By IANS,

Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Tuesday the tendency to view Kashmiri students with suspicion outside the state needed to be changed.

"Whether it is Jan 26 (Republic Day) or August 15 (Independence Day), our students are viewed with suspicion outside the state. I request that this attitude be changed. Our students are denied accommodation when they go to study outside," Abdullah said.

He was speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of the Central University of Kashmir in Ganderbal district, the constituency Abdullah represents in the state assembly.

"Dheir Ayed, Durust Ayed (It happened late, but it finally happened right). I was worried about the delay in the setting up of the central university. I thank the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson and the prime minister for giving us two central universities.

"Our children have already proved their talent in various fields. All they need is a platform," the chief minister added.

Abdullah told the university's vice chancellor that the people of his constituency had been ignored while appointing cooks, labourers and watchmen.

"We have given our lands for setting up the university and we have no other means of sustenance. The university must ensure that smaller works inside the campus is allotted to local contractors," he demanded.

The Central University of Kashmir has a 7.15 sq km campus and is about 27 km from here. Presently, there are 11 universities in the state.

Union Human Resources Minister Pallam Raju, who addressed Omar Abdullah as "the young and dynamic chief minister", said the centre wanted the university to start functioning soon.

"We want the central university to start soon. It will attract international faculty because of its beautiful environment," Raju said.

The minister said there were 2,300 crore school-going children in the country out of whom 10 crore were being provided with midday meals at schools.

He also said there were 40 central universities in the country including the one whose foundation has been laid in Ganderbal.

By IANS,

Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav Tuesday asked the UPA government to bring about job reservations for Muslims in line with the Sachar Committee's recommendations.

Addressing the media with central Minister for Minority Welfare K. Rahman Khan here, Yadav said the Samajwadi Party would support any constitutional change the Congress-led UPA initiated in this connection.

He added that his government was working to improve the social, educational and economic status of the Muslim community in Uttar Pradesh.

The chief minister also urged the central government to release funds for centrally-aided minority welfare schemes on time.

He said the state government, through its own resources, was providing financial assistance to Muslim girls for higher education.

Khan said the central government was willing to work with the Uttar Pradesh government for the welfare of minorities in the state.

The Sachar Committee, appointed in 2005 by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had recommended job reservations as one of the remedies to remove the backwardness of Indian Muslims.

By TCN News,

Jaddah, KSA: The Jeddah Chapter of Indian Forum for Interest-Free Banking (IFIB) submitted a memorandum to India’s Minister for External Affairs, Salman Khurshid, to draw the “attention to the hopes and aspirations of 2 million Indian expatriates working in Saudi Arabia to take a better decision on investment of their hard earned money in financial institutions of their choice.”

“Our Honorable Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s important statement in Doha, Qatar, a couple of years back that India needed $ 500 billion for infrastructure investment in the next five years and that India sought Gulf investment that has encouraged us to hold a series of meetings in India and Saudi Arabia to reach a decision to take leads and initiatives in a hitherto untapped area: interest free financial ventures.

“Given the recent economic background where the world has seen worst ever global financial meltdown, we after much discussions and deliberations have come to the conclusion that instead of sticking to an interest-based system, channels should be opened for investment of NRIs hard earned money in an alternative but ethical system like the interest-free ventures, which we find as a cure for the current financial crisis” said K T A Muneer, Executive member of IFIB.

Governor of Reserve Bank of India, Dr D. Subbarao recently said RBI will not create any hurdle, if the Government of India allows Islamic Banking in the country.

The Memorandum suggested following factors for consideration:

· Interest-free Banking & Finance has functioning models in more than 70 countries around the globe. Many Western banks have opened Islamic banking windows and they cater to the needs of all faith communities.

· Their success has prompted even the Government of India to consider approval of Interest-free Finance as one among the solutions to present day problems faced by the Indian economy. (Ref: Raghuram Rajan Committee Report).

· The fundamental objective of the interest-free banking system is to eliminate exploitation of borrowers. It considers lending as an investment and distributes investment risk between the users and suppliers of funds.

Muneer said that the interest-free banking shall be a vital tool to achieve a Development and growth of the Indian banking sector, Foreign participation in large-scale infrastructure projects, Move into the league of major financial centers of the world, Active participation of some 20 percent Indian citizens living in the country and abroad in banking and financial activities, ethical financing based on sharing approach, which will help uplift the poor and boost SMEs, Creation of a conducive environment for effective implementation of the recommendations of Sachar Committee Report, helping a section of the society participate actively in financial and economic activity and realization of an immense underlying potential for growth and profitability through banking services for more than 20 crores of Indians.

“We believe the interest-free banking &financing systems have built-in protection as “it promises what it owns” instead of speculation and excessive risk-taking which were primarily the reasons for the runaway global collapse” he added.

“The Indian expatriates in Saudi Arabia are a huge potential force that if given a proper direction to invest their money, we will be able to pool a huge volume of funds that could be streamlined into productive areas which will positively change conditions of millions of the poor and downtrodden. It will also boost our nation's GDP growth” said Amir Ali PM, yet another executive member of IFIB.

In our memorandum, we request the visiting minister to do the needful to open windows in existing commercial banks that facilitates expatriate Indians to invest their hard earned money, he said.

“We wish to introduce products like Micro-Financing, Installment schemes in Housing/Vehicle loans, Investments in Real Estates, Industrial Ventures and Agricultural, Live Stock/ Horticultural/Pisciculture Development projects and similar ventures in India wherein interest is not an integral part. This will help pool the savings of non-resident Indians, especially from the GCC countries, and contribute to the faster development of the nation” he added.

If a non-interest based Financing & Banking system is introduced in India like elsewhere in the world, India can attract Saudi Investors, businessmen and bankers to urge for opening of interest free Islamic finance options like Sukuk for infrastructure development in the emerging market like India.

During the recent Hajj Seminar at New Delhi Islamic Development Bank President Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali was gracious enough to promise that IDB would prevail upon Indian Finance Ministry and more particularly to Governor and other dignitaries of Reserve Bank of India and offered IDB's services to formulate and accommodate Islamic finance & banking along with the conventional banking as done by IDB in several Non-OIC countries.

“We believe that Reserve Bank of India may advise any of the selected banks to introduce such interest-free investment and finance windows wherein the above activities will be done under the new system of 'Profit & Loss Sharing' with necessary exemptions to avoid double taxation/ stamp duty for undertaking leasing/hire purchase of affordable houses/flats,” said Amir Ali.

He added, “We anticipate His Excellency’s consideration and personal intervention in the matter by extending the necessary support for introducing the Interest-free Banking and Financial concept in our country” said Amir Ali.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Memorandum was signed by P.K.Abdul Ghafour, President,IFIB, V.K. Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of IFIB and K T A Muneer, executive member.

The memorandum was handed over to the Minister by the executive members of IFIB, Usman Irumbuzhy, KTA MUuneer and Amir Ali PM, at a reception arranged by the Embassy of India at Hyat Park hotel, Jeddah, Sunday night. Mr. V. P. Mohammed Ali, Mr. Alungal Mohammed and Mr. Mullaveetil M. Saleem also were present.

By IANS,

Panaji : The Congress Tuesday accused Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar of cozying up to the offshore casino lobby, particularly to the Delta Corporation Ltd (DCL) chief Jaydev Mody, whose new casino vessel M.V. Horseshoe has triggered controversy.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Panaji, state Congress spokesperson Sudip Tamhankar said the BJP-led coalition government was breaking the law by allowing the Florida-built casino vessel to be anchored in the Mandovi river off Panaji, without requisite permissions.

"The M.V. Horseshoe has no permission from the captain of ports department to be parked in the Mandovi river. Horsheshoe has been brought to replace an existing casino, which is again illegal. Casino licences are not transferable," Tamhankar said.

The M.V. Horseshoe is built by Bae Systems South East Florida and carries the Saint Kitts and Nevis flag. Mody, in an earlier media interview, had said that the vessel has been brought to Goa to replace DCL's casino Caravela, one of the two floating casinos it operates here.

The Congress claims that licences given by the state home ministry to casinos are specific to the vessel on which they are located and that the licences are not transferable as per the Goa Public Gambling Act.

It further accused Parrikar, who in his earlier role as opposition leader had promised to drive offshore casinos out of the Mandovi river, of "conspiring with the offshore casino industry" and its promoters.

"After opposing casinos for years, the BJP is now on the payroll of the casino industry," Tamhankar said.

"We will expose the links which Parrikar has with Mody, if the new casino boat is allowed permission," Tamhankar said.

Speaking to reporters last week, Mody had claimed that DCL had "got permission to get the vessel in river Mandovi".

Goa has five offshore casinos in operation, apart from over a dozen onshore casinos located in the various five-star hotels dotting the coastal fringe of the beach state.

By Shaik Zakeer Hussain, TwoCircles.net,

Bangalore: The issue of Muslim male students sporting a beard has forced into limelight again, with city’s St. Germain PU College asking one of its pupil to shave his beard to attend classes.

M Zeeshan Ali, a class 12 student was told by college authorities last week, that he could not attend classes sporting a beard as it is against the rules of Archdiocesan Board of Education, which runs the college.

Speaking to TCN, Zeeshan’s father Iqbal Ahmed said: “The college had raised this issue even last year, when Zeeshan was in class 11, however, this time they told him to either attend classes clean shaven or take a transfer certificate.”

Though the young student tried to reason with the college vice-principal on how people from the Sikh community are allowed to wear their turban and beard and Muslim students’ beliefs should also be accommodated in the same manner, the college refused to relent, stating that allowing such a thing would hamper its ‘secular’ credentials.

On Friday, a complaint was raised in Bharathinagar police station by Tipu Sultan United Front president Sardar Qureshi, alleging religious discrimination by college authorities.

“According to the constitution of this country, discrimination based on one’s religion is an offence, but this college seems to follow rules contradictory to this,” says Qureshi. After being bent into pressure, the college has now allowed Zeeshan to attend classes, however, he is been told to trim his beard short, he further added.

This sort of refusal to allow Muslim students to publicly practise their religious beliefs in conjunction with their education is not new in the country. In 2009, Mohammad Salim a class 10 student was expelled from school for sporting a beard in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh. When the student moved his plea to the apex court, a bench consisting of Justices R V Raveendran and Markandey Katju dismissed it, saying they would not allow the "Talibanisation" of the country.

A Muslim girl in Mangalore was not allowed to enter college wearing a headscarf in 2012. The college went out to even publish a new prospectus which read - "Students must be neatly dressed in accordance with the rule of approved etiquette. Girls are not expected to wear burqa in classrooms and in examination halls. The decision of the principal in this regard is to be accepted."

By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,

Guwahati: All Bodoland Minority Students’ Union (ABMSU) on Tuesday demanded a high level inquiry into the violence in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) which rocked the entire Assam in 2012 expressing its dissatisfaction over the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry report. The students’ body also urged upon the state government to take immediate measures to rehabilitate the 6000 odd families who are still in a deplorable state at various relief camps.

Taking out a huge a protest rally in Guwahati of around 2000 people who are stating in various relief camps on Tuesday, they also handed over a memorandum to the governor of Assam.

ABMSU activists during their protest in front of Raj Bhavan in Guwahati on Tuesday.

“We have serious doubts in the credibility of CBI as it has been proved that they work in the favour of the ruling government in the recent past. Their report seems to be not neutral so we demand a high level inquiry to be instituted to nab the real culprits,” said ABMSU president Sahabuddin Ali Ahmed after submitting the memorandum to the governor.

The top investigating agency has chargesheeted 37 people in connection with the killing of four youths on July 20 at Joypur in Kokrajhar that triggered the violence, killing over 100 people and rendering over 4.5 lakh people homeless in Kokrajhar, Dhubri and Chirang districts.

Moinul Haque, former president of the ABMSU and his brother Mohibul Islam alias Ratul, a former constable who was earlier arrested in a murder case, were said to be the masterminds behind the killings.

ABMSU also alleged that the ruling government along with the BTAD authority has conspired to evict away all the people belonging to the minority community even though they have been staying there for a long time.

“The group of ministers along with the BTAD administration has hatched a new conspiracy to drive away the Muslim peasants living in the khas land for several decades. According to the latest joint resolution of them, these peasants will be provided Rs.50, 000 if they sign a bond that they will leave their land. And the helpless poverty-stricken peasants are signing this bond,” he added.

In Gossaigaon sub-division there are some 3,000 such families and in Kokrajhar sub-division the amount of such families are some 4,000.

“Once they sign the bond, they will have to leave BTAD as they will have no right to buy land there,” he further said. It was decided in a meeting took place recently took place between Group of Ministers (GoM) and Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief Hagrama Mohilary. Assam Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Prithvi Majhi and transport minister Chandan Brahma were also present in the meeting.

The students’ body has also vowed to continue the agitation if the state government does not pay heed to them and take immediate measures.

[Photos by: Surajit Sharma]

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Chennai: Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) staged country wide protest demonstration on the issue of the custodial killing of Khalid Mujahid on Tuesday. In Chennai, SDPI had assembled in front of the District Collector Office in Chennai, Tamil Nadu Addressing the gathering of more than 300 activists and demonstrators, SDPI‘s Tamil Nadu state president K.K.S.M. Dhehlan Baqavi, condemned the manner in which Khalid Mujahid was beaten and murdered and the gross human rights violation carried by the police.

Providing background to the demonstrators and others who were unaware of the case, Mr. Baqavi said that Khalid Mujahid was falsely accused and arrested in December 2007 in relation to serial blasts in Varanasi, Lucknow and Faizabad. He said that though the UP government had appointed Nimesh Commission to come up with a report on the case, however, even before the findings could be staged in assembly, he was murdered in cold blood.

When the police brought him to the hospital, he was already confirmed dead by the doctors. The wounds on his body prove that he was murdered, he asserted.

Mr. Baqavi also spoke about scores of Muslim youths arrested and lodged in prisons across the country in false cases. He demanded the dismissal of the 42 police officers accused in the extra-judicial killing of Khalid Mujahid and urged UP government to provide government jobs to his family and relief compensation.

SDPI has demanded that a judicial commission must be appointed to make enquiry regarding the serious allegations made by former Inspector General of Police of UP, S.R. Darapuri making statement that the police illegally keep several Muslim youth into its custody and plant them as terrorists in encounters as well as in arrests made on the basis of mere suspicion as per convenience.

It has also demanded that the compensation in equal quantum as granted to the family members of Nannhe Yadav in case of recent Kunda incident (Raja Bhayya case), of Rs. 30 lakhs with government job to one family member, must also be granted by the Government of UP to the family of late Khalid Mujahid.

Similar protest was also organized in Bengaluru and memorandum, addressed to the President, was submitted to the Governor.

By TCN News,

Lucknow: Rihai Manch's indefinite dharna against the arrest of innocent Muslim youth and its demand for their release and indictment of IB officials involved in illegal custodial deaths continued well into its seventh day and was joined by a students’ delegation from Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union which handed Rihai Manch a nine-point demand letter addressed to the Chief Minister.

The false information planted about Khalid in the newspapers by IB shows its officials' restlessness at the prospect of going to jail and being brought to book for their deeds, said a Rihai Manch spokesperson.

JNUSU General Secretary Shakeel Anjum said that killing of Khalid Mujahid was not an isolated incident and that such murders of innocent youth killed in the name of terrorism were taking place all over the country. He added that the murders were the result of a planned fascist strategy by the Indian state, hence, all this anti-Muslim politics have to be dealt with by progressive and democratic organizations and to expose communal leaders like Mulayam Singh.

Piyush Raj of JNUSU said that SP not only arrested innocent Muslim youths in the name of terrorism but turned back on its promise to release Khalid, killing him in custody proved that it was not a flag-bearer of protection of innocent Muslims but made it clear that the SP government is in reality communal.

Joining the JNU student union representatives was All India Students Federation's Rahul and Sudhanshu who said that democracy in the country had come to such a situation that Irom Sharmila's battle to ban repressive black laws is still being fought a decade on, in the far northeast while the people in Kashmir fight to protect the right to life given to them by the Indian Constitution proved the sorry state democracy is in, in India.

SDPI state Chief Sharfuddin Ahmed said that after twenty-seven riots in a year and the murder of Khalid should be enough for Muslims to understand the SP's RSS agenda disguised in the garb of Lohiaite philosophy. He added that the SP government would have to face the consequences in the 2014 general elections.

Rihai Manch is on indefinite dharna demanding persecution of police officers involved in the custodial death of Khalid Mujahid, tabling of the Nimesh Commission Report and release of Muslim youths languishing in jails in fabricated terror cases. It appealed to people to join in greater numbers and contribute in the struggle for justice for Khalid.

The dharna was also addressed by Secretary General of Rihai Manch and former police officer S R Darapuri, Rihai Manch President Mohamed Shoeb, social workers Sandeev Pandey SDPI's Tabark Hussain, Mohammad Rais, Naushad Ahmed, Tawseef Ansari, Haji Fahim Siddiqi, former MP Ilyas Azmi, All India Muslim Forum, Dr. MK Sherwani, Socialist Front's Mohammad Aafaaq, Mohammad Moid, Adiyog, Ramakrishna, Alok Agnihotri, AIPWA's state president Tahira Hassan, INL's Mohammad Shami, poet Tasna Aalami, Maulana Zaki Noor Alim, Maulana Hasan Merajul, Faizabad's Mohammad Aafaaq, Shah Alam, Hareram Mishra, Tariq Shafiq, Chandra Pal Singh Chaudhary from Nelopa, Ehsanul Haq Malik, AISA's Ashwini Kumar Yadav, Seema Chandra, Inaitulla Khan, Nitish Kannaujia, Abdul Majid, Shan-e Elahi, Ishak, Shahnawaz Alam and Rajiv Yadav.

By Bobby Ramakant, Citizen News Service,

A girl in Malaysia today is more likely to go to a university than a boy. “65% students enrolled in tertiary colleges are women” said Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak at Women Deliver 2013. While many countries are grappling to bring down deaths of women during pregnancy and child birth, Malaysia’s maternal mortality rates have dipped down by nearly half today compared to what they were in 1990. And undoubtedly Malaysian economy is strong in the region (USD 1 = RM 2.84).

If Malaysia can turn the wheel then why cannot other countries? This Women Deliver reminds CNS of its coverage of previous 2010 Women Deliver where UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said: “Women Deliver 2010 was critical in showing that investing in girls and women is not only the right thing to do, it is also good for the economy and good for society.”

Perhaps countries are not investing enough to ensure a life of dignity and equality for all human beings regardless of their biological sex. Malaysia responded in a coordinated way to strengthen its response to reduce the gender-based inequalities that dis-empowered women by a range of measures that included increased access to education, healthcare, employment, among others for girls and women. Since most maternal deaths were caused due to shortage of sanitized standard medical equipment and trained midwives to assist women in need of sexual and reproductive healthcare services, this scenario has been overturned considerably with Malaysia reasonably building its network of trained midwives and well-stalked standard reproductive health services across the country. However all is not ideal in Malaysia as there are clear gains made but there are certain areas where Malaysia is trailing behind many countries. For example, child marriages. In late February 2013, a 40 years old man was charged in Malaysia with rape of a 13 year old girl. Following the assault, the man reportedly took the girl as a second wife with consent of his first wife and the victim's parents. Through early marriage, the rights of a child victim to health - emotional, physical and psychological health - education, and protection are seriously compromised. Child marriage is clearly one area where Malaysia and all other countries need to progress much more than ever before. Another possible area for Malaysia should be to expand gender justice initiatives to include other genders.

Ms Rohani Abdul Karim,Women, Family and Community Development Minister in Government of Malaysia said to Citizen News Service - CNS that Malaysia has also significantly reduced parental transmission of HIV to children: 99 out of 100 children born to HIV positive mothers in Malaysia are born HIV uninfected. There are other measures too to improve quality of care and services for girls and women, as well as men and boys. National Population and Family Development Board (NPFDB) of the ministry provides services to help people of all ages in Malaysia to have better quality of life among families (CNS visited NPFDB centres in Kuala Lumpur and we will publish a more detailed report later).

Kate Gilmore, Deputy Executive Director (Programme) of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said in a high-level media forum at Women Deliver 2013 that despite progress, 350,000 women continue to die ‘because they are giving life.’ 1 in 3 girls get married by age of 18 and 1 In 9 girls get married by age 15. Child marriage and maternal health are inextricably linked. Complications in pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for girls aged 15-19 in the developing world, 90% of births to adolescents aged 15-19 years take place within marriage. ‘Girls Not Brides’, is emphasizing that if international community is to accelerate improvements in the health of women and girls worldwide we cannot ignore the impact of child marriage. Child marriage encourages the initiation of sexual activity at an age when girls’ bodies are still developing and risks of pregnancy and childbirth are high. Girls who give birth before the age of 15 are five times more likely to die in childbirth than girls in their 20s. When girls survive childbirth, they are at an increased risk of pregnancy related complications and injuries such as obstetric fistula: 65% of all cases of fistula occur in girls under the age of 15.

“There is a perception that somehow marriage protects girls. But that is not the case, it simply means that child brides fall off our radar and that the sexual, emotional and physical burdens they face are ignored” said Lakshmi Sundaram, Global Coordinator of ‘Girls Not Brides’. A new study by Professor Anita Raj, San Diego School of Medicine, and Ulrike Boehmer, Boston University School of Public Health, demonstrates that a 10 percent reduction in girl child marriage could be associated with at least 70% reduction in a country’s maternal mortality rate.” This study had compared maternal and child health indicators with girl child marriage rates for 97 nations in which relevant data was available.

Kate Gilmore from UNFPA further added that “Our willingness to turn a blind eye to sexual violence in family” is another long-ignored issue.

Dr Kaosar Afsana, Director of Health, Nutrition and Population at BRAC in Bangladesh said: “Bangladesh is doing well on most of The MDG indicators. Women are the change-makers in the community. Women's education, employment and realization of other rights have led to these positive outcomes.” She gave another example of progress made by Bangladesh in reducing diarrhoea-related mortality among children under five. Women went from village to village to every household imparting skill to women to give oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc to children with diarrhoea. Maternal mortality rates are coming down but not fast enough!

As was said in the first plenary at Women Deliver 2013, "Education is a primary vehicle for bolstering girls' agency", no doubt all countries must scale up measures to ensure all girls are able to access education with equity and dignity. Apart from education, healthcare, security, sexual and reproductive health services, protection from traditions (such as child marriages), employment opportunities, equal wages, among other measures that will ensure a rightful life of dignity for every girl and woman, must be provided without delay. There is enough data to say that investing in girls and women is good for a country's economy. It is a smart investment and hope governments will make a smart decision too when it comes to resource allocation.

By Indscribe,

Under scorching sun, they marched for days. Carrying the national flag and banners with messages demanding reservation, the group had begun the long and arduous walk from Malegaon.

Their demand was to press for reservation for Muslims in government jobs.

Under the aegis of Muslim Reservation Federation (MRF), this group that comprised elderly persons, youths and even children, walked 300 km.

The rally had evinced interest in media as well as among society. Braving the heat, they had walked for ten days. The march culminated in Mumbai. Contrary to earlier promise, the Mumbai police cancelled the permission for gathering in Azad Maidan.

The MRF activists reached Somaiya ground amidst strong police presence. Here, leaders of different political parties welcomed them. Residents of Mumbai and nearby towns had also come to express solidarity with the cause.

While most of the political parties largely accept that minorities are under-represented in jobs and support the demand for quota in admissions to colleges and in employment, no outfit is ready to give an assurance that they will implement the reservation within a timeframe.

In a state, where both the NCP and Congress claim to be 'secular' parties, and expect Muslim vote election after election, there is no clarity on whether they intend to provide the benefits of reservation to Muslim minority.

Balasahab Thorat, on behalf of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, met the MRF leaders. Thorat said that he would take their memorandum to the Congress leadership and would apprise Chief Minister. He made promises about 'considering the demands'.

Still, the march succeeded in its objective. It did create a stir. In a democratic set up, any group has to raise its voice. Reservation is not impossible. There are constitutional ways. In Karnataka, there is provision as per which Muslims are getting reservation. Under the Kerala [the state has 24% Muslims] model, Muslims get 12% reservation.

In Madhya Pradesh, dozens of Muslim castes are under OBC category and hence able to get jobs.

But, the situation is different n Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and several other states.

At national level, UPA had promised that it would take steps to ensure reservation for Muslims as per Sachar committee recommendations.

But the promise has remained a promise. Two terms later, the Manmohan Singh government is yet to take a decision on Sachar panel's recommendations regarding reservation in jobs. MRF chief Asif Sheikh Rashid spoke at length during his speech at the programme.

Sheikh reminded the audience that had there been substantial Muslims in police force, the one-sided firing and destruction of Muslims' property in Dhule riots, wouldn't have happened. He also said that while the Dalit Sikhs and Buddhists are entitled to reservation under the SC category, the Muslims aren't. Definitely, this is a discriminatory practice.

It was a presidential* order in 1950 that created this strange situation where Dalits are treated differently because of their religious affiliation. In fact, RTI applications regarding this order, have met with a stonewall. Muslim Reservation March has ended but it is the beginning of a movement, said speakers.

Thousands of Muslims were present at the ground. The speakers said that if not 20%, the government can announce at least 10-15%, rather than dithering on the issue. Interestingly, on way, the rally was welcomed at all the cities on the route--Nasik, Igatpuri up to Bhiwandi, Thane and finally, Mumbai.

Not just Muslim organisations but even Shiv Sena, BJP, Congress, RPI, MNS, Jan Rajya Aghadi, [minority wings of some parties] garlanded the MRF workers. At the Sumaiya ground, speakers repeatedly raised the issue of implementation of either Sachar panel or Ranganath Mishra commission reports.

Abu Asim Azmi, the Samajwadi Party (SP) leader said that Congress has failed to provide jobs to Muslims who are at the lower rung as far as socio-economic conditions are concerned. Mubarak Kapdi was also present. The MRF has said that the march was undertook to secure rights of Muslims.

Even if economic condition is the base, Muslims are amongst the poorest in the country and there must be a decision now to ensure that a large chunk of Indian population doesn't remain backward for long. As it hurts the nation as well. 'Tahaffuzat' [reservation] are necessary for empowerment and Maharashtra government must make an annnouncement before 2014, they said.

The community is educational and economically backward, and hence needs reservations, just like Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). This was just a first step and the agitation would be intensified until the government agrees to the demand, they said.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Hyderabad: Indian origin relief worker, Dr. Isa Abdur Rehman who was serving and treating injured civilians in Syria became another sacrifice in the bloody conflict of Syria, which has claimed thousands of lives.

Working with NGO Hand in Hand for Syria, 26 year old Dr. Isa was serving the medical needs of refugees since past one year in the civil war submerged nation. He was killed in the line of duty in north western province of Idlib, when government forces attacked the refugee hospital by air bomb along with him two other civilians also died in the hospital bombing on 22 may, due to lack of connectivity with the hostile region, his death and Indian connection was known a week later.

Dr. Isa Abdur Rehman

Dr. Isa belongs to Farooqui family Unani products manufacture and a prominent business family of Hyderabad. He was a British citizen being third generation immigrant from the family. Born in Rugby England, he grew up in north London, and got his medical degree from Imperial College. He worked in Royal Free hospital before moving to Syria; where braving all dangers in the line of fire he treated many injured civilians in rural hospitals and secret clinics, for almost 12 months.

In January 2012 Dr. Isa visited Hyderabad to meet his family few months after his marriage to Rasha Azam another British immigrant Azam family, another prominent business family from Hyderabad.

Dr Mahmoud al Akraa, a trustee of Hand in Hand for Syria and also a close friend of the young doctor, speaking to British Sky News said, "Once you met Isa you never forgot him. He was so kind, so warm and so brave. He had the respect of everyone and would do anything to help others in need."

He added, "One time one of the refugee camps in Syria had cholera and no doctor would go in, except Isa. He would risk his life for others.”

"He worked up until midnight and would treat hundreds of patients each day. He would then sleep rough in a sleeping bag and often not wash for days."

Dr. Mahmoud also revealed that when Dr. Isa visited Britain just six weeks before, he tried to pursue him to no to go back to Syria as Asad regime started targeting doctors and NGO’s working with rebel forces, Dr. Mahmoud tried to reminded him of his recent marriage, his young life and the future he have ahead, but Dr. Isa was so committed to his cause that he didn’t wanted to let people of Syria down, and again went back into presently most violent conflict ridden nation to serve the injured civilians.

Meanwhile Asad regime has justified Idlib hospital bombing which killed Dr. Isa claiming that Hand in Hand for Syria is an NGO of Jabhat-al-Nusra an extremist militant group of Sunni Muslims fighting against Alwaite Shia regime of Bashar ul Asad.

Donation campaign in the name of Dr. Isa

The organization Hand in Hand for Syria undented with a major loss, started an online donation campaign to carry forward the legacy of Dr. Isa, the donation campaign collected nearly £50,000 in 826 donations around the world in just three days. The charity organization will build a field hospital for Syrian refuges in the memory of Dr. Isa.

Indian embassy in Syria told news agencies that more than 15 Indians are still working in different glass and steel industries of a war ravaged nation.

By TCN News,

New Delhi: Activists of ‘Save Sharmila Solidarity campaign’ has written a letter to the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on human rights' violations in North-Eastern states and Jammu &Kashmir.

The letter is co-authored by the volunteers of the ‘Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign’ Ravi Nitesh and Devika Mittal.

They write, “As members of Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign, we have met you twice regarding this issue. Sir, the issue remains the same - to save the life of people of North east and Jammu & Kashmir from the demon named AFSPA or Armed Forces Special Powers Act.”

Highlighting the plight of the civilians in these conflict ridden states and the excesses committed by Army, they write, “There are everyday stories of torture. Every day is a struggle to escape from the clutches of the army men. The landscape in these states is mapped by army check-points and camps which are impossible to pass without being interrogated.”

They have also urged the Chairperson of the NHRC for intervention and send a fact-finding team to all AFSPA-imposed states to investigate into the cases of violence and the affected everyday life of the people. Further that the said report should then be sent to the government and the judiciary and other authorities and demand action.

Full text of the letter:

To,

The Chairperson

National Human Rights Commission

Faridkot House

New Delhi 110001

Subject: Request to act in the cases of human rights' violation in North-East and Jammu & Kashmir

Respected Sir,

With due respect, we request you to kindly consider this as a letter from one human being to another. This is about a situation that NHRC is well-aware of. We know that hundreds of letters, appeals and requests have been sent to NHRC. As members of Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign, we have met you twice regarding this issue. Sir, the issue remains the same - to save the life of people of North east and Jammu & Kashmir from the demon named AFSPA or Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

It is a fact that the world has acknowledged the struggle of Irom Sharmila. They salute her for her sustained faith in the democratic and non-violent way of struggle. She has been considered for the Noble Peace Prize. It is also a fact that UN has also questioned India on the validity of this law. The UN had recognised the horrendous lives that the AFSPA has granted to the unfortunate people of these states. The Government-appointed Jeevan Reddy committee had also demanded the repeal of the law. These are all facts. But these are not the grounds on which we appeal to you.

We appeal to you on a humanitarian basis. Sir, we are not from these states. But this cause does move us, for the reason that we are human beings. It is unimaginable and unacceptable to us the horror in which people of these states live. Every day is a struggle for them to save their life and honour. Sir, you know about the horrendous incidents of the Malom massacre where 11 innocent people including a 60 year old lady and a recipient of the Child Bravery award had died, the Kunan Poshpora incident of Kashmir wherein about 100 women were raped by army men, the Shopian case, the case of Manorama Devi but these are only few cases. There are everyday stories of torture. Everyday is a struggle to escape from the clutches of the army men. The landscape in these states is mapped by army check-points and camps which are impossible to pass without being interrogated. In Kashmir, failing to show the identity card can mean torture, rape or killing. But this does not mean that the house is a safe place. Any moment, the army men can come and raid the house. According to news reports and research reports (enclosed), during the search operations, there have been many reported and unreported cases of sexual assault and rape. The night is most dreadful as the armymen begin their search. In the name of searching for "millitants", all they do is to raid into villages, break-open doors of any random house and identify the male in the house as a "suspect". The widows of these "suspects" is also not able to get any state benefit meant for widows because their deceased husband are regarded as militants. We have enclosed several stories. According to a report entitled ‘Manipur: Memorandum on Extrajudicial Summary or Arbitrary Executions’ submitted by the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the UN to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Summary or Arbitrary Executions reported that 1528 people, including 31 women and 98 children were killed in fake encounters by security forces in Manipur between 1979 and May, 2012.

Sir, you had said that this is the issue of Government and the Government has to take action but Sir, they are clearly not bothered. The report of the Jeevan Reddy Committee had gone to the Government. The State Governments obviously know the situation but still no-one is ready to do anything. So then what? Where do the common people go? Isin't it the responsibility of NHRC to protect their rights? It is a matter of right to life. Why can't NHRC do anything? NHRC is an autonomous body. If even NHRC will not take any action, where will the people go? It is not acceptable that a certain section of the population should suffer to save the "integrity" of the nation. And which integrity, Sir? And more importantly, at what cost? The people who are suffering every day, are their lives not precious? are they not human beings? What is their fault? What was the fault of those 11 civilians who were shot dead only because the Assam rifles could not shoot down the militants? Their fault was that they were not privileged like you and me and were born in these states. This was their only fault. Sir, is it acceptable?

We are proud to say that our politics has so many women politicians. We are proud to dub it as "women empowerment" but what about the rapists in army uniform who rape our sisters in Kashmir and North East India. What about Asiya, Nilofar, Manorama Devi and thousands of women who have been raped. What about Irom Sharmila? For 12 years, the lady has been on a hunger-strike and no-one cares. She is accused of committing suicide but is that the case? The lady was not even a direct victim of AFSPA but she has sacrificed her life to repeal the cause because she has seen the horrors. Aren't you sympathetic towards her? She could have got married, have kids, would have migrated to Delhi or to some other place but she did not do that. She is under house arrest in a hospital. Today, she can't even talk properly. When she came to Delhi, even though we had only seen her in the photographs, we were traumatized to see her condition. Today, the lady can't even walk. She has become so weak, yet she has not lost hope. Sir, we feel helpless as we write this letter because there is really nothing that we could do for her and for these people who are suffering only because they had a hard luck of being born in these states. They are no different from me or from anyone else in this country, then why do they have to suffer? A kashmiri youth had said that, "While you people grew up playing, we grew up seeing guns." He also said that in Kashmir, there is an increasing no. of blind youths as the army men fire pellets into their eyes if they protest against any extra-judicial killing, murder or rape.

Is this inhumanity acceptable? Should we turn blind to their sufferings? Should we turn deaf to the screams and wails of mothers, widows and children? What about our own conscience?

As about the law, is this the way to "integrate" the nation? By torturing innocent people, destroying their lives, rendering them unemployed, how are we integrating the nation? As about the militants, is this the way to deal? The Government should open talks with them, instead of punishing the innocent people for the crimes of the militants. Torturing innocent people, depriving them of basic rights, underdevelopment are also causes that do encourage people to take up arms. The Government should think of "integration" in more positive and humane ways. NHRC must break its silence and speak out.

Sir, we request you to kindly respond and act strictly and immediately on this issue. Please take action through the following ways:

*Send a fact-finding team to all AFSPA-imposed states to investigate into the cases of violence and the affected everyday life of the people.

*The report of the team should be analysed and a document on the validity of the law on account of the human rights' violation should be made. NHRC can atleast suggest on the basis of evidence.

*The report should be sent to the Government, to the judiciary and other authorities and demand an action. It is not about a law, it is about the lives of thousands of human beings.

Sir, we request you to please intervene to save the life and honour of the people of North East and Jammu & Kashmir. If NHRC will not take action, where will the people go? Please save their lives from this draconian law. Laws can't be bigger than people.

Hoping for a positive and immediate response.

Thanking You

Regards,

Ravi Nitesh and Devika Mittal

Volunteers of Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign

By IANS,

Mumbai : Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari Wednesday urged the Muslim community to embrace modern education to stay in tune with the changing times and overcome its social and economic backwardness.

"Education is the most important socio-economic challenge for the Muslim community. Its deficit is the biggest impediment to its (the Muslim community's) progress, prosperity and empowerment," Ansari said while inaugurating a two-day Muslim Education Conference organised by Maulana Azad Vichar Manch (MAVM) here.

He said that "though Islam placed great importance on education and learning, many Muslim communities in India have long ignored the need to acquire education, and through it, knowledge".

"The modern period of Islamic history begins with decadence within and intrusion and menace from without. The quest for knowledge was replaced by apologetics," Ansari said, quoting a scholar.

"Lack of education has led to higher unemployment, rampant underemployment and confinement to traditional, low-paying professions, and under-representation in the modern organised business sector," Ansari said.

Although the educational backwardness among the Muslims was known before, the Rangnath Mishra and Sachar Committee reports brought forth the ground reality with official data.

The reports stated that the literacy rate among Muslims was 59.1 percent compared to the national average of 64.8 in 2001, with the gap greater in urban areas.

In higher education, while seven percent of the total population were graduates or diploma-holders, the figure for Muslims stood at four percent.

While enrolment of Muslim boys and girls in primary education has shown significant improvement, Ansari said more efforts were needed at the secondary and tertiary levels.

"In rural areas, schools for girls up to senior secondary levels should be made mandatory to ensure that girls continue their education with the need to impart vocational training which leads to better employment potential," Ansari said.

He called for introspection and remedial measures from within the Muslim community.

"India cannot emerge as a modern, developed nation-state without its largest minority being a part and parcel of the growth story and being fully integrated in the national mainstream in all spheres," Ansari said.

To illustrate, he cited the examples of Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran and Turkey which have reaped the benefits of high literacy levels.

Attended by over 1,500 delegates from around the country, the two-day conclave will deliberate on various issues confronting the Muslim community, strategies for education, education for Muslim girls, utilizing Wakf funds for education and other topics.

By IANS,

Jammu : In Jammu and Kashmir, the authorities say security is provided to only 2,542 people facing threats from militants.

An official reply to a Right to Information query said 2,542 people faced threats "and as such have been provided security cover".

It said a total of 4,074 security personnel provided security to these people.

It added that Rs.55.4 million worth of fuel was spent in 2012 on vehicles deployed with these 2,542 people.

Though the reply said that many families of those getting protection were also provided security, no details were offered.

A police officer insisted that these statistics didn't make sense.

The official told IANS on the condition of anonymity that there were over 1,000 people getting security cover in just two north Kashmir districts -- Kupwara and Baramulla.

"And we have 22 districts in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

"Each cabinet minister moves with at least two security vehicles with at least two dozen security personnel... So, the number of protected persons and those giving protection is underplayed. The cost incurred on security too is not rightly reflected," the official said.

By IANS,

Dubai : An 18-year-old Indian youth in Saudi Arabia has committed suicide after failing in his class 12 exams held by India's Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), results of which were declared Monday.

Mir Ameer Ansari, otherwise described as an intelligent student, just couldn't come to terms with the fact that he failed in mathematics and took his own life in the city of Dammam in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, the Arab News reported Wednesday.

The cause of death was not given but the report said police were investigating the circumstances leading to the teenager killing himself.

Ansari's body has been kept in Dammam Central Hospital.

The incident has sent shock waves across the expatriate Indian community in the Eastern Province as Ansari had scored well in all other subjects, including 73 out of 100 in English.

"He just couldn’t come to terms with the fact that he could only score 17 out of 100 in mathematics,” an Indian community leader was quoted as saying.

“Our prayers are with the family in these difficult hours.”

Ansari's parents, who hail from Hyderabad in India, are distraught.

Shocked teachers there have called for counselling sessions for exam-stressed students.

By TCN News

New Delhi: In an order passed on Tuesday by National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) has granted the minority status to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, Rampur.

"We find and hold that the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, Rampur is a minority educational Institution within the meaning of Section 2(g) of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act," read the judgment passed yesterday. NCMEI has the jurisdiction to grant the minority status to any educational institute in any part of India.

Jauhar University was established in 2006 by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in 2006. University has ran into many controversies including Azam Khan’s appointment of himself as lifelong chancellor of the university and land acquisition.

University is now a private university recognized by the University Grants Commission. Granting of minority educational institutions should help Jauhar University become a proper university.

Link:
http://jauharuniversity.org

By TCN News

Bihar Sharif: At Soghra High School ground here a youth forum namely ‘Naujawanan-e-Millat’ is going to organize ‘Paigham-e-Aman’ conference on June 1, which will be addressed by some top Islamic scholars of country. The event is to promote peace, national integration and communal harmony in the society.

The scholars who will take part in the conference are Shaikh Sanaullah Madni of Peace T.V. fame from Mumbai, Maulana Majid Qasmi of Shanti Sandesh Kendr from Phulwari Sharif and Dr. Ahsanul Huda of Islamic Dawah & Research Foundation from Darbhanga. While briefing about the program Aftab Hassan Shams, the man behind the idea of discourse said, “ the purpose is to propagate the message of peace found in different religious scriptures, which is going to inculcate a sense of social responsibilities and accountability before our Lord. Fear of God is surely going to make the citizens law-abiding”.

Naushad Ansari, Secretary, Peace Foundation, Patna, who is one of the co-organiser of the event, while briefing media persons said, “ the conference will be unique, for, the theme itself is to disseminate peace in the society and also to clear cobwebs of misunderstanding among different communities. The speakers will also speak on common beliefs of Adi Grantha i.e. Vedas and youngest revelation of God i.e. Holy Quran”. “Will there be any stronger binding force between Hindus and Muslims than 'Brahma Sutra' and 'Kalima”, he questioned.

By IANS,

Guwahati : A minority Bodoland student's panel Wednesday demanded a high level probe into the 2012 riots in Assam, saying they do not trust the ongoing investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The clashes that broke out in July 2012, between the Bengali-speaking Muslim settlers and Bodo people led to the killing of over 100 people and displaced over five lakh others in three districts of the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD).

The CBI, which took over the investigations of the riots, later chargesheeted 37 people in connection with the killing of four youths on July 20 at Joypur in Kokrajhar that triggered the violence.

"We have serious doubts in the credibility of CBI as it has been proved that they work in the favour of the ruling government in the recent past," said the All Bodoland Minority Students' Union (ABMSU) president Sahabuddin Ali Ahmed.

"Their report seems to be not neutral and we demand another high level inquiry to be instituted to nab the real culprits," said Ahmed.

On Tuesday, the ABMSU also took out a huge a rally in Guwahati and handed over a memorandum to Assam Governor J.B. Patnaik seeking immediate measures to rehabilitate about 6,000 riot hit families and are living in a deplorable condition in various relief camps.

The students' panel also alleged that the ruling government along with the BTAD authority has conspired to evict away all the people belonging to the minority community even though they have been staying there for a long time.

"The group of ministers along with the BTAD administration has hatched a new conspiracy to drive away the Muslim peasants living in the area for last many decades," he said.

"According to the latest joint resolution of them, these peasants will be provided Rs.50,000 if they sign a bond that they will leave their land. And the helpless poverty-stricken peasants are signing this bond," he said.

In Gosaigaon sub-division there are some 3,000 such families and in Kokrajhar sub-division there 4,000 such families, he pointed out.

"Once they sign the bond, they will have to leave the BTAD as they will have no right to buy land there," he said adding that it was decided in a meeting between Group of Ministers (GoM) and Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief Hagrama Mohilary," he said.

The students' panel further said that they would continue the agitation if the state government does not pay heed to the demand.

Rihai Manch calls the refusal a slap on UP Government and those clerics brokering the deal.

TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Lucknow: Uncle of Khalid Mujahid, Zahir Alam Falahi has refused to accept the compensation offered by the Samajwadi Government in Uttar Pradesh. Khalid’s uncle has been fighting the case on behalf of Khalid for more five years now and he even filed an FIR against 42 police officials for the conspiracy and murder of Khalid.

UP Cabinet Minister Parasnath Yadav, along with Jaunpur DM, had brought the cheque on behalf of the government, to the native village of Khalid Mariahu, but was returned by Khalid’s uncle.
Zahir Alam told TCN that by accepting the compensation, he would not want to insult the soul of his nephew ‘martyr’ Khalid, but will instead fight for justice for him and for hundreds of youths languishing in jails, like him, for years on fictitious terror charges.

Meanwhile, Rihai Manch (Forum for the Release of Innocent Muslims imprisoned in the name of Terrorism), on its eighth day of indefinite dharna, has welcome the decision of Khalid’s family, calling the refusal “a slap on the cheek of UP government and those clerics who were trying to broker the deal.” Manch has earlier called those ullemas who had gone to meet UP CM Akhilesh Yadav “brokers.”

Rihai Manch is on indefinite dharna demanding persecution of police officers involved in the custodial death of Khalid Mujahid, tabling of the Nimesh Commission Report and release of Muslim youths languishing in jails in fabricated terror cases. It appealed to people to join in greater numbers and contribute in the struggle for justice for Khalid.

A delegation of clerics, including Imam Tile wali Masjid, Maulana Fazlur Rehman Waizi and Shaher Qazi Mufti Abul Irfan Miyan Farangi Mahli had met UP CM Akhilesh Yadav at his official residence and submitted a memorandum in this regard on Sunday. Akhilesh had then announced that a compensation of Rs 6 lakhs would be given to the family of Khalid Mujahid and reiterated his commitment to impartial enquiry in Khalid Mujahid’s death.

Khalid had died under mysterious circumstances on his way back from Faizabad near Ram Sanehi Ghat last Saturday. He was declared brought dead by the doctors at district hospital in Barabanki. Later, on the complain of his uncle Zahir Alam Falahi, a case was registered against 42 police officers including former DGP Vikram Singh, ADG Brijlal and others who were on duty during the time of Khalid's arrest.

Khalid along with Tariq Qasmi was arrested by Special Task Force (STF) on 20 December 2007 from Barabanki. Huge explosives were also shown as recovered from his possession. STF claimed that he was involved in the serial blasts which occurred in Gorakhpur, Faizabad and Lucknow. Later, Nimesh Commission was constituted headed by Justice R D Nimesh who in its report raised fingers over STF's claim about the place of arrest.

By TCN News,

Patna: Two students of Rahmani 30 have been called for interview for the final selection in the prestigious bachelors in Statistics programme at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Kolkata.

On the basis of performance in selection tests held on 12 May 2013 or other selection criteria as mentioned in the prospectus 2013-14, Md. Muaz Hyder and Faizan Ahmad have been selected for the interview.

A total of 165 students have been called for the interview, of which only three students are Muslims.

Rahmani-30 is a free residential coaching centre run by Munger-based Rahmani Foundation under the patronage of Maulana Syed Mohammad Wali Rahmani and under the mentorship of Abhayanand (DGP) Bihar of Super 30 fame.

Maulan Wali Rahmani and Abhyanand have expressed their happiness, calling it great achievement for Rahmani 30, and wished the candidates well for the interview.