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War of words over alleged LeT foray into Muzaffarnagar

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By IANS,

Lucknow : A war of words broke out between political parties Tuesday after Delhi Police claimed that a Pakistan-backed terrorist outfit allegedly scouted for recruits among the riot victims in Uttar Pradesh.

The BJP, the Congress and Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party sparred after police sources said they had stumbled upon evidence about a visit to refugee camps in Muzaffarnagar by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) activists.

Delhi Police were not categorical about the alleged recruitment effort. But police sources told IANS that the LeT did try to rope in youths in the camps housing victims of the September riots in Muzaffarnagar.

Delhi Police said they were looking for some LeT operatives after arresting two men from Mewat in Haryana who admitted to visiting Deoband and Muzaffarnagar.

"This is a very serious matter that imperils the internal security of the country," Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said.

"What is even more a matter of concern is that security agencies in the state and in New Delhi do not seem to be in tandem with the findings," he added.

Added BJP national president Rajnath Singh: "The issue should be probed and taken very seriously."

More than 60 people were killed and thousands fled their homes following Hindu-Muslim violence in Muzaffarnagar in September.

According to Special Commissioner of Police S.N. Srivastava in Delhi, Md Rashid -- one of the two arrested -- went with a LeT member to Deoband and met a 58-year-old school teacher.

The teacher took Rashid and his accomplice to another man, Zameer. Rashid told Zameer that they wanted to kidnap people to raise money to construct a mosque. But Zameer backed off.

The Congress also billed the matter as serious and recalled that its vice president Rahul Gandhi had hinted at such efforts months ago.

"Rahulji had quoted an intelligence official as saying that there were attempts by the ISI to recruit disgruntled youngsters who survived the riots," a Congress leader said.

"What Rahul Gandhi had said about terrorist groups trying to recruit the Muzaffarnagar riot victims is true and has been reinforced," said Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.

State Congress president Nirmal Khatri said the state government must take a serious view of the whole matter and ensure speedy justice to those who survived the horrific violence.

The Samajwadi Party said it had not heard of any visit by any terrorist operative to the riot victims' camps.

"We have no such reports. In case what Delhi Police is saying is true, action should be taken," the party's Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Agarwal said.

Uttar Pradesh officials said Delhi Police had not shared any details of the reported arrests made by them.

Anil Kumar Gupta, the principal secretary in charge of home affairs, said: "The intelligence agencies in the state are not in the know of any such developments."

Rahul Gandhi had in an election speech Oct 28 at Indore claimed that an intelligence official told him that the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI was trying to recruit people from camps in Muzaffarnagar.

Many, including Muslim leaders, had then termed the statement as "irresponsible".


'NIA manipulated facts to implicate Sanatan Sanstha'

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By IANS,

Panaji : A trial court in Goa said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) tampered with facts to implicate the Hindu right-wing organisation "Sanatan Sanstha" in a 2009 Goa blast case.

A designated NIA court in Goa last week said in its order, released to public Monday, that right from the stage of filing of the first information report (FIR), the investigation agency was trying to nail the Goa-headquartered "Sanatan Sanstha" whose cadre was also accused of carrying out improvised explosive device (IED) blasts in neighbouring Maharashtra.

NIA judge P.A. Savoikar made these observations while releasing six "Sanatan Sanstha" members - Vinayak Talekar, Vinayak Patil, Vinayak Ashtekar, Dilip Mangainkar, Dhananjay Ashtekar and Prashant Juvekar - who were accused of conspiring to carry out a blast on Diwali eve in Goa.

Two other accused in the case - Malgonda Patil and Yogesh Naik - died when the bomb they were carrying to a "Narakasur" (a mythical demon) slaying ceremony in Margao, 35 km south of the state capital, exploded accidentally.

"Facts stated in the FIR appear to be manipulated with intention to include 'Sanatan Sanstha' in the offence," Savoikar said in his order, acquitting the six persons for lack of evidence.

Savoikar also said seven of the 12 arguments raised by the NIA in course of the trial failed to pass muster.

The case was first registered in 2009 by the Goa Police that claimed Patil and Naik were suspected of ferrying it to a "Narakasur" competition, a popular tradition in Goa, where Lord Krishna slays an effigy of the demon Narakasur on Diwali eve.

The "Sanatan Sanstha" has over the years, vehemently opposed the popular practice, which they say ends in glorifying the demon instead of his slayer.

The state police probed the sensational case for a few days before the NIA, formed in 2008 to probe terror cases, took over the investigation.

The six accused were charged under Sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 121 A (conspiracy or attempt or abetting to wage war against the government of India) of the Indian Penal Code, Section 16 (Terrorist Act), 18 (conspiracy to commit terror act), and 23 (enhanced penalties) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and Sections 3 (causing explosion likely to endanger life or property), 4 (attempt to cause explosion) and 5 (making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances) of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.

Savoikar said barring Malgonda and Yogesh, who were active members of the "Sanatan Sanstha" and died, there was no evidence to suggest the rest "were actively involved in any of the activities of 'Sanatan Sanstha', headquartered in the temple town of Ponda, 30 km from here.

"None of the witnesses have stated that the accused participated in any protest held by 'Sanatan Sanstha' against the 'Narakasur' competitions or attended any meeting in which objections raised by the 'Sanstha' were discussed with the collector," Savoikar's order reads.

Incidentally, members of the Sanatan Sanstha have also been accused of carrying out low-intensity blasts in Maharashtra too.

Salman Khan accident trial deferred to Jan 21

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By IANS,

Mumbai : A Mumbai court Tuesday postponed till Jan 21 the hearing in the 2002 accident case involving Bollywood actor Salman Khan after the prosecution sought time to appeal against the retrial order in the Bombay High Court.

Public prosecutor J.V. Kendralkar informed Sessions Court Judge D.W. Deshpande that the prosecution was awaiting the state government's response in the matter and accordingly sought time.

Salman Khan's lawyer Shrikant Shivade opposed the prosecution plea and urged the fresh trial to commence immediately.

He also pleaded to the court to grant a short date to the prosecution for adjourning the case.

Judge Deshpande posted the matter for Jan 21 and directed the prosecution to get instructions from the government on the issue of appeal before the high court.

On Dec 5, the sessions court had ordered commencement of a fresh trial in the case.

The grounds for the fresh trial was that Salman Khan was not given opportunity to examine witnesses in the context of the enhanced charges of culpable homicide under Indian Penal Code Section 304(2) slapped on him midway during the trial.

Earlier, the actor was tried by a magistrate court for the lesser offence of causing death by negligence which attracts jail of up to two years.

After examining 17 witesses, the magistrate court held that the higher charge of culpable homicide was made out against Salman Khan and referred it to the sessions court.

The high-profile case dates back to Sep 28, 2002 when a SUV Toyota Land Cruiser allegedly driven by Salman Khan ran over some pavement dwellers in Bandra west, killing one and injuring four.

Omar Abdullah condemns policeman's killing

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By IANS,

Jammu : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday condemned the killing of Assistant Sub-Inspector Kafeel Ahmed in a guerilla attack by the Hizbul Mujahideen in Sopore town.

In a statement issued here, the chief minister spoke about Ahmed's sacrifice and said it has been a tradition of the state police force to show the highest degree of bravery.

In his condolence message to the bereaved family and the police department, Abdullah expressed grief over the killing and prayed for peace to the departed soul.

Ahmed was critically injured along with three other policemen Tuesday in Chankhan locality of Sopore, 54 km from here, when they tried to cordon off a house on specific information that guerrillas were hiding inside.

The Hizbul Mujahideen outfit claimed responsibility for the attack.

As the security forces approached the area, the guerrillas hurled a grenade and fired indiscriminately at them, resulting in injuries to four policemen.

The injured policemen were taken to the army's base hospital in Srinagar where Ahmed died of his injuries.

Searches continued in Chankhan till late Tuesday evening but there was no trace of the guerrillas.

A wreath laying ceremony was held in Srinagar, which was attended by police, civil and paramilitary officers.

Modi government must desist from punitive actions against Teesta Setalvad: WPI

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By TCN News,

New Delhi: The Welfare Party of India has asked the Gujarat government under Narendra Modi to “desist from punitive and retributory actions” against civil and human rights activist Teesta Setalvad in the form of an FIR filed at Ahmedabad police station.

Terming the action against her as “shameful,” a statement by WPI President Mujtaba Farooq, said, “This is the continuation of what has been happening in Gujarat after the 2002 mass massacre of thousands of innocents. Victims and those who came forward for their help alike have been being intimidated through threats, false cases, warnings etc and the Apex Court had to intervene to ensure impartial inquiry and transfer cases outside the state for speedy and judicious trial.”

He further added, “The Gujarat government not only miserably failed in healing the wounds, but is putting salt by these kinds of measures of obstructing the victims from justice and reparation.”

FIR against Teesta Setalvad is nothing, but a punishment for the fight for justice to Zakia Jaffri, wife of Ehsan Jaffri, former Member of Parliament and over 200 Muslims who were killed in Gulbarg society, Narada Patiya, the WPI President added.

“The timing of the FIR speaks a lot as Zakia Jaffri is making preparations for filing an appeal against the ruling of a lower court that has favouring SIT’s clean chit to Narendra Modi. This fascist act should be withdrawn immediately," Farooq said.

Mushawarat leadership team for next two years announced

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By TCN News,

New Delhi:The new leadership team of the All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat, the umbrella body of Indian Muslim organisations and eminent personalities, was announced here today.

The elections for a 2-year term (2014-2015) were held last month. Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan was re-elected unopposed for the new term and 20 Central Working Committee members were also elected. They are as follows: Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, Mr. Syed Shahabuddin, Mufti Ataur Rahman Qasmi, Mr. Ahmad Rashid Shervani, Mr. Manzoor Ahmad, IPS (Retd), Mr. Mohammad Adeeb, Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi, MP, Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Maulana Junaid Ahmad Banarasi, Maulana Mohammad Salim Qasmi, Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mehdi Salfi, Mr. Navaid Hamid, Mr. Mujtaba Farooq, Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, MP, Maulana Mohammad Wali Rahmani, Dr. S.Q. R. Ilyas, Maulana Ahmad Ali, Quasmi, Mr. Amanullah Khan, Mr. Khawja Mohammad Shahid and Janab Mohammad Sulaiman.



According to the Constitution of AIMMM, the President nominated the following Central Committee members to the Central Working Committee: Janab Muhammad Jaafar, Janab Ejaz Ahmad Aslam, Prof. Humayun Murad, Mufti Fuzailur Rahman Hilal Usman, Janab Ilyas Malik, Janab Masoom Moradabadi, Janab SMY Nadeem, Janab Abdul Khaliq, Mrs Nusrat Shervani, Janab Nusrat Ali and Dr Javed Jamil

The President also appointed Janab Muhammad Jaafar, Janab Manzoor Ahmad IPS (retd), and Hafiz Rashid Ahmad Chowdhury as vice presidents of AIMMM and Janab Ahmad Rashid Shervani as Secretary General of AIMMM. For the posts of general secretaries of AIMMM, he appointed Prof. Muhammad Sulaiman, Mufti Ataur Rahman Qasmi, Dr SQR Ilyas and Janab Masoom Moradabadi. This team will work for the next two years.

This was the first election after the re-unification of the two factions of Mushawarat on 27 October last year. A sizeable number of both the elected as well as the nominated members of the central working committee belong to the members who joined Mushawarat as a result of merger.

After the meeting, AIMMM welcomed the visiting delegation of the US-India Policy Institute over lunch in which AIMMM members and other guests also participated.

Link:www.mushawarat.com

AAP agenda unfolding

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By Faraz Ahmad for TwoCircles.net,

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s repudiation of Prashan Bhushan’s views seeking a referendum on retaining the primacy of the Indian Army in Kashmir has come at the most crucial time for the people to judge Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP),when it has started slowly but surely opening up and showing its real face.

It has decided to supply 700 litres of free water every day to those getting water from regular metered pipelines, barely about a couple of lakhs out of over one crore Delhi citizens. Almost the same is the case with electricity and before we will actually be able to see our power bills, power shutdown for a couple of hours each day is progressively becoming a routine, reminding us of the pre-Sheila Dikshit days, the Sahib Singh Verma era and this is at the peak of winter when the power requirements of the people are at the lowest, with no air conditioners operating. Imagine the plight in the summer months. But by then the next general elections will be over and Kejriwal would have served his purpose and most likely gone.

The real agenda of the AAP has started unfolding, albeit rather slowly and carefully. After free water and power for those who already have it, it is the university admissions—90 per cent seats in Delhi colleges (engineering, medicine, et al) for Delhi wallahs, announced Manish Sisodia. As for OBC and SC/ST reservation there is clearly a visible ambiguity or rather a double speak. Please recall that this in effect is meeting the demands of the ‘Youth for Equality’ which spearheaded the agitation against reservation in higher education for OBCs introduced by Arjun Singh in UPA-I. The same YE was visible all over in the Ramlila Grounds and Jantar Mantar during the Anna Hazare agitation and the same set forms the support base for AAP. This reminds me of the good old late 1960s and early 70s when many of my friends managed to secure admission in Maulana Azad Medical College each year through dharnas and sit-ins. The plea was that if first class students (those getting upto 60 per cent marks) from Delhi could not find a seat in Delhi, who else should. Each year the MAMC had to expand and accommodate more and more students, till it had to finally raise its hands and say “Ab Bas.” But many of my friends of those days found a seat in MAMC through these annual dharnas outside MAMC gate led by the ABVP then.

Thus through such devious means we intend to ensure Delhi for Dilliwallahs only. How is this AAP different from Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)? It’s worse. Raj never put a ban on outsiders seeking admission in Bombay colleges. AAP seeks to banish non-Delhi wallahs from colleges in Delhi.

AAP is so stridently against corruption that it wants to summon judges and direct them what judgments to deliver. A noble idea indeed! But simultaneously it has to find employment for its volunteers, who are now enrolling in hundreds and thousands in Delhi. So it has come up with a novel method which will yield instantaneous results and give hope to others as well. Every Delhi hospital has a Rogi Kalyan Samiti (Patients’ Welfare Committee) which has had members of the public as well as officials of the secretariat and some doctors of that hospital to review from time to time the functioning of the hospital and make necessary suggestions for improvements. The non official members get a small honorarium to facilitate their smooth functioning and frequent travel to the hospital. The AAP government has dissolved all the Samitis and has now replaced them by AAP volunteers. It has also sent query to the hospitals seeking suggestions for a suitable remuneration for such volunteers. This is not corruption. This is fighting corruption!

Then we have Kejriwal announcing AAP volunteers ready to run the Vigilance department of the Delhi government. That’s a smart way to find employment for AAP. Additionally we will have a vigilante army of AAP volunteers running the show allover Delhi. That’s some change from the past! With eminent corporate honchos like Captain Gopinath the erstwhile owner of the first low cost airline of India Air Deccan, Meera Sanyal, the RBS, India CEO and Infosys Board member V Balakrishnan and such others joining the AAP bandwagon, we will see many more such innovative ways of keeping the Aam Aadmi in good humour. Wish AAP voters well.

Kashmir doesn't need more bloodshed in its name: Omar

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By IANS,

Jammu : Many people have died in the name of Kashmir and the state does not need more blood to be shed over it, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Wednesday.

The chief minister was reacting to a statement made by his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) office was attacked by the Hindu Raksha Dal in retaliation to AAP leader Prashant Bhushan's remarks on Kashmir.

"Dear @ArvindKejriwal enough good people have died in the name of Kashmir, it doesn't need more blood shed in its name. Thanks all the same," Omar Abdullah tweeted.

Kejriwal Wednesday condemned the attack on the AAP office and wanted to know if the intention of the attackers was to kill his colleague Bhushan.

"Do they want to murder him (Bhushan)? Is this why they indulged in arson? Do they want to attack me and Bhushan? What do they want," Kejriwal asked the media.

Kejriwal said that both Bhushan and the AAP had clarified his purported comments on army deployment in Kashmir, which sparked a furore.

He said the attackers were free to assault him and Bhushan if they felt that would end the Kashmir dispute. "But violence does not resolve national problems."


Congress's Shakeel Ahmed speaks of BJP, ISI in same vein

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By IANS,

New Delhi : Both BJP and Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI "rejoice" when there is communal trouble in India, Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmed said Wednesday.

"Whenever there is a communal riot in the country, two types of people rejoice. In India "bhajpayee" (those belonging to the BJP) and Pakistan's ISI," Ahmed said.

Ahmed made the remarks at the Congress briefing Wednesday, in response to a question.

He said he had earlier made similar remarks in a tweet.

Ahmed, however, denied he was making a comparison between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence.

Ahmed said India was built on the foundation of secularism with the belief that people of all communities stay and progress in harmony.

He said Pakistan was founded as a religious state and had seen a division in 1971.

Ahmed said the ISI, whose role has come under the scanner in several cases of violence in India, gets funding from people in some Muslim countries.

Ahmed said communal polarisation between communities "helps the BJP with votes".

It's a dream to make a film on Maulana Azad: Aamir

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By IANS,

Kolkata : Bollywood star Aamir Khan, the great grand nephew of Muslim scholar and nationalist Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Wednesday said it is his dream to make a film on the life of the great leader.

"I hope that some day I can use my capabilities, and through the art form that I practise, to make a film on Maulana Azad. It's a dream to bring his life to a larger populace of India," he said at the inauguration of Apeejay Kolkata Literary Fest 2014.

The actor wished he had met the freedom fighter and read excerpts from one of Azad's interviews in 1946.

In reference to the interview, he said he was "amazed" by Azad's predictions, a year before India's Independence, of the partition of the sub-continent in 1947 and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

"I read the book that he wrote and that's how I got to know him. He came across to me as an extremely progressive mind, extremely fertile mind, a person who was balanced, a person who who really had justice at his core.

"When I was reading the interview I was amazed at his clear thinking ... his ability to convey in a very clear manner what he felt ... his ability to really predict what was going to happen really hit out at me."

Chairman of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies Sitaram Sharma, a collaborator of the event, extended the institute's co-operation to Aamir for his proposed film on the freedom-fighter.

West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan said Azad's view on secularism are "extremely important today" when secularism is coming under attack.

AKLF, running till Jan 13, will celebrate the secular views of Azad to coincide with his 125th birth anniversary.

Vision of Maulana Azad important for spreading education: WB Governor

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By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,

Kolkata: The contribution and sacrifice of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to the nation will always be remembered, said Governor of West Bengal M K Narayanan in a programme on `A tribute to Maulana Azad on his 125th Birth Anniversary’ on 8th January, 2014 at Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata.

He added that his depth of Islamic knowledge, patriotism and initiatives for education made him one of the paramount nation-makers.



Aamir Khan and M K Narayanan in a programme on `A tribute to Maulana Azad on his 125th Birth Anniversary’ in Kolkata.
Photos: Sandip Saha

This programme also marked the beginning of six days long Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival, 2014, jointly organised by Victoria Memorial Hall, Apeejay Kolkata Festival and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies.

M K Naryanan added that the policies of Maulana Azad maybe very useful in educating the masses, particularly the women.

He said that he had the fortune of meeting India’s first education Minister and was really impressed by his outlook and personality.

AKLF, running till Jan 13, will celebrate the secular views of Azad to coincide with his 125th birth anniversary.

Film actor Aamir Khan, great grandnephew of the Islamic scholar and nationalist, spoke on `Maulana Azad: His belief in secularism and his foresight’. He said that it is his dream to make a film on Maulana Azad.

"I hope that someday I can use my capabilities, and through the art form that I practise, to make a film on Maulana Azad. It's a dream to bring his life to a larger populace of India," he said.



Dr. Syeda Hamid, Aamir Khan and WB Governor M K Narayanan releasing the book ‘Maulana Azad, Islam and the Indian National Movement’ written by Dr. Syeda.

Dr. Syeda Saiyidain Hamid’s new book Maulana Azad, Islam and the Indian National Movement, was also released on the occasion. She said on the occasion that if we spread the vision of Maulana Azad properly then the propaganda of terrorism surrounding Islam can be shunned easily.

Chairman of the Executive Council of the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies Sitaram Sharma welcomed the Bolywod Actor’s idea of making film on Azad and extended all kinds of support and assistance.

Wife of Governor of West Bengal Ladmini Narayanan, Former Member of Parliament Krishna Bose, Bharati Ghosh, Artist Shubhaprasanna, Sherin Paul and many others distinguished personalities were also present in this programme.

New Saudi policy won't affect us: Indian expats

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By IANS,

New Delhi : Expatriate Indians in Saudi Arabia feel that the new labour policy of that Gulf nation will not affect them as they are generally law-abiding citizens.

"Indians are law-abiding people and the Saudi government has corrected the (residency) status of around 400,000 illegal Indian workers in the country," Shihab Kottukad, consultant to the Non Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department of the Kerala government and a volunteer at the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia, told IANS here Wednesday on the sidelines of the 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the annual gathering of people of Indian origin.

According to Kottukad, the new policy will affect only those expatriates who are living illegally in that country and those who do not abide by the law. The new Nitaqat or Saudisation policy in that country - which has been much misunderstood in India - makes it mandatory for all Saudi companies to reserve 10 percent of jobs for Saudi nationals.

Following the implementation of the policy from June 2011 onwards, Saudi authorities granted a six-month grace period last year for all expatriates to either rectify their residency status or leave the country.

"There are around 2.4 million (Indian) people working in the country, many of whom have been living for over two decades. They find the efforts made by the Indian overseas affairs ministry and the Saudi government to correct their status very satisfactory," Kottukad said.

Asked about reports that the Saudi government is mulling a new law that will restrict the stay of expatriate workers in that country to a maximum of eight years, his reaction was that of doubt.

"As regards the proposed law, restricting expatriates' stay in the country to a maximum of eight years, I am no one to comment on this because it is the government's decision and they may implement it or may not," Kottukad said.

"But one thing I can tell is that the government of that country is very helpful to us (Indians). Most probably they will not pass the law."

Jayantha Kumar, human resource director at Saudi Arabia-based Nasser S. Al Hajri Corporation (NSH), which employs around 50,000 Indian nationals, said the Indian community is the largest expatriate community in that country "and they are working in a very safe and secure environment".

"Those who have come back to India (following the grace period) were illegal workers," he added.

In Tripura, BJP protests attacks on minorities in Bangladesh

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By IANS,

Agartala : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will continue to organise protests until the attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh are stopped, party leaders said in the Tripura capital Thursday.

"We held a demonstration here Friday to protest the attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh. Such a stir would continue until the attacks on minorities are stopped," BJP's Tripura unit president Sudhindra Dasgupta told reporters.

He said the government of India must talk with the Bangladesh government and urge it to take suitable measures to stop the attacks on the minorities and to prevent these in future.

The members of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP, Wednesday organised a demonstration in front of the Bangladesh diplomatic mission in Agartala.

Police arrested 24 BJYM members, including the party's state leaders Pulak Kumar Debnath and Tapas Majumder, and later released them on bail.

A police picket has been set up at the Bangladesh mission office on the outskirts of the city.

According to media reports in Bangladesh, over 200 houses and shops belonging to the minority Hindu community have been vandalised and looted by the Jamaat-e-Islami activists in various parts of Bangladesh's Jessore and Dinajpur districts. The attacks took place before and during the Jan 5 parliamentary polls in that country.

"Several hundred minority people, including women and children, have taken shelter in Hindu temples and safer places. Bangladesh security forces have arrested many attackers," the reports said.

India has stepped up vigil along its border with Bangladesh in view of the ongoing political turmoil and attacks on religious minorities in the neighbouring country.

"We have asked our personnel to further tighten vigil along the India-Bangladesh border. Additional forces have been deployed in the sensitive border locations...," an officer of the Border Security Force (BSF) told IANS.

"Though we do not have any kind of specific intelligence inputs of troubles opposite to Tripura, Assam, Mizoram and Meghalaya frontiers, there are troubles and incidents of attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh territories opposite to West Bengal borders," said the official, who refused to be named.

Five Indian states - West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram - share a 4,096-km border with Bangladesh. A large portion of the International Border remains unfenced and porous.

Democratisation of Mushawarat is nothing but a farce: Navaid Hamid

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By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,

Update: Reply of Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan to Navaid Hamid's letter at the bottom of this story.

New Delhi: Newly-elected Mushawarat Central Working Committee member Navaid Hamid has sent a strong letter of protest to Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, president of the organization. “Independent observers would be free to conclude that compromises, manipulations and personal choices have over shadowed the true democratic process and the talk for democratisation of Mushawarat is nothing but a farce,” he said to the open letter addressed to Dr. Khan.

Navaid Hamid in the letter said that he has never given his consent for being the candidate and he was surprised to see his name in the ballot. He also alleged that few more names in the ballot also were without consent.



Navaid Hamid

Election results for All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) were announced on Tuesday this week. Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan was re-elected as president unopposed. Dr. Khan, according to the constitution of the Mushawarat and in his capacity as the president nominated 11 members to the Central Working Committee. Navaid Hamid allege that 10 out of these eleven are those members who were in the ballot but lost the election. Not only that but his letter also makes note of the fact that “one out of two Vice Presidents and two of the four General Secretaries of the Mushawarat nominated by you had lost the elections few days back.”

Just two years ago, Navaid Hamid and Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan battled it out for the post of the president of this umbrella body of Indian Muslims. In the end Dr. Khan managed to win by two votes. There has been allegation of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind trying to control Mushawarat.

It is also interesting to note that general body of Mushawarat had elected just three members from Jamaat-e-Islami out of 20. The list of 11 nominated by the president has three Jamat-e-Islami members, all three are those who lost elections.

This is the first election after the merger of the two Mushawarat factions.

Letter of protest to President, All India Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat

Janab Dr. Zafar ul Islam Khan sahab

Assalam o alaikum

Thanks for the updates about election results, subsequent developments in All India Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat and information about new team. Congratulations on being elected President of united Mushawarat.

I am a bit bemused with the developments in AIMMM for number of reasons.

1. I had never given my consent for being a candidate in the election process which I came to know only after getting the ballot paper for choosing 20 candidates from large battery of 94 contesting members and had phoned Janab Ahmed Rashid Shervani sahab(Returning officer) for registering my disapproval on the whole process not only because my name was there in contesting candidates with out my approval but also because I had found names of some of the top most renowned and revered Muslims who had contributed for the betterment of the community and struggled for its cause and got impression that number of candidates had never given consent to be candidates for the election to the National Executive AND therefore had not send my postal ballot.

I fail to understand why the office secretary of Mushawarat who was also Asst. Returning Officer for elections in AIMMMM had not communicated to the proposed candidates (who’s names might have been proposed because of love, affection and regard by some proposers) about their final confirmation before sending ballot papers. Don’t you think that its a great injustice to people who lost elections because of no fault of theirs and who might had withdrawn their names from contest if they have been informed about their candidature in advance?

2. Ten out of eleven members nominated by you to the National Executive are those who had lost elections few days back.

3. One out of two Vice Presidents and two of the four General Secretaries of the Mushawarat nominated by you had lost the elections few days back.

I can understand your simplicity and magnanimity in using your prerogative as given in the constitution of AIMMM to nominate members and office bearers of AIMMM but permit me to share that its not only against the mandate of the members of Mushawarat but also the basic values of democracy.

Independent observers would be free to conclude that compromises, manipulations and personal choices have over shadowed the true democratic process and the talk for democratisation of Mushawarat is nothing but a farce.

My sincere apologies if you found some of my words harsh.

While praying for your success, with personal regards

Navaid Hamid
Member, National Executive,
All India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat

To,
Dr. Zafrul Islam Khan sahab
President
All India Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat
New Delhi

Reply of Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan

Mushawarat Presidnet's reply to Mr Navaid Hamid

Dear Br Navaid Saheb,
Thank you for your comments.
1. The nomination paper sent by AIMMM office clearly said that nominations should be made after securing the permission of the persons being nominated. Thus it is the responsibility of individual members to make sure that this condition is met.

2. The election schedule sent to all eligible voters clearly mentioned the date of the withdrawal of nominations which has to be done, according to the tradition until now, in the office of the AIMMM. Sending nominations again to members for approval will mean that the election process will have to lengthened by another two weeks at least. Oral confirmation or rejection has no values in such issues.

3. Nominations by the President for the Amla [working committee] and other posts are, according to the constitution of AIMMM, to give representation to all sections, especially to the unrepresented. It is a difficult process which is not done according to the personal likes and dislikes but to give representation to all as much as possible and is done in consultation with organisations and members. Another criterion that I take into account is to give preference to persons who are punctual in attending meetings and who are ready to give time when requested.

With warm regards and looking forward for your keen cooperation in AIMMM work where I have no personal agenda or personal need whatsoever.

Zafarul-Islam
9 January, 2014

Delhi Police trying to prove Rahul correct: LeT suspects' counsel

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By IANS,

New Delhi : Claiming that Delhi Police created a case against his clients to prove a statement by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi as correct, the defence counsel of two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) suspects Thursday sent a letter to the home minister, asking for the transfer of the case to the NIA.

Md. Shahid and Md. Rashid were arrested in December by Delhi Police from Haryana's Mewat district.

Their counsel M.S. Khan has sought transfer of the case from Delhi Police to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for a fair probe into the matter, contending that his clients were made scapegoats.

"Rahul Gandhi made a revelation during his public meeting in Indore Oct 24, 2013 that an officer of the Intelligence Bureau briefed him about the infiltration of ISI in relief camps in Muzaffarnagar for the purpose of recruitment of youngsters. He further revealed that the said officer also contacted those youngsters," Khan said in his letter to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.

He said that on the basis of the alleged secret input received from the intelligence agency, "those two people have been connected in such a manner so as to prove the contents of the speech of Rahul Gandhi as true".

Delhi Police, on the basis of inputs by an intelligence agency, registered in December a case of criminal conspiracy and membership of the banned terrorist outfit.

Acting on the information, Shahid and Rashid were arrested.

Delhi Police sources earlier said Shahid and Rashid with another LeT member went to collect scriptures from Muzaffarnagar to radicalise the riot victims to join the outfit.

Counsel Khan said there were several loopholes in the story projected by police, but those cannot be disclosed as it would destroy the defence of the accused.

Citing a matter against suspected Hizbul militant Liyakat Ali, Khan requested the home ministry to direct the NIA to investigate his clients' case in a fair and impartial manner, saying that the matter has national ramifications.

Liyakat Ali was arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly conspiring to carry out terror attacks in the capital in March 2013. He was later granted bail by a special NIA court in May 2013.

In March 2013, the home ministry had issued a notification facilitating the NIA to take over the case after Ali's arrest generated conflicting versions from Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir Police.


Strengthen Indian missions in Gulf nations: Expats

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By IANS,

New Delhi : Indian missions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are understaffed and need to be strengthened, say expatriate Indians living in the Gulf region.

The demand was put forward in a session on "Issues of NRIs in the Gulf" held as part of the 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas - the annual gathering of the Indian diaspora - which concluded here Thursday.

The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These countries are home to around six million expatriate Indians.

The issue came into focus after Indian missions in Saudi Arabia had to virtually work 24 hours a day last year after that country's authorities offered a grace period for illegal expatriates to rectify their residency status following the implementation of a new labour policy.

India's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Hamid Ali Rao came in for praise for the way he and his officers handled the situation.

"The way our mission in (Saudi Arabia's capital) Riyadh handled the Nitaqat (new labour policy)-related issue needs to be appreciated," Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed said.

"Our officers did this massive work despite limited resources and manpower," he said.

Ahamed said the officers were helped by 600 volunteers who responded to an appeal made by the Indian embassy.

A delegate from Jeddah said how the Indian consulate there came under pressure during the course of this massive exercise.

"Otherwise too, the consulate has only two officers to look after the welfare of 200,000 (Indian) people spread in that part of Saudi Arabia, which is a huge region," he said.

The delegate said more vehicles need to be provided to the consulate to meet expatriate Indians living there.

"Sometimes, you have to drive 1,000 km without taking a break," he said.

According to another delegate from the UAE, two protocol officers should be appointed to the Indian consulate in Dubai.

"Whenever we go to meet some officer in the consulate with some specific request, we are told that the officer has gone to the airport (to receive or see off some dignitary)," he said.

Ahamed agreed and said the situation faced by the Dubai mission was similar to the one faced by the Indian high commission in London.

He, however, assured the delegates that he would look into the issue of staff strength in the Indian missions in the Gulf region.

Another delegate raised the issue of increasing the number of Air India's flights from the Gulf region to Indian cities, but Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said he tried for this but it was not successful.

"The (civil aviation) ministry says there are simply not enough aircraft to increase flights," he said.

When another delegate raised the issue of allowing non-resident Indians (NRIs) to exercise their newly gained voting right via postal ballot, Ravi said it was not possible.

"Elections fall under an independent authority, the Election Commission, and it has not agreed to allow NRIs to vote by postal ballot. If NRIs want to vote, they have to be in India at the time of elections," he said.

Among others present at the session were Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy, Kerala's minister for non-resident Keralites' affairs (NORKA), India's ambassadors to the six GCC nations and Yemen, and some prominent expatriate Indians from the Gulf.

Beni Prasad Verma slams Mulayam over Saifai glitz

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By IANS,

Lucknow : Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma Thursday attacked his one-time associate and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh, accusing him of watching Bollywood actors dance even as people die of cold.

Talking to reporters at his residence in this Uttar Pradesh capital, Verma took a dig at the Saifai Mahotsava, organised in Mulayam Singh's ancestral village, Saifai, in Etawah district, where Bollywood stars Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Rakhi Sawant performed on Wednesday.

Verma claimed the SP chief had lost all shame and sense of morality.

"Mulayam Singh has lost even his sense of shame, and is busy merry-making even as the victims of the Muzaffarnagar riots suffer," the union minister said.

Many hundreds of people, mostly Muslims, displaced after the riots in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts of the state in September last year have been living in temporary camps. Children have died in the camps of cold.

Verma Thursday also accused the ministerial delegation from the state that went on what was billed as a study tour to observe parliamentary practices abroad of going away on a five-nation junket.

He said that in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, the SP would be wiped out from the electoral map of the state. He also predicted that the Congress would win 50 of Uttar Pradesh's 80 Lok Sabha seats, and party vice president Rahul Gandhi would be India's next prime minister.

MANUU playing a significant role: Justice Prakash Rao

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By TCN News

Hyderabad: Maulana Azad National Urdu University organized its 16th Foundation Day Lecture today at its headquarter here. A huge number of students, faculty, supporting staff and other guests attended the function which was held in the DDE Auditorium, MANUU, Hyderabad.

Dr. Khwaja Mohammad Shahid, Pro Vice-Chancellor welcomed the guests and audience and introduced the guests.



Justice B. Prakash Rao Addressing Foundation Day Function of MANUU. Prof. N. N. Maldar, Prof. Mohammad Miyan, Dr. Khwaja M. Shahid and Prof. S. M. Rahmatullah.

As Chief Guest on the occasion Justice B. Prakash Rao, Former Acting Chief Justice, A. P. High Court commended efforts of MANUU for organizing such an event which helps bring positive changes in the University’s further course of action. Justice Rao appreciated the India’s first Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s efforts especially for establishing the IITs, UGC and other higher research bodies in the country. The general complaint is that the minorities are ignored and deprived and this University has a crucial role to play in this regard. He also reiterated that there cannot be two opinions about the significant role being played by the MANUU. Students here, need to improve the English communication along with the courses that they pursue. So, students should have confidence in them and accordingly work hard to achieve their dreams.

Prof. N. N. Maldar, Vice-Chancellor, Sholapur University while delivering the 16th Foundation Day Lecture said that MANUU should chalk out its programmes and policies according to the needs and aspirations of the society. Appreciating the efforts made by the present Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Maldar emphasized the culture of group discussion among the students. He also laid stress on the academic standards to be maintained by the faculty of the University. The University should not only fulfill the objectives of the institutions and maintain standards but also enhance the glory of this national University, Prof. Maldar said. He also offered to collaborate and network with the Sholapur University. While quoting a research report, Prof. Maldar said that more than 93% Govt. schemes do not reach the masses. MANUU has to play a leading role in this direction. He also stressed on dedication, confidence and commitment on the past of faculty and other officials of the University.



Prof. Mohammad Miyan, Vice-Chancellor, MANUU who presided over the function said that all sections of the society should co-exist and work together for better harmonies development. The MANUU Vice-Chancellor also assured of collaboration networking with the University and other institutions of higher learning. Prof. Miyan announced to launch 5 more teacher education institutions in different parts of the country. The University is planning to start various undergraduate programmes in the campus. The programme was started with the recitation of a few verses from the Holy Quran by Dr. Fahim Akhtar, Asst. Professor. Prof. S. M. Rahmatullah, Registrar proposed vote of thanks and Dr. Mohammad Fariyad, Media Coordinator & Incharge Public Relations Department convened the programme on the occasion.

Another stab in the back

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Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam,

North India is in the grip of a cold wave. Chilly winds are blowing across the vast plains of the region. At the height of the season’s bitter cold the Akhilesh Yadav government has ruthlessly dismantled refugee camps, forcing them to go out and fend for themselves.

Most of the victims of Muzaffarnagar riots still cannot go back to the villages where they saw their relatives massacred and their homes burnt down. The atmosphere there is still unfavourable for resettlement.

When the camp at Loi village was dismantled by the government the victims shifted to a site some 50 metres away and pitched their tents by the side of a pond. They are assured that they are not going to be evicted anytime too soon as this is not government land, but privately-held property. However, because of the pond it is a colder place.

This wicked act has come after Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had declared on December 23 that there were no riot victims in the camps but Congress and BJP conspirators. One fails to figure out what the SP wants to achieve from such cruelty.

The behaviour of Akhilesh Yadav government has bewildered Muslims all over the state. Nearly 130 anti-Muslim riots of a lower intensity have been staged in UP since SP came to power. The perpetrators have been allowed to go scot free and officials have not been punished for their laxity, or connivance.

It all cumulated in Muzaffarnagar riots, which are compared with Gujarat 2002. Orchestrated by the Sangh’s vicious propaganda and with the presence in UP of Gujarat 2002-accused Amit Shah, this pogrom had all the features of the 2002 killings. The Samajwadi government has been seen to be hand in glove with the Bhartiya Riot Party.

Now this dismantling of refugee camps has come as the latest stab in the back of Muslims whose support was crucial for Samajwadi victory.

Muzaffarnagar in 16 tweets

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By TwoCircles.net staff reporter

New Delhi: Kavita Krishnan is the Secretary of All India Progressive Women's Association and Polit Bureau member of Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist). She has been to camps of people displaced as a result of Muzaffarnagar communal violence of September 2012.

Kavita is very active on twitter commenting and reporting on issues that goes unnoticed in social media buzz. Today, in just sixteen tweets she was able to capture many aspects of Muzaffarnagar issue.

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