By M Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,

New Delhi: “I knew why I was called, but I still decided to go as I felt that no Muslim leader has ever directly challenged Narednra Modi or any BJP leaders publicly,” said Dr Syed Zafar Mahmood, President of Zakat Foundation of India when asked about his participation in the “Young Indian Leaders Conclave” in Gandhinagar.

The Youth Conclave was organized by the Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG) that had invited about 30 leaders from the minority community. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendara Modi was also present in the conclave. Zafar Sareshwala, a well-known Ahmedabad-based businessman, who has emerged as the Muslim face of Modi is believed to be instrumental in inviting Muslim leaders.

Dr Zafar Mahmood spoke to TCN from the Ahmadabad Airport after the conclave and defended his participation in the programme saying that if like him, Muslim leaderships speak up to their (BJP leaders) faces; they will be forced to look within.

File photo of Dr Syed Zafar Mahmood (TCN Archive)

Asked if he does not think that his participation, like that of some other Muslim leaders, would help Narendra Modi, seen as hardcore Hindutva mascot, reach out to Muslims, Dr. Mahmood said that his attendance in the programme should be judged by what he spoke. He added that when he got the invitation he wrote mails to many of his colleagues in the civil society and media and decided to come for the programme after consultations.

A retired civil servant, Dr. Mahmood, was also Officer on Special Duty with the Sachar Committee. He spoke on the subject “Ek Bharat.” He said that the Bharatiya Janta party “needs to introspect” if it wants to increase it tally in the Lok Sabha.

Speaking at the programme, Dr Mahmood also referred to some of the articles posted on the website of the saffron party and pointed out the flaws in the “BJP philosophy.” He said that these articles are “full of hate and provocations against Muslims,” that calls for “national effort...to break Islamic exclusivism and enshrined the assimilative Hindutva.”

He also took a dig at the main opposition party for “too much emphasis on uniform civil code.” Referring to the Sachar Committee, of which he was Officer on Special Duty, as well as the Ranganath Misra Commission, he urged the BJP to “introduce a resolution in the Parliament for creation of Indian Waqf services,” and seek amendments in the 1950 Presidential order to make ‘Scheduled Caste’ definition “religion neutral.”

Dr. Mahmood also questioned the Gujarat government’s non-implementation of central scholarships for minorities, although the BJP governments in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand have implemented it. He wanted to know if the government is taking any action, now that the Gujarat High court and the Supreme Court have directed the state to implement it and demanded an action taken report (ATR) on the state government’s website.

He also urged the Gujarat CM to visit Dhorajinagar and Citizen Nagar colonies in Ahmedabad, where over 200 families of 2002 riot victims were rehabilitated, but no government amenities have reached them so far.

Asked what the response of the Gujarat Chief Minister was, Dr Mahmood said, “What answer could he give. I was talking about facts that naturally he could not refute. He, however, did say that issues raised ‘need to be looked into’.”

Earlier Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam delivered the keynote address where he highlighted the qualities of a leader.

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,

Mumbai/Lucknow: In Uttar Pradesh where Samajwadi Party has the power to do justice for Muslim youths falsely implicated in terrorism cases, it continues to drag its feet on its poll promise. While in Maharashtra where it has only three MLAs and powerless to do anything in this regard, the party has decided to launch indefinite protest asking release of innocent youths and arrest of guilty officers.

As the Samajwadi party government in Uttar Pradesh faces flak from the civil society members for failing to deliver on its poll promises of releasing innocent Muslim youths languishing in jails for years; the Mumbai unit of the party is on ‘indefinite dharna’ at the Azad Maidan for four days now against the Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra for failing to deliver justice to innocent Muslims youths, who were fabricated by the Mumbai Police Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS).

Abu Asim Azmi speaking at the Azad Maidan.

It should mentioned here that for 39 days now the Rihai Manch (Forum for the Release of Innocent Muslims imprisoned in the name of Terrorism) is on indefinite dharna outside the UP Assembly since May 20 demanding arrest of police officers involved in Khalid Mujahid's murder, issuing the RD Nimesh commission report and action report, and the immediate release of innocent Muslim youth imprisoned in the name of terrorism.

Abu Asim Azmi, Maharashtra state unit President of SP has said that he and his party will fight for justice for those innocent Muslim youths who were arrested on fabricated charges in the Malegaon terror cases, adding that the police officers involved in fabricating charges must be brought to justice. He also had words of praise for police officers like martyr Hemant Karkare who arrested the Hindutva extremists involved in terror cases. Azmi, however, was silent on the cases in UP.

Meanwhile, Rihai Manch has accused the UP government of protecting Kosi Kalan (Mathura) Blast accused linked to saffron terror groups. Earlier it has also compared the extra judicial ‘murder’ of Khalid Mujahid with the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case, and has demanded the SP government to take actions against the erring police officials and to probe the links between intelligence officials in all terror related cases.

Rihai Manch dharna in Lucknow.

The suspected involvement of senior IB officers in the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case as given credence to the involvement of intelligence officials in terror cases and botched up investigations that often wrongly arrested Muslim youths. Family members of Khalid Mujahid and civil rights groups have been questioning the role of intelligence officials in Khalid and Tariq Qasmi’s arrest as well.

Khalid along with Tariq Qasmi was arrested by Special Task Force (STF) on 20 December 2007 from Barabanki. Huge explosives were also shown as recovered from his possession. STF claimed that he was involved in the serial blasts which occurred in Gorakhpur, Faizabad and Lucknow. Later, Nimesh Commission was constituted headed by Justice R D Nimesh who in its report raised fingers over STF's claim about the place of arrest.

Khalid had died under mysterious circumstances on his way back from Faizabad near Ram Sanehi Ghat on May 18. He was declared brought dead by the doctors at district hospital in Barabanki. Later, on the complain of his uncle Zahir Alam Falahi, a case was registered against 42 police officers including former DGP Vikram Singh, ADG Brijlal and others who were on duty during the time of Khalid's arrest.

Rihai Manch is leading a sustained demonstration against the UP government for last 39 days demanding actions on its poll promise of releasing innocent youths languishing in jails in fabricated terror charges. Several rights groups and individuals have also expressed their solidarity with the Manch demonstration and on different days made token participation.

By IANS,

New Delhi: The BJP Saturday said that its Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had to decide on continuation of state Water Resources Minister Babubhai Bokhariya following his conviction in a case of illegal mining.

"The law should do its work. The decision has to be taken by the chief minister," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Murli Manohar Joshi told reporters on questions regarding Bokhariya's resignation.

Asked about the party adopting double-standards as it had had virtually forced former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yedyurappa to quit following his indictment by state Lokayukta, Joshi said each case has its own reality.

He said there was possibility of Bokhariya moving a higher court.

The Congress had Friday launched an attack on Modi over the continuance of Bokhariya following his conviction by a sessions court in a case of illegal mining.

The party had said that BJP seeks removal of non-BJP ministers over slightest allegations but had allowed Bokhariya to remain in cabinet.

By Real News Intl. News Bureau

Chennai: An independent practitioner of law in the High Court of Madras and former AIADMK MLA from Triplicane in Chennai, Badar Sayeed has stirred a hornet’s nest once again through filing a PIL in the Madras High Court over issuance of triple talaq by men, demanding an end to the practice of unilateral issuance of talaq (divorce) certificates by the Kazis. Needless to say, the Kazis, local Muslim politicians and their supporters didn’t like this.

A big number of men from the community marched in protest towards Sayeed’s house at Seshadri Street in Alwarpet, at a stone’s throw from Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence, threatening to surround her house. The protestors were stopped by the police, 100 of whom were taken into custody. While en route to meet the activist lawyer, RNI correspondent encountered a good number of derogatory posters against Badar Sayeed, which she herself cites as vindication of her stand. “Which sharia allows a man to paste photos of a woman on the walls so that others could see it,” says Badar adding that the Kazis, by unilaterally issuing such certificates of divorce, are denying Muslim women their right to lead a married life enshrined in Article 21 of the constitution.

Badar Sayeed was MLA in the last assembly. [TCN Photo]

Actually, Badar Sayeed has filed a petition in public interest in the Madras High Court to declare that Kazis in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, are not empowered to certify talaq. Consequently, they should be prohibited from issuing certificates and other documents approving talaq, she says. Badar cites the Kazis Act, 1880 which lays down the judicial powers that the Kazis possess. The Act was made by the British and nowhere confers the power of issuing talaq (divorce) on the Kazis. Thus there is no legal sanctity to a talaq certificate issued by a Kazi, says the activist.

A former additional advocate general of Tamil Nadu, Badar Sayeed is of opinion that “earlier an evil perpetrated mostly in North India, triple talaq has been gaining acceptance in South as well. While it is wrong that a man unilaterally pronounces talaq in one go, what is worse is that the Kazi too validates it without contacting the woman or the children. I am trying to help those poor Muslim women, who are left without support after talaq. There are so many cases like this around us. Helping such Muslim women is not anti-sharia,” says Badar.

Badar’s anguish is that the Kazis pronounce the divorce unilaterally, whereas the Sharia has kept provision for arbitration or counseling and rules that there should be a time gap between each utterance of the world talaq to help the couple resolve their differences. “Though women belonging to other religions were sufficiently protected by legislation against arbitrary divorce, Muslim women in India were subjected to unilateral and arbitrary divorce by their husbands, says the lawyer.

Badar came face to face with the plight of Muslim women, during her tenure as MLA from Triplicane. A passionate champion for women’s rights particularly of those belonging to her faith, Badar has a background of active life of social service through Roshni, a self-help group that she runs, working in the area of women’s rights and female empowerment.

It came to her notice that several Muslim men, even without following necessary conditions precedent such as attempts at reconciliation and even without their wives’ knowledge, were pronouncing talaq. They also represented to the Kazis that they had pronounced talaq and obtained certificates to that effect. Though the Kazis did not have any authority or power, they were in the habit of issuing the certificates. On account of this arbitrary manner in which the Kazis were functioning, women were put to hardship. The certificates issued by Kazis were being used for various purposes and the women were left with no effective remedy.

Though Darul Uloom Deoband does not represent all the schools of thoughts among Muslims, interestingly, last year, it had ruled that talaq given in a state of drunkenness too was valid. There have been cases of people telling the word ‘talaq’ thrice over phone or sending it to the wife over sms. Over-zealous supporters of the triple talaq claim that utterance of the word thrice even jokingly would lead to divorce. If we write the word thrice, reading it too would mean that the wife will get divorced. But this too is an accepted fact that even though Darul Uloom Deoband supports such divorces, all schools of thoughts among Muslims are against such pronouncements.

Following the judgment of the Supreme Court of India in Shah Bano's case granting maintenance of divorced Muslim women, there were protests among vast sections of the Muslim Community in 1985. Following widespread protest, the Government of India had to enact a legislation prohibiting paying of maintenance to divorced Muslim women, but this couldn’t stop Badar who had initiated a signature campaign in Madras and in the State of Tamil Nadu to mobilize public opinion against the Bill stating that maintenance decreed by the Supreme Court was humane, justified both by the law of the country and the law of Islam.

Hornet’s nest has been stirred! A group with political aspirations has taken to the streets. A group of clergy too has gone vocal claiming that Badar has limited or no knowledge of sharia. There are supporters of both the views within the community.
While all this continues, Badar says that she is going to stick by her stand.

By TCN News,

Riyadh: Riyadh branch of Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath (TNTJ) organized a blood-donation campaign last Friday in which 283 donors donated 125 liters of blood.

The blood-donation campaign was organized in association with King Fahad Medical College Hospital (KFMC).

Explaining the purpose of such a campaign, Mr. Mohamed Maheen, Spokesperson of this campaign for TNTJ said that a good number of Umrah pilgrims who suddenly fall ill or meet with accidents require blood and this contribution will go long way in helping such section of the pilgrims. Arrangements will be made with the hospital to dispatch the collection to be sent to blood banks in Makkah.

Riyadh TNTJis well known in hospital circles not only for conducting campaigns also for its frequent blood donations on urgent basis.

Last week, Riyadh province TNTJ has conducted a mobile blood donation campaign teaming up with Olayya branch of TNTJ for five days where around 107 units of blood were donated by voluntary donors of various nationalities including Saudis.

"This is 24th such blood drive of this nature for Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath (TNTJ) - Riyadh province. 333 donors participated in previous Hajj campaign which was held last year", said Mr. Abdur Rahman Navlak, Secretary TNTJ Riyadh. “The noble act of donating blood will not only give a new lease of life to many, it also heightens our common sense of social responsibility by serving the humanitarian and social needs of our local communities,” he added.

TNTJ is a social organized based in Tamil Nadu. The group maintains to be the number one organization in blood donation in Tamil Nadu and most of the GCC countries. Tamil Nadu Government has awarded a number of awards appreciating its social concern to serve humanity.

By Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircles.net,

Gangtok: Few days back, an important work took me to Sikkim, the small State that nestles between the peaks of the eastern Himalaya. While staying at the capital city Gangtok I came across a small majid close by the city bus-stand. Near the masjid I met two bearded Muslims running a big paan shop. I talked to one of the Muslims at the paan shop, named Mohd. Rauf, to know more about the Muslims in the State. Rauf said he came to Gangtok from Bihar in the early 70s in search of livelihood. He was later joined by his brother, who also works at the paan shop.

I inquired about the settlement of Muslims in Gangtok and other parts of Sikkim. He informed me that there is no indigenous Muslim population in the State. “All the Muslims in Sikkim came from outside, mainly from Bihar, UP and West Bengal in search of work. Around 80 per cent of the Muslims are from Bihar, while the rest are from West Bengal and UP. There are around ten thousand Muslims in the capital city. There are also Muslims in Rangpo, Ranipool, Rinnak, Rangili, Jothang, Namchi, Gyalshing, Mangan, Simtam, etc. In all, there must be around twenty thousand Muslims in Sikkim. As the State Government does not allow outsiders to buy land here the Muslims and in fact all the outsiders stay in rented houses. I have also been staying in a rented apartment with my brother all these years,” Rauf said.

Md. Rauf and his brother at the paan shop

“Majority of the Muslim population are temporary migrant workers. Many of these Muslims engage in construction works. The rich local population engages skilled constructor workers and manual labourers for the construction of their residential buildings. The State Government too engages these people for building roads, office building, dams, constructing roads on the hills, etc. Many Muslims also do petty business. They open small shops. Some Muslims are popular here as tailors. A few early Muslim settlers are working as Government employees, mainly as teachers and policemen. Some have also married the local women,” Rauf added.

Later I entered the masjid complex and talked to the Imam, Maulana Asgar Ali, who hails from Madhubani in Bihar. The Imam further informed, “There is only one masjid in Gangtok. This area is called Apar Arithang. There are around six to seven thousand Muslims here. The masjid was constructed in 1942-43. It was then constructed with wood. It is said that a wealthy Tibetian Muslim from Ladakh, named Sabila Sardar had acquired the land for the masjid from the local ruler. The descendants of Sabila Sardar still live in Gangtok. One of his grandsons named Saeed is running a big shop at the MG Road. There are very few Tibetan Muslims here in Gangtok. However, there are quite a large number of Tibetan Muslims in Kalimpong. They are all wealthy businessmen. There are another 8 more masjids in different parts of Sikkim. There are also prayer houses for other religions too. There is a Gurudwara at Deorali near Gangtok town.”

The masjid at Gangtok

“I came here to work as Imam few years back. I get five thousand rupees per month. The masjid is managed by public subscription. We have organized a body called Anjuman-e-Islamia, Gangtok, to manage the masjid and the Muslims here. It is a registered body. The jurisdiction of the Anjuman is fixed from Tadong to Vajra, Balwakhani and Chandmari to by-pass. There is no madrasa here. The Muslims have realized the need of having a madrasa. We have started the construction of the madrasa building here in the masjid complex,” the Imam added.

Sikkim is renowned for its scenic beauty, rich flora and fauna and ethnically varied population. The State with an area of 7096 sq. km. has a population of just around 6 lakh. The 8586 meters high Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, dominates the skyline of Eastern Sikkim. Sikkim has more than seventy Buddhist monasteries, the oldest dating back to the 1700s. The State has 660 species of orchids. And it is famous for the mask dance performed by Lamas in Gompas.

The author at the masjid

Majority of the State’s population are of Nepali ethnic origin. The native Sikkimese consist of the Bhutias, migrated from the Kham district of Tibet in the 14th century, and the Lepchas, who probably entered Sikkim from Tibet well before the 8th century and brought Lamaistic Buddhism. Migrant resident communities include Biharis, Bengalis and Marwaris.

Hinduism is the State’s major religion (61%), followed by Buddhism (28%) and Christians (7%). The minority religious communities, consisting of Muslims, Sikhs and Jains form almost two per cent of the State’s population.

[Dr. Syed Ahmed is a resident of Imphal]

Even in 21st Century India, 64 years after our Independence, we still have not been able to give equal status to our fellow citizens in the society.

By Anjum Alam,

Travelling has always provided us with memorable experiences, particularly when we travel to hitherto unexplored regions. Travel provides us with new insights about the people, culture, traditions, religious practices and places. Travel to the rural hinterland of India provides one with enriching experience and in no time at all it changes our entire outlook towards life.

It’s well known that India is a place where people belong to different communities, different religions and different areas which differ in many ways but still homogenous in nature. Among these characteristics, one is caste system that has been practiced for the last 500 years and which unfortunately is still prevalent in our society.

I recently visited the Kaza village of Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh which is located next to National Highway fifth (NH5). Being Close to the National Highway, it has good connectivity with the city. The People of the village are engaged in different sorts of business and in real estate. The Secretary of Kaza village, Srinivas told me, “This is the most developed panchayat amongst the 120 villages in Guntur district.”

But it’s also a reality that the village is divided into two sections. One side, elite live, which comprises of upper caste people, and on other side of the road the SC community resides. People from the SC community are separated from the entire village. 95% of the SCs are living far from the village. Though, they are inhabitants of same place but they are excluded from the mainstream society.

Kaza village’s situation, like most villages in India, exemplifies the failure of the Indian Government to ensure equality, despite the fact that numerous laws have been introduced in India to curb caste discrimination and untouchability. Behind this, problem is not the nature of the laws but its implementation. It has been observed that at all levels; there is a lack of political will to ensure that the laws have been applied in the appropriate manner.

It’s been observed that the journey of development among the SC community starts from the heated arguments in the Parliament, in the studios of news channels and in seminars and conferences but they are unfulfilled promises.

For instance, Indra Awas Yojna was meant to provide shelter to the SC community but are they getting the benefits of this scheme?

Even in 21st Century India, 64 years after our Independence we still have not been able to give equal status to our fellow citizens in the society and change our mentality and attitudes towards the people who breathe in the same air as we do. As a human being, we have the same characteristics as they have; but they are segregated from the mainstream social gatherings and they still are ostracized.

(Anjum Alam graduated from a madrassa as an Alim before joining Jamia Millia Islamia where he completed masters and started working in social sector. He is currently pursuing PGD at the National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad and can be reached atanjum.nird@gmail.com)

By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS,

Book: "Narendra Modi - The Man, The Times"; Author: Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, Publisher: Tranquebar; Pages: 409, Price: Rs.495 (Cloth)

When he was six years old, the man who could be India's prime minister helped his father sell tea to passengers whenever an odd train came into the small Vadnagar station in Gujarat.

Narendra Modi was an ordinary boy from a middle class family, the third of four children, and life was literally dark when he was young. The family house was poorly lit and had little natural light; the kerosene lamp added to the smoke and grime.

There was nothing remarkable about Modi's childhood except that he got attracted to the RSS - which later helped him grow politically. At 18, he decided to wander in the Himalayas, leaving behind his family and an unconsummated marriage.

According to Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, who has authored a gripping biography of the Gujarat chief minister, the years from 1967 to 1971 "are somewhat mysterious" in Modi's life. He would disappear at times for months at a stretch. The trait remained with him. In 1995-96, Modi went to the Gir forest on his own and slept in an old temple. "I actually enjoy loneliness."

It was after the 1971 war with Pakistan that Modi formally joined the RSS and moved into the Hedgewar Bhawan. His early responsibilities included making tea, breakfast and evening snacks for senior colleagues. He also swept and cleaned the building, which then had eight-ten rooms.

Modi proved his mettle while doing risky underground work during the 1975-77 Emergency, often travelling in disguise and on a motorcycle. (Soon after, he completed M.A. as an external student from Gujarat University.) Seniors in RSS soon realized his excellent organisational skills and analytical mind.

Modi's rise in the RSS was rapid - in part because "he was also equally adept at picking his mentors and making use of them for furthering his career". He was among the first two Pracharaks who began working full-time in the BJP.

His role in helping the party win the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation election in 1986 raised appreciative eyebrows. Within two years, he was the organising secretary of the Gujarat BJP. Modi learnt the ropes of party politics by attending BJP public meetings - quietly sitting in the back and listening to speeches.

He also built an extensive network across the state - a move that later helped him to checkmate all his rivals and take control of the BJP in Gujarat.

L.K. Advani's Rath Yatra was Modi's first national-level political assignment. But it was Murli Manohar Joshi's Ekta Yatra to Srinagar where he had a more major role to play. Not everyone in the Gujarat BJP liked him though; Keshubhai Patel, Shankersinh Vaghela and Kanshiram Rana resented Modi's lateral entry into the BJP's top echelons.

But "over time, Modi used the contradictions and rivalries among these leaders to his own benefit by using one against the other." When Keshubhai Patel was the chief minister, Modi was known as "super CM". It caused him problems. But after some isolation, he bounced back, in part with Advani's blessings.

In 2001, the boy who once sold tea to train passengers became its chief minister - and then presided over one of India's worst communal frenzy.

The Godhra killings gave Modi a distinct identity - "a label which he has displayed brazenly ever since". According to Mukhopadhyay, Modi strongly believes that if minorities wish to feel safe in the state he governs, they will have to abide by the value systems of the Hindu community. It is this Hindutva politics Modi represents as he prepares to lead the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha battle.

Modi - the book says - is one of the trendiest male politicians in India. He was among the first to possess a digital diary. He is always well groomed. He goes for made-to-order Modi kurta with hand-tailored button holes. He is at home in Western attire too. He has a weakness for designer fountain pens - Montblanc.

A workaholic, he also never forgives anyone who has wronged him. Those who have known Modi tell the author that he is an authoritarian who won't allow anyone to grow beyond a point. He is ruthless -- with ruthless efficiency.

Mukhpadhyay is not a fan of the Gujarat success story; he explains why with statistics. This book, on Modi, is political journalism at its best. You have to read it if you want to know why Modi is what he is today.

(M.R. Narayan Swamy can be reached on narayan.swamy@ians.in)

Muhammad Jafar also said that corruption and crime can be removed if nation follows Islamic ideology.

By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,

Kolkata: Vice President (Nayeb-E Amir-E Jamat) of Jamat-E-Islami Hind, Muhammad Jafar spoke to TCN’s Zaidul Haque. Excerpts:

Political crisis appears to be grappling the country, with government at the centre and political parties bogged down by corruptions. What do you see as the way forward?

Four issues are demanding urgency at the matter, these are - corruption, communal fascism, violation of civil rights and economic imperialism. Jamat E Islami Hind is going to organize nationwide campaigns to make people aware about these issues from 20 October to 19 December 2013. Our main slogan for this campaign will be `Garibi aur Gulami hathao, Desh Banchao’ (Eradicate poverty and servitude, save the nation).

Muhammad Jafar

Our campaign will not just focus on cities, but will also move to villages. You cannot make this nation corruption free, unless people are made aware about it. If we succeed in making people aware about these issues, it will be reflected in the 2014 parliamentary elections.

Other than corruption, what other menace do we need to fight as a nation?

Communal fascism and corruption are two menaces that we need to fight simultaneously. Sangh Parivar and BJP are projecting a ‘rioter’ and a fascist leader in Narendra Modi as their prime ministerial candidate, which could endanger the secular fabric of our nation.

If people unitedly do not stop him from becoming prime minister, then Indian heritage and tradition of secularism and syncretic culture would be greatly damaged. This nation would never want a repeat of 2002 genocide. As a nation, together Hindus and Muslims will have to fight at any cost to save this nation. Our civil rights are violated at every step; it can only stop if we protest against it and demand our rights.

Can you elaborate on this violation of civil rights?

The instances of arrests of innocent Muslim youths are increasing day by day. Police and administration accuse them to be terrorists on fabricated charges, but in most cases prosecution fails to prove charges. However, they languish in jails for years, and hence Muslim youths in all the states in our country are afraid of illegal detentions.

Those Muslims who spot the traditional Islamic appearances, like beard or skull caps are looked down upon by security and intelligence agencies as potential terrorists and are unfairly targeted. However, real culprits are often at large.

If people do not get their civil rights they may turn to unethical ways, which are threats to the future India. This kind of discrimination creates grievances and anger amongst youths, who may deviate from the path and rebel. We are noticing how deprived youths are attracted towards taking up arms and becoming Maoist, terrorist, etc, which is very dangerous for the nation.

We are noticing increasing number of rape cases and other such crimes against women. Do you think harsher punishment can be a way forward?

To remove ` social pollution’ like rape, adultery we first need to spread social awareness and inculcate values amongst the people. People who are demanding harsher punishments like death penalty for rape accused are coming closer to Islamic principles. People have seen how harsher punishments in cases of rape and adultery have worked as deterrent in Arab countries and hence they are demanding similar laws in India.

If we preach the Islamic principles of family system, social evils like rape and adultery will anyways come down. Jamat E Islami Hind wants to give the Islamic message to the nation and people of our country.

But increasingly we are noticing the spread of Western culture, how do you think that will be possible?

Western and European countries are trying to introduce Western culture and spread anti-Islamic mentality. They introduce interest based economy system, but Islam cannot permit it. Practically interest base system has broken the economy of USA and Western countries. They can only overcome this by adapting to Islamic banking system. However, they will not do that.

Western and American countries are influenced by the Zionist lobbies, and increasingly we are seeing India getting closer to Israel. We should refrain from any kind of cooperation from Israel. USA and Israeli governments are propagating and presenting Muslims, as if they are all terrorists.

JIH would urge the government to introduce the interest free banking system in India as well as that will help in the economic growth of the country.

Finally, how do you think JIH can work towards betterment of Hindu-Muslim relations?

Jamat e Islami Hind thinks that only Islam can give the solution for peace. To make a peaceful society we need Islamic ideology. Holy Quran says that we all are sons of Adam (A). Islam always says mankind. Jamat is engaged in spreading the message of Islam to people.

If messages of Islam reach people properly then Hindu-Muslim unity, communal harmony and national integrity will be strong, and India can thus become a symbol of brotherhood, peace and harmony.

By Syed Hasan Zia Rizvi, TwoCircles.net,

Lucknow: ‘Shaam-e Adab’, a seminar on Mir Anees was organized at Rai Umanath Bali Prekshagrah, Qaiserbagh, Lucknow on 29 June by Lucknow Society, an organization which works for the restoration of culture and heritage.

The seminar aimed at exploring and elucidating the origin, history and importance of the Marsiya and Mir Babar Ali Anees (1802 - 1874), who is popularly known as 'Shair-e Azam' and the King of marsiya (elegy) in poetry.

Mir Anees was a scholarly poet who had a deep eye on history and its interpretation. He searched truth, wrote truth, delivered Truth and devoted his life for Truth. Marsiya is an elegy particularly written on The Battle of Karbala (the Truth) and how Imam Hussain(as), Grandson of Prophet Mohammad(saw) saved Islam and Humanity(the Truth).

The seminar commenced with the multimedia presentation given by Atif Hanif, who highlighted the various aspects of the poet in Lucknow like his tomb, haveli, road on his name, original writings, stamp in his honor, etc. Stone of his name is in bad condition and efforts to restore the same is in process by the Lucknow Society.

Many eminent poets of Lucknow attended the seminar; like Manish Shukla, the Urdu poet who elaborated the impact of the battle of Karbala on non-Muslims and on India. The difference between marsiya and soz was explained by Roshan Taqi, the famous historian of Avadh.

Mirza Shafiq Hussain Shafaq elucidated the origin and history of marsiya and how it is to be recited, ‘Khwanandigi’. Reason of the greatness of the poet was highlighted by Fazl-e Imam and another poet Sharib Rudaulvi said, “The poet rendered Hindustani and ganga-jamuni tehzeeb of Lucknow in his poetry”.

Renowned marsiya khwan of Lucknow, Haider Nawab Jafri recited marsiya of Mir Anees in the traditional manner.

“Bas aye Anees bas na sune the kabhi ye bain
Barpa hai bazm-e-matam-e-Akbar mein shor-o-shain
Main ek kya, nahi kisi momin ke dil ko chain
Keeje madad, in apne ghulamon ki Ya Hussain

hasrat ho dur, ashk ka samaan kam na ho
Juz maatam-e-Huzoor koi aur ghum na ho”

Several other prominent poets like Shama Zafar, Dr Zulfishan Chandni, Sehba Ali, and Amir Raza were also present at the event.

By TCN News,

New Delhi: A delegation of Khudai Khidmatgar, a social organization based out of Delhi with cadres across country, is visiting Uttarakhand with relief materials collected for the Uttarakhand flood affected victims.

The team consists of five Members Khudai Khidmatgar Secretary Inamul Hasan, Qamar Intekhab Mohammed Faizan, Gurumukh Singh and Suresh Sagar. The team will visit the affected area and prepare a report to work for the affected people in a constant period of time.

Some of the Khudai Khidmatgars (voluneteers), lik Nandini Behan and Archana Behan have already reached the state and are working for the floor victims.

By TCN News,

Aligarh: Jamia Urdu Aligarh has donated Rs. 25,000 to Prime Ministers National Relief Fund in view of the Uttrakhand natural calamities and floods. Professor Razaullah Khan, member of AMU Court and Chairman of Mushawarati Council of Jamia Urdu handed over the cheque to Rajeev Rotela, District Magistrate of Aligarh for sending it to Prime Minister’s National Relief fund.

Jasim Mohammad Editor, The Aligarh Movement monthly said that the Uttarakhand natural calamity should be declared national crisis and be addressed in the same manner.

He also appealed public to make donation to Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and not to individual or political organizations, so that it may be channelized properly.

We must look into the efforts regarding financial inclusion policy in India as the planning commission also accepted that the financial inclusion is the only way to travel towards inclusive growth to become a global player.

By Tameemuddin Humble,

As the environment of change is taking place across the world where the importance of inclusion, equal opportunity, diversity, democratization and economic justice has gained ground and is against discrimination, stereotype and exclusion. An inclusive society in all respects is becoming a benchmark for a country for its sustained growth.

That is why, in the financial sector, the financial inclusion of the excluded or the marginalized section of our society has become the hot topic of the discourse at global level. The policy makers of the world in this sector are debating the ways and means to achieve the full inclusion. It was taken up first seriously 10 years ago by the then UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, and is being much discussed now in India also, particularly in the last five years, to check the high percentage of exclusion by providing the financial services at affordable cost to all the people—particularly the poor or financially weak segment of the society which is almost 50% in India.

For this very specific purpose, several organizations have been formed and working together strategically throughout the world. The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI) at Accion (global nonprofit microfinance organization) was launched in 2008 to bring about the conditions to achieve the full financial inclusion around the world. In early 2011, the CFI conducted a survey of more than 300 industry experts around the globe and is developing a Roadmap to Financial Inclusion which will be presented at the Financial Inclusion 2020 Global Forum to be held on October 28-30, 2013 in London. The policymakers and central bankers involved in the process from 80 countries have formed a forum—Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) to achieve the inclusion of the 3 billion poor (unbanked) people by 2020. Recently the 4th Annual Asia-Pacific Forum on Financial Inclusion has taken place in Indonesia from 11-12 June 2013 at Batam Island in Indonesia. Last year it was held at Shanghai in China from 25-27 June 2012. It was also given special focus at the Millennium Development Goals Summit 2010 of UN.

This global movement—Financial Inclusion 2020, has also got a generous support of $400,000 from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation a week ago to expand the outreach to the excluded section of the world.

Based on the expert recommendations, the roadmap, which is being developed for the full inclusion under the project FI2020, focuses on the five basic themes:

• Clients and Products

• Technology

• Financial Capability

• Client Protection

• Credit Reporting

But when one goes through the above five framework set for the full financial inclusion roadmap as mentioned in the survey report—Opportunities and Obstacles to Financial Inclusion, an important aspect of the financial empowerment design seems missing or at least less focused. The ongoing campaign should have given much focus on the strategies of the clients’ entrepreneurial skill promotion for the better and permanent solution which could alleviate poverty from its roots besides achieving the esteemed purpose. The movement should be supported by the strong advocacy of the entrepreneurship among the excluded segments of the population. When we think over how to lower the operating cost and for the purpose ICT (Information and communication Technology) application is explored then at same time the importance of low-cost product availability to the clients should also be given focus with same gravity. We look into the risk factors more than the clients’ creditworthiness. There should be more instruments of poverty reduction than of savings and credits. The financial institution should play not only the role of a lending institution but also of skill training institute.

However the project FI2020 is highly appreciable and must be supported by more and more philanthropists all over the world to get rid of the mother of all problems.

Now we must look into the efforts regarding financial inclusion policy in India as the planning commission also accepted that the financial inclusion is the only way to travel towards inclusive growth to become a global player.

Before looking into the issue in the Indian perspective, we must understand what we mean by the financial inclusion. It is simply the delivery of financial services—Credit, Saving, Insurance, remittance etc. at the affordable costs to the disadvantaged section and the low income segments of society. Dr K C Chakarbarty, RBI Deputy Governor, defined the term as “Financial Inclusion is the process of ensuring access to appropriate financial products and services needed by all sections of the society in general and vulnerable groups such as weaker sections and low income groups in particular at an affordable cost in a fair and transparent manner by mainstream institutional players.” Hence it brings the positive changes to the lives of the served which ultimately lead to the social, political and educational inclusion. It is nothing but to ensure growth with equity.

A majority of India’s financially-excluded sector consists of self-employed small vendors (hawkers), small entrepreneurs in the unorganized sector, urban slum dwellers and migrants. Indian Muslims comprise a vast proportion of this segment. These groups do not have access to bank accounts and formal credit markets so they fall prey to the informal and often exploitative money market and moneylenders as has been exposed in the last three months by the anti-chit-fund drive. The poor need money or credit for their survival. The ‘moneylender’ exploits them by way of its credit policy trapping in a downward spiral which furthers them economically stunted forever.

According to the Reserve Bank of India, only 40% of India’s population has bank accounts; 10% has Life Insurance; 0.6% has Non-Life Insurance; and only 5.2% villages have a bank branch.

Why almost the half of the population of India still lacks the financial services, despite the well sequenced five-year plans for the last sixty years? It means public sector banks failed to cover the majority of Indians.

Though the branch network of the scheduled banks improved significantly in the last few decades but still it is one bank branch per 13000 persons. It was around 8,000 bank branches in 1969 in India and now it is more than one Lac branches spread across the length and breadth of the country. But even this growth of the bank branches in India could not check the problem of the financial exclusion of its half of the population.

However, to fill the gap, the government has given direction to the scheduled banks to allocate at least 25 percent of their branches to be opened in the 6 lakhs villages of India that is to bring every village with a population of over 2000 under the ambit of financial services.

(The issue of financial inclusion must be understood that the excluded persons are those who desire the use of financial services but are denied access to the same. If a person doesn’t want to be included to any financial process, he should not be considered excluded)

But a bank in a village may not solve the problem of the financially exclusive people because the problem needs more focused approach not just the services of savings and credits.

Even this service by a commercial bank in a village, if provided, could fail because its system has failed in providing its services, throughout India, to the marginalised section of the society owing to its pure commercial nature which tends to exclude those persons having no legal identity or unable to provide the required information or KYC data to the institutions. Even if the rural or the general people acquire the required document to open an account in a bank, its low transaction size does not make them creditworthy in the eye of the today’s banking system.

As of now, for a poor, the expenditure involves in going to a bank is more than the cost of the credit owe to the money lenders. Going to a bank involves the cost of travel and documentation and loss of wages, which accumulates up to around 28-29% of the loan. If the banker is willing, then the loan is given after 3 to 4 visits. But if the banker is not interested or not sensitive enough, then the cost might go up to 35%. Hence it becomes more beneficial for a poor to borrow money from moneylenders.

Commercial institutions want good returns, merely 5-10% targets are not sufficient. For a banker, the credit must be a performing asset. The low size transaction can’t yield the desired profit. So, an unbanked person could not be entertained unless the loan product is not designed as fully profit oriented. How can a person could get a loan of Rs. 50,000/, if he does have the security base only for a loan of Rs 10,000/? The average loan which is being provided to a SHG member is around Rs. 6,000.

Sixty five years of experience has revealed that the commercial banks are the institutions for educated and the economically sound people.

Do we need a new kind of bank for the financially excluded people, one that has the legal format to work as a bank but doesn’t have a forbidding structure of a bank?

We need such financial institutions for the 50% population to be included in its ambit that could function in a simple way with the staff members using the local dialect and that should also function like any other shop in the market displaying its products, not as an office which doesn’t go out of the box to consider the clients’ immediate situation. Such institutions could not only reach out to the excluded but lower the cost of operations thus reducing the transaction cost. The poor need catering by the persons who know and do in their fashion not by those who are less informed and untrained.

But if an institution which only provides the financial services to the poor and not focuses the problem with its complexity, it would not solve this complex problem as it is generated through the unavailability of the suitable works for the excluded. The strategists to the problem should also look into the factors of unemployment and the other social, economic, cultural components that come in their way of inclusion.

Thus, it is important to ask, “What should be the nature and structure of the financial institution that will bring inclusion of the poor?”

To fill the existing gap between the formal financial network and the reach of banking to the poor, SHG (self help group) -Bank linkage programme was conceived in 1991.

SHGs became a good tool for the financial inclusion in India whereas a commercial bank has failed to reach out to the poor in its present form. So the SHG-Bank linkage became a hope for the poor’s inclusion and more so because the profitability of a bank branch got improved considerably from this linkage. That is why the policy makers found the SHG-Bank linkage was the best way out, increasing the banker’s credit portfolio. A unit of 300 SHGs in two years will cost them Rs. 15 lakhs and generate a credit portfolio of Rs. 150 lakhs in one year, earning gross annual revenue of Rs. 15 lakhs.

But the success or failure of a SHG heavily depends upon the attitude of the staffs on the ground. The attitudes and perceptions of the SHG organizers are found as if the persons being served are not the productive members of the economy and society. The SHG members need training but the organizers don’t train them fully and only achieve their targets. The bankers often find the groups not credit worthy. In recent years, the SHG movement has witnessed a large dropout rate. The condition has deteriorated rapidly in the last 10 years. The organizers of SHGs have acquired the reputations for cheating, multiple loaning, poaching of each others’ staff, and infiltrating each others’ communities. (Planning Commission Report)

As far as the spread of SHG-Bank linkage in India is concerned it is found that the Southern Region accounted for 48.2 per cent of the total SHGs, while the share of North- Eastern Region was just 3.4 per cent. There is clear evidence of the fact that the SHG movement in India has not spread evenly throughout India. In this context, it would be pertinent to see whether the programme has adequately made inroads into the regions where concentration of poverty is higher. It has been reported that SHGs not getting loan from the bank even after more than one year of its formation and group activities. (NCAER Report)

There is also a contributing hindrance in this model of financial inclusion that the organisers expect the program to be profitable in its very first year. We need services for the inclusive finance by the institutions that don’t work under pressure to earn profit as much as possible. As a result, it expects its clients to comply with a variety of norms and regulations and run the risk of excluding many of those who most deserve their services.

The eventual goal should be of mutually beneficial collaboration between financial institutions and the needy persons.

So the complete solution to the problem of financial exclusion of the marginalized sections of our society irrespective of cast, creed and religion may actually lay in the anti-poverty programs with the interest free financial services because of its low cost transaction along with the care of client’s creditworthiness. Some institutions registered in India for the purpose under “Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002” are successful in dealing with the interest free products for the last 10 years and are yielding the profit also.

Given the vast exclusion of the people who is not involved in any economic activity and is not able to bear the cost of the existing financial system, our financial services need its paradigm shift from the strong profit-oriented to the cost based services. The profit oriented services exclude the unproductive segment and the group who is unable to give the sufficient margin and has more risk factors.

Without taking care of all the segments of the society as per their needs, we can’t build an inclusive society. It is a fact that all people have the ability to earn at their own given competencies and in their own specific ways. And there should be nothing which needs to be followed strictly by a person in order to fit that person into the system. It is the financial system as a whole that needs to be changed in order to meet the individual needs of all.

The financial services itself should be conducive enough to attract the people who are lying out of its ambit. It would happen only if the institution is risk sharing, partnership in profit and loss and encourages entrepreneurship.

The issue of the financial inclusion must be addressed by the holistic approach to the problem, creating the opportunities to work, not just facilitating the credit services to the needy. The important challenge is to develop an environment of work culture and one who starts to generate income could be able to save and only then the role of financial institution comes into being and thus includes the excluded into the ambit of financial services.

The growth of a nation depends upon savings, productive investment, entrepreneurial culture and the human capital. All these things are inter-related and impact upon each other. Unless there is income, no progress can be seen in the way of Financial Inclusion. So, the marginalized segment of the society should be shown the way of entrepreneurial circuit through the help of the cost based finance. The moment we build economic opportunities for all, the full financial inclusion begins to be a reality.

(Tameemuddin Humble is the Secretary of Movement for Economic Society, Gaya, Bihar, and can be contacted attdhumble@yahoo.com)

By IANS,

Kozhikode : The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) called an emergency meeting Sunday and criticised state Congress president Ramesh Chennithala for his anti-IUML remarks.

Chennithala earlier Saturday said that the IUML was a party that would "always extract more and more from the Congress" and would eventually become a "liability" for the party. IUML is the second-biggest constituent of the Congress-led ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) and also the government in Kerala.

IUML leader and Lok Sabha member E.T. Mohammed Basheer said after the meeting: "The United Democratic Front (UDF) is one for all and the Congress has the responsibility to keep it going. The Congress can decide if it needs to go ahead. We will make our stand clear shortly."

To mollify the IUML, Chennithala issued a clarification soon after his statement.

He said he had only aired what former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president C.K. Govindan Nair had stated many years ago.

Not pleased with the events, the IUML has called another meeting of its leaders Thursday to take stock of the situation and assess Chennithala's statements.

Sources in the IUML said that Ahmed Patel, secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, has asked IUML chief Panakad Hyderali Shiyab Thangal not to take any "hard decisions".

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who is facing the heat after one of his staffers was sent to judicial custody Saturday for having links with a con-couple, said the media had twisted Chennithala's statement.

"The IUML is an integral part of the UDF and the Congress will never do anything to afflict pain on its allies," Chandy said.

Chennithala fell out with the IUML ever since they poured cold water on his eagerness to become deputy chief minister.

However, he seems to have some support from the Congress. State Power Minister and Congress leader Aryadan Mohammed, who has a long-standing strife with the IUML, said: "It is now that you (Chennithala) are the real president of the Congress."

By IANS,

Kolkata : With the West Bengal panchayat polls slated to be held during Ramadan, Muslim organisations Sunday took out a rally in the city and submitted a memorandum to the State Election Commission (SEC) demanding the elections not be held during their holy month.

"Members from the Muslim community irrespective of political affiliation gathered to make an appeal to the (SEC) to ensure that the panchayat elections are not held in month of Ramadan," said Mohammad Ayazul Haque, the convenor of the rally.

According to a Supreme Court order, the panchayat polls are slated for July 11, 15, 19, 22 and 25 while Ramadan begins from the second week of July.

Hundreds of people holding posters and shouting slogans marched to the SEC office where they submitted the memorandum to SEC chief Mira Pande.

"We met Pande but she said that she was unable to do anything as the polls were held as per a directive of the Supreme Court," added Haque.

Several other Muslim organisations have threatened to move the Supreme Court in case the polls are held during Ramadan.

"We would urge the SEC to ensure the elections are held either before the month of Ramadan or after it. If they do not consider our demands, we will move to Supreme Court," said Mohammad Qumaruzzam, general secretary, All Bengal Minority Youth Federation.

Political parties, including the Congress and Left Front, have expressed their displeasure over the scheduling the polls during Ramadan and blamed the Trinamool Congress government for it.

Congress leader Abdul Mannan even said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should publicly apologise for inconveniencing the Muslim population.

The state government though had expressed it desire to approach the apex court seeking the polls are concluded before Ramadan.

By TCN News,

Lucknow: The Wahabi/Salafi fire that has engulfed Afghanistan and Pakistan will not be allowed to burn India, said Maulana Syed Mohammad Ashraf Kichhowchhvi addressing eighth annual meeting of All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board (AIUMB) held today at Rudauli.

Kicchhowchhvi who is the president of AIUMB said in addition to importing oil from Saudi Arabia, India is also being a recipient of the Wahabi ideology. “This ideology is detrimental to our internal security, national harmony and ethos,” argued Kichhowchhvi.

Maulana Syed Mohammad Ashraf Kichhowchhvi

Kuchhowchhvi directly attacked Jamiat Ahle Hadith as the organization that is getting funded by Saudi Arabia to spread the “extremism.”

The AIUMB board has long demanded removal of Wahabi caretakers of khaanqaahs and dargahs.

Gaddinasheen of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah in Ajmer Syed Mehdi Miyan Chishti said that Sufism has deep roots in India and the conspiracy to weaker it never be allowed to succeed. “Devotees from all over the world come to Ajmer because they have deep respect for Sufism, some people are trying to attack the devotion that people have. This is not just an issue of Indian Sunni Muslims but an issue that affects the nation and the humanity,” said Chishti.

Syed Mehdi Miyan Chishti

Board also objected to the visits of Imams of Harmain visits to India. They said Imams are being used to setup an extremist Wahabi leadership in India.

AIUMB’s Uttar Pradesh’s president and Sajjadanasheen of Khanqah Rudauli Shareef Shah Ammar Ahmad Ahmadi Nayyar Miyan demanded adequate representation of Indian Muslims in state government’s policies.

Board’s Mufti Syed Waseem Ashraf said India should be cautious about her relationship with Saudi Arabia.

Board also discussed and approved a draft will that can be used by Muslims who want to give their property to waqf. This will have provisions to make sure that Sufi practices continue to be performed.

Others who participated in the meeting were Syed Shahid Chishti from Ajmer, Qari Ayub from Muzaffarpur, Maulana Noorani from Srinagar, Haji Yunus Solanki from Vadodra, Syed Farah Ahmad Aamri from Delhi.

On Saturday Rihai Manch brought a report on ‘unfair and bias investigation of 2007 Gorakhpur serial blast’ that found several holes in the police version.

By TCN News,

Lucknkow: Rihai Manch (Forum for the Release of Innocent Muslims imprisoned in the name of Terrorism) demanded on Sunday a fresh probe into the Kosi Kalan riot and blast by the CBI. On Saturday it had brought out a detailed report nailing the investigating agencies in the “unfair and bias investigation of 2007 Gorakhpur serial blast and pointed to several holes in the police version.

Meanwhile, amidst heavy rain in Lucknow today, Rihai Manch completed 40 days of the indefinite demonstrations outside the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Rihai Manch is on indefinite dharna outside the Uttar Pradesh Assembly demanding arrest of police officers involved in Khalid Mujahid's murder, issuing the RD Nimesh commission report, and the immediate release of innocent Muslim youth imprisoned in the name of terrorism.

Rajeev Yadav, spokesperson of the Rihai Manch, said, “Police has not investigated properly the role of the Hindutva groups in the serial blasts in Gorakhpur and the Kosi Kalan riot.” Questioning the seriousness of the police investigation, he added, “Police had released sketches of three suspects and announced Rs 10000 cash for those giving information, however, they have not mentioned the name of any eye-witness in the case. Who then helped the police draw sketches?” he wondered.

Khalid had died under mysterious circumstances on his way back from Faizabad near Ram Sanehi Ghat on May 18. He was declared brought dead by the doctors at district hospital in Barabanki. Later, on the complain of his uncle Zahir Alam Falahi, a case was registered against 42 police officers including former DGP Vikram Singh, ADG Brijlal and others who were on duty during the time of Khalid's arrest.

Khalid along with Tariq Qasmi was arrested by Special Task Force (STF) on 20 December 2007 from Barabanki. Huge explosives were also shown as recovered from his possession. STF claimed that he was involved in the serial blasts which occurred in Gorakhpur, Faizabad and Lucknow. Later, Nimesh Commission was constituted headed by Justice R D Nimesh who in its report raised fingers over STF's claim about the place of arrest.

Rihai Manch is leading a sustained demonstration against the UP government demanding actions on its poll promise of releasing innocent youths languishing in jails in fabricated terror charges. Several rights groups and individuals have also expressed their solidarity with the Manch demonstration and on different days made token participation. Several women also participated in the dharna on Saturday.

Protesters have compared the Khalid’s arrest and death with that of the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case in Gujarat. Civil society members have alleged that protecting the IB in Ishrat Jahan case UPA Government is trying to convert India into police state.

By TCN News,

Bhopal: Five Bhopal based organizations, active on the issue of ongoing toxic contamination in and around the abandoned Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, have condemned the recent decision of the US Federal court that dismissed an appeal filed by a group of plaintiffs last year.

The organizations said that that the decision of the Appellate court was a gross miscarriage of justice as it deliberately ignored the documentary evidence presented in court in the last nine years. The organizations said that they would now persuade the Indian government, owner of the contaminated lands, to intervene in the case pending before the US court.

Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action said that internal corporate documents presented before the three Appellate court “unambiguously demonstrates that Union Carbide Corporation, USA, and not its Indian subsidiary, had designed the waste disposal system in the Bhopal plant as well as supervised its operation and monitored the harmful consequences of the hazardous design.” She alleged that the judges turned a blind eye to the facts on record simply in order to avoid making American corporations accountable for crimes committed outside the U.S.

Nawab Khan, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha said that the original case seeking clean up of the contamination by the US corporation and its former chairman remained within the New York court system and lawyers representing Bhopali plaintiffs were “exploring all options” to continue the legal fight. “It took survivors of the Nazi holocaust 50 years to obtain redress through the courts,” Mr. Khan said. “Like them, we will not give up until we receive complete justice for the wrongs done to our families.”

Balkrishna Namdeo, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha pointed out that the U.S. judges have clarified that the decision to absolve the parent corporation, a majority partner in the Indian subsidiary, could not be cited as a precedent for other cases. “That is the best illustration of how unsure the judges themselves are about the legal validity of their decision.” he said.

The case in the U.S. Federal court concerns the pollution of soil and ground water by hazardous waste generated in the factory that was the site of the worlds worst industrial disaster when toxic gases leaked from it in December 1984.

LouiseChristian, world renowned British human rights lawyer expressing solidarity with the survivors, said "This decision to deny justice to poor and vulnerable people caused irreparable harm by big business should shame the world. The United States Appeal Court has ignored compelling evidence about the central role played by the Union Carbon Corporation based in the US in equipping overseeing and enabling the Indian offshoot of the company to produce UCC's own product, the insecticide Sevin. UCC failed to give advice which would have ensured not only that the leak of gas itself did not happen but also prevented the contamination which has poisoned the drinking water in a large area around where the plant was.Those who run multinational corporations should not be allowed to escape liability for grievous harm by creating complex corporate structures and hiding behind them. The paltry compensation paid in India to the victims and the failure to prosecute anyone over Bhopal is a disgrace.

The history should be reviewed by the United Nations with a view to introducing international law mechanisms for securing justice in this and other cases".

By TCN news,

Baramulla, J&K: Idara Tahqeeqat-e-Imam Ahmad Raza Baramulla (ITIAR) organized a one-day seminar to combat drugs at Sherwani Hall in Baramulla on “Drugs De-Addiction” on Sunday. The seminar covered the full range of issues associated with the drugs problems at international, national and local levels.

Justice Bashir Ahmed Kirmani was the key note speaker on the occasion. He reached out to those attending the meeting saying the problem of children experimenting with drug abuse has also remained a considerable risk for households as well. He addressed the most fundamental and essential questions about drug abuse- from detecting and responding to emerging drug abuse trends and understanding how drugs work in the brain and body, to developing and testing new approaches to treatment and prevention.

Irshad Ahmad Wani, Principal of the Boys Degree College, Baramulla said in his address that use of drug give rise to many problems. He highlighted causes and effects of the drug abuse. He told that the use of drug in our society is due to psychological and socio-cultural factors. Drug use can be prevented if proper measures are taken, public awareness seminars and campaigns can also be helpful in this matter, he added.

Dr Nazir Mushtaq was also present on the occasion. He said, “There has been considerable growth in cases of abuse, arrest and rehabilitation admissions”. All the sensible and conscious people in the society share a common concern, therefore in order to eradicate this menace in order to eradicate this menace from the society, a joint and well coordinated efforts deserve to be set in motion as the issue is highly heinous in nature, he added.

The seminar broke new ground as it dealt with the global problem of drugs consumption, production and trafficking. “The nature of the problem we face is such that it is important that we look at these issues together and not become compartmentalized in our approaches”, said Advocate Mudasir Naqshbandi, the convener of the seminar. He signaled that the results of the seminar would now be considered in the proposals he was drawing up to provide a new framework for action on drugs in the field of public health.

Senior journalist, Karamat Qayoom was also present on the occasion. He said, “There has been considerable growth in cases of abuse, arrest and rehabilitation admissions”. All the sensible and conscious people in the society share a common concern, therefore in order to eradicate this menace in order to eradicate this menace from the society, a joint and well coordinated efforts deserve to be set in motion as the issue is highly heinous in nature, he added. He reached out to those attending the meeting saying the problem of children experimenting with drug abuse has also remained a considerable risk for households as well. He also emphasized on self-restraint and pervasive control and discipline of the joint family and community.

While government officials do their best to eliminate drugs on the streets, the best thing that communities and individuals can do is spread the knowledge and information about the dangers involved with drugs, said Asst Drug controller Baramulla Parvez Ahmad

Other dignitaries who throw light on the topic were young Islamic Scholar, Moulana Muzaffar Ahmed Qadri, President Teachers Forum Baramulla Rafiq Ahmad Rather, Secretary teachers Forum Ishfaq Ahmad Shah, Abdul Quyoom Wani president EJAC President fruit association Baramulla, leading human right activist Kadeer Ahmad Dar.

In the end Idara Tahqeeqat-e-Imam Ahmad Raza distributed awards among the students who have got first 10 positions in Seerat-un-Nabi Sallhu Alaihi wasalum Knowledge test which was conducted by Idara in the month of May. The first prize was given to Afia Fayaz of Girls Higher secondary school old town baramulla, second prize Sadia majeed hanfia higher secondary school Azadgunj, third prize Amir Nazir Malla boys higher secondary school baramulla

ITIAR grounded its roots in Kashmir in 2004 to serve the Muslim community across the globe. Idara Tahqeeqat-e-Imam Ahamad Raza Kashmir was formed in 2004, to serve the Muslim community all around the globe. Organization has published 73000 books on different topics of Islamic faith and on drug de-addiction, science and education and distributed them free of cost in universities, colleges, schools, courts ,offices and talking to sidelines of the seminar president Idara Khursheed Ahmad Shah said, we are continuously trying our level best to spread the message of humanity.

By IANS,

New Delhi : The CBI is unlikely to name Intelligence Bureau (IB) official Rajendra Kumar in its preliminary charge sheet in Ishrat Jahan shootout case to be filed before the Gujarat High Court by July 4 and may seek more time to probe the conspiracy angle, officials said Monday.

The preliminary set of formal charges may focus on those who are alleged to be directly involved in the suspected staged shootout and not on the conspiracy behind it.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Ranjit Sinha told reporters here Monday the agency will file a preliminary charge sheet by July 4.

"We have given an assurance to the high court that we will file the charge sheet by July 4. We will maintain that," Sinha told reporters on the sidelines of a function on environmental training at the CBI headquarters.

He said the agency has written to the Maharashtra government and the union home ministry to provide more security to officers investigating the shootout case.

Asked if the charge sheet will name former Gujarat minister Amit Shah, Sinha said he could not comment on individuals.

Mumbai college girl Ishrat Jahan, Pranesh Gopinath Pillai, Amjad Ali and Jishan Johar were killed by Gujarat Police in a shootout in Ahmedabad in 2004.

CBI officials said that the preliminary charge sheet was likely to name the officers alleged to be directly involved in the incident and the agency will file a supplementary charge sheet on the conspiracy angle in the killing.

The CBI has also questioned Rajendra Kumar, an Indian Police Service officer and IB official, in the case. Officials said he was unlikely to be named in the preliminary charge sheet as an accused.

Rajendra Kumar was with the IB in Gujarat when the shootout took place.

Officials, who did not wish to be named, said that the larger conspiracy behind the killings was still being probed.

The union home ministry has maintained that its prior sanction was required by the CBI to prosecute Rajendra Kumar. The ministry also expressed doubts over "evidence" that the agency claimed to have gathered on his alleged involvement.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, the ruling party in Gujarat, contended that the Ishrat Jahan shootout was not staged and was conducted on the basis of information received from the IB.