FEROZE MITHIBORWALA

Dhule: This was the first time that we came across this term
- Kargilli Firing. It was in a meeting in Dhule where activists
from both the communities were present that a young
Muslim mentioned this term and most of us were shocked
beyond words. What he was basically stating was that the
police opened fire with an agenda to kill as if they were at
war with Pakistani troops over the Line of Control.
Thus the deep-seated anti-Muslim bias amongst vast
sections of the police is indeed evidently true, frightening as
it sadly is.
There was also another first. We have come across
many reasons for riots that break out spontaneously and
these range from arguments over a scooter accident, to kite-
flying, to a love affair, to a little incident outside a temple or
a masjid being the norm.
But the recent riot in Dhule on the 6th of January cer-
tainly tops the bill, as it was precisely a petty and frivolous
squabble over a food bill at a food-stall which set off this riot
resulting in the death of six youngsters, namely Imran Ali
Qamar Ali (25), Aasim Shaikh Naseer (21), Saud Ahmed
Raees Patel (18), Hafiz Mohammad Aasif Abdul Haleem
(22), Rizwan Hasan Shah (24) and Yunus Abbas Shah (20),
with three others who had their legs amputated.
Needless to say that the police firing was only directed
towards the Muslim rioters, whilst the Hindu rioters were
provided cover to loot, pillage and burn properties in Macchi
Bazar. The evidence has all been captured on mobile-video
recordings and the police are clearly seen to be participat-
ing in the general looting and mayhem. You can access this
by mere googling Dhule Riots YouTube and the evidence
is there for all to see. This was a riot that should never have
happened and once it started, it could and should have been
easily contained by the police within a matter of two hours
or even less.
Macchi Bazar is a Muslim populated mohalla which
serves the best non-vegetarian food in Dhule. Thus in the
evening there are droves of Hindus who come here to eat.
Right across the local chowk is Madhavpura, a Hindu major-
ity locality.
The incident was sparked off by a heated argument
between a Muslim youth and a Hindu food-stall owner over
a bill. It took a violent turn, with an exchange of blows and
then the Muslim youth went over to the Police chowki locat-
ed right opposite the stall barely 20 feet across the street.
The policemen advised the boy to go to file his complaint at
Azad Nagar Police station, as it could not be registered at the
chowki. The point to be noted here is that, this is the most
communally sensitive spot in all of Dhule and the policemen
stationed there should have known better.
Here itself the feud could have been nipped in the bud,
if a constable could have taken the trouble to walk 20 feet
across the street and sternly warned the two erring parties
to settle their petty affair peacefully. The Muslim boy, seeing
the Police inaction, called his friends to support him and so
did the stall owner. The situation quickly deteriorated into a
stone and bottle throwing match from both quarters. Here
too there was a failure of the youth from both the communi-
ties who live just right across but do not have friends in the
other community whom they can reach out to and appeal for
an end to the mindless fighting. Even the social leadership
on either side was absent and so were their elected repre-
sentatives. All it would have taken were for a few communi-
ty leaders to step in and control the mobs, with a certain
degree of physical threat to their own lives. Or maybe that is
why they all stayed away, hiding in the safety of their
homes.
The police later intervened but sided entirely with the
Hindu community, as has been the case with many riots
across the country in the past. Prior to the firing, water can-
nons were not used, nor was there a lathi-charge or tear-gas
firing to disperse the crowds. The police firing could have
also been in the air and that would have been sufficient to dis-
perse the mobs. But the police chose to open fire right into the
Muslim locality and they fired above the waist, with an agen-
da to kill. As of now, it is still not clear as to which police offi-
cer gave the orders to shoot as they are still passing the buck.
How dare you
make a hate
speech without
joining VHP or
Bajrang Dal
or BJP or Shiv
Sena or RSS
or...?
MG/Yusuf
THE
MILLI
GAZETTE
INDIAN MUSLIMS LEADING ENGLISH NEWSPAPER SINCE 2000
A matter of shame...10 A People Servant...7
24 pages ` 15 ISSN 0972-3366 Fortnightly Vol. 14 No. 3 Issue Serial # 313 facebook.com/milligazette www.milligazette.com 1-15 February 2013
Hindutva terror 1,3,4
Communal riots 5,8,9
Verma panel 7
J&K 10 | Analysis 11 | Special Reports 3,13 | Issues 2,11,13
Books 21 | Speaking Out 11 | Newsmakers 12
Community News 14-15 | Islamic Perspectives 20
Our Publications 19 | Classifieds 22 | Letters 23
Inside
MG
Continued on page 6
The police firing was only directed
towards the Muslim rioters,
whilst the Hindu rioters were
provided cover to loot, pillage and
burn properties in Macchi Bazar.
The evidence has all been
captured on mobile-video
recordings and the police are
clearly seen to be participating in
the general looting and mayhem.
You can access this by mere
googling Dhule Riots YouTube
and the evidence is there for
all to see.
Dhule Riots: How a petty squabble led to Kargilli Firing
UPA wakes up to saffron
terror, eight years too late
Finally, Union Home Minister Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde mustered the courage to
say at Jaipur what India has officially known for at least the last four years since
Martyr Hemant Karkare, the then chief of Maharashtra ATS, exposed the vast
secret network of Hindutva terrorists in 2008 while investigating the Malegaon
blast of that year. But we, the victims, had known this much before that when
our mosques, graveyards, dargahs and localities were attacked, when we were
killed and injured but we were arrested at the same time by the dozens and tor-
tured in custody to obtain fake confessions... Earlier, too, the then Home
Minister Mr Chidambaram had referred to the saffron terror on 25 August
2010 and Wikileaks had disclosed in December that same year that Mr Rahul
Gandhi told the American ambassador in Delhi that saffron terror is a bigger
threat than Lashkar-e Toiba (Indian Express, 18 December 2010).
It is no exaggeration that the saffron terror is the most lethal form of terror
faced by India because this terror not only vitiates the communal peace and amity
in the country but, most importantly, seeks to overthrow our secular system and
abolish our secular constitution. The secret video recordings of Col. Purohits ter-
ror group, which are in the possession of the government and are part of the
Malegaon chargesheet filed by ATS chief Hemant Karkare, amply prove this.
Moreover, those recordings of their meetings and other papers also prove that this
group was in contact with two foreign governments, viz. Nepal under the then King
Gyanendra and Israel. This also shows that the aims and objects of Hindutva ter-
ror are far more serious and lethal than any other terror group in India. It simply
seeks to overturn the Indian secular polity and establish a Hindu Rashtra governed
by Manus laws with all the evils of the caste system and inbuilt injustices against
women and dalits and supremacy of certain classes.
Yet, despite all this evidence at hand, the UPA government wasted so many
precious years in probing sure leads to saffron terror across the country. People
in the IB, like the former IB chief and later National Security Advisor who is now
holidaying in the Kolkata raj bhavan, scuttled probe in the right direction. A year
ago a police chief had told Police Chiefs conference in Delhi that saffron terror
is being probed in 16 blast cases out of which four have been confirmed.
We hope against hope that now, at the fag end of UPA II, investigations and
court proceedings will be expedited and the real culprits who plan, finance and
direct Hindutva terror, are exposed, nabbed and sentenced. Those who have
been nabbed so far are the expendable lower rung workers who actually plant
bombs. It is particularly worrying that persons like Indresh Kumar and Praveen
Togadia, whose names appear in the Malegaon and Ajmer blasts chargesheets,
have not even been interrogated till date. Outfits like Abhinav Bharat, Sanatan
Sanstha, Bajrang Dal, Arya Sena, Sri Ram Sene etc etc have not been touched.
Terror training centres like Bhonsla Military School of Nasik and Pune and the
Akanksha Resort of Pune have not been probed and the thousands of Hindutva
terrorists who received arms and explosives training in these and other camps
over many years are still at large free to undertake their terrorist activities with
impunity. It is also strange that BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh
and Karnataka where these terrorists find safe haven, have not been taken to
task. Moreover, UPA has failed to detoxify the Police and Intelligence personnel
who have been infiltrated by saffron elements who, in turn, facilitate and cover
up saffron terror activities.
It is our considered opinion that what has been exposed of the vast saffron
terror network so far is just the tip of the iceberg. A high judicial probe is
required into all the terror incidents which took place since the BJP came to
power in certain states and later at the Central level in the wake of the demoli-
tion of the Babri Masjid in 1992. Only such a high-level unbiased probe will
uncover the reality of terrorism in India.
ZAFARUL-ISLAM KHAN
2 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 ISSUES / OPINION
DISTRIBUTORS: (Alphabetical - statewise and then citywise ) Become an MG distributor Call/SMS: 09818120669 / 09868656614
A.P.: Cuddapah 9866927380 Adilabad 9849173988 Nellore 9885827745; ASSAM: Guwahati 9435541136; Dispur 9864096688; Kamrup
9864986680; Silchar 9435207683; BIHAR: Al-Kitab (Araria) 09934788628; A. Wadood Alam (Bhagalpur) 9939071026; Sayeedur Rahman,
Vill. Abdullah Pur, Dt. Saheb Ganj; West Champaran 9470438842, 9097197306; Patna Faiza News Agency 9835421193; DELHI Batla House
- Choudhary Book Store GOA: Margao 0832-2734442; GUJARAT: Farooq A. Gaffar Bawani, Rajkot 9879188179 MADHYA
PRADESH: Satna 09926587087 MAHARASHTRA: Aurangabad: Maktaba Islami 9028938695; Dhule Maktaba Islami 241941,
9221392722; Latur: Yousuf 9960749675 Malegaon: Faran Books, Md. Ali Rd; Nagpur: Muniba Book Agency 9373797681 Saleha Book Traders
2721069 Noor Book Depot 9370978825 Nanded: Habib (Degloor) 9403662310; Venkateshwara 9689078710 ; Pusad: Star-N-Services 8983001645,
9922247444, 9689888252; JHARKHAND: Hazaribagh 9955175039 Dhanbad 9507552862; JAMMU & KASHMIR: Srinagar: Janta
2474755; Sikander 9419512762 KARNATAKA: Bangalore: Mahboob Book Depot 080-22867138 Bijapur 9916108194; Dandeli
9900834792; Dharwad 9342211155, HIREKERUR 9886939566 Hubli Islamic Book Centre, Dharwad 09242527896, 2260273 Gulbarga
9731230430; Mangalore: Moulana Book Stall 9901639856 Tumkur F. Ahamed 9342624304 KERALA: Calicut Other Books 2306808;
PUNJAB: Mohd. Naseer, Maler Kotla 9988236310; TAMIL NADU: Chennai Quality Book Centre 28527118; Vaniyambadi: Fizza
7418714117, 8825952559 Iqra 9952675123; UTTAR PRADESH: Aligarh: 9412562972; Educational Book House 2701068; Allahabad:
Asad Book Depot 9335153647, A2Z 9838460613; Azamgarh: Al-Bader Book Centre 9839591434; Kitab Mahal 9936704118; Bhadohi 9307572914
Ballia Jamal Alam Taleemi Markaz 9839714567, 8543917808; Etawa: 09456412482; Gorakhpur: Maktaba Nasir 9451846364; Jhansi 9793049545;
Kanpur: 9305255273; Lucknow Dr. SR. Khan, 9795515909; Mirzapur.: M Ali, 9450886580; Moradabad: 9897248111; Rampur 9675798490
Shahjahanpur: 9889989990; Varanasi: Akhalaqi Corner 0542-2503361; WEST BENGAL: Murshidabad Md. Asfaq Hussain 9733522436
Kolkata Islamic Bookstore 09331001823; Horizon 9831311918; Ash Shams Study Centre 9051392427
Central News Agency, New Delhi
INDIAN MUSLIMS LEADING ENGLISH NEWSPAPER
THE MILLI GAZETTE
REGISTERED NEWSPAPER
CHIEF EDITOR: ZAFARUL-ISLAM KHAN
EDITORIAL TEAM: HABIBAAZIM,
NAANSARI, NADIM AHMAD, AALIYA KHAN
D-84 Abul Fazl Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar,
New Delhi 110025 India Tel.: 2694 7483, 26952825
Email: edit@milligazette.com
Website: milligazette.com; Group: pharosmedia.com
Media database support: Orient Press International
Subscription rates: p. 20
Advertisements rates: p. 22
U
rdu is impugned and maligned on the
ground of being a foreign language or
a relic of Muslim dominance and for the
alleged defects of its script. Urdu is not
a relic of the Muslim rule but a living and ever-
green symbol of Hindu-Muslim era of our pre-
cious national composite culture, a happy mean
between Persian and Arabic on the one hand and
Sanskrit on the other.
Every language has only two fundamental
factors, the noun and the verb, other parts of
speech have only secondary and derivative sig-
nificance. In the stock of Urdu vocabulary, while
most of the nouns are Persio-Arabic, all verbs are
of Sanskrit origin. Thus aana (to come), jaana (to
go), chalna (to walk), bolana (to speak), maarna
(to kill or to beat), marna (to die), khana (to eat),
peena (to drink), karna (to do), uthna (to rise),
likhna (to write), parhna (to read), baithna (to sit),
dena (to give), lena (to take) are the kind of
indigenous words which it is impossible to
replace by others.
All Urdu prepositions such as se (from), tak
(to), par (at, on, upon) and mein (in, into) and
most adverbs of time, place and manner such as
idhar (hither), kidhar (where, whether), yahan
(here), wahan (there), ab (now) kab (when),
kahan (where), kaisa (how) and aisa (thus) are
again Hindi words which have been fully adopted
in Urdu. Without them, Urdu cannot be sustained.
Words of non-Indian origin like jangal (forest),
mal (wealth), maidan (field or open ground),
makan (house) kaghaz (paper), pul (bridge),
tamasha (fun or spectacle), sal (year), station,
ticket, engine, bus, car, school, college, universi-
ty, sarkar (government), shikar (game, hunt) are
such as would be difficult for even an illiterate
rustic to avoid.
It has been computed that out of a total of
55,960 words in the Urdu dictionary, only 13,625
(that is less 25 percent) are of Persio-Arabic ori-
gin and not less than 21,600 are purely of Hindi
origin. The remaining belong to other sources.
Far from the language imposed from above, Urdu
was an outcome of a genuine spirit of unity and
goodwill that imbued both Hindus and Muslims
to forgo their respective languages and to merge
them into a new language essentially Indian in
origin but with capacity to nourish and develop.
Urdu was the practical outcome of mutual cor-
diality and is still breathing the same siprit.
According to Dr. Tarachand, renowned schol-
ar and historian, Khariboli or Urdu emerged as a
fit language for polite speech and literary expres-
sion as early a as in the 15th century and it devel-
oped a literary language in the Deccan as well. It
was the lingua franca of India and the speech of
polite society whether Hindu or Muslim. As late in
1871, Bhartendu Harish Chandra stated in the
preface to his book on the origin of Agarwala
community: The speech of Agarwals of all their
men and women is Khariboli or Urdu (unki boli
stri or purush sabaki, Khariboli or Urdu hai).
What was true of the Agarwal community was
equally true of others.
It was only at the beginning of the 19th cen-
tury that modern Hindi started its career (National
Language of India edited by Z. A. Ahmad). Urdu
is thus entirely Indian in origin and is the living
embodiment of our national composite culture.
About its all-India character, Sardar Patel
writing to his deputy R. R. Devakar in 1949 on the
language policy of All India Radio and the
Ministry of Information, of which he was the min-
ister, said since, Urdu like Hindi cannot belong to
one region, those who speak and understand are
not concentrated in one geographical area. To
this extent Urdu differs from other regional lan-
guages. Its votaries are spread all over India.
There are four crore of Muslims [now the number
has much increased] most of whom speak this
language. There are refugees from the Punjab, a
majority of whom definitely speaks and under-
stands this language better than any other lan-
guage. In U. P. there is a large concentration of
those who speak it. It is, therefore, quite clear to
me that you cannot confine Urdu to any one par-
ticular region. (Sardar Patels Correspondence,
volume 8, p. 380).
In the pamphlet, Muslims of India pub-
lished by the Publications Division of the Ministry
of Information, it has been stated, however, it
may be said that Urdu serves as a common link
among them and millions of others all over the
country. It started as an amalgam of Arabic,
Persian and Turkish with the local vocabulary
syntax. Non-Muslims too cherish and enrich as
their own language. In fact, they are contributing
as much as Muslims in sustaining and building
up literature. Urdu is strong because instead of
having a firm but limited hold in any special cor-
ner of India, as is the case with other Indian
regional languages, it wields a pervasive influ-
ence thoughout the country. The reason is main-
ly historical. Punjab and Delhi, Avadh and Deccan
have all contributed in equal measure to the evo-
lution, enrichment and spread of this language.
A galaxy of non-Muslim poets and prose-
writers have enriched it and immensely con-
tributed to it. Prominent among them are: Ratan
Nath Sarshar, Dayasankar Naseem, Durga Sahay
Suroor, Jwala Prasad Barq, Dwarka Prasad Ufuq,
Brij Narain Chakbast, Bishnu Narain Dar, Prem
Chand, Trilok Chand Mahroom, Daya Narain
Nigam, Lala Shriram, Firaq Gorakhpuri,
Bisheswar Prasad Munnavar, Brij Mohan
Datatriya Kaifi, Maharaja Kishan Prasad Shad,
Kishan Chander, Gopi Chand Narang, Jagannath
Azad, Anand Narain Mulla, Meal Ram Wafa,
Amarnath Sahir, Gulzar Dehlavi, Dr. Gyan Chand,
Dr. Hukam Chand, Ram Lal, Rajender Singh Bedi,
Tej Bahadur Sapru, Mahender Singh Bedi, Gopal
Mittal, Josh Malsiyani, Arsh Malsayani and
Shanti Sarup Bhatanagar. The list is more repre-
sentetive than exhaustive. Non-Muslim dailies,
like Hind Samachar, Pratap, Milap, and Tej, have
a wide circulation. Urdu occupies the third posi-
tion in so far as Indian daily newspapers as well
as weeklies and periodicals are concerned.
DR. HASHIM KIDWAI Ex-M.P.
Urdu language
WALTER FERNANDES
The trauma of the Delhi woman who was raped has ended with
her death. The atrocity roused middle class anger all over the
country. Emotions ran high around this atrocious act of some
drunken men and the demonstrators made demands such as
death penalty for rape and castration in public. This outburst is
understandable given the cruelty of the perpetrators of the crime.
However, one can ask whether this will become one more case of
reacting to a single case without taking cognizance of the malaise
that leads to such crimes. It became a high profile case because
it happened in Delhi. That does not reduce the atrocity of the
crime. But for change to occur in favour of women one has to go
beyond this single case and deal with the issues involved.
One has to remember that what happened in Delhi is not an
exception. It received publicity because it happened in the capital
but many more cases are hushed up regularly or are not reported.
According to police records during 2011, India witnessed
228,650 crimes against women, 24,206 of them of rape and
35,565 of kidnapping and abduction. These are reported cases.
Probably a much bigger number goes unreported because of the
stigma attached to it. Secondly, according to police records,
around 90 percent of rapes are committed by persons known to
the victim, most of them family members. Thirdly, a large number
of victims belong to voiceless communities. For example, in an
article in Counter-currents, Cynthia Stephen quotes a dalit girl
from a village in Tamil Nadu as saying there is no girl in our lane
who has not been coerced or raped by the dominant caste men
when they go to the fields to fetch water or for work. Men from
the dominant castes threaten the dalits with dire consequences if
they dare complain to the police. So these cases go unreported.
Finally, often the police add to the trauma. For example, an 18-
year-old girl in Badshapur village in Patiala committed suicide on
December 26, six weeks after being raped by three men. Her
mother reports that when she went to complain to the police they
humiliated the girl with lewd questions such as how did they
touch your breast? Did they open their jeans or coat first? The
criminals were arrested only after her suicide. Or take the case of
the police officer in Haryana who was elevated to the highest rank
though a budding tennis star had accused him of raping her. She
too committed suicide because she was unable to bear the
harassment. The officer was given a six month jail sentence some
years after his retirement.
These and other cases are symbolic of the attitudes of our
society. The middle class stages demonstrations in high profile
cases and ignores the rest. Also, the so called national media do
the same. For example, when on December 23, 2005 some uni-
versity students got into a railway compartment at Kokrajhar not
knowing that it was a military wagon. All of them were raped by
men paid to protect the citizens. But it did not become national
news. Even in Assam, it remained a Bodo womens issue, not of
all women. In other words, crimes against women are a result of
the strong patriarchal values of our society but are also condi-
tioned by ethnic and caste attitudes and in many cases by a false
sense of patriotism. For example, when the security forces rape
women, people are told to protect their honour and not report
those cases. The victims do not matter. Even laws such as the
Armed Forces Special Powers Act protect such criminals in uni-
form.
Given these attitudes, one can ask whether new laws, even
death penalty, can prevent such crimes. One does not deny that
police reforms and strong laws are required. But
they alone cannot solve the problems that are
deep rooted in our culture which is visible in
actions such as a few lakh female foetuses are
aborted every year because women are consid-
ered a burden. If all rapists were to be hanged, the victims would
have to lose some of their family members who are perpetrators
of these crimes. Moreover, the acceptance of the value of male
superiority by most women ensures that abuses are kept secret
often on the pretext of protecting the girls or family honour. Or
take the case of the tribal customary laws in the North East that
give all social power to men alone.
Leaders refuse to change the laws. For example, Nagaland
has not been able to hold elections to the municipal councils
because of the tribal leaders opposition to 33 percent reserva-
tions for women. They claim that their customary law does not
allow women to have political power.
It is clear, then, that laws cannot change this system. Dowry,
child labour, caste-based discrimination are banned by law. But
they cannot be implemented without changing the attitudes that
give birth to these abuses. It is as true about womens status as
about corruption, caste and ethnic attitudes. No law can become
effective without a social infrastructure to support it. But the temp-
tation of the middle class that leads the demonstrations against
rape, corruption and other abuses is to take up an event in isola-
tion and ignore the attitudes and the social systems that cause it.
For example, this class rightly took up political corruption as a
cause to fight against but very few of them asked whether the
hands of those who protested are clean.
Similarly, this class also protested against the unjust arrest
and jailing of Dr Binayak Sen and that was required. But they did
not question the Sedition Act or the middle class needs for which
the tribals are displaced. Their impoverishment is at the root of the
Maoist rebellion in Central India.
One needs to ensure that also the issue of rape does not end
with one case. The gender, class and caste attitudes that cause
such abuses have to be tackled. One cannot stop at condemning
the politicians and the police departments. That step is required
but new laws can only give one peace of conscience and cannot
solve the problem. One has to look inwards and examine the
social and cultural values that are behind such crimes. If the Delhi
rape case leads to such self-examination, the 23-year-old para-
medical will not have laid down her life in vain.
The author is a former director of North Eastern Social Research
Centre, Guwahati. This article was first published in December 30
issue of Seven Sisters Post, Guwahati)
Rape, Law and the Middle Class
www.milligazette.com
In an article in Counter-currents, Cynthia Stephen quotes a dalit girl from a village in Tamil
Nadu as saying there is no girl in our lane who has not been coerced or raped by the domi-
nant caste men when they go to the fields to fetch water or for work.
The temptation of the middle class that leads the demonstrations against rape, corruption and
other abuses is to take up an event in isolation and ignore the attitudes and the social systems
that cause it. For example, this class rightly took up political corruption as a cause to fight
against but very few of them asked whether the hands of those who protested are clean.
It has been computed that out of a total of 55,960 words in the Urdu
dictionary, only 13,625 (that is less 25 percent) are of Persio-Arabic
origin and not less than 21,600 are purely of Hindi origin.
NATIONAL The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 3
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on
20 January squarely accused BJP and RSS of
conducting terror training camps and promoting
Hindu terrorism, setting off an angry reaction
from the saffron parties which demanded an
apology from Sonia Gandhi.
On one hand we are trying to bring peace in
this country. We are also taking steps against
injustice to minorities as also against infiltration.
But, in the midst of all this, we have got an inves-
tigation report that be it the RSS or BJP, their
training camps are promoting Hindu terrorism.
We are keeping a strict vigil on all this,
Mr Shinde said at the AICC session in Jaipur.
He said bombs were planted in Samjhauta
Express, Mecca Masjid and also a blast was car-
ried out in Malegaon. In all these incidents, the
involvement of right-wing extremist groups is
suspected. We will have to think about it seri-
ously and will have to remain alert, he said.
Shinde further said, Environment is being creat-
ed against peace but the department will do its
complete work.
Attacking Shinde, BJP spokesperson
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters in Delhi,
Their (Congress) destructive mindset is reflect-
ed in the statement of the Home Minister. The
statement he has given at the Chintan Shivir is
very objectionable. Its not only unacceptable but
also dangerous...Sonia Gandhi should apologise.
Rahul Gandhi and Home Minister should also
apologise, otherwise there will be serious conse-
quences. Naqvi added that Shindes statement
has given oxygen to Pakistan-sponsored terror-
ism.
What is the meaning of joining Hindu and
saffron colour with terror? It is a downright insult
of Indias spiritual, cultural and civilisational her-
itage. Hindus has always been generous India
is secular because Hindus respect the other
view, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad
said. The BJP will not tolerate the use of Hindu
terror or saffron terror in India. Sushilkumar
Shinde must be sacked and PM and Sonia must
tender unconditional apology, he added. He also
announced that the BJP will launch a nationwide
protest against UPA government on January 24
against Sushilkumar Shinde.
RSS spokesman Ram Madhav said Shindes
remarks were highly irresponsible and made
only to please his party bosses. If a Congress
leader had said something like this it wouldnt
have mattered that much, but if the Home
Minister of the country is saying something like
this, it is highly irresponsible. This is all about
playing votebank politics, he said.
Shinde later clarified, This is saffron terror-
ism that I have talked about. It is the same thing
and nothing new. It has come in the media sever-
al times.
Shindes remarks were defended by several
Congress leaders. Congress General Secretary
Digvijay Singh said, It is not Hindu terrorism but
Sangh-backed terrorism. Another Congress
leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said, I am 100 per
cent with Shinde on this. This isnt a secret. I
want to thank the Home Minister for saying what
everyone knows but they do not have the
courage to say.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on 21 January said at
Guntur that Hindutva is totally against terrorism
and violence. Instead of focusing on issues
threatening the nations security, the government
is engaged in spewing venom against a selfless
organisation such as the RSS, he said, adding
that they were not bothered about such criticism.
Assuring other sections of the society, Bhagwat
claimed that the basic principle of Hindutva was
to allow all to worship their god and follow their
own religion.
Have evidence of RSS
involvement in terror attacks:
Union Home Secretary
New Delhi: Union Home Secretary RK Singh on
22 January said that intelligence agencies had
the names of at least ten persons involved in
Samjhauta Express, Mecca Masjid and Dargah
Sharif blasts who were associated with RSS.
Yes, during investigation of Samjhauta Express,
Mecca Masjid and (Ajmer) Dargah Sharif blasts,
we have found at least 10 names who have been
associated with the RSS at some point or the
other, he told reporters. We have evidence
against them. There are statements of witness-
es, he said.
The Home Secretary also made public the
names of the ten persons who were allegedly
involved in terror attacks and also had links with
RSS as follows:
Sunil Joshi (dead), who was
allegedly involved in Samjhauta
Express and Ajmer Sharif Dargah
blasts. He was an activist of RSS
in Dewas and Mhow from 1990s to
2003.
Sandeep Dange (absconding),
who was allegedly involved in
Samjhauta Express and Mecca
Masjid and Ajmer Sharif Dargah
explosions. He was RSS
pracharak in Mhow, Indore, Uttarkashi and
Sajhapur from 1990s to 2006.
Lokesh Sharma (arrested) who
was allegedly involved in Samjhauta
Express and Mecca Masjid blasts.
He was RSS nagar karyavahak in
Deogarh.
Swami Assemanand (arrest-
ed), allegedly involved in
Samjhauta Express, Mecca
Masjid and Ajmer Sharif
Dargah blasts. He was asso-
ciated with RSS wing
Vanavashi Kalyan Parishad in
Dang, Gujarat in 1990s to 2007.
Rajender alias Samunder (arrest-
ed), allegedly involved in
Samjhauta and Mecca Masjid
blasts. He was RSS Varg
Vistarak.
Mukesh Vasani (arrested),
allegedly involved in Ajmer
Sharif Dargah blast. He was
an activist of RSS in
Godhra.
Devender Gupta (arrested),
allegedly involved in Mecca
Masjid blast, was a RSS
pracharak in Mhow and Indore.
Chandrasekhar Leve (arrested),
allegedly involved in Mecca Masjid,
was a RSS pracharak in
Shajhanpur in 2007.
Kamal Chouhan (arrested),
allegedly involved in Samjhauta and
Mecca Masjid explosions was a
RSS activist.
Ramji Kalsangra (abscond-
ing), allegedly involved in
Samjhauta Express and Mecca
Masjid blasts, was a RSS
associate.
ZAFARUL-ISLAM KHAN
Home Minister
exposes Saffron Terror
Quote, Unquote
Hindu and Muslim commmunalism are mirror images of each other and must be equal-
ly condemned.
SHABANA AZMI actor Times of India 4 January 2012
I dont think it requires (knowledge of) rocket science to figure out that there is surrogate
ownership of both broadcasting mediums, as well as distribution mediums across the
length and breadth of this country.
MANISH TEWARI Union information and broadcasting minister
Respond now if you care about your community
White Paper on Terrorism:
calling out readers & researchers
The most important and burning issue facing Indian Muslims at present is the continuing
arrests and widespread fake implication of our youth in trumped up terror cases master-
minded by saffron elements in the government, IB and Police. Now almost all Muslim
organisations are up in arms against this state terror. People are organising dharnas,
meetings, conference etc all over the country.
As a long-term solution and serious response to this problem thrust upon us, All India
Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat (AIMMM) has decided to bring out a white paper on the
Muslim-related terrorism in the country. This was discussed and passed during the
Working Committee meeting on 7 July. But since AIMMM does not have the required
funds and staff, I have undertaken the responsibility of preparing this white paper which
will be comprehensive in around 600+ large format pages covering the whole history
and genesis, communalism, vested interests in various fields, analysis of various laws
like TADA, POTA and UAPA, fake encounters, acquittals, IB & Police role, media attitude,
case studies, statewise studies, SIMI and so-called Indian Mujahidin, Hindutva terror,
individual tragedies of victims, Azamgarh, Bhatkal, Malegaon, Darbhanga modules,
some basic documents, etc.
The target is to bring it out during the next six months and release it in a big conven-
tion at Delhi as a combined effort of all Muslim organisations, and thereafter present the
white paper to politicians, media, human rights orgs, especially those abroad, in order to
enlighten public opinion as well as to build pressure on our blind and deaf government.
The estimated cost of this white paper is Rs 25 lakh divided as follows: Rs 10 lakh
cost of preparation and payments to contributors plus six months salaries to three per-
sons including an expert; Rs 10 lakh for designing and printing the document in a world-
class format; and Rs 5 lakh convention costs. The first two concern the undersigned
while the last (convention) concerns AIMMM.
To finance this effort which will be a watershed in this struggle against state terror-
ism in India, I need and solicit your full support. This may be either by direct contribution
for the effort or by buying copies in advance which could later be sent to you or to oth-
ers at your behalf. The estimated price of the white paper is Rs 2000 at least. Our well-
wishers can pay Rs 1000 only per copy as advance purchase (plus any actual postal or
courier charges which will be indicated and payable later). Payments for the copies may
be made to our publishing company (Pharos Media & Publishing Pvt Ltd, D-84 Abul Fazal
Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110 025 - Email: books@pharosmedia.com).
Individuals and organisations ordering a minimum of 100 copies will be included as
sponsors of the White Paper. Contribution towards the organisation of the convention
may be sent to the All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat, D-250 Abul Fazal Enclave, part
1, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110 025.
Experts who can contribute to this white paper may kindly write to me with some
detail about their past experience and work.
ZAFARUL-ISLAM KHAN, Editor, The Milli Gazette - edit@milligazette.com
www.milligazette.com
Joint Public Statement
on Hindutva Terror
Human rights activists and concerned citizens
issued the following statement on 24 January
2013:
While one may or may not agree with the termi-
nology employed by the Home Minister in his
recent speech at Jaipur, we feel that for long
prejudice has ruled investigations, obscuring
the role of organizations and their multiple affili-
ates in planning and executing of attacks and
bombings in the country. The veneer of nation-
alism -- narrow, exclusionary and based on
hatred for minorities as it is -- cannot hide the
violence that Sangh and its affiliates beget and
peddle.
Civil rights groups have been arguing for
long that the investigations into bomb blasts and
terror attacks have degenerated into communal
witch-hunts. Bomb blasts are followed pre-
dictably by mass arrests of Muslim youth, raids
in Muslim-dominated localities, detentions,
arrests and torture; media trials, chargesheets
and prosecution based on custodial confes-
sions and little real evidence. It has been
assumed, and accepted widely, that no further
proof of guilt need be offered than the fact that
the accused belonged to a particular communi-
ty. Leads which pointed to the hands of groups
affiliated to Sangh organisations and their com-
plicity in planning and executing acts of terror
were ignored, never seriously pursued. The
agencies, showing their abject bias, instead
chose to pursue the beaten track of investigat-
ing Islamic terrorist organizations-despite clear
evidence pointing in the opposite direction. This
was true of Nanded blasts in 2006, as well as of
Mecca Masjid and Ajmer Sharif bombings.
The only exception was Maharashtra ATS
chief Hemant Karkare, who had, as far back as
2008 conclusively brought into the public
domain the nefarious designs of Abhinav Bharat
and its foot soldiers of hate: (Sadhvi) Pragya
Singh of the ABVP, serving army officer Col.
Purohit, and Sunil Joshi, Indresh [Kumar] and
Swami Aseemanand belonging to the RSS.
Karkare had communicated to the Hyderabad
Police the sensational claim by Col. Purohit that
he had procured RDX from an army inventory
when he was posted in Jammu and Kashmir in
2006. The Hyderabad Police, however, ignored
his messages, having already detained close to
70 youth belonging to the Muslim community.
We demand that:
* Although the Indian government has belatedly
acknowledged the heinous terrorist acts of the
Sangh groups, we feel that a genuine probe
must also perforce encompass a thorough
enquiry into the terror nexus straddling Abhinav
Bharat, RSS, VHP, BJP and Bajrang Dal leaders
together with sections of the Indian intelligence
and security agencies who deliberately subvert-
ed the probes as well as the due process of law.
* It must also be investigated whether the net-
works of Hindutva terrorists have been provided
not just political but also financial and logistical
support by various governments.
* There must be a thorough investigation into
the foreign sources of funding of the Hindutva
organizations.
We hope that the acknowledgement of
Hindutva terror will not remain a statement only
but that the investigations will be seriously and
sincerely pursued.
Signatories
1. Manisha Sethi and Ahmed Sohaib, Jamia
Teachers Solidarity Association
2. Shabnam Hashmi, Act Now for Harmony
and Democracy (ANHAD)
3. Mahtab Alam, Peoples Union of Civil
Liberties (PUCL)
4. Mansi Sharma, Activist, Delhi
5. Subhash Gatade, Activist and Author,
Godses Children: Hindutva Terror in India
6. Rajeev Yadav, Adv. Mohd. Shoaib and
Shahnawaz Alam, Rihai Manch, UP
7. Amit sen Gupta, Senior Journalist, Delhi
8. Abu Zafar, Journalist, Delhi
9. Harsh Kapoor, South Asian Citizens Web
10. Seema Mustafa, Senior Journalist, Delhi
11. Ram Puniyani, Activist and Author,
Mumbai
12. Sukumar Muralidharan, Senior Journalist
13. Syed Zafar Mehdi, Journalist
14. Dr. John Dayal, All India Christian Council
15. Prof. Kamal Mitra Chenoy, JNU
16. Navaid Hamid, Member, National
Integration Council, GoI
17. Prof Anuradha Chenoy, JNU
18. Saba Naqvi, Senior Journalist, Delhi
19. Wilfred Dacosta, Indian Social Action
Forum (INSAF)
20. Harsh Dobhal, Human Rights Law
Network (HRLN)
21. Kavita Krishnan, All India Progressive
Women Association (AIPWA)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe has thrown many
alleged instances wherein the offices of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh (RSS) are believed to have been used by the right-wing extrem-
ists to plot terror activities. Investigators allege that in May 2006, sen-
ior RSS functionary Indresh Kumar had met right-wing terror kingpin
Sunil Joshi in the Nagpur office of Sangh.
"Sunil Joshi further informed Asimanand that he along with Bharat
Bhai (a witness in the Samjhuata case, who was later chargesheeted
in the Ajmer Sharif case) went to Nagpur and met Indresh who gave
him R50,000 to procure explosives and other material, said the
chargesheet in the Samjhauta case. Indresh is not an accused in any
of the right-wing terror cases but his role is under scanner.
These are all fictional accounts. Prior probes running into 3500
pages, including narco test of SIMI leader Safdar Nagori, governments
own dossier to Pakistan on Samjhauta blast and UN Security Council
resolution on Lashkar financer Arif Qasmani have been discarded,
said lawyer Meenakshi Lekhi on behalf of Indresh.
When investigators spoke to Bharat Bhai, he accepted visiting the
RSS Karylaya in Nagpur to meet Indresh along with Sunil Joshi.
Indresh gave Rs. 50,000 to Manoj (alias Sunil Joshi) and they
discussed something in low voice. When I asked Manoj about the
money, he told me that Indreshji had given money for some special
task, said Bharat Bhai. There are two more instances which point to
the alleged nexus. Sunil Joshi and his two associates were seen by a
witness experimenting with detonators at a RSS office in Dungergaon
in Madhya Pradesh in 1999. While in connection with Ajmer Sharif
blasts, a lot of meetings took place in the RSS office of Mihijam in
Jharkhand.
Although Sunil Joshi was murdered on December 29, 2007, by his
own men at Dewas in Madhya Pradesh, a witness Sheetal Gehlot has
told investigators that after Joshis murder two bags containing pistol,
rods with electric wires around them were kept at RSS Karyalaya in
Dewas. Ramji, a key accused who is on the run, picked one of the
bags later while the other bag was thrown in the Narmada.
At no level, any functionary of the RSS was involved in any terror
activities. The loopholes in the probes make us disbelieve the whole
investigation. We have full faith in the judiciary, said Ram Madhav,
spokesman of RSS. (Rajesh Ahuja, Hindustan Times, New Delhi,
January 25, 2013)
In pursuit of saffron terror, NIA digs
out blasts evidence in Indore
Indore: The National Investigating Agency (NIA) sleuths on Monday ,
14 January, conducted a massive search operation at three places in
Indore and Dhar districts to collect evidence relating to the murder of
former RSS pracharak Sunil Joshi and saffron terror attacks allegedly
masterminded by him.
Around 50 NIA officers with 150 local police men including bomb
disposal squad, conducted thorough daylong searches at houses and
farms of late Jitendra Patel of Dakachya village and former district BJP
general secretary Uttam Chouhan in Mandlavda village of Indore dis-
trict. Patel had died due to blood cancer in 2011.
Similar operation was carried out at a house and shop of timber
merchant Manish Tiwari on Baleshwar Road in Dhar city. Tiwari is the
brother-in-law of Lokesh Sharma, one of the accused in Mecca-
Masjid, Malegaon, Ajmer Sharif and Samjhauta Express blasts.
Sharma was arrested by NIA in 2011.
We have seized some material during the raids. We will be exam-
ining them before proceeding further, a senior NIA officer told DNA.
The NIA had got clues about Joshis murder and links of the suspects
to the blasts during interrogation of those recently arrested from Indore
division. The NIA had arrested Rajendra Choudhary, Dhan Singh,
Manohar Singh and Tejram in connection with the blasts in last 30
days.
The accused, who are in judicial custody, had informed the NIA
that Sunil Joshi and his friends were involved in bomb making, plan-
ning and executing the blasts. Joshi was killed near Dewas city in
December 2007, which the NIA believes was handiwork of saffron
activists to thwart blasts investigations.
The four accused arrested recently told NIA that Joshi and his
friends used the establishments of Patel in Dakachya and Chouhan in
Mandlavda as safe houses on several occasions while hiding from the
investigators. Both families of Patel and Chouhan have lavish houses
and are known as heavyweights in the areas.
The NIA had received information that Joshi might have hidden live
bombs at their establishments. Every nook and corner of their farms
and residential areas were examined by the bomb squad. However, no
explosives were recovered during the operation. (Mahesh J. Mishra,
DNA -- daily.bhaskar.com, Jan 15, 2013)
NIA arrests one more, digs out blast evidence
Indore: The NIA arrested one more person from the region in connec-
tion with the Sunil Joshi murder. Dinesh s/o Jagdish Devda, a tailor by
profession, was arrested from Chandravatiganj (Sanver Police Station).
Devda (35) was taken away in a Bolero, MP 03, 7626 for interrogation.
However, his arrest sparked protests from Hindu organisations who
shouted anti-Sonia, anti-Rahul and anti-Digvijay slogans.
The NIA accused Lokesh Sharma and Rajendra Chowdhari the
Samjhauta Express accused, of hatching the plot to eliminate Sunil
Joshi. The motive behind the murder is the alleged misbehaviour of the
slain pracharak and attempt to outrage the modesty of a woman mem-
ber of the group.
The agency conducted massive search operation at three places
near Indore. A team of 50 NIA officers and 150 local police men along
with bomb disposal squad raided the farms and houses of late Jitendra
Patel at village Dakachya. Patel was a former district general secretary
of BJP and died of cancer in 2011. A raid on the house of a timber mer-
chant Manish Tiwari was also conducted in Dhar. Tiwari is the brother-
in-law of Lokesh Sharma. The team apprised that they had seized
some material during the raids. The four arrested persons divulged that
they used to get shelter at Patels house in Dakachya and Uttam Singh
Chouhans (54) house at Mandlavda. A pit was dug at Chouhans
house when the metal detector sounded an alarm. The team did not
divulge any thing about the material seized at Mandlavda. A Dakachya
they seized 19 objects including batteries, a CD of 1992 Ayodhya car-
nage, a CD of Patels visit to Hardwar, Samples of soil and a sword
made in Amritsar. An RSS activist, Balwant Singh, was detained and
later on freed by the team. The team also took samples from
Guradiarao (in Dewas district) where the bombs were tested. The place
where shooting practices were organised has also been identified.
However, these arrests were followed by strong protests against the
NIA and Congress rulers by Hindu organisations. (AG Khan)
Samandars criminal past surfaces
Ujjain: Rajendra Chaudhari alias Samandars confession led to the
arrest of his associate in another crime - murder of Mujib Lala on 27
June 2006. Police arrested Sudip Upadhyaya following Samandar con-
fession. Sudip has confessed that they used to follow Mujib Lala and
he had no idea what Rajendras intentions were. However, one day
Rajendra shot Mujib. Mujib received three bullet shots. Inspite of hec-
tic efforts of the then S.P. G. Janardan the case remained an unsolved
mystery hence was closed.
Mujib was involved in the loan business and is accused of charg-
ing exorbitant interest. The motive behind his murder as revealed by
Samandar Singh does not seem convincing. Samandar claimed that he
committed the crime to protect the honour of women whom Mujib
used to exploit when the male members failed to repay the loan. What
is even more surprising is that the injury on Mujibs body bore marks
of 9 m.m. and 7.6 m.m. pistols which implies that the killer had used
two weapons using them one after another.
Though Ujjain police claimed that they had arrested Sudip after
receiving a tip off from the NIA; sources assert that Sudip was taken
into custody by NIA a few days ago. When Sudips brother moved the
high court against the NIA he was informed about Sudips where-
abouts that he was in Madhavnagar police station (Ujjain) The High
Court directed the police to report the matter within a week.
Meanwhile Bulibai, mother of Dhan Singh arrested from
Chitrakoot, filed habeas corpus petition in the High Court against the
detention of her son by the NIA. A bench comprising Justice A.K. Seth
directed authorities to produce documents pertaining to the matter.
NIA believes that the other suspects Ramji Kalsangra and Sandip
Dange managed to give the team a slip in March. A footage of a toll
plaza shows the two riding a Tavera going towards Indore. The Tavera,
registered at Indore bearing registration number MP-09-CB-5171
belongs to Shyam Sahu, a close associate of the two absconders who
together carry a reward of Rs. 42 lakh. Sahu was granted bail in
Malegaon blast case by a MCOCA court. However, Sahu accuses the
agency of unnecessarily harassing him. He was recently quizzed at
New Delhi by Vishal Garg. (AG Khan)
Arnab Goswami, cannot stand NO
Following is a statement issued by Shabnam Hashmi of ANHAD on 10
January, 2013:
I was in Gujarat for over six months and returned to Delhi two weeks
ago. While in Gujarat I was asked to appear on different television
channels constantly. On one such talk show on Times Now I felt that I
was especially being pushed into a corner and it was an absolutely
unbalanced panel, I told the Times Now guest coordinator that I will not
come on the channel any longer. It continued for about a week or so.
Then a representative came from Mumbai and met me in Gujarat office
and ensured that it will not happen in future and requested me to come
for the Talk Shows. I agreed and went again whenever I was called.
On December 28, 2012 I released a public statement in Delhi regard-
ing the Gujarat Verdict 2012 and resigned from various UPA committees
that I was part of. On the same day I was invited to Times Now and I
found the same attitude of being highly aggressive towards me.
January 2, 2013 - I filed a police complaint against Mr Akbaruddin
Owaisi in Parliament Street Police Station against the hate speech
which he made in Andhra Pradesh. I was called on Times Now and met
the same uncivilized and aggressive behaviour.
On January 4, 2013 I put the status on my facebook TIMES NOW-
MY STATUS-NOT AVAILABLE-GOODBYE MR ARNAB GOSWAMI-
SORRY FOR DENYING YOU THE PLEASURE OF BEING THE CON-
SCIENCE KEEPER.
All hell seems to have broken out since then. I have been receiv-
ing calls after calls from various Times Now reporters. They have
barged into Anhad several times, threatening to do stories against
Anhad and me.
Anhad has been running from 23, Canning Lanes Garage for 5
years now. There have been over 30-40 press conferences big and small
at Anhad itself attended by all media fraternity including reporters from
Times Now. Times Now reporters have come and taken my interviews
in this office tens of times, they have attended press conferences, sent
their ob vans and pick up cars for Talk Show.
They have suddenly come up with the new evidence Now that
Anhad runs from 23, Canning Lane, New Delhi which is Dr Syeda
Hamids garage.
Despite being informed by my colleagues that the garage was pro-
vided to us free, they have asked me the same question four times-
How much money you pay?
Anhad has been a space where scores of journalists and media
friends have come and visited. We have always respected the media
and continue to do so and Anhad has received tremendous support
from the media fraternity across India and we greatly value and respect
that.
Yes, Anhad runs out of 23, Canning lane, New Delhi-110001, Yes
we have FCRA, we raise resources through funding agencies both for-
eign and Indian, from friends and corporates, Yes we have taken on
fundamentalists of all hues.
This is the first time that we are faced with a situation where I
personally in 32 years of my grass root activism and Anhad as an
organisation in its 10 yrs of work feel being harassed, stalked, and
blackmailed.
'Right-wing cadre used RSS offices to plan terror attacks'
4 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 NATIONAL www.milligazette.com
Abducted children sold,
sacrificed
Shreya Rai, a three year old school-going went missing from
outside her house in Mumbai in 2009. Her worried parents
could find no trace of her till 15 days later stray dogs led
them to the mutilated remains of her headless body, the head
was shaved and found a few yards away. The hair was found
in a nearby temple. Crime expert Roma Khan, who heads the
Investigative Scientific and Anthropological Facility read
about the case and volunteered to investigate. Roma's inves-
tigation has pointed towards child sacrifice while the Mumbai
Police has consistently denied any such practices. The police
considers these missing cases, while Nishit Kumar, whose
Childline India Foundation works on such cases has revealed
a trend of abduction of infant boys to sell to middle class
families. The cases for infant girls are for ritual sacrifice he
shares, and are mostly cases from Rajasthan. Meanwhile,
Shreya's case has been closed after three years of lead-less
investigation. The police maintains that children gone miss-
ing are found safe and brought back home in most cases.
Hindutva terror: one nabbed
Indore: The NIA team arrested Tejram (25) s/o Hindusingh
from Depalpur in connection with his alleged role in the
Mecca Masjid blast. His arrest was amidst a lot of drama.
A team of four persons under a D.I.G. tried to take him in
a car. However, as the news of his abduction spread and peo-
ple protested at the police station in which he was produced.
His brother, Hari Singh, lodged a petition with the police and
faxed the message to I.G. and D.G.P. The NIA team left for
Indore in MP-09-TA 1066. Tejram is believed to be a close
associate of Dashrath alias Rajendra Chaudhari arrested on
15 December from Nagda. This person is believed to be
involved in 2007 Mecca Masjid blast.
Petition for Sanathan Sanstha ban
A petition filed by Vijay Rokade seeks a ban on the Hindu
right-wing organisation Sanathan Sanstha under the UAPA on
account of its involvement in terror acts. During the hearing,
the public prosecutor appearing for the Union government
assured the bench of Justices A Khanwilkar and K Tated that
a report from the Ministry of Home Affairs is sought in the
matter and will be presented to them in 45 days. Also, that
the government of Maharashtra had also sought a ban on the
organisation. The affidavit also mentioned that the
Maharashtra ATS has requested the UAPA Tribunal to take a
final decision on the matter. The Centre is to decide by the
11th of March, the date for the next hearing.
Explosives sold in open market
A cache of 1,300 gelatin sticks and 2,825 electric detonators
were seized from Hyderabad as a vehicle carrying them was
intercepted around the Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy's
residence. The two persons found in possession of it,
Madhusudan Reddy and G Ramesh were found to hold
licenses issued from Nagpur but were selling it illegally in the
open market. The state Police is in the process of requesting
cancellation of their permits for violating license conditions
and endangering several lives, transporting huge amounts
illegally.
Indira assassins honouring
On the 24th death anniversary of Indira Gandhi's assassins
Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, the religious head of the Sikh
community honoured the men and their families. High profile
Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee and the Akali
Dal leaders were absent from the function and the event was
not as publicised as earlier commemorations were.
Separate Acts for Sikhs
In response to a petition by a Sikh scholar, Birender Kaur, the
Supreme Court has given a boost to a separate identity to the
Sikh religion under the Constitution by questioning the gover-
nance of Sikh cases by Hindu Acts such as Hindu
Succession Act, Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act. The
Sikh community's demand for laws separate from Hindu
ones comes after last year an act, the Anand Marriage Act,
was institutionalised for registering Sikh marriages.
Ktaka Gov condemns opposition to Tipu Uni
Mangalore: Governor HR Bhardwaj on 17 Jan. said that peo-
ple who oppose setting up of the Tipu Sultan University at
Srirangapatna are not "proper" people. The governor said,
"This is a secular country. Those people who are biased
against minorities are not proper people. They should realize
that all of us have to sink or swim together. What's wrong in
naming the university after a national hero? Can anybody
deny this? It is most welcome. Minorities have rights in this
country and it is not good to isolate them." Minority affairs
minister K Rahman Khan' who was termed as "spokesperson
of terrorists" by BJP spokesperson G Madhusoodan, said he
would not comment on a personal remark made against him.
The government will go ahead with its work (of setting up
the university),'' he added. KPCC president Parameshwara
said Tipu is a patriot The Union ministry of minority affairs
had in November last year announced that it would set up five
universities across the country under the private-public part-
nership model where minority students will get 50% reserva-
tion.
Muslim properties worth crores looted, gutted in Dhulia
NATIONAL The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 5 www.milligazette.com
The communal riots which erupted in Maharashtras Dhulia town
on 6 January and its handling were raised in the states cabinet
meeting on 9 January. Minister for minority affairs Arif Naseem
Khan complained about police excesses against Muslims and
demanded a judicial enquiry into these riots, in spite of the fact
that the states chief minister had ordered a magisterial enquiry.
He said that he was totally dissatisfied with the way the police
handled the situation. Naseem Khan said that during the tour of
Dhulia he met injured persons and others also and came to the
conclusion that the role of the police during the riots was biased
and aggressive. He said that the majority of people narrated tales
of police excesses, a true picture of which would come out only
after a judicial enquiry, following which stern action against police
officers would be possible.
Meanwhile one of the injured persons, 22-year old Yunus
Shah Abbas, succumbed to his injuries in K.E.M. Hospital on
9 January and with his death the total number of persons who
died in this riot rose to six. All persons who died were between the
ages of 22 and 25 years of age and all were Muslims. Additional
Director General of Police, Javed Ahmad, led the special police
team and started his enquiry which recorded the statements of the
injured and other persons. This team was asked to submit its
report within three days, after which action, if any, would be taken.
Meanwhile, in Delhi Union minister for minority affairs
K. Rahman Khan contacted Maharashtra chief minister Prithvi Raj
Chauhan over the phone and urged him to find out the reasons for
the conditions becoming so bad. He asked the chief minister to
get an assessment of the loss of lives and properties and give all
possible help to the victim at the earliest, and officers responsible
for the excesses should be sternly dealt with. The chief minister
assured him that all possible help would be provided to the affect-
ed persons and strong action would be taken against the guilty.
According to initial reports, at least 73 families and their hous-
es and shops were looted and/or completely destroyed. Some
families were those where marriages were to take place in a week
or couple of weeks time but rioters looted or completely destroyed
their houses and goods specially purchased for the weddings.
Even shops of chicken dealers were gutted and chicken were
burnt alive. At many places powerlooms and cloth were set afire
and made unoperational. Panchnamas were being prepared under
the supervision of Tahsildar Shiv Kumar Kante and deputy
Tehsildar Pankaj Pawar but the process was so slow that by
9 January, only 97 panchnamas could be completed and the total
losses were estimated at more than Rs. 1.18 crores. About 30
shops at one place and another hundred shops and houses at
another place were almost completely destroyed. Panchnamas
could not be prepared at places which were still under curfew or
where curfew was lifted partially but conditions were not satisfac-
tory.
Chairman of Maharashtra state Minority Commission Munaf
Hakeem also toured the riot-affected areas and met people there.
He said that he would submit his report to the chief minister with-
in a few days. In addition to the statements of minister Naseem
Khan and Minority Commission Chairman Munaf Hakeem,
Muslims, in general, accused that the police targetted only
Muslims in the firing. Many policemen, in addition to rioters, loot-
ed and set fire to shops and houses of Muslims.
Report of Jamiatul Ulama of Maharashtra (Arshad Madni
group): Head of JU (Maharashtra)s Legal Aid Committee Gulzar
Azmi said in a press release that on 8 January a delegation of
Jamiatul Ulama of Dhulia along with legal advisor Ansari Tamboli
Advocate met Minority Commission's chairman Munaf Hakeem at
the government Rest House in Dhule and submitted to him a list
of persons killed and those injured in the one-sided police firing on
6 January along with their financial losses. The delegation con-
sisted of Maulana Abul Aas, President of Jamiatul Ulama of
Dhulia, Maulana Shakeel (general secretary of J.U. of Dhulia),
Mushtaq Sufi (secretary of J.U.), Nadeem Ansari (advocate),
Maulana Moeed etc. While expressing their anger at the polices
biased and discriminatory attitude and disappointment at the gov-
ernments indifferent attitude, they demanded that, (1) police is
registering cases against family members of those who were
killed and injured in police firing, and this must be stopped,
(2) District Collector and Supdt. of Police should be suspended
and (3) Instead of the enquiry by District Magistrate, the riot
should be enquired by a commission headed either by a serving
or retired judge of Mumbai High Court.
The delegation later met Minister Arif Naseem Khan at the
same place and gave him a memorandum strongly demanding
that if the state government honestly wanted to save Maharashtra
from the curse of riots, it must act on their demands, otherwise
they would be compelled to believe that the Maharashtra govern-
ment has no sympathy at all with Muslims. Maha government has
already adopted an unjust attitude against Muslims in educational
and government institutions and now it appears to be bent upon
destroying the economy of Muslims and causing loss of their
lives, properties and businesses.
The Jamiatul Ulama (Maharashtra) further said that both these
people (Arif Naseem and Munaf Hakeem) patiently listened to their
grievances and said that they had met District Collector and S.P. of
Dhulia before their meeting and had asked the district authorities
to submit a detailed report within three days as to why there was
only one-sided firing, what action/steps were taken to prevent
such a situation and on whose order firing was resorted to?
Jamiatul Ulama (Maharashtra) also gave details of persons
admitted in different hospitals like Lokmanya Hospital, Sarvajanik
Hospital, Aastha Hospital, Swas Hospital, their names, addresses,
age, where they were hit by police bullets, names of those who
were seriously injured in police firing or stoning etc. and the grave-
yards where the dead youth were buried. The report also gave
accounts of loss of shops, houses, vehicles etc. and the bleak
future of many of the affected persons and families whose sole
earning members were killed or whose sources of income like
shops, business etc. were partly or completely destroyed. (NA
Ansari)
Sectarian riot in Lucknow
Sectarian riot broke out in Lucknow in the night of 16 January in
which two persons, identified as Sulaiman and Ved Prakash, were
killed and many more injured. The reason for the riot is said to be
business rivalry and personal enmity instead of sectarian differ-
ences. But since the two groups belonged to Shia and Sunni
sects, it became a sectarian riot. The second victim Ved Prakash
had nothing to do with the riots. He happened to be passing
through the troubled area and was hit by bullets and died two days
later in a hospital. According to the police, one Taqi Abbas had
organised a Majlis at Deputy ka Imambara in Lucknows Waziranj
locality on 16 January. Someone reportedly asked the organisers
of the Majlis to reduce the volume of the loudspeaker. He is also
reported to have said that the speech in the Majlis was objection-
able but no one paid any attention to his request. Meanwhile,
power supply at the venue was cut off. It is difficult to say whether
it was a deliberate attempt or due to routine load / power shed-
ding. Confusion and chaos followed and firing was resorted to,
probably aimed at the Majlis organisers. One person (Sulaiman)
died late that night and others, including Taqi Abbas and Ved
Prakash were seriously inured. Ved Prakash died in hospital on
18 January. At least about 10 persons were injured.
Next day supporters of Taqi Abbas placed the body of
Sulaiman at the Chowk to protest. According to the police, the
attack on the people organising the Majlis appeared to be pre-
planned and an inquiry into this is going on. Police also said that
as many as six FIRs were filed at Wazirganj police station and that
37 of the accused named in the FIRs belonged to one group/sect.
The one killed, i.e., Suleman, and four others who were seriously
injured belonged to the rival group.
Heads of rival groups, one led by a former BSP-MP, Dawood
Ahmad and Taqi Abbas of the other group are in real estate busi-
ness and had become rivals subsequently. Hence this riot is seen
as a result of their business rivalry but since they belonged to
Sunni and Shia sects respectively, it took a sectarian colour which
of course is a matter of great concern for Muslims as a whole.
Maulana Kalb-e Jawad, the leading Shia scholar and leader of
Lucknow said during a press conference that a Shia scholar was
behind the riots and this scholar was connected to the BJP.
Dr. Taslim Rahmani, President of Muslim Political Council of
India, while strongly condemning and expressing his sorrow over
this sectarian riot described it as a conspiracy to manipulate Shia-
Sunni riots. He said that some selfish and conscience-selling peo-
ple for their own selfish benefits become easy tools in the hands
of enemies of Muslims and Islam, they lose no opportunity to
weaken the unity of Muslims. He strongly criticised the Lucknow
administration because of their negative and indifferent attitude,
and for not making proper security and other arrangements when
they knew that a Majlis would be held in the Wazirganj
Imambara/Maqbara and the situation was also tense for about a
week. He said that the administration and police woke up when
the riots had actually started. While making a passionate appeal to
Shias and Sunnis to maintain and strengthen unity, he said that
enemies of Islam inside and outside the country are always at
work to involve Muslims everywhere in sectarian riots and vio-
lence.
Other Muslim organisations like All India Milli Council, Imam
Council of India, Shia Sunni Front and other leaders strongly con-
demned these riots and demanded the UP government to conduct
a high-level enquiry into this riot and bring the guilty to justice.
UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav while describing the riot and
the firing which followed as a matter of great concern, said that
the guilty will not be spared and the responsibility and accounta-
bility of police and administrative officers will be fixed. He said that
an enquiry will be conducted to find out whether the electricity
was cut off deliberately or it was a routine loadshedding.
It may also be stated in this connection that another Shia-
Sunni clash had taken place in Meerut during the last week of
November 2012 in which, according to the police, about half a
dozen persons were injured but according to unofficial sources
about two dozen persons were injured. The clash started at a
place where Majlis was being held and one group had taken out a
small procession with bands being played. It was opposed by
another group, leading to clashes. (NA Ansari)
India violates human rights
A recent Universal Periodic Review 2012 report compiled by the
Working Group on Human Rights reveals that India accepted only
67 of 168 UN Human Rights Council recommendations, one of the
worst performances shown by any other country.
The Working Groups convener, Miloon Kothari, gives the
example of the Indian government accepting the recommendation
to expedite ratification of convention against torture, but rejecting
the recommendation to ratify the Convention against torture.
India has also rejected the recommendation to ensure that
laws are fully and consistently reinforced to provide adequate pro-
tection for members of religious minorities, SCs, and Adivasi
groups as well as women, trafficking victims, and LGBT citizens.
Among others, the government of India has also rejected a
suggestion to review the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers
Act to align it with its obligations under the International
Convention on Civil Rights. (Aaliya Khan)
Challenges to Common Heritage
Faizabad: Forbes Inter College here hosted a conference on
Challenges to Common Heritage (Sanjhi Virasat ki Chunotiyan)
on 19 December.
Subhasini Ali, former CPIM MP said, The challenge India
faces today is a disintegrating sovereignty. The Indian state has
pledged its policies to America. Its only through the American
handling of Indian policies that on the one hand FDI is being forced
on India and on the other, Muslim youth are being arrested in the
name of terrorism and left to rot in prisons all across India.
Indians must unify to fight this issue and only then that will be a
rightful tribute to our martyrs.
The event was attended by human rights activist Gautam
Navlakha who said that the freedom gained 60 years ago has not
yet been realized and its the Indian Army that has portrayed peo-
ple from Kashmir and the north-east as Indias enemies and
killed hundreds of them. Muslims and tribals are being isolated
and the country is being systematically divided by its democrati-
cally-elected government.
Former Inspector General of Police SR Darapuri said that the
anti-terrorism laws being passed by the parliament are draconian
and these allow officials to oppress Dalits, Muslims and tribals.
Welfare Party General Secretary, Qasim Rasool Ilyas said that
terror acts need to be inquired into to do justice to Muslims who
are implicated in false cases and released years later as innocent
though their lives are ruined in the process.
All India Peoples Front leader Lal Bahadur Singh noted that
Faizabad did not suffer a riot even after the Babri Masjid demoli-
tion but it has seen one under SPs communal governance.
Senior CPI-ML leader Mohammed Salim said that Indians
must not rely on political parties to protect secularism; instead,
they must take the matter into their own hands. He added that
people must use the values of our common heritage to fight fas-
cist regimes in the country.
Rihai Manch convener Advocate Mohammad Shoaib said that
IB is trying to divide the country along communal lines. He added
that Tariq and Khalid, accused by the ATS and other intelligence
agencies in the UP courts bombings cases have been declared
blameless in the RD Nimesh report but the SP government has
failed to make the report public and bring the culprits to book.
PUCLs Mahtab Alam said that the government's action in the
name of Operation Green Hunt and terrorism only targets Muslims
and tribals and weakens the anti-imperialist movement. (Aaliya
Khan)
India tops world list in data
request: Google
A Transparency Report published by Google Inc. on its interac-
tion with governments across the world shows America and India
as topping the charts for requesting user information from the
services giant. The USA government occupied the top slot with
7,969 requests from 16,281 accounts and a compliance rate of
90%, followed by India at 2,319 requests about 3,467 accounts
and a compliance rate of 64%.
The bi-annual report also features government requests to
pull down data, too, in which category India ranked 7th. Pranesh
Prakash of Centre for Internet and Society said the Indian govern-
ment is constitutionally not allowed to pull down defamatory or
critical material without court orders. The document released is
for the first half of 2012, It reports 20,938 data requests in all and
1,791 requests for removal of 17,746 pieces of content.
There is a dearth of public information about the amount of
interception and surveillance allowed. This does not bode well in
a democratic polity, he added.
Muslims in the Padma list
The following Muslims have been honoured in this years Padma
Awards announced on the eve of the Republic Day:
Padma Vibhushan: S Haider Raza, Art, Delhi
Padma Bhushan: Abdul Rashid Khan, Art, West Bengal
Padma Shri:
Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz, Art, Jammu and Kashmir
Shri S Shakir Ali, Art, Rajasthan
Prof Mustansir Barma, Science and Engineering, Maharashtra
Prof (Capt) Dr M Sharaf-e Alam, Literature & Education, Bihar
Prof Akhtarul Wasey, Literature & Education, Delhi
Nida Fazli, Literature & Education, Madhya Pradesh
Late Shaukat Riaz Kapoor Alias Salik Lakhnawi, Literature &
Education, WB
Haider Raza, Nida Fazli, Prof Akhtarul Wasey
RAM PUNIYANI
ram.puniyani@gmail.com
Last Decembers electoral
victory of Narendra Modi, his
third consecutive one, has
drawn a lot of applause from
a section of society and he is
being projected as the BJPs
prime ministerial candidate.
Its another matter that the
BJP itself is in shambles as
far as the electoral arena is concerned and its
NDA allies are unlikely to endorse Modi, given his
aggressive communal politics and the authoritar-
ian style of his functioning.
One knows that this victory of Modi was pre-
dicted by many exit polls. One also knows his
victory was not a smooth sail, as by now the dis-
satisfaction from his policies and his style of
functioning are adversely affecting a large num-
ber of Gujarat population. The people of Gujarat
turned out in big numbers to cast their vote.
Many commentators feel that his win is due
to his development policies, that he has won
again is an endorsement of his claims of devel-
opment of Gujarat. The development model
undertaken by Modi is a total surrender to the
favoured industrial houses which are having a
gala time in Gujarat. The shiny malls and roads of
Gujarat hide behind them the travails of the
deprived and marginalized sections of Gujarat,
the villages in particular.
Every Nano car rolling out from Tata plant in
Gujarat is subsidized by the state to the extent of
Rs 60000. The hype of development propagan-
da, managed by the American Company APCO
Worldwide, which has already worked for notori-
ous dictators like Sani Abacha (Nigeria) and
Nurusultan Nazarbayev (Life President of
Kazagistan), has again done its job well. The job
by this agency has been done so well that any-
body questioning the development of Gujarat
receives various derogatory labels.
As a matter of fact, what Modi has done is
nothing unusual and states like Maharashtra have
achieved much more in this direction, without the
hype. Here comes one of the roles of Modi, not
only to hire a foreign image-maker but also to
mimic Goebbels.
This so-called development hides the fact
that the social indices of Gujarat are very much
on the lower side when compared to many other
Indian states. What matters in popular perception
is the image more than substance. So this aspect
of Modis propaganda did sell well for a section
of the middle class not only in Gujarat but all over
the country.
Many a commentator do buy this uncritically
and attribute Modis victory to this factor. As its
not only the mall-going middle class but even the
suicide-committing farmers families, the starving
dalits and Adivasis, who also vote, feel the reali-
ty of the development of Gujarat in their lives.
So a large turnout to vote and in rural areas they
did show that the so-called development is
from the annals of a make-believe world.
The major factor which has worked in
Modis favor is the communal polarization which
has taken place in Gujarat after the 2002 car-
nage. This is one episode of violence which has
separated the communities on religious lines.
While Hindus have bought the line that it is only
due to Modi that they are safe, at the same time
Muslims know that they have not only been the
major victims of 2002, but also that post-2002,
they have been totally marginalized in the physi-
cal space, with ghettoization taking place. They
know that they are physically not safe and have
been pushed back economically and socially.
The real fear is stalking the lives of the
Muslim community as a whole. They have been
relegated to the second class citizenship. Modi
has given a clear message that the Muslims, nine
percent of Gujarat population, do not matter to
him as he has made up his votebank by consoli-
dating the Hindus by instilling fear amongst
them. Still all Muslims do not vote against the
BJP in Gujarat.
To begin with, Muslim majority areas have
been delimited in a way that they cant influence
in the electoral results or the impact of their vot-
ing has been minimized. A section of trader-
businessmen Muslims did vote for Modi for sure.
Another section had to vote for him out of fear.
As far as dalits and adivasis are concerned,
the social engineering unleashed by BJP associ-
ates, VHP and Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram, has
done its job and a section of these deprived sec-
tions has been won over to the Hindutva fold and
does vote for the BJP.
The sense of insecurity amongst minorities
and minority women is paramount, making them
withdraw into their shells. The liberal space in the
state of Gujarat has shrunk more than other
states.
Educational institutions have been thorough-
ly brought under the management of academics
sympathetic to Modis ideology. The state now
reminds one of a dictatorship, as pointed out by
the former BJP Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel
himself. It can be termed as a communal; semi-
fascist state.
The major factor in Gujarat today is the polar-
ization and abolition of the liberal space. It is a
Hindu Nation now. One is reminded of the
USSR where Socialism in one state was the
slogan to begin with. In India, while there are
many states ruled by the BJP, it is Gujarat alone
which today fully fits into this Hindu Rashtra in
one state.
The real danger today, which is reminded by
Modis victory, are manifold. To begin with, the
communal fascism is creeping in India through
deeper pores of the nation.
It is said that the RSS is not happy with Modi
coming to power and becoming larger than the
party. This is a contradictory situation. RSS, on
one hand, wants to create a Hindu Rashtra. On
the other, it wants to regulate the whole process.
The contradiction is that the RSS ideology push-
es the nation towards fascist thinking, as RSS
itself is modeled on Ek Chalak Anuvartita (con-
trolled by single supreme dictator, the Sar
Sanghchalak whose writ is unquestionable).
At the same time one recalls that one of the
characteristics of fascism is a single charismatic
leader. Modi fits into this model very well. It is
being said that in Gujarat the RSS and its proge-
ny VHP has been marginalized. One should know
that the RSS and its non-electoral progeny is
there to make the ground for creating a commu-
nal space in which BJP can then run roughshod
and work for the Hindu Rashtra. In Gujarat, these
organizations are redundant now as they have
already played their role. With Modis victory, its
clear that in India the communal fascism is
marching from one state to another, and in the
social space, in a gradual manner.
Modis blatant proximity to industrial houses
is again in tune with the pattern of a fascist state.
Hitler was also the darling of big capital. Hitler
had mass following amongst the middle classes
and could coopt the poor as his storm-troopers
and street fighters. Modi is walking the same
path, the difference being that of speed and
regional variation. India being a vast diverse
nation, the Gujarat pattern stands out very clear-
ly as a repeat of German fascist onslaught with
many differences. The other BJP-ruled states are
adopting different paths, some features being
common. These common features are cultural
infiltration and relegation of minorities to the mar-
gins.
It is in this situation that those committed to
secular democracy need to rethink. At the elec-
toral level, parties like Congress, Samajwadi,
Communist and Socialist parties, do not perceive
the threat to democracy and secularism as they
should be doing. If they understand the implica-
tions of a Hindu Rashtra, the impact of Modi in
hiking up the communal politics and communal
thinking, then they have to close their ranks. They
need to rise above their electoral and prime min-
isterial ambitions and take this threat of commu-
nalism head on as a united front. That seems to
be a very tall order to expect from these electoral
formations which so far have not demonstrated
their willingness to come together for the sake of
principles. It is unthinkable as of now that these
parties will contemplate more in terms of saving
democracy and secularism than protecting their
fiefdoms. Its time these parties wake up and real-
ize that unless they hang together, the danger of
communal fascism taking over the country in the
future is not ruled out. Still, one knows all this is
an optimistic urge. Wishes cant be horses.
What can secular elements do at this point
of time? They have engaged in legal activism,
advocacy work, done rehabilitation work and
conducted awareness programmes to the best of
their capabilities. It seems their best is not good
enough. The need for more innovative thinking to
ward off the threat of looming communalism has
become more menacing with the victory of Modi.
Its a warning signal to do our utmost to strength-
en the values of freedom movement, Liberty,
Equality and Fraternity. Its time to remind our-
selves of what the preamble of our Constitution
tells us. Its time to build a real peoples platform
for secularism and democracy. Its time for social
movements to take this issue in utmost serious-
ness before a situation is created where social
movements will themselves not be permitted to
march forward for the cause of human rights of
the deprived sections of society. (Issues in Secular
Politics)
Rising Shadow of Trident: Modis Victory in Gujarat
6 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 NATIONAL www.milligazette.com
Continued from page 1
We were informed that in the recent violence
at the Bhim Nagar locality of Dhule in 2011, where
many policemen were injured grievously during a
riot in which two police vans were burnt, the police
dealt with the situation without firing a shot and
brought it under control within a matter of hours
without any loss of life. Also recently in the Azad
Maidan riots in Mumbai on 11 August last year, the
police performed their task admirably and did not
fire on the Muslim mob which had gone on the
rampage. Thus successful precedents of the
police having controlled riots, without resorting to
bullets within a few hours of an incident are there
for all to see and learn from.
Mind you, it was just a matter of containing
the violence between four lanes at a chowk,
which is the meeting point for Machhi Bazaar,
Pala Bazaar, Tasha Galli, Maulvi Ganj and
Madhavpura. The riots, which continued to rage
for over three hours, did not spread to any other
locality in Dhule. Even as rumours of a riot
swirled across the town, people in other locali-
ties gathered at their chowks to guard their areas
with a clear sign that they were not going to
either participate or start attacking the other
community in their area.
Another important point is that neither did
this riot spread to the rural outskirts of Dhule or
North Maharashtra, as has been the case in the
recent past when embers could have fanned
flames in Malegaon, Nasik, Raver, Chopda and
Nandurbar.
The other positive sign has been the role of
doctors and nurses, due to whom many inno-
cent lives were saved. Here it must be stated that
these doctors were all Hindus from the
Lokmanya, Astha and Suhas hospitals. If it were
not for doctors like Dr. Sanjay Khopde, the death
toll would have been much higher.
The negative element has been the state-
ment issued by 41 lawyers who stated that they
will oppose any prosecution of the police and
stand against defending any of the Muslim riot-
ers. The lawyers have turned judges. This has
also been the case after the terror attacks in
Varanasi and Pune, where a section of similar
lawyers had pronounced the suspected Muslim
youths as terrorists and guilty prior to a trial. The
Indian Bar Council needs to take action against
such lawyers who are undermining the judiciary
and the Indian Constitution itself.
The media has played a mixed role. In the
first phase, it failed to portray the prejudiced role
of the police. Local channels were taken off the
air which helped contain the fear and rumour-
mongering.
A lot of misinformation was planted into the
media by the police itself, so as to build a case
for the indefensible police action. But this story
is certainly collapsing like a pack of cards.
Even during our visit to Dhule, we found that
secular activists from across communities were
discussing the matter without any tension
amongst them. Normally after a riot, there is an
uneasiness that creeps into the atmosphere, but
here in Dhule this was not the case. It was Rahul
Wagh (BAMCEF-Borkar) and his friends
Narendra Khairnar, Ravi More, Jay Wagh
amongst others who invited us to Dhule. They
mobilized their Muslim activist friends like Abdul
Sattar, Adv. Salahuddin, Ashfaque, Habib, Babu
Sheikh, Farouq Sheikh, Liaqat Pathan, Majid
Khan, Muhammad Zaid, Zainulabedin, Munir,
Nafees and many others who were all active in
the post-riot situation. Be it at the hospitals
where they carried the dead and the injured, or in
organizing food and relief for those who had lost
their properties and businesses, or working to
maintain calm in the town -- all of them played a
key role in ensuring peace.
Whilst hearing the Muslim activists, it was
clear that they felt entirely orphaned. None of
them denied or defended the fact that the Muslim
youth were involved in the rioting and stone-
throwing. All they said was that youth from the
Hindu community behaved likewise. This also
came out that the entire police action and arbi-
trary and lethal firing was directed solely at the
Muslim community and this is what led them to
coin the term Kargilli Firing. Abdul Sattar, both
a businessmen and a political leader (from the
Shah-Fakir Muslim OBC community) broke down
whilst speaking and stated that the entire Muslim
community found itself very helpless and
orphaned. All they said was that they wanted
justice from the government.
The recent timely visit by the Chief Minister
Prithviraj Chawan and his sensible observations,
as well as a financial package for compensation
and rehabilitation has done much to heal the
wounds. More important, he has announced that
the policemen who participated in the riots are
suspended and a trial will be conducted against
the police as well. The Judicial Commission of
inquiry will go a long way in recording the facts
and ascertaining the truth.
We held many discussions with both the
young Hindu and Muslim activists. Dhule,
though a city with a good infrastructure, is
wrecked by high unemployment and the entire
region of North Maharashtra is devoid of indus-
try. The degree of criminalization is very high,
with many involved in the illicit Kerosene, Gas,
Liquor and Satta-gambling rackets. All of these
are controlled by political leaders, mainly belong-
ing to the Nationalist Congress Party led by
Sharad Pawar whose bonhomie with the Shiv
Sena nowadays is reaching new heights.
The youth with a petty criminal record are
forced by the politician-police nexus to work for
these parties as brainless storm-troopers and
deployed at times such as these.
Within the Muslim community, there lies
another serious problem whereby youth cannot
find organizations and platforms that are secular.
This is due to the abject failure of the Leftist and
socialists movements as well as the liberal-sec-
ular Muslim activists of Dhule. Here in fact the
Phule-Amedkarites-Bahujan movements have a
more humane approach of reaching out to the
Muslim community, who they rightly see as from
their own Shudra social structure, though now
belonging to a different, though egalitarian, reli-
gion.
With the approaching local elections later
this year and the national general elections in
2014, it is feared that more riots would be engi-
neered, as political parties had no other way to
face the electorate, save the agenda of commu-
nal polarization, hate and fear-mongering. Thus it
is for the secular activists and the masses to
build the unity of the people so that they can unit-
edly face this challenge.
Feroze Mithiborwala is a peace activist in
Mumbai. He was in Dhule on 13 and 14th January
leading a fact finding team.
Dy. Tehsildar on Dhule riot duty finds son shot dead by cops
For 33 years, Deputy Tehsildar Abdul Halim Ansari worked for the State, never doubting that it was
largely fair, just and honest towards all citizens. That perception changed on 6 January this year after
his 30-year-old son died before his eyes, gunned down by the orders of the very same administra-
tion that he had served all his life.
Ansari, 58, believes that the police shot his son in cold blood. He says not one colleague or sen-
ior official from the administration that he had been part of all his working life has visited him in his
tragedy. He says that he will not return to work now; he cannot be part of a biased system any
more.
In the afternoon of that fateful day, as a quarrel between a Hindu street food vendor and two
Muslim youths escalated into riots in the communally sensitive Dhule town, 325 km north of
Mumbai, Ansari received a call from work.
One of my colleagues was injured, and I took him to hospital. I was then asked to return to
office to collect safety gear and head to Machchli Bazaar where violence had broken out, Ansari
said.
Suddenly, I received a call saying my son had been injured. I rushed to the hospital. He ges-
tured to me to say he had been shot and asked for some water, Ansari said, adding, He died in
front of my eyes. Ansaris son, Hafiz Asif Abdul Halim, was an Islamic scholar who had a small
provision store outside his home. He had gone to Machchli Bazaar to buy the familys weekly stock
of vegetables. (Excerpted from Zeeshan Shaikh, indianexpress.com, Jan 08 2013)
NATIONAL The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 7 www.milligazette.com
An Peoples Servant
in khaki
Police department and associated security agencies during the
time of British rule were instruments for suppressing the freedom
struggle. They were trained to be ruthless in their dealings and
were particularly harsh on freedom fighters. The rules framed in
the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are still being followed
by the Police force. There are demands for reforms in the Police
laws but so far nothing concrete has taken place.
It seems only the colour of the skin for ruling class has
changed, otherwise it has inherited all traits of the oppressive
rulers of the colonial period. To settle scores, the unscrupulous
polity exploits the Police machinery and those upright officers who
decline to dance to the tunes of their political bosses suffer. Police
brutality is still prevalent though due to modern tools in the hands
of media it gets exposed frequently. Though reform in Police
Department is going on slowly, coming across a polite Police offi-
cer who is concerned with social evils and is consciously making
efforts to keep households united through negotiations and gentle
persuasion in association with members of civil society is a sur-
prise. Meet Captain Mirza Manzar Beg, S. P. (rural) of Azamgarh.
He is director of Nai Kiran project. MG correspondent met him
recently. Excerpts from his interview:
When did you join Police Department and got posted here in
Azamgarh?
I served the Indian Army from 1984 to 1994 as 2nd Lieutenant
and Lieutenant and thereafter joined the Police Department. I was
posted in Azamgarh on 1st March 2011.
How and when you got the idea of Nai Kiran?
Since I joined here, 2-3 applications came to me daily from
women against atrocities faced in their in-laws homes. Talking to
these ladies, I came to understand their psychology of keeping
their homes intact and avoiding exposure of domestic problems.
We compile all applications received and give a date for a sitting
in Police Lines with the concerned parties. We have retired teach-
ers, doctors, social activists etc as members of the committee. No
one else, not even advocates, are allowed and the parties are
allowed to discuss openly their disputes, shortcomings, allega-
tions etc. Ladies want to patch up and live with their husbands and
therefore, counselling proves effective.
Roughly how many cases have been settled so far?
Lots of cases; nearly 700-800.
Normally we get terrorized by khaki uniforms but now with your
work (Nai Kiran) things seem to have changed...
Normally law-enforcing agencies are considered harsh and are
not liked by people. However, Police has to enforce the law of the
land. With Nai Kiran we have shown the soft face of Police who
are sparing time during holidays to keep intact homes and thus
creating peace and serenity in society.
What has been the impact of your work on the social environ-
ment?
It is much appreciated and every one likes it. Naturally when two
families are affected along with all those associated with these
families a rapprochement goes a long way in creating an atmos-
phere of goodwill and happiness. In fact, I have noticed that I am
getting recognition in remote areas of the district because of this
work.
Are there more cases from urban area or is it same for rural and
urban areas?
Azamgarh district is comprised of mostly rural areas. In fact, we
get applications here in my office as well as in all Police stations
including the S. P. office. Instructions have been given to all Police
stations that all such applications should be marked as Nai
Kiran. All these marked applications come to my office and we
give dates on Sundays accordingly.
How the programme has been taken in the Police
Department?
When any application is received in a Police station, FIR
has to be registered with subsequent investigation and
framing of charges. Ultimately, the matter goes to a
court. Ladies, however, do not want to go to all these
places and let the world know about their private family
affairs. With project Nai Kiran work, the load of Police
has been reduced and now it is able to engage in pro-
ductive work of law and order maintenance. Police is for
crime suppression and these household disputes,
though socially very important, are a burden on the
already strained Police force.
Police in general deal harshly but seemingly it has
changed now...
Yes, it has changed. During the British period, red-tur-
baned chowkidars with belts were a scene to behold.
Village-folk used to close their doors seeing such men. Now many
Police officers are coming from the normal social milieu. I am the
only Police Officer in our family. I keep instructing my subordi-
nates to deal with the general public in an amicable way. Police
now take care of the needs of the people who visit Police stations
with their grievances. They make them comfortably sit in the P. S.
and offer them even lump of bheli (solid jaggery) and water. A few
kilos of bheli is sufficient and this generates a lot of goodwill for
the Police force.
Do you also think that popularizing sports, athletic activities can
alleviate suffering of masses and solve law and order problem?
When I was in Ghaziabad, a crime-prone district, I called a meet-
ing of former and present village heads and with the help of my
industrialist friend arranged 200 volley-balls along with nets.
Volley-ball can be played in a small area and is not expensive. This
meeting was in P. S. Masuori (Ghaziabad). I told the village heads
to erect poles for the game and let the youths play while elders sit
on the sidelines as spectators. In this way if two hours of ener-
getic youths are utilized, they get tired using their extra energy
while at the same time promoting communal amity. Strife in vil-
lages is due to small problems of Purva (locality), religion, sect,
etc. Sport activities help in generating an atmosphere of goodwill
and bonhomie.
Would you like to follow the Ghaziabad example in Azamgarh?
Yes. We may start from one village by calling a meeting of ten vil-
lage heads.
SALMAN SULTAN
JAVED JAMIL
This is what I have been saying all along. I had
written in all my articles on the gang-rape that
the solutions will be found out in a way so as
to safeguard the interests of the market forces.
What Verma Panel has done is much more
than that. They have not just safeguarded the
interests of the market forces but have also
chosen to promote the market-sponsored fem-
inism. Within 29 days, the panel has brought to naught all the
expectations that soared in the wake of the public outcry against
crimes.
Like an obedient employee, the panel has ensured what its
bosses of economic fundamentalism ordered: A solution that
would not disturb the system created by the forces of economics.
The solution we find has only a few extraordinary elements: that
the judge in such cases should be a woman, and the definition of
rape should be changed to include sexual assaults by husbands.
The woman judge, in their considered view, would prove to be a
better judge as if she would be able to go beyond what is pre-
scribed in the law. There is hardly any mention of the failure of a
judicial system as a whole in reducing crimes. The whole picture
has been viewed merely from the point of view of a male-female
tussle, as if rapes are committed merely because men view
women as inferiors or objects of lust. There is no mention of the
havoc caused by the commercialization of nudity and sex that
present women as objects of lust. There is no mention of the
provocative images. There is no need of death sentence because,
as the argument goes, this would increase the chances of the vic-
tim being murdered. Ironically, there is no suggestion of death
even where rape is accompanied with murder. And they have also
ruled out any change in the juvenile age. What a travesty of jus-
tice! The ability of a person is determined purely on the basis of
the number of days he has lived instead of his biological and
physical abilities at that particular time. If he is one hour short of
18 at that time, he deserves special treatment.
More than that, the Panel has taken advantage of the situation
to support an old market demand of enlarging the definition of
rape to include rapes by husbands. This would go a long way to
further weaken an already weakened marriage and family system,
the forces calculate. No one has the right to ask them the ques-
tion: how can rape by husband be like a rape. A rape is horren-
dous because it forcibly creates a relationship, which is not legal-
ly or morally sanctioned. It is a sexual assault on a woman with
whom sex is not permitted. It carries with it not only a psycholog-
ical anguish but physical, social and moral issues. Forced sex by
a husband is bad and can be adequately punished, but it does not
carry along with it any of the serious problems that accompany
rapes.
History has witnessed how feminism became the most dis-
cussed, the most debated and the most widespread movement of
the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The movement, fed by the
big business, engendered a new socio-cultural milieu, which pro-
duced two distinct kinds of feminists: genuine and sham. The gen-
uine feminists had real concern for the upheaval of the fair sex.
But they could not properly comprehend the machinations of the
market forces in their overwhelming support for their feminist
struggle. Unfortunately, their thoughts were constructed or recon-
structed on the basis of influences by the market-sponsored cin-
ema, magazines, books and journals. This resulted in an error of
judgement on their part and they often failed to recognise the real
issues. Much greater in number were the sham or pseudo-femi-
nists who earned huge wealth and fame for their pro-market views
on men-women relationship. Little did they feel for uplifting
women. Their aim, on the contrary, was to redefine their status
that will make it easy for the economic fundamentalists to use
them for their gargantuan appetite for money. They contrived to
make women the wheels of the train of business.
Feminists viewed history through lenses that would
focus for them only what they desired to view. If they had done the
earnestness of purpose, the consequences could not have been
as horrendously damaging to mankind as they have been. They
could then have closely watched the developments and could per-
haps have forestalled the march of time from going in the wrong
direction. They might then have saved womankind from becoming
the most obedient slaves of mans desires that it has lately
become. They could still have campaigned for the promotion of
womens role in specific fields. Womans lib might then not have
shrunk to form a mere tool of exploitation in the hands of foxy and
covetous merchants. She might then have cruised ahead tri-
umphantly, albeit with grace, and without annoying the tranquillity
of family and society, to her desired goal in the world. Alas! This
was not to be.
The so-called feminism, in perspective, proved to be either of
the two: sham and contrived, or ill-informed and ill-conceived. It
did not deliver any real good, and in addition encumbered
womans shoulders much beyond her physical and mental capac-
ity.
It is the impact of market-sponsored feminism that while
womens rights are championed, these very rights are used for the
industrialisation of beauty and sex. The markets have turned
human beings into commercial goods. If women are required in
the market, family system needs to be weakened. The results are
for all of us to see. Teenage sex is not only permitted but also pro-
moted; marriage before a certain age is illegal. Promiscuity is per-
mitted, polygamy prohibited. Abortions in general are good as
they give women a liberty to move and mix but female infanticide
is to be stopped, exploitation of women must remain a major issue
but prostitution and pornography need to be legalised.
I wish Verma Panel had acted to counter the market-spon-
sored feminism rather than promote it. They could have argued
that the exploitation of women by market forces is much more
dangerous than the exploitation by husbands and fathers. They
could have said that prostitution and pornography have no place
in a civilised society. They could have spoken a little about the
importance of family system, which is a big wall in between
healthy and unhealthy sex. They could also have spoken about the
role of alcohol in all crimes including crimes against women. But
they chose only to say what the market-sponsored system
demanded.
I wish the political parties and religious and social groups could
have realised the dangers posed by various forces. We have
missed an opportunity.
Dr Javed Jamil is Chairman, International Centre for Applied Islamics.
He may be contacted at doctorforu123@yahoo.com
Verma Panel endorses
Market-sponsored Feminism
They have not just safeguarded the interests of the market forces but have also chosen to pro-
mote the market-sponsored feminism. Within 29 days, the panel has brought to naught all the
expectations that soared in the wake of the public outcry against crimes.
the Panel has taken advantage of the situation to support an old market demand of enlarging
the definition of rape to include rapes by husbands. This would go a long way to further
weaken an already weakened marriage and family system, the forces calculate. No one has
the right to ask them the question: how can rape by husband be like a rape.
Introduction: Dhule has been in the news for the past 10 days. It
has been reported in the media that a small altercation in Dhule led
to violence between Hindus and Muslims. As a result, deaths of six
innocent youths and injuries to several others and massive loss of
properties, burning of houses took place. The worst part of the
episode is that all this has taken place with the police force being
very much around. Contrary to official reports, people in the area
stated that the behaviour of the police was very biased against the
Muslim minority. All the youths who died were Muslims. Most of
the houses which were burnt belonged to the Muslims.
In the light of the disturbing reports and communications from
the local activists we decided that a citizens fact-finding commit-
tee should visit Dhule to investigate and present the facts objec-
tively.
The Citizens Fact-Finding Committee consisting of Shabnam
Hashmi, social activist (ANHAD Delhi), Prof Ram Puniyani of the All
India Secular Forum, Prof Apoorvanand of Delhi University, Adv
Nihalsing B Rathod (Human Rights Law Network), Manan Trivedi,
Dev Desai, Tanvi Soni, Arma from ANHAD Gujarat and Azhar from
Jalgaon, visited Dhule on 13-14 January, 2013.
The Committee met several social, religious and political
activists, government officials, including the district magistrate,
victims, families of the deceased and injured, and people from dif-
ferent walks of life. It also visited the spot of the incident, the affect-
ed areas and hospitals on 14 January.
The committee procured recordings of the violence which had
taken place in the city. This report is based on the testimonies of
these people, records from the hospitals and its own observations
in the area where houses have been burnt.
The committee found that the affected area, which was con-
stantly referred to as minority area, was barricaded to separate it
from the Hindu-dominated areas. We found temporary police posts
on the other side of the barricades (Hindu-majority area). We were
told that the curfew, which was enforced after the violence, was
now relaxed from 9 am to 5 pm. Police did not prevent people from
crossing the barricades from either side. Outwardly life looked nor-
mal. We were told that curfew had affected the livelihood of people
who worked in the powerlooms which is the main source of living
for a majority of the Muslims as work had to be stopped at 5 pm.
In normal times the powerlooms work round the clock. We also
found that even in normal times the area suffered from huge load-
shedding, making it impossible for the powerlooms to work prop-
erly. The stoppage of work is leading to the disruption of life.
There were differing versions of the cause of violence on
6 January. We were told that it was largely a result of the insensi-
tive handling of a minor quarrel by the police. It was clear from the
statements of both Hindus and Muslims that tension could have
been diffused easily had police taken proper steps to diffuse the
tension, which was building up. It did not intervene and told the
people to settle the dispute by themselves. The police allowed
crowds to assemble on both sides. One can see from the record-
ings that mobs which assembled started confronting each other
with stones. We were also told that the first incident took place at
around 2 to 2.15 pm and mobs from both sides started assembling
soon after that. It is clear that both Hindus and Muslims had
indulged in stone-throwing.
What is perplexing is that the police decided to move into the
Muslims areas with a Hindu mob behind them. Police started firing
indiscriminately at Muslims.
As per the testimony of victims and eyewitnesses, the police
did not make any primary effort to disperse the crowds. It did not
use public address system to alert the crowds, nor did it use lathi
or teargas shells before resorting to firing. Residents felt very
aggrieved that the police resorted to firing in response to stone-
throwing. It was reported that the firing lasted for more than two
hours and stopped only around 6.30 pm. This point was confirmed
by the District Magistrate.
The police firing was intended not to disperse the mob. All the
bullet injuries are above the knees, in the abdomen, chests, necks,
backs and faces.
The attitude of the police against Muslims is also evident from
the recordings as they are found pounding on the motorcycles dur-
ing curfew hours when there was nobody on the streets. Media
reported and District Collector told us that the police had no option
but to open fire as they were attacked with lethal chemicals and
many of them suffered grievous injuries when they were trying to
control the mobs. This claim is not supported by the Civil Hospital
records which describe the injuries suffered by the police person-
nel as minor, that they were discharged after first aid and there are
just a very few cases of minor burn injuries.
Forty-two people suffered bullet injuries out of whom six died.
Legs of two of the injured had to be amputated. None of the injured
went to the civil hospital. We were told that the Muslims avoid
going to the civil hospital due to their experience of the 2008 riots.
In 2008, Muslims were attacked by Hindus when they tried to go to
the civil hospital as it falls in a Hindu-dominated locality. Due to the
experience of 2008, this time all the injured were taken to private
hospitals.
It was reported that none of the injured was taken to the hos-
pital by the police. We were told by the relatives of those killed that
they were not allowed to lodge FIRs. They were told that the
deceased had already been made accused and were treated as riot-
ers. The injured have not been able to muster courage to file FIRs
nor have the owners of the damaged properties been able to do so.
More than 35 Muslim houses were looted, burnt and
destroyed. Destruction of these houses was complete. All of it
seems to have been done with clinical precision. We also found
four Hindu households burnt, one of them burnt totally. While
Muslims are ready to name the attackers, Hindus told us that they
did not want to name anybody although they know the attackers.
The looting, burning and destruction of Muslim houses was
done by mobs under the protec-
tion of the police. In one of the
recordings, a senior police officer
is seen exhorting the mobs to
move forward and attack. The
police is also seen standing quiet-
ly while houses are being burnt.
What the police did was to drive
away the Muslims by firing, leav-
ing their houses unprotected and
vulnerable.
It was also reported that the
area of incidents and firing was
cleaned with water the very next
day without any Panchnama hav-
ing been made.
We found no evidence of relief
being provided to the uprooted
families who had to flee bare-
handed from their houses. The DM
told us that they were provided
with ration through NGOs but was
unable to explain how the ration
was supposed to be cooked as the
victims had no utensils with
them to cook it. He also
found it natural and suffi-
cient that they were being
taken care of by the com-
munity-fellows and there
was no special need for
administration to pitch in.
The fact that when our
committee visited the area
neither the chief minister,
nor the home minister had
felt it necessary to pay a
visit to Dhule in the wake of
this violence. This fact has
made the Muslims very bit-
ter. Several calls to offices of
the CM and HM for an
appointment by the Fact-
Finding Committee yielded
no results. Muslims feel
uncared for and left to fend
for themselves. The
announcement by a section
of the business community,
engineers and lawyers that
the police action should not
be investigated has also
made them wary. More than
compensation, they want
justice to be done and with
these threats they feel that
justice might be compro-
mised. The political process
of confidence building is
absent, leaving the field
open for all kinds of forces
to fill the void. It should be a matter of concern that since 2008, this
has been the third major violence and Muslims feel that they are
being hounded by the police.
The fact, as repor ted by many, that the police constables
have not been transferred for more than 15 years is also to be
noted. It is evident that the police is biased against the Muslims
and all kinds of anti-Muslim stereotypes impact their mindset
and action.
Dhule, despite only six deaths is a mirror to the nation and
our response would also show whether there exists a social, civil
and political resolve to protect the constitutional rights of minorities
in India.
Findings
1. This violence could have been prevented had the police acted in
time.
2. While stone-pelting was done by members of both the commu-
nities, the police action was selective and directed against Muslims
only.
3. The police did not follow the prescribed protocol to control the
mob. Police firing was excessive and was done with an intent to
kill.
4. All bullets were above the knee, majority of the bullets were
above the waist, many of them in the chest, neck and face. All six
deaths were because of the police firing.
5. Majority of the victims of the police firing were left unattended by
the police and were taken to hospitals by their friends.
6. 159 police personnel were taken to the hospital out of which only
18 were admitted as evident from the record of the civil hospital
(attached with this report). All the injuries suffered by the police
were minor in nature due to stone-pelting.
7. The burning and looting of Muslim households and shops was
done by the Hindu mobs in the presence of the police personnel
while the killings were done by the police. From the video footage
obtained by us, it is clear that Police also indulged in burning
Muslim houses and destroying their properties.
8. Fire brigade was not allowed to come to the Muslim locality to
douse the fire.
9. No relief camps were set up for the Muslims and Hindus who
lost their houses (approximately 40 Muslim families and four Hindu
families), no immediate relief was provided by the state. Some food
grains were distributed by the Red Cross.
10. The victims were threatened when they tried to register FIRs, as
a result no FIRs were registered.
Demands
1. Immediate commissioning of judicial enquiry into the whole inci-
dent of January 6, 2013 in Dhule with special focus on the role of
the police.
2. Suspension of the DM, SP and other officers responsible for
acts of omission and commission, with immediate effect.
3. Announcement of a relief and rehabilitation package including
the opening of a relief camp immediately for those whose houses
have been destroyed, Rs. 25 lakh to the next of kin of those killed,
15 lakh for those disabled for life, 10 lakh for those injured with
police bullets, suitable compensation to those whose houses,
properties, businesses have been burnt, looted and destroyed after
assessment by a competent agency along with members of civil
society and NGOs.
4. Prosecution of all the policemen involved in killing people and
destroying their property.
5. Government job to one person in the family of those killed/dis-
abled for life by police bullets.
6. Immediate lodging of FIRs in all cases of death, injury, property
loss etc.
7. Implementation of transfer policy for the police personnel which
has been totally disregarded in Dhule.
8. Establishment of an extension centre of the government hospital
with all facilities in the Muslim-dominated area.
9. Lifting of curfew with immediate effect and resumption of nor-
mal working hours especially in the powerloom sector.
10. Setting up of a committee to study the development needs of
the city including job opportunities for youth.
11. Immediate steps to detoxify the mindsets of the police at the
state level, programmes to sensitize them on constitutional rights,
democracy and secularism.
12. To invite national NGOs working for communal harmony to help
set up a structure at the level of mohallas for regular interaction of
local people and leaders of all communities, and formation of
mohalla committees.
Fact-Finding Report on Dhule riot
8 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 NATIONAL www.milligazette.com

We were told by the relatives of those killed that they were not allowed to lodge FIRs. They were told that
the deceased had already been made accused and were treated as rioters. The injured have not been
able to muster courage to file FIRs nor have the owners of the damaged properties been able to do so.
More than 35 Muslim houses were looted, burnt and destroyed. Destruction of these houses was complete.
All of it seems to have been done with clinical precision. We also found four Hindu households burnt, one of
them burnt totally
The looting, burning and destruction of Muslim houses was done by mobs under the protection of the police.
In one of the recordings, a senior police officer is seen exhorting the mobs to move forward and attack. The
police is also seen standing quietly while houses are being burnt. What the police did was to drive away the
Muslims by firing, leaving their houses unprotected and vulnerable.
TESTIMONIES
Shops and houses of Muslims were being torched by the Hindus, police officers in their submission have men-
tioned that Muslims were running away. Police officers were targeting vital organs of the people, this can be
seen in the video. Police officers are lying that 122 police officers are injured. In one such video police officer
can be seen pretending to be injured, in which he is talking normally and on sight of senior police officer pre-
tended to be very critical. - Nisar Ahmed Tamboli
Hindu leaders have their own country-made pistols. 116 rounds of bullets were fired by police officers...Houses
in Macchi Bazar were blown up by using LPG cylinders. Local TV channels were stopped from telecasting news
of riots since they were telecasting news showing police atrocities. Without conducting any panchnama police
officers made municipal corporation to clean off the incidence spot... - Nasreen
Dhule fire brigade was held up in Hindu locality. Police officers have been spreading rumours that acid attacks
were done by Muslims, which is not at all true. We tried to stop them from clearing the area without conduct-
ing any Puncanama, which was resisted by officers...Out of 67 corporators 18 Muslim corporators have ten-
dered resignation seeking judicial probe. Forty-five days back there was VHP camp where they taught how to
use weapon.Merchant organization has also supported police action and has given their memorandum justify-
ing the act and opposing judicial probe. - Chote Haji Shamsulhah, vice chairman of Jamiat-ul-Ulma-e-Hind
Prior to Godhra incidence there used to be riot analysis, which would bring out reasons of the riot. However,
that practice is discounted thereafter. RSS conducts Shastra Pooja every year. Also they have established Hindu
Raksha Samiti. The atmosphere is becoming highly communalized and there is infiltration of RSS mindset in
the police. I belong to Hindu community and we have been trying to help the victims but we are targeted.
- Rahul Wagh
The role of media in Akot communal riots
NATIONAL The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 9 www.milligazette.com
SHARAD JAISWAL
& AMIR ALI AJANI
The print media had played a dubious role during the Babri dem-
olition, and one can see its extension in Akot riots as well. The
media not only concealed the real reasons behind the riots, but
also sensationalized the issue and newspapers were seen artic-
ulating the language of Hindu communal organizations at a few
places.
Almost all the newspapers in Hindi, English and Marathi pub-
lished that the fundamental reason behind the violence was the
incident of stone-pelting during the idol immersion. Not a single
newspaper bothered to investigate whether there was really any
stoning attack or it was a plain rumour. The communal organiza-
tions accomplished their agenda by fabricating the story of stone
attack.
The role of Hindi newspapers
Echoing the voices of Shiv Sainiks and other communal organi-
zations, Hindi daily Nav Bharat published a news item on 21st
October: Idol of Goddess desecrated: Two minors arrested
Two minors desecrated an idol installed by Sharda Utsav Mandal
in Bhoipura area of Akot which led to tense situation in the
townMLA Sanjay Gawande staged an agitation at the police
stationThe MLA informed the police that if the real mastermind
behind the incident is not arrested soon, a bandh would be organ-
ized in Akot on 21st October.
The 26th October edition of Navbharat carried four news
items related to Akot violence under one story titled Tense calm
prevails in Akot. It said, Four dead, 41 arrestedsituation went
out of control in Akot town of Akola district due to a dispute that
emerged out of a minor issue late evening during Durga Visarjan
and rioting started by late night leaving four dead. When the
Durga Visarjan procession was moving along on Tuesday
evening, stone-pelting started over a minor issue little further in
Gharoli Ves.
The newspaper attempted to describe through the news story
that a dispute between Hindus and Muslims started over a minor
issue during Devi Visarjan and that Muslims resorted to stone-
pelting in retaliation and the background of riots was laid down.
A news item under the sub-heading Dispute during the proces-
sion carries a photograph of a charred two-wheeler which tells
that the Muslims burnt down the two-wheeler besides resorting
to stone-pelting.
24th October edition of daily Pratidin showcased communal
leanings on the front page itself. The newspaper has depicted, on
the masthead, bow-wielding militant Rama on one side and ten-
headed Ravana on the other besides quoting a chaupai from
Tulsidas Ramcharitmanas:
Tasu Teja Saman Prabhu Aanan
Harash Dekhi Sambhu Chaturanan
Jai Jai Dhuni Poori Bramhanda
Jai Raghuvir Prabal Bhujdanda
[Radiant is your face O Lord, in which Lord Shiva and Lord
Bramha rejoice. The whole universe is abuzz with voices hailing
Lord Rama. Glory to strong-armed Lord Rama]
Right below this, a four-column news story titled Riots in
Akot- two dead has been published inside a box in the banner
lead. In order to make it sensational and inciting, it carries a
photo of a gun-carrying security personnel and also quotes the
name of a deceased along with his photo. The caption says
Akot: houses burning in the fire put on by the miscreants and the
dead body of deceased Haji Mohammed on top. The incident
has been portrayed in this manner: Raging violence after stone-
pelting on Durga idol immersion, 25 to 30 houses put on fire,
town inspector and five police personnel also injured. An
attempt has been made, through the sub-heading and photo-
graphs, to indicate that the Muslim community resorted to stone-
pelting during the idol immersion which resulted in an incident of
violence between the police and the Muslim community. The
names of the persons published by the newspaper as a testimo-
ny for its news story either belong to the Muslim community or
to the police force. The newspaper has also published a big news
item which corroborates its own version of the story. In spite of
tight security arrangements and the administration being on high
alert during the idol immersion, communal violence raged in Akot
town of Akola District which left two persons dead.Two dozen
injured include six police personnel along with the town inspec-
tor20-30 houses were set ablaze during the violenceThe
incidents of violence in Taha Masjidpura, Karale Plot, Anjangaon
Road and Barde Plot areas started in the aftermath of stone-pelt-
ing done by a few anti-social elements at idol immersion proces-
sion on Tuesday evening.
In the whole news story, the facts were freely tampered with
and the newspaper put forth a sensationalized version based on
rumours and squarely blamed the Muslim community for the
incident.
While all newspapers were reporting the Akot riots on com-
munal lines, Dainik Bhaskar carried a related story for the first
time on 27th October. A single-column report under the heading
Fighting in Akot Tehsil two injured was published along with
pictures of the injured. In an incident that occurred during
evening hours on 25th October, a group of unknown men
attacked two persons on their way to attend their grandmothers
funeral and their motorbike was vandalizedThey were attacked
by a group of 30-40 unknown men near Akoli Jahangir about the
same time, which left them seriously injured. The newspaper
has published this repor t with reference to its City
Correspondent. Until 27th October, the newspaper was not at all
aware of the communal violence in Akot and it was treating the
attack by Hindu communal forces on two Muslim men as a com-
mon incident of fighting.
Dainik Bhaskar took cognizance of the Akot violence for the
first time on 29th October and carried a three-column story inside
a box on page six. Despite such a delayed reporting, the news-
paper did not carry any fact-based news starting with the inci-
dent of violence during idol immersion following the suit of other
newspapers. MLA Rawate could not go to Akot, as if the news-
paper deeply regretted the fact that senior leader and Shiv Sena
MLA Diwakar Rawate arrived in Akolabut police administration
did not allow him to go to Akot on the grounds of safety.
Dainik Bhaskar published a report on 9th November under
the heading Charged with inciting speech during Akot riots -
Four people died in violence that took place during Durga idol
immersionIt is well-known that the violence spread in Akot due
to slackness and indecisiveness on the part of police, but as a
buck-passing game, they booked the Akot MLA Sanjay Gawande
under various sections today. 18 days after the incident, it
dawned on the police that the Akot MLA Sanjay Gawande and
150 others have played role in abetting violence. A Durga idol
was desecrated in Bhoipura in Akot at 6:30 pm during idol
immersion. MLA Sanjay Gawande had staged a sit-in agitation in
the police station premisesThe police had not registered any
case against Gawande on the day he gave a public speech in
relation to the desecration of the Durga idolIt seems that the
case was registered with an intention of finding a scapegoat.
The newspaper was not quite pleased with police booking the
Shiv Sena MLA and his supporters under a few lighter sections
for gheraoing the police station and other acts and it openly
expressed its affection towards Shiv Sena and its MLA Sanjay
Gawande. The newspaper viewed the incident of inadvertent spit-
ting by minors as an act of desecration and supported Sanjay
Gawandes attempt of giving a communal colour to the whole
issue. Echoing the voice of all communal organizations who were
inculpating the Muslim community for the conspiracy hatched by
themselves, the newspaper opined that the case was registered
since someone has to be made a scapegoat at some point of
time.
The role of English newspapers
The role of English newspapers was no less dubious. The English
daily The Hitavada published a report titled Dishonour to idol of
Goddess Sharda creates tension in Akot in its 20th October
issue. The news carries a photo of MLA Sanjay Gawande staging
an agitation at Akot police station. It says: Sensation prevailed
when an attempt to dishonour the idol of Goddess Sharda was
made here on Friday. Sanjay Gawande, MLA, staged thiyya
andolan demanding immediate arrest of the perpetrators and
strict action against them. Nav Nirman Sharda Mahotsav Mandal
has installed idol of Goddess Sharada at local Bhoipura square.
Around 12:30, two minors of another community, who were insti-
gated, came and spit at the feet of the idol. A member of the man-
dal held one of the children.allegedly gave life threat and asked
the member to leave the minor. The happenings of 19th October
have been portrayed with complete communal viewpoint and that
too within the context provided by Shiv Sainiks and their support-
ing organizations. The portrayal of this incident is not only dan-
gerous in its content but is also against the ethics of journalism.
The 26th October edition of The Hitavada carried a story with
the heading Death toll in Akot communal violence mounts to
four and a sub-heading Stone-pelting on Durga procession
sparks violence; many houses, shops burnt in which it attributed
the communal violence to a particular community which resort-
ed to stone-pelting during the idol immersion.
The Indian Express has shown a lot of restraint in its story on
26th October under the heading Four killed in Akot riots which
reported: alleged stone-pelting on a Durga procession sparked
riots in the communally sensitive Akot town in Akola district.
This four-column story is accompanied with a smaller news item
with the sub-heading Violent past and present which tells that
Akot and other towns and villages in Akola and adjoining
Amravati district have a history of communal tension, which
indirectly justifies the communal incident of Akot.
While reporting that the region has a history of communal
violence, the newspaper is giving a clean chit to the communal
forces, which played a major role in the riots, instead of incrimi-
nating them. It is also absolving the police and the government of
their responsibility since riot is a commonplace occurrence for
this region. The present has a deep-seated relationship with the
past. And since this whole region has a violent past, how could
the present extricate itself from that violence? Hence any com-
munal organization, the police, the government, the media,
Sanjay Gawande etc., are not responsible for the riots; the culpa-
bility lies squarely with the regions past.
26th October edition of The Times of India also reported the
incident of stone-pelting as a reason behind the violence.
A blog titled The Mindset has presented a news report
related to Akot violence with the heading Muslims attacked
Durga Puja procession
4 killed in riots: Muslims cant live peacefully - neither
with their own kind nor with others. In Akot town of Akola district
of Maharashtra Muslims pelted stones at a Durga Puja proces-
sion resulting in the death of four persons and widespread
destruction of property. The blog has published the reminder of
the story quoting it from The Indian Express. Upon viewing this
blog and after reading the older posts, it becomes evident that the
blog is engaged in spewing venom against a particular commu-
nity.
The role of Marathi Newspapers
Similar to The Hitavada, the 20th October issue of Deshonnati
carried an inciting news item with communal effect. The story
published under the title Akotat Shardadevichya Mur tichi
Vitambana (Goddess Shardas idol desecrated in Akot)
describes that Navnirman Sharda Utsav Mandal had installed the
idol of Goddess Sharda in Bhoipura area of the town. Two small
kids from the minority community tampered with [desecrated]
the idol... the incident stirred up the whole town and the news
reached MLA Sanjay Gawande... he demanded speedy arrest of
the real culprit behind this incident.
A small news item was also published in a box along with
this two-column story: Akot would shut down otherwise - MLA
Sanjay Gawande People from Hindu community condemned
using small kids with an objective of creating religious animosity.
This hurts the religious sentiments of Hindus.
The 20th October edition of Deshonnati openly turned into a
mouthpiece of Shiv Sainiks and other communal organizations.
Deshonnati carried inciting material titled Akotat Dangal, Don
Thaar (Riots in Akot, Two dead) along with photos of burning
houses together with that of an injured policeman: During the
hustle and bustle of immersion on Tuesday night, someone
hurled stone at Mandals idol which led to burning of 30 houses
in Barde Plot. The stories carried by this newspaper on 26th and
27th October also describe stone-pelting during idol immersion
as the basis of the communal violence.
The 26th October issue of Lokmat (Marathi) carried a three-
column news item titled Death toll in Akot riots rises to four, 84
arrested. In the last column, it was reported that When a father-
son duo of Prabhakar Jawardikar (50) and Manthan Jawardikar
(21), residents of Anjangaon, were on their way to Shegaon on a
motorbike, a group of women stopped them near Urdu School
and injured them by attacking with a gupti (a sharp weapon), the
group also set their motorbike on fire. No other newspaper has
reported this incident. Through this news item, Lokmat has stat-
ed that women belonging to a particular community are also
complicit in violent activities.
The role of Urdu Newspapers
The reporting by Urdu newspapers was relatively based on facts.
Urdu Times on 5th November ascribed the communal violence to
a saffron conspiracy.
Both Inquilab and Urdu Times have mentioned recovery of
small bottles from the gutted homes which, filled with inflamma-
ble substance, were hurled at each house. As described earlier,
the Fact-Finding Committee also found such bottles.
No matter which party is in power in Maharashtra, the ideol-
ogy of Shiv Sena runs supreme in politics. The state media is
aware of this fact and they have relinquished their responsibility
of speaking against the modus operandi and the ideologies of the
fascist parties and organizations. Print medias reporting during
Akot riots is merely an example of this phenomenon. (Translated
by Bharat Bhushan Tiwari)
Sharad Jaiswal is Asst. Prof. in the Deptt. of Women Studies, MGAHV,
Wardha. He may be contacted at sharadjaiswal2008@gmail.com; Amir
Ali Ajani is Wardha-based social activist and editor-of Hindi monthly,
Navnirmitti
No matter which party is in power in Maharashtra, the ideology of Shiv Sena runs supreme in politics. The state media is aware of
this fact and they have relinquished their responsibility of speaking against the modus operandi and the ideologies of the fascist
parties and organizations. Print medias reporting during Akot riots is merely an example of this phenomenon.
NIA reconstructs 2006 blasts
Developments in NIAs investigation of Malegaon blasts of
2008 had lead to speculation that the arrested three accused,
Dhan Singh, Manohar Singh, and Rajender were also involved
in the September 8, 2006 explosions that took place near
Hamidia Mosque in the Bada Qabristan area of Malegaon,
killing 37 people and injuring 100. The accused have also told
investigators that before finalising Malegaon as the 2008
bomb site, the men had travelled to Godhra to look for possi-
ble target sites. On January 11 this year, the NIA recreated the
recce, execution and planting of the two bombs in 2006.
Forensic examination of the 2008 and 2006 Malegaon blasts
have shown similarities of the type of explosive substance,
detonators and electronic circuits used. They are also similar
to the Samjhauta Express blast, the Ajmer Dargah Shareef
and the Mecca Masjid blast. (Aaliya Khan)
AFSANA RASHID, SRINAGAR
More than 60 new unmarked graves have been found in Srinagar
and Budgam districts, in the state. This was stated by Voice of
Victims, non-government organization in its recently released
report. As of now weve identified 50-60 unmarked graves in
central Kashmir (Budgam) and peripheral areas of Srinagar, said
Abdul Rouf, its coordinator, January 12, adding although it is dif-
ficult to tell who are buried in these unmarked graves but one thing
is certain; they were not air-dropped. They are Kashmiris.
The survey conducted in December, last year, demanded that
international human rights organizations put pressure on India for
immediate DNA tests of those buried in these graves.
Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, January 18
said, Total number of such graves in Jammu and Kashmir has
crossed 6000. State government shouldnt waste time and imme-
diately conduct DNA mapping of all those buried in these graves.
Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, local human
rights group, says there are 6217 unmarked graves in five districts
of state whereas State Human Rights Commission says 2165
such graves exist at 38 sites in north Kashmir.
Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement, January 12 said,
Discovery of more unmarked graves have put people, especially
those whose near and dear ones are missing, in a deeper dilem-
ma. Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League, January 12 urged
international community to probe the unmarked graves. Jamaat-e-
Islami Jammu and Kashmir, January 13, also demanded a thor-
ough probe into it.
Tension on the LoC
Tension escalated between two neighbouring countries, India and
Pakistan, with the recent skirmishes along Line of Control (LoC).
Tempers ran high, cross-LoC trade got suspended and flag-meet-
ing was held. The situation worsened after two Indian soldiers
were allegedly beheaded by Pakistani troops in Poonch district of
Jammu and Kashmir, January 8. Pakistan claimed that its soldier
was killed in alleged firing by Indian forces, January 6.
A flag meeting between brigade commanders of India and
Pakistan was held along LoC, January 14. This was the second
Brigade Commander-level flag meeting held during the last six
months. Cross-LoC trade was suspended at Chakan-da-Bagh in
Poonch, January 10 but Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service
(Karwan-e-Aman) plied normally, January 14.
Both separatists and mainstream politicians here reacted
sharply to the skirmishes. Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar
Farooq, January 18, said such situations will continue till the
Kashmir issue is resolved. War is no solution. New Delhi should
announce immediate demilitarization in Kashmir so that conducive
atmosphere is created for meaningful dialogue.
Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, in a statement
from New Delhi, January 9, commented in future a small incident
may add fuel to fire and create disaster beyond our imagination.
National Conference spokesperson, Tanvir Sadiq, January 10,
described it as an attempt to derail the ongoing India-Pakistan
dialogue process. Mufti Muhammad Sayed, patron PDP, January
10, said, Ceasefire is mother of all CBMs. No progress was pos-
sible on other fronts if borders remained tense.
Gunmen kill sarpanch
Unidentified gunmen shot dead a sarpanch in north Kashmirs
Sopore, taking the number of such killings to five in the past under
two years. A lady panch was injured in another incident.
Habibullah Mir, 50, sarpanch of Gooripora village-Boomai,
Sopore was shot at from point-blank range, January 11. A day
later, unidentified gunmen shot at and injured a woman panch,
Zooni Begum at Hardshiva village in Sopore.
In another incident January 16, villagers alleged that Nasir
Ahmed Dar, 22, alias Novroz from Zalpora in Sumbal-Sonawari
was allegedly killed by a local sarpanch and later found dead on
the outskirts of Sumbal. Dar was accused of theft in the
sarpanchs house. Cutting across party lines, mainstream politi-
cians termed the killing as an inhuman act and a direct attack on
democracy. Days after the killing, scores of panchayat represen-
tatives tendered their resignations.
DGP Ashok Prasad, January 18 said police was analyzing the
threat-perception to panchayat members at different levels. He
ruled out the possibility of providing individual security to more
than 33,000 panchayat members. Police investigations in past
have pointed the direct hand of militant in the killings of grassroot
representatives.
About six sarpanchs and panchs have been killed and sever-
al others injured in separate attacks across the state since pan-
chayat elections in 2011. State government however, maintains
that it hasnt accepted any resignation.
Preparations for 2014 elections
A major reshuffle announced recently by Chief Minister Omar
Abdullah is seen as a step with an eye on 2014 Assembly elec-
tions. The chief minister January 15 inducted 10 legislators, seven
from National Conference and three from Congress, into his coun-
cil of ministers. The reshuffle is being viewed by political pundits
as Omars tactical move to have direct control over party affairs
and consolidate winnable seats with an eye on the coming
Assembly polls, next year. It is also observed that Omar may be
mulling pre-poning of Assembly polls in state, which are sched-
uled for December 2014.
Political observers further see the move as a replica of
famous Kamaraj Plan, a political plan formulated in 1963 by sen-
ior Congress leader K Kamaraj as third time Chief Minister of Tamil
Nadu. He proposed all senior Congress leaders should resign from
their ministerial posts and devote all their energy to re-vitalize the
Congress. The plan had the support of then Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru.
7 out of 10 subscriptions are through WORD OF MOUTH
You know we dont have the resources to advertise & promote ourselves, so
please ask your friends to get their copy now
THE MILLI GAZETTE
First English Newspaper of Indian Muslims. Telling the Muslim side of the story fortnight after fortnight since January 2000
More unmarked graves discovered in the Valley
Refugees still suffer in J&K
A major political controversy is looming large over the govern-
ment, on the issue of granting Permanent Resident Certificates
(PRCs) to West Pakistan refugees. Government has however,
made it clear that it has no plans to bring any constitutional
amendment in this regard.
Anybody was free to introduce a Bill in the legislature in this
regard, but government has no plans to do it on its own, said
Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar,
January 14. Sagar added granting PRCs to West Pakistan
refugees doesnt come under the ambit of Constitution of
Jammu and Kashmir as they arent residents of the state. It is an
issue that comes under the purview of Government of India.
Two senior Congress leaders, Sham Lal Sharma and Raman
Bhalla, January 6, reiterated that the state government will bring
an amendment in the constitution during the upcoming session
of state legislature to grant PRCs to West Pakistan refugees.
They had also stated that the matter is under active considera-
tion of the state government. Refugees from West Pakistan are
reportedly using about 50,000 kanals of state land and 4745
families are settled in various districts of Jammu division in the
aftermath of 1947 partition.
Hurriyat (G) led by Syed Ali Geelani has said that itll oppose
the move as the same is aimed to assault the special status of
state. If government passes the Bill, Hurriyat (G) would
announce a strong agitation, said the spokesperson of the con-
glomerate, January 10.
Terming the bill as a conspiratorial move and a direct attack
on the unique ethnic character of the state, Kashmir Centre for
Social and Developmental Studies, a civil society group, here
January 12 said that special status to the state has been sancti-
fied by state constitution and protected by article 370 of Indian
constitution. The Centre called upon all political parties to clear
their stand on the bill.
The move aims at changing the demographic complexion
and Muslim majority status of state. It reflects an ominous strat-
egy and a long-drawn conspiracy of the Congress to turn
Jammu and Kashmir into a non-Muslim state, said advocate
Mir Mohammad Shafi, general secretary, Awami National
Conference, January 14.
10 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 NATIONAL www.milligazette.com
BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
Raipur/Chhattisgarh: Taar Mohammed (73)
could have never thought even in his wildest
dreams that following the death of him and his
wife (who died just five months after him), their
family would be forbidden by a prominent
Muslim sect from visiting the communitys bur-
ial grounds or worse be cited as kafir by a
lawyer during the hearing in the Chhattisgarh
High Court.
The only reason for their dead bodies being
shabbily treated was their reported belief in the
Deobandi school of thought. And the
Rajnandgaon administration whose role should
have been to amicably settle the needless dis-
pute or deal sternly to ensure justice, remained a
mere spectator.
On August 2, 2012, a resident of
Rajnandgaon Taar Mohammed died after pro-
long illness. He was denied burial in his home-
town and his body had to be taken for burial
some 50 km away under police security.
Its shocking and a matter of shame when
the so-called Muslim Mazhab ke Theekedar
blatantly made mockery not just of the
Constitution of India but acted in utter violation of
human rights and dignity, said Advocate
Mohammed Waseem Khan who made all prepa-
rations to move the High Court but reportedly
had to withdraw after he was threatened by
those who were opposed to the Deobandi sect.
Those in influential positions refused to help the
family which was given such shoddy treatment.
So I was left with little option except to withdraw.
Really very sad to find I am helpless, Khan said.
In Chhattisgarh, the Muslim community
remains divided into two sects: Barelvi and
Deoband and in several districts of the state their
places of worship usually are not the same.
On January 1, this year Taar Mohammeds
64-year-old wife Zubaida Begum breathed her
last. Again, the family was denied any space in
the Muslim graveyard and was threatened with
dire consequences if they attempted to bring the
elderly ladys body to the graveyard. The family
this time with some local support took courage
to fight for their rights. Her aggrieved son
Hashim Memon knocked at the doors of the dis-
trict authorities but owing to the political influ-
ence of the Barelvi sect in the state, the authori-
ties again proved of no help.
Aggrieved Memon decided to leave his
mothers body at home and file an urgent peti-
tion in Bilaspur-based high court seeking justice.
All I wished was a space in the Muslim grave-
yard for my mother, Hashim said as tears rolled
down his cheeks. According to Memon, their
family had to face strong opposition from the
chairman of the Gole Bazar mosque in
Rajnandgaon Javed Ansari and the so-called
caretaker or Mutawalli, Haji Shafeeq. The duo
were often found in conflict with anyone they
believed are Deobandis and even prevented
Deobandis from entering the mosque for prayer.
The body of Zubaida Memon was kept for
over two days at home. The Chhattisgarh court,
listening to both the applicant and the respon-
dents offerred a big relief. It ordered the immedi-
ate burial of the elderly woman on January 3,
while directing the state administration and other
respondents to ensure that the law and order is
maintained in the region as tension kept mount-
ing across the city. Ansari and Shafeeq stated
that they didnt allow the burial as the graveyard
was allotted to the followers of Barelvi sect.
A single bench of Justice Satish
Agnihotri during the urgent hearing found in the
state revenue record that the graveyard has been
given for the purpose of burial of the deceased
persons belonging to the Muslim (Sunni) com-
munity. As per the record it was never meant for
any particular sect (Barelvi or Deobandi) of
Muslim, the court observed.
The state government had earmarked 7.10
acres of land long ago for purpose of burial of
the deceased persons of Muslim community,
said Prakash Tiwari, the counsel for Hashim.
The body was laid to rest late evening
after the court order. Even during the burial the
Barelvis didnt allow more than 15 people of
Hashim family and friends to enter the qabristan
and prevented them from performing Janaza
prayer at the designated place in the graveyard.
It was really disgraceful and atrocious, said
Faz-lur-Rahman an Islamic scholar in Raipur.
Strangely enough, during the hearing counsel
Prateek Sharma, who appeared on behalf of
Shafeeq and Javed Ansari, reportedly referred to
the deceased and her family as kafirs (non-
believers) in the court. Sharma is also associat-
ed with Chhattisgarh Wakf Board which was one
of the respondents against Hashim.
The state wakf board headed by its
Chairman Salim Ashrafi deliberately played a
biased and suspicious role in the entire issue.
Despite my repeated plea, he didnt respond. So
we made the wakf board also a party in the
case, said Prakash Tiwai adding that the court
has given interim relief now and has given two
weeks time for the other party to respond.
In Barelvi-Deobandi tussle, elderly woman denied burial
Body of Zubaida being buried after high court order
Notwithstanding noise made about the secular agenda of the
Congress party and the hype raised about some of its leaders
blaming saffron brigade for several terrorist incidents, let us
accept it, these are empty rhetoric. They have been probably
deliberately aired with an eye on 2014 parliamentary elections.
The Congress is going overboard in convincing Indian public
about its secular agenda, rather the secular image held by its
new vice-president, that is Rahul Gandhi. But should these be
regarded as sufficient to help Rahul play a bigger role on the
Indian political stage?
Undeniably, Sonia Gandhi is probably most bothered at
present about Rahuls political future. To date, she has played
her cards deftly, from introducing him into politics, ensuring his
entry into Parliament and assuring his being accepted as an
important political entity by members of the Congress party.
Sonia herself is held as the most powerful politician, who heads
Congress and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Elected
for the 4th term in 2010, Sonia has become the longest serving
president of the Congress in the partys 125-year old history.
Rahul has been elevated to the post of the partys vice-presi-
dent for the first time earlier this month. The decision was
taken at the partys brain-storming session held at Jaipur
(Rajasthan).
Without doubt, the primary agenda of Jaipur session was
to promote Rahul as the partys key leader ahead of 2014 par-
liamentary elections. While the Congress has not officially
declared him as its prime ministerial candidate, the party has
certainly been setting the stage for Rahul in this direction. His
appointment as vice-president is equivalent to formally elevat-
ing him to this stature. Now, within the Congress, he is number
two and his mom is number one. Rahul is answerable only to
his mother in the party. Besides, though this has been in the
news for quite sometime, that Rahul will lead the party during
2014 elections, his elevation further confirms it.
Yet, certain hard realities cannot be missed. So far,
Rahuls political potential has been acknowledged and also
promoted by his own party. Rahul has no spectacular record to
his credit of being hailed for having succeeded in turning the
political tide significantly in his partys favour. This is marked
by the Congress having failed to win assembly elections in sev-
eral states, particularly Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar and Gujarat.
There is no denying that Indian voters give greater importance
to national parties in parliamentary elections. In assembly
elections they opt for their local leaders or regional parties. The
latter point is proved by regional leaders victory in assembly
elections held in UP, Bihar and Gujarat. It was not simply BJPs
victory in Gujarat, but that of Narendra Modi. Likewise,
Mayawati, former UP chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party
(BSP) leader, was pushed out of power not by a national party
but by a regional rival, that is Samajwadi Party (SP). Similarly,
Lalu Prasads failure to secure a comeback for his party
(Rashtriya Janata Party) in Bihar rests on stronger command
held by his regional rival, that is Nitish Kumar, who is state
chief minister and leader of Janata Dal-United.
Ironically, during their previous electoral campaigns, both
Sonia and Rahul have given impression of banking largely on
only Congress and not on reaching strategic agreements with
regional allies. It may be noted, states where regional parties
have emerged strongly have also witnessed weakening of the
Congress party. Equally noteworthy is the fact that Congress
has not succeeded in enhancing the importance of its regional
leaders. However hard Sonia and Rahul may try, it is practical-
ly impossible for them to campaign actively in all parliamentary
constituencies by frequently visiting them and addressing ral-
lies there repeatedly. Even if they address a different con-
stituency everyday, they will not be able to frequently visit each
of the 500+ parliamentary constituencies in a years time. This
reality demands giving greater importance to regional party
leaders, allowing them to emerge as local leaders so that they
campaign actively in convincing voters about the partys goals,
including its secular agenda.
The Congress has all the right to promote the national
appeal of Rahul Gandhi. Yet, this may remain confined to past-
ing his photos on hoardings, posters and elsewhere till the
partys regional members and supporters are activated to pro-
mote the partys agenda. Sonia may rest assured about Rahul
having gained a firm foothold within the party. Rahul has a
commanding position but not yet as commanding as that of
Sonia. Sonia is caught at a strange cross-roads of politics. She
is keen on a bigger political role for Rahul. But this isnt possi-
ble till party succeeds in a big way in 2014 elections by ensur-
ing stronger support from Congress members as well as its
allies. And this places a challenging dilemma before Sonia on
how to expand Rahuls appeal across the country without bank-
ing on just secular-rhetoric. This, as mentioned earlier, is
impossible without planning the partys campaign strategically,
enhancing its importance down to grassroots, ensuring active
involvement of party members and supporters.
Speaki ng Out
Rahuls Political Future:
A Challenge For Sonia?
NI LOFAR SUHRAWARDY
AG KHAN
Indore / Ujjain: With three mega events organ-
ised in quick succession within three months,
there should be no doubt that RSS is preparing
the ground for 2014 - one year in advance.
Needless to say that it is fully confident of BJP
doing a hat-trick in the December 2013 assem-
bly polls.
While November 2012 witnessed an ambi-
tious project worth Rs 250 crores, linking river
Narmada with Kshipra (both being highly revered
rivers), December 2012 saw an all India tribal
conclave of 3000 delegates from all parts of the
country. The organisation wants its mission to
reach every nook and corner of the country. The
mega-event of inviting 1.5 lakh swayamsevaks
from 15 districts of Malwa region for a regional
convention is to motivate cadres for future mis-
sion. The November programme was addressed
by L.K. Advani who was all praise for Shivraj
Singh Chouhans sushasan (good governance).
The latter programmes were addressed by RSS
chief (sarsanghchalak) Mohan Bhagwat.
It seems that the Sangh wants to promote
Shivraj Singh as the prospective P.M. candidate
if NDA allies refuse to accept Modi. The soft
spoken C.M. of M.P. may not be popular with
aggressive proponents of Hindutva but is more
likely to be acceptable to BJPs allies like JD (U).
With half a dozen national and equal number of
international awards to his credit, Shivraj Singh
is extremely popular among BJP leaders.
Sanghs first preference, of course, will be
Narendra Modi but in the absence of any con-
sensus among NDA constituents, Chouhan shall
be the spare wheel in the BJPs chariot. Since
Gadkari, an RSS nominee, will be a liability dur-
ing the crucial election campaign, the Sangh
may nominate Shivraj to lead the poll campaign.
Thus, in Chouhan, Sangh finds a two-in-one.
In a demonstration of its organisational
skills, November 2012 also witnessed marathon
processions of cadres on the occasion of
Dassehra (Vijaya Dashmi) synchronised in 26
cities of the state. Under the dharna jagaran proj-
ect, 2485 villages of tribal districts of Dhar-
Jhabua, every Hindu family was contacted. In
each village a Hanuman temple was built. During
the last few years, Hanuman jayanti is observed
with more enthusiasm than Ram Navmi or other
festivals. A Hindu sangam of 2.5 lakh tribals was
organised in Jhabua district - the home district of
state Congress president Kantilal Bhuria. BJP is
determined to give Bhuria a humiliating defeat in
his citadel.
Expansion of Sangh shakhas has been going
on continuously for several months. Other
Sangh-affiliated organisations too have been
asked to intensify their expansion activities. The
6 January programme at Vivekanand Nagar on a
120-acre ground was publicised not only within
the country but also in 53 other countries.
With such inroads in each village, the saf-
fron organisation has a net work of lakhs of
active workers who work with a sense of dedica-
tion round the clock, throughout the year. If Sunil
Joshi could mobilise a team of diehards, credit
should go to the untiring efforts each pracharak
is enjoined to demonstrate.
NIA is reported to have closely monitored
the entire field trying to locate the absconders of
bomb blasts undertaken by saffron terrorists. In
the largest operation by the NIA so far, two hun-
dred persons were deployed to find clues at 61
spots including Hatod, Depalpur, Dewas and
Bengali Square.
Sanghs first preference, of course, will be Narendra Modi but in the absence of any consensus
among NDA constituents, Chouhan shall be the spare wheel in the BJPs chariot. Since Gadkari, an
RSS nominee, will be a liability during the crucial election campaign, the Sangh may nominate
Shivraj to lead the poll campaign. Thus, in Chouhan, Sangh finds a two-in-one.
ANALYSIS The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 11 www.milligazette.com
RSS Mission 2014
Jingoistic TV anchors
building war hysteria
no less condemnable
SHUBHRA SHARMA
The escalation of tension along the Line of Control (LoC) has
transformed the nature of discourse across the nation. Issues like
corruption, rising prices and women safety have suddenly reced-
ed to the background and anti-Pakistan frenzy is being whipped
up at various forums. A virtual war with our recalcitrant neigh-
bour is on, especially in TV studios.
The lead is taken by a TV news channel which is daily pitting
some retired Army generals, senior officers and so-called
defence analysts from both sides of the divide against each other
and they pride in spewing venom against their enemy country.
The jingoist tone of the anchor who says its now time to
give a bloody nose to Pakistan and slams the peaceniks is no
less condemnable. The irrationality of these war cries is being
matched by politicians of all hues who are making a beeline to
the house of the martyred Lance Naik Hemraj Singh in Mathura.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj
vents the national aggression best when she says, If his
(Hemrajs) head could not be brought back, we should get at
least 10 heads from their side. She went on to say: The ques-
tion is will we sit without any reaction and engage in a dialogue?
This should not happen. At least the Government should react in
some way. That is why we have said the Government should take
some tough measures.
A mild balm was applied to these war-mongering sentiments
by Army Chief Gen Bikram Singhs warning to Pakistan when he
said in his press conference on the eve of the Army Day that India
reserves the right to retaliate at the time and place of its choos-
ing. Talking tough over the January 8 incident in Mendhar area of
J&K, he said the beheading was unacceptable and most
unpardonable and the troops would respond immediately,
aggressively and offensively if provoked.
Of course, the jingoists missed the sub-text in Army Chiefs
statement that these incidents were localised to certain area
and the ceasefire with Pakistan on the LoC still holds. They also
overlooked the irony of the situation as the Pakistani hockey play-
ers are in our country (according to latest reports they have been
sent back) to take part in the Hockey India League and their
women cricket team is scheduled to land here on January 26 to
participate in the Womens World Cup.
Or may be, these are not relevant enough for them because
as Rajnath Singh, another senior leader of the BJP, put it, All
cricket and Bollywood diplomacy should stop. Fine! Should we
then pound Pakistan? They themselves know pretty well that war
is not, and has never been, the solution to any problem.
No doubt, the Mendhar incident is the most reprehensible
and barbaric and the nation wont like to pass it unanswered, but
the consequences of a war are no less draconian and no sensi-
ble country would like to thrust a war upon itself.
(merinews.com)
Draconian IT Act in
need of amendment
AALIYA KHAN
With all respect, every day, thousands of people die, but the
world moves on. Just due to one politician dying a natural death,
everyone just gone bonkers. They should know, we are resilient
by force, not by choice. When was the last time anyone showed
some respect or even a two-minute silence for Shaheed Bhagat
Singh, Azad, Sukhdev or any of the people because of whom we
are free Indians? Respect is earned, given, and definitely not
forced. Today, Mumbai shuts down due to fear, not due to
respect, wrote Shaheen, a 21-year-old student from Palghar,
Thane, on her Facebook page. Within minutes she got a call from
Shiv Sainiks to remove the post and hours later she was arrest-
ed by the police under the IT Act while her uncles hospital was
vandalised and equipment worth crores therein were destroyed.
Sainiks were seen on news channels telling reporters that had
she begged forgiveness before a photograph of Thackrey, they
would have spared her. An inspection of the IT Act, 2000 reveals
legal loopholes, like Section 66A of the Act that got Shaheen and
her friend Rini who liked what her friend wrote, in jail.
According to Pavan Duggal, cyber law expert and advocate
at Supreme Court of India, primarily section 66A is for protecting
reputation and preventing misuse of its own.
It is so vast.[it] gives a tremendous handle in the hands
of the complainant and the police to target anyone. Further, if you
send any information through email or sms, which aims to mis-
lead the addressee, such mail or message is a crime. All this
suddenly opens a Pandoras box of offences, he said.
Snehashish Ghosh of the Centre for Internet and Society,
holds the borrowed language used in Section 66A from Section
127 of the UK Communication Act, 2003 and the Malicious
Communications Act, 1988 as the flaw in the Act. These two
particular provisions are applicable in cases where the commu-
nication is directed to a particular person. Section 1 of the
Malicious Prosecution Act begins with any person who sends to
another person and hence it is clear that the provision does not
include any post or electronic communication which is broad-
casted to the world but it deals with only one-to-one communi-
cation, said Ghosh.
Section 127 deals with improper use of public electronic
communications network. It was meant to prevent misuse of
public communication services. Therefore, social media and
websites do not fall under its ambit. However, Section 66A in
its current form fails to define any specific category and this
has led to inconsistent and arbitrary use of the provision,
Ghosh added.
In the case of 66A, interpreting it to include any form of
communication transmitted using computer resource or commu-
nication device renders it to be absurd and arbitrary. Therefore, it
should be interpreted and made applicable only to communica-
tions between two parties, he concluded.
HAMDARD DAWAKHANA, well-known for
preparing Unani medicines has been selected by
All India Unani Tibbi Congress for being hon-
oured with Masihul Mulk Hakim Ajmal Khan
Award. On behalf of Hamdard this Award will be
given to and accepted by Hamdards Director
Hamid Ahmad. Ehtasham Quraishi, former
Principal of Lucknows Takmeel-e Tibb College
has also been selected along with many others
this year, for World Unani Medicines Day
awards. He (EHTASHAM QURAISHI) has been
honoured with Allama Kabiruddin Award for
academic services. According to a release
issued by All India Unani Tibbi Congress, Hakim
Ajmal Khan Award is being given to Hamdard for
preparing standard and comparatively cheaper
Unani medicines and protecting the rights of
consumers. Others being honoured on this
years World Unani Day Awards, according to
the release, are freedom fighter PADMAB-
HUSHAN HAKEEM SYED SHARFUDDIN
QADIRI (of Kolkata) with Nishan-e Tibb Award,
Abdul Lateef Mansoori (Jaipur) with Lifetime
Achievement Award; A.R. Khan (Jaipur), former
IAS Officer with Mohsin-e Tibb Award; Prof.
QAMRUZZAMAN (Deoband) with Hakeem
Abdul Hameed Award for popularisation of unani
medicines; MUHAMMAD ARIF QURAISHI, jour-
nalist with
Dainik Bhaskar
(Ajmer) with
H a k e e m
Sayanat ul l ah
A m r o h v i
Award for
j our na l i s m.
These Awards
will be given to
the awardees
on the occa-
sion of World
U n a n i
Medicines Day
observed on 12 February 2013 at Ajmer at a
function to be chaired by NCMEI Chairman
Justice M. Suhail Ejaz Siddiqi.
MASOOM MURADABADI, journalist, litterateur,
editor of Urdu daily Jadeed Khabar and fort-
nightly Khabardar Jadeed has been honoured by
West Bengal Urdu Academy with Maulana
Abdur Razzaq Malihabadi Award for journalism
which consists of a cash prize of Rs. 20,000, a
shawl, memento and a certificate. He is also the
secretary of All India Urdu Editors Conference
and winner of Delhi and U.P. Urdu Academy
Awards.
Dr. S.M. KAZMI, a famous doctor in National
Heart Institute of East of Kailash, New Delhi was
honoured with Best Physician of Delhi Award
2012 by Time Research Media, Delhi in recog-
nition of his excellent medical services. The
Award was presented to him at a function held
in Delhis Taj Palace Hotel.
Prof. ABDUL ALEEM of AMUs Department of
Hindi and Prof. FARZANA ALEEM, former Dean
of AMUs Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and
presently professor in the Department of Home
Science were honoured with Awards by AMU
Alumni Association at Bahrain. The awards were
given to them by Dr. Ashfaque Ahmad, Vice
Principal of Indian School at Bahrain on behalf of
the Association at a function held at AMU
Aligarh on 15 January.
SHAHJAHANABAD SOCIETY of sector 11 of
Dwarka locality of Delhi was honoured by
Delhi Cooperative Housing Finance
Corporation with First Prize for promoting
greenery in a competition held in the field of
greenery. This prize carries a cash award of
Rs. 50,000 and a Cer tificate. President of
Shahjahanabad Society is M.A. Haq who is
also its founder as well as oldest member and
Trustee of India Islamic Cultural Centre, New
Delhi
AWARDS
MOLVI HUSAIN HAJI
IBRAHIM UMARJI,
the cleric and social
worker who was
arrested and jailed as
the mastermind of
Godhra train fire in
2002 under a conspir-
acy by communalists, media and Gujarat
government but who was subsequently
acquitted, died of brain haemorrhage on
13 January at his residence in Godhra at
the age of about 72 years. It is a pity that
the man who set up three camps in
Godhra for accommodating and providing
relief to the hounded Muslims during the
genocidal riots of Gujarat of 2002 was
described as the mastermind by police,
media and others, of Sabarmati Express
train fire. Media in screaming headlines
described him as Pakistani agent who
was also in contact with Afghanistans
Mulla Umar, anti-national and so on.
When he was presented in court along
with 94 accused persons, the man or
rather the criminal who had falsely
accused him of his role in train burning
case, retracted from his earlier statement
in the court. All this provoked his son to
say that if this is the reward for doing
social work and helping the people in dis-
tress, God save this country. He was head
of the Ghanchi community (the communi-
ty to which Narendra Modi also belongs)
of Godhra. He was also associated with
Jamiatul Ulama and Deoband. JU leaders
Maulana Qari Usman Mansoorpuri and
Maulana Mahmood Madni expressed their
deep sorrow over his death.
Prof. KABIR AHMAD JAA-ESI, former
Director of AMUs Department of Islamic
Studies died in this Universitys JN Medial
College on 7 January at the age of 76
years. He was also well versed in Persian
language and literature and was also an
editor of AMUs magazine Tahzibul
Akhlaque. He leaves behind four sons and
two daughters. He belonged to Jaa-es, (a
village in Rae Bareilly district of U.P.)
famous for being the birth place of Malik
Muhammad Jaa-esi. Author of about a
dozen books including Founder of Tajik lit-
erature, Modern Tajik poets, Irani
Mysticism, Nuqoosh-e Fani etc. (all in
Urdu), he was honoured with many Indian
and foreign awards like U.P. Urdu
Academy Award, Soviet Land Nehru
Award, Pakisatns Naqoosh Award,
Presidents Award etc. After retirement
from AMU he devoted himself to research
and writing on Irans Persian literature.
Hakeem MAZHAR
SUBHAN USMANI, a
noted unani physician
of Delhi died on 15
January at the age of
80 years. He was
President of the
Deparatment of
Medicines and Treatment in Ayurvedic
and Unani Tibbi College, Qarwal Bagh
(Delhi University). Ideologically being
close to BJP, during AB Vajpayees prime
ministership he was made Vice Chairman
of National Minorities Commission. He is
survived by his wife, one son and four
daughters. His namaz-e janaza was
offered at his residence in Qarwal Bagh
and laid to rest at Delhi Gate graveyard on
6th.
SYED MUHAMMAD
SAABIR MUJADDIDI,
City Qazi of Agra died
in this city on 16
January at the age of
83 years. A science
graduate and an
author of five books
including Islam mein Nikah wa Talaq, Agra
mein Nikahkhwani ka Nizam, he set up
Madrasa Afzalul Uloom in Taj Ganj includ-
ing Shahi Masjid, library and dispensary
etc. and improved the system of Nikah
khwani. He also did a good job in intro-
ducing Islam among non-Muslims.
SAEEDUL HASAN
NAQVI, noted journal-
ist and economist of
Kanpur died in this
city on 15 January
after a protracted ill-
ness at the age of 79
years. He was a well-
known Urdu, Hindi and English journalist
and was President of Kanpur Press Club
for 15 years. He was associated with
many newspapers like Qaumi Awaz,
Jagran (Hindi), Siyasat, Patriot and Blitz
(both English), Aaj (Hindi). His speeches
were also broadcast from AIR and BBC
(London) regularly. He is survived by his
wife.
HAJI MUHAMMAD NAZEER MASTER,
probably the last Muslim freedom fighter
died of old age in Mumbai on 13 January
at the age of 96 years. A tailor by profes-
sion and hailing from a village in
Azamgarh district, he was sent to jail
along with other contemporary freedom
fighters because as a tailor he used to
stitch tri-colour national flags. He leaves
behind a very large family of about 60
persons including his widow, sons,
daughters, grand and great-grand sons,
daughters etc. Maharashtras minister Arif
Naseem Khan and S.P. leader Abu Asim
Azmi paid tributes to him.
PADMABHUSHAN
Prof. MEHDI HASAN,
dean of AMUs Faculty
of Medicine and former
Principal of Medical
College, head of
Department of
Anatomy and also dean
of Students Welfare died in a Lucknow hos-
pital on 12 January at the age of 76 years.
He was a famous physician also. Last year
(2012) he was honoured by Indian govern-
ment with Padmabhushan Award. He hailed
from UPs Akbarpur (now Ambedkar Nagar)
town.
MUHAMMAD AHMAD BAQA SIDDIQI,
poet, lawyer / advocate died in Amroha on 9
January. He set up Jannat Nishan School in
Amroha for the promotion of education
among Muslims at a time when there were
very few Muslim schools in the city. He
composed thousands of hamds, naats and
other genre of poetry but never got them
published because he used to say that
money spent on their publication can be
used for helping poor people. Such was the
pain of poor people in his heart. He leaves
behind two daughters and three sons. He
was about 70.
CAPTAIN SHAH RUKH SHAMSHAD, a retired
officer of Indian Air Force has been appointed
Registrar of AMU for 5 years by AMUs Vice
Chancellor Lt. Gen (Retd.) Zamiruddin Shah on
the recommendations of General Selection
Committee. He served in IAF in different capac-
ities like Coordinator of National Defence
College, New Delhi where he played an important role in training
central government officers of Jt. Secretary rank and arranged
many Indian and foreign shooting championships. He himself is
a shooter of national level and has won many medals.
Ms. HALIMA YAQOOB, a Muslim of Indian origin who was a
lawyer by profession became the first woman Speaker of
Singapurs Parliament on 14 January. Before becoming Speaker
she was Singapurs minister of state for social development and
family welfare. She is 58 and an M.P. of Peoples Action Party,
ruling party of Singapur.
MUHAMMAD WAZIR ANSARI, IPS officer who is presently
Asstt. Director General of Police in Chhattisgarh has been
appointed full time secretary of Maulana Azad Education
Foundation by K. Rahman Khan, union minister for minorities
affairs in place of Ali Ahmad Khan who as secretary of Central
Waqf Council was holding additional charge of Foundations
secretary.
Prof. SHAHNAZ ANJUM was appointed Head of Urdu
Department of Jamia Millia Islamia on 15 January after the com-
pletion of term and retirement of Prof. Khalid Mahmood on 14
January at the age of 65 years. Though senior to Prof. Khalid
Mahmood, Prof. Shahnaz Anjum was denied the post of Head of
Urdu Department to which now she is appointed.
ABDUS SAMAD has been appointed Commissioner of Meerut
Nagar Nigam after the transfer of his predecessor Rajkumar
Suchan Hari.
S.S. ALAM, Chairman of Sulat Public Library, Rampur was
unanimously elected chairman of this Library for 5 years for the
second time.
MEN & WOMEN IN NEWS
OBITUARIES
Its indeed sad to read a Pakistani film journalist and researchers
article in Nawa-e-Waqt, how the Hindi music industry actually
conspired against Madan Mohan and Muhammad Rafi. Between
1964-1972, Madan Mohan composed 10 odd songs and Rafi
sang all those numbers. But the movies never hit the marquee.
Its said that Rafis Kaise Kategi Zindagi Tere Baghair (lyricist:
Raza Mehndi Ali Khan, 1964, unreleased) is not just Madan
Mohans best composition, its also the most beautiful number
ever to have been recorded in India (Iqbal Masud and Archisman
Banerjee, Amrita Bazar Patrika). Har sapna ek din toote (lyricist:
unknown, 1965) and Qadmon mein tere e sanam (lyricist: Prem
Dhawan, 1967) are the songs that are not mentioned in Madan
Mohans compositions and in Rafis innumerable songs. Its now
an open secret, that Sachin Dev Burman disliked Madan Mohan,
Roshan Lal Nagrath and Chitragupt.
Though his (Burman Sr.) genius cannot be questioned, the
fact remains that he never acknowledged anyone else. The sen-
ior Burman would often call Ravishankar Sharma (Ravi) a mere
arranger rather than a composer. In the fifties and sixties, there
were two manipulative composers: Sachin Dev Burman and
Naushad Ali. These two stalwarts never wanted anyone else to
compose music and also hated each other (Mehrab Hussain,
Star and Style, 1980). When Raza Mehndi Ali Khan and Madan
Mohan had a very fine tuning with songs like, Main nighaein tere
chehre se hataoon kaise (Aapki Parchhaaiyaan, Rafi, 1965),
Aapke pahloo mein aa kar ro diye (Mera Saya, 1966) and the
immortal Ek haseen shaam ko dil mera kho gaya (Dulhan ek raat
ki, 1968), Sachin Dev Burman accused Madan Mohan of lifting
the tunes from Chopin. But he could never prove that. In fact,
Sachin Dev Burman himself plagiarised his tune from a lesser
known Russian composer for the song Tu kahaan ye bata, is
nasheeli raat mein (Tere ghar ke saamne, 1963).
Though a master composer, senior Burman was also a mild pla-
giarist (to borrow music critic Shymal Senguptas phrase for Sachin
Dev). Sachin Dev Burman wanted to compose the music for Chetan
Anands Hanste Zakhm (1974)
and subtly suggested that since
Rafi was on the wane, Kishore
Kumar, with his recent success in
Rajesh Khannas films, would do
justice to the songs. Both were
Bengalis and there was a very
strong and vicious Bengali lobby
active in those days. Chetan gave
the work to his trusted team of
Kaifi Azmi, Madan Mohan and
who else, Rafi. Rafi sang that
deathless number, Tum jo mil
gaye ho. Its said that had this
number been sung by Kishore,
hed have massacred it.
Its indeed a pity that Madan
Mohan hasnt been acknowledged the way Burman Sr. and his
utterly useless plagiarist son R D have been hailed by the music
industry. And because of their lobby and influence, many songs
composed by Madan Mohan and soulfully sung by Rafi are hard-
ly found. Theyre lost forever.
But what have we done to restore those rare songs from
unreleased movies when theres no such malicious influence as
both the Burmans have gone forever?
SUMIT PAUL
Muhammad Rafi & Madan Mohan: Two forgotten greats
12 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 NEWSMAKERS www.milligazette.com
Mohammad Rafi Madan Mohan
WPI Holds Press Conference on Saffron Terror
SPECIAL REPORT The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 13 www.milligazette.com
New Delhi: The Welfare Party of India held here
on 23 January a press conference at the Delhi
Press Club. Party Vice Presidents Dr Zafarul-
Islam Khan and Maulana Abdul Wahab Khilji,
General Secretary Dr SQR Ilyas and Secretary Dr
Taslim Rahmani addressed the press conference
and stressed that while the party welcomes Mr
Sushil Shinde, Union Home Ministers statement
regarding the saffron terror, it remains to be seen
if the Union government will show seriousness
in prosecuting and arresting dozens of known
saffron terrorists and their financiers and sympa-
thisers. Much is known about this network since
2008 when it was exposed by the then
Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare. If no
serious action follows, people will be con-
strained to take it as an electoral gimmick. WPI
leaders demanded the release of the Muslim
youths incarcerated in cases which are now
conclusively held to be part of the saffron terror.
They also demanded reasonable compesnation
to all those falsely accused who were acquitted
by courts after years of unjust incarceration.
Following is the press release issued on the
occasion:
New Delhi, 23 January, 2013: The Welfare
Par ty of India takes serious note of the state-
ment made by Union Home Minister Mr Sushil
Kumar Shinde at the Jaipur chintan shivir of
the Indian National Congress that Sangh
Parivar outfits were committing terrorism while
putting the blame on minorities. Mr Shindes
statement and his specific reference to the
Samjhauta Express, Mecca Masjid and
Malegaon blasts has been fur ther corroborated
by the Union Home Secretary Mr R.K. Singh
while interacting with journalists in New Delhi
on 22 January.
The disclosures made by a senior Union
Minister and the top bureaucrat of the Union
Home Department surprised none as human
rights groups, minority organizations and many
political parties including the Left have been
drawing the attention of the Union government
for long to the false flag Hindutva terrorism
which became crystal clear after the confession-
al statement of Swami Aseemanand who is cur-
rently under judicial custody in the Mecca Masjid
blast case. What Mr. Shinde said is nothing more
than the gist of the findings of the Maharashtra
Anti-Terrorism Squad in 2008 under the veteran
Police Officer Hemant Karkare, who was myste-
riously killed during the Mumbai terror attack.
What surprises many peace-loving, patriotic and
law-abiding citizens of the country is: why the
governments at the Centre and states are reluc-
tant in taking correct, logical and strict actions
against these elements even after so much infor-
mation is in the public domain and in court
records about these outfits terror activities. Why
top Hindutva brass like Indresh Kumar and
Praveen Togadia, mentioned in the Malegaon
and Ajmer chargesheets, have not been sum-
moned and questioned so far? Why searches
still not made at Bonsala Military School in Nasik
and Pune and Aakanksha Resort of Pune where
saffron terrorists in their thousands were trained
in making and exploding bombs? Why outfits
like Abhinav Bharat, Sanatan Sanstha, Ram
Sena, Hindu Vahini, Arya Sena and scores of
Sangh outfits mentioned by the accused have
not been touched?
Welfare Party of India express as its dis-
pleasure on the way Home minister announced
this serious National Security Issue in the party
shivir rather than convening an official press
conference at his office and strongly demands
the Union Government to constitute a high power
commission to probe all terror cases since BJP
came to power in states then at the Centre and
bring out a white paper about all terror incidents
and encounters in the recent past. Such a high-
level probe is necessary to uncover the details of
this terror network which was active in a very
clever way so as both victims and accused were
Muslims. Such a probe is also necessary in the
light of serious disclosures made by the accused
in the Malegaon blast to the CBI that Hindutva
terrorists including named RSS functionaries
had links with ISI, the Pakistani military spy
organisation, and received funds from it.
It is disappointing to note from the clarifi-
cations made by the party spokesman that the
Congress Party instead of demonstrating a sin-
cere and strong political will is succumbing to
the pressure tactics of the Sangh outfits and is
again resorting to the Soft Hindutva game it has
played since 1980s.
The Welfare Party wants to make it clear that
it is the lethargic and spineless stand of the cen-
tury-old grand party that gave the Hindutva
forces political space in the country. We hope
Mr. Shindes statement is not another political
gimmick to garner votes in the forthcoming
assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
The Welfare Party expresses its severe dis-
appointment that many innocent Muslim youths
had to languish in jails for years on trumped up
charges and on the basis of fake confessions
extracted through torture. It is right time to
revamp our inefficient and communalized Police
and investigating agencies with a view to detox-
ify them and purge them from the clutches of
biased personnel. The Welfare Party strongly
demands adequate compensation to all the
youths acquitted by courts after spending long
years behind bars, asks the government to issue
a public apology on behalf of the nation for the
injustices committed against these innocent vic-
tims and to set up fast track courts for those
who are still in jails, on the lines of courts con-
stituted to deal with sexual assault cases. And
before anything else, all Muslim youths still
incarcerated for terror crimes now attributed to
the Hindutva terrorists should be set free forth-
with.
Press conference attended by: Dr. Zafarul
Islam Khan, Vice President, Maulana Abdul
Wahab Khilji, Vice President, Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas,
General Secretary and Dr. Tasleem Rahmani,
Secretary.
Earlier on 14-15 January the Welfare Party
had held a two-day orientation programme for its
national and states leadership at Alwaye, Kerala
where a large range of issues facing the country
were discussed and resource persons delivered
talks. Later a one-day meeting of the Federal
Working Committee of the pary was held on
16 January at the same place.
Poor rendered
shelterless in Bangalore
The recent eviction drive which started on 18 January in
Koramangala, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quarters and
its related devastation manufactured under the garb of providing
better housing for the poor without any alternate arrangements is
a farce and tantamounts to denial of basic rights enshrined in
Article 21 of our Constitution.
During this drive, 1500 poor families were made homeless
without food, shelter, water and electricity. The cold weather
added to the trauma. With this displacement, about 2000 children
are denied their right to education and many of them may not be
in a position to appear even for the SSLC board exams, which are
round the corner. Finding houses on rent is a big challenge for
these poor people.
The land belonging to EWS has become a gold-mine since
Koramangala real estate picked up during the last few years.
Prices of this prime land have moved upward of 10,000 per sqft.
Under the pretext of helping them, they have been inhumanly
thrown to the footpath by using extreme force. Many protesting
against the demolition were sent to jail and cases have been filed
against them. Conspicuously, media coverage was very poor.
As part of a joint development agreement that the BBMP
entered into with Maverick Holdings and Investment, half of the
15.5 acres of the land will be used for the construction of 1,512
EWS apartments. The other half will be used by Maverick
Holdings to construct a mall. Eviction of residents for the project
has been stalled several times earlier with residents and rights
groups staging protests, alleging that it smacks of a land scam.
Right through the day and night many families are staying in
open space in a state of shock. The toilets and water connection
was the first to be taken out creating a crisis. At least 300 poor
families do not know where to go. They don't have enough means
to shift their belongings and scores do not have the money to pay
for the rental deposits. (More information contact Imtiyaj Kaji -
imtiyaj.kaji@gmail.com)
MG/Yusuf
Eviction Notice
to Temple in
Moscow,
India unhappy
We didnt move temples from even
Babri Masjid or Charminar...so how
can we let this happen here?
Zakat Foundation Chairman Dr Zafar Mahmood delivering a lecture on Sachar and
Post-Sachar at the Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat central office in Delhi on 25 January
(Left to right) Maulana Abdul Wahab Khilji, Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas, Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, Dr. Tasleem Rahmani
Lecture on Quran and Climate
Aligarh: Noted Islamic scholar and general secretary of Furqania
Academy, Bangalore, Maulana Aneesur Rahman Nadwi on
January 19 delivered a lecture on Climate Change in the light of
Quran and Hadith. The lecture was organized by AMUs K. A.
Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies.
Maulana Nadwi discussed the issues pertaining to climate
change, global warming, green house effect, rise in the sea level
etc. His lecture was based on prophecies made by the Holy Quran
and Hadith of Ibn Abbas regarding climate change, global warm-
ing, simile of earth with a green house effect and disintegration of
systems of land and ocean.
He mentioned that for the first time when some civilization
began, the sea level also began to rise at a measurable rate. It has
become an indicator to watch, a trend that could force human
migration of almost unimaginable dimension. It also raises ques-
tions about responsibility to other nations and to future genera-
tions that the humanity has faced earlier.
In his welcome address, Prof. Ahtisham A. Nizami, Director
K. A. Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies said that the learned
speaker Maulana Aneesur Rahman Nadwi did his graduation from
Nadvatul Ulama, Lucknow and then from Al-Azhar University,
Cairo. For the past 15 years, he has dedicated himself to the study
of religion and science.
Maulana Aneesur Rahman has authored several books in
English, Urdu and Arabic relating to earthquakes, solar eclipse and
climate change in the light of Quran and Hadith.As a software
engineer, he has developed a Quran database software and
English to Hindi text translator software and much more.
In his presidential remarks, Brigadier S. Ahmad Ali, Pro-Vice
Chancellor of AMU mentioned the Quranic prophesy about the
global warming. He urged to pay special attention to science. He
also shared his experiences after Tsunami disaster in Andaman
and Nicobar Islands as a military officer to rehabilitate the
Tsunami-affected population of that region.
Brigadier S. Ahamd Ali pointed out that several Muslim coun-
tries are paying more attention to preserving environment. He said
that the Grand Mufti of Egypt is considered as a Green Mufti and
Malaysia has banned mining in the country.
Sagar Navasarvi expired
Navsari: The group of three poets of Sagar, Raaz and Manzar
Navsarvi suffered its first casualty with the passing away of Sagar
Navsarvi on 31 December. Hailed as ghazal samrat of the region
Abdul Majeed Shaikh, Sagar Navsarvi, was born in 1935. He
began his career as a jailor but his poetic sensibilities were hurt by
the cruelties of jail. He began practising as a lawyer. He devoted
most of his time to poetry. In 1972 he got published avtaran
(ghazals) followed by yaad (1977), koi (1998). Ghazal-
Sahaj) was during 2001-2004 followed by Urdu ghazalas Nahin-
Nahin (2011). He also wrote a text on poetry of ghazal writing,
ghazal shastra entitled tab ghazal hoti hai (2012). He dominated
the poetry scene of Gujarat for the past 50 years. He is survived
by his wife Rabiya Bano who has been in a state of coma for one
month.
Karnataka refuses Muslim university
Mysore / Mangalore: The much hyped Muslim University project
in memory of Tipu Sultan has been turned down by the BJP gov-
ernment which is unwilling to provide land for the proposed
Muslim university which according to it will be breeding ground
for anti-national elements. An adamant K. Rahman Khan who
hails from the state is determined to establish it. The minister for
minority affairs hoped that this dream would come true.
A rare gesture of communal harmony
Vadodara: In a rare gesture of communal harmony a Muslim youth
lit the pyre of a Hindu lady whom he used to hold in high esteem
just like a mother. Nirmalaben Dhagde used to live in the
Nawabazar locality. The family had developed cordial relations
with the family of Ghulam Rasool Mansuri resident of Yakutpura.
Nirmalabens two sons used to play with Shakeel whom she
regarded as her third son. Shakeel too used to reciprocate her
affection for him. When the lady died at the age of 86 she
expressed her desire asking her real sons to allow Shakeel to light
her pyre. Shakeel, with tears welling in his eyes, performed all the
rituals as per Hindu traditions. The deceaseds wish was honoured
by her sons and grand sons who allowed Shakeel to perform the
rituals.
Most of poor Muslims in four states
New Delhi: According to National Sample Survey Organisation
(NSSO) the states which have been projecting themselves as pro-
minority (Muslims) are, paradoxically, those which top the list of
having maximum number of poor Muslims or in the BPL (Below
Poverty line) category. These state are Assam, UP, Bihar and West
Bengal. These four states comprise 60 percent of the countrys
Muslim population. Among the states which have the lowest per-
centage of poor Muslims (or of BPL category) are Tamil Nadu and
Karnataka, both of which are ruled by non-Congress govern-
ments. The third such state is Kerala which is ruled by Congress.
As per the figures based on NSSO estimates, which are also
stated in the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) documents, in villages
(rural areas) the number of poor Muslims is very high in Assam
(53.6%), U.P. (44.4%), West Bengal (34.4%) and Gujarat (31.4%).
Similarly, in cities or urban areas, the ratio of poor Muslims is high
in Bihar (56.5%), U.P. (49.5%), Gujarat (42.4%), West Bengal
(35%) and Rajasthan (29.5%). As regards the national average,
the poverty ratio at the all India level is highest for Muslims i.e.
33.9 (or 34%) among different religious groups.
Delhi Minority Commission tops in service to minorities
New Delhi: Sardar Pushpendar Singh, member of Delhi State
Minority Commission said here while meeting members of a del-
egation that a Commission, whichever it is, acts as a bridge
between people and government. Subsequently, while talking to
media persons he said that he takes pride in saying that Delhi
Minority Commission has done a laudable job from 2007 not only
in solving the problems and difficulties of minorities but also in
familiarising the common people with the governments various
schemes for their welfare. He said that Delhi Minority Commission
is a model and example for other commissions and people have
great expectations from it.
He said that as a result of Minority Commissions awareness
campaign thousands of children are benefiting from governments
schemes. About future plans of this Commission he said that in
the current year (2013) four mobile training centres will be opened
in Delhi because of which about 300 children will get opportuni-
ties of employment. These centres will be set up in Indralok, Jama
Masjid (area), Seelampur and Tilak Nagar. In addition to this, since
the Delhi government has banned the use of plastic / polythene
bags, training course for making jute bags will also be started
soon, because it could be an alternative to plastic bags.
He further said that today our Commission is running a six
months free computer training course in Mustafabad, Patel Nagar,
Okhla and Gharoli (in East Delhi) from which about 300 boys /
children are benefited. Regarding graveyards he said that because
of large population of Muslims in Delhi, need for graveyards is
being felt not only for them but for Christians also. Hence the
Commission, after dividing Delhi in different areas, would under-
take a survey to see how much land can be made available for this
purpose and how much their population is so that land for grave-
yards could be made available to them.
In reply to questions by some journalists, he said that for him
both Urdu and Punjabi are dear and respectable. For this also a
survey was being conducted by the Commission, adding that the
book A Step Forward was available in thousands all over the
country which gives detailed information about educational schol-
arships and welfare schemes of Delhi government, Indian govern-
ment, NGOs, corporate sector and banks etc. He said that infor-
mation about these can also be had from website www.minori-
ties.com.
Jamia Millias Urdu Department to translate Tagores works
New Delhi: Jamia Millia Islamia University and Union ministry of
Culture have jointly given a two-year translation project worth
Rs. 96 lakhs to the Universitys Urdu Department, to translate and
publish 10 books comprising poet Tagores important works and
writings on him including his selected poems, fiction, articles, dra-
mas, essays, important letters, travelogues etc. This decision was
taken in a meeting of the Advisory Committee of Urdu
Departments Tagore Research and Translation Scheme held on
19 December 2012 under the chairmanship of Jamias VC, Najeeb
Jung.
Headmasters suspended for indifference to minority wards
Bulandshahar: Four headmasters of Basic Education Department
have been suspended for their indifference and carelessness in
getting bank accounts of children / students belonging to minority
communities opened. This action was taken by Basic Education
Officer on the report of City Education Officer of Buland Shahar
(U.P.). Among the head masters suspended are: Headmaster
Hamid Ali of Primary School Chaudhariyan No. 20, Headmaster
Muhammad Ayyub of Kashi Ram Residential Primary School,
Headmistress Khurshid Begum of Primary School, Chowk Bazar
and Headmaster Incharge of Bal Junior School, Upper Kot.
All these headmasters were asked several times to get the
bank accounts of minority community students opened after pro-
viding relevant information on the prescribed proforma but all
these headmasters neither got bank accounts opened nor
informed the authorities about the action taken. The Basic
Education Officer said that on the City Education Officers recom-
mendations all the four head masters were suspended. After this
action the Basic Education Officer again issued instructions to all
head masters of schools to get the bank accounts of all their
minority students opened at the earliest and inform him (Basic
Education Officer) accordingly, failing which strict action would be
taken against the concerned head master/s.
Seminar on Empowerment of Women
Aligarh: Noted scholar and economist, Prof. Prabhat Patnaik said here
on January 19 that discrimination level against women in India is
higher than even the poorest Sub-Saharan countries in Africa. He
was addressing a seminar on Women of India: From Repression to
Empowerment organized by the Centre for Women Studies, AMU.
Prof. Patnaik said that the ratio of female to male in India is very
shocking and it only tops China in this regard. Patnaik said there were
only 94 women per hundred men in India while even in Sub-Saharan
Africa the ratio is 102 women per hundred men. He said that the atro-
cious practice of female foeticide in India is because of an age-old
patriarchal structure of Indian society which brews injustices against
women in India.
Prof. Patnaik said that capitalist development in India neither
breaks the old community which provides the base for patri-
archy and the caste system, nor creates, anywhere to the same
degree, the basis for the formation of a new community. We
have, therefore, a combination of khap panchayats on the one
hand and a substantial lumpen-proletariat on the other. He said
that the notion of womens empowerment had been a part of the
anti-colonial struggle, which received a setback because of both
these phenomena.
AMU Vice Chancellor Lt. Gen. Zameeruddin Shah said that
empowerment of women can only be brought with an expansion of
education, change in mindset and execution of harsh punishments for
crimes against women. He said that the sex ratio problem is not only
limited to this country but it is also a problem of entire Asia. Shah said
that historical beliefs and dowry are also among the main causes of
violence against women.
Prof. Shireen Moosvi, Director, Advanced Centre for Womens
Studies said that the whole nation has awakened, as never before,
by the current unending spate of violence against women, to real-
ity of how far away women in India are from equality and empow-
erment.
Prof. Moosvi said that the urge of coercion has never been
more grossly manifested than in the recent spate of statements
from religious fanatics and reactionary die-hards that women
should not carry mobiles, should not wear jeans, should not stay
out at night, nor meet with non-relatives, etc. One wonders why
the same demands are not made on men, from whose ranks, the
guilty come, she asked.
Aligarh: Aligarh Railway Stations Superintendent A.R. Khan was
posted as the first Muslim Station Supdt. after Independence.
According to his wife, Dr. Samina Khan who is an Associate
Professor in Aligarh Universitys Department of English, and oth-
ers, A.R. Khan was being harassed for the past one year or so by
some railway officers on some pretext or the other. They had also
been blaming some University authorities of unnecessarily sup-
porting him because of his being a Muslim. On 26 December
2012 the acting Superintendent A.K. Shukla, describing himself
as Station Superintendent, transferred him and gave the transfer
order to him. A.R. Khan complained against this to higher officials
in writing in which he wrote that A.K. Shukla had come to him
along with some unknown persons, described himself as vigi-
lance officer but had refused to show his identity card. He also
misbehaved with him (A.R. Khan), gave the transfer order to him
(by force) and unceremoniously asked A.R. Khan to get out.
He fur ther wrote in the complaint letter that without for-
mally taking over the charge he (Shukla) sat on the chair of
Station Supdt. and got his (Khans) name plate outside the
room removed and got his own name plate fixed there.
Simultaneously he got the telephone No. mentioned at Khans
official residence removed. Because of some complaints
made by media against Khans harassment, National Minority
Commission and S.C. S.T. Commission had issued notices to
Central Railway Board. On their intervention Khan had suc-
ceeded in getting his earlier transfer order stayed through
Allahabad High Cour t but now again another transfer was
issued to him by A.K. Shukla. Because of Mrs. Samina Khans
requests to National Human Rights Commission and
Chairman of Railway Board about the harassment of her hus-
band, which had also affected his health, Commissions chair-
man summonned Railway Board officers in his office and
sternly asked them to solve the case of A.R. Khan and also
asked them to let him (Khan) continue as Station
Superintendent of Aligarh Railway Station.
According to reliable source, Railway Board sent a fax to
D.R.M. and it is hoped that because of Railway Boards interven-
tion, A.R. Khan will rejoin as Station Supdt. of Aligarh Railway
Station. Khans wife further told media persons that her husband
is being harassed for the past one year by some railway officers
and that his salary was also stopped for some time apparently
without any reason and railway pass facility was also denied to
him. She said that the obvious reason for his harassment is his
honesty and being a Muslim. She said that she also personally
met S.C. S.T. Commissions Chairman who assured her that her
husband will get justice. (NA Ansari)
Station Superintendent victim of
bias of his seniors
14 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 COMMUNITY NEWS www.milligazette.com
Natl workshop of Muslim NGOs
New Delhi: A three-day third national workshop of Muslim NGOs
was held here during 18-20 January. It was organised by
Movement for Empowerment of Muslim Indians (MOEMIN) here at
the India Islamic Cultural Centre in cooperation with Rehab India
Foundation, India Islamic Cultural Centre, Institute of Objective
Studies, Zakat Foundation of India (ZFI), South Asian Minorities
Lawyers Association (SAMLA), Jamat-e-Islami Hind, Inter-faith
Coalition for Peace (ICP), and Abbasi Charitable & Educational
Society. Nearly 280 representatives of about 200 Muslim NGOs
from all over India working in the field of education; social sector,
women empowerment & Child Welfare; Health and Economic
Empowerment and Rural Development participated in the work-
shop. The workshop was inaugurated by the Press Council of India
chairman Justice Markanday Katju in the presence of Justice Sohail
Siddiqui, chairman of the National Commission for Minority
Educational Institutions and Safdar Khan, chairman of the Delhi
Minority Commission. Safdar Khan said chairing the first session
that the Muslim community is not aware of many government
schemes.
The workshop consisted of ten technical sessions:
(i) Economic Equality among Muslims: Policy priorities -
Achievements and Challenges; (ii) Access to Credit : Micro
Financing; Millennium Development Goals, Islamic Banking;
(iii) Rural Development: Access of Muslims; (iv) Education of
Muslims : Governments initiatives - Problems and prospects;
(v) Health for All : Inclusion of Muslims; (vi) Women Empowerment
& Child Development; (vii) Access to Information: RTI & other
sources of Information; (viii) Corporate Social Responsibilities and
expectations of Muslims; (ix) NGO Governance and (x) Human
Rights Violation : Awareness and Responsibilities.
A number of Muslim personalities were felicitated during the
workshop by MOEMIN for their selfless contribution for the empow-
erment of Muslim community in different fields. They include:
Justice Sohail Ahmed Siddiqui for National Muslim Leadership
Award for Service to the Community; Dr. Waseem Kamaal Akhtar,
Vice Chancellor, Integral University Lucknow, Mehboobul Huque,
Chancellor, University of Science & Technology, Meghalaya,
Mohammed Ateeq Ghori, Marwar Muslim Educational & Social
Welfare Society, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, all three for National Muslim
Leadership Award for Educational Empowerment; Abida Inamdar
for National Muslim Leadership Award for Educational
Empowerment of Muslim Women and Al-Khair Cooperative Credit
Society, Patna for National Muslim Leadership Award for Economic
Empowerment.
Interest-free banking system in Rampur
Rampur: Rampurs Anjuman Islah Qaum Muslim Punjabian has
started an interest-free banking system on a limited scale under
the name of Anjuman Amaanat Fund which, in the course of time
is expected to expand to a larger scale. Anjuman Islah Qaum-e
Muslim Pubjabians administrative councils argument is that
economy and economics are important problems in ones life and
the importance of economic and financial system in a mans indi-
vidual and collective life cannot be denied. In view of the harmful
and destructive effects of interest-based banking and financial
system on the one hand and Islams complete guidance and clear
instructions of the Quran and Sunnat why our society is practis-
ing the harmful economic system and the curse of interest?
According to another member of Anjuman Islah, Al Haj Tabish
Anwar, in Islamic teachings the curse of interest is among the
most hated among prohibited things but even then this is very
commonly prevalent in our society. In view of this he says that a
practical effort has been made to set up an independent econom-
ic and financial system. He said that an important step in this con-
nection is to protect our brethren from borrowing money on inter-
est for their small needs as far as possible and they should be
provided the facility of getting loans without interest. With this
objective in view, Anjuman Amaanat Fund has been set up and
work has started. He said that initially this Fund will be limited to
Muslim Punjabian but in course of time its scope will be expand-
ed. He however did not shed light on the limit of the amount of
loan, how the loan will be recovered and what steps will be taken
in the very beginning to ensure that there will be no default in
repayment of loan or instalments.
Muslims running community kitchen in Mahakumbh mela
Allahabad: Tariq Saeed, a local Congress leader and a business-
man of Allahabad has been running two langars (community
kitchen) for feeding the pilgrims who are coming and will be com-
ing for taking holi dips in the Ganga on the occasion of Makar
Sankranti (which fell on 14 January) and Mahakumbh mela which
goes on for about two months. Saeed believes that service to
mankind is the best and holiest of all services. He says that this
work will also earn him the blessings of God. Members of
Allahabad Muharram Jhoola Committee also are rendering social
and humanitarian services to the pilgrims who come here not only
from all parts of India but from other countries also.
Haj forms to be available from February 6
Forms for Haj pilgrimage 2013 will be accepted by Haj Committee
offices from February 6. The last date for the form submission is
March 20. The forms can also be deposited through registered
post. Pilgrims will be selected through an open qurah (draw). The
haj forms will be available at all District Minority Welfare Officers
offices and in those madrasas which participated in training of
previous years Haj pilgrims. The forms can also be downloaded
from the Haj committees website. After the selection of pilgrims,
the training will begin in the month of April. Prospective Hajis for
Haj 2013 now have to deposit Rs. 76000 instead of Rs. 51,000
i.e. an additional amount of Rs. 25000 in the first instalment,
which they will have to deposit between 1 February and 15 March
2013. Along with these amounts international passport will also
be necessary. These decisions were taken by the Haj Committee
of India in its meeting held in Delhi for Haj 2013. State President
(U.P.) of Khuddamul Haj Committee, Haji Naeemuddin said while
giving information about Haj 2013 that for Haj 2013 applications
will have to be submitted from 1 February and the last date for
submission of applications will be 15 March 13. He said that
international Passport will also be compulsory for this years Haj
which should be valid at least till 31 March 2014, without which
no applications would be accepted. He further said that this year
prospective Hajis will have to deposit Rs. 76,000 in the first instal-
ment which is Rs. 25,000 more than last years Rs. 51,000. This
additional amount will become less in the second instalment. He
said that in view of the difficulties faced by Hajis last year, a strat-
egy has been worked out to obviate such difficulties this year. He
advised those Hajis who could not go for Haj last year i.e. in 2012
(for any reason) to write to the Haj Committee of India, to get a
refund of their last years amount, along with medical certificate,
Receipt (of money deposited last year) and their account No. He
also said that Hajis who had gone for Haj last year but after return
could not get their lost baggage/s so far should also apply to Haj
Committee of India along with complete details, after which they
would be given compensation.
As per Raj. Madrasa Board, Jamate Islami equal to RSS
New Delhi: New rules and regulations are being framed for
Rajasthan Madrasa Board under which Jamaat Islami-e Hind is
being treated on par with the RSS and hence considered a banned
organisation and strong action would be taken against those who
are its members and participate in its activities. Action includes
dismissal from service. For the first time guidelines and rules etc.
are being framed for Madrasa Board and its teachers. In Chapter
6 of rules and regulations it is written in one of the points that
para-teachers belonging to Jamaat-e Islami, RSS, SIMI and
Anand Marg etc. which are banned and those taking part in the
activities of these organisations will be removed from service.
President of Rajasthan Madrasa Board, Fazal Haq said that
talks were held on this point but it is still under consideration and
no final decision has as yet been taken (about Jamat-e Islami
being equated to RSS). At the same time he said that at the very
first sight the draft guidelines / rules were changed and such rule
will never be implemented. He said that these rules and regula-
tions for Madrasa Board are being made for the first time and a
committee has been constituted to review these rules which are
under its consideration. Chairman of Rules & Regulations (seva
niyam) Committee, Lateef Ahmad said that the lines naming
Jamaat-e Islami in the guidelines of Rules & Regulations being
framed for para teachers have been removed. At the same time he
added that no member/s of the organisations which have been
banned will be allowed to participate in the Madrasa affairs.
According to him, amendments are being made in the guidelines
and Jamaat-e Islami was equated with RSS but it was strongly
opposed by them. So nothing has finally been decided so far.
S.C. directs SIT to withhold clean chit to Modi
New Delhi: The Supreme Court directed the special court to defer
its final order regarding Narendra Modis role in post-Godhra riots
in 2002. A bench comprising justices D.K. Jain, P. Sathsivam and
Aftab Alam directed the SITto take into consideration the amicus
curaie Raju Ramchandrans report. The SIT had dismissed Zakia
Jafris petition demanding a copy of the SIT report. Aggrieved by
the dismissal she moved the S.C. against the SIT order while Raju
Ramchandra had found Modi guilty of several lapses SIT chair-
man Raghavan had absolved him of all lapses. The apex court has
asked the SIT to withhold the report until further order. A notice to
the state government has also been sent.
75 riot accused set free
Ahmedabad: The court of additional sessions judge set 75 riot
accused persons free for lack of evidence. There were four inci-
dents of rioting including Watwa village on 28 February 2002. The
rioters had indulged in pelting stones and setting houses / shops
on fire. The police had registered four FIRs and chargesheeted 75
persons. M.K. Dave the additional sessions judge, set them free
as there are no evidence supporting the chargesheet. (AG Khan)
Shahla Masood case: more twists
Indore: More and more twists are emerging in the murder of social
activist Shahla Masood. The CBI submitted an application in the
court that it wants to re-investigate the case. It wants to subject a
few objects collected from the accused Zahida such as human
hair, used condoms and DNA test. This implies that CBI had sub-
mitted an inadequate report. This raises the query why used con-
doms and DNA are to be investigated. Is there a case of rape.
Two witnesses did not turn up. They were supposed to provide
call details. Statement by the nodal officer of BSNL has given a
totally different turn to the entire episode. For the first time a link
between Saba and BJP M.L.A. Dhruv Narayan Singh has also
been divulged. Officer Pawankumar Tak produced a 91 page long
call details of Saba Faroukhi which records talks on 9425602060
and Sabas mobile 9425017866 and also registers the locations.
Compulsory Urdu in Chishti University appreciated
Faizabad: State President of U.P. Urdu-Hindi Literary Society, Dr. Urfi
Faizabadi has appreciated and thanked the Vice Chancellor of
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Arabic Persian University, Anees Ansaris
action in making Urdu compulsory in all courses and described it
as a laudable step. He said that even if Urdu is made compulsory
for reading and writing only, it will become possible for Urdu know-
ing people to earn their livelihood and secondly, before admission
in this University, students will try to learn to read and write Urdu in
Urdu coaching centres or from Urdu teachers and in this way also
Urdu will be promoted. Dr. Urfi also made an appeal to the S.P. gov-
ernment of U.P. to make Urdu a compulsory subject upto 8th class
in all government schools under the three-language formula. This
will help in improving the atmosphere of communal and national
harmony. Regarding Moallim Urdu also he made an appeal to the
state government to seriously pay attention to their problems so
that it may become easy for them to get employment.
Govt land allotted for graveyard in Dwarka
New Delhi: South Delhi Municipal Corporation has allotted 10,000
sq. metres (one hectare or about 2 acres) land for a Muslim
graveyard in South Delhis Dwarka area. South Delhi Municipal
Corporation in its letter to the President of Shahjahanabad Trust,
Muhammad Jafar informed him about the allotment of this land
for the graveyard and asked him to deposit Rs. one lakh for this
land and take its possession. It may be stated that this is the first
time government land has been allotted for a graveyard in Delhi.
According to the former President and founder of Shahjanabad
Trust, M.A. Haq he and others associated with this Trust had been
trying for the past 8 years to get land for a graveyard for Muslims
in this locality and after 8 years they have got it. He said that ear-
lier a mosque had also been built in this localitys sector-11 and
now their effort will be to acquire land for a madrasa and Eidgah.
It may also be stated that Delhi governments Department of
Cooperative Societies had honoured Shahjahanabad Trust with
First Prize for being the best and most successful among the soci-
eties of Delhi. In addition to this prize, this Trust was also hon-
oured with First Prize in the field of greenery. For both these first
prizes Shahjahanabad Trust was given cash prize of Rs. 50,000
and a Certificate for each prize.
Cost of J&K rail link project now six times higher
New Delhi: Cost of 29-km long Udampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail-
way line aimed at linking Kashmir and India, which was originally
estimated at Rs. 3077 crores in 1999-2000 has now increased to
Rs. 19,565 crores during the period of about 12 years because of
excessive delay, which in turn was due to bad and poor planning.
This was pointed out by the Comptroller and Auditor General of
India who strongly criticised the concerned railway authorities.
Moreover, even after about 12 long years this project is far from
being completed. The CAG of India pointed out that the planning
of this strategically important rail project was made mainly on the
basis of aerial survey and satellite imagery of the hilly terrain but
more important factors like the possibility of seismic disasters
and fault lines in the Himalayan region were ignored because of
which this project was found to be impractical in the long run.
Camels rescued in Delhi
People for Animals, an NGO headed by Maneka Gandhi, has inter-
cepted a lock of 60 camels from a group of men, which, accord-
ing to the organisation, were bought at camel fairs in Rajasthan
and were meant to be slaughtered inhumanely. National Research
Centre on Camel director Dr. NV Patil blames the low national pop-
ulation of 5 lakh of the animal on industrialisation that abolishes
the job of the camels and takes away its habitat, in addition to the
demand for its meat. He also suggests breeding programmes
could help push up their number.
New Delhi: Union minister for minority affairs K. Rahman Khan,
while emphasizing the need for empowering the National
Minorities Commission said that it will be given statutory status
soon. He said that his ministry is seriously thinking of introduc-
ing a bill to give the Minorities Commission a statutory position
like the Schedule Castes Commission. He also said that three
posts, one each for Muslim, Christian and Budh members lying
vacant in Minorities Commission would be filled in a month. He
further said that after his becoming minister a meeting of all rep-
resentatives was held and the way and means to strengthen and
empower the Commission was discussed. He reiterated that all
his efforts would be directed to give the Minorities Commission
statutory status like the Scheduled Castes Commission.
It may be stated that the bill to give statutory status to the
Commission was prepared during the period when A.R. Antulay
was the minister for minority affairs but it could not be passed in
Parliament. The present position is that in the absence of any
statutory status or power, even in very important cases its pow-
ers are confined to simply issuing notices which are not taken
seriously and ignored in most cases. He said that the concerned
bill was introduced again in Parliament but could not be passed
for the second time also. He did not know the reason why it
could not be passed and after seriously studying the reason he
will raise this matter in the cabinet meeting. He further said, that,
former chairman of Minority Commission Wajahat Habibullah
had several times demanded statutory rights but without any
success. He said that statutory powers also include judicial pow-
ers so that like the courts, its (Minority Commissions) decisions
and notices also could and would be binding on the public as
well as private organisations. (NA Ansari)
National Minorities Commission
to be given statutory status
COMMUNITY NEWS The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 15 www.milligazette.com
When did India become part of Israels stable?
DR. PAUL LARUDEE
Amazing stuff, India ink. A few drops
spread vigorously with a roller for sev-
eral minutes on an iron plate are
enough for eight sets of fingerprints
and two sets of handprints on four
ancient double-sided and folded
Indian police fingerprint forms. By
contrast, the mug shot was taken with
a digital camera. After that, I was
issued an official deportation order,
for which I signed to acknowledge
receipt. My passport remained in police custody until I got to the
security check at the airport, when it was returned to me.
My crime? I had spoken to an audience of 22,000 youth at a
Student Islamic Organization conference in Kerala State without
having a visa that authorized public speaking or conference par-
ticipation. India is perhaps the only democracy where free
speech for foreigners depends upon the visa they are carrying. In
fact, it is probably the only such country that has no visit visa cat-
egory at all, and which has one of the most convoluted, bureau-
cratic and invasive visa application procedures this side of North
Korea.
Not that the visa restrictions are always enforced. However,
the myriad regulations and procedures (for public protection)
permit the security apparatus to control individuals and events at
their discretion without having to cite the true reasons for their
enforcement. Every effective police state knows the drill.
In my case, I used a tourist visa, because the conference visa
is a truly onerous procedure unless it is a state-sponsored event.
In fact, that is the only type of conference participation permitted,
because even private groups must seek state sponsorship in
order to bring speakers from outside. In todays India, however,
state sponsorship is hardly a routine bureaucratic procedure.
It shouldnt have been this way. India was supposed to have
been the model for tolerant multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic, multi-
confessional societies. And when India was a leader of the Non-
Aligned Movement, carefully balancing its relationships among
great and small powers and supporting those who might other-
wise be a mere pawn in world affairs, this promise seemed plau-
sible. Regrettably, India has now become a home-grown Raj,
choosing sides and fomenting discord between competing inter-
ests as a means of governing and controlling, in the best tradi-
tions of its colonial past. Thus, for example, conservative Salafist
clerics are welcome when they attend conferences on tourist
visas, while human rights speakers like David Barsamian, John
Esposito, Yvonne Ridley, Wilhelm Langthaler and myself are
unwelcome, and are denied visas or expelled, and/or their hosts
are prosecuted.
The Salafist treatment is part of a Machiavellian formula
hatched by India with its newest partner, Israel. Salafists deserve
free speech as much as anyone, but the reason India accords
more of it to them is on the advice of Israel. Israel promotes
Islamophobia as part of its strategy of demonizing Palestinians
and Arabs, a majority of whom are Muslims, and the Salafist
brand of Islam fits Israels agenda of portraying Islam as an
extremist ideology. This stokes the flames of the more extreme
nationalist Hindu groups in India and plays on the fears of many
other non-Muslim groups, as well. Since Pakistan is an external
Muslim enemy, such demonization helps to unify non-Muslim
India and permit popular tolerance of greater government control
as well as encroachment of security forces on civil rights and pri-
vacy. In fact, India has its own version of the U.S. Patriot Act,
curbing the rights of its people.
It is called the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), and
while the title is more honest than Patriot, it is also a bit scary.
It implies that people can be snatched from the edge of a sidewalk
on the pretext that they were intent on jaywalking. No need for the
infraction to happen first.[i] UAPA is an illustration of the degree
to which human rights have been marginalized in the land of M.K.
Gandhi and Abdul Ghaffar Khan.
Not that India doesnt have real security concerns.
Communal strife is as old as India itself and has sometimes risen
to the level of genocide, which drove the 1947 Pakistan seces-
sion. However, it is one thing to use law enforcement to prevent
fighting and quite another to use it to drive a wedge between com-
munities with a view towards playing them off against each other.
A case in point is the role that Israel is playing. The self-pro-
claimed Jewish state is selling itself to India as a worthwhile ally
on the basis that it is a) an experienced and effective leader in the
fight against Islamist extremism and terrorism, b) a supplier of
high-tech weapons and intelligence, and c) a means of access to
U.S. support and cooperation. In effect, Israel is saying that both
states have common friends and enemies and that Israel is in a
position to provide what India needs.
India appears to be buying, and is currently the largest cus-
tomer for Israeli military arms systems and services. Never mind
that the expensive Iron Dome systems are effective less than 50%
of the time against rockets from Gaza that use 16th century tech-
nology. Like most governments, India has been seduced by the
promise of omniscient surveillance systems and the prospect of
winning battles rather than preventing them.
This is obviously a devils bargain. True to the nature of such
contracts, however, are the surprises that await the unwary. It is
instructive to remember that Israeli agents once planted bombs in
Baghdad synagogues to encourage Iraqs Jews to emigrate to
Israel. (It worked, and encouraged Iraqi thugs toward violence, as
well.)
Since then, Israel has stolen nuclear weapon technology and
weapons grade fissionable material from the U.S., conducted the
most massive spying operation in U.S. history against its ally,
and staged numerous assassinations and black ops actions
outside its borders, including
friendly countries. Questions cur-
rently surround the killing of
Israeli tourists in Bulgaria and the
putative assassination attempt on
Israeli diplomats in India. Israel
blamed both of these on Iran on
the basis of flimsy evidence, pos-
sibly fabricated in collaboration
with its allies, the violent
Mujahedin-e-Khalq Iranian exile
group.
India would do well to be
more circumspect toward friends
like this. Vilifying Iran is high on
Israels current agenda, and Israel
reportedly provided evidence
and pushed the Indian govern-
ment to prosecute the case. The
result was the arrest of journalist
Syed Mohammed Ahmed Kazmi,
who anchors a news program on
West Asia providing alternative
views of events in the region. His
open advocacy of better relations
with Iran and his Iranian contacts
were enough make him an Israeli
target and an Indian suspect.
After seven months of incarcera-
tion, however, the Indian govern-
ment had to release him for lack
of evidence.
Kazmi and I shared the podi-
um at the SIO conference in
Kerala and I was able to chat with
him privately just prior to the
event. He is a courageous man,
willing to accept the risk of speak-
ing in public so soon after his
release, but appears to hold no
bitterness. Peaceful dissent of
this kind needs to be encouraged
in India, which is well advised to
heed John F. Kennedys warning
that, Those who make peaceful
revolution impossible will make
violent revolution inevitable.
Sadly, Israel sees violent rev-
olution in foreign countries to be
in its national interest, under the
divide and conquer principle.
However, one would think that
Indias principle would be the
opposite if it wants to remain a
successful unified nation with a
highly diverse population seeking
assurance that all their voices are
heard in a national consensus.
Furthermore, there is no need for
India to acquire the same ene-
mies as Israel. It may be in
Israels perceived interests, but is it in Indias?
My few days in Kerala were an inspiring glimpse of what is
possible. I saw thousands of young Indian Muslims whose reli-
gious and social mission is to benefit all mankind, to alleviate the
social ills of Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to promote interfaith
cooperation and to create an umbrella that is inclusive of every-
one.
Although this was a Muslim event, many who attended were
not Muslim and were invited directly by their Muslim neighbors. I
was invited to be the keynote speaker even though I am not
Muslim and spoke more generally about human rights and about
Palestinian issues, which are not specifically Muslim or Indian.
Roughly 40% of the attendees were young women, in a society
not always known for its success in promoting womens rights.
These young people were politically aware, committed, well
organized and motivated. Society is supposed to create models
for young people, but in this case it was the young that created a
model for their society.
Dr. Paul Larudee is a human rights advocate and one of the co-
founders of the movement to break the siege of Gaza by sea.
He was deported from India on 31st December, 2012.
Weve got mail.....
for you!
The flow of news never ceases, so between our fortnightly print
issues we send out email newsletter - MG e-Alerts. Get our
eNewsletter FREE! write to us at sales@milligazette.com
Become a fan of MG on Facebook
visit: facebook.com/milligazette
Follow us on twitter: twitter.com/milligazette
16 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.milligazette.com
Seven Brilliant Insights
from Noam Chomsky on
American Empire
Noam Chomsky is an exper t on many mat-
ters -- linguistics, how our economy func-
tions and propaganda, among others. One
area where his wisdom especially shines
through is in ar ticulating the structure and
functioning of the American empire.
Chomsky has been speaking and publishing
on the topic since the 60s. Below are seven
powerful quotes on the evils, atrocities and
ironies of the American empire taken from
his personal site and from a fan-curated Web
site dedicated to collecting Chomskys
observations.
1. [In early 2007] there was a new rash of
ar ticles and headlines on the front page
about the Chinese military build-up. The
Pentagon claimed that China had increased
its offensive military capacity -- with 400
missiles, which could be nuclear armed.
Then we had a debate about whether that
proves China is trying to conquer the world
or the numbers are wrong, or something.
Just a little footnote. How many offensive
nuclear armed missiles does the United
States have? Well, it turns out to be 10,000.
China may now have maybe 400, if you
believe the hawks. That proves that they are
trying to conquer the world. It turns out, if
you read the international press closely, that
the reason China is building up its military
capacity is not only because of U. S. aggres-
siveness all over the place, but the fact that
the United States has improved its targeting
capacities so it can now destroy missile
sites in a much more sophisticated fashion
wherever they are, even if they are mobile.
So who is trying to conquer the world? Well,
obviously the Chinese because since we
own it, they are trying to conquer it. Its all
too easy to continue with this indefinitely.
Just pick your topic. Its a good exercise to
try. This simple principle, we own the
world, is sufficient to explain a lot of the
discussion about foreign affairs. -- from
We Own the World January 1, 2008.
2. Could we stop the militarization of
space? It cer tainly looks like we could. The
reason is that the U. S. is alone, literally
alone, in pressing for it. The entire world is
opposed, because theyre scared, mainly.
The U. S. is way ahead. If other countries are
not willing to even dream of full-spectrum
dominance and world control, theyre way
too far behind; they will react, undoubtedly.
But theyd like to cut it off. And there are sev-
eral treaties, which are in fact already in
place, that are suppor ted literally by the
entire world and that the U. S. is trying to
over turn. One is the Outer Space Treaty of
1967, which bans placing weapons in outer
space. Everyone signed it, including the
United States. Nobody has tried to put
weapons in outer space. It has been
observed and would be easily detected if
anyone broke it. In 1999, the treaty came up
at the UN General Assembly, and the vote
was around 163 to 0 with 2 abstentions, the
U. S. and Israel, which votes automatically
with the U. S. -- Militarizing Space to pro-
tect U. S. interests and investment,
International Socialist Review Issue 19, July-
August 2001
3. Globalization is the result of powerful
governments, especially that of the United
States, pushing trade deals and other
accords down the throats of the worlds peo-
ple to make it easier for corporations and the
wealthy to dominate the economies of
nations around the world without having
obligations to the peoples of those nations.
-- Profit over People: Neoliberalism and the
Global Order
4. [The U. S. still names] military helicopter
gunships after victims of genocide. Nobody
bats an eyelash about that: Blackhawk.
Apache. And Comanche. If the Luftwaffe
named its military helicopters Jew and
Gypsy, I suppose people would notice.
-- Propaganda and the Public Mind:
Conversations with Noam Chomsky and
David Barsamian
5. If something is right (or wrong) for us,
its right (or wrong) for others. It follows that
if its wrong for Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and
a long list of others to bomb Washington and
New York, then its wrong for Rumsfeld to
bomb Afghanistan (on much flimsier pre-
texts), and he should be brought before war
crimes trials. -- On Terrorism,Noam
Chomsky interviewed by John Bolender,
Jump Ar ts Journal, January 2004
6. Suppose that, say, China established mil-
itary bases in Colombia to carry out chemi-
cal warfare in Kentucky and Nor th Carolina
to destroy this lethal crop [tobacco] that is
killing huge numbers of Chinese. -- Noam
Chomskyon the irony of the drug war waged
by the United States in Central and South
America
7. The U. S. is, of course, concerned over
Iranian power. That is one reason why the U.
S. turned to active suppor t for Iraq in the late
stages of the Iraq-Iran war, with a decisive
effect on the outcome, and why Washington
continued its active cour tship of Saddam
Hussein until he interfered with U. S. plans
for the region in August 1990. U. S. con-
cerns over Iranian power were also reflected
in the decision to suppor t Saddams murder-
ous assault against the Shiite population of
southern Iraq in March 1991, immediately
after the fighting stopped. A narrow reason
was fear that Iran, a Shiite state, might exer t
influence over Iraqi Shiites. A more general
reason was the threat to stability that a
successful popular revolution might pose: to
translate into English, the threat that it might
inspire democratizing tendencies that would
undermine the array of dictatorships that the
U. S. relies on to control the people of the
region. Recall that Washingtons suppor t for
its former friend was more than tacit; the U.
S. military command even denied rebelling
Iraqi officers access to captured Iraqi equip-
ment as the slaughter of the Shiite popula-
tion proceeded under Stormin Normans
steely gaze. -- Stability, excerpted from
The Fateful Triangle, 1999 (alternet.org)
LAURA GOTTESDIENER
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
D-84 Abul Fazl Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar,
New Delhi 110 025 India Tel.: (+91-11) 2694 7483, 2695 2825
How to make payments: We prefer cheques to bank drafts. Cheques/Drafts should be crossed / marked account payee and payable
to Charity Alliance. Individuals are welcome to pay cash in our office or send M.O. If you want to contribute through credit card or
internet-banking visit www.charityalliance.in for secure online payment. In some cases we may be able to arrange to collect cash from
your doorstep.
List of donors may be seen on Charilty Alliance website (www.charityalliance.in).
Zakat, Sadaqat and bank interest accepted
See www.charityalliance.in for detailed reports on our work.
CHARITY ALLIANCE
Registered trust
Donations to Charity Alliance are eligible for tax liability deduction in India under Section 80G
Invest
and save
tax!
The myth of the murderous Muslim - ii
HAROON MOGHUL
(Continued from the previous issue)
A most post-modern warfare
And thus we are left with an implausible and absurd suggestion
that jihad killed 270 million people. But even with all this, still three
more points need to be stressed, because in recognising their sig-
nificance, we recognise the ultimate absurdity of the Islamophobic
worldview.
First, more Muslims died fighting each other than died in bat-
tles against non-Muslim dynasties. Armies were often mixed too,
which drives bigots off the wall; when the Ottomans were defeat-
ed at Vienna in 1683, they were finished off by a charge of Polish
Muslim cavalry, allied with their enemies. Where do these casual-
ties fit in? Should we arbitrarily decide that "intra-Muslim jihad"
killed 50 percent of the total number? Why not, considering most
of Islamophobia's made up? How were Muslims who so often
fought each other also able to fight everyone else? Unless of
course it's not about Islam versus non-Islam.
"Islamophobes link events that take place across the planet
and hundreds of centuries apart and want us to take it seriously."
Second, this isn't real history. It's dumping "facts" on the
unawares, hoping that the sheer flood of information covers up
the lack of an explanatory framework. Not only does the
Islamophobe play loose and fast with very different eras, places
and peoples, but she ties events together without attempting to
explain why. If jihad is really the most murderous ideology ever
and it is equal to Islam, then why would so many people become
Muslim? What motivated their violence? What sustained it? And
how come most Muslims live peaceable lives? Bigots make up
history because actual history undermines them.
Third, let's say for the sake of argument Muslims killed 300
million people over a 1,000 year span. That doesn't mean any-
thing. One could just as easily construct a counter-narrative that
works like Islamophobia does: arbitrarily, ignorantly and entirely
unself-consciously. I mean, we'd link disparate events based on
the religious (or cultural) identity of the culprit.
We could construct a narrative of Western perfidy in
response. According to Charles Mann's 1491, which explores the
pre-Columbian Americas, nearly 100 million perished during the
European "Age of Discovery", making that the most violent con-
tact between peoples in human history. Nothing in Islamic history
remotely compares. With the typical sloppiness of the
Islamophobe, we could note how Western ideologies like
Communism and Nazism led conservatively to the deaths of
another 120 million people; we could note the brutal colonial
exploitation of Africa and Asia, in which millions more perished
and then breathlessly announce, "Five Hundred Years of Western
Civilisation Kills Hundreds of Millions!"
We could toss in the fact that the West has invented weapons
of mass destruction and used them in ways no other parts of the
world have. (Chemical weapons in World War I; aerial bombing
was invented by the Italians against Libyan civilians; and, of
course, only America has used nuclear weapons, and twice, both
times against civilian targets.) But this would be stupid, because
it assumes that people in different times and places are the same,
responsible for each other's actions and should only be judged by
the dark chapters of their history.
Osama bin Laden portrayed the history of Islam and the West
as one long narrative of confrontation, as do many intemperate
and extremist voices. He chose to ignore all the countervailing evi-
dence and ignored the differences between times and places, peo-
ples and their leaders. He downplayed and dismissed the achieve-
ments of Western culture and civilisation, of which there are so
many I'm hard-pressed to know where even to begin. Penicillin?
Goethe? The modern museum? Islamophobes play a similar
game, linking events that take place across the planet and hun-
dreds of centuries apart, and they want us to take this seriously.
And so you get numbers like "270 million" or "300 million". And
these are brought up talismanically, as if they constitute over-
whelming proof. The Islamophobe is completely and congenitally
incapable of reflexivity. They cannot, in other words, look in the
mirror; their mind has been made up, and what history is mar-
shalled is not to engage in discussion but to preclude it.
The jihad on accuracy: There is this last little problem. The
Muslim proportion of the world's population has accelerated dra-
matically in the past centuries and continues to do so today; dur-
ing our 600-1600 AD window, there were far fewer Muslims in the
world, proportionally speaking. Which means we have to figure
out what everyone else was up to. What about the people killed
by other peoples - or, the biggest killer of all back then - disease
and its most vulnerable victims, infants and the young? Where do
we put the Crusades, the Aztecs and the Incans, the Eastern
Roman Empire, the Mongols (good heavens), Slavs and
Byzantines, the Chinese, Korean and Japanese?
Add them all together, and more people were probably killed
than ever lived, which is about as accurate as you can expect this
kind of nonsense to be.
Haroon Moghul is a Fellow at New America Foundation and the
Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. He is an author
and a graduate student at Columbia University.
INTERNATIONAL The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 17 www.milligazette.com
According to Charles Mann's 1491, which explores the pre-Columbian Americas, nearly 100 million
perished during the European "Age of Discovery", making that the most violent contact between peo-
ples in human history. Nothing in Islamic history remotely compares. With the typical sloppiness of the
Islamophobe, we could note how Western ideologies like Communism and Nazism led conservatively
to the deaths of another 120 million people; we could note the brutal colonial exploitation of Africa and
Asia, in which millions more perished and then breathlessly announce, "Five Hundred Years of
Western Civilisation Kills Hundreds of Millions!"
Jamal Kanj: Obama
and the Jewish Lobby
The Israeli lobby is flexing its muscle against Barack Obama's
potential nominee to be the next Secretary of Defence. Hagel was
a Republican Senator representing Nebraska from 1996 until his
retirement in 2008. The frontrunner Chuck Hagel is co-chairman
of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board Committee.
He was one of few senators who crossed party lines on issues
most important to the American people. Despite his Republican
credentials and being considered by a Democratic President,
Israeli firsters from both parties are united in pre-empting Hagel's
official nomination.
Not because he is ill-equipped to lead the US armed forces,
but for not being adequately submissive to the Jewish lobby while
in the Senate.
When asked on NBC Meet the Press programme last week if
he would support the President's apparent nominee, leading
Israeli firster Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer responded: "I'd
have to study his record."
Schumer's response on a nominee by a President from his
own party was uncharacteristic of American politics. Appearing
on the same news programme Republican Senator Lindsey
Graham warned that the presumed President's pick will have
tough questioning from his fellow Republicans regarding "his
position towards Israel".
Republican Jewish Coalition declared that such nomination
would "be a slap in the face of every American who is concerned
about the safety of Israel".
Democratic member of the House Elliot Engel said on C-Span
that Hagel's "endemic hostility towards Israel" is "troublesome for
me and for a lot of other people".
Another pro-Israel advocate in Washington was quoted by
the online Daily Beast last Thursday "The pro-Israel community
will view the nomination of Senator Chuck Hagel in an extremely
negative light.
His record is unique in its animus towards Israel
The power of the Israeli lobby is the best kept secret among
American elected officials. I worked with an ex-Congressman
who at the time was retained as a lobbyist for an organisation I
worked for in San Diego.
He had a near perfect Israeli voting score during his service
in Congress. He once confided to me that his votes and many of
his colleagues' on issues pertaining to the Middle East were influ-
enced first and foremost by the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee (AIPAC) and Jewish financiers.
He said while sympathetic to the Palestinians, he also
remembered those (he named a few) who were ousted when
"Jewish" money started pouring into their opponent's coffer dur-
ing election.
In fact, I remember attending a meeting with another
Congressman in late 80s who spoke off the record of his disgust
with the power of the pro- Israeli Jewish lobby.
He voiced his admiration for House member James Traficant
who distinguished himself by standing up to the Israeli lobby. He
was elected nine times before resigning to serve a jail sentence
following a court conviction.
Back to Hagel, on Sunday President Obama described his
choice as someone who "is a patriot". "He is somebody who has
done extraordinary work both in the US Senate, somebody who
served this country with valour in Vietnam," he said.
Hagel served as an infantry squad leader and was a recipient
of Cross of Gallantry, two Purple Hearts, Army Commendation
Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge during his service in
Vietnam.
Like the old Iron Curtain, the Israeli lobby is the new Big
Brother's "thought police" inhibiting open debate on a US foreign
policy inconsistent with the principles of the American
Constitution.
Ironically, patriot Americans are shoved aside by the Jewish
lobby's "thought police" while individuals with dual Israeli citizen-
ship or ex-Israeli soldiers or even suspected spies were appoint-
ed unchallenged to the highest offices in US administrations.
(sabbah.biz)
JAMAL KANJ
KARAMATULLAH K. GHORI
K_K_ghori@yahoo.com
One constant in the so-called 'war on
terror' since its launch more than a
decade ago has been the search for new
targets. To those prosecuting this war
it's immaterial if these targets only hap-
pen to be in one Muslim state after
another.
Along with the ever-widening circle
of targets and quarries there has also
been an apparent urge to make it a joint
effort of the entire west, along with making it as cost-effective as
possible. The most prominent paradigm of the former is the
NATO-led war in Afghanistan which has been sheltering all mem-
ber states of this western defence arrangement-with U.S. in the
lead role, no doubt-under the nominal canopy of the UN-spon-
sored ISAF. While this arrangement has lent the fig-leaf of interna-
tional sanction and law to what is basically a collective western
tirade against a hapless Muslim state, the objective of this elabo-
rate arrangement still hasn't been realised. On the contrary, the
war in Afghanistan is as good as lost to the powerful assembly of
military forces in the modern times; all that now remains for the
war-mongers to do-and they are seriously addressing the issue-is
to find a face-saving formula to beat a retreat.
As for the latter objective, i.e. fighting the war on the cheap,
President Obama has found it cost-effective to rely, increasingly,
on the use of his deadly arsenal of drones. Under his command,
drones have been deployed with impunity against Pakistan,
Somalia and Yemen. It doesn't bother him or anybody else on his
watch that the casualty toll of mostly innocent people, as a result
of drone attacks stands at nearly 4,000 in these countries and is
mounting all the time. To him and his military advisers and
cohorts collateral damage doesn't count. The president personal-
ly picks and chooses the targets for sneak drone attacks, and
feels quite unruffled if it adds to the burden of life in the targeted
countries.
Obama's example of relentlessly going about his commitment
to the war on terror-which has since been re-christened as 'the
long war'-has apparently inspired his allies in France so much that
they, too, have jumped into the fray with bravado and honed in on
another Muslim-country target. This one happens to be in the dirt-
poor West African state of Mali, which is entirely Muslim in its
demography.
Mali got into the U.S. focus rather late in the second term of
George W. Bush, in 2008, with the formation of AFRICOM, the
U.S. military command tasked with special interest in the African
continent. Bush was keen to get into a race with China for influ-
ence in Africa, which had been on a back burner in Washington
until the Bush neo cons. became sensitive to the rising Chines
influence in a continent with rich mineral resources. The Chinese
interest in Africa has not, so far, had a military angle; it's entirely
riveted on exploiting Africa's hitherto untapped vast mineral
resources-a key to the Chinese economic surge.
However, the Bush neo cons, used to seeing the world
through their military prism deemed it quite in fitness to come up
with a military command exclusive to Africa and thus intimidate
rivals with the flexing of America's mighty military muscle. Mali
got their priority focus because of its pivotal role in the transit of
South American drugs, especially Cocaine, to Europe. The UN
Office of Drugs Control has it that 60 per cent of cocaine destined
to Europe from South America transits Mali; the trade is worth bil-
lions of dollars.
So Washington zeroed in on Mali and, as in so many other
cases before, it chose to favour the Malian armed forces for its
largesse. That kicked off a programme of Malian military officers-
the young ones in particular-being trained in U.S.
Little wonder that the current phase of Mali being pounced
upon, militarily, by 2000-strong French troops began, in actual
fact, with the military coup of March 2012, in which young mili-
tary officers over threw the government of President
AhmadouToumaniToure. That was just a month before Mali was
slated to have fresh presidential election.
The coup was led by a young army officer, Captain
AmadouHayaSanoglo who blamed the political leadership of inef-
ficiency and failure to check the insurgency of the Tuareg in north-
ern Mali. Captain Sanoglo was a blue-eyed boy of the U.S. military
establishment and had received his military training, in 2010, at
Georgia's Fort Benning.
The Tuareg have long been at the centre of Malian politics and,
in fact, many neighbouring countries of Mali. They are a nomadic
people, numbering almost 3 million and scattered over large
swathes of Sahara. The largest body of Tuareg-numbering
800,000-inhabits northern Mali. But they are also in Niger,
Mauritania, Algeria and Libya. And because they are nomadic they
don't recognise national frontiers which were largely drawn by
France during its suzerainty over all these countries-except Libya-
as part of its vast colonial possessions in West Africa.
In Mali, where they are in largest concentration of all other
countries of their presence, the Tuareg have been restive for long
and hostile to the government, sitting in Bamako, in the south of
the country, because their demands for separation from Mali have
not been given much credence. The central government in
Bamako had become emboldened especially since it started
receiving favours from Washington. President Obama has avidly
carried on the mission in Mali begun by his otherwise discredited
predecessor in the White House.
A low intensity Tuareg insurgency had been on since 1960s in
northern Mali, which movement styled itself as Northern Mali
Liberation Army (NMLA). But that didn't bother the rulers in
Bamako because it was as best a nuisance that deserved to be
brushed aside. However, NMLA has become a power to contend
with since the fall of Col. Qaddafi in Libya.
Qaddafi had bestowed favours aplenty on the Tuareg. They
were loyal to him, served dutifully in his army and he returned the
favour by arming them with weapons and plying them with money.
The Tuareg didn't favour the uprising against Qaddafi and
remained loyal to him till his bitter end.
In his demise, the Tuareg lost a patron of considerable munif-
icence. However, even in death Qaddafi's largesse for the Tuaregis
nothing less than a blessing for them, because Qaddafi left behind
a huge arsenal of arms and ammunition that NMLA finds a boon
in its ongoing struggle against Bamako. The Tuareg insurgents
now have access to weapons that the Malian government, or its
military forces, have no match for. That point has been used by
the Americans and their NATO allies as a cause to rally round the
beleaguered Malian government in its fight against a well-armed
insurgent group, which also has the natural facility of a vast desert
as its natural sanctuary.
As if Qaddafi's parting gift to his loyal Tuareg fighters wasn't
enough to raise the hackles of those whose 'long war' against ter-
ror has forced them to cast their eyes in the direction of Western
Africa-because that's where the heaviest concentration of Africa's
Muslim inhabitants happens to be-that the African proxies of the
much-feared Al-Qaeda interjected themselves into the fray.
Al Qaeda- In- Maghreb (AQIM) is an off-shoot of the much-
derided mainstream Al Qaeda of Osama bin Laden, which appar-
ently seems determined to carry on his mission of terror in Africa
and raise the ante for its western nemeses. Their striking common
cause with the Tuareg insurgents of Mali couldn't be a develop-
ment other than one to give sleepless nights to those in the west-
ern corridors and chancelleries of power to whom the war against
Al Qaeda must be prosecuted world-wide and with unremitting
zeal.
Chronologically, though, the Tuareg entered the ongoing
phase of intense violence against the Malian government in the
wake of the March 2012 military coup. Abetted by AQIM's armed
groups-which, too, are suspected to have helped themselves to
vast cache of weapons left behind by Qaddafi-the Tuareg declared
independence from Mali and set up their own government in
northern part of the country. However, there were no takers of
their unilateral declaration of independence. They were shunned
and no country would recognise them as a sovereign entity.
But the Tuareg-Al Qaeda nexus, seeking to strike roots in a
part of Africa as distant as Mali, was enough cause celebre for
Washington and its NATO cohorts to draw up plans of punitive
action against them. UN was pliable-as on so many occasions in
the past when prodded and pestered by western powers-and
readily handed over a paper resolution sanctioning military action
to weed out the terrorists from northern Mali.
However, U.S. is broke and in no mood to venture into more
military undertakings abroad. Morevoer, President Obama has
learned from his Libya strategy that U.S. can still get to its strate-
gic objectives on the cheap by encouraging others-its NATO allies,
for sure-to step into the void and partake of the burden which
Washington may find too costly or over-bearing. France, under a
new president, Francois Hollande, gladly accepted the invitation.
It's no puzzle why France stepped into the breach where
Washington wouldn't tread.
France still has this nauseating hang-over of its great mes-
sianic mission to Africa-or, for that matter, anywhere else in the
uncivilised or not-so-well-civilised-as France-to bring to it the
blessings of the 'great French culture.' It has never, to date, viscer-
ally reconciled to the reality that it's a spent-force. To satisfy its
hunger for the bygone, halcyon, days of its colonial empire in
Africa, it still keeps military bases in half a dozen countries of
West Africa, including Chad from where its jets have been pound-
ing northern Mali since it went into action on January 11.
There is a history of French Islamophobia going back a thou-
sand years. It was a French Pope, Urban was his name, who
exhorted the European sovereigns of the day, in 1095, to send
Crusaders to the Holy Land (Palestine) to liberate it from
'Heathens,' his epithet for Muslims. Pope Urban's provocative call
was given from Clermont, France, paving the way for the First
Crusade in 1099. Rivers of blood had flowed wherever the reli-
giously-sanctioned Crusaders passed by.
But howsoever incontinent and irrepressible the French urge
for more blood of the 'lesser people', in their hubris, their memo-
ry shouldn't beall that short to not remember the lesson their
imperial arrogance was given by the Vietnamese, in 1954, at Dien
Bien Phu. That ignominious routing of the French imperialists
forced the hand of U.S. to jump into the Vietnamese cauldron.
What fate befell the U.S. in Vietnam is history known to all.
However, The New York Times seemed keenly conscious of
the need to revisit history when it said, editorially, in the wake of
the French forces triggering punitive operations against the Tuareg
insurgents in Mali: "The backlash might end up being worse than
the original threat."
The backlash feared by NYT-because that could lead to a rip-
ple effect and possibly draw U.S. into the conflict and repeat the
history of Vietnam, all over again-has already happened, if not in
Mali itself then in neighbouring Algeria, within ays of the French
troops landing in Mali.
The bloody episode of hostage- taking at a multi-national gas
plant in Ain Amenas, eastern Algeria, close to the border with
Libya, had all the tell-tale signatures of an act of reprisal by AQIM
partisans on the heels of the French imperialist intervention in
Mali.
The Algerian government's aggressive response to hostage-
taking by the terrorists allegedly led by an Afghan Jihad veteran of
the 1980s, MokhtarBel-mokhtar, did put an end to the 4 day-long
siege of the plant that started on January 16, but left a trail of
blood behind. At least 37 foreign workers employed at the plant
were killed in the security operation and raised hackles of concern
in western capitals.
The choice of Algeria as the venue to unleash the terrorist
vendetta against France's military intervention in yet another
Muslim state-this one in Africa and next door to Algeria-did revive
memories of a not-too-distant past. It was 20 years ago that the
first sprouting of the Arab Spring was nipped in the bud in Algeria
under a conspiracy in which France and U.S. were principal
actors. The then Islamic revolution in Algeria, pioneered by the
Front for Islamic Salvation, was an entirely peaceful and constitu-
tional exercise which was thwarted when it was so close to suc-
cess.
It was France where the provocative slogan was raised
against an 'Islamist takeover' of Algeria which, the wolf-cry
bemoaned, would see boat-loads of Algerian refugees flocking to
the French shores. Algeria's Francophone generals were roped
into the conspiracy to subvert the elections, in January 1992,
which were slated to bring the Salvation Front to power; U.S. fully
concurred in the plot hatched by France. An Algerian civil war
ensued, taking a toll of hundreds of thousands of Algerians.
So, while U.S. and France's NATO allies may rush to partake
of the classical White Man's Burden to bring the light of civilisation
to the Dark Continent and rid Mali of the scourge of Jihadi Islam,
they ought not to lose sight of history's immutable message: it
repeats itself twice; first as a farce and the second time as a
tragedy. Mali could well be poised to become another Afghanistan,
with an even worse tragedy-in-waiting.
War on Terror
or Neo French Imperialism?
Al Qaeda- In- Maghreb (AQIM) is an off-shoot of the much-derided mainstream Al Qaeda of
Osama bin Laden, which apparently seems determined to carry on his mission of terror in
Africa and raise the ante for its western nemeses. Their striking common cause with the Tuareg
insurgents of Mali couldn't be a development other than one to give sleepless nights to those in
the western corridors and chancelleries of power to whom the war against Al Qaeda must be
prosecuted world-wide and with unremitting zeal.
18 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.milligazette.com
Envoy: 100,000 more
could die in Syria
Deir Baalbah, Syria: Another 100,000 people could die in 2013 in
the fighting in Syria, U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi
said. A "solution is possible" in the 21-month-old conflict but it is
getting more complicated and deadly, Brahimi said Sunday, 30
December, in Cairo.
"If nearly 50,000 people have been killed in about two years,
do not expect just 25,000 people to die next year -- maybe
100,000 will die," he said. "The pace is increasing.
CNN reported that Saturday, 29 Decebmer, may have been
the deadliest day yet in the war. The Local Coordination
Committees -- a group opposing Syrian President Bashar Assad
-- said more than 200 people were executed in a field by soldiers
in Deir Baalbah, a suburb of Homs. "Smoke is rising from Deir
Baalbeh this morning, and a stench is coming out of some of its
streets due to the burning of some corpses by the regime forces,"
Hadi Abdallah, an opposition activist, said Sunday.
"What is noticeable in the bodies we found yesterday and
today in Deir Baalbeh is that they appear to have been slaughtered
at the neck and then burned, including women and children.
Others appear to have been killed from knife and bullet wounds,"
he said.
State-run television reports said Syrian soldiers had killed
"several terrorists" and chased down others Saturday. (upi.com)
ENGLISH
Russian Military Intelligence (GRU) daily reports on the Iraq war (Compiled
by Zafarul-Islam Khan) 112pp, Rs 75/d 10
Shamsul Islam, Golwalkars We or our nationhood defined: A critique
with the full text of the book, 200pp, Rs 150/d 15
Islamic economics, banking and finance (Special issue of MAP),
200pp., Rs 175/d 15
Irfan, Punchline (cartoons), 112 pp., Rs 50/d4
Zafarul-Islam Khan (ed.), Palestine Documents 1897-1998
894 pp. (HB), (Out of print)
Ram Puniyani, Terrorism: Facts Vs Myths 96 pp (Out of print)
Zafarul-Islam Khan, At the threshold of a new millennium 32 pp., Rs 20/d3
Zafarul-Islam Khan, Hijrah in Islam 398 pp (Out of print)
ARABIC
Zafarul-Islam Khan, Waliullah al-Dihlawi 50 pp., Rs 20/d3
Iqbal Ahmad Khan Suhail, Ma Huwa al-Riba? 196 pp. (HB), Rs 180/d 9.5
Mustafa A.R.A. Roshash, Ahkam al-sharikat fil-fiqh al-Islami - dirasah
fiqhiyah muqaranah 312 pp., Rs 600/d20
URDU
Naseema Hurzuk, Sitaaron se Aagey [autobiography],
272 pp., Rs 150/d15
Malik Ben Nabi, Jadid Islami fikr par mustashriqin kay asarat,
50 pp., Rs 30
Zafarul-Islam Khan, Milli masael - chand aham sawalon ke jawabat
42 pp., Rs 20
Ahmad Muhammad Kani, Maghribi Afriqa ki tahrik-e jihad
(Sokoto Caliphate), 106 pp., Rs 40/d4
HINDI
S.M. Mushrif, Karkare ke Hatyare Kaun? - Bharat
mein aatankvaad ka asli chehra 368pp, Rs 250/d 20
Yugal Kishore Sharan Shastri, Ram Janmabhoomi banaam Babri Masjid
- Mithak ewam tathye 64pp, Rs 40/d 5
GUJARATI
S.M. Mushrif, Karkare na Qatilo Kaun?
Bharitya aatankvaad no asli chehro 352pp, Rs 200/d 20
BOOKS DISTRIBUTED
Sachar Committee Report, Ministry of Minority Affairs, English Rs 1000/d50
Urdu Rs 1000/d50; Hindi Rs 1000/d50
T.M. Mani, End of Casteism (Ordeal of a Dalit leader
who finally accepted Islam) 134 pp.(PB), Rs 50/d8
Tahir Mahmood, Uniform Civil Code 208 pp.(PB), Rs 175/d20
Full text of the Misra Commission Report, National Commission for Religious &
Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, 428 pp.(PB), Rs 500/d25
Imam Muslim, Sahih Muslim (Arabic/English) 8 Vols. Rs 1800
Colour Coded Quran (English Tajweed Rules) Rs 425
Colour Coded Juzu Amma (Part 30) (Eng Tajweed Rules) Rs 70
Colour Coded Ahsanul Qawaid (Arabic/English)
Laminated-Qaida with Namaz Rs 85
Noorani Qaidah (Arabic-English) Rs 30
Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, The Prophetic Medicine Rs 200
Hifzur Rahman Seoharwi, Stories of The Prophets Rs 225
Stories of The Prophets - Ibne Kathir Rs 225
Dr. Aid Al-Qarni, You can be the Happiest Woman in the World Rs 150
Prof. S. A. Rahman, A Dictionary of Muslim Names Rs 100
I. A. Ibrahim, A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam Rs 120
A.Q. Zalloom, How the khilafah was destroyed Rs 450
Taqiuddin an-Nabhani, The Economic System In Islam Rs 490
Muhammad Abdul Haq Ansari, Sufism And Shariah Rs 240
See last page for other information/books
PHAROS MEDIAPUBLISHING PVT LTD
D-84 Abul Fazl Enclave - I,
Jamia Nagar
New Delhi 110 025
Tel.: 011-26947483, 26942883, 26952825
E-mail: books@pharosmedia.com
MO/Cheque/ payable to Pharos Media & Publishing Pvt Ltd
***Add Rs 20 postage on orders less than Rs 200
VPP/Cash on Delivery orders accepted.
To pay by credit/debit card, internet banking visit our website.
Visit us at www.pharosmedia.com
Meani ng l i ghthouse, Pharos of Al exandri a was one of the Seven
Wonders of the Worl d
Subhash Gatade
Godses Children:
Hindutva Terror in India
440 pages
Rs 360/d 15
Kamaluddin Ahmed
Assams Doubtful Citizens :
Fact or Fiction?
62 pages
Rs 60/d 5
Afsana Rashid
Widows and Half Widows:
Saga of extra-judicial arrests &
killings in Kashmir
192 pages
Rs 200/d 15
Farooque Ahmed
Manipuri Muslims:
Historical Perspectives
615-2000 CE
192 pages
Rs 200/d 15
Dr E Kazim
Scientific Commentary Of
Suratul Faatehah
562 pages (Large format),
Rs 250/d 20
S.M. Mushrif
Who Killed Karkare? -
The real face of terrorism in
India
336 pages
Rs 300/d 20
Iqbal Ahmad Khan Suhail
What is riba?
208 pages
Rs 200/d 13
M.A. Roshash
Islamic Company Law
(Rule of companies in Islamic fiqh - a
comparative fiqhi study
302 pages
Rs 600/d20
IK Shukla
Hindutva: Treason & Terrorism
184 pages
Rs 130/d10
Mustafa Kamal Sherwani
Secular Horror:
15 years ordeal with Indian sec-
ularism
96 pages
Rs 80/d10
Nur Ali Qabobe
Somalia:
From Nation-State To Tribal
Mutiny
152 pages (HB) ,
Rs 300/d20
Zafarul-Islam Khan
Usul-e tahqiq
[on methodology of modern research],
192 pages
Rs 120/d10
Feza Aazmi
Azab-e-Humsaigi
(The Agony Trail)
(with English Translation)
224 pages
Rs 120/d10
Iqbal A Khan Suhail
Riba kya hai?
230 pages (HB),
Rs 120/d10
Tahir Mahmood
Minorities Commission:
minor role in major affairs
viii+286pages
Rs 300/d 15
S.M. Mushrif
Karkare ke qatil kaun -
Hindustan mein dahshatgardi ka asl
chehra
312 pages
Rs 200/d 20
Allama Muhammad Iqbal
Islam & Ahmadism
48 pages
Rs 30/d5
Shamsul-Islam
RSS Primer:
Based on Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh documents
32 pages
Rs 30/d 4
NEWARRIVAL
Books from Pharos Media, publishers of MG The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 19 www.milligazette.com
OBAIDUR RAHMAN NADWI
The gang-rape of a 23-year-old girl in Delhi on
December 16, 2012 is indeed a blot on the social
behaviour of Indians. Such incidents are not new
but this particular case came into public gaze
with such a fury that it has shaken the whole
political and judicial systems. Such incidents are
order of the day and occupy a permanent feature
in newspapers and electronic media reports.
According to the National Crime Bureau
report, a woman is raped every 22 minutes in
India while a minor is subjected to the same
crime every 76 minutes.
Why then this crime has become so com-
mon? There are many reasons behind it. But
immodesty appears to be the root cause. Both
male and female are responsible for allowing
such circumstances to prevail in our society. In
the past, such crimes were rare in our country.
Ever since we have adopted the western culture,
the situation has taken an ugly turn. It is western
culture which relegated our Indian culture to the
sidelines and smashed our age-old social fabric.
No doubt, modesty plays a constructive role
in character-building and in the formation of a
sound and healthy society. It also wards off all
sorts of obnoxious and unholy acts.
There is much emphasis in Islam on observ-
ing modesty. Holy Prophet said, Every religion
has a distinctive quality and the distinctive quali-
ty of Islam is modesty (Muwatta). He also said,
Modesty and Faith exist together and when one
of them goes out, the other, too, goes out
(Baihaqi); Modesty brings only good (Bukhari
and Muslim).
Noted Islamic scholar Manzoor Nomani
observed that, Modesty restrains a man from
behaving in an undesirable manner and acts as a
shield against lewdness and immorality. It holds
the key to piety and good-doing. He further said,
The word modesty is used in a very wide
sense in the terminology of the Quran and the
Prophetic Traditions. In the common usage, what
it signifies, simply, is that a man avoids lewdness
and keeps away from lustfulness and a state of
feeling which is intolerant of everything that is not
desirable and produces a reaction of disgust and
agony within anyone who knowingly or unknow-
ingly commits an error or behaves in a manner
having semblance of sinfulness (Meaning and
Message of The Traditions, Vol. IV, p. 63).
The immodesty, no doubt, is the root cause
of evils. It is a menace which leads us towards
adultery, fornication, rape, molestation and other
obscene acts. It is modesty that keeps us away
from indulging in a host of evil deeds and absurd
acts. The lack of modesty which results in nudi-
ty and obscenity these days is now considered
an act of modernity. Transparent aprons and
designer dresses instead of covering the body
contours expose them in a vulgar way. It is unfor-
tunate that today immodesty has reached such
an extent that women are made to dance to attain
political mileage. Such cases can be seen during
election campaigns in our country. Women
should not be exploited in such a way.
According to Islam, the world and all things
in it are valuable, but the most valuable thing in
the world is a virtuous woman. The Holy Prophet
said, The more civil and kind a Muslim is to his
wife, the more perfect of faith he is (Tirmidhi).
Islam strictly prohibits vulgar depiction of the
female or male body. We may easily comprehend
through the following Ahadith (sayings of Prophet
Muhammad) as to how Islam combats immod-
esty and indecency. The Holy Prophet said, Allah
is highly entitled that one should observe haya
(modesty) before Him (Al-Tirmizi). He further
said, Mind, never be naked, for you are being
attended by the angels of God who never leave
you alone, except at the time when you have to
attend to the call of nature or when you go to your
wives. Therefore, you should feel ashamed of
these angels and have regard for them (Al-
Tirmizi); Allah has cursed those women who
wear clothes but still are naked; Those women
who remain naked even after wearing clothes
allure others and are allured by others and walk
coquettishly with their heads turned to one side,
will never enter Paradise, nor even get its scent
(Muslim). Hafsa, daughter of Abdur Rahman,
came before Hazrat Ayesha. She was wearing a
thin wrapper over her head and shoulders. Hazrat
Ayesha tore it into pieces and put a thick wrapper
over her. (Muatta of Imam Malik).
Islam warns men not to dress like women
and women too should not wear masculine
dresses. Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The
Apostle of God cursed men who assume a like-
ness of women (in dress, manners, deportment
etc.), and women who assume a likeness of
men (Bukhari). It is narrated by Abu Hurairah
that the Apostle of Allah cursed men who wear
clothes of women, and women who wear clothes
of men (Abu Dawood).
It is obvious that modesty is the essence of
Islamic way of life. We may lead prosperous and
peaceful lives by observing it. Besides, we can
keep ourselves aloof from a variety of anti-social
activities if we inculcate this virtue in our lives.
In this context, we may recall Saudi king
Abdullah ibn Abdul Azizs directive to the media
warning against displaying obscene and inappro-
priate pictures of women. He advised Gulf media
not to publish naked pictures of women to
achieve material gains. He said, one must think:
do they want their daughter, their sister or their
wife to appear in this way?
It would not be out of place here to recall the
former chief minister of U.P. Mayawatis advice
wherein she laid stress on weeding out obsceni-
ty and immodesty from the society. She advised
her party leaders not to attend functions where
women are made to dance in an obscene man-
ner or exhibit their bodies. She got annoyed on
seeing her party leaders watching dance shows
by bar girls aired on TV channels. She said, Agar
tumhari maa aur baheno ko nachaya jaaye to
kaisa lagega? (How will you feel if your mothers
and sisters are made to dance like this?)
In short, no religion promotes immodesty
and indecency. Each faith wants to do away with
this social menace. Hence, we should develop a
sense of modesty and bashfulness and avoid all
sorts of immodest, indecent and impudent acts
so that an atmosphere of peace and serenity may
prevail in the societies.
1
Dont miss
an issue
DELIVERED AT YOUR DOORSTEP
MG
SUBSCRIPTION
RATES
24 pages per issue
24 issues per year
1 YEAR
(24 issues)
India
Individual Rs 320
Gift a friend @ Rs 250
Students* Rs 200
Foreign**
By Airmail : US$ 45
THE MILLI GAZETTE TELLING THE MUSLIM SIDE OF THE STORY SINCE JANUARY 2000
AEFX-313
MG SUBSCRI PTI ON FORM
I would like to subscribe to The Milli Gazette in the following ways:
SUBSCRIBE / Renew @ Rs 320 by paying one year subscription [24 issues]
I am a student (undergraduate or below), Subscribe / Renew @ Rs 200 a year (attach a copy of your School/College Identity Card)
GIFT a subscription to a friend by paying Rs 250
(first fill your address in the first part below and then fill gift subscription address below it, as indicated)
With your Rs 320 subscription (new or renewal) payment you can INTRODUCE MG to a friend for 3 months absolutely free.
(Give address in gift subscription part below)
Please complete the subscription order form and send it to:
THE MILLI GAZETTE, D-84 Abul Fazal EnclavePart-I, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025 Tel. 011-26947483
Mr/Dr/Mrs/Ms........................................................... .............................................................................Profession:................................................
Address: .................................................................. ..................................................................................................................... .........................
.............................................. ..............................................................................State.............................................Pin Code................................
Tel.(................).....................................Mobile ...............................................E-mail:..............................................................................................
Gift subscription or Free introduction recipients Name & address:.................................................................... ............................
................................................................................................................................................................................. ............................................
.............................................. .........................State...............................Pin Code.........................Tel.(................)..................................................
ENCLOSED Cheque/DD payable to The Milli Gazette for Rs*......... ...................No............................................dated......................................
Or Cash on Delivery/VPP or M.O. No. .................dated......................Booked from P.O........................................... ..........................
* For Indian rupees cheques payable outside Delhi/Mum/Hyd/Bang/Chn/Kol please add bank charges of Rs 20
** For US$ / UK/Euro and other non-rupees cheques please add bank charges of US$ 5
*** Cash on Delivery only possible within India. The postman will come and collect the payment.
T
H
E
M
I
L
L
I
G
A
Z
E
T
T
E
I
n
d
i
a
n

M
u
s
l
i
m
s

L
e
a
d
i
n
g

E
n
g
l
i
s
h

N
e
w
s
p
a
p
e
r
A lot can happen with-
in the community and
beyond in a fortnight.
Riots erupt, wars blow
up, reputations are won
and lost, scandals
blow over and pretty
much everything in
between can take a dif-
ferent turn. Make sure
you get your hands on
the real picture
subscribe to
THE MILLI GAZETTE.
Well keep you
posted wherever
you are.
Visit
www.milligazette.com
to pay by
Credit / Debit
Itz Cash Cards
Net banking
PLEASE PHOTOCOPY OR CUT THIS FORM
OR SEND THE REQUIRED DETAILS
ON A PLAIN PAPER
ALONG WITH YOUR PAYMENT
Immodesty: The Root Cause of Evils
20 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVES www.milligazette.com
It is obvious that modesty is the essence of Islamic way of life. We may
lead prosperous and peaceful lives by observing it. Besides, we can keep
ourselves aloof from a variety of anti-social activities if we inculcate this
virtue in our lives.
After enlightenment,
religious leader says
Islam is an ideal religion
Noted religious leader Swamy Lakshmi Shankaracharya admitted
that on being misguided and misled by people he committed the
mistake which, paradoxically enough, became the reason of realis-
ing the truth about Islam. To rectify and recompense his mistake he
publicly apologised and wrote a book titled Islam is an ideal reli-
gion whose teachings are for the safety and security of the entire
humanity. It (Islam) has nothing to do with terrorism. Rather, it is a
religion which opposes terrorism most strongly. He now apologis-
es for his mistake and for compensation of the mistake he not only
wrote this book but is also explaining his views with force in public
meetings and discourses.
Explaining the reason for writing this book, he said that once he
came to know about the pamphlets, booklets etc. being distributed
throughout the country by RSS, VHP etc. in which, by referring to
the 24 verses of the Quran people were being misled and misguid-
ed, saying that the Quran allows violence and orders kafirs and
cruel persons to be killed. For confirmation about the truth of these
verses I obtained a Hindi translation of the Quran. Since I had not
read the Quran and was also ignorant of the incidents and circum-
stances under which these verses were revealed, not knowing the
reference and context, I had also ignored these like all others. Since
I myself had got confirmation of these verses from the translation of
the Surahs of the Quran, I freely and boldly associated the Quranic
teachings with terrorism, and that too by referring to the Quran and
wrote a book. After publication this book became very popular and
began to sell like hot cakes. It was also translated into many lan-
guages and I got royalties also. Meetings were being held in all parts
of the country but one thing always raised a doubt in my mind that
the organisations which sponsored these meetings regarding what
I had written about the Quran never held these meetings in public
places.
Meanwhile, these very organisations asked me to write the
same book again for the American people and this demand in fact
proved a divine reason for finding the real truth. Swamy Lakshmi
says that by chance he got an occasion to read the Seerat i.e., say-
ings and doings of the Prophet of Islam which opened his eyes (of
wisdom). After reading the Seerat of Prophet when he again stud-
ied the Quran, he got an entirely different meaning of the Quran.
Not only were his eyes opened, his thinking also changed. The les-
son that he got from the patience, contentment, mercy etc. from the
Prophets sayings and practices appeared to him to be unparalleled
in the world. He found that followers of the same religion which
opposed and condemned terrorism in the strongest words were
being associated with terrorism. This entirely changed his outlook
and his view also changed. He himself was ashamed of writing his
first book. The obvious result of this change was that the organisa-
tions who used to give financial assistance to him stopped giving
him any assistance. He fell on bad days. Childrens school fees
could not be paid and the problem of earning a livelihood began to
haunt him always so much so that he even had to sell his wifes
ornaments. Inspite of all these difficulties however he remained firm
in his views.
In 2010 he wrote another book titled Islam: Aantak ya Aadarsh
(Terror or Ideal). It was got translated into different languages -
Urdu, English, Assamese, Malayalam, Marathi etc. and translations
in Tamil, Gujarati, Telugu, Bangla etc. are being undertaken. He says
that now he gets the feeling how children in schools are being
imparted wrong education in history and religion. What is even
more regrettable is that all this had been going on during Congress
rule and even 65 years after Independence wrong history was not
removed from the syllabus in India. Swamyji further says that after
the coming of the new book in the market, many people, including
Hindu Writers Forum threatened him with legal action. In
Maharashtra he was even attacked and many times he got threats
on his mobile, complaints about which were lodged at higher levels.
Officers at circle officers level came to him for enquiries but no one
helped him. He says that he is bringing out another book soon. (NA
Ansari)
Book: Hayat-e Rahmani: Maulana Minnatullah Rahmani ki Zindagi
ka Ilmi aur Tarikhi Mutalaa (The Life of Rahmani: A Study of
Maulana Minatullah Rahmanis Scholarly and Historical Legacy)
Author: Shah Imran Hasan
Publisher: Rahbar Book Service, New Delhi
Year of Publication: 2012
Pages: 240
Price: Rs 140
MUSHTAQ UL HAQ AHMAD SIKANDER
A lot of contributions to Islam and Muslims of India have been
made by traditional Islamic scholars who were associated with
madrasas. It is a sign of apathy that beyond their sphere of influ-
ence and people associated with madrasas not much information
is available to the common masses or even to the elites about their
contributions, lives and legacy. There can surely be diverse rea-
sons for this kind of apathy. The need of the hour is to discover
these personalities and make the masses aware about their con-
tributions.
The present book tries to fulfill that void, penned down by a
young writer, Shah Imran Hasan. It deals with the life and legacy
of Maulana Minnatullah Rahmani (1912-1991), the founder of the
vibrant madrasa known as Jamia Rahmani in Bihar.
In his foreword of the book, Islamic scholar Prof Akhtarul
Wasey states the different characteristics of the Maulana and var-
ious facets of his multi-dimensional personality. Prof Wasey states
how he resisted the coercive family planning of the Congress
regime as well as opposed the Emergency period (1975-1977).
Wasey is all praise for Maulana that despite being occupied with
practical administrative work, he found time to pen down books
and articles on various issues confronting Muslims and country
during his times. He is all praise for the young author of the book.
In his preface to the book, the author states that a lot of books
have been written on the life and thoughts of Maulana Minnatullah,
but the need of this book was felt because it relates the whole life
of the Maulana in a systematic and chronological order, which
makes it easier for the readers to understand various phases of his
life.
The book is divided in seven broad chapters each dealing with
a certain aspect of the Maulanas life. The book also includes
some photographs of historical events in the life of the Maulana.
The book informs us that the Maulana was not an arm-chair
or ivory-tower scholar, but since his student days at Darul Uloom
Deoband, he took an active part in the resistance and political
activities against the British colonial rule, resulting in his incarcer-
ation too. He also wrote books against the British which point
towards his patriotism and love for his motherland. In his various
capacities the Maulana also undertook relief activities and social
work.
Being educated and trained as a scholar, he didnt neglect the
esoteric aspect of Islam and was associated with the
Naqashbandi branch of Sufism. The Jamia Rahmani, which he
founded, is an amalgamation of Madrasa and Khanqah, where
both knowledge and practices of Tasawwuf are imparted to the
students.
The Maulana was associated with various institutions during
his life-time. He established some institutions and stabilized some
existing ones. Besides authoring books, he nurtured leaders too.
He left an indelible imprint and inspired numerous students who
went on to become community leaders and scholars.
After the partition, Muslims were left in a vulnerable situation
in India. The Maulana was at the forefront to face the new chal-
lenges facing the Indian Muslims. He was one of the leading stal-
warts of resistance against the Child Adoption Bill, forced vasec-
tomy campaign during the Emergency, and led a movement for the
protection of graveyards and mosques forcing the government to
abandon plans to acquire them. He was part of the successful
campaigning to exempt Waqf from income tax. He also took an
active interest in the Shah Bano movement. He was a member of
the Majlis-e Shura of the Darul Uloom Deoband.
Communal riots have been erupting in different parts of the
country since partition and especially since early 1960s. Most of
these riots destroyed the community where Muslims were eco-
nomically sound. Police and administration cooperated with the
Hindutva cadres in destroying and killing Muslims. The Maulana
tried to reach the affected areas, meet victims and help in the relief
activities. At the same time he forcefully criticized the government
for its biased attitude towards Muslims and shielding the guilty
who were always provided impunity from prosecution and justice
was rarely done to the victims.
Being particularly concerned about the issues of Indian
Muslims, the Maulana wasnt oblivious of the international prob-
lems of Muslims like the Palestinian issue. He never accepted
Israel as a legitimate state. During the 1967 Arab-Israel war, he
collected donations and sent them to help the displaced refugee
Palestinians. He used to speak about various issues like the cre-
ation of Bangladesh and the fate of non-Bengalis in Bangladesh.
He spoke against the assassination of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia,
Russian aggression against Afghanistan and Iraq-Kuwait war.
The author has included a chapter on the scholarly writings of
the Maulana and provided a brief summary of each of his works.
The last chapter of the book deals with the citations, words of
praise, poetical encomiums depicting love and respect for the
Maulana after his death by various persons as well as books writ-
ten about the Maulana. Overall, the book tries to deal with all the
important aspects of the Maulanas life. But since the author
respects and loves the Maulana, no critical evaluation of his role
or thoughts has been possible. We also find that various events of
the Maulanas life have been compiled chronologically without a
critical and academic analysis that adds to the demerits of an oth-
erwise well-written book. The young author needs to be compli-
mented for his effort.
Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander is Writer-Activist based in
Srinagar, Kashmir and can be reached at
sikandarmushtaq@gmail.com
Book on Maulana Minnatullah Rahmani
BOOKS The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 21 www.milligazette.com
Being particularly concerned about the
issues of Indian Muslims, the Maulana was-
nt oblivious of the international problems of
Muslims like the Palestinian issue. He never
accepted Israel as a legitimate state. During
the 1967 Arab-Israel war, he collected dona-
tions and sent them to help the displaced
refugee Palestinians. He used to speak
about various issues like the creation of
Bangladesh and the fate of non-Bengalis in
Bangladesh. He spoke against the assassi-
nation of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia,
Russian aggression against Afghanistan and
Iraq-Kuwait war.
Ensnared in
Identity
Book: No Exit
Author: Areeba Nasir
Pages: 178
Price: Rs 140
Publisher: Pigeon Books, New Delhi
Areeba Nasirs debut novel grap-
ples with the difficulties of being a
Kashmiri Muslim, writes
Mohammad Zeyaul Haque.
Salman Rushdies Moor, surround-
ed by white people, feels trapped
inside his relatively darker skin that
brands him as an outsider, the
loathed other. He would readily
peel off the hated dark skin to show
the white surface underneath, if
only he could.
For Nasirs hero, Ruslaan, being a
Kashmiri Muslim is a lose-lose sit-
uation, a trap from which there is
no escape. In the Valley, the natural
habitat itself, being a Kashmiri
Muslim is quite a grind: frisking by
security personnel, arrests,
encounters, disappearances, mind-
less violence and collective
defamation as a relentless, daily
routine.
Ruslaan faces a wall of preju-
dice and hostility in the national
capital as well. He is helpless when
a Kashmiri friend of his is picked up
by security personnel, ostensibly
for questioning. The friend disappears, as it
always happens, without a trace.
Desperate to help his friend who, he is
convinced, is innocent, Ruslaan tries his
best to do something about it, going to the
extent of exposing himself to the deadly
risk of being branded a fellow terrorist.
Another friend of his, whose sister he
is set to marry, tries to dissuade him from
doing this. He refuses to listen to him,
ignores the friends well-meaning advice
and goes ahead. Finally, he is told that his
proposed marriage would be cancelled if
he does not stop from exposing himself
and people close to him to mortal risk. He
pays no heed, and the marriage is can-
celled (nonetheless, he marries the young
woman without her familys blessings).
Despite all the heartache and heartbreak,
the Kashmiri friend is not traced.
The troubles of being a Kashmiri
Muslim seem to have no end. Ruslaan
goes to the United States, and in time
becomes a great scientist. He gets high
honours for his work, but his Kashmiri
identity, like a magnet, draws iron pins,
doubts and suspicions of others around
him.
By the time he gets back to the Valley,
his father is long dead. Ruslaan comes to
learn that his father was proud of his
achievements in the US and had
been keeping a file of newspaper
clippings about him. Things have
changed a lot in Kashmir. People
have got older, some have passed
away. The gloom has deepened and
nostalgia has given a sad aspect to
everyday existence.
The family moves on to Delhi
as the emotional baggage seems
too heavy to carry in the Valley.
And, lo and behold! Once again, the
Kashmiri identity and the attendant
worries are there to confront them.
What strikes one about the
book is the complete empathy with
which Nasir writes. She is a
Dilliwali, daughter of parents who
came from UP. She has just finished
her MA in English from Delhi
University and has no special con-
nection to Kashmir. Yet, she writes
about Kashmiri life, its day-to-day
rhythms, its cuisine, its flavours
and its strong pull at the hearts
strings like someone who was born
and raised in the Valley.
Being a debut novel, the occa-
sional mush and melodrama is
understandable. So is the stridency
about hijab, a position which could have
been stated in milder terms. All said, No
Exit makes interesting reading.
Sachar
Committee
Report
English Rs 1000
Hindi Rs 1000
Urdu Rs 1000
Ordering details on page 19
REACH YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE
READERSHIP: International India, Gulf, North America and Western Europe, especially
among Indian Muslims and NRIs of Indian Muslim origin.Your ad will also appear on the
newspapers website www.milligazette.com until the next issue. Banners with links to your
websites may also be placed on MG website with prior arrangement.
ADVERTISEMENT RATES: THE MILLI GAZETTE
B/W Full page (24.4 x 37) cm Rs 31,000
B/W Half page (12 x 36.6 cm) Rs 18,000
B/W Half page (24.4 x 18.5 cm) Rs 16,000
B/W Qtr page (12.2 x 18.5 cm or 225 cm
2
area) Rs 8,500
B/W Custom size (per sq. cm space) (B/W) Rs 40
Colour Custom size (per sq. cm space) Rs 80
Classifieds (minimum 20 words) Rs 25 / word
Any right page: 20% extra; or details email to sales@milligazette.com
Learn the Language of
the Quran
www.understandquran.com
www.lqtoronto.com
www.zekr.org Free Quran
Study Software
Get a A verse a day, from the Quran,
in English in your inbox, send a
blank email to
quran.avad@ilmpedia.net
Advertisers alone are responsible for the claims and contents in their ads. The Milli Gazette doesnt vouch for any claims made
by advertisers. You are recommended to make appropriate enquiries and seek appropriate advice. MG shall not be held liable
for any consequences, in the event such claims are not honoured by the Advertisers.
CLIPPINGS SERVICE
O P I N E WS & F E AT U R E S S E R V I C E
Unique clippings, database and
documentation service
covering a vast range of subjects.
Over 5000 individual subject-files on almost any
aspect, especially India, Islamic issues, Palestine,
Kashmir, Muslim minorities etc. etc.
PHAROS MEDIA
D-84 Abul Fazl Enclave-I,
Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110025
Email: opi@pharosmedia.com
http://www.pharosmedia.com/opi.htm
For Muslim Indias
2003 & 2004
volumes contact
PHAROS MEDIA &
PUBLISHING P LTD
D-84 Abul Fazal Enc-I, Jamia Nagar,
New Delhi 110025
Email: info@pharosmedia.com
Complete Set of Vol. 21 (2003) Rs
550 / Euro 70 (Including postage)
Complete Set of Vol. 22 (2004) Rs
550 / Euro 70
(Including postage)
BACK
ISSUES
AVAILABLE
THE MILLI GAZETTE
D-84, Abul Fazl Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar,
New Delhi-110025 India Tel.: (+91-11) 2694 7483
Email: sales@milligazette.com
a ` f Z ; y Q . > + 7 _ ] ; Z G G S ; G k Z k
G S Z n ; G k Z Z [ ; ^ ; Z G ] ^ + 7
] New Arrivals G ] a + 7
Index ; G . Z ; ; ` G ) G 5 7 ]
i > k G 7 , Obituaries Z >
96 > ; Z G
______
g ; S `
. . I G Z Y
G Z 100 G Z . X & 120
G Z 5000 G Z > 180 . Z ; k ; G ]
G Z . . 400 _ Y # k ^& W
; , 2 E ; . . . 25 G Z Z Y { . 10,000 >
; , 2 E ; . ; k Z . W 100 6 Z Y
; , 2 E ; . 500 >
URDU BOOK REVIEW
1739/3 (Basement) New Kohinoor Hotel,
Pataudi House, Darya Ganj, New Delhi-110002
Tel.: 011-23266347 / 09953630788
Email:urdubookreview@gmail.com
Website: www.urdubookreview.com
. g
| j a q a a , | | | , U a a a j a j m | I o
@ D h o

O
. G S ; ' W
_ ^ ` f G , 1995
MATRIMONIALS
GROOMS WANTED
SM4 Siddqi fair 33/52 Iless Legally Dlv., Grad, Deendar,
Lko based seeks settled boy. Mobile: 09793018786. Email:
areva.2009@rediffmail.co m
SHEKH Bhadohi bsd 30/56 MA, B.Ed girl. Family stld
in Sahibabad seeks edu.& wstld boy.Early manage
9891154648 mughal.carpet@yahoo.com
SM shiekh 30/54 PhD(Eng) wkg Asst. Profser(Saudi
Arabia) seeks well stld Sunni match NCR pref#
09411027933 dr_arshi_nafis@yahoo.co.in
DELHI based Liberal Sunni family seeks groom for
32/54, graduated, working in family run company.
Father Kerallte, Mother Delhite. 8826474110. azad.fami-
ly@yahoo.com
SM4sunni shkh bful homely Namazi 3l/53M.Sc.P.hD
wkg grl.Fthr Rtd. Professor. Raipur settled.Fmly.
09827719440 Em: 2013rubi@gmail.com
ANSARI 31/53, MA LLB, trying PCSJ legal adviser
bful slim girl, seeks hq boy. Email: farhanabano@rediff-
mail.com Cell: 91-9670269326
M4 Sunni Khan Girl 28/54 Very Fair Bful Convented
MBA Smart Slim Religious Homely. #09451851091.
Email BP: wasill85@gmail.com
SM sheikh 30/54 PhD(Eng) wkg Asst. Profser(saudi ara-
bia) seeks well stld sunni match NCR pref# 09411027933
dr_arshi_nafis@yahoo.co.in
SHK Sidd. bful slim.fair. eda hmly girl 25/53MA B.ed
seek Prof Qlfd wrkg Wstld boy.
# 9312911585,9582857975 E:siddiqui.shadabl
@gmail.com
BRIDES WANTED
SM4 Sunni Muslim smart boy 29/59BA LLB well stld
working Advocate Saket Court N.Delhi. #9582017345. E:
rash4_three@yahoo.co.in
SUNNI Boy 25/510 B.Tech S/W Working in MNC Seeks
Bful Girl,Cultured & Educated Ansar Family. Father
Retd. Engr. Cont -08953812217
BENGALI Kazi Muslim Boy 31/58 System Engineer
working in QATAR Seek Bfl Graduate 25/54 Girl,
Email- kazi.ih@rediffmail.com
LKO bsed Ansari boy 27/5 6 B.Tech wkg in Blore seeks
edu girl Sister married in USA. Em: azaanah-
madansari@gmail.com M: 09208042640
DELHI based high business class Sunni Muslim son 32 /
511/Looking 4Bful well edu. girl frm Bness fmly
only#981 0007860 Em: info@zabbys.net
Alliance-invited-for-NRI-male-28-yrs. Sunni Muslim
510. Pursuing Masters Degree in Canada, educated
bachelors commerce - Mumbai. Profesional - living &
working in Canada. Seeking a Sunni Muslim girl 20-25
yrs., educated, religious, career & family oriented.
Balanced outlook in life-Deen / duniya. Send girls bio-
data, 2 photos confidentially to parents: contactcana-
da786@gmail.com
22 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 CLASSFIEDS / DISPLAY ADS www.milligazette.com
Classifieds: Rs 25 per word per insertion. Minimum charges Rs 500. Display (B/W): Rs 40 per sq. cm
Send your ad to by email to sales@milligazette.com or by post to The Milli Gazette D-84 Abul Fazal Encl-Part -I, New Delhi-110025 with cheque/DD/postal order/M.O. payable at Delhi
MG
As an online reader of Milli Gazette, I find it very illuminating, intelli-
gent, realistic, pragmatic voice and I enjoy every article there. To me
this magazine represents highest standards of uncompromised jour-
nalism.
Huneef Sofi
huneef111@gmail.com
Umarji
In the death of Maulana Umarji, the Muslim community in Gujarat has
lost a brave soldier who bore the brunt of biased state machinery led
by Narendra Modi. The reason for Umarji becoming a target of the
BJP government was that he campaigned for the Congress party in
the Assembly elections held before the Godhra incident and also
because he was providing food and shelter to hundreds of Muslims
languishing in refugee camps following the post-Godhra communal
pogrom. The level of crookedness of the Modi government can be
gauged from the fact that Maulana Umarji was framed with charges
of train burning conspiracy, one year after the Godhra incident. What
was more disgusting was that even after he was finally acquitted by
the judiciary after six years of incarceration, the media houses kept
on televising the "breaking news" that the 'mastermind' of the Godhra
incident was released. A puzzling situation being faced by the
Muslim community today iswho will punish the police personnel
who are implicating innocent Muslims with fictitious charges and
who will rein-in the TV anchors, who are maligning the image of the
innocent people like Maulana Umarji?? The Muslims of the country
have highest regard and immense expectations from the judiciary
which has been impartial all along.
Syed Sultan Mohiddin, Correspondent, Kadapa
sultan_awaz@yahoo.co.in
Owaisi
How can AP Govt release Akbaruddin on bail when the court has
taken cognizance of the matter? BTW, one wishes the Mushawarat
knew what great Muslims of Hyderabad have been sacrificed at the
altar of MIM politics. Dr Syed Khaleelullah Hussaini, the founder of
the Anwarul Uloom network, for one. Their men have beaten up edi-
tors, scholars and dedicated community workers of Hyderabad.
Shouldn't a thought be given to these treasures of the community as
well? Akbar's language was not only indefensible but simply repre-
hensible and outright counter-productive to Muslim interests. I have
been working in Gujarat in open and strident opposition to the
Hindutva. So, I know what it feels like. Akbar lost the validity of his
argument by the tone and tenor of his balderdash. He threw the baby
with the bathwater. Their politics may have won them some seats in
the legislatures - and consequential favours to a section of Muslims
loyal to them - but at what great cost overall? I feel that when we
espouse such causes we cease the right to fight for just and valid
causes. But, may be, the Mushawarat knows better.
Jowher
president@sprat.in
MG: Our case is not that this or that person cannot or should not
be arrested. We are not demanding that Owaisis or anyone else
for that matter should be above the law. If Akbaruddin gets bail, he
will still be tried by a court of law. Asaduddin should have been
tried way back in 2005 and not now when his party has just part-
ed company with the Congress. The third point we have made is
that the law should be applied equally - to Togadia and his ilk just
like to Akbaruddin.
Shindes arrow hit on the target
The overdoing agitation of the BJP is the clear proof that the remarks
made by home minister is 100% right.There is couplet of famous
Urdu poet Ghalib who has said KOI MERE DIL SE POOCHE TERE
TEER E- NEEMKASH KO YE KHALISH KAHAN SE HOTI JO JIGAR KE
PAR HOOTA It is seen that the your arrow has entered into the liver
and held in it there lot of pain is being felt by me. All the perpetrators
have been apprehended who killed the Innocent Muslims .Therefore
Shinde has remarked BJP. and RSS .Truth is always bitter .The BJP
and RSS cannot refute the charges leveled by Mr. Shinde .
Maqdoomi Hyderabad
A page for women
Please allot a single page for women - role of women as per our reli-
gion in various fields.
B. Riyaz Ahmed, Tamil Nadu 635601
Congress for Modi
Your piece "nhad blames Congress for Modi's victory"" by N.A.
Ansari is interesting. It is not that preposterous a statement by Mrs.
Shabnam Hashmi as written by Mr. Ansari. There is some truth in
what she has revealed about the possibility of fraud in EVMs, which
needs proper investigation by the ruling Center.( read an article by
P.C. Roberts attached herewith ) May i request thru your good offices
to forward my Email to Anhad people, so that I can correspond with
them directly ? It is true that Mrs. Hashmi visited many rural areas
in Gujrat, and she is correctly describing the grass-root situation
there.
Dr. S. K.A., Mumbai.
tirmidhi@hotmail.com
Rahul Gandhi
The appointment of Mr. Rahul Gandhi as the Vice-President of the
Indian National Congress is most welcome. It is good that a young-
ster like Mr. Rahul is elevated to the second highest position in this
party. No doubt his leadership will be in the interest of the country
which is in urgent need of young leaders who can understand the
present happenings and find solutions for the problems our country
is facing. Indian people will welcome his elevation no matter whatev-
er their political affiliations. The speech he delivered has also given
the impression to the people that he is a balanced youngster with a
passion to work for national unity and development. It shows that our
country is going in the right direction.
V.M. Khaleelur Rahman, Ambur
vmk1234@yahoo.com
Let us pledge on Republic Day
On our republic day let us pledge to uphold and propagate the values
of justice, non-violence, communal and caste harmony, peaceful
coexistence and national unity. To adopt moral values in individual
and collective life and to oppose terrorism, casteism, communalism,
regionalism, etc. To fight against corruption, scams, scandals in
political and social life. To fight against social evils like drinking,
drugs, gambling, obscenity, nudity, vulgarity etc. To fight against
atrocities against women like rapes, burning of brides, girl child
abuse etc. and try to give women respectable status in society.
Finally to bring together Hindus, Muslims, Dalits, Christians, Sikhs
etc. for peace harmony and progress of our motherland.
G. Hasnain Kaif, Bhandaga (Maharashtra) - 441904
Kamal Haasan movie
Some Indian moviemakers make movies that show Muslim youth as
terrorists and Muslims as intolerant people. This stereotyping is
going on for some time. The Government and Censor Board have
declined to take any action. This week Tamil movie producer
Kamalhassan was planning to release his movie Vishwapuram (in
Tamil and Hindi languages) in Chennai. This movie again stereotypes
Muslim youth as terrorists. Once again to make money
KIamalhassan is resorting to spreading this dangerous poison
against the Muslim community. I am mglad that the Muslim organi-
zations in Tamil Nadu objected strongly to the state govt, filed a peti-
tion in the High court. The result is favourable; The Tamil Nadu govt
and High Court have delayed the screening of the movie for 2 weeks
while they review its contents. Muslim groups in Tamil Nadu have
pledged to put peaceful siege/sitdown at any moviehouses that may
show the movie without the cuts that they are demanding. These are
steps in the right direction. Muslim groups should hold similar
actions against the screening of this movie in other cities in India
where uncut versions of this movie may be shown. However it is
important that Muslim groups remain peaceful and not allow any vio-
lence to occur. Demonstarting within the democratic system, making
representation to govt and High Court are right steps in the right
direction. Let us hope Muslims can teach a lesson to moviemakers
like KIamalhassan who sensationalize and stereotype Muslim youth
as prone to terrorism.
Kaleem Kawaja
kaleemkawaja@gmail.com
Muslim elected woman assaulted for sitting on chair
How saffron mentality is uncontrolled in Bihar. Police killed Muslims
in Forbesanj and Arraria etc. Many Qabristan captured even govern-
ment official transferred Qabristan into others name. Masjid burned.
After 3-4 yrs. agitation Bihar government allotted land for AMU cam-
pus but adivasis pushed to capture the land by doing puja etc. in
Rahmani Foundation and Millia Educational Foundation (purnia)
lands. Now 60 yr. old Dy. Mukhia Asma Khatun was badly assaulted
by six saffron brigade for sitting on a chair in panchayat meeting and
his son Aftab wanted to save his mother was badly injured on 7
January at Kauriya gram panchayat of Siwan district. Police has
accepted the FIR Min. com first time took notice of this. Urdu media
must follow up till justice is achieved.
S. Haque, Patna
Criminal negligence of P.W.D and Delhi civic bodies
Open manholes and open bore-wells are responsible for the death of
Delhi citizens and children these highly deplorable and horrible inci-
dents take place on account of criminal negligence of PWD and Delhi
Civic bodies The Delhi government should take stern action against
the negligent staff by dismissing the negligent staff and prosecuting
them on communal charges and paying a compensation of at least
Rs 10 lakhs to the kith and kin of victims. These remedial measures
are sure to prevent the occurrence of such horrible incidents.
Dr. M. Hashim Kidwai, ex-MP, Delhi-110091
Secularism too polluted to do justice to Muslims
In Jharkhand J.M.M. supported BJP to form a government on 11
Sept. 2010. Before 11 Sept. 2010 J.M.M. supremo Shibu Soren
announced that BJP was not communal and on 7 January 2013 JMM
withdrawn support from government led by BJP. R.P.I. leaders vehe-
mently opposed BJP but now RPI joined NDA led BJP. Jd (U) is in
NDA. Farooque Abdullah was in NDA. Navin Patnayak TDP, BSP etc.
were partner of BJP. But when leaders personal agenda isn't fulfilled,
they push Muslims cause and get separated as in 26, 27 th month
JMM raised Urdu teachers, Waqf Dept, Haj Bhavan, Madrasa Board
employees. (yaad aye Musalman / MG 16-31 Dec. 2012) again after
formation of government Muslim issues (justice) will be dumped why
? Let us begin the debate to achieve justice.
S. Haque, Patna
Muslims representation in security department
After gang rape dastardly act in Delhi, to ensure the safety and secu-
rity of woman, the central govt. immediately ordered to raise women
police and inspectors making 2 lady, S.I. with 8 lady police compul-
sory in even P.S. In 64 yrs. more than 37000 anti Muslim riots fake
encounter etc. then why not Muslim representation be increased in
security department?
S. Haque, Patna
Is Mali becoming another Iraq?
It is a geographical accident that crude oil is found in many Middle
Eastern countries populated and ruled by Muslims. But as a matter
of fact crude oil is a world resource and so only North America and
Europe would decide the exploration, extraction, refining and market-
ing of the commodity That is the view of the neo imperialists. The lat-
est casualty of this doctrine is Mali a small African country. As usual
the main stream media has been deceiving the world about the goal
of the French military intervention in Mali. I hope our dear friend
Brother Karamatullah Ghori who regularly contributes on such issues
in Milli Gazette does not confound lay readers like me on this issue
as he did in the case of Libya earlier on. Please tell is what is really
happening in Mali regardless of the unbecoming activities of Al-
Qaeda that we tend to hate due to their violence. Whatever is report-
ed by the mainstream media on Mali the goal of this new war is no
other than stripping yet another country of its natural resources by
securing the access of international corporations to do it. This is
being done now in Mali through bombs and bullets and of debt
enslavement. France is supported by other NATO members. US
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta confirmed that the US was providing
intelligence to French forces in Mali. Canada, Belgium, Denmark and
Germany have also publicly backed the French incursion, pledging
logistical support in the crackdown on the rebels. Of course every-
one want a share in the rich booty. Why is India involved in the dirty
American military intervention in Afghanistan? Natural resources,
future investment, trade and greed for sharing the wealth. If we are to
believe what the French say( as we believed the Americans about
Iraq) we are misled again about the real reasons. A look at Mali's nat-
ural resources reveals what this is really about. Mali's Petroleums
potential has been documented since the 1970's Mali could also pro-
vide a strategic transport route for Sub-Saharan oil and gas exports
through to the Western world. Gold: Mali: Africa's third largest gold
producer with large scale exploration ongoing. The country also has
significant quantities of Uranium, diamonds, precious stones, iron
ore, bauxite and manganese calcarous rock deposits copper marble
etc. Traditional colonialism of 18th century is dead we think ( we
thought) but it is actively alive and kicking in more exploitative forms
throughout the world.
pamohamedameen (via email)
Must India adopt Sharia Law?
Despite having total disagreement with Isalmic way of life and Sharia
(Islamic Laws) the exponent of hindutva shri Swami Omji, senior vice
president of Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Mahasabha and president of Vishva
Hindu Sena openly voiced for adoption and implementation of Sharia
Law in the country to crush the rapists. He further said that he is
even ready to move to the apex court in this connection to save the
Indian human society from the sexual abuses against women. While
expressing his views about the New-Delhi rape case. Mrs. Sushma
Souraj of BJP vehemently advocated for public hanging for rapists on
the floor of parliament, thus supporting the call of shri Swami Omaji
and the Sharia Laws indirectly. Apart from the two stalwarts various
political, social personalities and public groups in their collective and
individual capacity registering the same expressions without any
reservation. The basic object of law is to provide security and protec-
tive measures to the human life and society from the un-social cleav-
ages. Thus the foundation of man made law is laid upon the neces-
sity, demand, requirements, changing of circumstances, conditions
and short comings of human society time to time for which reasons
the concept of amendment, repealing of certain clauses with suitable
one and alike provisions are constituted in the legal setup throughout
the world to serve the human society and life in a most appropriated
way and in a larger scale uttermost crime free and healthy human
congregation.
Faheemuddin, Nagpur
Crime
The public anger and uproar created in our nation owing to the
heinous rape and murder of the 23 years old Delhi student simply
compels us to introspect and find out the possible causes or reasons
of increasing such sexual crimes against women. Though there are
several reasons to these heinous sexual crimes, but looking at the
main root cause to this problem is due to the portrayal of women as
sex objects in different forms of media. The dirty and cheap kind of
songs and extra revealing attires of the item girls and leading
Bollywood actresses seems to be demeaning women and projecting
them as mere a sex object. The gestures of dancers in such songs
and the lyrics invite sexual aggression against women. The
Entertainment Media needs to be more responsible while portraying
women in songs, films, etc. Its high time that the concerned author-
ities stand up and stop these depictions and make the people or
media accountable for permitting such violations in the society.
Mohd Ziyaullah Khan, Nagpur - 440013
writeziya@gmail.com
Misleading government
Airports Authority of India pays Rs 171.90 crore dividend...This is
how Govt of India misleads people /passengers. One side AAI has no
fund for Airports development , so Airport developers have also no
resources, hence Air travel passengers are forced to pay Airport
development charge & user development charge. It is matter of
inquiry how Airport regulatory authority has permitted Airport devel-
opers to charge ADF & UDF.
Jagdip H. Vaishnav
jvaishnav47@yahoo.co.in
Inferiority complex in women
Why women should, at all and ever, try to look, talk, walk and dress
like men? Has GOD made mistake in making her very much different
from men in body, mind, heart, desires, emotions, ambitions in many
ways including her modesty softness, shyness, sensitiveness and
even a little forgetfulness? No, never. All these differences are social
needs which can prevent human beings from becoming pigs. Let the
modern fellows not cry like crows and let women be proud of heir
womanhood.
Sultan A. Patel,
Khanpur Deh - 392150
Shabash Rizwana
Rizwana Khatun D/o Zakir of village Krishn Braham Pur Dist - Buxor
Bihar rjected to marry a person who drinks. Barat reached to her
house but as news reached to Rizwana that dulha had drunk wine.
Immediately she refused to accept the person. Peoples and Muslims
were appreciating her bold step but for Muslim it is matter of not
great concern that some of Muslims have developed habit of booz-
ing following the fashion. Shabaash! Rizwana. This is Islam give
superemacy of women that to solemanize a marriage first women's
permission is essential.
S. Haque, Patna
Liked the article titled "Respecting christmas" on pg.20 of 1-15 th
January edition of "The Milli Gazatte".The fact that the holiest shrine
in Jerusalem is entrusted with a Muslim family is really surprising
and also gave a proud feeling.
Rehana Shabbir Hussain
rrrangwala@gmail.com
State of Palestine is a Propaganda
The UN recognizing Palestine as a State is symbolic. What effect it is
going to create is rather dubious. The Zionist concept of the *final
solution* to the Arab problem in Palestine, and the Nazi concept of
the final solution to the Jewish problem in Germany, consisted
essentially of the same basic ingredient: That is the elimination of the
unwanted human element in question. The creation of a Jew free
Germany was indeed sought by Nazism through more ruthless and
more inhuman method than was the creation of an Arab-free
Palestine accomplished by the Zionists : But behind the difference in
techniques lay an identity of goals. If racial discrimination against the
*inferior natives* was the motto of race -supremacist European set-
tler regimes in Asia and Africa, the motto of the race supremacist
Zionist settler regime in Palestine was racial elimination.
Discrimination ( instead of elimination) was applied to those
Palestinian remnants who have stubbornly stayed behind Jewish
nationalism is fulfilling itself through the process of colonisation
which other European nations had utilised for empire building. For
Zionism then and even now colonization would be the instrument of
nation building not the by-product f an already fulfilled nationalism
Kodimirpal (via email)
REJOINDERS/OPINION/LETTERS The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013 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 26 JANUARY 2013 POSTED ON 28 JANUARY 2013
ADV. FORTNIGHTLY AT NDPSO-110002
The Milli Gazette
D-84 Abul Fazl Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar,
New Delhi 110025 India Tel.: 011-26947483 Email: edit@milligazette.com
24 The Milli Gazette, 1-15 February 2013
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
Please see page 3 inside for
details
Respond now if you care about your community
W
h
ite
P
a
p
e
r o
n
Te
rro
ris
m
calling out readers & researchers
SUBHASH GATADE
Godses Children: Hindutva Terror in India
Ordering details on page 19 of this issue Urdu edition soon!
Revised and enlarged 2nd Edition
WHOSE COPY
ARE YOU READING?
If this copy is not yours, please get you own copy, see page 20
The book ably documents evidence of saffron terror.
A.G. Noorani in Frontline
A must for all those who seek truth in contemporary times.
Ram Puniyani in countercurrents.org
Gatade has detonated many myths about Islamic terrorism and
categorically held Hindu outfits for the mischief.
Sumit S Paul in The Milli Gazette

With best compliments from

Kaleem Kawaja , Washington DC
Muslim students
Check out organisations which offer
scholarships, awards & coaching
on
mi l l i gaz et t e. com
To get your organisation listed write to us at
The Milli Gazette, D-84 Abul Fazal Enclave-I, Jamia Nagar,
New Delhi 110025 Email: sales@milligazette.com
(The Milli Gazette does not offer scholarships, awards or coaching)
This space is yet to find an advertiser.
Call 0-9868656614, 0-9818120699