May 2014: Tremendous increase in abusive comments from "Sanghi"
elements on www.milligazette.com since #16May. Cyber Cell will have a
tough job, if they act in all fairness.
19 May 2014: Attack on a dalit and we find it "shameless". But in
#Kashmir, if separatists attack those who voted we remain silent.
#Hypocrisy
24 May 2014: Khalid Hasan wants us to inform you all that Muslims
should make it common to have walima on the same day as Nikah & com-
plete the marriage ceremony in a single day so that burden on any of the
family can be shared. According to a Fatwa, forcing bride's family to feed
people on day of Nikah is wrong.
REJOINDERS/OPINION/LETTERS The Milli Gazette, 1-15 June 2014 23 www.milligazette.com
The Milli Gazette, P.O. Box 9701, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025 Email: letters@milligazette.com Read more letters on MG website
RNI No. DELENG/2000/930 REGISTERED DL(S)-01/3215/2012-14
LICENCED TO POST WITHOUT PREPAYMENT U (SE)-57/2012-14
PUBLISHED ON 25 MAY 2014 POSTED ON 26-27 MAY 2014
ADV. FORTNIGHTLY AT NDPSO-110002
The Milli Gazette
D-84 Abul Fazl Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar,
New Delhi 110025 India Tel.: 011-26947483, 0-9818120669 Email: edit@milligazette.com
24 The Milli Gazette,1-15 June 2014
Printed, published and owned by Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan and printed at Vibha Publication Pvt Ltd., D-160B, Sector-7, Noida, U.P. and published at D-84 Abul Fazal Enclave-I, New Delhi 110025.
Editor: Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan
With best compliments from Kaleem Kawaja , Washington DC
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