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SC breather to Gujarat Police officer in Ishrat Jahan case

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By IANS,

New Delhi : In a breather to Gujarat Police's Additional Director General Puthvipal P. Pandey - an accused in Ishrat Jahan staged shootout case, the Supreme Court Friday said he would not be arrested till Monday when he will appear before the trial court.

A bench of Justice B.S. Chauhan and Justice S.A. Bobde said the protection from being arrested was available to Pandey till Monday but would end if he fails to appear before the trial court, which has issued an arrest warrant against him.

The apex court further said that due process of law would follow after Pandey surrenders before the trial court.

It said he was at liberty to move for bail after appearing before the trial court. The court said that Pandey's application for bail would be dealt with strictly in accordance with law.

The court passed its order after it asked Pandey to undertake that he would appear before the trial court in pursuance to its summons on Monday.

Appearing for Pandey who has been declared an absconder by the trial court, senior counsel Jaspal Singh said that his client was ready to appear before the trial court provided the date and time was fixed.

Opposing his plea, Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaisinh said that there was no need to give him protection from being arrested as he had gone underground and was an accused in the staged shootout of Ishrat Jahan and her associates.

An Ahmedabad magistrate had issued non-bailable arrest warrant against Pandey May 2. Pandey was joint commissioner of police in Ahmedabad heading the Crime Branch when Ishrat Jahan and her three associates were eliminated in stage shootout.

The Mumbai college girl and her three associates - Javed Pranesh Gopinath Pilai, Amjad Ali and Jishan Johar - were killed by Gujarat Police June 15, 2004.

Initially, the investigation into the killing was carried out by the Gujarat Police which had filed a closure report, claiming Ishrat Jahan and the others were terrorists who came from Jammu and Kashmir to assassinate Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

On the plea by Ishrat Jahaan's mother Shamima Kausar, the Gujarat High Court entrusted investigation to a Special Investigation Team. However, on another plea by Pillai's father, Gopinath Pillai, the high court asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the investigation.


Indian Embassy and civil society work to help Indians caught in Saudi Nitaqat issue

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A letter by Rashique Ahmad,

We are here to share you good news about those Indian brothers who were in impasse for almost three months in official technical snag. We must congratulate the entire Indian Embassy Volunteers for organized co-ordination among themselves and active participation of civil society who were anxiously pinning their hope on our endeavour. Their munificent gesture resulted into the following:

1) 10 passengers Air tickets has been provided to the needy & they have already boarded on 21st July & 23rd July 2013, the details are:

Details: 2 x Lucknow (UP), 2 x Jaipur (Rajasthan), 2 x Gorakh Pur (UP), 1 x Dharamshala (HP), 2 x Siwan (Bihar), 1 x Kolkata (WB).



2) Till yesterday at Tarheel, finger Prints for 250 persons were completed in presence of my self, our Advisory Committee Member Mr. Shakil Hashmi with officers Mr. Ravi Goyel and Mr. Imdad, from Embassy of India, Riyadh.

3- Till yesterday at Tarheel, exit process executed for more than 100 people. Exits has been awarded mainly to sick and old age group persons who were stranded at down town near Seiko Park.

4- In the initial stage 110 food parcels were distributed, but now arrangement has been made for 100 food parcels to be delivered on daily basis till the exodus of Seiko Park will take place as final exit.

Yes, your's continued phone calls, emails has boosted our morale and moreover, your well wishes and prayer has brought them sigh of relief. May Allah bless you in this holy month of Ramadan. It would be grave unjust if we will not reckon the names of our Indian Embassy Official, Riyadh who has provided all possible assistance.

We would like to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Hamid Ali Rao, Ambassador of India to KSA, for being attentive & listening to our concern & thereafter mobilizing his good office to expedite and facilitate.

Mr. Sibi George, DCM Indian Emabassy, himself visited Dammam to take the stock of the situation and pro-actively facilitated and prioritizes, sick elder & homeless. Especially their propensity to process it fast from Saudi Tarheel is visible in word & action. Moreover, Indian Embassy officers, Mr. Ravi Goyel and Mr. Imdadullah are physically available to supervise the activity as and when situation arises.



Our Bihar Anjuman Advisory Committee Members namely Mr. Shakil Hashmi, Andalib Rahman, Qamar Nadwi & Zeya Khan are up the ante in tandem to have desired result and make it happen in such short span of time.

Also, we are extremely grateful & thankful to all our unsung heroes who stood by us. We are indebted to India Forum Jubail and it's leader from Jubail Mr. Habib Shaikh, Mr. Anis Baksh & other brothers. Also, we are indebted & extremely grateful to brothers from Jubail, Riyadh, Dammam, Khobar & Germany for their continued support.

We bear witness to people from all classes has empathized & outraged to see our Indian brothers suffering in the Seiko Park, has shown how we are united in such humanitarian tragedy. This is classic example of unity in diversity and rich cultural values made us proud of our inherited social system.

Thanking you all, kind hearted Indians!

Two killed in communal clashes in Meerut

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By IANS,

Lucknow: Two people, including a woman, were killed and over a dozen injured in clashes between two communities in a village in Uttar Pradesh, police said Saturday.

The clashes erupted in Nagla Mal village in Meerut district late Friday after a community objected to the playing of hymns at a temple, switched off the loudspeaker and beat up some men.

Police resorted to a baton charge to control the mob. A police officer has been suspended and a hunt is on to nab the rioters.

Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) R.K. Vishwakarma told IANS that one person was killed in the skirmish and the other died of a cardiac arrest.

District Magistrate Navdeep Rinwa said the National Security Act would be slapped on people who started the clashes. Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in large numbers to prevent any further clashes.

Tamil Nadu police chief refutes BJP, faces ire

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By IANS,

Chennai : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday criticised the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) K. Ramanujam for refuting a statement made by the party, and claiming that Hindu leaders were not attacked in the state.

Speaking to the media here, BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said: "We condemn his statement. He should not have made the statement when a Special Investigation Division (SID) is investigating the case."

A three-member national BJP team consisting of Javadekar, parliament member Ananth Kumar, and spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman visited Salem, around 340 km from here, to study the situation in Tamil Nadu after the recent murder of V. Ramesh, the party's state general secretary.

According to Javadekar, there is a pattern in the killings of Hindu leaders in the state, involving fundamentalist forces. He sought a detailed and expeditious probe into the attacks on Hindu leaders.

Tamil Nadu's police chief Friday listed out different cases of such attacks, and claimed that leaders of the BJP and other Hindu organisations were sometimes attacked because of "personal motives".

"In some cases, the accused belonged to the same religion as the victim. Statements seeking to create an impression that a large number of targeted attacks have gone unchecked or undetected or that the police have failed to take action are misleading and contrary to the truth," he said.

He said the police have taken proper steps and arrested the accused in cases of assault on leaders of Hindu organisations and necessary police protection has been provided to persons and officers considered to be facing threats.

Court issues warrant against Raj Thackeray

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By IANS,

New Delhi : Refusing to grant exemption from personal hearing to Maharashtra Navanirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and spokesperson Shirish Parkar, a Delhi court Friday issued non-bailable warrants against them on a complaint of making "hate speeches" against the people of Bihar.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Devendra Kumar Sharma issued NBWs against Thackeray and Parkar for Aug 24.

Last month, the court also directed them to appear in person and rejected Thackeray's plea for exemption.

The court's direction came on a complaint filed by advocate Premchandra Jaiswal, who is a member of Bihar State Bar Council, Patna, against the MNS chief's alleged hate speeches against the people of Bihar and demeaning their religious festival of Chhath.

Jaiswal had also accused MNS workers of intimidating them.

Initially, the case was filed before a court in Patna in 2008 and summoning orders and non-bailable warrants were also issued against Thackeray and Parkar.

Later, the Supreme Court transferred the case to Delhi in 2010 along with similar other complaints filed against Thackeray for allegedly making hate speeches.

ISI operative held in Lucknow with fake currency

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By IANS,

Lucknow : A Nepali national, working for Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), was arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police's Anti-Terror Squad Friday and fake Indian currency with face value of Rs.5 lakh seized from him, officials said.

The operative, identified as Ahmed Teli, was nabbed by the ATS at the Qaiserbagh bus station when he was about to board a bus.

Officials said Teli was a middle rung operative and was the conduit between the agency and the terror groups spread elsewhere.

"He used to fund terrorists and was a major operative in the fake currency racket being operated in the country from across the borders," an ATS official told IANS.

Additional Director General of Police Arun Kumar said when the operative was arrested, he had Rs.5 lakh of fake Indian currency notes, wrapped in The Dawn newspaper published in Pakistan.

ATS had been in pursuit of the ISI man for quite some time since after it intercepted conversations of fake currency exchanges.

Teli holds Nepali nationality, officials said, adding that he was being grilled to know further details of his network.

During preliminary interrogation, he told ATS sleuths that he has so far pumped in several crores of fake Indian currency since 2011.

He also said that he was assigned the task of recruiting young boys for the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and to spy on Indian Army installations.

He has been handed over to to other security agencies for further interrogation.

Rahul Gandhi fit to be PM, says Lalu Yadav

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By IANS,

Lucknow: Former Bihar chief minister and RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav has endorsed Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi as the next prime minister.

Lalu Yadav said in Mirzapur Friday that Gandhi was "fit to be the prime minister and had all qualities of a bright leader".

"Rahul Gandhi has nothing negative about him. If given a chance by the people of India, he would prove to be a good prime minister," he said.

Lalu Yadav added that he would do everything to stop Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi from becoming prime minister. "I will do everything I can to stop Modi from becoming prime minister," he said.

Hitting out at the BJP, the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief said his tough stance against L.K. Advani during the Ram Janmbhoomi movement in the early 1990s ensured that the BJP leader never became prime minister.

Lalu Yadav said that he supported the Congress for its secularism but he was displeased with the recent comments of Congress leaders on poverty. He said many people in India could not afford two meals in a day.

He blamed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for "playing with the lives of school students" and held him responsible for the deaths of 23 children after they ate a mid-day meal in a government school. "Whatever bad happens in Bihar is heaped on the opposition parties. This is very unfortunate," he said.

Curfew in J&K town after injured woman dies

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By IANS,

Srinagar: Curfew was clamped in Jammu and Kashmir's Badgam town Saturday in addition to more than two dozen villages after a woman, injured during sectarian clashes July 23, died.

Fatima, 55, of Dadina village in Badgam district was admitted to Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura in Srinagar with critical head injuries July 23.

Family and relatives of the woman claimed police had beaten her without any provocation when she was standing with other village women.

After news of her death spread in the already tense areas where curfew had been imposed for the last four days in the wake of sectarian clashes, authorities decided to clamp curfew in the district headquarters of Badgam as well.

"Restrictions have been imposed in Badgam town as a precautionary measure while the situation is fast returning to normal in the district", a senior police officer said here.


Dr. Khayam Khan elected president of MBT

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By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Hyderabad: Majlise Bachao Tehreek (MBT) has elected Dr. Khayam Khan as the new president of the party in a function of its party workers at Rahmat function hall near their headquarters at Chanchalguda.

The president post of the party was vacant for last two weeks after the sudden demise of Advocate Adam Malik due to heart attack on 12th July. Adam Malik was the president of the party for nearly past ten years after the death of party founder Amanullah Khan in 2002.



Newly elected MBT president Dr. Khayam Khan

Dr. Khayam Khan, a MBBS graduate from Kashmir University, is the eldest son of Amanullah Khan who founded Majlis Bacho Tehreek (Save Majlis Movement) in 1992 after breaking from Majlis-e-Itehadul Muslimeen allegedly due to soft stand of the party on Babri Masjid demolition and nepotism.

Amanullah Khan was the legislative assembly floor leader and the second most powerful leader in the MIM after Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, in 1990’s MIM suffered huge losses, after the broke up two MLAs was left with MIM and other two went with MBT.

In 1994 elections MIM bite off dust with MBT sweeping its two seats and MIM candidate Asaduddin Owaisi winning a narrow fight from Charminar; other seat of Asifnagar was lost to Congress between the vote divide where ironically both the parties fielded brother against another brother.

But in 1999 elections MIM gained back its lost spirit and ended the political run of MBT in assembly with retaining all the four lost seats, the shocker was 29 year old Akbaruddin Owaisi who defeated five time incumbent MLA Amanullah Khan from Chandrayangutta with 11,920 votes.
Dr. Khayam Khan made two powerful attempts to gain back his father’s seat in 2004 and 2009 but failed desolately, in 2004 Khayam Khan pulled 46,569 votes against 58,513 votes of Akbaruddin Owaisi, in last 2009 state elections Mr. Khan pulled 30,315 votes against 45,492 votes of Mr. Owaisi.

Other than Chandrayangutta constituency MBT in successive elections also concentrated in getting back Yakutpura constituency of old city into its fold, party even tried to make its mark at Hyderabad parliamentary constituency, in 2004 by fielding Majeedullah Khan younger brother of current president, who pulled just 47,560 votes, against 3,78,854 votes of MIM candidate Asadudiin Owaisi.

In 2009 party supported TDP candidate and Siasat Urdu daily editor Zahid Ali Khan who got 1,94,196 votes against 3,08,061votes of MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi.

MBT could gain only 1 seat in 2009 Greater Hyderabad Municipal Council elections compare to 43 seats of MIM, where Amanullah Khan’s youngest son Amjedullah Khan is representing Azampura division, presently becoming the only elected representative of the party.

The new president Dr. Khayam Khan has a rough task ahead of him to revive the party’s dying carder, as state elections are just months away. Party is currently back to square one giving all its concentration on Chandrayangutta constituency with Dr. Khyam Khan already started his election campaign to take on Akbaruddin Owaisi with the help of local and substantial Arab Yemini diaspora who got into a violent feud with current MLA.

Modi's chances do not look all that rosy

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By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,

When Narendra Modi muscled his way to the top echelons of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with his usual chutzpah, he must have presumed that it was only a question of time before he was chosen the party's prime ministerial candidate.

The only known dissenter, L.K. Advani, had been neutralized by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) with the sop of being kicked upstairs to be a mentor. The fiery rath yatri (chariot rider) of the 1990s was expected to play the role of an ineffectual elderly guardian for whom the brash, not-so-young aspirant to be the head of a conservative Hindu joint family had no time.

But the ambitious go-getter does not seem to have factored in the numerous cross-currents of mainstream politics. Used as he is to the somnolence of his one-man show in Gujarat, he probably has not reckoned with the turbulence of national politics, where the bon homie of formal meetings in front of television cameras does not reflect genuine camaraderie.

As much is evident from the absence of his face among the pictures of party stalwarts adorning Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan's vehicle traversing the state in a yatra. Considering that the photo of Karnataka's Ananth Kumar features in the display, the fact that the party's national-level campaign chief is missing sends out the unmistakable message that he is not as "popular" as BJP president Rajnath Singh claims.

Considering how Advani praised Chauhan by emphasizing how the low-profile chief minister had lifted Madhya Pradesh by the bootstraps to be among the developed states whereas Gujarat was already a front-runner when Modi took charge, cynics might detect the mentor's hidden hand behind Chauhan's snub to Modi.

Even as Chauhan played down the significance of the episode relating to his "elder brother" Modi, Bihar's gadfly, Shatrughan Sinha, expressed the view that Modi's prime ministerial goal had to be blessed by Advani, the "biggest statesman".

What these inner-party rumbles indicate is a brewing storm. In Gujarat, Modi had little difficulty in riding roughshod over dissent, shunting out challengers like the unprepossessing Keshubhai Patel and a small-timer like Sanjay Joshi.

But the national stage is much larger and has more canny players. The relative silence of Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and others is more indicative of the sullen quiet which precedes a squall than the pleased acceptance of a new entrant on a big platform.

The silence may have a purpose. It is to let Modi and his supporters trip themselves, as Modi did with his "puppy" and "Hindu nationalist" remarks and Rajnath Singh with his anti-English views.

As if this return to the saffron camp's hardline agenda is not enough, Amartya Sen has stepped into the fray with the observation that the prime minister should not be a person who scares a section of the people. Not surprisingly, the BJP has promptly charged the Nobel laureate with being a Congress supporter and at least two saffron apparatchiks have called for revoking the Bharat Ratna award conferred on him.

For the BJP, the political scene has been rendered more confusing by recent opinion polls which have favoured the party. Interestingly, the level of popular satisfaction with the chief ministers is the highest for Chauhan (82 percent) and lowest for Modi (64 percent) with Raman Singh of Chhattisgarh in the middle with 75 percent.

It must be obvious for the BJP, therefore, that while the party may be gaining, its inability to solve the leadership question is bound to create problems in the future.

As it is, whatever gains that the BJP has made according to the polls are by default as a result of the Congress's many failures, starting with the series of scams followed by the policy paralysis leading to an economic slump. There is nothing to show that Modi's arrival on the national stage has made any difference.

For instance, while the gains predicted for the BJP in Gujarat are only to be expected in view of the party's recent successes there, in Maharashtra, the Congress-National Congress Party alliance has managed to hold its own against the Shiv Sena-BJP combine.

In Uttar Pradesh, the rise in the BJP's tally of seats can be ascribed not only to the Akhilesh Yadav government's poor performance but also to the fact that two successive governments led first by Mayawati and then by Yadav have failed the people. Hence it is possible that the electorate will turn to the BJP. But the Modi factor is not of prime importance in this context. As it wasn't in Karnataka, where his campaigning did not save the BJP from defeat.

Given the latent, but substantial opposition to him from within the party and the reluctance of allies like the Shiv Sena to back him, Modi's chances of making it to the top do not look all that certain at the moment.

(27-07-2013-Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. He can be reached at amulyaganguli@gmail.com)

EMFA expresses concern at infringing modesty of a lady journalist

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By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,

Guwahati: Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) has expressed serious concern at a recent incident in the city where a lady television journalist, Afrida Hussain was subjected to face abusive behavior from a biker. The television journalist forum also urged the authority to take appropriate actions against those guilty individuals to restore confidence of the women settlers of Guwahati.

Afrida, a city based journalist associated with Aajtak television channel, has already lodged a complaint in the Dispur police station narrating the bizarre incident that took place on July 25 last.

“The unfortunate incident happened to me while I was on way to attend the press conference of Pravin Bhai Tagodia in the city. It was around 2.30 pm, while our vehicle (Alto) was crossing the Last Gate junction in Dispur, precisely in front of Divine wedding complex, a motorcycle borne youth zoomed in form the wrong end of the road. He was about to ram in to my vehicle,” Ms Hussain described.

She also added that while their vehicle was somehow stopped averting a possible collision, the said youth stopped his two-wheeler in front of their obstructing their movement.

“He then charged towards us in an utterly aggressive mood and hurled abusive language on me. The youth not only entered into a squabble with my husband, who was driving the vehicle, but also intimidated me with abusive words. He infringed my modesty at a public place with foul languages and gestures which cannot be mentioned here,” added Ms Hussain.

At one point of time, the youth managed to snatch away the keys of their vehicle. Assessing the happenings going beyond control, Ms Hussain called up the police for help.

“If a lady reporter can be humiliated, abused and intimidated in the broad day light at the centre of the city and shockingly the police arrived late on the location, one can well understand the fate of other women moving on the streets of Guwahati,” lamented Ms Hussain.

EMFA reiterated its demand to take strong steps to punish the concerned youth (who has already been identified by Ms Hussain) as an exceptional incident, such that the media persons in particular and citizens in general can live a modest life in the pre-historic city.

Abdullah Hall advisory withdrawn

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By TCN News,

Aligarh: The Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University has ordered immediate withdrawal of the notice issued by the Provost of Abdullah Hall, a hall of residence meant for girl students.

The hostel girls were called upon to wear "decent looking" dress. AMU today clarified that notice was advisory in nature and not be taken as diktat, also that the University does not intend to lay down any particular dress regulation for students.

In the issue of internet, the University encouraged students to use internet and for this, the administration is making arrangement to provide WiFi facility to all the halls of residence for which the work is already underway. "It is however unfortunate that no news of this initiative found any mention in the national media while a fabricated and malicious news was attempted by a section of media without verifying its authenticity," read the statement issued by the university authorities.

"The objective behind exhorting students to take food at the Dining Halls is only because the University is concerned about the health of its students. We do not want students to eat unhygienic and unhealthy food at wayside eateries. There is no restriction on students visiting hotels and restaurants."

The University officials further clarified that the very spirit of the circular issued by the Provost of Abdullah Hall was misconstrued and a negative interpretation cropped up, which was not intended. Despite this fact, keeping in view the sensibility of the students and their guardians, the Vice Chancellor has ordered immediate withdrawal of the circular issued by the Provost, Abdullah Hall.

Batla house encounter judgment: An Analysis

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By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,

The Saket Session Court of Delhi delivered a judgment on a highly politicized encounter court Batla House Encounter case. The Court found Shahzad @ Pappu guilty of killing MC Sharma a police officer in the Batla house encounter case.

The decision is being celebrated by our media ignoring the fact that it’s not the last word in the case. The Judgment is not unexpected. Police is the party or in legal term accused in the Batlahouse encounter case and they were allowed to investigate. As Adv. Ejaz Naqvis puts, “Investigation by the accused or even victim is against the principle of fair investigation and Justice.”

Historical incidents that raised the doubts in the case

1- NHRC Guidelines about the encounter that an FIR should be filed against Police and a Magisterial inquiry must be held flouted.

2- Left. Governor of Delhi stopped the Magisterial Inquiry without any reason in the Batla House encounter case.

3- NHRC took cognizance only after the direction of High Court.

4- RTI queries denied.



Here are some facts on the court case:

1- The decision is not about the encounter of Atif and Sajid. It is about the killing of Ashok Chakra and President Award recipient Mohan Chand Sharma, highly decorated Police Officer.

2- Shahazad @ Pappu convicted on the basis of six Eye Witnesses, all are Police Personals. Judgment also states the circumstantial evidence- A- Recovery of his expired Passport from L-18. B- Railway Ticket from Delhi to Azamgarh. C- Telephonic Call from Atif Mobile to Shahazad’s Father in Azamgarh. U.P. from the same flat or nearby.

3- Judgment is based on Police statements (Prosecution Witnesses- an Interested Party in the Case). Judgment says, “I do not find myself in agreement with Ld. Counsel for accused contending that in the absence of independent public witnesses accused cannot be convicted on the basis of testimony of police officials.”

4- Police did not make Public Witness because they were Muslims and it might cause social unrest. Judgment says, “Ld. Addl. Public Prosecutor explained that the raiding party was in hurry to nab the suspects of serial blast. Moreover, majority of residents of that area are followers of the religion, as was of those suspects. If the police officers tried to involve any such local resident, it would have created social unrest in that area, causing fear to the life of those police persons even.

5- According to the Independent Eyewitness, Shahzad was not in the Flat. Only Independent Eye Witnesses in the case Mohd. Saif was not made a witness by the Police. When Defence made them Witness they deposed against the Police claim and said that Shahzad was not present there.

Judgment says “Md. Saif (one of occupants of flat no. 108) was apprehended by police from that flat. As per Ld. Defence counsel, prosecution did not cite Md. Saif as its witness and did not examine him in the court. All this ensues an adverse inference against the prosecution. I agree with Ld. Defence counsel. Even as per case of prosecution, Md. Saif surrendered before the police after coming out of toilets of said flat. In this way, Md. Saif was an important witness may be an eyewitness of incident and if prosecution did not examine him as a witness, it can be presumed that said witness would not have deposed in favour of prosecution.”
Second person Zeeshan Ahmad was resident of same flat, who left it at 7.007.30 am and as per him, there remained only Atif, Mohd. Saif and Sajid in that flat. Page No-29.

6- Fleeing from L-18. Assistant Sub Inspector, Anil Tyagi, Prosecution Witness no-13, who was posted on the main gate of the building deposed before the court that “he did not see any public person going in or coming out of the building.”
Judgment says, ASI Anil Tyagi (PW13) also deposed in the court that total nakabandi was done of that gali where said flat is situated. He did not see any public person going in or coming out of the building.

Similarly, ACP Sanjeev Yadav, who was examined, deposed that no occupants of flat met him while climbing the steps of L18,Batla House. Insp. Rahul Kumar (PW8) searched the adjoining flat i.e. Flat No. 107 as well as roof of that building but could not get any clue as how said two persons escaped.

7- Seizure of Arms despite many people from public gathered there only Senior Inspector Praveen Vats (PW-35) was made a witness. Judgment said, “A large crowd of people gathered at spot. PW35 witnessed the recovery of arms and ammunition from spot, seized by the IO.”

8- Police could not prove that Shahzad is an IM Operaive.
Judgment says “ It is pointed out by Sh. Satish Tamta, Advocate that as per case of prosecution, the occupants of flat no. 108 including accused Shahzad were active members of Indian Muzahiddin but this fact has not been proved on file.”

9- Killing of MC Sharma: Referring to the Ballistic Report from the side of encounter, Defence Lawyer claimed, “All the bullets matched with the arms belonging to the police party and two arms allegedly attributed to Atif and Sajid. According to the report there was no extra bullet on the spot, which demolishes the entire police theory that Shahzad fired and fled.” Nothing is mentioned in the Judment in this regard.

BJP will achieve record-breaking result: Advani

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By IANS,

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani expressed confidence Saturday that his party would get outstanding results during the 2014 elections.

He was addressing the national executive meeting of the BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha.

"I can see from all angles that BJP will give record-breaking results during the 2014 elections," said Advani.

"It is not necessary that the election result would be the same as what the election tracker survey has been predicting. I am firm that the result will be much better than what has been predicted," he added.

The CNN-IBN-CSDS-The Hindu Election Tracker survey had showed that the 2014 Lok Sabha elections were going to throw up a fractured mandate with neither the BJP nor the Congress coming anywhere close to the half-way mark of 272 in the 545-member Lok Sabha.

The BJP veteran also ruled out the possibility of an early Lok Sabha polls.

"Elections in the six states of the country and the Lok Sabha polls will take place before April, may be till May. But everybody is of the opinion that the Election Commission would want the polls to take place earlier, whether the government wants it or not," he said.

Advani also attacked the Congress on the corruption issue.

"The Congress party has set the agenda for the 2014 polls due to (its) corruption and misgovernance. BJP's job is just to highlight it," he said.

Ramadan 1434: Topi-wallah


Syed Badruddin Ahmad (1901-83): Politician, writer, and poet

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By Mohammad Sajjad

While looking into certain archival documents (CID files of the 1940s) pertaining to my research work I came across a name of an office-bearer (General Secretary) of the Bihar Muslim League, in correspondence with Jinnah. This name sounded familiar as I had read an Urdu memoir/ autobiography Haqeeqat Bhi Kahani Bhi: Azimabad Ki Tahzibi Daastaan<./em> (1988), authored by the same name. The puzzle was: in a thick volume of 578 pages of the memoir, there was not even a slight hint of the author’s association with or involvement in politics of any persuasion, League, Congress, …It left me a bit confused as to whether the writer of the memoir and the Muslim League’s politician I came across in the document, was one and same or they were two different people incidentally bearing similar names.

The note of dedication (Intesaab) of the memoir was quite amazingly fascinating:

“Main apni is kitab ka intesaab Patna ke us guzray huay Ganga-Jamuni samaj ki yadon ke saath ma’anwan karta hoon jo Patna hi ka nahin, pooray Hindustan ka mushtareka Ganga-Jamuni samaj tha aur jis ki taameer mein yahan ke har firqa aur har tabqa ke logon ney yaksaan taur par hissa liya tha. Is samaj mein poori qaum ek ikaai thi, is samaj mein bhai-chara aur mohabbat ka raj tha, rawadari aur yekjehati parwaan charhti thin aur ekta ke saanchay mein jazbaat o mahsoosaat dhaltay thay. Aaj phir usi Ganga-Jamuni samaj ki zaroorat hai taaki hamara mulk dubara Jannat-e-nishan ban jaaye”.

[I dedicate this book of mine to the memory of Patna’s Ganga-Jamuni culture, which belonged not only to Patna but also to the whole of India, and which was nurtured by the people of every sect and class. In this culture all the communities were a composite unit consisting of brotherhood and love, with growing tolerance and unity sharing emotions and feelings with each other. Today, we need the very same Ganga-Jamuni culture so that our beloved country once again becomes heaven for all].



Syed Badruddin Ahmad. [Photo courtesy of Bihar Urdu Youth Forum.]

As I explored more about this, it became clear to me that the two were one and same- Syed Badruddin Ahmad- who has also left a collection of poems (Kulliyat-e-Badr), not yet published. He composed poems bearing the pen-name, ‘Badr Azimabadi’. [The memoir sold many copies inland and abroad, and came out its re-print in 2003, not to say of so many Xerox copies of the book].

His father [Khan Bahadur] Syed Zamiruddin Ahmad (1862-1921) had established the Patna branch of the Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu (founded in 1903 in Aligarh), on the persuasion of Abdul Haq (1872-1961), the then chief of the Anjuman. Zamiruddin was joined by Syed Mahmud, Dr. Zubair Siddiqi and also by few Hindus. It was started in the Hugh Library of Patna, and Qazi Abdul Wadud (1896-1984) after coming back from Cambridge made this branch quite pro-active and popular, shifted its library to Bankipur (Patna). Zamiruddin came from Biharsharif; was BA from the Presidency College, Calcutta, and was married (1882) in an elite family of the Sadr Gali, Patna City, where Badruddin was born and brought up to do BA from the Patna College, and then pursued MA in English literature; cutting it short, joined BL and started court practice. In 1937 he had joined politics, and became General Secretary of the Bihar Muslim League, contested Assembly election from Champaran, and came out successful. It is however intriguing that in his memoir Badruddin maintains a conspicuous silence on his political activities during 1937-46.

In March 1947, on the persuasion of Gandhiji (when he visited Patna), Badruddin joined the Congress. Badruddin’s son, Faiyaz Ahmad shared with the historian Papiya Ghosh (1958-2006): ‘[A]fter Partition Badruddin Ahmad expressed his anguish to Jinnah since he had understood the Lahore resolution [of 23 March 1940] as a demand for a confederation of Muslim and non-Muslim provinces and not partition’. Jinnah responded that even he too had not demanded it. Jinnah asked Badruddin to stay on in India, an advice which Badruddin passed on to others. Subsequently both Jinnah and Nazimuddin called Badruddin many times to Pakistan with promises of land, property, etc. Defying all these inducements Badruddin decided not to leave those Muslims rudderless who chose to stay on in Bihar.

Badruddin was also associated with the Mohammedan Education Committee, Patna (founded in March 1884; a regional response to the Aligarh Movement), which runs Mohammedan Anglo-Arabic High School as well as the Oriental College, Patna (est. 1964). He was also a member of the Senate (Executive Council) of the Patna University. He was a voracious reader with special interest in reading History and biographies; had a rich personal library. In short, after independence, Badruddin not only left politics for good, he was not even prepared to talk/write about politics. His memoir is a specimen of good prose with lot of cultural details about the urban life of Patna, comparable to an extent with Sharar’s Guzashta Lucknow.

This profile of Badruddin Ahmad narrating his ‘sudden’ turn towards the Congress, and against the League, few months before the partition, gives some clue to the historians to re-visit the historiography of India’s partition.

For more see my forthcoming book Changing Contours of Muslim Politics in Bihar: Pre and Post-independence Experiences.

--
Mohammad Sajjad is Asstt. Prof. at Centre of Advanced Study in History, Aligarh Muslim University.
_

Renowned scientist Obaid Siddiqui passed away

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By TCN News

Bangalore: Renowned scientist Prof. Obaid Siddiqui passed away in Bangalore on Friday. He was on life support since July 21st following a road accident. He is survived by his wife Asiya, two sons Imran and Kaleem, and two daughters Yumna and Diba.

He has been President of the Indian National Science Academy, Fellow of the US National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of UK.

He helped establish the Department of Biological Sciences at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Bombay in the early 1960s and then the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore in the 1990s.

Born in 1932, Prof. Siddiquie graduated from Aligarh Muslim University then did his PhD from the Unversity of Glasgow. He did his post-doctoral research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and University of Pennsylvania.

Prof Siddiqui in his long academic career has been honoured with Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Bhatnagar Prize etc.

In a statement American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) condoled his demise. Prof. Siddiqui was recipient of AFMI’s Pride of India Award in 2003.

"AFMI (USA & Canada) members are deeply saddened by his passing away and express our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. He was not only a pioneering scientist but also a great humanitarian who quietly strived for justice and equality in society," said Ayub Khan, president of AFMI.

IIM Kashipur to offer a course for executives on Islamic Banking & Finance

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By TCN News

New Delhi: Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kashipur has announced a new Management Development Program on “Islamic Banking & Finance” that is to be held at the India Islamic Cultural Center in New Delhi on August 24-25, 2013.

The program is the first such executive course offered by a leading business school in the country on Islamic banking, which is considered the largest alternative financial system in the world today, growing at double digit growth rates with a presence in 75 countries and a total size of approximately of $2 trillion.

The program is designed to give participants a thorough grounding in the key concepts, products and applications of Islamic banking and finance along with an understanding of the latest developments in this industry and ideas for its implementation in India.

Announcing this initiative, Prof. K.M. Baharul Islam, Chairperson (Planning and Development) at IIM Kashipur explained the need for such a program in India given the huge interest in this subject among various sections and the growing demand for Islamic finance and banking solutions in the country. The program will be conducted in partnership with Infinity Consultants, a Bangalore based advisory firm focused on training and development of Islamic finance in India.

Commenting on the program, Saif Ahmed a former Islamic banker and Managing Partner with Infinity Consultants stated that “India offers a huge potential to develop innovative Islamic finance solutions that are based on ethical foundations in areas such as microfinance, consumer funding and cross border Shari’a compliant infrastructure investments within existing regulations, and for this we need qualified human capital that this program seeks to develop. We are very excited about partnering with IIM Kashipur on this new venture and hope to conduct similar programs going forward.”

Course content:

Day 1:
A. Introduction to Islamic Law (Shari’a)
B. Introduction to Islamic Finance
C. Islamic Banking & Finance Industry
D. Structure of Islamic banks
E. Musharakah: Islamic Business Partnerships
F. Mudrarabah: Islamic Investment Partnerships

Day 2:
H. Murabaha: Cost Plus Financing
I. Salam & Istisna: Forward Sales and Manufacturing Contracts
J. Sukuk: Islamic Securitization & Islamic Capital Markets
K. Liquidity and Risk Management in Islamic Banking
L. Islamic Insurance (Takaful)
M. Islamic Banking & Finance Prospects in India

For further information contact:
• Dr. Baharul Islam – Chairperson (Planning and Development), IIM Kashipur
Tel: +91-5947-262177 | Email: chairpnd@iimkashipur.ac.in
• Irfan Naheem – Manager, Infinity Consultants
Tel: +91 90357 71177, Email: training@infinity-consult.com

All procedures were set aside in Batla House shootout; still hopeful for justice: Afroz Alam Sahil

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By M Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,

New Delhi: After the controversial Batla house shootout and the confusion surrounding the incident, then a mass communication student at Jamia Millia Islamia and RTI activist Afroz Alam Sahil filed several RTI applications to the Delhi Police Special Cell, AIIMS, National Human Rights Commission, and in all other concerned departments to know the ‘truth’ behind the Police operation, believed by most civil rights groups to be fake encounter.

After several appeals and order by the Chief Information Commission (CIC), NHRC had finally provided its full report, along with all supporting documents, that included the autopsy reports of the deceased as well as all the letters of communications amongst several departments. The autopsy reports of Atif Amin and Mohamamd Sajid had created furor in 2010 as it gave credence to different theories on the shootout being fake.

TwoCircles.net talked with the RTI activist and journalist, Afroz Alam Sahil on the latest judgement in connection with a case of the Batla House ‘encounter’ in which a Delhi court found Shahzad Ahmed guilty on charges of obstructing public servants in discharge of duties, murder of Inspector MC Sharma and attempt to murder of two other police personnel on Thursday.



Afroz Alam Sahil in Batla House.

Q: Your first reaction on the judgement?

Sahil: The judgement was disappointing in the wake of the several questions raised not only by the civil society, but even by the defence counsel, which prosecution could not explain. However, this judgement is from the trial court and we still have the options of high court and the Supreme Court. We must not lose hope, for we have seen in several cases that the judgement by a trial court has been completely turned down by higher courts.

I firmly believe that in this country justice may be delayed, but is seldom denied.

Q: But why do you still have your doubts? What makes you think that the truth of that eventful day is not out yet?

Sahil: Immediately after the alleged encounter, several theories started doing rounds and it was amidst this confusion that I filed several RTI applications to unravel the truth. But when from one department to another repeatedly my requests were rejected, its then that my suspensions grew for you try to hide only when there is something wrong.

When you see the events of the whole case, you will realise that all procedures were set aside in this alleged shoot out as the government tried to manufacture consent that the Indian Mujahedeen network has been busted. Although, as the honurable Judge in this case observed that this particular case had nothing to do with their purported links with terror groups, the fact is that the prosecution failed to produce any credible evidence to establish their basic premise that IM members were hauled up in that particular flat.

Q: Can you elaborate more on the norms that you believe were set aside?

Sahil: The NHRC guidelines clearly notes that a ‘Magisterial Inquiry must invariably be held in all cases of deaths which occur in the course of police action and in which next of kin of the deceased must invariably be associated. In this connection the then honourable Lieutenant Governor of Delhi NCT Tejendra Khanna did not allow any enquiry to happen. The Delhi minority commission had constituted a four member fact finding committee, but on the directives of the honoruable Lt Governor that too was not allowed to happen. The NHRC has said on record in a reply to my RTI query that they never visited the site for inspection; and their entire report is based on what the police said. And now in this judgement, the court, it appears, has accepted every argument of the prosecution relating to the events of September 20, 2008. One can go on and on in this...

Q: Coming back to the case of Shahzad Ahmed, while the prosecution claims that he was present in the flat, defence counsel has argued that how could he escape, if at all he was there?

Sahil: Shahazad case is one of the most interesting. In the FIR filed, Police had said that two persons Junaid and Pappu flee from the spot. In some other documents, that I had access through RTI, besides Junaid, if you notice the other name police gave was Shahnawaz or Shahabaz alias Pappu. Now, the police claims that they had found his Passport from the same flat, so if they had the Passport, they should have had the correct name from day one. So why this confusion in name of Shahzad?

In fact one of the “note” prepared by Karnal Singh, Joint-Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) dated 19-11-2008 – again that I accessed through RTI – mentions about seizures made from fake voter I card to education documents as well train reservation ticket, tapes, pencil cell, etc, but does not mention the Passport. Another letter written by Satish Chandra, Special Commissioner of Police (Vigilance), Delhi Police to the Secretary General of the NHRC (19-11-2008) mentions seizures as follows: laptop, mobile phones, pen drives, internet data card, compact disk, digital video cassettes, broken SIMs, SIM cards of various companies, cycle ball bearings, incriminating documents, including fake voter I card, fake driving license, reservation slips. This too does not mention the Passport. This was apparently recovered by ACP Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, the IO of the case (FIR No. 166/08, PS Karol Bagh) from the same spot. So seizures are being made by different police personnel.

Also all bullets fired had matched the arms of raiding party and two guns attributed to Atif and Sajid, so if at all Shahzad was there and fired, where have the bullets or shells gone?

Moreover, his family has denied that his nick name was Pappu. In the initial days of arrest, a story was also planted that Shahzad was planning 9/11 type attack, but that story soon fell flat. All I am saying is that there is much to be yet unearthed. The honourable Judge has relied upon the police version too much, but we hope that once the case is challenged in the High Court, and all evidences are cross checked, truth will come out.



A narrow bylane in Batla House.

Q: People have out rightly been rejecting the ‘encounter’ theory, but the fact is that even one Inspector laid down his life in the operation and another police officer was injured.

Sahil: I feel most sorry for the martyr MC Sharma and his family. Imagine a police officer died on duty and there are so many questions and suspensions surrounding the whole event. I feel people who call themselves patriotic and nationalist should have been the first one to ask for an independent probe, as the name of a police officer, who had died was being sullied. Government reiterated that it would affect the morale of the police force, I wonder, when entire operation is being questioned and people doubt even the motive that would put down the morale of the police force, or when fair enquiry – and mind you the magisterial enquiry is as I said part of the guidelines of NHRC – which the government did not allow – conducted that would have given them clean chit would have given them moral booster? But the moment you shy away from an enquiry, suspensions of people will get credence.

Inspector MC Sharma was admitted to the nearest Holy Family Hospital, not more than two kilometers away, and later shifted to AIIMS’ Trauma centre, it still remains to be answered that how he lost 2.5 -3 liters of blood, that eventually caused his death. Moreover, the forensic report explains the directions of entry and exit wounds, that have not delved much in the investigations.
I must commend the family of MC Sharma though, who stood through all the tribulations and even then when asked if they wanted death penalty for the perpetrators, his widow answered in negative.

Q: There has been too much of politics on the whole issue, don’t you think that now that the judgement has come, even if we have to appeal to higher courts, but the politics must stop?

Sahil: I completely agree with you that the politics over the death must stop. Unfortunately leaders of all colours have used the Batla House shootout for their own narrow political agendas. Several local politicians have literally risen over the dead bodies of those killed in that flat. Even national leaders have not shied away from exploiting the sentiments of people over the issue.

Do you know so much was reported in media that Jihadi literature was found in flat. But as per police record a book seized was Panchtantra. Now is that a Jihadi literature?

Q: Final question, now that the trial court has given its judgement, what are your demands?

Sahil: First as I said, this is not the end of struggle and the appeal should be filed in the high court soon, once the quantum of punishment is announced on Monday. However, I reiterate the demand for a fair probe into the whole events.

Muslims in Manipur observe Ramadan

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By Dr. Syed Ahmed, for TwoCircles.net,

Imphal: Like in the rest of the world, Muslims in Manipur are also observing Ramadan, the month of fasting, with full religious fervor. Here too, Ramadan is marked by abstaining from food and drink from dawn to dusk, iftar or breaking of fast, sehri or meal served before dawn, performing tarawi namaz, reciting Quran and charity to the poor.

In the evenings, the road along Hafiz Hatta, a large Muslim-concentrated area in Imphal city, takes the form of a large crowded market. Muslims from Minuthong Golapati, Mana Ingkhol and Hafiz Hatta come out in large number after the ashar namaj to buy the essential commodities for the ramadan. A large number of women vendors, including Muslim women, sell all kinds of local fish and vegetable at the road-side. There are numerous meat shops and grocery stores. There are also temporary stalls that sell different jewellery items specially brought for the Eid. Hotels prepare snacks and sweets for the Iftar.



A stall at Hafiz Hatta

There are also temporary stalls that sell Islamic literatures and merchandise exclusively used by the Muslims, like Islamic calendar, time-table for namaz, attar, miswak, skull cap, jai-namaz, tasbi, keffiyeh or scarf, lungi, sewai, dates and other dry fruits. These stalls are seen here only during the month of ramadan. The shop of Khurshid Alam and the stalls put up by his sons are quite popular here. Every year during the month of Ramadan the sons of Alam put up two to three stalls selling all sorts of items which are used exclusively by the Muslims for religious purposes.

Alam has been running a shop at Hafiz Hatta for quite a long time. Muslims from far and wide come to buy Islamic literatures from his shop. He sells Islamic books and journals published by Manipuri Muslims as well as those published in mainland India. He also sells some of the best quality of attar.



Khurshid Alam at his shop

During an interaction, Alam shares some interesting information related to his fore-fathers. His grand-father, Suleiman Mia came to Manipur in the late 19th century with his brother Nabi Rasul from UP to do business at Imphal. 64-year old Alam recollects, “My grand-father was from Chitbara Goan in Ballia district of UP. My grand-father and his brother came to do business in Manipur some 135 years back. They settled at Imphal, near the Khwairamband Bazar. My grand-father was a friend of Kasturchand Jain, one of the most popular business-man in the early part of 20th century. The godown of Kasturchand was attacked during the Nupi Lal (women’s agitation) of 1939-40. It is said that Kasturchand and my grand-father were authorized by the then Maharaja of Manipur to report the entry of non-locals every Sunday at the Rajbari Durbar. Muhammad Farid, who constructed the Jame Masjid near the Khwairamband Bazar was also from Chitbara Goan.”

Farid was as a cook of Col. H. St. P. Maxwell, who served as the British Political Agent to Manipur in the 1890s. Maxwell granted the land for the masjid at the request of Farid. The masjid was constructed in 1896.



At Hafiz Hatta

“My elder brother, Abdul Hei also runs a shop at the gate of the Jame Masjid. He also earns his living by selling Islamic literatures and items used by the Muslims,” Alam added.

Stating the essence of the month of ramadan, Maulana Abdul Barik, a resident of Minuthong Golapati, said, “This is a very auspicious month for the Muslims. Allah has ordained us to observe fasting in this month. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. In this month we are instructed to abstain from all sorts of immoral acts, control our desires and devote in prayers.”



Iftar at Golapati Jame Masjid

“We have specially engaged three huffaz for the Khatam-e-Quran, or complete recitation of the Quran, in tarawi namaz. We have appealed to the Muslims in our mohalla to devote this month in fasting and prayers, and also refrain from all the immoral practices. We have asked them to devote time to read Quran. We were expecting a hot and humid weather conditions during this ramadan. However Allah has blessed us with pleasant weather this time,” the Maulana added.

However, the sudden price hike of the essential commodities in the State has badly affected the Muslims. For the last few days a massive land-slide along the Imphal-Dimapur road – the main supply route for the land-locked State – has blocked the entry of goods.



At Golapati Jame Masjid

Abdul Hei (52), who runs a grocery store at Golapati said, “The price of essential commodities has gone up massively due to the blockage of the national highway by the land-slide. The price of potato has gone up to Rs 30 per kg., onion cost Rs 40 per kg. People are paying Rs 130-140 for a litre of petrol. The Muslims, who are observing ramadan, are affected by the price rise. It is going to be very hard for the poor Muslim households to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr.”

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