By Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircles.net,

Imphal: The first Chief Minister of Manipur after it attained statehood, Md. Alimuddin was remembered on the 41st foundation day of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Centre, which later developed into Manipur University (MU). The foundation stone of the Centre was laid by Md. Alimuddin on Nov. 19, 1972.

The foundation day, organized by The Pangal (Manipuri Muslim) Political Forum (PPF), Manipur and MU, was observed on Nov. 19, 2013 at the Centenary Hall of the university at Canchipur.

The function was graced by Former Minister O. Joy Singh, Dean of Life Science, MU, Professor Irabanta Singh, Chief Advisor of PPF Mohd. A.R. Khan (Retd. IAS), Social Activist R.K. Ranendrajit Singh, Former Minister Md. Alauddin, Senior Advocate and President of All Manipur Bar Association K. Mani Singh, Social Activist A.K. Aviram, President of United Committee, Manipur, Y. Nabachandra, President of All Manipur United Coordinating Committee Dr. Y. Mani Khuman, President of PPF Md. A.H. Khan and President of Jamiat-ul Ulema Hind, Manipur, Maulana Sayyid Ahmed as Presidium members.

The function was attended by large number of people from various parts of the State. Those who gathered for the function paid floral tributes at the foundation stone of the JNU Centre laid by Md. Alimuddin.

Delivering the key-note address, Spokesperson of PPF, M.I. Khan said, “The foundation of JNU Centre at Chanchipur is a historic event for the State of Manipur. The foundation of the Centre was laid by the first Chief Minister of Manipur State Md. Alimuddin. This Centre soon developed into Manipur University. Today it is upgraded as a Central University. Over these years the university has produced large number of MAs and Ph.Ds in different disciplines who are serving in various categories of services in the government and non-government institutions in Manipur and even outside the State. Sadly, the people of the State have forgotten the contributions of Md. Alimuddin. The university authorities had also failed to observe the foundation day of the Centre.

PPF had started observing the foundation day of JNU Centre at the university campus from last year after taking permission from the higher authorities of Manipur University. On this day we pay homage to the leader who had given us this institute of higher learning. We also try to remember the rich contributions made by Md. Alimuddin during his tenure as Chief Minister. Today’s generation should be grateful to Md. Alimuddin for bringing this prestigious university here at Canchipur. In the years to come we expect the authorities of Manipur University to observe the foundation day by giving half holiday as a tribute to the departed leader. We should pay respect to those leaders who had made rich contributions to the Manipuri society irrespective of their origin, religion, class, or sex.”

Former Minister and son of Md. Alimuddin, Md. Alauddin spoke on the life and works of his father.

Addressing the gathering, veteran politician O. Joy Singh expressed regret that today’s generation, including the young breed of political leaders of the state, has failed to acknowledge the contributions made by Md. Alimuddin. Recollecting the contributions of Md. Alimuddin, he said, “Md. Alimuddin, during his short stint as Chief Minister of the State, had done some significant works. The foundation of JNU-Centre at Canchipur and establishment of a medical college at Lamphel were among those works. It was Md. Alimuddin who declared Aug. 13 as Patriots’ Day as a mark of respect to Bir Tikendrajit, Thangal General and other freedom fighters who were hanged by the British. Again it was this leader who laid the foundation of the Khongjom War Memorial at Kheba Ching in 1972. For the inauguration he brought the then President of India V.V. Giri at Kheba Ching. The President was made to pay respect to those Manipuri heroes who laid down their lives at the battle at Khongjom fighting against the British soldiers in 1891.”

He further said, “Md. Alimuddin was a visionary, an astute leader and a man who had secular ideals.”

“It is quite unfortunate that the authorities of Manipur University fail to recognise the contributions of Md. Alimuddin in bringing this institution of higher learning here. It is time that the Manipur University authorities erect a memorial in the university campus in his name as a mark of respect,” O. Joy Singh added.

Md. Alimuddin was elected from the Lilong Assembly Constituency in the first Legislative Assembly election held in 1948 and became a member of the Council of Ministers taking charge of Jail and Medical departments. He was also elected in the subsequent Assembly/Electoral College/Council Elections held in 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972 and 1974.

A government led by Manipur People’s Party (MPP) was formed just after Manipur got its state-hood in 1972. Md. Alimuddin, then a leader of MPP, was made the Chief Minister (Mar. 1972 to Mar. 1973). After the mid-term election held in 1974 he again became the Chief Minister. This time his government lasted for just four months. He later became Speaker (Dec. 1974 to Sept. 1975) in the R.K. Dorendro’s government. He also served as Finance Minister (Jun. 1977 to Nov. 1979) in the Yangmaso Shaiza’s ministry.

During his tenure as Chief Minister of Manipur for just around 16 months, Md. Alimuddin laid the foundation of most of the premier institutes of the state. He inaugurated Manipur Medical College, at Lamphel in Imphal West District on May 22, 1972. In Sept. 14 that year the college was upgraded as Regional Medical College. The JNU Centre that he founded at Canchipur on Nov. 19, 1972 was upgraded to Manipur University on Jun. 5, 1980. On Oct. 13, 2005 it was converted into a Central University.

Md. Alimuddin inaugurated the Manipur Public Service Commission on Oct. 23, 1972 along with the then Governor of Manipur B.K. Nehru. He also instituted the Law Commission and Board of Secondary Education, Manipur in 1972.

Md. Alimuddin was born in 1920 at Lilong Haoreibi Turel Ahanbi in Thoubal District. He passed away on Feb. 3, 1983 at the age of 63.

By TCN News,

Aligarh: Khudai Khidmatgar AMU Unit organised a meeting and has demanded from the UPA Government to pass the communal violence bill in the coming winter session of the Parliament.

Organizer of AMU unit of Khudai Khidmatgar, Amood Gulzar spoke on the merit of the bill and its needs.

The national committee member Dr Saleem mohammad Khan said that there should be proper investigation and the provisions for the prosecutions and trial of offences under this act.

The members have decided to lead a signature campaign and send over 20000 signatures to the PM demanding the communal violence bill.

By Saiyed Danish, TwoCircles.net,

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) only Muslim candidate Advocate Nizamuddin who is contesting from Matia Mahal does not think twice before defending Narendra Modi publically. He has no issues with the idea of visiting his constituency and seeking votes in Modi’s name.

Having joined ABVP as a student in 1977, he has served the party for 36 years now. He is also a member of Hindu-Muslim Ekta Manch and BJP’s minority cell. According to him, the ghost of Gujarat riot will have no effect on him or his leader.

Nizamuddin, BJP’s lone Muslim candidate in Delhi

“There is a nationwide conspiracy to blame Modi since the riot but today Muslims are fed up with the diabolical stand of the Congress and have put their faith in Narendra Modi,” he told TCN at his Lal Quan residence adjacent to Chawri Bazaar station.

On the question of challenges posed by Shoaib Iqbal, the popular MLA representing the Old Delhi’s Matia Mahal constituency since 1993, Advocate Nizamuddin says, “Shoaib Iqbal is a no show. It is only a matter of time before he is going to find that out. His challenge is of no concern to me. My direct fight is with the Congress party.”

Mirza Javed Ali is the Congress candidate from Matia Mahal but far less known than Iqbal.

He also asserts that except doing some work on sewer lines, Shoaib Iqbal has lost all connection with the voters. “There is a huge law and order problem in the area and above all the condition of education is pathetic. In the last twenty years of his rule from Matia Mahal, he has not laid down the foundation of a single senior secondary school.”

In July 2012, remains of a medieval mosque were discovered while DMRC was working on the Jama Masjid metro line there. Shoaib Iqbal had raked up the issue by taking the devotees at the site and offering prayers there. The exercise drew large crowds for him.

Nizamuddin has a very different take on the issue. “It was a political gimmick and everybody knows it.”

“The truth is,” he says with a stifled laugh, “that he wanted Rs. 50 cr from DMRC for his own purpose which it refused so he came up with his Akbarabadi mosque mobilization plan.”

He also says that 68 young people have been booked for what happened after the rucked Iqbal created at the site. “I have personally fought for the jailed boys and got them bailed.” When asked about the engineers who was beaten in Matia Mahal early this year for their attempt to stop illegal constructions, he said that whoever does good work in Iqbal’s constituency always gets thrashed by his goons.

Nizamuddin also comes in support of Madani’s earlier statement that secular parties were creating a fear in Muslims about Modi. “Madani did not say anything wrong. Modi is not communal,” he says.

“In Congress rule in Gujarat, a common man could not even earn Rs 3000 per month but today the scene has changed. Everyone is earning good over there,” he adds. He also goes on to say that Muslims have the highest per capita income in Gujarat.

On the other side, Matia Mahal constituency voters do not seem very enthusiastic about him. “He doesn’t even live here and has not visited the area ever,” says a resident in the bustling locality facing Jama Masjid.

Related:

Mix bag in the political cauldron of Old Delhi

By Ras H. Siddiqui,

Sacramento Area: The Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims (SALAM) held its Fall Fundraising Banquet at the Citrus Heights Community Center recently. Over 400 people attended the program including prominent members of the area Muslim community.

SALAM prides itself on being an open Mosque and place of Islamic learning. Its outreach efforts are well-known all over Sacramento and far beyond. But none of these attributes would have been possible without the support and generosity of the area community, and once again they did not disappoint here. Serious thinking, charity and spirituality combined with comic relief (provided by Muslim-American comedian Azhar Usman) made the event a success.

Azhar Usman in action.

The evening started off with the customary Quranic recitation by Adnan Syed with a follow up English translation by Muzhda Ferouz. Master of ceremonies Asif Haq introduced everyone to the agenda for the evening and invited SALAM Chairman of the Board Farrukh Saeed to deliver the welcoming address. “We want SALAM to be an institution,” said Farrukh. He added that the mission of this organization should continue for generations. He also expressed pride in the fact that SALAM through its elaborate website (http://salamcenter.org/) now had a global reach and shared an email received from the Nederland’s (Holland) that stated that they use SALAM’s very own Imam Azeez’s lectures in their study of Islam. Farrukh also took the opportunity to thank SALAM’s team members and volunteers for organizing and executing this event.

The SALAM Education Scholarship segment awarded the Professor Ayad Al-Qazzaz Scholarship and the Professors Metwalli & Rosalie Amer Scholarship to four deserving area students. The winners had to establish both need and academic achievement to receive the monetary honor presented to them.
Speaking of honour, the SALAM Distinguished Award for superior services and support offered to the area Muslim community was presented to the husband and wife team of Arshad and Nadira Alvi. Over the long years of my association with Arshad Alvi and Sister Nadira and the SALAM organization environment, one fact that needs mentioning here is that they have never sought the limelight while doing their work and making donations. That is why it was great to see them on the stage for a change to receive their well-deserved award of community appreciation. Arshad in his humble speech mentioned the importance of giving in this life with the hope to receive Allah’s (SWT) mercy in the afterlife.

Salam Distinguished Award presented to Arshad & Nadira Alvi.

After a brief mention of key people present by Asif Haq, an overview of SALAM’s financial position was presented by Farrukh Saeed. One should highlight here that SALAM’s beautiful Mosque still needs to be paid off. The main issue right now is a $900,000 bank loan which needs to be paid by the year 2020. This information set the stage for Imam M. A. Azeez of SALAM to come to the stage and start the fundraiser.

Imam Azeez received the FBI Director Award in the year 2009. He has been a positive factor in the Sacramento area Muslim community activism for a number of years now and it feels like one can talk to him about anything. On this day he had an injured finger but that did not take anything away from his wit and enthusiasm. In his inspiring speech he touched on a number of issues related to our relationship with God, between ourselves and with our neighbors. He stressed that Allah is very pleased with the happiness we bring to others and the importance of being a catalyst for good in the community. He said that SALAM plays an important role (a place that brings benefit to others) and that is one of the many reasons why it needs our support. At last count over $137,000 was raised at this fundraiser with not all the checks, pledges and cash counted. A fine Persian dinner by Sacramento’s local Famous Kabob Restaurant was served buffet style after the fundraiser.

The last segment of the evening was comic relief by Muslim-American comedian Azhar Usman. Sporting quite a beard and dressed in camouflage (Fidel Castro style), Azhar took very little time in getting everyone’s attention. This was not this first appearance at a SALAM fundraiser but his material was refreshingly new to the delight of many in attendance. During his almost hour long performance he touched on interesting issues related to various ethnic groups within Islam and some outside the faith. “Don’t Kafirize me man!” was one observation he shared while touching on subjects such as Halloween, Haram is Haram, Harry Potter, Arab men, Latin Women, Pakistanis and Indians etc.

Audience

Azhar spent some time in Egypt (in Cairo to be exact) where he had to struggle to convince people that his name actually was Azhar (Cairo is where the famous Al Azhar University is located). He said that it was like someone in Boston telling people there that their name was Harvard. Another favorite topic of his was how Indians and Pakistanis speak English including his Indian father. “What is wrong in it?” He spoke of the staring problem in the two countries and how south-Asian aunties can converse for a long time while using just three or four Urdu words all translating to “yes” in English. He imagined the problem that someone (a person maybe from an agency) who is listening and having a difficult time translating for his superiors (all “yesses”) while protecting America’s security. But surprisingly out of his comedy and producing laughter Azhar Usman also showed his maturity when he highlighted the need for everyone to battle stereotyping and judging people by the way they look.

SALAM’s Fall Fundraising Banquet was a success, bringing the community a step closer to paying off the loan taken to build one of the most beautiful Mosques in the region. But external beauty aside, what is inside the structure is certainly more important, and one hopes that the vision of SALAM as an American institution devoted to Islamic teachings and practices thrives into the future.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Lucknow: Rihai Manch has filed cases against BJP MLA Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana for posting provocative status of Facebook from jail.

Rihai Manch has alleged that the two BJP MLAs were using Facebook in their mobile phones while they were in jails. The two are now out on bail.

Rihai Manch has hence demanded actions against Jail Supridentenat and an enquiry on how the two BJP MLAs were allowed to use not only mobile phone, but those with internet connections.

It should be mentioned here that the provocative postings on social media played critical role in the Muzaffarnagar riots.

Meanwhile state BJP felicitated the two BJP MLAs alleging that they have been fabricated in the case.

By TwoCIrcles.net Staff Reporter,

Kolkata: Youth wing of Trinamul Congress of West Bengal ‘Yuba’ will observed 6 December as Solidarity day in memory of Babri Masjid demolition. Yuba will organize this convention in front of Gandhi Statue at Esplanade Maidan in Kolkata.

The Chief Guest of this convention will be the Chief Minister of West Bengal and Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, according to source TMC sources.

The Left Front has also called a convention in front of `Shahid Minar’ Maidan on the same day, where CPIM politburo Chairman Prakash Karat, CPI leader A B Bardhan will be present to register their protest on the 21st anniversary the Babri Masjid demolition.

TMC secretary Partho Chatterjee, State president Subrata Bakshi, Yuba President Abhishek Banerjee recently held a meeting to mobilize youth, where it was decided that nephew of Mamata Banerjee and Yuba President Abhishek Banerjee will be coordinate with all the district presidents of Yuba to organize a successful convention on 6 December.

The two rival camps, according to sources, are jostling to mobilize maximum people for their respective rallies.

By IANS,

New Delhi : Saudi Arabia Thursday clarified that its Nitaqat work policy was directed at illegal expatriates and no legal worker had been affected. The kingdom also said that the Indian community had benefitted from the grace period announced with 1.4 million Indian workers regularizing their status.

The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in New Delhi voiced concern over some negative media reports on the Nitaqat fallout. It said “some of the media reports suggested that Nitaqat programme has created problems for Indian workers”.

It clarified that Nitaqat has “nothing to do with the law-enforcement measures being implemented against individuals who are in violation of labour and residency laws and regulations”. It said it started acting against illegal workers after granting a grace period of six months to correct and regularize their status. The grace period expired on Nov 3.

It said the measures were directed at illegal expatriates “irrespective of their nationalities, and with the aim of ensuring that all immigrants living in the Kingdom have correct legal status so that their interests and rights are better protected”, said the embassy statement.

“No legal workers have been affected by these measures that are meant to implement the labour and residency laws in letter and spirit,” it said.

“As far as the Indian community in the Kingdom is concerned, it is the community that has benefited the most from the grace period. According to available data, more than 1.4 million Indians regularized their status during the grace period.”

“Moreover, during the six months of the grace period the size of the Indian community in the Kingdom has gone up to nearly 2.8 million,” it said.

India’s external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin had said on Nov 6 that 130,000 Indians who did not possess valid work documents had returned to India in an “orderly” manner.

Mridul Kumar, joint secretary (Gulf) in the ministry, has said that the Indian embassy used the opportunity of the grace period to regularise the status of Indians staying illegally or having invalid visas - those entering on a domestic worker visa but taking up a job in a different category.

“We managed to make it a huge success," he said.

The Saudi Arabian embassy statement also said that the “Indian community is one of the most appreciated expatriate communities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and that the Kingdom values their contribution to the development projects and strengthening people-to-people contacts between our two friendly countries.”

Nitaqat is a Saudization programme introduced by the Saudi Ministry of Labour in June 2011 with an implementation deadline in November 2013. Saudization is the national policy of Saudi Arabia to encourage employment of Saudi nationals in the private sector, which, as of 2006, was largely dominated by expatriate workers from Southeast Asia and to a lesser extent with western expatriates.

By IANS,

New Delhi/Agra : Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh Thursday blamed Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan for September's Muzaffarnagar riots, and called the violence a "reaction".

Kalyan Singh, chief minister when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in power in the state during the Babri Mosque demolition in 1992, attacked the SP government for not being able to control the riots.

"There is a reaction to every action. Only dead bodies don't react," Kalyan Singh said from the dais of BJP's 'Vijay Shankhnaad' rally in Agra Thursday, later addressed by BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

"If Azam Khan had not shielded murderers, this would not have happened," he said.

Taking a dig at the SP government, he said the state has four-and-a-half chief ministers.

"Here, Mulayam Singh is one chief minister, Azam Khan is another, Shivpal Yadav is the third, and Ramgopal Yadav the fourth. Akhilesh Yadav is also half a chief minister. How can the state progress when it has four-and-a-half chief ministers," he asked.

Kalyan Singh is at present an independent MP from Etah in Uttar Pradesh.

Known as a Hindutva hardliner, he resigned from the BJP in 2009 and campaigned for the SP.

He later formed the Jan Kranti Party (Rashtrawadi) in January 2010 which merged with BJP in January 2013. He himself has not yet joined BJP formally, but has been pitching for Modi as prime ministerial candidate.

By IANS,

Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir's People's Democratic Party (PDP) Thursday announced its president Mehbooba Mufti would contest from Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency in the 2014 parliamentary polls.

Senior party leader, Tariq Hameed Karra, will contest from Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, announced party patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed at a meeting of senior party leaders, legislators and other functionaries from the two constituencies here.

Both Anantnag and Srinagar constituencies are currently held by the state's ruling National Conference. Of the five Lok Sabha seats from the state, two are held by Congress and the others by the National Conference.

A PDP press statement said the names of candidates for Baramulla and Ladakh constituencies are expected to be announced later.

Addressing the meeting, Sayeed said the PDP is aiming at bringing a change in the entire political scenario and the administrative system in the state which, according to him, has been marked by uncertainty and injustice ever since Independence.

He expressed confidence that change will begin taking place in Jammu and Kashmir with the Lok Sabha elections.

Terming democracy the only way that provides resolution to problems, he alleged it was unfortunate that in Jammu and Kashmir, every other method of dubious merit has been tried, but democratic processes were always subverted.

He contended it was with the arrival of the PDP that the institution of member of legislative assembly) as the people's representative came under focus for the first time. "Their voice mattered... people started having expectations from them.

"This also introduced a positive element of public scrutiny, performance audit and accountability of peoples' representatives," said Sayeed, adding it is these new factors in state politics that helped people to elect the right candidate.

"The phase of political monopoly is over and that is a major corrective in our political system," he asserted, noting now the people of the state have now a very clear and easy choice to make between parties while they exercise their right to vote.

Alleging the present Omar Abdullah government has proved to be the worst enemy of the people of the state, he said even an institution like the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE), which deals with the careers and destiny of young boys and girls, has not been spared by the rampant corruption in the state.

"The dreams of these youngsters have been snatched and their hard work sold for money by an insensitive and callous government which is becoming more and more criminal in its conduct," he said.

The board's former chairman Mushtaq Ahmad Peer is being questioned by the state police crime branch in an alleged racket in which test papers for MBBS courses in various colleges in Jammu and Kashmir were sold for hefty sums of money to some candidates who finally made it to the select list for the course in 2012.

By IANS,

Agra : The BJP Thursday felicitated three of its MLAs accused in the Muzzafarnagar riots with turbans and garlands, but took care to do it ahead of prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's arrival at the venue.

The MLAs - Sangeet Som, Suresh Rana and Sudhir Baliyan - were honoured with by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kalraj Mishra and state party chief Lakshmikant Bajpayi during the party's 'Vijay Shankhnaad' rally at Agra's Kothi Meena Bazar area.

Rana and Som were accused by the state government of inciting violence in Muzaffarnagar, leading to riots that killed 63 people and displaced thousands.

The National Security Act (NSA) was slapped on them but they were let off by the state advisory council which did not find enough grounds for the charges to stick. The two MLAs are currently on bail. Baliyan is also an accused but was not jailed.

Modi perhaps did not want to be photographed with the MLAs to avoid attack from the Congress.

The BJP felicitated the three MLAs claiming they were falsely accused of inciting the riots.

-*-

Blame it on the Congress!

BJP national president Rajnath Singh's arrival was delayed at the rally and the saffron party promptly blamed it on the central government.

Bajpayi announced from the dais that Rajnath Singh's flight was not allowed to take off from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport for more than an hour.

He blamed the Congress-led UPA government for the delay.

-*-

Crowd leaves as Modi's speech ends

By the time BJP chief Rajnath Singh reached the 'Vijay Shankhnaad' rally venue in Agra, Modi had ended his speech. The crowds had started dispersing and very few people were left to hear what Singh had to say.

Seeing the crowd fast thinning, the BJP president soon wrapped up his address soon.

-*-

Sea of Saffron

It was a sea of saffron with BJP flags being flashed by the crowd of around a lakh. Many party supporters were also holding hand-made banners with slogans like "Man of Developing India".

By IANS,

New Delhi : The Supreme Court Thursday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to withdraw its Oct 26 notification under which compensation and rehabilitation was limited to Muzaffarnagar riot victims of a particular community.

Having asked the Uttar Pradesh government to withdraw the controversial notification, the apex court bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and Justice Ranjan Gogoi took on record the statement by senior counsel Rajiv Dhawan that the notification will be withdrawn and the government will revise it, which will apply universally.

Dhawan who appeared for the Uttar Pradesh government offered to withdraw the notification as counsel M.L. Sharma, representing a petitioner, pointed to discrimination in the distribution of compensation and rehabilitation of the riot victims.

The court also directed the Uttar Pradesh government to release 15 tractors of farmers that are in police custody. The court asked the state government to compensate the farmer whose sugarcane crops and tube wells were damaged during the riots.

The court order came in response to submission by senior counsel Pinki Anand, representing another petitioner, who told the court farmers were unable to cultivate their land as their tractors were not being released by the police. She said that irrigation too was getting affected as some tube wells are damaged.

At this, Chief Justice Sathasivam said he was also a farmer and can understand their plight. He said no agricultural activity could be done without tractors.

The apex court order came in the course of the hearing of a batch of petitions seeking rehabilitation of the victims without any discrimination and a probe into the events leading to the riots and lack of prompt police response in quelling the communal clashes.

Communal riots in Muzaffarnagar and neighbouring areas of Shamli and Meerut between Sep 6 and 10 left 63 people dead and rendered more than 43,000 people homeless.

By Soroor Ahmed, TwoCircles.net,

When on December 16 last a girl student was brutally gang-raped in a moving Delhi bus––which ultimately led to her tragic death––those in the media, and in judiciary too, launched a non-stop campaign against the political executive of the country. Be it the journalists, the lawyers, the social activists, the women’s right activists, NGOs etc all blamed the poor law and order situation in the capital for this incident. Day in and day out the Manmohan Singh and Sheila Dikshit governments were denounced and death penalty was demanded for the
accused.

Not only that the subaltern class and men in khadi and khaki were blamed for all the ills plaguing the country.

Members of Assam Photojournalists Association stage a silent protest in front of Guwahati Press Club in August 2013.

Television channels and newspapers were filled with discussions on the issue––some of them really fantastics; others came with outlandish suggestions.

Eleven months later on the eve of the Assembly election for Delhi and four other states the country has been taken by a storm of a different kind.

Firstly, some young woman lawyers accused none else but former Supreme Court judges of serious sexual harassment. These legal luminaries might certainly have sentenced many to long jail term for rape and other sexual crimes in their career. Yet these empowered woman victims could not dare to name these ‘honourable’ gentlemen.

Then came the charge of snooping and the alleged involvement of Amit Shah. The latter is Man Friday of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi. Once again this revelation was not made by the rival party, the Congress, but a news-portal, cobrapost.com.

The incident only provided an opportunity to the political rivals to demand the resignation of Modi as the young woman architect was stalked by the police, intelligence and ATS in Gujarat allegedly at the instance of the state government. More than BJP’s spokesmen, it was the saffron party’s spokeswomen, who are seen on various TV channels stoutly defending Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.

Then came another sting operation exposing the funding of Aam Admi Party. Not only that none else but Anna Hazare expressed his displeasure over the collection of funds in his name by AAP. Ironically all these people were involved in the crusade against corruption, but now there are serious differences within. Arvind Kejriwal is, to use his own expression, very very sad.

Then came the sensational case of allegation of serious sexual misconduct against the Editor-in-Chief of Tehelka magazine, Tarun Tejpal––the man known for a new brand of journalism. Not once but twice he tried to outrage the modesty of a young journalist, who incidentally is a good friend of his daughter. These incidents happened in a Goa hotel and sent a shock wave throughout the country.

The journalist fraternity condemned them. But then the reaction was much sharper within the Fourth Estate as the victim herself is the daughter of a very senior journalist. Otherwise the story might have been different.

Incidentally the magazine’s Managing Editor, Shoma Chaudhary, though a woman, was found wanting. It is somewhat natural for her as Tejpal is also the proprietor of Tehelka. What is strange is that none of the newspaper or television channel blamed Goa’s BJP chief minister, Manohar Parikkar, for poor law and order as the crime took place in a hotel in the state.

If Manmohan Singh and Sheila Dikshit can be blamed for the gang-rape in a running private bus on the plea that their government failed to provide enough security on the roads, then by that strange logic the Manohar Parikkar government of Goa should also quit as it failed to check almost similar case in a hotel in his state.

The truth is that in private now these very apologists in judiciary, the media and the NGOs–– who would call every one disagreeing with them as Taliban––are now busy putting some blame on the victims too––the young journalist, lawyers and architect.

Incidentally, all these gentlemen whose name figured in any form of sexual misconduct, are around 60 and above. The victims are of the age of daughter and almost grand-daughter. They are not lowly paid migrant labourers, bus or auto drivers, teenagers or road Romeos from the backwater of UP and Bihar, who are
compelled to have forced bachelor life because they cannot afford to run family in metros.

They are high-brow intellectuals and those enjoying power. But they are not just one or two. It is just incidentally that Tejpal got caught.

If sexual misconduct simply reflects the poor law and order, as it is argued, than by that logic the law and order situation is worst in most media houses as many of these scribes––including women too––consider themselves above law and social norms. But who would demand death penalty for these high profile accused as many of the victims can never speak out.

The following paragraph of the first page story of The Telegraph (Assault charge hits sting pioneer) on November 21 gives an idea about the real situation in media houses:

“Tejpal’s email, in which he apologised to all colleagues, also lifts––even if partly and couched in euphemisms––an undeclared veil that has largely shrouded Indian newspapers. Not many newspapers, including The Telegraph, report on scandals involving journalists or media houses unless a police complaint is filed.”

Though the report was filed by one of its special correspondent––as there was no by-line––it appears that the author is a woman. At least this daily had the courage to make this much confession. The involvement of members of the two important pillars of democracy––Judiciary and Fourth Estate––has raised a serious question: Has not their right to conduct trial (Judiciary) and media trial (Press) against all those involved in sexual crimes been dented?

--

Soroor Ahmed is a Patna-based freelance journalist. He writes on political, social, national and international issues. His other columns are here: http://twocircles.net/Columnists/soroor_ahmed.html

By TCN News,

New Delhi: Afghanistan Studies Centre at the Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia is going to organize a Talk on “Regional Security for Afghanistan? The Implications of Overlapping Regions” by Dr. Sandra Destradi.

Dr. Sandra Destradi is a Research Fellow, German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, Germany.

Prof Rani D Mullen, Fulbright-Nehru Senior Scholar at Afghanistan Studies Centre, Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia shall Chair the session.

The programme is scheduled to be held on November 25, 2013 at 3 PM in Ho Chi Minh Conference Room, Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia.

By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,

Guwahati: Even after 16 months of the violence which rocked Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD), people in the area are still reeling under crisis. If some victims have not received the compensation promised by the government, others have failed to resume their day to day activities which have brought a great sense of uncertainty.

With all these problems, All BTC Minority Students’ Union (ABMSU), a students’ body of the area has sought the governor’s interference to bring peace and harmony in the state.

Activists of ABMSU stage protest in front of Assam governor's residence.

“The people in the BTAD area are living under very inhuman circumstances where they lack the basic human rights. Even after 16 months of the violence, affected people are still uncertain with their future. The government though had promised a lot to bring normalcy in the area, has done nothing significant. So, we have sought governor’s step in this regard,” said ABMSU general secretary Lafiqul Islam Ahmed after staging a protest in front of Raj Bhawan. They have also submitted a memorandum with their demands.

They are demanding enhancement of rehabilitation grants at par Delhi riot of 1984 and communal riot of Gujrat of 2002 besides prosecution and punishment of all the culprits involved in the violence.

“Rehabilitation of the victims of the violence in the present BTAD areas from 1987 till date should be made as clause 13 of BTC accord, rehabilitating all displaced Koch-Rajbonshi, Indigenous Assamese Hindu, Nath-Yogi, Adivasi, Nepali and Muslim communities. We also demand that all the victims should be compensated without any terms and conditions,” Ahmed said.

In an order the state government has had asked the affected people to accept a grant of Rs 50, 000 as the full and final settlement in BTAD and neighbouring areas and not to resettle on the government khas land or on forest lands on which these people have been living for decades.

Besides, another serious allegation brought by the students’ body is that of the free movement of illegal arms in the BTAD. “Till the free movement of arms are stopped and culprits are punished the BTAD will continue to be disturbed. Even today, people are being kidnapped at the gun-point and extortion by members of militant outfits is a common feature,” he added.

At least 77 people were killed and around three lakh were displaced in the violence which took place in July in 2012.

By IANS,

Lucknow: Facing flak from the state high court and the Supreme Court on its role after the Muzaffarnagar riots, the belaguered Akhilesh Yadav government drew a fresh attack from the BJP Friday for its "one-sided rehabilitation concerns and minority appeasement policies".

The state spokesman of Bharatiya Janata Party Vijay Bahadur Pathak said that it were "petty, narrow and votebank politics that has resulted in more than 50 riots in the state in 18 months of SP rule".

He said the Supreme Court's observation should serve as a wake-up call for the state government and it should start behaving as the government-of-all, rather than focussing on a particular religion and community.

"We have always been saying that votebank politics of the SP government is widening the gap between communities, but the party has blindly pursued the agenda, much to the disdain of the people of the state," he added.

The BJP also referred to the fine of Rs.5 lakh imposed on the state government by the Allahabad High Court for delay in responding to its queries on cancellation of 1,700 arm licenses of members of a specific community in Muzaffarnagar after the riots.

The fine was slapped by Justice Tarun Agarwal who directed that it be deposited within three days.

Sources said the state government was considering withdrawal of the decision to impound licenses in the riot-hit Muzaffarnagar.

BJP said that this also reflected that the state government was acting in a partisan manner. "It is for this reason that normalcy is yet to return in Muzaffarnagar and near by areas even after two months," the BJP spokesman added.

The SC had Thursday directed the state government to withdraw its earlier notification in which it had sanctioned Rs.90 crore for the 1,800 Muslim families for rehabilitation. They had refused to return to their homes.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Jaipur: The Rajasthan unit of Jamaat e Islami Hindi has released a ‘charter of demands’ on Thursday and appealed to citizens not to vote those leaders with communal or criminal background.

The state General Secretary of JIH, Dr Kareem Rasool Falahi, while releasing the carter of demands, said, “Unfortunately people with communal, fascists and criminal background dominate the political scape of our country. We hence through our charter of demands want to appeal to all political forces and the people to clean the politics. ”

When asked about the support extended to the Welfare Party of India, state secretary Waqar Ahmed said that WPI is inspired by the ideologies of JIH and hence they will extend their full support to the WPI candidates wherever they are contesting elections.

WPI has fielded candidates at only three constituencies in the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly elections.

In the rest of the constituencies, JIH will extend support to leader with ‘clean image’ who ‘upholds the values of secularism’ in consultation with local JIH cadres.

The charter of demands include welfare schemes for poor marginalized farmers, minorities, those related to security, fundamental rights, basic health care, education, loan to poor at cheaper rates, etc, besides taking measures to control communal riots.

By TCN News,

New Delhi: 32 leading Muslims of India hailing from 18 states assembled in National Sports Club of India, near India Gate, New Delhi and made the following declaration before a large number of representatives of the print and electronic media]

During the last four and a half years, except partly amending the Waqf law, the UPA Government at the centre has not taken any institutional measure for the long term welfare of Muslims, while at least twenty vital works are pending for long. In those states where UPA parties are ruling the Mishra Commission and Sachar Committee reports have not been implemented. Even Government encroachments on Waqf properties have not been removed. In the upcoming 2-3 months also, Muslims will closely watch the doings or failures of the Governments of UPA and its allies.

During the last one and a half years, in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Government has not fulfilled a single electoral promise made to the Muslims. Neither it granted reservation to Muslims nor did it implement the Sachar Committee's recommendations. Rather, it failed to preempt or control the mass violence committed in Muzaffarnagar against Muslims. Now, official assistance has been announced to a few out of one lakh displaced persons and even that on the condition that the victims will never go back to reoccupy their houses.

On the other hand, through a PowerPoint presentation made at Ahmedabad on 29 June 2013 in a program of Sri Narendra Modi, the reasons of Muslims' mass displeasure with BJP were eloquently narrated. This presentation has been widely noted in the media and can be seen on the internet. But there is no improvement in the principles, policies, actions and utterances of the Sangh Parivar, the BJP and Sri Narendra Modi.

Thus, during the upcoming elections, Muslims would like to vote for carefully selected independent candidates and national and state level parties other than BJP, Samajwadi Party and UPA and its allies.

Those national and state level parties and independent candidates who are looking for Muslim votes will have to write on their letterheads to the Muslim organizations, promising to do 20 Works for Muslims within the demanded timeframe, will have to clearly mention the time bound completion of all these 20 Works in their manifesto and will have to clearly and repeatedly speak about these 20 Works in all their election speeches. Besides, if any party has its government running currently in any state or union territory then it will have to immediately begin doing there these 20 Works for Muslims.

These 20 Works have been talked about in detail in meetings recently held in Delhi and many other states. The list of these 20 Works is given here.

-----------

20 WORKS TO BE DONE FOR MUSLIMS:

1. Create time-bound fast track courts to try terror allegations. Merely issuing a central advisory is not sufficient. The political party ruling in the state concerned will have to immediately appoint the fast track courts. (Home Ministry)

2. Provide compensation of Rupees fifty lakh to each person who is judicially acquitted of terror allegations. (Home Ministry)

3. Get passed from Parliament fast the Prevention of Targeted Communal Violence Bill. (Home Ministry)

4. From the definition of 'Scheduled Caste' delete the conditionality of religion.Delete para 3 from the 1950 Order through a simple parliamentary resolution.
(Mishra Commission & Sachar Committee) (Ministry of Law)

5. De-reserve constituencies with substantial Muslim influence. Immediately appoint the next Delimitation Commission with clear time-bound mandate to remove these anomalies.
(Sachar Committee) (Ministry of Law)

6. Evolve procedure to nominate Muslims in public positions of power.
(Sachar Committee)(Cabinet Secretariat & Ministry of Minority Affairs)

7. Earmark 67% for Muslims out of the Reservation to be made for all minorities - as Muslims constitute 73% of all minorities.
(Mishra Commission) (Ministry of Law)

8. Create Special Component Plan in the Budget for Muslims for skill development programs and other economic opportunities.
('Promises to Keep' by Harsh Mandar & others) (Planning Commission & Ministry of Finance)

9. Enhance Outlay for 15 Point Program to 19% of total plan allocation.
('Promises to Keep' by Harsh Mandar & others) (Minority Affairs Ministry, Planning Commission & Finance Ministry)

10. Make the village (in rural area) and ward (in urban area) [and not the district or block] as units of planning for infrastructure schemes (including MSDP) and their implementation.
('Promises to Keep' by Harsh Mandar & others) (Planning Commission)

11. For special recruitment of 1400 additional IPS officers, scrap the Limited Competitive Examination as it preempts Muslim intake.
(Ministries of Personnel & Home)

12. Establish Indian Waqf Service on the pattern of several states where senior officers are directly recruited, by state law, to manage Hindu temples & endowments.
(Sachar Committee) (Ministries of Personnel & Minority Affairs)

13. (a) Include the following Sachar + JPC recommendations of vital significance (which have not been incorporated in Waqf Act 2013) in the Waqf Rules and/or departmental instructions.
(i) The Secretary of the Central Waqf Council shall not be of official rank lower than Joint Secretary to the Government of India.
(ii) No Waqf property shall be leased at less than the currently prevalent fair market rate of rent.
(iii) No Waqf lease proposal shall be required to be submitted to the state government before issuing the lease order by the State Waqf Board.

(Sachar Committee Report & JPC on Waqfs ) Ministry of Minority Affairs

13(b) Act on PM Indira Gandhi's letter no. 71-PMO/76 dated March 26, 1976 addressed to the chief ministers (reproduced in Sachar Committee Report on page 223). Vacate Waqf properties occupied by the Governments in the centre and states and restore these to the State Waqf Boards.
(Sachar Committee & JPC on Waqfs) (PMO & Ministry of Minority Affairs)

14(a) Publicize Madarsa Scheme (SPQEM) in Urdu & other languages. The amount of Rs 50 lakh granted every year for publicity, has not been adequately utilized. (Ministry of HRD)

14(b) Establish equivalence between Madarsa and other education. Translate into Urdu, Hindi and regional languages the DOPT Order dated 23 February 2010 referred to, for this purpose, by the Ministry of HRD on its website and publish the translated versions in the newspapers published in these languages from the states.
(Sachar Committee Report) (Ministry of HRD) [UGC + NIOS]

15. Within one year of taking oath, ensure the conferment of 'Minority Status' on the
Aligarh Muslim University founded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. Take similar action for other institutions founded by Muslims and other minorities.
(Ministry of HRD)

16. Give option for interest-free finance in the banking sector. Implement the recommendations of Raghuram Rajan Committee on financial sector reforms of the Planning Commission. (Planning Commission)

17. Central Urdu Teachers Scheme: Follow up and get resolved non-implementation in states. (Ministry of HRD)

18. Establish Equal Opportunity Commission. (Modalities were finalized by Expert Committee 4 years ago)
(Sachar Committee Report) (Ministry of Minority Affairs)

19. Institute the Schemes for Incentives based on Diversity Index. (Modalities were finalized by Expert Committee 4 years ago)
(Sachar Committee Report) (Ministry of Minority Affairs)

20(a). Involve Muslim beneficiary groups in planning & oversight of
projects. (Cabinet Secretariat & Ministry of Minority Affairs)

20(b). Concentrate on benefiting the whole Muslim community, not only a few individuals.

By TwoCirclcesl.net Staff Reporter,

Delhi: Advocate and civil rights activist Vrinda Grover lamented on little or no debate on the Communal Violence Bill and said that the UPA government does not appear serious in its intent and is only using it as a poll plank.

Advocate Grover was speaking at the 3rd professor Iqbal Ansari memorial lecture on ‘Communal Violence and the Question of Justice: Notes from the Field and the Courtroom’ at Jamia Millia Islamia FTK-CIT Hall that saw a huge attendance from students, activists and academic community on November 22.

Advocate Vrinda Grover and Prof. Farida Abdullah Khan.

Ms. Grover said that the Communal Violence bill issue is getting faded away from mainstream discussion. “There is no healthy debate going on this issue. Media is not giving an active or positive coverage. At times it is playing the role to polarize opinion on the bill,” she said.

Earlier Tanveer Fazal of Jamia Teachers Solidarity Association made the preliminary remarks, and introduced speaker Advocate Vrinda Grover as ‘most appropriate person to deliver the lecture’. The session was chaired by Prof. Farida Abdullah Khan, Member of the National Commission of Minorities.

Prof. Iqbal Ansari was a pioneering minority rights’ activist, who passed away on 13th October 2009. He was one of the most visible civil liberties’ activists in India, taking up a variety issues, from communalism, religious freedom and communal harmony to minority rights. A teacher of English literature turned into a whole time human rights’ activist, Prof. Iqbal Ansari along with another well-known civil libertarians like V M Tarkunde and Justice Rajendra Sachchar championed the protection of civil rights in India. He was also author of several books.

This 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.

Ms. Vrinda Grover, the eminent human rights lawyer in the Supreme Court of India, who is currently a Fellow at the Teen Murti Library, starting this 3rd annual lecture stressing on Communal and targeted violence said, “The victims of recent communal violence in Muzaffarnagar have only joined the victims of Delhi anti-Sikh massacres, Hashimpura, Maliana and Gujarat 2002 pogrom in waiting for the 'due course of justice' to prevail.”

Advocate Vrinda Grover speaking at the 3rd Prof Iqbal Ansari Memorial lecture.

While the Indian constitution is a watershed in upholding equality before law and justice to the victims of individual or collective violence, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) lags behind the spirit of the constitution. While there are provisions against citizens if they turn against the state, there is nothing state committing crime against its citizens. Public servants can be prosecuted for individual crimes or misconduct, but the state doesn't lend itself to be questioned and prosecuted. This is evidently in discordance with the Article 3 of the Constitution which ensures fundamental rights against abuse of power. Therefore, the criminal legal system runs contrary to the kernel of the fundamental ethos of the republic.

Seen in this light, the rampant impunity does not really come across as some surprise. Cases like that of Bilkis Bano are at best exceptions and not a case of best practice. It took many efforts on part of the activists to ensure justice. So I don't hail it as a success of the judicial system.

The term 'riot' as defined in the IPC is grossly inaccurate and does not capture the premeditated and organized killing of the minority communities. A corollary to amending it would also be to include the abatement of such violence in its purview and bringing such culprits to the book. We need a new language to describe the nature of communal violence and its dynamics. One does not really need to invent such language. Some part of it is evolving in the expanding contours of the judiciary, but importantly, a lot has to be incorporated from the international conventions and understanding on the issue.

The crisis in the Indian judicial system is self-evident. The fact that the Supreme Court is forced repeatedly to constitute SITs is an admission by the court that the present machinery is complicit and essentially unaccountable. Transferring cases outside the concerned state is also a pointer that in fact it is the law which is running like a refugee. It is a recognition that the present mechanism is not working. The crisis is also manifested in the non-existence of an independent investigating agency. CBI is not such an independent body. I appeared in a 1984 case in Karkardooma High Court some 3 years back, filed by a Sikh widow whose husband was killed by a mob being supervised by Jagdish Tytler himself. His name appeared in the CBI chargesheet in the column which indicates absence of evidence and hence non-feasibility of FIR. For every single witness in the case who saw he saw Jagdish Tytler instigating violence or people being killed by his goods, there were exactly three witnesses saying they did not see, in the same chargesheet. The point is, it is anyways possible for 3 people in the event of a riot to narrate different versions even if they were at the same place and the CBI should have followed up on the line which pointed at active instigation and organised violence. I saw no such diligence on part of the CBI in the case.

The burden of collecting and producing evidence falls in such cases squarely on the victims themselves. The power to do so lies with the CBI but is severely compromised. The recent letter by the Home Minister Sushil Shinde saying the Muslims should not be targeted might have been wrongly worded but it did reveal that there is an institutional bias against the minorities. JTSA has come up with empirical evidences of such bias in its reports. My plea to the National Commission on Minorities is that it should conduct independent research to bring out the truth of such systemic bias. Institutional bias emerged in England in Sir Mcpherson Commission appointed to deal with a black boy's killing by a white boy. The parents insisted that it is not just an individual crime and reflects the systemic bias. In India, there is similar institutional bias against Muslims. And this bias goes much beyond the police. The government officials cannot be prosecuted until the complainant succeeds in getting their seniors' approval to do so. This is called 'sanction for public servants' which is only the continuation of the colonial vintage 'sanctions for the servants of the crown' with just the title changed. Why this legal impunity? Why the people who are running the system have no faith in judiciary that if they have done no crime they will come out unscathed?

The prosecutor does not have institutional or functional autonomy in India. In the Hashimpura case, we got a special public prosecutor after much travail. 90 families filed 600 RTIs demanding the Annual Confidential Reports of the accused police officials and there was no mention in the ACRs of any ongoing murder case against them. Why the police is entirely insulated from accountability? In fact it is the activists who have made great contribution in expanding the justice system. Accountability of the command and control system must also be ensured. The heads of the system should be held accountable if they indulge in or are unable to stop targeted violence.

In the Kandhamal incident, the rioting followed the map of procession that the Hindutva groups organised with the dead body of Swami Lakhananand. The local officials must have sensed that it would provoke further violence but still allowed it to happen. The law isn't faulty just because of the bias, but also because of the structure. It is interesting to note that a student's witness in the case was accepted by the court as the lawyer said that the person studies Sanskrit and Sanskrit students have better memory!

The proposed Communal Violence Bill by the Congress party in 2004 has not been passed even in the UPA-II. The Bill creates 'communally disturbed areas' much like the AFSPA and gives more power to the same state machinery which has been found to be institutionally biased and complicit. I personally think the government is not serious really about the Bill hence it has brought a version which they know will be opposed by the BJP. Instead of protecting the minority group, let the law protect just anybody. We are asking for accountability in the system and that aspect should be strengthened.

She asked for a debate stress on accountability of public servants not on which community will get protected in the bill, then she mockingly said, “Let the bill be stress upon accountability and brought in for debate. Then we will see how BJP will oppose Government servant’s accountability.”

Another important aspect which bill didn’t touch, which was raised by Ms. Grover is internally displaced person protection, “During riots thousands of people get internally displaced, but there is no provision in the constitution or any law to guarantee them their rights. The new draft communal violence bill should include rights for internally displaced persons.”

A robust victim-witness protection is of more importance. The second pillar of the Bill is reparation where it again fails to address the grossly arbitrary system of state government deciding relief and compensation on its own whims. Even in a road accident, the compensation is fixed. Why cannot it be done in case of communal violence?

By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net,

Bhopal: On 17th July 2001, Sunny Deol’s box office hit ‘Gadar’ was attacked in Bhopal; Lilly Theater which was screening the movie was shelled with petrol bombs by an armed mob allegedly led by then youth Congress leader Arif Masood. Their contention was that the movie has hurt the sentiments of Muslims. Immediately after the attack Arif Masood was rusticated from Congress by then Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh.

Fate has it for Masood, after 13 years he is back again behind the same Lilly Theater, giving furious speeches, but this time for a political fight to win down Bhopal Central on the same party ticket, for whom he was a pariah a decade back.

Arif Masood is Congress party candidate from Bhopal Central or Madhya, a Muslim dominated constituency crafted after delimitations of 2009. He started his political career as student leader from Benazir College. As student leader Masood closely worked with Rasool Ahmed Siddiqui former MLA and minister, under his wings Masood nurtured his political career. He later became NSUI national general secretary and subsequently district youth congress president.

After getting suspended from the party for the ‘Gadar’ attack, Arif Masood became an ultimate ‘hero’ of the community. He joined hands with JD (U) and started ferociously getting involved in everything ‘Muslim’ in Bhopal. From agitations demanding implementation of Sachar committee recommendations to protests against trespass by holy roaming cows in graveyards, Arif Masood didn’t leave any issue unheard.

He went through many political up downs but managed steadfastly to survive his image in Muslim community of Bhopal. In the meantime he joined All India Milli Council and All India Muslim Personal Law Board and became its executive member. With his growing populism especially among local youth, he was brought back in Congress and made its spokesperson.

Bhopal Central with 45% Muslim voters saw stiff brawl for ticket. District Congress President P.C. Sharma and many other local Muslim leaders were in fray to claim it. But Arif Masood’s local popularity and his proximity with senior Congress leader Suresh Pachouri gave him the edge over the entire contender list.

Congress leader Naser Islam earlier contested from the same constituency in 2008, but lost with margin of 2,514 votes against Dhruv Narayn Singh of BJP. Two factors played damaging role for Naser, first he was not a local and four other Muslim candidates contested on small party tickets, divided his community votes.

Naser Islam this time too demanded ticket protesting outside PCC office, which ended as lathi charge on his supporters. Sitting BJP MLA Dhruv Narayan Singh was also denied ticket by his party, after his name was brought up in RTI activist Shehla Masood murder case.

This time BJP has fielded its district president Surendranath Singh to win back Muslim concentrated seat for the party. Local Muslims doesn’t seem to have any such issues with new BJP candidate.

Moahmmed Saddiq a fruit seller at Jahangirabad market just had a hand-shake with Surendranath Singh at his ‘Jan Sampark’. Even though his cart was decorated with Congress flags Siddiq said, “Surendraji seems to be a good man, last year he was present at Eidgah wishing and hugging Muslims.”

Locals suggest Surendranath has kept his Muslim supporters close to him. It was quite evident at his Jan Samapark where he was surrounded by some of his Muslim supporters.

Arif Masood addressing his supporters.

Arif Masood on the other hand doesn’t enjoy same kind of advantage, ‘Mushkil hai (it’s difficult)’ said Aaijaz Khan Auto rickshaw driver who move mostly around Bhopal central. While commenting on the chances of Masood, he said, ‘Arif Masood ki chhavi ek sampradayak neta(Arif Masood has a communal image),” pointing that it will be difficult for him to get Hindu votes.

Aamir Alvi is a BJP youth leader from Shahjahanbad, who work closely with Surendranath Singh. He claims that tough Bhopal Central has good Muslim voter percentage but one alone cannot win on particular community votes. Giving details about voting turnout, polling percentage of different communities, he stresses that one who has good image among all communities can only will win Bhopal Madhya. “General public of other communities feel that if Arif wins this seat he will again create ‘Gadar’ over religious issues,” Alvi proclaims.

The Gadar incident didn’t stop haunting Masood, in September 2010 just before Babri Masjid verdict was to be announced he was ordered by police to leave Bhopal for six months. The bold politician immediately shifted to Nagpur, surprising the whole state machinery.

But witnessing support getting generated over his public meetings, it’s difficult to suggest that Arif Masood has slim chances. Over the inauguration of his campaign office at backside of Lilly Theater, facing Chicken market opposite of a Jain Mandir, crowd has thronged jam packing the whole lane.

Various Congress leaders, who were contenders for ticket, came with processions waving party flags to announce their support for Arif Masood. The crowd was on brisk; majority of them consisted of Muslims, especially youths.

As a young face of Muslim politics in Bhopal, Arif Masood enjoys immense youth support. “He got army of youngsters and committed cadre who can monitor poll booths and charged up his campaign,” said Mushahid Khan a senior journalist with Nadeem urdu daily.

When inquired about Masood being tagged as ‘Muslim Neta’ for rising community issues, pointing to the huge crowd Masood has been successful in drawing, Nadeem Khan says, “The large turnout you see is the result of that same emotional fervour,” adding, “Muslim community here has full trust on him. Especially youngsters here believe that if Masood wins then he will definitely do something for the community.”

But rise of Arif Masood as young Muslim politician doesn’t go down well with old horses. It has been alleged that Arif Aqeel the lone Muslim MLA from the state who represents Bhopal North holds a grudge with Masood, as the latter is evolving himself as alternative to the former.

“I have risen from scratch, from student politics to now fighting assembly election. It obviously feels great on your achievement, but this all will be useless if you can’t win this electoral fight,” Arif Masood said sitting in a under construction house turned campaign Karayala.

Arif Masood concedes that biggest challenge he faces is communal polarization, “BJP formed Government basing on divide and rule policy. And obviously they are applying it in Bhopal Central. It is a challenge for us, but delight is when we defeat BJP on their turf.”

He said winning trust of the local public is the essence of his campaign, “I am going to public with one message. Congress has trusted me and given a chance; you also give me a chance then see my worth.”

Arif Masood said if he becomes MLA he will work for the uplifting of all the communities, “I will try to provide employment opportunities to all youngsters”. He believes that today’s generation doesn't incline towards communalism, “This generation wants fair opportunities, if you can provide them than, the ‘communal politics’ can’t do anything.”

Local political observers believe that Bhopal Central will not be a cake walk for Arif Masood. P.C. Sharma who was denied the ticket is enraged and could play damaging role in getting Congress traditional Hindu votes. On the other hand Arif Aqeel can’t tolerate rise of a new Muslim face in Madhya Pradesh politics, so he could use his influence on voting pattern in his neighbouring constituency.

And then there is Sangh Parivar who has already started their propaganda machinery. Local Hindus are being scared by claims that if Bhopal Madhya (Central) is won by a Muslim, then it will always be a Muslim constituency.

Challenges are many but for Arif Masood winning the confidence of the public is key to overcome all, and he claims of having good support from all quarters. Will Arif Masood be able to tussle down and conquer all the challenges can only be known as Madhya goes to polling on 25th November?

By TCN News,

Aligarh: Professor Saiyed Mohammad Ameen Mian Qadri, Department of Urdu at the Aligarh Muslim University has again found a place among five hundred most influential Muslims of the world for the fifth time. The directory is published by the Royal Islamic Strategic Centre, USA.

Professor Qadri is Sajjada Nashin of Khanquah-e-Barkatiya, Marhera, which is a spiritual seat of a Sufi saint and a centre of mystic order that stemmed from the Quadriya tradition of eminent Sufi master Abd-al-Quadir Jilani. Prof. Ameen is regarded as an eminent figure in the world engaged in spreading spirituality and peace among the people.

Professor Saiyed Mohammad Ameen Mian Qadri

Prof. Qadri is also a leader of South Asian Sufi movement. His followers run in lakhs all over the world. He is among the founders of Al-Barkat Educational Society imparting modern Islamic and oriental education. He has written several books on Urdu literature and translated various books on mysticism.