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Campus Front Andhra Pradesh unit protested on communal remarks of Modi

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By TCN News,

Hyderabad: Who was in the Driving Seat Mr Modi: Campus Front of India Andhra Pradesh unit conducted protests at many parts of the state against ‘self-styled Hindu nationalist’ Narendra Modi’s insensitive and communal comments linking Gujarat communal Genocide as “accidental puppy death”.



Speaking at the protest meet Mr. Hassan Shaik, A.P State President of Campus Front said “We demand Narendra Modi to apologize for his comments. All his mischiefs are coming out in open now, his role in Ishrat Jahan’s cold blooded Murder has been exposed again, and on the other hand he is making communal and insensitive remarks about victims of his crimes.”



He also added, “But it’s a saddening double standards of Indian judicial system that allows him to roam free even after all his revelations. Not only this shows that Narendra Modi has scant regard for the dignity and honor of deceased people, who were brutally killed, thanks to complicity or at the least mismanagement of Mr Modi. The Gujarat genocide was a planned conspiracy, not any accident. It was given a push by biased Gujarat state machinery under self-acclaimed Back-Seater.”


Is your heart at its best?

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By Ziaulla Nomani, Muallim Magazine,

Heart disease, which was earlier associated with older men, is now becoming common among youths.

According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report, four people die of heart attack every minute in India and the age group is mainly between 30-50. Based on figures released by WHO, 60% of the world's cardio-vascular patients are expected to be in India by 2016.

In the wake of this alarming report, Ziaulla Nomani spoke with with Dr. Zainulabedin Hamdulay, a Mumbai based reputed Cardiac surgeon and the to establish a state-of-art Cardiac Rehab centre in Mumbai on individual basis, to know about the symptoms and precaution of this deadly disease. Dr. Zainulabedin Hamdulay is the first to start ESMR treatment in Mumbai. He is a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon to Lilavati Hospital, Wockhardt Hospital, Breach Candy Hospital and others.

Excerpts:

What’s your opinion about the heart ailments?

Dr. Hamdulay : Heart ailments are causing concern world-wide, but Indians are at more risk of this deadly disease because of their sluggish lifestyle. According to a recent report by the Indian Medical Association, at least 10 per cent of people over the age of 30 in urban areas and 5 per cent in rural areas have blocked arteries, which can lead to serious heart problems. Indians have smaller calibrated arteries that makes us three times more vulnerable to heart attacks compared to other part of the world.

Symptoms of Heart Diseases?

Dr.Hamdulay: The two major warning signs of heart disease are angina (chest pain) and shortness of breath. Angina involves feelings of heaviness, pain, squeezing or burning in the chest. These sensations may also travel into the left arm, neck or jaw. Angina is oftentimes mistaken for indigestion and gas and is therefore frequently missed by doctors on the first diagnosis.

What precaution needed to be taken to keep the heart at its best?

Dr Hamdulay: Eight steps that you can take to have a healthy heart and lower your chances of developing cardiovascular disease:

Know your risk factors. If you have a parent or other close family member with cardiovascular disease, you are at a higher risk. Odds of developing this disease also increase as we age. People who are diabetic have an elevated risk of developing cardiovascular disease because chronic high blood sugar is associated with the narrowing of the arteries.

Make healthy food choices. Limit your intake of greasy, fried, or fatty foods and red meats. Fill your diet instead with fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats such as poultry and seafood, and fiber-rich foods such as whole-grain Oatmeal and whole-grain breads.

If you’re overweight, get to a healthy weight and maintain it. Overweight invites cardiovascular disease. A maintained weight can help lower your likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease. Work with your physician or dietician to find a healthy eating plan that will work for you.

Establish and follow a regular exercise program. It is recommended to reduce the risk of chronic disease to engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity most days of the week. Consult with your family physician to see what forms of activity are appropriate for your age and current physical condition.

Have your cholesterol and blood pressure checked regularly. Have your family physician check your cholesterol and blood pressure at least once a year. If either of these sets of numbers is high, your chances of developing cardiovascular disease greatly increase.

If you smoke, you should quit. Smoking is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases. People can cut their risk of developing cardiovascular disease in half within one year of quitting smoking.

Get a handle on your stress. Stress may help contribute to heart disease. Try practicing meditation or yoga as a way to combat stress. Take a few minutes out of each day and do something you enjoy.

Don’t ignore possible warning signs. That burning sensation in your chest may simply be the result of heartburn, but it could also be a warning sign of the presence of cardiovascular disease. Other symptoms may include a sense of tightness emanating from the breastbone and into the neck, jaw and arm or a shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms, don’t casually dismiss them. Let your physician determine what is causing them and follow his advice.

( Dr. Zainulabedin Hamdulay is the first to start ESMR treatment in Mumbai. He is a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon to Lilavati Hospital, Wockhardt Hospital, Breach Candy Hospital and others.)

SDPI demands probe into disclosures of state-sponsored Parliament attack & 26/11

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By TCN News,

Bhopal: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has expressed its horror, dismay, disdain and despair over the startling revelations made by the former under-secretary in the Union Home Ministry Mr. R. V. S. Mani that Parliament attack in 2001 and 26/11 carnage in Mumbai in 2008 were state-sponsored committed by the incumbent governments.

If the statements of bureaucrat Mr. RVS Mani and IPS officer Mr. Satish Verma are taken under oath, and are true, then all in the UPA Government and erstwhile NDA Government who were involved in causing such massacres, should be brought to justice and be charged for treason.

SDPI national president, A. Sayeed in a statement has wondered as to it is whose agenda to target Muslims behind these attacks together with a series of bomb blasts over the last one decade or so in various cities. He questioned Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and all democratic parties to spell out where lies the origin of the agenda of targetting Muslims. Has any Indian Government at any point of time declared war against Muslims. Is it a political agenda of the Congress party or that of the Bharatiya Janata Party, (BJP), to annihilate Muslims, he wondered.

Mr. Sayeed demanded that the Supreme Court must immediately take a suo-motto cognizance and appoint a high level commission of inquiry into the shocking disclosures made by Mr. Mani quoting Mr. Verma about the government orchestrated attack on Parliament and in Mumbai. It is high time for the entire country to realize that we cannot eliminate the menace of terror with the existing casual approach and buffoonery. As Muslims are the ultimate sufferers of this malicious propaganda, the government, if it is sincere on terror, must constitute a high level Commission of Inquiry to investigate all the terror cases. It has to be said, and repeatedly so, that in all the cases that allegedly finds Muslims as their targets, but practically in most of the cases Muslims are just being framed. He attributed the problem to “a dangerous prejudice pervading India’s criminal justice system” and security establishment.

There are few among the most sensitive areas of Indian intelligence departments who were/are/ and will be continuing their dancing according to the tunes played by their political bosses and these persons can go up to any level to satisfy their bosses. Transparency has to be established in the entire set up of government functioning. But the present political class governing the nation/states will never allow this to happen. Because once transparency is established, their "self-centered" politics will have no takers inside, the statement stated.

He charged that ever since India resumed diplomatic relations with Israel and entered into secret Military deals, and with frequent visits of BJP/RSS leaders to Israel, the terrorism has increased. He alleged that Israel is famous for conducting "False Flag Operation" and the right wing Hindu hardliners are taking lessons from Israel to conduct False Flag Operations and blame Muslims and then gain politically on the dead bodies. Alleged Israel trained episodes and False Flag Operations in India are: 1. Babri Masjid demolition; 2. Anti-Sikh Riots; 3. Parliament attack; 4. Bombay Attack; 5. Bomb blasts in Ajmer, Makkah Masjid, Malegaon, Goa, Samjhauta Express etc.; 6. Encounters in Srinagar 7. False encounters in Gujarat; 8. Arrest of innocent Muslim Youth by BJP-ruled state police and Saffron infested Congress ruled states. The bomb blasts are all interlinked. It is strongly suspected the role of Abhinav Bharat and the Sanathan Sanstha in these incidents. The uncanny resemblance in all these cases tells the story, he stated.

Mr. Sayeed said that several newspapers, blogs and articles had attributed the Parliament attack to be inside job by RSS/BJP rule of NDA, in order to impose POTA and to attack Pakistan and win the subsequent elections on sympathy wave. Still no one answered, how the so-called terrorists would have entered the 3 ring security of Parliament ? It was told that the so-called terrorists came in a official ambassador car belonged to one BJP MP then !!! Afzal Guru was the police informer, who was made a scapegoat similar to Javed Shaikh in Gujarat encounter. This indicates that politics can go to any extent to prove their theory even though the same is against the national interest,.

It may be pointed out here that in a survey conducted in the USA after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre it was found out that 83 per cent of the Americans who were interviewed believed that it was an in-house job.

The statement said that with these disclosures what are the justifications for killing of hundreds of innocents in Mumbai on 26/11. Then who is responsible for the hanging of Afzal Guru. The Supreme Court of India was unable to establish the truth but to satisfy the collective conscious of the people of the country sentenced him to death. The judgement had said: “the incident............has shaken the entire nation and the collective conscience of the society will be satisfied if the capital punishment is awarded to the offender”. It is a matter of great shame for judiciary for hanging an innocent, knowing him to be such. Such a sham for world's largest democracy.

Mr. Sayeed recalled that former inspector general of UP police S. R. Darapuri has reportedly talked of thousands of Muslim youth languishing in secret prisons across the country. There are many Muslim youth who have been missing from their districts and even their families do not know about them. They are kept in secret detention to implicate them in a bomb blast some time in future, the retired IG had said. “There is a communal bias in the police department. I have seen that majority of the officers have a communal bias towards the minorities. This practice has been going on for a while now and no attempt has been made to stop this”, Mr. Darapuri has said in an interview, he pointed out.

As such, Mr. Sayeed said, it seems that an environment has been created against Muslims, especially youth, at the behest of fascist forces represented by the RSS of which BJP and Congress are A and B teams to implement its game plan to subjugate Muslims and force them to remain content as second class citizens.

It may be mentioned here that a national daily said: “R V S Mani, who as home ministry under-secretary signed the affidavits submitted in court in the alleged Ishrat Jahan encounter case, has said that Satish Verma, until recently a part of the CBI-SIT probe team, told him that both the terror attacks were set up "with the objective of strengthening the counter-terror legislation (sic)". Mani has said that Verma "...narrated that the 13.12. 2001 (attack on Parliament) was followed by POTA (Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act) and 26/11 2008 (terrorists' siege of Mumbai) was followed by amendment to the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act)."

Repeat of Gopalgarh in Tonk

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About 80 people were injured and two persons have died in police action.

By TCN News,

Tonk (Rajasthan): On 12 July, last Friday about 150 police perssonel allegedly stormed into the mosque breaking the back door of the adjacent Madrasa and instantaneously fired a number of teargas shells straight on the people offering Namaz in the mosque in Rajasthan’s Tonk’s Chhawni Jama Masjid.

On 11 July 2013 when Muslims of Tonk City were offering Maghrib Salat (Prayer after sunset) at the Chhawni Jama Masjid, after completing their 2nd fast of the month of Ramazan. A Baraat procession came from the nearby ‘Keer’ Hindu locality playing D.J. in loud voice. They stayed a bit longer in front of the mosque. As the D.J. sound was disturbing the people inside the mosque, some of them came out and requested the Keers not to play the D.J. in front of the mosque. The Keers allegedly insisted on playing it and a heated arguement took place which soon turned into conflict and then stone pelting from both sides began. The police came and controlled the situation. The situation was under control but the atmosphere was tense.



Blood on the Floor and Wall of the Mosque

On 12 July 2013, on Friday, as the Muslims gathered at the Chhawni Jama Masjid in order to offer special Friday (Juma’) prayers, huge Police force was deployed along with RAC and STF personnel. The Juma’ prayers went peacefully and people came out of the mosque. According to the eye witnesses, all was peaceful and under control and the people were heading towards their homes. All of a sudden, allegedly without any provocation, about 150 policemen (including RAC and STF) stormed into the mosque breaking the back door of the adjacent Madrasa and instantaneously fired a number of teargas shells straight on the people offering Namaz in the mosque.

One of the shells hit a youth Nasir in his face, who died on the spot and another injured critically. Then the police resorted to ‘lathi charge’ and started beating every one irrespective of his age. An eye witness told that a Muslim police officer, who was praying at the mosque, was also thrashed by the STF. When he managed to run away and entered his nearby house, the STF Jawans followed him and fired a teargas shell into his house through a window, after he shut his doors. They didn’t spare even the Imam of the Jama’ Masjid, who happens to be a respectable figure in the city. About 80 people were injured and two died. The person died other than Nasir could not be recognized, as the police took him away in very serious condition and he didn’t belong to Tonk. The police are silent about that person’s identity and about where he was taken.

A joint delegation of the Rajasthan Muslim Forum (RMF), Sadbhav Manch Rajasthan (SM Raj.) and Peoples Union For Civil Liberty (PUCL) visited the violence hit Chhawni area of the Tonk City on 14 July. The persons comprising the delegation were Engineer Khurshid Husain, State Chief Jamaat-E-Islami Hind, Muhammed Nazimuddeen and Aalam Khan, members RMF, Professor M. Hasan, Chairman IRADA Society, Master Shamsuddeen, Chairman Human Welfare Society, Engineer Rashid Husain and Rajendra Kumbhaj from PUCL, Satish Advocate from Dalit Adhikar Kendra, Sawai Singh, Convener SM Raj. and Mujeeb Azad, Member SM Tonk.

A joint Press conference was held on 16 July which was addressed by Engineer Mohd. Saleem, National Secretary JIH, Prof. M. Hasan, Mr. Sawai Singh, Convener SM Raj. and Ms. Kavita Shrivastava, Gen Secretary PUCL Rajasthan.

The leaders observed that a sick mentality of hatred towards Muslims is developing amongst the police forces including the special forces like RAC and STF, as some of the victims told the delegation that while brutally thrashing the people inside the mosque, the STF men were shouting “bula tere Allah ko” (call your God), “bula tere roze ko” (call your fast), i.e. call them to save you from us.

Though, SP Mrs. Parimala told the delegation that the police attacked after stone pelting began from the roof of the mosque, which the delegation found difficult, as there was only one way to reach the roof through the narrow minaret and through which one thin person could pass at a time. The delegation found no signs of passing any one earlier from the staircase, as there were cobwebs on the walls of the minaret which stuck on the clothes of a delegation member who managed to reach to the roof top. It thus appears that police attacked without any provocation or may be instigated by the communal elements, who were provoking the Keer community. However the police and administrative officers could not reply that, what was the reason of entering the mosque and taking action there. When asked who was injured by the stones thrown from the mosque, the officers replied that only an ASP was injured, that is strange!



Teargas Shell near Mimber

The delegation was of the opinion that this was the sheer repetition of the Gopalgarh (Bharatpur) incident where on 14th September 2011, 10 Muslims were gunned down by the police, though the situation could not deteriorate to that extent.

It is an annoying fact that in a number of incidents of violence, including Sarada (Udaipur), Balesar (Jodhpur), Manohar Thana (Jhalawar) and Soorwal (Sawai Madhopur), no action was taken against the culprit police officers as well as the rioters. Instead, the Muslims were arrested one sided in most of the cases and false charges were framed against them. According to JIH national secretary Er. Mohd. Saleem, had the culprit police officers been punished in earlier incidents, this Tonk incident would not have occured. The SP stated that the STF force became out of control. That is very alarming, if an organized team of trained personnel becomes out of control, they can do a great harm. Such a team should be treated as a criminal gang and be punished accordingly.

The delegation demanded that an independent inquiry be done about the whole incident, the culprit police and administrative officers be removed and administrative action be taken against them, also criminal cases be filed against them. The role of the District Collector be investigated in this whole episode. The deceased Nasir’s family be compensated with Rs. 25 lac and one of his kin be given a government job.

Civil society members demanded a complete reform of our police is the need of the hour and they must be taught humanity and communal harmony.

The news from Egypt

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By P.K. Noufal and Anas Nilambur

The history of American slaves during the time of Abraham Lincoln surprisingly asserts that the slaves, being liberated from their bondage by law, had appealed to their former masters to detain them as slaves again, as they had once been! The reason was quite evident that they were unable to assimilate their new found freedom, having had no prior experience of it and unused to dealing with the outside world as free men!

That incident, perhaps strangely enough, is cognitive with the on-going turmoil in Egypt. Their collective cultural pre-history of the despotic power of the Pharaohs as well as the half century long modern history of autocratic regimes had conditioned Egyptians to live a life of serfdom. Subsequently, the one year long taste of democratic freedom was seemingly at odds with their past life.

The Egyptians thus over utilized their new found freedom of speech, rights of the individual, media freedom etc. and eventually took to the streets in free protest against the government of the day that resulted in enthroning military junta in replacement of the previous democratically elected government. They are now, perhaps, happier with a ‘Pharaoh’ back in position as if they are more used to be subservient to a dictator rather than to enjoy freedom within a democracy.



Hosni Mubarak, the former despot of Egypt, was a modernist Pharaoh, who as supreme military leader subjugated democracy; tactfully holding on to power for several decades. Strangely enough, the election results always seemed to favour him with a 99% majority! Public places and government offices were forcefully adorned with portraits of this modern Pharaoh with the view of making him seem as synonymous with Egypt as the Pyramids! He had safeguarded his autocracy through a decade’s long emergency period, where individual freedom was unknown and freedom of the media extended only as far as it was flattering to the government. He was very conscious about keeping a distance between him and the public. Protestors and whistle-blowers faced either imprisonment or the death penalty. The level of corruption during his regime saw the looting of the country’s wealth bankrupting the state’s treasury. During his approximate 40-year reign Egyptians led their life as virtual slaves.

On the other hand Morsi appeared to be a better ruler and showed his difference from all the past masters of Egypt. He has profound insight in Quran; he is a pious educated man who led a modest life in a rented house. He travelled without luxury and prayed along with common people. He discouraged the hanging of his portraits in government offices or public places. He never took revenge against those who had sought to defame him. For the first time in its history, Egypt’s media sensed a breath of freedom under his rule that paved the way for the birth of many new forms of media expression. It was indeed this very freedom that ironically led them to commit a historical blunder by protesting against the very government they had just democratically elected; eventually resulting in its collapse!

What exactly back fired Morsi’s attempt of reformation? Had he dreamt that the democracy can be built up on the remnants of wrecked autocracy? Or had he failed to realize that there were still internal and external conspirators with malicious plans against his government that was standing for the people? It is still doubtful that either Morsi never tried to tame the Military, Judiciary and the police in spite of the fact that those institutions had still been controlled by the members of the former despotic system, or he had not enough power at his hands to do so. Although he had taken some measures like ousting Muhamed Husain Tantawi, the Military Superior, in view of preventing the toddler government from anything to stand against it. That attempt was also ironically proved to be in vain for Abdul Fathah Asisi the very military leader who replaced Tantawi was happened to be the string puller of the present military coup! It is noteworthy that Morsi had failed in democratizing the judiciary as well, which had been once used by Hosni Mubarak as a tool to keep him in power. More over Morsi failed in preventing the allegations that he had employed more Ikhwanis (Muslim Brotherhood members) in power and let them drive the government.

At this juncture Turkey has something different lessons to share with the world that how did they make their easy walk towards its democracy more effectively and convincingly. The new democratically elected government in Turkey also often had to taste the bitterness of military coup. Democratically elected government of the Welfare Party under the leadership of Najmudin Abkar was capsized by slapping allegation that his regime had tried to tarnish the secular face of the state. In addition Abkar was even barred from taking part in politics by law and put an end to his dreams of bringing Turkey up as a modern Islamic democratic state.

On the other hand, Erdogan acted very different from his ancestors. He realized that uprooting the anti-Islamic elements that had been prevailing in every single system of Turkey, by an overnight was suicidal. Instead of hasting in implementing religion he tried to strengthen the financial base of the country, which had been entirely in wreckage. Success in his attempt that won the heart of people and that led him to the victory in the second public mandate. Erdogan was very keen about regulating the power of military that always posed threat against democracy.

It is evident that what Morsi lacked was the realization that is essentially required before taing over the contorl of a state where people had never been used to a democratic system. He himself once admitted that he had no magic stick to bring back the financial stability of the state since it had been looted by several decade long unquestioned autocrats. Moreover, people in Egypt did not show enough patience to wait longer than a year, which was obviously a shortest period for any ablest ruler to straighten up a country that had been totally jeopardized by decades-long autocracy.

Meanwhile, believing that, it was the protest of a few thousand people at Tahrir Square is the reason that forced the military to sabotage the government, could be away from reasoning. The number of people on streets backing Morsi was much larger than the number of protesters who demanded his ousting although the media turned a blind eye to this news. Therefore, it is not justifiable if the few thousand protesters at Tahrir Square were considered as the representatives of entire Egyptians.

It is apparent that the media was the first institution paid dearly under the interim government that replaced the democratic government as the media freedom was curtailed as soon they came in to power. The channels like Al Jazeera and several other media were forced to close down. Mohamed Morsi and several leaders of Islamic Brotherhood were incarcerated. On the other hand, it will not be a piece of cake for the new state if they neglect the thousands of protesters who pour in to the streets demanding the democracy back in Egypt.

However, the news from Egypt says that the forth coming days of the state will never be peaceful. The onus of answering the question whether Egypt will regain the breath of freedom is ultimately on each Egyptian. And the Muslim Brotherhood must realise that ruling a state up on the debris of autocracy is not a bed of roses. Failure to recognise Egypt’s military coup will prove counterproductive for both Egyptians and Western policymakers.

Indian Muslim youth: Groping for equity and security

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By Ram Puniyani

In a most communities youth have a serious struggle on hand to look beyond the present for the future, especially their careers, longing for dignity and a decent existence. While this applies to all the youth, the struggle of youth from marginalized and discriminated against communities are much more. It is on this terrain that, Chetan Bhagat, the popular writer turned columnist, decided to advise Muslim youth about their future path, choices. His advice came in the form of an article, a letter from a Muslim youth, in a leading daily. The article was so insensitive to the plight of Muslims; it amounted to blaming them for their own plight; and so subtly advised them to opt for leaders like Narendra Modi. This was not a direct advice, Modi’s name was not spelt but the hint was obvious.

Muslim youth felt hurt and insulted by the tone and tenor of the letter and wrote a response which is widely circulated on the net. The letter in nutshell points out the plight of Muslim community as a whole and Muslim youth in general; it also expressed the hurt feelings of the youth. The feeling of hurt and anger is oozing through this expression of the sigh of Muslim youth, a group currently facing myriad problems. The letter questions the democracy of ours, “If it were so, Afzal Guru wouldn’t have been executed to ‘’satisfy the collective conscience of the nation’’. Muslim youth would not have fallen prey to minority witch-hunting, and their killers not decorated with gallantry awards.” It also questions the popular perceptions that the Muslims are under the influence of Maulanas and that Muslims vote in herds.

The letter is an apt response to the proclivities of the crass writers like Bhagat. But Bhagat is not alone in not understanding the plight of Muslim youth. There is a large section amongst our population who will buy the type of crudity which Bhagat is displaying in his article. As such Muslim community’s plight has been worst compounded during last three decades. There are multiple factors; some of them have a lot to do with the historical background of Muslims in India, partition tragedy, the ascendance of global terrorism in pursuit of oil wealth by US and coining of the term ‘Islamic terrorism’ by US media. Other factors relate to the rise of communal politics, politics of religious identity and some others have a deeper relation with the communalized state apparatus.

A large section of Indian Muslim community comes from the untouchables, the shudras, who embraced Islam under the influence of Sufi saints. This was done to escape the tyranny of varna-caste system. During colonial period, the poor Muslims plight remained unaffected. This was mainly due to the fact that in the aftermath of 1857 rebellion, British subjected Muslims to greater repression as they held Muslims as having bigger role in 1857 event. When the community started recovering from its snubbing, some efforts for modern education leading to Aligarh Muslim University began in right earnest. Still these efforts were restricted more to the Ashraf, elite and low caste poor Muslims remained where they had been from centuries. Majority of Muslims were part of freedom movement, ignoring the communal appeals of Muslim League. Later Muslim League, which began with the sections of landlords and Nawabs also, started getting some support from section of educated and elite Muslims. With partition, a large section of traders, bureaucrats and educated Muslims left for Pakistan, while the majority of poor Muslims remained here in India.

At the time of partition the average condition of Muslims and dalits was practically similar. Despite that the future trajectory of both these communities was diametrically opposite. Dalit identity gradually gained some respect due to the struggles led by Dr. Ambedkar. Dalits also got reservations. The impact of these was very positive on the march of dalits towards equality. Muslim community had another fate in store. They started being blamed for partition, started being looked down upon as ‘other’ and their employment in Government jobs became difficult, much below their percentage in population. This discriminating against became a sort of disincentive for the youth to go for studies. To add to the woes of the community communal violence directed against them started picking up leading to the increased feeling of insecurity by and by. By now this minority, close to 13-14% has a huge representation amongst the victims of communal violence.

The rise of communal politics, beginning with Shah Bano case and then the aggressive Ram Temple movement, started pushing the community into the margins of the society in a very active way. Muslim political representation in the representative bodies, Lok Sabha (Parliament) –Vidhan Sabhas (state assemblies) started coming down heavily. Ram Temple movement and the accompanying violence left the community gasping for survival. To add to this came the global phenomenon of terrorism, Al Qaeda, its entry into Kashmir and the demonization of Muslims which went up in due course of time particularly after 9/11 2001. The investigating authorities had a simple formula, if there is an act of terror, Muslim youth must have done it. The consequences of this are simple enough, after every acts of blast arrest hundreds of youth put them behind bars and by the time courts declare them innocent, their future life is ruined and the label of terrorist is permanently stuck on their foreheads. To supplement to this the encounters, Batla House, Ishrat Jahan completed the picture of demonization of Muslim community in general and Muslim youth in particular.

Running parallel to this adverse situation a social humiliation, the attitude of state, police bureaucracy and average people picked up rapidly, and by now Muslims are practically barred from buying houses in the mixed localities, ghettoisation of community in major cities has started going up. A de facto second class citizenship for them is being gradually getting constructed. It is against these odds that a large section of Muslim youth stood firm with grit and determination and made their space in IT world and in occupations which did not require state patronage. As such also many of them have struggled to make their space in non formal professions, films sports. Interestingly even in America, the subjugated class of African Americans has higher representation in Films, music and sports. Their bigger presence in similar areas in India also has its own tale to tell.

In such a situation the sympathetic sounding ‘opponents’ of the ilk of Chetan Bhagat are scattered in different walks of life, giving them advices to the effect that Muslims are responsible for their own plight. When a girl is raped many from such tribe blame the girl for the fate she met, something is wrong with her. Victim as the culprit is the language of the conservative ideologies, Chetan Bhagat does represent such a mind set when he writes to Muslim youth the way he has written this article.

--
Ram Puniyani is a Mumbai-based writer and activist.

Different shades of Ramadan 1434

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By TwoCircles Team,

The holy month of Ramadan (or Ramzan) is a month of fasting, charity, and spirituality. The month has special significance for the Muslim ummah, whether rich or poor. TCN team here captured the toiling devotees, who do not let routine works affect their devotion or their adherence to faith stopping them from doing regular chores, in this holy month.

Guarding his faith and the mosque

By Shaik Zakeer Hussain,

Bangalore: Abdur Rahman gave up hawking fruits on a push cart, to guard the gates of Jumma Masjid in Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore seven years ago. Settled in a small room adjacent to the Masjid, he knocks every neighborhood house, calling its men to prayers every morning.

Here, amidst the busy movements of passers-by, he guards both his faith and his job in this holy month of Ramadan.



Crafting his inner being along with lime stones

By Mohd. Ismail Khan,

Hyderabad: Taking fine measurements with his iron scale, Shaik Rafi crafts the polished lime stones in square shape, sitting amid dust and rubble with skull cap on his head. Rafi is fasting, trying to cleanse and craft his inner being, as he puts the same effort on Tandur lime stones.

Shaik Rafi is a native of Kurnool district from Rayalseema region, like most of the migrants from the region, Rafi is also employed at construction sites in Hyderabad. 24 year old Rafi is working on lime stone crafting and flooring for past 8 years, and gets Rs. 300 for the whole day for his dedicated and enduring hard work.

But his construction site work didn’t deter him from observing Ramzan fast, which he is observing since his very young age. Migrant labor Rafi lives in accommodation provided by his employer Pratab, who also look after his daily meals. Being only Muslim in his employer’s labor camp, Rafi has to adjust things if he wishes to fast.



His employer Pratab allows him to leave flooring site before work timings to let him break his fast, Iftar food available for him at his accommodation. But Rafi needs to struggle a bit for having his Sehri, either he has to save some night food to warm it up again or cook his own food; Rafi often prefers the former.

Even though he has to work hard to manage work and fast, Rafi is happy for he understands the eminence of this holy month.

Guarding with verses of Allah!

By M Reyaz,

New Delhi: 20 year old Yakeen Khan works as private security guard at Jamia Millia Islamia on contract. Sitting under a tree, outside one of the centers in the university, Yakeen recites the Holy Quran, which he brings from his hostel, particularly for this month.

Originally from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, Yakeen works in eight hour shift and gets Rs 8000 per month, besides lodging at hostel meant for Group D staffs. Yakeen has four sisters and an elder brother who too is working in the same university as computer operator, on contract basis.



Jamia earlier had security guards under two categories – Proctorial staffs (often regarded as ‘Bulls’ by students) and security guards. Although salary varied slightly, nonetheless it is much higher than what this new batch of contract staffs get., besides other benefits However, as the university expanded, instead proportionally hiring more security guards on permanent basis, it retorted to contractual staffing. There is now large batch of this new security guards, working subservient to the permanent security guards.

All communities should be kept in mind in NRC update: Assam literary body to govt

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By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,

Guwahati: Welcoming the move of Assam government to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state Char Chapori Sahitya Parishad (CCSP), a literary body has urged upon chief minister Tarun Gogoi to pay heed to the sentiments of all the communities. CCSP also said that if needed the chief minister should sit with the representatives of all the communities to clear the apprehensions in the minds of people regarding NRC.

“It’s a welcome move by the government but we want to mention here that AASU (All Assam Students’ Union) does not represent all the communities of the state. The affidavit which was submitted before the honourable Supreme Court on behalf of the state government and the modalities included in the affidavit were prepared in consultation with AASU only,” said CCSP president Hafiz Ahmed.



File photo of Hafiz Ahmed.

Earlier this month, Assam government had announced that it would start all the works of upgrading the NRC simultaneously in the state and would finish within three years of time after meeting with the representatives of ASSU in Guwahati.

“AASU does not represent all the communities in Assam and off late it has been working like an organ of the Sangha-Parivar, torturing the Muslim labourers in the name of Bangladeshi. We were expecting that before submission of the affidavit that Assam government will discuss the modalities with the representative organisations of all the communities so that no organisation can raise any complaint later. The modalities prepared in consultation with Aasu have raised many questions in the minds of the minorities,” Ahmed added.

He also proposed a meeting with the Assam chief minister taking the representatives of all the communities of the state before the NRC update process starts. “I have written to the chief minister regarding this. I hope he will do the needful for a better future of the state,” he said.


BPL families’ power bills as on June 30 waived off in MP

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By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,

Bhopal: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled Madhya Pradesh Government has decided to waive off electricity bills as on June 30, 2013, of domestic consumers who are below poverty line (BPL). A decision to this effect was taken on Tuesday at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The decision will put a burden of Rs. 225 crore on the state exchequer. The State Government will provide funds as grant to power distribution companies against 50 per cent waiver of surcharge and remaining 50 per cent on waiver of original bill amount, an official Press release said.

The consumers not enlisted in BPL category in the billing system of power distribution companies can avail this benefit by producing ration cards issued to BPL families (including Antyodaya families). Total outstanding amount is Rs.564.68 crore. After deducting amount of surcharge worth Rs.114.93 crore, basic outstanding amount comes to Rs.449.75 crore. Of this, the State Government will bear Rs.225 crore.

Police Health Security Scheme

The cabinet also decided to implement Madhya Pradesh Police Health Security Scheme for police officers and employees. The scheme will be applicable only to the police personnel working in the state. Police officers and employees of all cadres working in Madhya Pradesh will be eligible to become its members. The scheme will not be applicable to Indian Police Service officers. The scheme will be run by a registered trust, whose state-level management committee will be headed by the Director General of Police. Rs.5.60 crore has been provisioned for the first year and later on Rs.4 crore per annum under the scheme.

Each member will have to deposit entry fee of Rs.100 and Rs.50 per month contribution. Member and spouse/dependent of the member will be entitled for up to Rs.8 lakh treatment in a financial year. Treatment facility will be available in State Government-recognised hospitals in and outside the state. After consulting Chief Medical and Health Officer, the unit head will refer scheme’s member for treatment in hospitals in and outside the state.

Four-tier pay scale to doctors

The cabinet sanctioned 4-tier pay scale for medical officers, dental surgeons and specialist cadre working under Public Health & Family Welfare Department. With this, discrepancies in pay benefits of doctors have been removed.

For higher pay scale, counting of 6 years, 12 years and 18 years will be done from the date of joining cadre. Pay fixation will be done by sanctioning pay scale with effect from August 28, 2008 as per eligibility on the basis of service period. Other provisions issued vide departmental order dated May 30, 2012 will remain in force. Recovery of excess payment of pay allowances of doctors in the context of departmental order dated May 23, 2009 will be made from arrears of Sixth Pay Scale. If any amount remains even after this adjustment, it will be recovered from medical service allowance of concerning doctors.

Ramadan 1434: Unfortunates

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By Swastik Pal, TwoCircles.net

Empty stomach is a good time to remind us about the less fortunate ones in the world. A group of beggars get served dinner at night sponsored by people feeling generous in the month of Ramadan.

Link:

TCN series: Ramadan 1434

Gujarat as Guangzhou? Namo fans would like to believe

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By Uzair Rizvi for TwoCircles.net,

As If the tag of SUPERMAN for Narendra Modi was not enough, his fans have gone a step further on social networking websites by posting a photograph of some developed cities and claiming it as Gujarat’s capital Ahmadabad.

Recently, this picture became a big hit among #NAMO fans and they are repeatedly uploading it on various Namo fan pages on Facebook. The picture has garnered more than five thousand likes in just 4 days on a particular fan page.



The picture shows a Bus Rapid Transport System well lit- up with skyscrapers in the background and Namo fans are proudly describing it as a developed Ahmadabad’s bus transit rapid system recognized by International organizations.

But a closer look to it reveals a completely different place. The buses in the photo have the left-hand driving system and the sign-boards on streets and buses contain different languages, they resemble like Chinese or Japanese.

After searching it on the Internet, I finally found the original photograph.
The photograph is of Chinese city, Guangzhou’s bus transit system, which won an International transport award in 2011 from Institute of Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).

Modi fans are letting no stone unturned to glorify the developments of NAMO in Gujarat by photo editing softwares. Well, Modi have a longing for fake publicity and his followers have a longing for a fake leader.

This is the original news link of Guanzhou’s Bus rapid transit system:
http://www.urbancincy.com/2011/04/guangzhous-bus-rapid-transit-system-wi...

Parents of youths sentenced for life protest in Srinagar

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By IANS,

Srinagar : Parents and relatives of two Kashmiri youths, sentenced for life by a court in West Bengal, staged a protest here Thursday and appealed to the governments of West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir to save them.

"My son is innocent. He has never been to Calcutta (Kolkata). He was picked up from home and then framed by West Bengal Police," Mehbooba, 53, mother of one of the convicts Sheikh Imran, told reporters.

"I appeal to (Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee to feel the pain of a mother whose innocent son has to spend the rest of his life in prison for no crime," she said.

Abdul Rashid, 51, father of Sheikh Farhat, who has also been sentenced for life by a trial court, said: "These boys were aged 20 and 19 when they were picked up 10 years back from their houses. They never took to guns nor do they have any connection with the violence in Kashmir.

"It is subversion of justice. We appeal to Omar Abdullah and Mamata Banerjee to intervene and save the lives of these innocent Kashmiris. They should be dropped back the way they were picked up by police," Rashid said.

The trial court in West Bengal has sentenced the two Kashmiris to life imprisonment for arms smuggling.

IGNOU dishes out meat-processing course

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By IANS,

New Delhi : The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is offering a year-long distance diploma course in meat processing from its upcoming academic session in July, said a varsity statement.

The programme has been launched in collaboration with the ministry of food processing industries.

"The aim is to provide knowledge and skills for quality production of meat and its products, to achieve technical proficiency in good slaughter practices, handling meat on scientific lines and to perform testing and quality control of meat and meat products," the statement said.

The mediums of instruction are English and Hindi. It is open for candidates who have passed classes 10 and 12. Those who have cleared the Bachelor Preparatory Programme (BPP) from IGNOU can also apply.

"The fee is Rs.12,000. Students from rural areas and candidates living below poverty line in urban areas can avail 50 percent concession on submission of valid proof," the statement added.

Aspiring students can obtain the form and prospectus from the university's regional centres for Rs.200.

IGNOU is the world's largest open university system with a pan-India and international reach with flexible entry qualifications and a wide range of academic programmes at affordable cost.

Four protestors shot dead in Kashmir, demonstrations in Valley

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By IANS,

Srinagar : At least four people were killed and about two dozen injured in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district Thursday when security forces opened fire on protesters, police said. The incident led to tension in Srinagar and adjoining Pulwama, Shopian and Anantnag districts with protesters taking to streets.

As a precautionary measure, the government has imposed curfew in Srinagar and other major towns of the Valley from Friday morning. Internet services were also suspended or slowed.

Condemning the incident as "unacceptable", Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday spoke to union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who ordered a probe and assured that any use of excessive force or irresponsible action will be dealt with strictly, an official statement issued here said.

In a separate development, a cardiologist was critically injured and two police guards killed when militants attacked them in Pampore town in Pulwama district of the Valley.

Four protesters were killed and over two dozen others were injured when guards fired at protesters storming a camp of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Shaida Gool village of Ramban district, 145 km from Srinagar, police said.

The people were protesting the alleged desecration of a mosque and beating up of an Imam by some BSF personnel.

Ten of the injured, five of them with critical bullet injuries, were airlifted by helicopters to hospitals in Jammu city, 180 km away, for specialized treatment, police said.

A BSF trooper was also injured in the incident. A BSF official told reporters in Jammu that a trooper had sustained a bullet injury after somebody from among the protesters fired at them after which the guards at the camp opened fire at the protesters in self-defence.

The state government has also ordered a magisterial enquiry while a high-level team which includes two ministers and the state police chief is camping at the spot. The district magistrate of Ramban has also been shifted out.

Condemning the incident, Abdullah said it was "unfortunate that in spite of costly lessons learnt in 2008 and 2010, some amongst us are determined to repeat past mistakes and use force against unarmed protesters".

"It is highly unacceptable to shoot at unarmed protesters just because they were reportedly protesting manhandling of an Imam of their area," he said.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik was taken into preventive custody along with other supporters in Srinagar when they staged a protest in Maisuma area against the killings.

As the protesters marched towards city centre Lal Chowk, police intervened to break the protest arresting Malik and some other activists of the group.

Clashes between security forces and stone-pelting protesters also broke out in Pulwama and Shopian towns in south Kashmir. Police used batons and fired in the air to disperse the protesters.

Protesters have also burnt old tyres to block the strategic Jammu-Srinagar highway at Batote, Ramban and Bannihal towns of Jammu region.

Two government vehicles were torched by protesters in Ramban town.

Senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani has called for a three-day protest shutdown against the Gool killings.

Meanwhile, separatist guerrillas shot and seriously injured senior cardiologist Sheikh Jalal at his hometown Pampore.

Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Abdul Gani Mir, told reporters that Jalal, a former director of the prestigious Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura (SKIMS) was moving on the street along with his security guards when three guerrillas suddenly appeared and fired indiscriminately at them.

The two security guards were killed on the spot while Mir was taken to hospital, Mir said.

Doctors at SKIMS where Jalal was brought and operated upon have said that his condition has stabilized although he lost one of his eyes because of the bullet injury.

Jalal had been provided armed guards by the state government. No guerrilla group has owned responsibility for the attack.

Probe ordered into Jammu and Kashmir firing incident

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By IANS,

New Delhi : A probe has been ordered into a firing incident during a clash between protesters and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district in which at least four people lost their lives, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said here Thursday.

"I have ordered an inquiry to be conducted without any loss of time to ascertain the circumstances which led to the firing," Shinde said.

Expressing regret over the incident, Shinde said: "The loss of lives in this incident is particularly saddening and I offer my deep condolences to the bereaved families."

He also appealed to the people to maintain peace.

"I assure that any use of excessive force or irresponsible action will be dealt with strictly. I appeal to the people to maintain peace and allow normalcy to be restored."

Alleging desecration of a mosque and beating up of an Imam by some Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, a group of protesters stormed a BSF camp in Gool town of Ramban district Thursday. About two dozen people, including some BSF personnel, were injured in the clashes.


Two policemen killed, cardiologist injured in Kashmir

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By IANS,

Srinagar : A leading cardiologist of Jammu and Kashmir was critically injured while his two police guards were killed in an attack by separatist guerrillas Thursday, police said.

Guerrillas opened fire at the vehicle of Sheikh Jalal in Nambalbal area in the Kashmir Valley's Pampore town, a police officer said.

"Jalal was critically injured in the firing while his two police guards died on the spot," he said. Jalal was taken to a hospital for treatment.

A leading cardiologist, Jalal was also the director of the valley's only tertiary care hospital, the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences at Srinagar. He had retired a few years back.

He also headed the cardiology department of the institute and was presently doing private practice in Srinagar.

"His condition is critical," the officer said.

Tension gripped the area where security forces searched for the killers.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack, which came a day after a prisoner was killed and his four police escorts wounded in a grenade attack in Srinagar.

Political Iftar parties routine affair in UP

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By TwoCircles.net Special Correspondent,

Lucknow: Political Iftar parties in the auspicious month of Ramadan have become a routine affair in Uttar Pradesh. This Ramdan also political iftar parties are picking up in the Hindi belt. Organising such political iftar parties which are hosted by political parties themselves or by leaders of some political parties where any high profile politician is invited.

In Ramdan 1434, political iftar parties are slowly picking up in Lucknow. The beginning has been done by holding an iftar by Mohammad Haneef, who is former general secretary of Samajwadi Party at Taiyyab Hall, Aishbagh Eidgah on Wednesday. Cabinet minister for PWD, Irrigation Shivpal Yadav too was present on the occasion.



There was nothing wrong in organising iftar parties and inviting even politicians. But after the iftar party a proper press note was issued with photographs highlighting that minister Shivpal Yadav and medical, health and family welfare minister Ahmed Hasan were also present during iftar.

UP government's information and public relations did the rest and released a press statement that minister Shivpal Yadav and Ahmed Hasan attended the iftar which was organised by Tehreek-e-Millat Foundation. Prayers were made after Namaz for the peace and development of the society and the country.
Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli, Additional Advocate General Zafaryab Jilani too were present during the iftar. Samajwadi Party's media cell even released two photographs of the iftar party with Shivpal and Ahmed Hasan in centerstage.

However, the organiser, Mohammad Haneef claimed that it was his personal effort and he organises it every year during ramdan. “People from all walks of life attended the iftar in large numbers. I don't organise it for political mileage,” he stated.

Three days ago, there was an invitation from Rashtriya Ulema Council to attend a iftar party at their state office situated at Hussainabad Crossing in Lucknow. TCN could not make it to the iftar party but the request was done very humbly by Maulana Amir Rashadi.

But, the season has come and in coming days, there will be more such iftar parties. Mulayam Singh Yadav holds iftar party regularly at his party office. And if his party is in power, the venue is shifted to CM residence. Last year, it was such a mad scramble that CM Akhilesh Yadav went inside after meeting the visitors.

The Bahujan Samaj Party also holds the iftar party in Lucknow but there is no rush due to the strict discipline. Everything is done in a proper manner and entry is through invitation by card. Usually it is held at Taj Hotel. For the Congress, the iftar party venue is their state headquarters where clerics are invited to attend it with Congress leaders.

Kalbe Jawwad wants Shia MLA in UP cabinet

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By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Lucknow: After the ministry expansion of Akhilesh Yadav government Shia cleric Kalbe Jawwad raised the demand for inclusion of Shia MLA in the ministry. The demand was made during a meeting of different anjumans held at Almas Marriage Hall at Hussainabad after the iftar on Thursday.

Akhilesh Yadav inducted four ministers in the ministry expansion on Thursday. None of them was a Muslim. The names include Narad Rai, Kailash Yadav, Ram Murti Verma and Gayatri Prajapati.

The lone Shia MLA Shadab Fatima had been lobbying hard for getting ministerial position. She represents Zahoorabad constituency in Ghazipur.
During the meeting Maulana Kalbe Jawwad expressed concern over non representation of Shia in the government. He claimed that Shia Muslims had supported Samajwadi Party due to which it came in power in the assembly elections. Jawwad claimed Shias are being ignored by the state government.

The Shia Waqf Board is lying defunct. He also stated that a massive campaign will be lauched for mobilising the Shias and Sunnis against Samajwadi Party if it does not fulfills their demands. The campaign will start from coming September.

The main demands including at least two cabinet and three state ministers in the government. Proper representation of Shias in government bodies and allotment of ticket to them for contesting the elections. Reserving a quota of 20 percent for the Shias in the schemes meant for Muslims. Zardozi workers should be paid minimum wages, nomination of Shia in Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh, protection of waqf land and constiution of shia waqf board.

Curfew in Valley from Friday, mobile internet services suspended

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By IANS,

Srinagar : Curfew would be imposed in Srinagar and all other major towns in the Kashmir Valley from Friday morning as a precautionary measure, officials said.

"Curfew would remain in force till further orders from tomorrow (Friday) morning onwards in Srinagar and all other major towns of the Valley. The step has been necessitated to maintain law and order in the Valley," a police officer said here.

Meanwhile, authorities have suspended internet services on mobile phones and on dongle appliances in the Valley while the Internet speed on broadband facilities has also been reduced.

"This has been done to prevent the spread of rumours by anti-social elements in the Valley," a senior state government official told IANS here.

The last time authorities suspended Internet facilities in the Valley was during the summer unrest of 2010 in which 110 people were killed in bloody clashes between security forces and unruly mobs.

Thursday's decision comes after tension thoughout the valley following the killing of four protesters attacking a Border Security Force (BSF) camp in Gool town of Ramban district in Jammu region.

Explain CBI ex-officer's statement: Pakistan to India

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By IANS,

Islamabad : Pakistan has sought an explanation from India over a statement made by a former CBI officer regarding the terror attacks on the Indian parliament in 2001 and in Mumbai in 2008, a minister said Thursday.

Information Minister Parvez Rasheed told Geo News that Pakistan would issue its response to the statement made by the former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer after a response was received from India.

The report said a member of a special investigating team of the CBI alleged that the Indian government had "orchestrated" the attacks of parliament and in Mumbai.

It said an affidavit submitted by a former Indian home ministry official in the Supreme Court of India said that he was informed by the unnamed CBI officer that both the terror attacks were staged with the "objective of strengthening the country's counter-terror legislation".

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