By Mohammad Sajjad,

Quite often we, the academics, tend to point our fingers more towards the lapses of the administration in the universities, and we often spare even the serious lapses of our own. With the growing expansion of web contents, tracing the cases of plagiarism are increasingly becoming easier. Few years back, in a university an Associate Professor was found to have published a research paper wherein only “creative paraphrasing” was in the name of the author. The VC of the university, even though a non-academic, on being reported, got outraged and he dismissed the plagiarist from the services even though the plagiarist was the son of a highly placed functionary of the UGC.

Our very own AMU, in one such case debarred the erring supervisor from supervising researches for few years. Around the same time, a faculty member of the same university was reported to have plagiarized and published it (by paraphrasing the prose) from another globally renowned institution headed by an academic having obtained higher education degrees from Oxford. But he is yet to initiate appropriate action. Isn’t it shameful?

Reports are now coming about plagiarism of the worst order (verbatim reproduction pages after pages, chapters after chapters) in PhDs. Previously awarded PhD thesis are put to worst abuse by criminals disguising as research students. Worse still, the supervisors prefer not to look into the thesis as to whether:

(a) the prose used in the thesis really testify the articulation abilities of their students,
(b) the introductory chapter really engages with the topic and sub-topic of the thesis,
(c) the Conclusion of the study really comes out with a verdict on the subject of the thesis,
(d) A chapter consists of a content which really deserves to be put as Appendix, in other words, rather than a chapter being an analytical narrative, is consisting of profiles of personalities lifted from somewhere widely known published works,
(e) horribly incomplete references and completely missing from the Bibliography,
(f) the student is really in possession of the sources/evidences.

BIG SHAME on such remorseless, unrepentant, reckless supervisors, who think with utmost arrogance and shamelessness that no action can ever be initiated against them.

In one instance of historical study, a chapter mandating itself to end the discussion in a particular year kept running fast up to few decades beyond the mandated heading of the chapter, and the supervisor kept himself blissfully ignorant about all these things.

There are also reports (not concretely verified) that PhD theses awarded from some of the regional universities are now being plagiarized by the students of Central universities who get themselves assigned the topics already explored in those regional universities.

While harsh actions against such crimes will have deterrence effect and will help in curbing such crimes, this is also very necessary on the part of us academics that during first two semesters of registration in PhD, the students’ admission should remain provisional, and unless a board of teachers of the relevant Departments approve the re-worked synopsis (which, in most of the cases, should rigorously engage with the published works/journal essays related to the topic), the registration in PhD should not be confirmed in the 3rd semester. I am told that better known (for rigours) Departments of JNU do follow this procedure whereby the newly enrolled PhD students remain on run searching for such published works and developing their own opinion on the issue. Thus, defending the synopsis in itself becomes a rigorous academic exercise.

As per the new provisions of the Union government of India, the research students of the Central universities get handsome fellowship to pursue their research. This puts additional responsibility of research ethics. Similarly, a supervisor gets score for supervision in his/her Academic Performance Index (API), which burnishes the promotion prospects of the supervisor, besides usual credit of the work. In this scenario, recklessness and slackness in checking the theses is nothing but a crime. And this crime has become detectable because as per the new provisions, every PhD thesis is to be uploaded on UGC’s website called shodhganga-inflibnet. The river Ganga is polluted, and we are also getting instances of shodh (researches) being more polluted with plagiarism.

We, the academics must take a pledge to take every care of avoiding this pollution/degeneration. The VCs and the decision making bodies of the universities like the Academic Council (AC) and the Executive Council (EC) must dispense a kind of justice on such issues which go a long way in preventing, preempting, and deterring the crime of plagiarism.

--
Mohammad Sajjad is associated with Centre of Advanced Study in History at Aligarh Muslim University.

By Indscribe,

The moment reports about Bollywood star Salman Khan's meeting with Narendra Modi, started appearing on Tuesday afternoon, social networking sites were flooded with comments.

It was inferred that he had endorsed the latter for the post of PM. Khan didn't say directly about who should be the Prime Minister.

But said that God would decide the best man and then also pointed at Modi, saying that "there is a good man standing amongst us".

The middle-aged star also had lunch with Modi. The Gujarat chief minister also tweeted about his meeting with Salman.

Many Muslims seemed upset with Khan, who had recently gone to Saifai despite criticism that while riot victims were denied relief, the Chief Minister was having fun with Bollywood actors.

While Alia Bhatt, had apologised and her father Mahesh Bhatt said that it was the failure of his upbringing that she went to participate in the event. Khan had defended the decision then also. There were sarcastic comments from different sides and that how film stars can go anywhere to dance, if they are offered money.

Now many of his fans are hurt. There are angry posts and even cartoons mocking Khan. Even in the post-partition era, the most idealistic stars who were staunch communists, didn't lead the kind of life which they propagated.

Among stars, Salman Khan has a very strong appeal among Muslim youths. He is the person whose posters with skullcap on his head, are seen in Muslim localities. In coming days, there could be protests on the streets in different cities.

The effigies may also be burnt. Perhaps, the fans, have a right, to be upset. But isn't it irrational to expect that you star will always be politically correct and always behave in accordance with your affiliations and expectations.

There were posts on Facebook that how could Salman Khan meet Modi? After 1992-93 Mumbai riots, who had stopped meeting Congress leaders or the then Chief Minister Sudhakar Rao Naik, though more people were killed in those riots than Gujarat 2002.

The billionaire stars act in politically correct manner just because they tend to avoid controversies. It is not about taking stand or not taking stand. Salman Khan's act may anger his Muslim fans, but it can also boost his image among his hardliner right-wing fans.

The criticism is that if celebrities, especially, the Muslims, keep meeting Modi, then it will give credibility to the latter. May be, such things slowly and steadily have an impact. The fear among certain sections is that the anti-Modi stance will get diluted.

Many 'secular Hindus' were also upset with his 'endorsement of Modi'. But why? If he is a Muslim he is supposed to be anti-Modi? There is no logic in it. Then, all Hindus should be pro-Modi. But the biggest opponents of Modi are Hindus, aren't they?

Either we talk in terms of activism, legal fraternity, political class or police officers, majority of those opposing him are not Muslims. Similarly, to expect that Muslims are monolithic to such an extent that everybody is expected to act in the same manner is absurd.

Why should we expect that Salman Khan or any other celebrity will take a stand. There is no surprise. With general elections a few months from now, we will see such occurrences and 'controversies' on a regular basis.

--
Indscribe blogs at http://www.anindianmuslim.com

By Sameer Khan for TwoCircles.net,

India and Urdu Literature of the subcontinent lost one of its jewels when Mr. Waris Alvi the renounced Urdu critic passed away at the age of 86 in Ahmedabad Gujarat India on 10 January. Several literary giants and noted personalities paid their last tribute to Alvi during his funeral on Thursday in Ahmedabad.

Mr. Waris Alvi was a renowned Urdu critic in India. Mr. Alvi had authored 25 books. 'Ghazal Ka Mahboob aur Doosre Mazameen' was his last book. He had received several awards including Gaurav Puraskar from Gujarat government and Ghalib Award from Ghalib Academy, Delhi and Bahadur Shah Zafar Award from Delhi Urdu Academy.

Maharashtra State Urdu Academy also conferred an award on him. Alvi also headed Gujarat Urdu Sahitya Academy for several years since its inception.

Mr. Alvi was well known as a stalwart in Urdu Literature but very few people know that he was also a freedom fighter and well known Gandhian and stood by Gandhian principles all his life. He vividly recalled attending pro independence meetings of Mahatma Gandhi and Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan as a young boy before Independence.

Mr. Alvi belonged to the lineage of Vali Gujarati the father of Urdu Literature in the subcontinent whose grave was desecrated and a tar road made above it during the Gujarat riots of 2002. The story that has been depicted in Nandita Das critically acclaimed movie “Firaq”

When I met Waris uncle in Oct 2012, He lamented over the decline of Urdu Language in India and particularly in the state of Gujarat. “Very few people know that Gujarat and Gujarati Muslims were one of the pioneers of Urdu Language in the subcontinent” he said and also fondly recalled the brotherhood that existed among Hindus and Muslims in Gujarat. In spite of the vicious riots that had dented the communal fabric of Gujarat Mr. Alvi remained positive about the communal brotherhood till the end. “This is a temporary phase of hatred and it will pass soon” were his words as he described the mistrusted created by 2002 Gujarat violence.

He also regretted the lack of opportunities and the enthusiasm among the younger generation for Urdu medium schools and not only Urdu language but also Gujarati language. “Everyone wants’ to go English medium school today, what legacy are we going to leave for future?” he groused.

His passing had indeed left us a deep chasm that will be impossible to fill but the perfect tribute to legends like him would be we can hope that in future Urdu language is gets revived and Mr. Waris Alvi gets his rightful place in the history of Urdu Literature in the world.

By TCN News,

Kuwait: Justice Rajindar Sachar, Former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and the Head of “The Rajindar Sachar Committee”, has been nominated as the Chief Patron of the Indo-Kuwait Friendship Society.

Justice Sachar, also a member of United Nations’ Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights was honoured with ‘IKFS 2013 Excellence Award For Social Justice” during IKFS’ 3rd anniversary celebrations held in Kuwait at Salmiya Indian Model school Auditorium on 1st November 2013.

The president of IKFS Dr. Ghalib Al-Mashoor said in a press release that Justice Sachar agreed as being Chief Patron, because of IKFS’ impressive activities and contributions towards restoring friendship with different people, national unity, safe guarding of Indian national interest and Integrity “for the betterment of secularism and democracy among the nations in addition to keen interest on promoting Patriotism among NRI associations in Kuwait by IKFS”.

By Mohammed Ayub Khan,

It is an election season and we shouldn’t be too surprised at the many personal and ideological transformations taking place across the spectrum of Indian politics. A parallel attempt is also underway in rehabilitating the images of divisive figures in the nation’s history like V.D. Savarkar—a man well-known for his anti-Muslim rhetoric through his numerous writings. The unveiling of his portrait in the parliament, in 2003, caused a minor controversy after the Congress and the Left expressed their discomfiture at the last moment. Ten years later another sensation has been created, but there was no controversy as the media and the scholarly & literary community lapped up claims that Savarkar’s Urdu ghazals have been discovered.

In August of this year, his fans and the media went on an overdrive arguing that he wasn’t a bigot he is made out to be, and that he was a ‘great believer’ in Hindu-Muslim unity. A recently discovered scrap-book containing Urdu poetry was cited as evidence of his secular credentials. A closer examination reveals that the story has many holes.

Cover of Ghadar Di Goonj

The scrapbook, identified as a ‘notebook’ by the media, was apparently found in the library of the late S.P.Gokhale, an associate of Savarkar. It has eight pages of Urdu poetry written in Urdu and the Devanagari script. Ranajit Savarkar, grandson of Savarkar, claims that it was written in the last few months of his incarceration in 1921 when he was able to get access to paper and ink.

The claim that this poetry is Savarkar’s is spurious on several grounds. First of all there is no evidence that this scrapbook actually belongs to Savarkar. His name is not written anywhere in the book. It has the name Pyaray Mohan written on one page. Another page is a history sheet of a prisoner sentenced for dacoity in Moradabad. It contains cuttings of imagined illustrations and pictures of Lord Rama, Jesus Christ, Gandhi Ji, Swami Vivekanand, Tilak, George Washington among others, with some notes written by their collector.

Secondly, there is no evidence that Savarkar ever mastered enough Urdu to compose his own poetry. He didn’t learn Urdu in his schooling years. It is widely believed that he learnt it in either Europe or later in the Andamans. In his book, The War of Independence, he does quote Bahadur Shah Zafar’s poetry, demonstrating a grasp of the language but that doesn’t mean he was capable of composing original verses in Urdu.

Third, since his early activist career he had been a vocal advocate of replacement of Urdu with Hindi and other regional languages. This aggressive pro-Hindi activism began in 1906 when each member of Abhinav Bharat was asked to take an oath of making all efforts to make Hindi in the Devanagari script the national language of India. Similarly, we find frequent references of him asking his followers to purge Hindi of Urdu and Persian words.

Fourth, he set about dividing the prisoners on religious and linguistic lines as soon as he arrived in Andamans. As many as ninety percent of prisoners used Urdu for their correspondence with relatives and jail authorities prior to Savarkar’s arrival. Savarkar urged them to discard the use of Urdu and instead use Hindi or other regional language.

But the clinching evidence that disproves the theory that Savarkar is the author of the poetry is the existence of a ghazal in a poetry collection published by the Indian revolutionaries of the Ghadar Party,in 1914, from the Yugantar Ashram in San Francisco. The poem ‘Yehi paogey mehshar mein zubaan meri bayan mera…’ is found in the nagari script in the script on page 31 of the book Ghadar Di Goonj. This collection consisting of poems written by ordinary Ghadar revolutionaries doesn’t carry the poets’ names. It contains mostly Punjabi poetry with a few Urdu poems---all written in the Urdu script. They originally became popular by word of mouth before being compiled. They are patriotic and secular in nature without the slightest hint of bigotry that exemplifies Savarkar’s writings.

Page displaying the ghazal in Urdu in Ghadar Di Goonj.

It is very possible that Savarkar had might come into contact with the hundreds of Ghadarites who were imprisoned at the Andamans. Their revolutionary fervour and patriotism was infectious and Savarkar also wouldn’t have remained untouched. In one of those moments he might well have jotted down what he heard from others.

To claim that Savarkar was a lover of Urdu or that he was free of bigotry on such thin evidence is spurious to say the least. His followers and fans need to come up with stronger proof in order to establish his supposed secular credentials.

Lastly, such attempts are an insult to the memory of the Ghadarite revolutionaries whose centenary communities across North America are commemorating this year. They had dreamt of a free, secular, cohesive and united India. Savarkar’s divisive agenda was completely antithetical to their dreams.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

New Delhi: External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin has said that the government was in “touch with Bangladesh over reports of attacks on Hindus during and after the general election there."

Lawyer activist and founder of the All India Muslim Agenda 2014, Shehzad Poonawalla had submitted a memorandum to the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi along with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of External Affairs to highlight the plight of the minority Hindu community being persecuted in Bangladesh allegedly by the activists of the Jamat e Islami and BNP, particularly after 5th January polls.

MEA spokesperson said in response that the Indian government was aware of the reports of attacks on minorities in the past few days. It said that the Bangladesh home ministry had ordered police to provide security to religious minorities and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was sworn in Sunday, "has promised strong action against the culprits".

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Guwahati: Two books written by Char Chapori Sahitya Parishad’s (CCSP) president Hafiz Ahmed were formally released at Guwahati Press Club recently. ‘Biponno Adhikar’, a collection of short stories and ‘Bhoot Bungalow’– a translated work of renowned Indian English author Amrita Pritam into Assamese.

‘Biponno Adhikar’ which literally means rights in crisis carries a collection of short stories written on various times by Ahmed. These stories reflect the socio, political and cultural scenario of the present time experienced by Ahmed himself during his day to day life in various parts of the state.

Several prominent personalities formally release the books of Hafiz Ahmed at Guwahati Press Club.

Stories like ‘Bekit Jetia Aahe Baan’ (When the river Beki is flooded) narrates the tales of pain and agony of the people affected by the erosion which have been decades long happening in the state. On the other hand, the author has depicted the common illusion which takes place with the ‘Bangladeshi nationals’ in the state with the story titled ‘Biponno Adhikar’.

Another very touching story is ‘Ashray Xibiroloi Naami Aha Atmabor’ (The souls which visit the relief camps) in the compilation. Author Ahmed who has also been an activist for the downtrodden people of the society narrated the trauma of pain of separation and losing near and dear one in some ‘non-sense’ incidents called riots and its after effects. It depicts how a desperate soul of a mother looks for her baby among the inmates of a certain relief camp called Basbari in Barpeta district.

The book carries 25 such short stories. While, ‘Bhoot Bungalow’ is the Assamese translated version of Amrita Pritam’s work, the first woman author to win the Sahitya Akademi Award. “Another prominent name among women writers, Mamoni Raisom Goswami had introduced me to Amrita Pritam and since then I have enjoyed reading her works in every forms. This novel of her has portrayed the plight of Indian women in the true sense and I think such works should be read widely,” Hafiz Ahmed said who has dedicated the book in the name of Mamoni Raisom Goswami who was also known as Indira Goswami.

Prior to this, Hafiz Ahmd has several other books both fiction and non-fiction which included translations as well. “Hafiz Ahmed has always been adding value to his works which in the long run helps in enriching the language and literature of Assam. In this latest compilation of short stories ‘Biponno Adhikar’ he has highlighted how the human rights were violated in several instances from Nellie to Iraq,” said political analyst and professor of Gauhati University Monirul Hussain.

By TCN News,

Mumbai: Jamat e Islami Hind Mumbra organized a grand program on the occasion of Meiad un Nabi on Monday 13th January 2014 at Falah Garden in Mumbra.

The program commenced with the recitation of some Verses from the Holy Quran and its translation in Urdu by Hafiz Mohammed Jawwad. Thereafter a Tarana in praise of the Prophet (pbuh) was recited by Hafeez.

The Convenor of this program was Abdus Salam who in brief explained the importance of this program and significantly to follow the teachings of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) in word and practice. The slogan of this program is My Prophet (pbuh) My Leader (Mentor).

Maulana Tauqeersb President of Ashrafiya Gharib Nawaz Mumbra representative of Maulana Moeen Miyan Ashrafi Jilani stated that there is no harm in taking out processions on the occasion of Milad un Nabi (pbuh) but we must abstain from music and dance. We do not find any reference of these even in the teachings of Maulana Ahmed Raza Khansb.

Prof Mohammed Javed Shaikh President of Jamat e Islami Hind Mumbra explained the significance of the teachings of Prophet (pbuh) and the need to follow them.

Jamat e Islami Hind Mumbra is organizing a ten day campaign from 10th to 19th January 2014 to propagate the message of the Prophet (pbuh).

Azharuddin, Ex-President of Students Islamic Organization emphasised the importance to follow the teachings of Quran and Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) and said that every details of the life of Prophet (pbuh) is recorded by very authentic and virtuous people.

Maulana Shafi, President of the Jamiat e Ulema Hind Mumbra spoke about the significance of Youth and their contribution to the development of society. The youth to follow the teachings of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh).

Several other speakers spoke on the occasion.

By Shahnoor Rahman,

Living in cities seldom we ponder about the conditions of those poor farmers who grow food grains for us, but they themselves often go hungry. We may be paying Rs 50 for the tomato and sometimes Rs 80 for the onion, but how much of it does actually go into the hands of those poor farmers?

Let’s explore the reality behind syndicatism based on the mercy of the dishonest politicians that has given rise to corrupt, dishonest middlemen, who gets away with the giant share of the profit – sometimes up to 80-90% of what we actually pay.

Poor farmers sometimes take loans from Mahajans, to invest in cultivation for seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, etc. and what he gets at the end is often the pittance, not sufficient to repay the loan even. For example, in Assam on an average a cultivator spends Rs 2756 per bigha of land whereas he gets Rs 2470 per year after year long hardworking and distress.

Agriculture is one oldest profession of mankind, still happens to be source of livelihood of 70% people of Assam although contributes 23.86% of state economy but feeds 3.11 crore of her people. It is, however, one of the most neglected and ignored sector, not only in Assam, but most of India.

Poorest of the people who are landless, illiterate and unfit for doing other works are mostly engaged in farming in cultivating nearly one-third of total land areas of Assam. Besides urbanisation, industrialisation and other factors, Assam has lost 4.27 lakh hectares out of 78.43 lakh hectares of land since 1950 by river erosion alone which is around 7.40% of total land of state.

There are instances of someone who was owner of 40- 50 bighas of agricultural land and had been producing 20- 30 quintals of rice per year in say Barpeta or Dhemaji districts, is now earning a living as a rickshaw puller in Guwahati or some other towns. Worse, he is required to pay land revenue taxes even though there is no land left for him to till.

None of the government schemes seems to reach them to promote cultivation, and that clearly has negative reflection on yield per year. Assam has an agricultural university in Jorhat with higher education facilities and research, beside separate state and central ministry of agriculture. But the poor farmers have so far failed to derive any benefits out of these.

Even after these shortcomings, with traditional methods when farmers grow crops, they do not get the adequate price, and this too is discouraging for them to remain engage with farming. Moreover, about 70% of the farmers are landless and hence most poor farmers are now migrating to urban centres in the state as well as to far of New Delhi, to work as daily wage labourers, where they often face discrimination and are labelled as illegal Bangladeshis.

There is another problem with for farmers in Assam in particular since about 70% of the farmers are landless,

As someone who himself belongs to a family of farmers, based on my experience at Sonapur village in Barpeta district, I can list out the problems face by poor farmers into three categories: pre-cultivation challenges, cultivation challenges and post-cultivation challenges.

1. Pre cultivation challenges: Failure of landless farmers to get a piece of land for cultivation as 70% of cultivators of Assam are landless. If they manage to get also, they have to pay at least Rs 1000- 2000 per year to land owner as rent per bigha of land annually which is indeed greatest challenge of farmer to manage and earn profit after cultivation.

2. Cultivation challenges: i. Preparation of land is indeed difficult in absence of subsidised irrigation facilities, tilling in absence of subsidised tractors, irregularities in weather conditions and flood and river erosion.

ii. Lack of high yield seeds or pest resistant variety of crops.
iii. No improved weedicides and environment friendly pesticides and farming practices.
iv. No scientific monitoring of crops and rearing practices.
v. Lack of training, education, scientific attitudes and motivation creation of Assam.

Soil erosion near the Nangalbhanga village

3. Post cultivation challenges: i. Mode of transportations of perishable crops are by manual method like on head and carts due to poor conditions of roads and non-availability of trucks and tractors for poor farmers due to which quality of these items deteriorate before even reaching the markets and farmers incur net loss.

ii. No minimum support price of crops fixed by Food Corporation of India for Assam where as it is fixed by FCI for Punjab. Due to lack of MS, a farmer in Assam is forced to turn to dishonest middlemen and their syndicates which is the main culprit for poor conditions of farmers in Assam at present.

iii. Only 11 FCI crop procurement centres in Assam which procures only 2.3 percentage of cereals produced in Assam. In Punjab there are one procurement centre for each 8-9 km of agricultural land area where up to 40% of cereals produced there at minimum support price due to which farmers hardly incur any loss.

iv. Cold storage and food processing industries are almost absent in Assam due to which majority of food products, in particular, are spoiled.

To change the situation drastically we need to over haul the complete system, from high yield crops, to subsidised facilities for cultivation, minimise the role of middlemen, and finally the farmers should get proper incentives for cultivation.

(Shahnoor Rahman is a final year MBBS student at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.)

By IANS,

Ahmedabad : Slamming union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde's advisory to the states to release wrongfully detained "minority youth", BJP leader Narendra Modi Wednesday sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention in the matter.

Modi, who is also the chief minister of Gujarat, in a comment on Twitter Wednesday, said he has written to the prime minister about this advisory.

"Wrote letter to prime minister on the home minister's repeated statements on wrongful arrest of youngsters from particular communities. Home minister's suggestion marks an unprecedented low for our country," Modi said Wednesday.

"PM should intervene and take necessary action," he said.

In a letter that has become controversial, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde Friday asked all state chief ministers to be "careful" while arresting members from minorities. The home minister wrote to state chief ministers on detention procedures and asked them to form a panel to review cases of people jailed without trial.

Modi, however, said: "Thankfully, our criminal justice system has never taken into account faith or religion of an accused. Why bring vote bank politics even here?"

Modi said the minority communities "can see through these brazen and callous attempts" of the home minister, and sought to know why are such statements being made now.

"It's clear that this is an attempt by the HM (home minister) to tinker with the criminal justice system of the nation in violation of the laws of our land. A crime is a crime, irrespective of birth marks of the criminal. Religious beliefs can't determine guilt or innocence," Modi said.

By IANS,

Lucknow : Renewing her attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP), former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati Wednesday accused the state government of failing to maintain law and order and demanded imposition of president's rule.

Saying Uttar Pradesh was being run on the directions of the mafia, Mayawati added the state was now in the throes of anarchy.

"There are riots taking place in the state and the chief minister is busy with his ministers in merry-making," she said, referring to the Muzaffarnagar riots besides other communal clashes and the Saifai Mahotsav.

Mayawati said the state government had completely failed to rein in criminal elements.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo alleged honest and dedicated officials in the state bureaucracy were being victimised and hounded.

Accusing the Akhilesh Yadav government of scrapping many welfare schemes initiated by her government for Dalits and the poor, Mayawati said after giving unemployment allowances to some, the SP government failed even on this front.

She added no new jobs were being created in the state.

The Dalit leader claimed people wanting a fair audience from government officials and ministers were being lathi-charged and even the mafia has gained entry into the corridors of power.

Saying that imposition of central rule was the only option to end the agony of people, Mayawati urged the citizens of the state to vote out the SP government in the next assembly elections and also defeat the ruling party candidates in the Lok Sabha polls.

By IANS,

Lucknow : The NHRC, whose teams visited violence-hit Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, will share its observations and recommendations with government officials Jan 17, the rights panel chief said Wednesday.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson Justice (retd.) K.G. Balakrishnan was speaking on the first day of the three-day NHRC camp in the state capital.

The NHRC chief said that while the commission was endeavouring to promote human rights in India, the scenario was "not a colourful picture in the country and a lot needs to be done".

Balakrishnan underlined the significance of the NHRC camps as an important event of the commission to monitor issues relating to socio-political, cultural and economic rights as well as implementation of various welfare-oriented flagship programmes.

"Such visits help the NHRC in disposal of some long pending cases of human rights violation and sensitisation of officers," he added.

He said discussions would also be held with non-governmental organisations to know about issues and problems related to human rights in Uttar Pradesh.

Balakrishnan described human rights defenders as "crucial allies" of the commission in its commitment towards promotion and protection of rights.

During the NHRC's sitting at Lucknow, 95 cases will be taken up for hearing. These include five in full commission sitting, 33 in the division bench I, and 57 in the division bench II.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani said the state administration has "always taken the advice, directions and recommendations of the NHRC very seriously and will continue to do so".

Communal riots in Muzaffarnagar and nearby areas in September 2013 left at least 60 people dead. Nearly 50,000 people fled their homes in fear and were living in camps. At least 40 children died later in such relief camps this winter.

By IANS,

New Delhi : The Karnatataka Police Wednesday moved a court here seeking custody of Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal in connection with the 2010 Chinnaswamy Stadium blast case.

The state police requested District Judge I.S. Mehta at Patiala House Court here to hand over the custody of Bhatkal, telling him a Bangalore court has issued production warrant for Bhatkal asking for him to be brought before it on or before Jan 20.

The court has fixed Jan 17 for further hearing.

Bhatkal has been booked as an accused in April 2010 blasts where two low-intensity bombs went off at the stadium, about an hour before the start of the Royal Challengers Bangalore-Mumbai Indians match, injuring 15 people and delaying the match by an hour.

Arrested by the National Investigation Agency August 2013, Bhatkal is accused of being involved in numerous terror attacks across the country.

By IANS,

New Delhi : Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, allegedly involved in numerous terror attacks across the country, Wednesday complained in a court here that there is threat to his life as Tihar Jail officials are treating them "even worse than animals".

Bhatkal and his close aide Asadullah Akhtar has moved an application before District Judge I.S. Mehta at Patiala House Court here requesting him to issue direction to the director general, Tihar Jail, to ensure proper security and safety to them inside the prison premises.

Arrested by the National Investigation Agency in August 2013, Bhatkal is lodged in the Tihar Jail along with Akhtar.

"The superintendent of Tihar Jail has threatened the Akhtar and Bhatkal that they would be killed in jail. The attitude and behaviour of jail authorities towards the accused is abusive and they are being treated even worse than animals," the duo's defence counsel M.S. Khan told the court.

Khan contended there was apprehension that some untoward incident may take place with his clients. Jail authorities has refused him to have an interview with his clients in jail premises, he added.

The court has posted the matter for Jan 17 for further hearing the matter and asked the jail authorities to file a reply on the complaint.

By IANS,

Mumbai : A Mumbai court Wednesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants against 12 more accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case in the matter of the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and a key handler, Sayed Zabiuddin Anzari alias Abu Jundal, an official said here.

All the wanted accused against whom the warrants have been issued are said to be in Pakistan, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.

The accused include Major Sameer, Commander Yakub and Sajid Mir alias Vashi, Nikam informed mediapersons.

Earlier, there were 35 absconder accused and the number has now gone up to 47.

According to investigators, Sajid was present at a control room set up in Pakistan during the Mumbai terror attacks.

Ten armed terrorists had attacked multiple locations in Mumbai between Nov 26 and Nov 29, 2008, leaving 166 dead and injuring hundreds others.

The latest development follows filing of a draft charge-sheet against Jundal last month by Mumbai Police for his alleged involvement in the 26/11 and other terror cases in the country.

A native of Beed in Maharashtra, Jundal had confessed to getting training in Pakistan in LeT camps which enjoyed full support from the police and paramilitary organisations there.

Jundal was deported from Saudi Arabia in June 2012 and arrested by the Delhi Police for his involvement in several terror incidents across India.

He fled Maharashtra in May 2006 to enter Bangladesh from where, with the help of an Inter-Services Intelligence agent, he sneaked into Pakistan under an assumed name.

Besides the 26/11 case, Jundal is also accused of involvement in the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case and the 2010 German Bakery explosion in Pune.

The new development in the 26/11 terror case comes nearly two years after a Special Court completed the trial against the sole terrorist nabbed alive, Ajmal Amir Kasab, who was hanged in Pune Nov 21, 2012.

By TCN News,

Hyderabad: President of India Pranab Mukherjee in his capacity as the visitor of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU) Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh has appointed Prof. T. V. Kattimani, currently Dean of Mass Communication & Journalism and Head Dept. of Hindi at Maulana Azad National Urdu University, as the Vice-Chancellor of IGNTU.

Prof. T. V. Kattimani

This news was well received in MANUU Campus with joy and excitement. Prof. Mohammad Miyan, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Khwaja M. Shahid, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. S. M. Rahmatullah, Registrar, Dr. Mohammad Fariyad, President and Dr. Firoz Alam, General Secretary, MANUU Teachers Association have extended congratulations to Prof. Kattimani.

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,

New Delhi: Sirajuddin Qureshi defeated Shakeel-uz Zaman Ansari by a margin of 783 votes to become the president of India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC) for the third time.

Current VP Safdar H. Khan also retained his position with 705-margin win over Dr. Mohammad Fakhruddin of Hyderabad.

Qurshi who had 10-year grip on the Centre and have defeated External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid previously also saw 9 out of 11 of his panel members winning the elections.
Election was held last Sunday for the post of President, Vice President, 7 posts for Board of Trustees and 4 seats of Executive Committee.

Advocate HR Khan Suhel and Qamar Ahmad, Retd IPS officers are the only non-Qureshi panel candidates to win in this election.

By IANS,

Bhubaneswar : Journalists Wednesday staged a protest in Odisha against the arrest of a fellow scribe on charges of outraging the religious feelings of Muslims.

Wearing black bands on their wrists and mouths, around 100 journalists under the banner of Media Unity for Freedom of Press, a forum fighting for the rights of journalists, staged a silent demonstration here demanding the immediate release of journalist Jitendra Prasad Das.

Das, a sub-editor, was arrested over the publication of a photograph along with a small news item on Prophet Mohammed's birthday in Tuesday's edition of the Samaja, one of the highest circulating Odia dailies.

He was arrested after Muslims held demonstrations at the newspaper's head office in Cuttack as well as in branch offices in other places.

Cuttack Deputy Commissioner of Police S. Pravin Kumar told IANS that Das allegedly used an "objectionable picture" after uploading it from the internet. He has been arrested for outraging religious feelings.

But the protesting journalists said they were surprised that police arrested the sub-editor when the editor and publisher of a newspaper are responsible for all the published content.

"It is ridiculous to implicate a junior staff for the offence. We want the immediate release and reinstatement of Das with proper compensation in his current position," journalist Prasanta Patnaik said.

By TCN News,

Aligarh: Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) organized ‘Jalsa-e-Seerat un Nabi’ to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) with zeal and pride. An exhibition of Specimen of the Quranic Calligraphy and Books was also organized at the Maulana Azad Library here on yesterday.

Addressing the grand Jalsa at Kennedy Hall, Maulana Mufti Salman Mansoorpuri, an eminent Muslim scholar from Moradabad, said that when cruelty and violence were at their peak, Prophet Muhammad came as a blessing and tried to mould everyone in the structure of Humanity. He said that if we adopt Prophet Muhammad’s teachings in all the walks of our life, we will achieve success in life as well as after-life. He further added that Islam, from its very foundation, has been the religion of Love & Peace, and it teaches its followers not to indulge in evil behavior.

Hazrat Maulana Israrul Haq Qasmi, another religious figure from Kishanganj, said that Prophet Muhammad gave everyone the message of humanity, brotherhood, philanthropy and peace. He said that the time demands the collective efforts of intellectuals and religious tutors, to make the society more and more better. Maulana Naeem Abbas, from Amroha, said that a complete humane society can be achieved only when one walks on the path suggested by the Prophet, and if everyone follows the religious teachings, no one will be afraid of the other.

Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, from Lucknow, said that there is a myth about Islam that it is being spread forcefully, but the fact is that the history itself confesses that Islam is actually a religion of Love and Peace. He said that
the Prophet himself treated his enemies with love, and every component of Islam teaches its followers to have mercy on women, children, old, poor and needy.

Lt Gen (Retd) Zameeruddin Shah, Vice Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University, presided over the function. Group captain (Retd) Shahrukh Shamshad, the Registrar, Aligarh Muslim University, thanked the audience, while the students presented ‘Naats’. Brig (retd) S Ahmad Ali, Pro Vice Chancellor, along with teachers, students and eminent personalities, were present on the occasion.

Prior to that, Lt Gen Zameeruddin Shah inaugurated the exhibition of Specimen of Quranic Calligraphy and Books. The Quran in Kufi language, written by Hazrat Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam, Digital Quran, the Quran
written on the kurtas used by Mughals in wars, poetry collection on Prophet by Non Muslim poets, along with books on the life of the Prophet, are on display in the exhibition.

Gen Shah also inaugurated the exhibition of Arabic calligraphy designed by Moonis S Qazi, an employee of the Executive section, Aligarh Muslim University, along with the calligraphy designed by the students of the
Diploma in Calligraphic Designing, KA Nizami Centre for Quranic studies, and the calligraphy made on the ‘Seerat ul Nabi’ of Ateequr Rehman Rampuri and Shamim Ahmad Bijnori. The Quran written on sheet and paper, and the Islamic Calligraphy of Vishnu and Shruti, were the centre of attraction in the exhibition.

By TCN News,

Aligarh: In order to provide round the clock medical accessibility to the students of Aligarh Muslim University, the Vice Chancellor Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah has given an ambulance to the Proctor Office. The ambulance will provide free of cost service to the students, living in different halls of university.

Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah, Vice Chancellor yesterday inaugurated the ambulance and handed over to the Proctor Dr. Jamshed Siddiqui and hoped that the new ambulance facilities will enable students to get medical facility at the earliest.

Dr. Jamshed Siddiqui, Proctor, said that this facility is a positive step taken by Vice Chancellor Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah, Pro Vice Chancellor, Brigadier S Ahmad Ali and Registrar, Group Captain Shahrukh Shamshad, which reflects their commitment towards the student’s community. Proctor further said that this facility will be available free of cost to all students residing in halls and studying in various departments and colleges. He said
that students may contact on 9837000614 for ambulance service.

Pro Vice Chancellor, Brigadier S Ahmad Ali, Registrar, Group Captain Shahrukh Shamshad, DSW, Prof. Anis Ismail, Deputy and Assistants Proctors were also present.