By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,

Mumbai: Javed Ahmed Abdul Majeed Ansari, who had allegedly helped a co-accused park a vehicle laden with arms and ammunition in 2006, secured bail against surety of Rs.50, 000 on Tuesday. Javed left the Arthur Road jail, after spending almost eight years.

Gulzar Azmi, legal cell secretary, Jamiat Ulama-e-Maharashtra providing legal aid to the innocent accused languishing in today held a press conference in Mumbai at Jamiat office in south Mumbai, where Javed Ahmed Abdul Majeed Ansari was also present.

Javed Ahmed Abdul Majeed Ansari with his relatives.

On 21 October 2013, the bail order was delivered by Justice Abhay Thipsay through video-conference from the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court.

In his bail application filed in July this year, Ansari had pleaded that the trial has been pending since 2006 and all the 22 accused were languishing in jail without trial.

The bail plea was moved by the lawyers of the NGO Jamiat Ulama-e-Maharashtra (JUEM) which provides free legal aid to Muslim youth arrested on charges of terrorism across India.

JUeM lawyer Yug Chaudhary, Sharif Shaikh, Ansar Tamboli, Shahid Nadeem Ansari and Mateen Shaikh argued the matter at various points.

"This is the first bail granted to any of the accused who have been languishing in jail as undertrials in the past seven years," lawyer Sharif Shaikh said.

Shaikh had argued that there is no prima facie evidence against the accused Ansari. He had not given any confession statement, and none of the co-accused had mentioned his name in their confession statements.

"The charges were framed against all the accused last year. So far, out of 247, only four witnesses have been examined by the court," Ansari said in his bail plea.

Lawyer Chaudhary argued during the hearing that the only allegation against Ansari was that he had moved computer boxes containing arms and ammunition from one place to another, and he helped in parking an empty car at a warehouse in Malegaon of Nashik district.

"The accused had no knowledge of the contents of the computer boxes in the Tata Indica car, so there is no evidence that he was the part of a conspiracy," he argued.

Strongly opposing the bail application, Special Public Prosecutor Raja Thakre contended that Ansari was deeply involved in the conspiracy, and granting him bail would influence the witnesses and send a wrong signal to the masses.

R-L: Abdul Majeed (Accused Father) Gulzar Aazmi and Jawed Ansari.

He further said that if the court considered the bail plea, the remaining accused would also move the court on the same grounds.

The Aurangabad arms haul case was ‘cracked’ by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) when a team of sleuths intercepted a Tata Sumo coming from Manmad and bound for Aurangabad on May 9, 2006.

Apparently after a hot chase, police finally managed to intercept it and nab one man, Mohammed Amir Shakil Ahmed, while two others escaped. A search of the vehicle had ‘revealed’ an arms cache of 10 AK-47 army assault rifles, 40 magazine pouches and 30 kg black explosives.

Three days later, the ATS is said to have intercepted a Tata Indica car without a registration number near Nashik and later the investigator recovered two boxes of arms from a gutter on the outskirts of Manmad.

A couple of days later, May 14, 2006, the ATS had said, it recovered five computer cabinet boxes from an electrical shop containing five AK-47 rifles, five packs of 100 cartridges, five packs of 20 magazines, and 13 kg of explosive powder.

By TCN News,
Washington DC: In a historic development in Washington DC, 15 US Congressmen, led by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) introduced resolution H. Res. 417, calls the US administration to have "religious freedom and related human rights to be included in the United States-India Strategic Dialogue" going forward.

Coalition Against Genocide (CAG - http://coalitionagainstgenocide.org/), a broad alliance dedicated to justice and accountability for the Gujarat pogrom of 2002, today welcomed the introduction of a bipartisan resolution in the US House of Representatives.

The resolution praises India's "rich religious diversity and commitment to tolerance and equality," while raising concerns over the erosion of religious freedom. The resolution also highlights the role of Gujarat CM Narendra Modi in the orchestrated violence and the continuing denial of justice to the victims of the 2002 pogroms.

Highlighting the "divisive and violent agenda" of the Hindu nationalist movement that "has harmed the social fabric of India" as "contrary to the tolerant and pluralistic traditions of the Hindu faith", the resolution encourages "the establishment of an impartial body... to discuss and recommend actions to promote religious tolerance and understanding".

Commending the US administration in placing a visa ban on Modi, the resolution acknowledges that under Mr. Modi's rule in Gujarat, "minorities have suffered horrific violence, as well as attacks on their religious freedom through draconian anti-conversion laws". The resolution also refers to the harassment of whistle-blowers and human rights activists, that reflects on Mr. Modi's consistent role in the obstruction of justice.

The bipartisan resolution initially co-sponsored by 9 Democrats and 6 Republicans, has been referred to the House Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on Asia and the Pacific. "This resolution's strong bipartisan support shows that the rights of religious minorities in India are a priority for the U.S. Congress," said Congressman Keith Ellison in a joint press release with Congressman Joe Pitts after the introduction of the resolution.
"India is big enough for all its citizens. Its best leaders have worked to promote unity among its diverse populations, not division," commented Mr. Ellison referring to the elevation of Mr. Modi as the prime ministerial candidate of the BJP. "India is a land of unrivaled religious diversity, but with such diversity comes great responsibility in ensuring the rights of religious minorities," added Mr. Pitts.

Echoing the sentiments of the Congressmen, CAG spokesperson Mr. Kannan Srinivasan said: "It is a sad day for all Indians, that a man whose complicity in mass violence and suppression of minorities is acknowledged internationally, happens to be the Prime Ministerial candidate of a major political party in India." He further added: "The fact that threats to our secular polity and traditionally rich diversity are now an international concern, should cause all Indians to reflect on the direction our country has taken in recent years. Thankfully, this trend is not irreversible."

The introduction of the resolution is the latest among several recent developments that highlight the US administration's consistent and grave concerns about Narendra Modi's role in broad human rights violations in Gujarat, including extra-judicial killings by the state law enforcement agencies. The resolution also comes close on the heels of a fiasco in Washington, DC that led a group of top Republican leaders to dissociate themselves from an event organized by Mr. Modi's supporters, due to their criminal misuse of the US House of Representatives Seal and pictures of prominent Republican congresspersons without their consent.

While Representatives Pitts and Ellison are the first two sponsors of the resolution, it is expected to gather more support in the weeks to come. The resolution also highlights violence that took place against Muslim, Christian and Sikh minorities. It calls on the Government of India to take steps to stem the erosion of religious freedom and urges Gujarat and other states to repeal anti-conversion laws.

CAG is a group of over 40 organizations, representing a diverse cross section of the religious and political spectrum of the Indian diaspora, including Hindu and other faith-based organizations. The coalition is committed to democracy, pluralism and to the preservation of the idea of India.

By TCN News,

New Delhi: Brinda Karat, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and CPIM Polit Bureau Member will launch a Book “Pervasive Exclusion and Challenge of Inclusion: Gender Patterns in South & Central Asia” written by Dr. Sabiha Hussain.

Brinda Karat shall also deliver the Valedictory Address to the participants of Orientation Course for College & University faculty organized by the Academic Staff College, Jamia Millia Islamia.

This book is an outcome of the papers presented in an International Conference on Gender Equity and Exclusion in South and central Asia, organized by Dr.KR Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia in collaboration with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkata and Initiatives for Women's Development, Chennai. Contributors of this book are from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Srilanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

All articles in this book focus on the gender issues in South Asia which represent a complex challenge. All are cordially invited.

The book launch function is scheduled to be held today i.e. November 20, 2013 at 3 PM in the Red Hall, Academic Staff College, Jamia Millia Islamia.

By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net,

Sawai Madhopur: BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed five consecutive rallies at Alwar, Deeg Kuhmer, Bandikui, Sawai Madhopur and Dudu constituencies in poll bound Rajasthan. Out of those five Sawai Madhopur attracts considerable attention due to its religion and caste factors, above all its high profile candidates.

Narendra Modi campaigned at Sawai Madhopur for his party candidate 41 year old Rajmata of Jaipur Diya Kumari who also happens to be the great granddaughter of the erstwhile Maharaja of Sawai Madhopur. She is contesting against Congress party candidate 29 year old Danish Abrar who is the son of late union state finance minister Abrar Ahmed. In the fray is also the heavy weight politician of Rajasthan and demi caste god Dr. Kirodi Lal Meena, a BJP rebel who is now heading National Peoples Party Rajasthan unit.

Sawai Madhopur is an electorally complicated constituency, with 25% Muslim, 27% Meena, 14% Gujjar, and 16% SC votes. With considerable Muslim population and a Congress Muslim candidate in fray, Narendra Modi didn’t miss chance to kill two birds with one arrow. He attacked Congress on vote bank politics and in the same breath tried to reach out to the Muslims in his 25 minutes speech.

In his speech began at 3: p.m. at a jam pack crowd at Dussera stadium,
Narendra Modi alleged that Congress is playing the divide and rule game. He told the charged crowd that Congress party doesn’t care about the development and instead focus on caste and religious calculation to divide votes in their favour.

Criticizing the earlier explained divide and rule politics, Narendra Modi said it is worst kind of vote bank politics. Then he went on to clarify that people misunderstand him when he speaks of vote bank politics and relate it to Muslim community, he said it is not true nor was his intentions.

Meanwhile a buzz Sawai Madhopur which is considered locally as ‘large village’ got interesting reactions from Muslim community on Modi’s campaign. Abdul Salam who owns a shoes shop at Jama masjid lane just 1 km away from the venue said Modi’s rally campaign will certainly have effect at Sawai Madhopur.

“Muslims will get more polarized and rally behind his (Modi’s) opposition,” he suggests. Although he and some other Muslims felt that Modi will again utter some ‘Bakwas’ against Muslim community, but that wasn’t the case on Tuesday at all to everyone’s wonder.

In contrast to general perception, it was Modi reaching out to community. Nafees Ali, a water pipeline contractor at Ranthambhore road, said he doesn’t give a damn about Modi’s message to Muslims. “I hate him,” was his instant reply, “princess (referring to the BJP candidate) might have charged her campaign up for few days by getting in Modi, but she now has lost not only Muslim votes but even their trust.”

At the rally venue there was presence of Muslims mostly came from neighbouring villages. Mohammed Ishaq from Khedarpur village was coming out of the venue after attending Narendra Modi’s rally with lotus batch pinned on his chest.

Walking hand in hand with his fellow villager who looked almost the same as his age was explaining Ishaq why he should vote for Modi. “I am from Gujjar samaj, but attended a rally supporting Rajput candidate. We should learn to accept each other. Modi is not a bad man, he will take every community along,” on which Ishaq was silently nodding his head.

When Mohammed Ishaq was asked how Narendra Modi’s speech was, he replied ‘simple and good’. So will he be voting for BJP in the assembly election? Ishaq said cautiously, “I came here along with my fellow villagers, let the polling day come will decide than,” on which his fellow villager giggled.

Gul Mohammed who runs lodging business at the town is not ready to take Modi seriously, “Here elections are fought on local issues and caste factors. Not only Narendra Modi but any national leader campaign will not yield any change in the basics.” Even though he aggress hesitantly that mere presence of Modi will create feeling of insecurity among Muslims and unconditional incline towards Congress.

Congress party workers on the other hand was cheerful evaluating their number game. Ameen Hasan, a Congress activist from Mirza Mohalla said Modi’s campaign has benefited them. He explained that although Modi didn’t use any anti-Muslim rhetoric and even made clarifications to the community but still he is a hate figure among the community whose name is enough to incite passions.

“Modi’s entry in this constituency has already terrified Muslims. Now Muslims will vote in one block with the Congress. Modi also tried to attract Meena community, if that happens then Meena vote will be divided, and both ways Congress will benefit.”

Danish Abrar Congress candidate from Sawai Madhopur dismissed Modi’s campaign as no factor in his constituency, “Election process has started, many leaders will come and go, but what my party has to do, it will do, what I have to do I will do. Inshallah you will see the result we will win Sawai Madhopur,” a confident Congress candidate, who is fighting the Assembly elections for the first time said.

By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,

Kolkata: West Bengal wing of Students Islamic Organisation felicitated the students of professional courses like medical, engineering and LLB at TB Association Hall, Park Circus on 17 November.

The state unit of gave scholarships to 70 students of medical, engineering and LLB from across the state.

While felicitating the students Said Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Football coach of Mohamedan Sporting club said that besides reaching heights in their professional career every student should also try to be a good human. He appreciated the works done by professionals like engineers, doctors and lawyers for the betterment of society.

State president of Jamata-E-Islami Hind Muhammad Nuruddin said that these students are the assets of the society. He added that the small amount of scholarship may not fulfill all expenses of studies, but may prove helpful to them.

State President of Welfare Party of India Dr Raisuddin said that after completing their courses they should involve in the betterment of the society and participate in social welfare activities.

He appeal to the students that, to participation in the social welfare activities.

State President of SIO Masiur Rahman, Secretary Abdullahil Kafi and many others distinguished persons were present in this felicitation function.

By TCN News,

Aligarh: “The decision of the BJP to honour two accused of the Muzaffarnagar riots in its rally at Agra on 21st November 2013 is not only against the civilized norms and political ethics but also has exposed the true intentions and colour of Naraendra Modi. This also indicate the future of the nation if Modi succeeded in his mission to be Prime Minister of India,” said Prof. Razaullah Khan while chairing a political analysis meeting held by the Forum for Muslim Studies & Analysis (FMSA) at Media Centre Aligarh. He said that the communalization of politics by the BJP and the failure of UP government to contain it are highly condemnable.

Jasim Mohammad said that the Akhilesh Government failed in containing the communal forces and riots. He said that Akhilesh Government did not take any action against the rioters.

Dr. Aftab Alam said that the BJP has exposed itself and now it has become clear that it is going to put the state on flames for its political goals. It is the responsibility of the state government to check the march of fascism in the country.

In the end of the meeting FMSA passed resolution demanding that the U.P. government should cancel the permission granted to BJP to hold rally at Agra in view of its decision to honour the accused of Muzaffarnagar riots.

FMSA has also demanded that BJP President Rajnath Singh should make his stand clear on communalization of politics. In another resolution. FMSA has asked Election Commission of India to take action against the BJP. FMSA has also submitted a Memorandum to Election Commission of India on the matter.

By TwoCircles.net Staff reporter,

New Delhi: More than 200 Muslim youth from West Bengal staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in the capital on November 18 demanding the Center to enlist the OBC Muslim communities from the state in the central list.

Government of West Bengal has enlisted 83 caste as Muslim OBC, most of them not recognised by Central Government. Muslim OBC of West Bengal are thus deprived from jobs in central government departments, including defence, Railways, banking, etc.

MYF secretary Muhammad Kamruzzaman in a demonstration program of MYFnear Jantara Mantar, New Delhi on 19th November, 2013

For enlisting of the Muslim OBC of WB in the central government list, National Commission for Backward Classes held a hearing on 21 & 22 September, 2011. But the Commission has not taken a final decision yet.

Around 200 youths from state, under the banner of ‘All Bengal Minority Youth Federation of West Bengal’ and supported by West Bengal Sunnat Al Jamat organisation staged a protest at Jantar Mnatar on November 18.

The Secretary of Minority Youth Federation Muhammad Kamruzzama told TCN that, MYF came to submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but he was not allowed.

MYF secretary Muhammad Kamruzzaman (3rd From Left, carrying file) returning after submitted a memorandum to National Commission for Backward Classes Office, New Delhi on 19th November, 2013.

Delhi Police stopped the MYF rally, he alleged, but was later allowed to meet the Chairman of the National Commission for Backward Classes. A six member delegation met the chairman V Aisharya and submitted the memorandum.
The delegation led by MYF secretary Muhammad Kamruzzaman and WB Sunnat Al Jamat Secretary Maulana Abdul Matin also met the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Kumari Sailaja and submitted the memorandum.

Kamruzzaman informed TCN that, Kumari Shailaja assured to have a look into the matter.

West Bengal Government has recognised 83 caste of Muslim OBC, but National Commission for Backward classes has enlisted only 8 caste of Muslim OBC from West Bengal.

Kamruzzaman also informed that MYF had written letters to the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment and National Commission for Backward classes in New Delhi, but they never responded, even as the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes requested the National Commission for Backward classes to immediately finalise of the hearing of the matter.

Demonstration of MYF in front of Jantara Mantar, New Delhi on 19th November, 2013

MYF is also submitting the memorandum to the President of India Pranab Mukherjee, Union Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan and Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities Wajahat Habibullah.

Kamruzzaman also criticised the West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for not taking proper initiative and letting the matter hang.

He said that if their demands are not fulfilled they will mobilise over 10 thousand Muslim youth from the state and demonstrate in front of the Parliament.

By TCN News,

New Delhi: Third Professor Iqbal Ansari Memorial Lecture will be held on Friday, 22nd November 13. The lecture will be delivered by Advocate Vrinda Grover on the topic of “Communal Violence and the Question of Justice: Notes from the Field and the Courtroom” at FTK-CIT Hall of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 3 PM onwards.

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM)’ Member and Professor of Education at Jamia, Farida Abdullah Khan will chair the lecture.

Advocate Grover is a senior human rights lawyer at the Delhi High Court and a research fellow at prestigious Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Delhi. This year the Time Magazine listed her as one of the 100 most influential persons of the world for the year of 2013. She will be speaking about her experiences of working with victims and survivors of communal and state violence, right from 1984’s anti-Sikh pogrom.

The lecture is instituted by the friends, comrades and students of late Professor Iqbal Ansari and the last two lectures were delivered by former Civil Servant turned Activist, Harsh Mander and the People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL)’s national general secretary, Adv. V Suresh. Prof. Iqbal Ansari was a noted civil liberties activist and researcher associated with various organisations and groups across India and abroad. He passed away in the year of 2009 on 13th October.

By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,

Guwahati: If India has to develop, communalism has to be erased at the earliest, this is what felt by noted social activist of the country L S Hardenia who is also the chief convenor of All India Secular Forum (AISF), a body which works for spreading secularism.

Hardenia who was in Guwahati to attend a lecture session also said that at present several forces are trying to bring division in the country in the name of religion. “There are several types of communalism which are trying to divide the country. If some is doing through terror activities while some others are doing it in the name of religion. Everybody, be it Hindu or Muslim, some anti-social bodies are trying to enforce the communalism,” Hardenia said after he was honoured with the litterateur Ismail Hussain (Sr) Memorial award on the first death anniversary.

LS Hardenia , activist and chief convenor of All India Secular Forum speaks during an event which is organized by Char Chapori Sahitya Parishad on the first death anniversary of litterateur Ismail Hussain (Sr) in Guwahati.

The event was organized by Char Chapori Sahitya Parishad (CCSP), a literary body of the state to pay tribute to late Ismail Hussain who has been instrumental in the literary field of the state especially to bring out the life and culture of various downtrodden sections of the society including the religious minorities over the last several decades.

He also mentioned the Sikh riots during the 1980s in which hundreds of Sikh people were killed in northern India. “Organizations like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Shiv Sena can be very dangerous with the motives and works towards communalism,” he said. Citing the example of separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan, Hardenia said that language is more powerful than religion to unite people.

He also termed Gujrat chief minister and BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi a liar and urged upon the people of the country to be careful of such leaders which might misled the people.

LS Hardenia , activist and chief convenor of All India Secular Forum being honoured with litterateur Ismail Hussain memorial award on the occasion of his first death anniversary which is organized by Char Chapori Sahitya Parishad in Guwahati.

Besides, criticising the system of ‘Doubtful-Voters’ in Assam, he requested the government to bring a solution at the earliest so that people can live peacefully enjoying the rights given by the Indian constitution.

“Ismail sir was one of the most secular figures of the state and he always tried to spread the feeling of secularism through his writings. Here is an effort from our part to carry out his ideals,” said CCSP president Hafiz Ahmed.

By TCN News,

Bhopal: Today Bhopal gas survivors staged an awareness rally on NOTA button from DIG Banglow to Bhopal Talkies. They carried flags which read "Last Decision of Bhopal Victims, Vote for Last Button, Vote for NOTA."

This rally was staged in Bhopal Uttar constituency where majority of the voters are either gas victims or their children. Five organizations working among the survivors of the Union Carbide disaster has recently launched a campaign to educate gas affected voters in the city about the NOTA option of rejection all candidates in the forthcoming elections.

There was massive support from the onlookers and passers-by who expressed their support with NOTA option. A catchy song on NOTA has also been designed to make the voters understand the betrayal of 29 years by both political parties.

Bhopal survivors are planning another rally in the Bhopal Narela constitutency which is also a seriously gas affected area. In addition to this several public meetings are being held in gas affected areas and through the public announcement system charges against the governments under both parties are being presented.

Many young and new voters who are also children of gas victims also seem enthused with the NOTA option and feel that through this button they can vent their anger towards the apathy of both political parties who have denied gas victims their right of living a life with dignity.

Related:

NOTA could affect Muslim candidates and indirectly benefit BJP in Bhopal

By IANS,

Lucknow : The CPI-M Wednesday accused the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) of creating communal tension in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Interacting with the media on the sidelines of an event in the Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat termed as "media creation and hype" the debate on the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

"The hype surrounding BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is all a media creation," he said.

In reality there was "No Modi and No Rahul", he said.

Karat also predicted that the combined strength of Congress and the BJP in the 2014 general elections would not exceed 300.

Asked about the formation of the Third Front, the CPI-M leader said that so far he has held no discussions with any "like-minded parties.

He, however, stressed on the need for an anti-Congress and anti-BJP platform after the polls.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Jaipur: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday released its populist manifesto that include many freebies for minorities as well. However, there is nothing extraordinary in the manifesto for minorities.

The government plans to encourage education and vocational courses for girls in minority concentrated regions and to grant special loans for women engaged in traditional craft industries like kite making, stitching, dying, etc.

BJP has also assured systematic recording and management of Wakf properties. Wakf properties confiscated by government or semi government bodies would be freed and all court judgments pertaining to Wakf disputes would be implemented, if BJP comes to power the manifesto says. Rents due against Wakf properties by various government departments would be released within six months, it says.

If BJP comes to power it promises to modernize and computerize madrssas and as a pilot project madrassas would be linked with vocational education.

The party has promised scholarships and arrangement of hostel facilities for meritorious minority students for meritorious minority students in hostels. It promises to grant special attention towards education and employment opportunities of minority youth.

Further BJP has assured special schemes for fencing and erecting boundary walls around burial grounds.

However, the manifesto is silent on the critical issue of reservation and communal riots.

BJP has fielded four Muslim candidates in the state in the coming elections.

Related:
BJP releases populist manifesto in Rajasthan

By VM Khaleelur Rahman,

Chennai: The OMEIAT (Organisation of Muslim Educational Institutions and Associations of Tamil Nadu) and the SIET (The Southern India Education Trust) jointly organized “Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Memorial Lecture & Awareness Programme on the Schemes of Maulana Azad Education Foundation” on 20th November 2013 at the Auditorium of Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women, Chennai.

Mr. U. Mohamed Khalilullah, Chairman, Omeiat, presided over the function and Padma Bhushan Mr. Moosa Raza IAS (Retd), Chairman, SIET, inaugurated the programme and delivered a keynote Address of the life and great contributions of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to the cause of Indian freedom struggle and Hindu-Muslim unity.

U. Mohamed Khalilullah, Chairman, Omeiat

Others who spoke on the occasion were Mrs. Yasmin Ahmed, IAS (Retd), Mr. S. Peter Alphonse, Former Member of Parliament, Prof. Dr. S. Sumayaa Davood, Principal, Thassim Beevi Abdul Kader College for Women, Kilakarai and Prof. Dr. S. Sathikh, General Secretary, Omeiat, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Madras.

The following is a brief account of the life of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad:

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was born on November 11, 1888 in what is now called Makkah and his birth time name was Mohiuddin Ahmed and only after sometime he was known as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. He belonged to a family of scholars and divines. In 1857 his father had left Calcutta for Arabia and married there. However he returned with his family to India in 1890.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a great visionary, freedom fighter, scholar, eminent educationist and the first Education Minister of Independent India.

Throughout his life he served for the twin causes of freedom and justice. A champion of liberal and secular values, he worked for the unity and integrity of India both during the freedom movement and after independence. It was he who laid the foundation of India’s educational policy and planning.

A great institutional builder, he created the University Grants Commission (UGC), the National Academies – the Sangeet Natak Akademy, Sahitya Akademy, Lalit Kala Akademy and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), strengthened the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and oversaw the establishment of a chain of top class technical institutions that now represent the best in the Indian Education System. Under his distinguished leadership, the Indian institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur was establilshed in 1951, which was followed by a chain of IITs at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kanpur and so on.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad had been suffering from cardiac problems for some time. Matter reached critical proportions when he suffered a stroke. He breathed his last on February 22, 1958.

The celebration of Maulana Azad’s birth anniversary – November 11- as the National Education Day is a befitting homage to one of our greatest leaders. It is an occasion when all of us should re-dedicate ourselves to the cause of education and through it building India as a modern knowledge society.

Scheme of Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF):

Maulana Azad National Scholarship for Meritorious Girl Students and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Literary Award, Grant for construction or expansion of school, college, vocational training centre, ITI building, hostel building, purchase of lab equipment, computer and furniture etc. are available.

By TCN News,

New Delhi: Brinda Karat, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and CPIM Polit Bureau Member visited Jamia Millia Islamia on November 20, 2013 and delivered a Valedictory Address to the participants of Orientation Course for College & University faculty organized by the Academic Staff College, Jamia Millia Islamia

Speaking at the valedictory function of the orientation program for college and university teachers at the UGC - Academic Staff College at Jamia Milia Islamia, Smt. Brinda Karat recalled her school and college life and felt nostalgic about the impressions her teachers left on her mind.

Focusing on the deplorable conditions in the Indian universities specially the policy of government to promote contract teachers she lamented that this will not only undermine the quality of education but also the dignity of the teaching community.

She brought home the fact that one should not forget the profit motive of the WTO framework be it in business or in education. Privatizing education will only lead to commercialization and denial of opportunities to the marginalized and deprived sections of society. Referring to the government's move to invite foreign and private universities she argued that this will not only commercialize education but also deny higher education opportunities to the marginalized segments.

She emphasized the need for women to come forward in higher education and felt that the vibrant future of academics lay with the larger participation of women folk. She reminded that it is sacred duty of the teachers to adhere and promote the secular and democratic fabric of India.

Immediately after the valedictory lecture Smt Karat released a book “Pervasive Exclusion and Challenges of Inclusion: Gender Patterns in South and Central Asia” edited by Dr. Sabiha Hussain of Dr. K R Narayanan Center for Dalit and Minorities Studies.

In his introductory remarks, Prof. Mujtaba Khan, Director of the Academic Staff Collage, Jamia Millia Islamia focused on the need for the teaching community to be abreast with the brute realities of politics as only such sensitivity would prompt action and action in turn would lead to reforms.

By Saiyed Danish, TwoCircles.net,

The last Karnataka state assembly elections witnessed the pitch battle of biggest parties of India – the Congress party and the BJP. In that election other parties had also threw their hats in the ring but there was one party whose progress graph looked like what could be believed as the launch pad of a big leap in the future - Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) - which had tightly held its line of defence on securing third and fourth position in the 24 seats in the state which were contested by a dozen candidates.

This Delhi Assembly election the party it taking yet another plunge 1000 kms away from its Bangalore headquarters by fielding a leather business man Javed Akhlaqui from Kirari assembly constituency in the National Capital of Delhi.

In a small township of Mubarakpur in North-West Delhi, Javed (45), sits cosily before the backdrop of two of his party flags hanging from the wall. Sitting on a chair in his humble house, he envisions his dream of bringing change in the area if the voters choose him as their next MLA.

“Our biggest agenda is to improve education and make it accessible to poor children. I believe that without the base of education awareness about different issues cannot be raised our society,” he says.

He also expressed his worry about the lack of sanitation and cleanliness. “I am very pained by the unhygienic conditions here and equally resolved to solve it. There are no sewers or drinking water as the colonies here are unauthorized. Kirari has become the breeding ground for diseases and so the people want somebody who can cure such problems of theirs. I had also contested from ward in the municipal corporation elections in hope to address the voice of the local people here in the MCD. So when I heard about SDPI and its hardwork and contributions towards society in the country I decided to join the party and serve it,” he says.

Anil Jha, the incumbent BJP MLA from Kirari constituency has claimed that he has spent 630 crore of rupees on repairing or building 4200 roads and streets and even Limca Book of Records approached him for this feat. However, Javed rubbishes such claims and taunts that all funds have been “buried beneath the ground” and roads are not made by him but central government.

Kirari is a constituency where most of the inhabitants comprises of migrants workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Javed assures that the migrant workers will get their rights and their wellbeing is a duty of the party.

While mentioning the schemes of the government he says that ‘Aaganbadi’ reached Kirari but due to lack of awareness and political will of the present MLA, most of the women could not afford it.

Despite representing a party which is based in South India and carries the ‘outside’ tag in electoral jargon Javed is confident of victory.

“The party is new but I am not. There is no sense of alienation in the mind of people. We are getting along well with the people here. We have also given preference to the issue of Chhath festival. Since there is no community pool available, our Poorvanchali brothers have to dig pools in front of their homes which is a poor option health-wise. We have promised them all to build a common pool in the locality to solve this problem,” he asserts.

When asked about why the SDPI has fielded a lone candidate in Delhi, he quipped that his party is cadre based and has hence they only field candidates where they have reasonable presence on ground.

Delhi has traditionally seen direct fight between Congress and BJP, with few pockets going to independent or other regional parties. The foray of Aam Aadmi Party appears to make the fight triangular.

Javed, however, appears confident and says that he has spent his time with the people in last five years compared to BJP MLA or other contenders.

In two weeks from now we will know in whom the people of Kirari rests their faith.

By TCN News,

Aligarh: A function was organised at Green Crescent Public School in memory of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. Inaugurating the function, Principal, Sabiha Mohsin said that Jawaharlal Nehru not only influenced our country but also the entire subcontinent. He was a great visionary and statesman. Reading a letter written by Jawaharlal Nehru she said that he loved the children very much and whenever he was amongst them he forgot all the worries and behaved like children.

Speaking on this occasion Chief Guest, Dr. Shakeel Samdani of Aligarh Muslim University said that the personality of Jawaharlal Nehru was a mixture of many qualities. He was a freedom fighter, historian, lawyer, author, philosopher and statesman. He was kind hearted, far sighted and visionary. Dr. Samdani said that due to the efforts of Pt. Nehru India could become one nation and a successful democracy.

Dr. Shakeel Samdani speaking

Dr. Samdani said that the secular policy of Pt. Nehru transformed India into a successful democracy. He further said that secularism is the best policy for India and that must be strengthened by all the political parties. The ruling class must formulate their policies keeping in view the principles of secularism and tolerance which is enshrined in our constitution.

Prize being distributed by Dr. Shakeel Samdani.

He said that Pt. Nehru was fond of Urdu, his mother tongue was Urdu and he was proud of if. Once Pt. Nehru said, that Urdu is an Indian language, Urdu is not a Pakistani language. No nation except India can declare that Urdu is its language. Dr. Shakeel Samdani expressed his anguish and said that the successive governments did not do justice with this sweet language. Even the Urdu lovers didn’t do anything to save this language. In the last Dr. Samdani requested the audience to work for the development of Urdu language and subscribe at least one newspaper and one magazine.

Sitting Dr. Shakeel Samdani, Anwar Mohsin, Mrs. Sabeeha Mohsin and others.

Managing director of the school, Anwar Mohsin said that the education is the key to success in this world. He advised the teachers to dedicate their lives for training and educating the students like Jawaharlal Nehru who trained his daughter Indra Gandhi.

By TCN News,

New Delhi: The Drama Club of Jamia Millia Islamia “JOSH” is going to organize a Play “Hum Ek Hain” – A thought provoking play in Hindi written by Shrirang Godbole.

The play has been designed and directed by Dr. Danish Iqbal, Coordinator, P.G. Diploma in Acting, AJK-Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia.

The plot of the play revolves around children and their rights. The play opens to a school that has children from all religious backgrounds. It is a very strong script which demonstrates how children can think independently of adults and in situations of stress actually show them the way. So it is adults that learn from the children.

The play shows how the simple and divided minds of children can teach the adults on how to deal with social evils that have been sown by society and it is the elders that are still frozen in the past.

The play will address issues of unity along with religious diversity and protection of the rights of children. The play is set in the backdrop of riots in the city. The adults panic but children lead with their assertion of rights and teach the adults to deal with the situation rather than squabbling amongst themselves on issues that are not important. The setting of the play is contemporary times.

The play is scheduled to be staged in Dr. M.A. Ansari Auditorium, Jamia Millia Islamia as per details given below:

November 22, at 5 PM
November 23 at 3 PM / 6 PM

By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,

Kolkata: “Union Government can not impose liabilities of new separate state in our country. If at all there is need, center needs to take the concerned state’s opinion on the issue. However, on Telnegana, the government ignored the opinion of Seemandhra region,” said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee after a meeting with Jaganmohan Reddy, leader of YRS Congress Leader of Andhrapradesh and Member of Parliament on 20th November at the temporary CMO office `Nabannya’ (Howrah) in Kolkata.

She criticized the UPA Governmenton its ‘divide and rule’ policy. She said that Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand were created (under NDA regime) public opinions of the concerned states were taken into consideration.

Jaganmohan Reddy, Mamata Banerjee and Derek O’Brian

She lauded her government’s effort for solving the issue of Gorkhaland without dividing the state.

After meeting WB CM, YSR Congress leader Jaganmohan Reddy said that they want to prevent the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and has sought help from TMC in this regard.

UPA government will require two-third support in the Parliament to pass the Telangana bill.

Jaganmohan expressed her gratitude to Mamata Baernjee for extending her support for united Andhra Pradesh.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brian was also present in the press conference.

By Sheikh Qayoom, IANS,

Srinagar : Are the separatist leaders of the moderate Hurriyat group headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq already talking to the central government on the Track-II level while publicly refusing any engagement at the formal level?

After hectic discussions earlier this week, Mirwaiz Umer told reporters there are only two solutions to the Kashmir problem: implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir or a trilateral dialogue "between India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir".

The Mirwaiz, however, added the moderate Hurriyat group is willing to associate with any mechanism devised by New Delhi and Islamabad as long as it is aimed at a resolution of the Kashmir problem.

He also said the separatist conglomerate had already spelt out its conditions for a dialogue with the Indian government, which included revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the Public Safety Act (PSA) and removal of bunkers and watch towers from various parts of the Valley, besides release of separatist leaders from jails.

The Mirwaiz also warned that house arrest restrictions on separatist leaders could result in consequences for which the government alone would be responsible.

Before the Hurriyat executive met Monday at its uptown Rahbagh headquarters in Srinagar, the local media had run front-page stories that fuelled intense speculation that the separatist conglomerate would announce a dialogue with Delhi.

An earlier meeting of the separatist leaders with the Pakistani prime minister's security advisor, Sartaj Aziz, in New Delhi made many Kashmiris believe the Hurriyat leaders had been asked to start speaking to New Delhi so that the halted peace process between the two countries would get the impetus to move forward.

Immediately after meeting Aziz, Hurriyat spokesman and former chairman Abdul Gani Bhat said it was ready to resolve the Kashmir problem at any cost.

Senior hardline separatist leader and chairman of his own Hurriyat group, Syed Ali Geelani, is standing his ground that there can be no dialogue with the federal government as past experiences of separatists had proved these lead nowhere.

Interestingly, when asked whether the moderate leaders including himself had met former RAW chief A.S. Daulat and some other important people who are votaries of a Track-II dialogue, Mirwaiz Umer said: "So many people come and meet us. What is the harm in that?"

In the past too, perceived emissaries of the central government have been meeting the separatist leaders during their visits to Kashmir although both the moderate and the hardline Hurriyat groups had declined to meet the three central interlocutors, Dileep Padgoankar, Radha Kumar and M.M. Ansari, after their appointment following the 2008 Amarnath Shrine land row agitation.

The separatist leaders are caught in straitjackets of their own making as they seem to believe both New Delhi and Islamabad have little to offer them - at least till there is a new government in power at the centre next May.

To talk or not to talk remains the dilemma that will continue to fox the separatist camp in Kashmir as the mainstream political parties are readying their gloves for the Lok Sabha elections.

(Sheikh Qayoom can be contacted at sheikh.abdul@ians.in)

By IANS,

Patna : An FIR was lodged against the Indian Mujahideen organisation and its suspected operatives Thursday by the Bihar Police in connection with the serial bomb blasts in the state's capital, police said.

At a time when the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing into serial blasts in Patna Oct 27, a first information report (FIR) was registered at the Gandhi Maidan police station.

Many of the Indian Mujahideen's (IM) top operatives, including Tehseen Akhtar alias Monu and Haider, have been booked, a district police official said.

According to police officials, the FIR will also give them a chance to seek custody of IM operatives, including jailed Yasin Bhatkal, who was arrested from Raxaul near Motihari in East Champaran district on Indo-Nepal border a few months back.

"This FIR is a move to inquire into the much-hyped Darbhanga and Madhubani module of IM and to interrogate Bhatkal," another police official said.

Last Sunday, the NIA released sketches and details of five people wanted for their involvement in the Oct 27 serial bomb blasts in Patna and the July 7 Bodh Gaya blasts in Bihar, and sought the help of the general public in nabbing them.

The NIA in a press release on its official website, said that the five absconding suspects -- Tahseen Akhtar alias Monu, Haider Ali alias Abdullah, Numan Ansari, Taufeeq Ansari and Mojibullah -- were wanted.

At least seven people, including a suspected bomber, were killed and nearly 100 injured in the blasts ahead of the Oct 27 rally by the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime minister candidate Narendra Modi.