By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Kasargod: day after protesters gathered in front of Kumbla police station in Kasargod, demanding the immediate arrest of individuals, behind the alleged insulting comments against the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), violent acts of reciprocation were seen in several parts of the coastal district.

On Monday, two youths were dragged out of a bus and assaulted, while they were on their way to attend tutorial classes near Yekkur in Mangalore.

The youths have been identified as Moosa Mirshad (19) and Ramshid (19) and are said be in second pre-university college. They were forcefully stopped by a group of 10 persons and then assaulted with rods and wickets.

The incident is suspected to be a retaliatory attack over the protests staged by a particular community.

Incidents of stone pelting were reported at Muhimmat Community Hall at Shantipalla near Kumbla. Prayer centres in Kannatipura, Uppala and Badriya Jumma Masjid, Uppala were also damaged in stone-pelting by miscreants.

Three shops in Kasargod and several buses have been damaged in the ensuing violence.

Considering the volatile atmosphere prevalent at several places, District Collector P S Mohammed Sageer has imposed section 144 in Kasargod Taluk and other areas falling within Hosdurg and Bekkal police station limits for a week.

The police have arrested one Arun Kumar (27) for allegedly posting the derogatory comment on Facebook and have warned of more arrests against anyone who defies the curfew orders.

Related:

Protest in Kasargod over alleged ‘blaspahamous’ content

By Swastik Pal, TwoCircles.net

A tailoring shop near Keshab Chandra Sen Street, Kolkata. Rajjab Ali the master tailor is working overtime to meet the rush for making new clothes during Ramadan.

Link:

TCN Ramadan 1434 series: http://twocircles.net/Special_Reports/ramadan_1434.html

By IANS,

Hyderabad : As the Andhra Pradesh government and state Wakf Board fight over the ownership of 50 acre prime land near the international airport, the Nizam's grandson Nawab Najaf Ali Khan has claimed that the government never purchased the land.

Najaf Ali Khan, grandson of the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, has come out with the details of the property located in Mamidipally village in Saroornagar 'mandal' to dispute the government claim that it purchased the land from the Nizam in 1956.

According to him, the 50 acres were part of the land donated by seventh Nizam, the last ruler of erstwhile Hyderabad state, to the Dargah Hazrat Baba Sharfuddin in Pahadisharif.

In a statement, Najaf Ali Khan said the Nizam donated several properties for Wakf and one such property was 2,132 acres 38 guntas for the Dargah.

"From the time of Ummor-e-Mazhabi department (religious department) of Nizam era till today, the said property is listed as Wakf property," he said.

He said all records show that the property existed in the name of the seventh Nizam. "The gazette published by the government on Feb 9, 1989 shows the 2,132 acres and 38 guntas as Wakf," he said.

He cited a Supreme Court judgment that once a property is declared Wakf, it can't be transferred or extinguished by the maker of the will. "How can the government claim that it purchased the land," he asked.

A row erupted recently over the land worth crores of rupees when the revenue department served a notice on the Wakf Board asking why the 50 acre land allotted to it by government in 2009 should not be taken back since the Board had not put it to use.

The Wakf Board sent a strong reply to the concerned officer, asking him to withdraw the show cause notice. The Board said the revenue department had no jurisdiction over the property.

Najaf Ali Khan blamed the negligence by Nizam Awqaf Committee for the controversy. He said the committee, which was formed to look after the Wakf properties donated by Nizam, should take immediate steps to acquire the land and use it to improve the economic conditions of the community.

By IANS,

New Delhi : Miffed at BJP chief Rajnath Singh seeking an American visa for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, several Indian parliamentarians have resent a letter to US President Barack Obama asking if his government has changed its policy towards the man still not cleared by the courts in various cases related to the 2002 communal riots.

"The US government had refused a visa to Modi in 2002 on the grounds of human rights violations and murders committed during the riots. We have asked him if the US has changed its policy," Mohammad Adeeb, an Independent member of the Rajya Sabha who initiated the move, told IANS Tuesday.

According to the parliamentarian from Uttar Pradesh, the letter, dispatched to both the US president and the British prime minister last year, was again sent to the White House Sunday.

"We felt humiliated when we read that Rajnath Singh was lobbying for Modi in the US. We refaxed the letter Sunday," Adeeb said.

Rajnath Singh, who is visiting the US, said he would be taking up the issue with US lawmakers in Washington and expected America to revoke ban on Modi's visa soon.

"They will have to do it one day, if not now. If they do it now, it will be better," he said during the current visit.

Adeeb clarified that the letter does not make any reference to granting or not granting a visa to Modi, but merely raises some "pertinent" questions.

"We never said whether they should give or not give a visa to Modi as it is the sole discretion of the US government. We have just asked the US president if they have changed their policy towards Modi or have pardoned him based on some independent probe as the Indian courts have still not acquitted him so far," he said.

The letter, signed by MPs from many parties, was earlier dispatched in 2012 when two British parliamentarians came visiting the Gujarat chief minister indicating a softening of stance towards Modi.

"There was no reply," said Adeeb.

Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,

Kolkata/Berhampur: Muslim jail inmates of the Berhampur Central jail of Murshidabad, West Bengal are on hunger strike in the month of Ramadan as they are not provided
Iftar and Sehri and are not allowed home food either to observe Roza (fasting).

More than 1000 Muslim inmates are reported to be on hunger strike from Monday evening. To grab the attention of the local people, they reportedly threw an appeal letter, stuck to an aluminum plate outside the boundary of the jail Monday night.

The letter then reached the office of the local MP of Berhampur and Union Minister Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. He then spoke to the Director General of Police (Prison) Biplab Dasgupta at Monday night itself. Although Dasgupta immediately flung into action and reached the jail, the stalemate still continues.

Although Chowdhury has not made the whole content of the letter public, local sources said the inmates have argued that although in jail, being citizens of a secular country they expect freedom to observe their religious practices.

There are about 1500 Muslim inmates in Berhampur Central jail, and according to unconfirmed reports, most of them are on hunger strike demanding sehri and iftar. According to reports, there is no arrangement by administration for sehri and iftar, and when some inmates tried to make their own, they were tortured. They have hence demanded from the authroties to make arrangements for sehri and iftar.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told TCN over telephone, “some one found a food plate attached with the letter near the boundary of the jail.” He added that he has talked with talked to District Magistrate of Murshidabad and he expects that the matter will be soon resolved.

About 2200 inmates are currently lodged in the Berhampur Central jail, most of them are under trial and more than 80 percent are Muslims.

The District Magistrate of Murshidbad, Rajib Kumar confirmed that the jail inmates are on hunger strike, and hoped that the matter will be resolved soon

By IANS,

Srinagar : Two members of an Imam's family were killed while a third family member is battling for life after their throats were slit here Wednesday, police said.

Imam of Iqbalabad (Bemina) mosque Ifftekhar Ahmad said he found his wife, son and daughter lying in pools of blood with slit throats when he reached home after offering the morning prayers, said police sources.

"They were shifted to a hospital where attending doctors pronounced the son and the daughter as brought dead," a senior police officer said.

"Doctors said the condition of the Imam's wife was critical and they were doing their best to save her," the officer added.

The Imam belongs to the border town of Gurez in Bandipora district of north Kashmir.

Senior police officers have rushed to the spot after the news spread in the area, triggering tension.

Police have registered a case of murder. Forensic evidence is being collected to nab the attackers.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Hyderabad: In a surprise move city police has decided to withdraw murder case against Majlis-e-Itehadul Muslimeen MLA and Assembly floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, which was registered against him and two other MIM leaders.

On 30th April 2011 a lethal assassination bid was made on Akbaruddin Owaisi at his constituency party office in Barkas, Chandrayangutta, in which MIM leader was critically injured and survived only after high degree of medication in ICU. In the scuffle Ibrahim bin Yunus Yafai was allegedly the main attacker on Owaisi, Ibrahim was killed with three bullets fired at him.

On 4th September 2012 Awadh bin Yunus Yafai elder brother of Ibrahim Yafai filed a written complaint with Commissioner of Police Hyderabad, DCP south zone, and Inspector Chandrayangutta P.S., in which he alleged that three MIM leaders including Akbaruddin Owaisi is responsible for the death of his brother who was killed in gun shots fired by Akbaruddin Owaisi and gunman of another MIM legislator Ahmed Balala.

In his complaint Awadh Yafai alleged, that Akbaruddin Owaisi called their family into the MIM party office at Barkas and threatened them with a gun, and during verbal arguments clash broke out between both groups.

When police didn’t act on the complaint family approached the High court, on 26 November 2012 court ordered the police to act on the complaint and to finish the investigation within three months.

Than Chandrayangutta police station registered a case Cr.No 313/2012 against Chandrayangutta MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, Malakpet MLA Ahmed Balala and his gunmen, and local municipal consular Mansoor Awalgi, under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 302 (murder), 326 (grievous hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy), and Section 27 of Indian Arms Act.

MIM leaders got benefit of legal obscurity in this case, where investigating officer who is also the Inspector of Chandrayngutta P.S. has earlier recorded the statement of witness in the case three Yafai family members under sec 151, but later investigating officer moved petition in the Nampally criminal court to register the testimony of witnesses under sec 164 of CrPC, all three of them are the main accused in the Akbaruddin owaisi assassination attempt case.

Criminal court issued summons to the Yafai Family members who are presently lodged in jail to register their testimony in the court, but the family members declined to do so citing emotional distress. On the basis of this Investigating officer decided to close the case citing lack of evidence, and Tuesday moved the final report in the High Court declaring closer of the case, on want of evidence.

This is the second time Akbaruddin Owaisi got lucky, earlier in 4th August 2011, High Court while granting bail to main accused in his assassination attempt case ordered police to register murder case against Owaisi and to investigate the death of Ibrahim Yafai in the clash, police than did registered Cr.case No. 256/2011 against Owaisi and MIM leaders. But MIM immediately approached the Supreme Court and was successful in quashing the High court order.

The Yafai family, who holds significant influence on substantial Arab Yemni diaspora in Akbaruddin’s chandrayangutta constituency, now alleged ‘match fixing’ between ruling Congress and MIM. They cite the recent meeting even after withdrawing from Govt. alliance of Akbaruddin Owaisi with Deputy Chief Minister, as substantial evidence to weight their conspiracy theory. All eyes are now on the High court which will take a final call on the police closure report.

By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,

Kolkata: West Bengal Madrasa Service Commission will have to issue appointment letters to the 282 persons in Clerk and Librarian posts for Government aided madrasas of West Bengal within six week, after the intervention by the Calcutta High Court.

The final result for the vacancies have been out for over a year now. In fact preliminary examinations for the vacant posts of clerks and librarians was held 21 October, 2010 and mains examination was held on 29 May of 2011.

Counseling process had begun on 27 May, 2012 that finalised 193 candidates for the posts of clerks and 89 candidates for librarian posts. However, Mamata Banerjee led TMC government cancelled the result as the process had begun during the earlier Left Front government, and there were fears of manipuplations. . They were hence not issued appointment letters forcing them to file a plea at the Calcutta High Court.

On 11 April, yearlier this year 89 qualified candidates filed a case in the Calcutta High Court against West Bengal Madrasa Service Commission of Government of West Bengal.

The lawyer of the petitioner Subrata Mukherjee infromed that Justice Debashis Kar Gupta has directed the West Bengal Madrasa Service Commission to issue appointment letterss.

After the High Court order, on behalf of West Bengal Madrasa Service Commission, Lawyer Ekramul Bari told the court that they will abide by the order, but the process of appointments can be completed only after the Panchayat elections. The court hence allowed six weeks time to the government.

Candidates expressed their happiness as they accused the TMC government of discriminations for political vendetta. According to sources in the Commission the said posts are vacacant for years now.

By Ram Puniyani,

The debate around Hindu Nationalism and Indian Nationalism is not a new one. During colonial period, when the rising freedom movement was articulating the concept and values of Indian nationalism, the section of Hindus, keeping aloof from freedom movement asserted the concept of Hindu Nationalism. The debate has resurfaced again due to the one who is trying to project himself as the Prime-Ministerial candidate of BJP-NDA, Narendra Modi. In an interview recently (July 2013) said very ‘simply’ that he was born a Hindu, he is a nationalist, so he is a Hindu Nationalist! His Party President Rajnath Singh also buttressed the point and took it further to say that Muslims are Muslim nationalists, Christians are Christian Nationalists. So one has a variety of nationalisms to choose from!

Modi’s putting 2+2 together and claiming to be a Nationalist and a Hindu and so a Hindu nationalist is like putting the wool in others eyes. Hindu nationalism is a politics and a category with a specific meaning and agenda. This is the part of the ideology and practice of Modi’s parent organizations, BJP-RSS. During colonial period the rising classes of industrialists, businessmen, workers and educated classes came together and formed different organizations, Madras Mahajan Sabha, Pune Sarvajanik Sabha, Bombay Association etc.. These organizations felt for the need for an over arching political organization so went in to form Indian National Congress in 1885. The declining sections of society, Muslim and Hindu landlords and kings also decided to came together to oppose the all inclusive politics of Congress, which in due course became the major vehicle of the values of freedom movement. These declining sections were feeling threatened due to the social changes. To hide their social decline they projected as if their religion is in danger. They also did not like the standing up to the colonial masters by Congress, which had started putting forward the demands for different rising social groups and thereby for India. Congress saw this country as ‘India is a Nation in the making’.

As per declining sections of landlords and kings; standing up to, not bowing in front of the ruler is against the teachings of ‘our’ religion so what is needed according to them is to promote the loyalty to the British. They, Hindu and Muslim feudal elements, came together and formed United India Patriotic Association in 1888. The lead was taken by Nawab of Dhaka and Raja of Kashi. Later due to British machinations the Muslim elite from this association separated and formed Muslim league in 1906, while in parallel to this the Hindu elite first formed Punjab Hindu Sabha in 1909 and then Hindu Mahasabha in 1915. These communal formations argued for Muslim Nationalism and Hindu nationalism. Hindu nationalists also developed the political ideology of Hindutva, articulated particularly by Savarkar in 1923 in his book ‘Hindutva or Who is a Hindu?’ This was an enviable situation for British as such groups would weaken the rising national movement. On one side they quietly supported the Muslim League and parallel to this they handled Hindu Mahasabha with velvet gloves.

Taking a cue from the ideology of Hindutva, RSS came up in 1925, with the path of Hindu Nationalism and goal of Hindu Nation. The values of rising classes embodied in the persona of Bhagat Singh, Ambedkar, Gandhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and many others mainly revolved around Indian Nationalism, built around the principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. The ideology of Muslim League selectively drew from some Muslim traditions to assert the caste and gender hierarchy of feudal society. While Hindu Mahasabha and RSS had tomes like Manusmriti to talk about similar graded hierarchies of caste and gender. Muslim and Hindu communalists were not part of freedom movement as freedom movement was all inclusive and aimed at secular democratic values. Muslim and Hindu communalists drew from glories of respective Kings of the past and kept aloof from anti British struggle, some exceptions are always there to show the evidence of their participation in the freedom struggle.

Gandhi’s attempt to draw the masses in to anti British struggle was the major point due to which the Constitutionalists like Jinnah; traditionalists of Muslim League and Hindu Mahasabha further drifted away and consolidated themselves after 1920s. The trajectory of Hindu Nationalism from the decade of 1920 becomes very clear, to be on the side of British to oppose the Muslim Nationalists. Same applies to Muslim League, as it regarded Congress as a Hindu party. The Freedom of the country and tragic partition led to Muslim Leaguers going to Pakistan while leaving sufficient backlog to sustain Muslim communalism here. Hindu Nationalists in the form of Hindu Mahasabha and RSS gradually started asserting themselves, beginning with murder of Mahatma Gandhi, who surely was amongst the best of the Hindus of that century and probably of many a centuries put together. Hindu Nationalists formed first Jan Sangh and later present BJP. The major issue taken up by these nationalists was opposition to cooperative farming, public sector and undertook a program called ‘Indianization of Muslims’.

The identity related issues have been the staple diet for religious nationalist tendencies. ‘Cow as our mother’, Ram Temple Ram Setu, Abolition of article 370 and Uniform civil code has been the foundation around which emotive hysterical movements have been built. While they keep bringing to our notice as to under whose rule more riots have taken place, one forgets that the root of communal violence lies in ‘Hate other’ ideology spread by communal streams. And most of the communal violence led to coming to power of communal party. Its major offshoot is polarization of communities along religious lines. Modi’s claim the democracy leads to polarization is misplaced wrong as in democratic politics the polarization is along social issues, like Republican-Democrat in America. Polarization around social policies-political issues is part of the process of democracy. The polarization brought about by the politics of Hindu nationalism or Muslim nationalism is around identity of religions. This is not comparable to the processes in US or UK. The polarization along religious lines is against the spirit of democracy, against Indian Constitutions’. Major pillar of democracy is Fraternity, cutting across identities of religion caste and region.

Modi himself, a dedicated RSS swayamsevak has been steeped in the ideology of Hindu nationalism. He glosses over the fact that the large masses of Indian people, Hindus never called and do not call themselves Hindu nationalists. Gandhi was not a Hindu nationalist despite being a Hindu in the moral and social sense. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was not a Muslim nationalist, despite being a devout Muslim, being a Muslim scholar of highest caliber. During freedom movement also most of the people of all religions’ identified with Indian Nationalism and not with religious nationalism as being projected by Modi and company. Even today people of different religions identify with Indian nationalism and not with religious Nationalism on the lines of Modi and his ilk.

Hindu nationalism will require a Ram Temple; Indian nationalism requires schools, universities and factories for employing the youth. Hindu nationalism is exclusive and divisive, Indian Nationalism is inclusive; rooted in the issues of this world, and not the identity related ones. Unfortunately Hindu nationalists have been raising the pitch around identity issues undermining the issues of the poor and marginalized. The Indian Nationalism, the product of our freedom movement is being challenged by the Hindu nationalism in India, Buddhist Nationalism in Myanmar and Sri Lanka and is a major threat to the process of democratization in those countries, Muslim Nationalism has wrecked havoc in Pakistan, and many other places.

This is the dark tunnel of History, where such invocations of religion in the arena of politics take a semi respectful place, as being witnessed in many parts of the World and more so over in India. One hopes the distinction between religious nationalism and Indian nationalism will not be lost focus of!

Hindu nationalism, does not subscribe to the affirmative action, so the term appeasement of minorities has been floated. For Hindu nationalists, the proactive supportive action for vulnerable religious minorities is a strict no, while for democratic nationalism, this is the norm. One has to see the clever ploy of the Prime Minister aspirant, to call himself a Hindu nationalist. This is one more attempt to indulge in dividing the Indian society along religious lines.

--

Response only to ram.puniyani@gmail.com

By IANS,

New Delhi : Jamia Millia Islamia has published Tagore Shanasi, a comprehensive study on Rabindranath Tagore in Urdu.

The study has been done by the university's Department of Urdu under the Tagore Research and Translation Scheme funded by the Ministry of Culture. The book has been authored by renowned critic and author Shamim Tarique and has been published by leading Urdu publishing house, Maktaba Jamia Limited.

Spread over 15 sections, this 180-page book deals with different facets of Tagore and his works. Besides Tagore's time-period, family, birth, childhood, education, his interest in nature, visits and journey, marriage, household affairs, his character and personality, Tarique has thrown light on the creative journey of Tagore i.e. his poetry, music, drama, story, novel and painting.

Tarique has discussed at length Tagore's association with Santiniketan, the university he founded, and his role as a teacher. He has also looked at important signposts such as his winning the Nobel Prize. He has also reflected on Tagore's thought and philosophy, his concept of nationalism, his poetic vision, his final journey and his creations and publications.

"All those pure hearted scholars should be saluted who provided the new bases of understanding Tagore," said Tarique who dedicated the book to the spirit of nationalism that is finely manifested in Jamia Millia Islamia, the 92-year-old university.

Ten thousand copies of the book have been published and will be distributed free among the scholars and general readers.

By IANS,

New Delhi : Five years after the Batla House shootout of 2008 killed Delhi Police Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, his family Wednesday demanded punishment for the culprits as the verdict in the case is expected Thursday.

Sharma's 76-year-old mother, Devinder Devi told IANS that those responsible for the death of her son should not be allowed to get away.

"I don't know who killed my son. But I never forget his martyrdom," Devi told IANS.

Sharma, who had won seven gallantry medals, including a President's Medal, was gunned down during the Batla House encounter at Jamia Nagar Sep 19, 2008, seven days after serial blasts rocked the national capital. It was suspected that members of the Indian Mujahideen (IM) were hiding in a house in the area.

Sharma is survived by his parents, wife and two children.

He joined Delhi Police as a sub-inspector in 1989 and was instrumental in the killing of 35 terrorists and the arrest of another 80 militants, a Delhi Police officer said.

A Delhi court will pronounce its verdict July 25 in the controversial Batla House shootout case. A lone suspect in the case, Shahzad Ahmad, reportedly a member of the Indian Mujahideen, has been facing trial for killing Sharma.

Jamait Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) using terror cases for popularity: Adv. Khalid Azmi . Brother of late Shahid Azmi also alleges that JUH has disowned his brother

By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net

In the beginning of 2012, when Advocate Khalid Azmi younger brother of slain Advocate Shahid Azmi withdrew from all the terror cases he was fighting on behalf of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (Arshad Madani faction), it raised many eyebrows. Feud was apparent, but Advocate Khalid preferred to keep quiet at that time. Now Khalid Azmi, in this exclusive interview with TwoCircles.net, for the first time spoke on his withdrawal and the issues he had with JUH. He says he wanted to clear the air; the reason he says behind the hostility between him and JUH was that the later was deserting the legacy of Shahid Azmi, the man who helped JUH ride on top of the popularity charts of Muslim organizations.

Advocate Khalid Azmi

Anyone who has some familiarity with terror cases in the country can never deny that Adv. Shahid Azmi was the main force which shaped Jamiat Ulama as the major NGO fighting terror cases and challenging the establishment on the terror witch-hunt of Muslim youth.. Khalid Azmi said his brother Shahid Azmi, with much efforts single-handedly convinced JUH for a need to have a centralised mechanism to fight terror cases in the courts of law. Out of the 26 odd terror cases which JUH today is fighting, nearly 20 of them was provided by Shahid Azmi. Khalid claim those terror cases became a big publicity boost for JUH.

But now Khalid says that after the assassination of his brother, JUH literally disowned all his contributions. The reason, Khalid says, is that JUH declined to look after Shahid Azmi assassination case. JUH, according to Khalid, “didn't even bother to ask even once the status of the case.” He says that as he was still not very experienced and hence appointed senior advocates to monitor his brother’s assassination case, JUH leadership told him abruptly that is ‘Fizul Kharchi (waste of money)’.

State which is the main prosecutor in the Shahid Azmi murder case since the beginning didn't take the case seriously, with accused easily getting out on bail and even as MCOCA Court has removed Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, 1999 charges against the accused. Those charges were restored only after Khalid, with the help of some senior advocates approached the High Court, although the accused has again appealed in the Supreme Court. Even after all this high drama in courts, JUH didn't bother to intervene with its vast legal team of criminal lawyers, alleges Khalid.

Shahid Azmi was killed on Feb 11, 2010.

Advocate Khalid Azmi who was working on 7/11 blasts, Malegaon blast, and many other terror cases for JUH, said that he finally gave up when JUH asked him to collect half of the legal expenses from the accused families’ and that the organisation would bear only half of the cost. Khalid said that most of the terror accused were from economically poor background and he didn’t like collecting money from the oppressed. “The main reason behind keeping Jamiat in the forefront of fighting terror cases was to ensure that Muslim community will bear all the legal cost for the innocent youths framed in false charges, I seriously believe the basic aim is now being diluted by Jamiat,” said Khalid.

Now he feels Jamiat is concentrating more on show-jumping popularity map than to provide justice and legal aid to terror arrest victims. “Even if a leaf moves in a terror case, they will make a huge propaganda about it, it often affect the legal trials. Their basic purpose now seems clear, to reap as much benefit and popularity as you can from fighting terror cases.” Khalid also gave an example of news item published recently and distributed widely where Jamiat filed a petition in the court asking it to provide special Iftar arrangements for the accused. “Even before court could decide on its petition Jamiat showed off that even moving a petition on behalf of terror accused is a big philanthropy activity by them for those accused.”

Khalid Azmi also lamented that there is apathy in fighting those 26 odd terror cases in the court of law which nearly hold the future of hundreds of Muslim youths. “There is a need to appoint senior advocates in many high profile serious cases, but Jamiat is not taking any interest in this crucial aspect, even though they are collecting huge amount of funds from Muslim community on the promise of providing valuable legal aid to innocent terror accused.”

Advocate Khalid Azmi who had his last stint with JUH in January 2012 while fighting the case and acquiring bail of four Muslim youths from Bihar arrested from Punjab by Maharashtra ATS, said Jamiat’s fund collection has increased three fold after Shahid Azmi put them in forefront of fighting terror cases. “If one gets into investigating the collection and usage of funds one can find lot of misappropriations in it,” he alleges.

Even as a Bollywood movie is being made on the life, dedication and sacrifices of Shahid Azmi, his family alleged the very organization that Shahid kept close to his heart is now discarding all his efforts.

Kahlid Azmi gloomily puts that Jamiat ul Ulema didn’t even consider justice for Shahid Azmi who has provided them all the lift through his personal selfless efforts, even at the cost of his precious life. Now Khalid said he is personally monitoring his brother’s assassination case and after how Jamiat has humiliated the legacy of Shahid Azmi, he will never want them to get into this case, and will never allow them to use his martyr brother’s name again.

Jamiat ul Ulema responds to the allegations:

Jamiat Ulama since 2006 has been enjoying strong credibility among Indian Muslim community for fighting terror cases. With charges of this magnitude leveled against them by Advocate Khalid Azmi, first time they are caught in middle of controversy, over their style of functioning.

When TwoCircles.net contacted JUH legal cell chief Gulzar Azmi he got agitated on the accusations, but he conceded that Jamiat willingly didn’t intervene in Shahid Azmi’s assassination case as they believed that it is a ‘state matter’.“Shahid Azmi’s assassination case is a police case, and in all murder cases it is the government which is the prosecutor, the pleader appointed by the government will fight it in the court, there are some legal principles to follow,” he said.

Gulzar azmi (left) with Yasmeen wife of Fahim Ansari and Usman brother of Fahim. Shahid played a major role in getting his acquittal.

But Jamiat legal chief agrees that there are provisions to interfere in the case, “Nonetheless, yes I agree, we could have acted in the case. There is a legal procedure to get the examination powers in our favor to fight the case, but those powers will be restricted by the state,” he said, adding, “Shahid Azmi assassination case is a police case, our duty is to concentrate only on terror case, why should we waste our money and energy on some other cases.”

Responding on the allegation of acquiring half of the legal charges amount from the terror accused, Gulzar Azmi said, “Yes we take half of the amount from the terror accused, but only in case of applying and acquiring bail. Huge amount of money is needed for bail bonds, if we paid for some of the accused others will also demand the same. So we decided to take half of the amount from every one,” but added, “In case of 2006 Malegaon blast case we paid complete bail bonds of 50,000 each for every accused, but that was different case.”

The most he loathed was the query on working just for publicity and irregularities in gathering of funds, its disposal, which are collected in the name of terror accused. Gulzar Azmi gave an imprecise answer, “If we are doing our work honestly and with dedication then it will be shown in our results, if we are doing this just for publicity with ulterior motives than it will also be shown in our outcomes. From whatever results we have produced till now fighting terror cases in the courts of law, evidence is clear for Indian Muslim community to judge us.”

By IANS,

New Delhi: A Delhi court Thursday will pronounce its verdict in the 2008 Batla House shootout in which a lone suspected Indian Mujahideen operative Shahzad Ahmad is facing trial.

Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri will pass the order.

The prosecution, in its final arguments, had contended that it had "sufficient circumstantial evidence" and phone records to prove that accused Ahmad was present in the Jamia Nagar flat in Batla House.

Ahmad, said to be one of the occupants of the flat in Jamia Nagar, was among those who had fired Sep 19, 2008 at the police party, leading to the death of inspector M.C. Sharma.

However, Ahmad's counsel claimed that he was not present in the flat in which the alleged shootout between officers of the Special Cell of Delhi Police and the alleged IM terrorists took place.

Ahmad, along with another accused Junaid, had jumped off the balcony and fled after firing at the police party.

The IM operatives are said to be involved in the Sep 13, 2008 serial blasts at Karol Bagh, Connaught Place, Greater Kailash and India Gate which left 26 dead and 133 injured.

Other accused named in the charge sheet are Mohd Saif, Mohd Atif Ameen alias Bashir and Mohd Sajid. While Saif had surrendered, the other two were shot dead in the shootout.

The shootout had sparked controversy when Congress leader Digvijaya Singh claimed it to be fake, but his party distanced itself from his remarks. The then home minister P. Chidambaram asserted that the encounter was genuine.

By TCN News,

Kuwait: Indo-Kuwait Friendship Society President Dr. Ghalib Al-Mashoor met Dr Ahmed Omar Hashim, a worldly known Islamic Scholar and Chairman of Al Azhar University, during the “Gabka Event” organized by Ministry of Awqaf & Islamic Affairs at Crowne Plaza Hotel on 23rd July 2013. Dr. Hashim has arrived in Kuwait by the invitation of Ministry of Awqaf.

Various Community Leaders, Ambassadors, Islamic Scholars and Imams also attended in the event. Dr. Al-Mashoor also met Dr. Adel Falah, the Undersecretary of Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Waleed Al-Ammar, Director of Foreign Relations, Mohamed Ali Abdullah, Supervisor of Community Dept at Grand Masjid and Ministry of Awqaf. Dr. Hashim said in his inaugural speech that Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance and stability. "It does not call for aggression or injustice. Those who are trying to describe Islam as a religion of extremism and violence are wrong," he asserted. On the other hand he has praised the efforts of the Government of Kuwait under the leadership of the H.H. Shaikh Sabah Ahamed Al-Sabah for its support to all over the world.
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Dr Hashim expressed his thanks and gratitude to Dr. Adel Al-Falah, for arranging such a generous welcome and hospitality and said that relations between the State of Kuwait and Islamic world especially Egypt are historical and lauded the role of Kuwait in the service of Islam and Muslims.

IKFS Patron Sayid Nasir Thangal, A K S Abdul Nazar, General Secretary and IKFS Executives Engineer Sayid Fadal Nizar and Sayed Zoheb also accompanied the delegation.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

New Delhi: The Kendriya Vidalaya Sangathan(KVS) has written to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for appropriate land to open a girls’ school in the Muslim dominated Okhla region in East Delhi.

On 17 July, KVS wrote to DDA for 4 acres on land on proposal of P. Mohammad to open a central girls’ school in the locality.

Earlier KVS also wrote a similar letter to the UP Government for transferring the land adajacent to the Jamia Millia Islamia in the Okhla region to open a central boys’school.

On 6 May, 2013 a team of senior AMU alumni based in Delhi led by P. Mohammad with Mohammad Aslam and Nehal Ahmed Siddique met with the Commissioner Kendriya Vidalaya Sangathan(KVS) Mr. Avinash Dikshit demanding two central schools (One for Boys and One for Girls) in the Okhla region.

There are some land available in the neighbourhood of Okhla, that belong to DDA, New Delhi that is not utilized for any works and now KVS has written a letter to Deputy Chairman of DDA to transfer four acres of land for creating vital quality modern education centre for the urban poor population of this area.

These senior AMU Alumni based in Delhi region are now planning to further pressurise the Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung of NCT Delhi and Chairman of Development Authority (DDA), and Deputy Chairman of Development Authority(DDA), to expedite this land transfer to the KVS.

If the land is transferred to the KVS, entire cost of opening up school and developing infrastructure will be borne by the KVS.

Related:

KVS writes to UP Govt for land in Delhi’s Okhla to open a central school

By M Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,

New Delhi: A Delhi court today found Shahzad Ahmed guilty in the Batla House encounter case on charges of obstructing public servants in discharge of duties, murder of Inspector MC Sharma and attempt to murder.

Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri has set July 29, Monday at 2.0 pm to deliver the quantum of punishment.

Jamia Teachers' Solidarity Association (JTSA), formed in the wake of the police shootout in 2008, in its initial reaction, has expressed disappointment at the conviction. Most of the members of the JTSA, including Manisha Sethi, Sanghamitra Misra, Tanveer Fazal were present in the court.

Speaking to TCN from Azamgarh over phone, Dr. Javed Akhtar, President Association for Welfare, Medical, Educational and Legal Assistance (AWMELA), that is fighting the case on behalf of Shahzad too was "disappointed." He said that once the sentencing is announced on July 29, they will discuss the case minutely with their lawyers, adding that they will definitely appeal the conviction in the high court. He accepted that it is a "set back in their struggle for justice" and that media reports in last few weeks that the prosecution was not very convincing in providing evidence in support of their version, had made them hopeful and they were expecting a judgement in favour.

In what could be big relief to the Delhi Police, the court has accepted the police version of encounter. Shahzad Ahmed, Special Cell of the Delhi Police, claims was one of the occupants in the L 18 house in the Batla House, where the alleged encounter took place on September 19, 2008, six days after serial blasts in the city. According to the prosecution, he fired at Inspector Sharma and than escaped from the the House L 18 in Batla House, where the 'encounter' took place in 2008.

Shahzad had denied all charges and claimed earlier that he was innocent and have been falsely implicated in this case. He had denied that he was in the flat at the time of the encounter or that he fired on police. He also told the Additional Sessions Judge that he was picked up by the ATS Lucknow from his house in Azamgarh and that his family had also lodged a complaint for kidnapping.

RTI activist Afroz Alam Sahil, who was first one to get copies of those killed in the police shoot out, is still hopeful of 'justice.' He said, "This judgement is from a district court and we still have the options of high court and the Supreme Court," adding that he firmly believes that in this country justice may be delayed, but is seldom denied.

The prosecution, in its final arguments, contended that it had "sufficient circumstantial evidence" and phone records to prove that Ahmad was present in the flat in Batla House.

Ahmad, along with another accused Junaid, had jumped off the balcony and fled after firing at police, the prosecution said.

In 2008 on 19th September, on 4th floor of L-18, Batla House in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar area, two youths of Azamgarh were killed in a shootout, which was later claimed to be an encounter by special cell of Delhi police. In this shootout, one of the officers of Delhi police Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma also lost his life. However, from the very first day Human and Civil Rights’ organistions and activists are demanding an independent judicial enquiry into the shootout. The post-mortem report of the deceased also pointed towards the encounter being a fake one.

SQR Ilyas, General Secretary of the Welfare Party of India, said that he is "dismayed" at the judgement, where all legal procedure has been put aside and the court accepted the police version, taking no cognizance of questions raised.

Civil society groups have been arguing that the L-18 flat in Batla House area has only one exit which was manned by police people; there is no possibility to escape by jumping. Anyone attempting that would only break his bones. Further that the local police was not informed in time and that the FIR was filed very late.

Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, President of All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat said in a written statement that it is too early to comment as we do not know in detail what the judgment really says. Questioning the police version, however, he said, "The 'input' for Batla House came from the same infamous IB special director who provided the fake inputs that were used for 17 fake encounters in Gujarat which are being probed now," adding, "We continue to beleive that the Batla House encounter was fake and we stand by our demand for a high level judicial enquiry into the incident."

Meanwhile, Slain cop MC Sharma's kin are satisfied with Batla House verdict.

By IANS and TCN News

The following is the time line of the Batla House shoot out September 2008:

* Sep 13, 2008 - Serial blasts at Karol Bagh, India Gate, Connaught Place and Greater Kailash in Delhi; 23 killed and 133 injured.

* Sep 19, 2008 - Shootout between Special Cell of Delhi Police and suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorists at L-18 flat in Batla House, Jamia Nagar. Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma and Atif Amin and Sajid are killed. Accused Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Mohammad Saif was arrested from the flat.

* Aug 26, 2009 - The Delhi High Court approves the report of the National Human Rights Commission, saying the shootout was not fake. NHRC never visited the site but accepted Delhi Police report on the encounter.

* Feb 1, 2010: Shahzad Ahmad arrested from his grandfather's house in Azamgarh.

* April 29, 2010 - Charge sheet filed in a Delhi court against lone suspect Ahmad.

* Feb 15, 2011- Court frames charges against Ahmad under penal provisions for murder, attempt to murder and others.

* July 20, 2013 - Court reserves order for July 25.

* July 25 - Court convicts lone accused Ahmad, fixes July 29 for arguments on sentence.

By M Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,

New Delhi: Civil society groups and Muslim leadership have exprssed surprise and disapointment at the Batla House judgement, that has convicted Shahazad Ahmed, the lone survivor arrested for obstructing public servants in discharge of duties, murder of Inspector MC Sharma and attempt to murder.

Jamia Teachers' Solidarity Association (JTSA), formed in the wake of the police shootout in 2008, in its initial reaction, has expressed disappointment at the conviction. Most of the members of the JTSA, including Manisha Sethi, Sanghamitra Misra, Tanveer Fazal were present in the court. Sethi said, “The defence lawyer had torn into the prosecution’s case as they could produce no credible evidence.” She said that only after reading the judgement will they know why defence’ questions were disregarded.

A Delhi court today found Shahzad Ahmed guilty in the Batla House encounter case on charges of obstructing public servants in discharge of duties, murder of Inspector MC Sharma and attempt to murder. Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri has set July 29, Monday at 2.0 pm to deliver the quantum of punishment.

Mahtab Alam, Delhi based civil rights activist, who was also present in court said, "We are both surprised and disappointed, but this is not the end of the road for our struggle."

RTI activist Afroz Alam Sahil, who was first one to get copies of the autopsy report of those killed in the police shoot out, echoed Alam when he said that he is still hopeful of 'justice.' He said, "This judgement is from a district court and we still have the options of high court and the Supreme Court," adding that he firmly believes that in this country justice may be delayed, but is seldom denied.

In 2008 on 19th September, on 4th floor of L-18, Batla House in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar area, two youths of Azamgarh – Atif Amin and Mohammad Sajid were killed in a shootout, which was later claimed to be an encounter by special cell of Delhi police. In this shootout, one of the officers of Delhi police Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma also lost his life.

However, from the very first day Human and Civil Rights’ organisations and activists are demanding an independent judicial enquiry into the shootout. The post-mortem report of the deceased also pointed towards the encounter being a fake one.

SQR Ilyas, General Secretary of the Welfare Party of India, said that he is "dismayed" at the judgement, where all legal procedure has been put aside and the court accepted the police version, taking no cognizance of questions raised.

Civil society groups have been arguing that the L-18 flat in Batla House area has only one exit which was manned by police people; there is no possibility to escape by jumping. Anyone attempting that would only break his bones. Further that the local police was not informed in time and that the FIR was filed very late.

Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, President of All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat said in a written statement that it is too early to comment as we do not know in detail what the judgment really says. Questioning the police version, however, he said, "The 'input' for Batla House came from the same infamous IB special director who provided the fake inputs that were used for 17 fake encounters in Gujarat which are being probed now," adding, "We continue to beleive that the Batla House encounter was fake and we stand by our demand for a high level judicial enquiry into the incident."

Rashtriya Ulama Council, another political party formed in the wake of encounter and series of arrests in terror related cases from Azamgarh, too expressed disappointment and feel let down and said that they will appeal to the high court.

Advocate Mohammad Shoaib, Chairman of Rihai Manch,said that although the prosecution could not answer several questions raised, still the court relied on the police version and hence the judgement appears "political not judicial". Rihai Manch(Forum for the Release of Innocent Muslims imprisoned in the name of Terrorism) is on indefinite dharna outside the UP Assembly demanding arrest of police officers involved in Khalid Mujahid's custodial death, issuing the RD Nimesh commission report and action taken report, and the immediate release of innocent Muslim youths imprisoned in the name of terrorism.

On Social media, Hindu nationalists, however, were quick to hail the court judgement and saw it as an evidence to prove the “genuineness” of the ‘encounter’. Meanwhile, the family of Delhi Police Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who was killed in the Batla House shootout in Jamia Nagar Sep 19, 2008, Thursday expressed satisfaction over the verdict, and said the family now awaits the final judgment.

(with inputs from IANS)

By TCN News,

New Delih: Jamia Discussion Forum in collaboration with Department of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia is going to organize a Lecture on “Nationalism and the India-Pakistan Peace Process” by Dr. Taimur Rahman.

Dr. Taimur Rahman is an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Political Science at the Lahore University of Management Science.

The programme is scheduled to the held on July 26, 2013, at 10 AM in the Seminar Room of Department of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia.

By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,

Kolkata/Berhampur: Muslim jail inmates of the Berhampur Central jail in Murshidabad called off their strike on the evening of 24 July as their demands for sehir and iftar during Ramadan were accepted by the jail authorities.

Muslim jail inmates of the Berhampur Central jail of Murshidabad, West Bengal were on hunger strike as they are not provided Iftar and Sehri and were not allowed home food either to observe Roza (fasting). More than 1000 Muslim inmates were reported to be on hunger strike from Monday evening. To grab the attention of the local people, they reportedly threw an appeal letter, stuck to an aluminum plate outside the boundary of the jail Monday night.

Jail inmates are generally served two meals inside Berhampur Central jail - lunch at 12 noon and dinner at around 6pm in the evening. Jail authorities, led by DIG (prison) Biplab Dasgupta talked with the inmates and it was agreed that at evening they will be served both the meals so that they can keep one meal for sehri (meal to be had at dawn) as there is no arrangement inside jail to cook food so early.

Distrcit Magistrate of Murshidbad Rajib Kumar infromed media that the stalemate at the Berhampur Central jail has been resloved.

The letter then reached the office of the local MP of Berhampur and Union Minister Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. He then spoke to the Director General of Police (Prison) Biplab Dasgupta at Monday night itself. Although Dasgupta immediately flung into action and reached the jail, the stalemate still continues.

Although Chowdhury has not made the whole content of the letter public, local sources said the inmates have argued that although in jail, being citizens of a secular country they expect freedom to observe their religious practices.

There are about 1500 Muslim inmates in Berhampur Central jail, and according to unconfirmed reports, most of them are on hunger strike demanding sehri and iftar. According to reports, there is no arrangement by administration for sehri and iftar, and when some inmates tried to make their own, they were tortured. They have hence demanded from the authroties to make arrangements for sehri and iftar.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told TCN over telephone, “some one found a food plate attached with the letter near the boundary of the jail.” He added that he has talked with talked to District Magistrate of Murshidabad and he expects that the matter will be soon resolved.

About 2200 inmates are currently lodged in the Berhampur Central jail, most of them are under trial and more than 80 percent are Muslims.

As the news spread, all political parties jumped in to reslove the matter.

Related:

Over 1000 Muslim jail inmates on hunger strike for Iftar & Sehri in WB