By TCN News,

New Delhi: Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) has started 5 months' Diploma Course in Urdu Journalism.

The purpose of this course is to enhance the capacity of the Journalists working in Urdu Newspapers and to increase the efficiency of the media persons. This course will be conducted at IIMC, Delhi Centre.

Lack of training amongst Urdu media professionals has often been highlighted.

Under this Course, focus will be given on contemporary trends, use of technology, copy writing and the writing for television.
First batch of the course is already over and second batch will begin in the first week of April, 2014.

A total of 25 candidates will be given admission in this course.

Application & Course Fee: The institute has put options of Online and Offline Application. Form -Fee is Rs.500. Course fee for 5 months is Rs 15000.

Students will be given admission based on entrance test consisting 85 marks for test and rest 15 for Interview. Merit list will be prepared on the basis of written test and candidates will be called for Interview on the basis of marks obtained in the written test.

Other Details: Website:www.iimc.gov.in , Phone:0112674292

By TCN News,

Aligarh: The athletics team of Ahmadi School for the Visually Challenged, Aligarh Muslim University bagged 6 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 3 bronze medals in the National Games-2013 of Special Olympics for the persons with disabilities, which was organized by Ministry of Youth and Sports and was held at Ajmer, Rajasthan.

Ms Firdaus Rahman, Principal of the School, said that the athletic team comprising five members, Sajjad Ahmed Dar, Abbas Raza, Owais Alam, Mohd Haider and Mohd Ibrahim bagged 6 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 3 bronze medals and brought laurels to the school. She said that Mr Adil Jaleel, PGT, Commerce and Mr Siraj Sheikh were also awarded certificates for their commitment and service during the National Games.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Calicut: The history of the Muslim leaders who sacrificed their life and blood for the course of the country’s freedom struggle were tarnished by the people with hideous and vested intentions, said K Rahman Khan, Union Minister for Minority Affairs. He was inaugurating the closing ceremony of the three days long Kerala Muslim History conference at the JDT Islam Campus in Calicut.

“Our history textbooks hesitate to provide deserved space for the names of the Muslim scholars and scientists who chose martyrdom in the struggle of 1857,” said the Minority Affair Minister. “Tipu Sultan is among those great warriors whose history was always side-lined and misrepresented. He was portrayed as a religious fanatic and his social reformations have always been denigrated by the historians,” he added.

K Rahman Khan is presented the memento of the Kerala Muslim Heritage Foundation by T. Arifali, Ameer JIH Kerala. M.I. Shanavas MP, T.K. Hamza, Sheikh Muhammad Karakkunnu, Dr. Fazal Gafoor etc are beside them.

Rahman Khan said that the national heritage Taj Mahal is now depicted as an erstwhile temple and Qutub Minar as a monument which was built by a Hindu ruler. The derailment of existing social harmony is the main motive of those polluted minds. He also emphasized the need for the compilation and regaining of the glorious history of Muslims and their rich heritage.

There is a conscious effort in marginalizing the prominent minorities of the country -Muslims, opined T Arifali, Ameer Jamate Islami Kerala in his presidential address of the session.

“The projection of the flaws and faults of Muslims are wide-spread. At the same time mainstream ignores the sacrifices and dedicatons of Muslims toward the nation building. This paradoxy questions the credence of secular historians,” Arifali said.

He suggested to include Kerala Muslim history in the Madrassa syllabuses along with their personas. Muslim confidence definetly matter on the awareness of their heritage and traditions, added Arifali.

Several other national and state leaders participated in the programme.

The conference aimed to enquire the history of Kerala Muslims. About 200 hundred papers were presented under various topics in different sessions on four stages in three days by scholars, students and pioneers of history. The prominent historians like MGS Narayanan, Dr. KKN Kurupp, Dr. Hun San Ho from Duke University, London, Dr. T. Jamal Muhammed etc participated in the conference and presented their views.

Manjalamkuzhi Ali, the Minister for Minority Affairs Kerala State had inaugurated the History Conference on 22nd December, Sunday. Prominent Columnist and Professor of the Catholic University, Australia Dr. Irfan Ahamad was the chief guest in inaugural session.

E.T. Muhammad Basheer MP and leaders of Muslim organisations like Sayyid Munavarali Shihab Thangal, Prof. K A Sideeq Hassan, Adv.K. P Muhammad, C.P Kunju Muhammad and C.P Umar Sullami also delivered speeches. Kerala Muslim Heritage foundation Chairman Sheikh Muhamed Karakkunnu presided the inaugural session.

Over 2000 people from different walks of the society participated in the conference. An exhibition 'Paithrukam' or the Heritage, presented the unique Muslim heritage. Cultural eve in the nights consisting Muslim traditional arts like Kolkkali, Tattumpattum and Mappila songs made the conference more colourful.

By Sudip Mazumdar, IANS,

There are no dearth of experts critical of the Aam Aadmi Party and its leaders. Much before Arvind Kejriwal could step into the chief minister's office, they aired views ranging from scepticism to downright condemnation. No other political party in recent history has faced such scrutiny.

Let's take the extremely cynical prediction of many commentators that AAP and its top leaders are going to fail. Their criticism basically revolves round a few specious arguments; that they are inexperienced, that they have a skewed vision of the future and that they promise too much.

Inexperience: When a Manmohan Singh or a Narendra Modi assumes office for the first time, few raise this question. Rahul Gandhi as a prime ministerial candidate is not even doubted. And what is their track record? Manmohan Singh has presided over the most scam-ridden government in independent India. Narendra Modi in no way can absolve himself of the responsibility of anti-Muslim carnage under his watch. Questions about their competence or experience are not raised when a Lalu Prasad or Mamata Banerjee , a Beni Prasad or a Sushil Shinde made a union minister. Take Shiela Dikshit. Under her watch, Commonwealth Games' organisation raised a public stink, women continued to feel insecure as governance evaporated. So much for experience!

Vision: Does Congress or BJP have a vision? Their manifestoes are nothing but platitudes, sloganeering and empty promises. Under Congress and BJP, though relatively briefly, rulers have siphoned off public money. Citizenry has remained outside agenda setting. Crony capitalism has prospered and the majority of Indians have got increasingly marginalized.

Promising too much: Take any of the manifestoes of Congress or BJP. They promise the moon before every election, but can't enact even a lame Lokpal for 40 years. Let's not even mention other grandiose promises like removing poverty in five years.

Why, then, a different and exacting standard for AAP or its leaders even before they started?

We don't need experts to tell us that a sense of doom and frustration had descended on Indians who do back-breaking struggle to make two ends meet. In the name of governance under Congress and BJP, and even the Left parties, ruling party apparatchiks have bossed over people and cornered privileges and obstreperous bureaucrats have bullied citizenry.

Contrast all that to AAP's record thus far. It has not yet made any pompous claims, other than working toward a truly participatory democracy. On the contrary, it has kept its promises confined to common concerns like easy availability of power and water. Its top leaders shine in probity compared to the mostly tainted Congress and BJP leaders.

AAP has also stood apart with its views and practices, on three major features of a thriving democracy.

Transparency: No other party in independent India has maintained transparency about its working, fund collection and internal decision-making the way AAP has shown thus far. Despite the calumny that AAP faced during Delhi's election campaign, it remained the most open party, its source of funds regularly uploaded on its website. In a first, the party actually asked people not to donate any further when its collection reached the Rs 20-crore mark. Can any other party claim this feat? We have no clue of who funds BJP, Congress and other political parties, not to talk about how much.

Accountability: Instead of defending any party member leader, AAP promptly set up inquiry committees when vested interests tried to slander Shazia Ilmi or Kumar Viswas when they were accused of favoring money-making deals. The swift inquiry found out that a blackmailer, possibly funded by one of the panicky major parties, tried to entrap the two. In similar situations, Congress and BJP would first close ranks and then defend the accused.

Governance: In a commendable departure, AAP ministers shunned the symbols of power and privilege - the red beacon lights, security cordons and sprawling bungalows - power trappings that have kept the elected representatives inaccessible to common people. For most politicians, politics is a gateway to power to grab money, exert influence and stand apart to be counted among the privileged. All this has made a mockery of our democracy. AAP leaders, in contrast, didn't rush to power.
In another first, they went back to the people in improvised opinion polls. Only after about one million positive responses came, AAP offered to assume power. In Congress, such decisions are taken by a mother, son and daughter trio and, in BJP, often a triad, and in other parties, just one self-serving head.

AAP has made a remarkably good start. Even if the party fails to hold on to power in Delhi, it would have irrevocably altered Indian political discourse, creating much welcome benchmarks in politics. Would that still be a failure? Surely not.

(Sudip Mazumdar is a New Delhi-based journalist. He has reported from the Indian subcontinent for over 30 years and his stories have appeared in Newsweek, Foreign Policy, Scientific American and many other publications. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at sudipm@gmail.com)

By Asma Anjum Khan,

The stage was set, the scene was unique if not rare; one was a Prime Minister and the other an aspirant. They were discussing a man who was the Sardar [grand leader] of his times. The PM aspirant bluffed it as always, and the Sardar PM boxed him into his place. Yes, we are talking about Manmohan Singh and Modi spar about Sardar Patel. After PM aspirant’s desperate attempt to usurp the Sardar legacy, the PM is desperate to show how secular Sardar was.

After Modi and Manmohan’s spar about Sardar Patel, it is the turn of Advani to try to prove that Sardar Patel was secular.

Hello you Guys, your slip is showing!

My quest is not just to know how secular Sardar Patel was, but to try to probe how communal he was, if he was? Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel has left behind a mixed legacy. Discretion is needed while following the lessons taught by the heroes of our history.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

The Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Sardar Patel’s ability of taking the right [and tough] decisions at the right time, made him the Iron Man, a virtue lacking in today’s vote-bank bound leaders. Mountbattenwhile disparaging Gandhi’s plan of spending the rest of his life in Pakistan described him as the only man who has his feet firmly on the ground. Formidable Vallabhbhai Patel was a man with a sense of reality; reality whichcould hurt but nevertheless had to be faced. He was said to have complete and firm control over the organization of his party (Congress) and became the first deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of the newly freed India. J B Kriplanicounts, shrewdness, determination, administrative capacity, and the ability to take definite decisions at all important occasions, as some of his chief characteristics. He also notes that Sardar could not bear opposition and he saw to it that those who opposed him had to pay the price. Later in the day, Mountbatten changed his view and called him as hysterical as the rest of the Congress Leaders. This happened due to a change in Patel’s stance about CHT, where he wrote stating that if it were imposed in East Bengal, the people would be justified in resisting this award by force and the Central government would be bound to support them.

Among the feathers in the Patel cap are counted the merger of more than 500 princely states into the newly formed Union of India. 550 states out of 560 had Hindu kings ruling over Hindu populace, their blending came comparatively easier with a promise that their riches would not get affected. But the real brain behind this is said to be V.P.Menon who was amongst the personal staff of Mountbatten, and often described as closer to Sardar Patel. Formidable Sardar’s approach was often mixed. Even the British officials accepted that they couldn’t have done it without or better than him. When the ruler of Manipur resisted the full integration into the Union, Patel thought out aloud, Isn’t there a brigadier in Shillong? After that it was only a matter of days that this problem was solved. It was for his steely resolve that the Union of India is what we see today. This steely touch and unambiguous stand might be missed in the days of Telangana turmoils.

Operation Polo or, Action’ the annexation of Hyderabad from the State of Nizam and Junagarh, both with Muslim rulers also go to his credit. Patel was the chief architect of both the annexations, especially the latter, in which thousands of Muslims lost their lives. It was Sardar Patel who appointed General Choudhary as army in charge and K.M.Munshi as regent, known for his strong Muslim bias who accomplished the task. Former PM Aspirant Mr. L.K. Advani put a bombshell recently by claiming that Nehru had openly called Patel, a communalist when he heard his plans about Hyderabad.

Sardar Patel and Muslims:

The general impression about Sardar Patel is that of being anti-Muslim. The second last Viceroy of India Lord Wavell [1944-47] dubs him as ‘communal and anti-Muslim’. Wavell thought of Sardar Patel as the only one of the congressmen capable of standing up to Gandhi.

Madhav Godbole former Union Home secretary in his book, The Holocaust of Indian Partition: An Inquest, explains that, Patel’s image as a communalist was, in no small measure , due to his openness and strong condemnation of Muslim communalism. It is obvious that communalism whether Hindu or Muslim needs to be condemned. But our PM aspirants would do better to make a note of how Patel did everything to protect Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi with special orders to avoid its desecration, during the bloody September of 1947. His unannounced visit to Nizamuddin was a clear indication that he meant business; business of running his country in a saner, safer way. Here I recall complete destruction of the first Urdu poet Wali Gujarati’s mazar in Ahmedabad, all in a night! The mazar[tomb] of the pioneer Gujarati Ghazal writer and poet, Wali Gujarati was located right outside the Police Commissioner’s Office. It was destroyed and then levelled, with concrete poured for vehicles to move over it. This incident occurred in 2002. Modi never said a word in condemnation. This is in contrast with Sardar Patel protecting the tomb of Nizammuddin Aulia.

Sardar Patel was also against division of army on communal lines, where soldiers were asked to choose India or Pakistan, calling it the surest way to ensure a civil war. Also, during the same period he had allowed Sikhs to carry their kirpans; going against Nehru, who wanted a ban. As his feet were firmly planted on the ground, he had the moral courage to take a step backward whenever the situation demanded of him. People suspected Patel of opposing the Nehru-Liaquat pact but H.V.R Iyengar rejects it. To explain this, Iyengar narrates how Patel despite his impregnable way of dealing with issues, used to retract from an earlier stance, if he found he was in the wrong. Patel was disturbed due to the massacres of Hindus in East Pakistan which, led to repercussions in West Bengal where Muslims were killed for revenge. An incident happened where several thousand Muslims hidden in a warehouse of a jute mill, were set alight by Hindus . Thousands succumbed in the fire. Iyengar reports Patel telling him ,

Iyengar, I am afraid we have lost all moral authority to proceed against East Pakistan.

After this, Iyengar professes, Patel fully supported Nehru for maintaining peace accorded in Nehru-Liaquat pact. Will the PM Candidate of BJP ever have the courage to accept the moral responsibility for 2002? Dr Juzar Bandukwala ,the widely respected activist and one of the many people we befriended virtually after Gujarat carnage sums it up quite resolutely, Sardar Patel was a complex man. He was close to Gandhi and in that sense he may be said to be non-communal. But he represented the right wing in the Congress. Relative to Nehru, he was less sympathetic to Muslims. But in the context of the RSS/BJP fanatics like Modi he was certainly a liberal. Dr.Bandukwala adds that, it is significant that Sardar Patel banned RSS, after Gandhiji’s death. He also condemns the RSS/BJP tendency to appropriate our national leaders. As luck would have it Sardar Patel significantly [or say innocently] wanted to win over RSS with love! He is supposed to have said, “They love their country .Only their trend of thought is diverted. They are to be won over by Congressmen by love.” Congress’ politics of last 60 years stands for this, open hatred and hidden love for RSS. But those who know nothing but hatred may not comprehend the language of love. Dr.Bandukwala hits the nail right on its head when he says that, “As far as I understand, the Sardar had no close Muslim friend. The only Muslims he knew well were Jinnah , and the Congress leaders Maulana Azad and Badshah Khan . There is a vacuum in his interaction with common Muslims. This had a negative effect in his interactions with Muslims.“

Patel and Pakistan

But it was also Sardar Patel who moved that resolution in the constituent assembly that implied discarding the proposal of separate electorates for the Muslims, a crucial privilege granted to Dr. Ambedkar. Sardar Patel had disliked the consequences of separate Muslim electorates, before partition. Indian Muslims paid a heavy price as a result. He was blunt enough to tell Muslims ,

“I respectfully appeal to all believers in the two nation theory to go and enjoy the fruits of their freedom and leave us here in peace.”

He had firm belief in a united India, resolving, What nature and God had intended to be one on no account can be split in two for all times. He termed the two-nation theory, the false doctrine of two nations. Patel himself had an awareness of the criticism of his not following Gandhiji, he had said, “While people talk of our failing to follow Gandhiji’s teachings, I wish to give you an example which I remember from his conversation.” He goes on to record how happy and proud he found Gandhiji when the latter heard about the operation in Kashmir by the Indian army. It was this formidable leader who was responsible to airlift troops in Srinagar, Kashmir, under the British commanders. Sardar Patel, also wanted to attack Pakistan, if possible. He had said, “If all the decisions rested on me, I think I would be in favor of extending this little affair in Kashmir to a full scale war with Pakistan. Let us get it over with once and for all and settle down as a united continent.” Was it for this, that Gandhiji preferred the calmer Nehru over him?”

[Courtesy: indiaopines.com]

Sardar Patel’s Equation with Other Leaders

His relations with other leaders of the time make an interesting reading. It is surprising to know that Moulana Azad is said to have told Humayun Kabir, editor of his biography,India Wins Freedom,that he made the mistake of choosing the wrong candidate for Congress president, had he proposed Patel’s name instead of Nehru’s, then, he would have evolved into a prime minister and would have proved to be a better one than his closest friend Nehru. It has always been a million dollar question as to why Mahatma Gandhi chose Nehru over Patel. Perry Anderson tries to reply, “Gandhi who had always sought to remain on good terms with the British , had picked Nehru as his successor partly on the grounds that he was culturally equipped (to) get on so well with them, as Patel or other candidates were not.”

When someone asked Patel, when he had solved the problems of all states and even performed the most difficult task of the merger of princely states, why he couldn’t do the same with Kashmir? Pat came the reply that as Nehru had taken Kashmir as his own personal and special case, he couldn’t. He had no qualm terming Nehru’s speech full of emotional insanity! Nehru had declared that Congress was free to act as it wished, after agreeing to the federation principle, earlier. Patel often was found complaining of how Nehru’s public salvos put the party into difficulty. The skirmishes between the two stalwarts are in common knowledge, with Patel terming Nehru as the Only Nationalist Muslim, which was also a jibe at Moulana Azad and denominating Rajgopalachari as half a Muslim’. This, certainly generated tense moments. But at other times he has also talked about Nehru’s childlike innocence, while Jinnah had designated him, Peter Pan of Indian Politics!

It is a testimony of the greatness of these two leaders that they worked together for the greater good of the country. On many occasions the two stalwarts Nehru and Patel collaborated, forgetting their personal grudges, a legacy difficult to follow for the aspirants and the occupants, of the Prime Post of our country. To their credit goes the law of Preventive custody; they both were in favor of inducting Dr. Ambedkar of Scheduled Caste Federation Party into Indian cabinet, as they wanted to avoid his formidable alliance with Jinnah’s ML, while it was Jinnah who had got Dr. Ambedkar elected from Bengal to the then Constituent Assembly. Both were equal partners in suppressing the all revealing Sunderlal report about Hyderabad Action/Annexation where thousands are believed to have died. After Patel’s death in 1950 Nehru’s position grew stronger and no one in his party or in the cabinet could dare challenge him. He took care not to appoint any second deputy PM, after all he wanted to remain unchallenged till he passed away in 1964.

The Statue of Unity the tallest in the world, would tower over every other statue in the world. The question arises should the legacy of Sardar Patel too, be allowed, to tower over those of Nehru and Gandhi? Sardar Patel leaves behind a mixed legacy. Political parties are trying to play sport with it, as suited their bigoted purposes. The man with both his feet firmly on the ground Sardar Patel should be watched with heads firmly on our shoulders. Discern, select and follow, should be the mantra in following the heroes of history.

------

Asma Anjum Khan is Assistant Professor of English in Maharashtra. This essay was first published on IndiaOpines.com

By TCN News,

Abu Dhabi: Not all those who migrate to the Gulf nations with big dreams in their eyes and seeking greener pastures can have their dreams fulfilled. There are many who are caught in trouble of physical and mental difficulties and forced to return back home with empty hands.

This is the story of one such person from Mangalore, who suffered partial paralysis in his right leg and recently returned to his homeland, thanks to the kind gesture of Abu Dhabi chapter, Emirates India Fraternity Forum (EIFF).

Mohammed Sharif, son of Beary Hamid, a waiter of Mangalore origin who has to leave back to his home. Hailing from Thekkar near Belthangady, he arrived in Abu Dhabi on 10-December-2013 and joined his employer The Choice Restaurant, UAE, as a waiter.

However, within two days he felt severe pain in his right leg and was gradually unable to walk due to partial paralysis of his leg which obstructed him from attending his regular duty. As his residency stamping process was undergoing and due to non-availability of medical insurance, he was not eligible for free medical treatment and the employer has asked him to return back to his home as he was declared unfit for duty.

Mohammed Sharif, being frustrated due to loss of job as well as unable to bare the air ticket charges to return to India.

A relative of Sharif on getting to know his miserable plight contacted the Emirates India Fraternity Forum (EIFF), Abu Dhabi chapter. EIFF arranged air ticket to India for him. From time to time, EIFF has been extending help to the needy Indians.

Sharif reached his home town on 23rd December, 2013.

Meanwhile, kin of Khurshid Anwar has filed a counter FIR for abetment to suicide, defamation and intimidation against 13 people, including the victim, social activist Madhu Kishwar and television channels.

By Saiyed Danish, TwoCircles.net,

New Delhi: The tragic and unfortunate suicide of Khurshid Anwar on December 18 is being seen as a direct repercussion of the vilification he was subjected to by individuals across extreme ideological lines on social media which was quite iniquitously endorsed by the mainstream media.

About three months ago, 55 year old Khurshid Anwar, the executive director of NGO Institute of Social Democracy, was accused of sexual harassment by a 24 yr old girl, but no FIR was filed. What came after was a relentless exercise of media policing which left the social activist and an ardent communist so embarrassed that he ended his own life.

Khurshid Anwar [Photo Courtesy: Khurshid Anwar FB account.]

His demise has created a storm in the social media world and many activists, journalists, writers and thinkers belonging to the Left intelligentsia; especially from the Communist Party of India and its student wing All India Students’ Forum (AISF) in whose flag his body was draped before the cremation.

Activists across India came up with ‘Final Statement on the Tragic Circumstances of Khurshid Anwar’s suicide’. “We the undersigned are shocked at the manner in which a section of the social media relentlessly vilified Khurshid Anwar, social activist and writer with regard to an allegation of rape against him. A section of the electronic media also contributed to the vilification, causing him to commit suicide on Wednesday morning, the 18th of December, 2013,” read the first of the statement which was endorsed by over 200 prominent social and political figures in the country, including Dr Binayak Sen, Anusha Rizvi, Mahmood Farooqui, Om Thanvi,Purshottam Agrawal, Javed Naqvi,Manisha Sethi, Apoorvanand, Kavita Srivastava and Mahtab Alam, among others.

“Who is going to take the responsibility of Khurshid Anwar’s death? The people whose obnoxious accusations forced to commit suicide must be dragged to court,” wrote a well-wisher of Anwar on a social website.

While people form the progressive class blamed the social media and the “over political correctness of his own friends” for his demise, other sections are openly blaming the ones who had criticized Khurshid in public on national television.

Prominent Muslim women activist Sheeba Aslam Fehmi said, “He was the victim of over political correctness of his friends who personally assured him that they are not as serious in accusing him of raping the 24 yr old girl as they appear on TV but somewhere they are sure to be responsible for his death.”

Khurshid Anwar himself shared his gloom and frustration over constantly being defamed by the media.

“While talking to a friend just a day before his suicide he said to a close friend that the vilification drive by the social media will take his life someday,” read a column published in Navbharat Times on December 20.

Shahnawaz Malik, a protester and a well-wisher of Khurshid raised the questions on the credibility of news channel for hyping the rape allegations of Khurshid by the girl by calling wrongly her an activist in December 16 rape case.

“How long will the media still vilify him? They say that Khurshid was a coward. Are all those poor farmers who were left with no choice but to end their lives also coward?” he asked.

However, a collective urge of rising above emotions if being felt by the close associates and friends of Khurshid as the statement released by the intellectuals further calls for a fair investigation into the matter before taking a hard and fast stand.

“We are of the opinion that every allegation of rape, sexual violence and other serious crimes, needs to investigated and subjected to due process of law. We also appreciate the media’s right to report on such issues in public interest. However, this process by which guilt is ascribed prior to due process is harmful to the cause of justice and rule of law. In this case even before an offence was registered, the accused was presumed guilty, before he could be heard and face fair investigation,” reads the Final Statement on the Tragic Circumstances of Khurshid Anwar’s suicide which is endorsed by Dr. Binayak Sen, Om Thanvi, editor at Jansatta and ex Joint Secretary of JNUSU Mobeen Alam.

Mahtab Alam, a civil right activist and co-editor at indiaresists.com in Delhi said, “Some of the friends and supporters of Khurshid Anwar are indulging in the same kind of vilification and (social) media trial against the girl who accused him of raping. This is equally condemnable and disgusting. I don’t know why we are so blood thirsty?"

Kavita Krishnan of CPI (ML) Liberation and Madhu Kishwar, the editor of Manushi blog and campainer for Narendra Modi were the two people being targeted by the admirers of Khurshid. While Kishwar maintains her stand that Khurshid did sexually assault the girl, Kavita Krishnan, who had on record accused Khurshid for the raping the girl on television has expressed deep concern over his death.

"We are deeply shocked and saddened by the death of Khurshid Anwar. As activists committed to ending violence against women, we have been trying to ensure the due process of law and justice in relation to the allegations against Khurshid Anwar," reads a joint statement written by Krishnan and Kanyani Menon Sen which has been published in Kafila.org.

Meanwhile, kin of Khurshid Anwar has filed a counter FIR for abetment to suicide, defamation and intimidation against 13 people, including the victim, social activist Madhu Kishwar and television channels.

By IANS,

New Delhi : Arvind Kejriwal, who tapped into public anger to take the AAP to the corridors of power, will take oath Saturday as Delhi's seventh chief minister, with his party promising to "completely overhaul" the system.

Activist-turned-unlikely politician Kejriwal, 45, will be sworn in by Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung at the sprawling Ramlila Maidan here along with six cabinet ministers at a function expected to draw thousands of supporters.

The proposed ministers are former journalists Manish Sisodia, 41, and Rakhi Birla, 26, former lawyers Saurabh Bharadwaj, 34, and Somnath Bharti, 39, architect Satyendra Jain, 49, and businessman Girish Soni, 49.

A woman, Birla will be one of the youngest ministers in India.

It will be a minority government -- the AAP won only 28 seats in the 70-member assembly -- and will depend on the legislative backing of the eight legislators of the Congress, which was voted out after 15 years.

The main opposition will come from the 31-member strong Bharatiya Janata Party, which refused to form a government.

Speaking outside his home at Kaushambi, an Uttar Pradesh township neighbouring Delhi, Kejriwal pledged to unveil a Jan Lokpal bill within 15 days of taking office to battle corruption.

Kejriwal, who won the Magsaysay award in 2006 for "emergent leadership" and has a history of social activism, admitted there would be many hurdles but vowed to overcome them all.

The AAP has invited Gandhian activist Anna Hazare, former Supreme Court judge Santosh Hegde and former police officer Kiran Bedi for the swearing in.

The Ramlila Maidan was where Hazare fasted for 12 days in 2011 for a Jan Lokpal bill with Kejriwal as one of his aides. Kejriwal, who formed the AAP in November last year, has since had a fallout with Hazare and Bedi.

Somnath Bharti, who is set to become a minister, told IANS that the AAP government will "completely overhaul" the system and changes will be visible within 60 days.

Slashing power tariff by half -- one of the key promises made by the AAP -- will remain on top of the agenda, he said.

"We will completely overhaul the system, and changes will be visible within two months of our coming to power," he said. "Our first priority is to reduce the power tariff. If needed, we will give subsidy."

"Every official will be closely watched," he added. "We will identify the corrupt officers in every department and remove them from their posts. The honest officials will be encouraged and protected."

Kejriwal is expected to spend the next three days strategising how to implement the AAP's election manifesto, with possible meetings with Delhi government officials as well as party colleagues.

Also Wednesday, the Congress scotched speculation that it was having second thoughts on propping up the AAP, removing what looked like the last of the hurdles vis-a-vis government formation.

"There will be no rethinking on the issue-based support the Congress has given to AAP," said spokesman Sandeep Dikshit, an MP and son of former chief minister Sheila Dikshit.

Earlier, Kejriwal denied there was any rift within the AAP.

Two-time municipal councillor Vinod Kumar Binny had walked out of a party meeting Tuesday where the decision on cabinet ministers was taken -- after he was not included in the ministry.

This triggered speculation that he was upset and may revolt.

Kejriwal said: "Binny met me in the evening (Tuesday) and informed me that he did not want any post. He told the same thing to the media."

Binny, who defeated Delhi Health Minister A.K. Walia, also said he was not upset.

Born in Haryana and now residing at Kaushambi adjoining Delhi, Kejriwal, an IIT graduate in mechanical engineering, has refused police security and also an official bungalow allotted to the chief minister.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

New Delhi: Advocate Naushad Ahmad Khan, who hails from Muzafarnagar and is co-petitioner in the Supreme Court that is over-seeing the riot cases, has expressed his dismay over Samajwadi Party Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav’s remark that no more riot victims are in the relief camps, but only the workers of the Congress and BJP for vested interests.

Speaking to TCN, Advocate Naushad Khan alleged, “What Mulayam is saying now is part of the larger design of SP to extract maximum poll benefits from the riots by vilifying the victims themselves.” He added that in its initial affidavits to the Apex Court, UP Government had even refused to acknowledge the number of deaths.

Even now, government is evasive about several missing persons, who family claim were murdered.

He said that Mulayam Singh is not only insulting the victims of the riot, but also those right thinking people who extended their support from across the country and the world to the riot victims. He said that the government has completely failed to provide even basic necessities to the victims living in camps, and is coercing them to return without proper security measures.

He reminded that very few arrests have been made so far, even though several FIRs have been registered in such heinous crimes as rapes, gang rapes, murder, arson, etc.

There are reports of government local administration coercing the victims to withdraw cases.

Advocate Khan has now demanded from the UP Governor to remove the Akhilesh Yadav led government for negligence and implement President’s rule.

Meanwhile, Maulana Arshad Madani of Jamiat e Ulema Hind, came out in support of SP Supremo saying that it’s true that no victims of communal riots are left in camp.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

New Delhi: Activist Teesta Setalvad is spearheading ‘Support Justice for All Campaign’ through which, she is appealing to people to send post-cards to the prime minister demanding tabling of the Communal Violence Bill.

Teesta Setalvad is also using internet to reach out to the people and appealing them to buy a Post Card worth 50 paise and send it to the PMO in a move to pressurize the government to table the ‘Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence Bill’ (PCTV) in the Upper House of the Parliament.

The web page of the campaign on Change.org appears like this:

“Spend 50 Paise Buy a Post Card and send it to-

Dr. Manmohan Singh Hon’ble Prime Minister, Government of India South Block, Raisina Hill, New Delhi - 110011.

Single Point Demand-

Table the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice & Reparations) Bill in the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) of the Indian Parliament”

The campaign page goes on to stress that “This Bill when it becomes Law will be an Institutional Mechanism.”

The campaign details also read that the bill very important in order to protect the lives and properties of Disadvantaged Citizens who are Victims of Targeted and Mass Violence during which bouts, officers of the state have shown overt or covert complicity.

The tabling of the Bill will “breathe life into Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution (Right to Life and Right to Equality before the Law) and ensure an end to impunity.”

Click here to check the petition

By IANS,

New Delhi : Reiterating his support to an AAP government, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Shoaib Iqbal Wednesday said he too has been battling corruption for 20 years.

"Like Kejriwal and his party, I too have been fighting against corruption that prevails in Delhi," Iqbal told the media after meeting Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal at his residence.

He said the AAP, which is set to form a government in Delhi with Congress support, had filled a vacuum. "I am glad about it."

He said JD-U leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was supportive of the AAP.

"Even he (Nitish Kumar) agrees that we have to stop the BJP and support the AAP," Iqbal said.

By TCN News,

Aligarh: The President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the XXXVII Indian Social Science Congress on December 27, 2013 at 12 noon at the Kennedy Hall Auditorium, Aligarh Muslim University.

A large number of delegates from all parts of the country are participating in the five day Congress on “Building Ecologically Sustainable Society”.

AMU Vice Chancellor addressing at full dress rehearsal of President's visit.

The Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Mr. B. L. Joshi is also visiting the University with the President of India.

The University today took place a “Full Dress Rehearsal” at 11 am. Two helicopters landed today at the Athletics Ground of the University.

By IANS,

New Delhi : Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) chief minister-designate Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday said his party would pass its Jan Lokpal bill within 15 days of forming the government in Delhi.

Speaking at his Kaushambi residence in Ghaziabad town, Uttar Pradesh, Kejriwal said there were so many hurdles in the process, but AAP would tackle all issues and pass the bill.

As per the constitution of India, the Delhi assembly can make laws on any issue except the state list that may infringe any norm of the constitution.

"But the Congress is saying that in 2002, the Transaction of Business Rules were amended and it read that the state government would have to take the permission of the central government on any law made by the state government," Kejriwal said.

"This is wrong, this used to happen under the British rule. Then, all administrative decisions related to India had to be sent to London for approval. We are an independent country now, and the government formed is by the people," he added.

Kejriwal will take oath as the chief minister of Delhi Dec 28 at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.

By IANS,

Srinagar : A gunfight erupted Wednesday evening between guerrillas holed-up in a house and security forces in central Kashmir's Budgam district, police said.

A senior police officer told IANS that security forces, on a tip-off, surrounded a house in Hushroo village of Budgam district Wednesday afternoon.

“When the security forces were closing in, the holed-up militants fired at them, triggering an encounter, which is still on in the village,” the officer said.

Two separatist guerrillas are believed to be in the house, which they are using as a fortified bunker to fire at surrounding security forces.

Till last reports came in at 6.30 p.m., the gunfight was still on even though darkness had descended on the village.

By IANS,

Kolkata : Days after she pulled up "non-performing" ministers, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee may induct some new faces when she undertakes a rejig of her council of ministers Thursday.

Veteran Congress legislator Ajoy Dey, fellow party legislator Soumitra Khan, and lone Samajwadi Party lawmaker Chand Mohammad - all who recently defected to the ruling Trinamool Congress - are among those eyeing ministerial berths.

Trinamool's lawmaker Shashi Panja too may get a look in, though technically the council of ministers has only one vacancy caused by the resignation of Humayun Kabir, who switched over to the Trinamool from the Congress.

He was made a minister, but had to quit after failing to get elected within six months.

As per law, the state can have a maximum of 44 ministers - 15 percent of the total number of lawmakers - one more than the present strength.

Speculation is rife that an ailing Environment Minister Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar, is likely to be replaced.

Dastidar, who represents Mahisadal constituency in East Midnapore, has asked to be relived from his duties as a minister on health grounds, sources said.

Thursday's reshuffle is giving some anxious moments to some ministers who were pulled by the chief minister for "non-performance" at a closed door meeting Dec 20.

Banerjee reportedly was unhappy with two of her key ministers while reviewing performance of various departments ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls.

Political circles feel, while some ministers may be inducted, one or two ministers of state may be promoted to the cabinet rank. Cabinet heavyweights, who have failed to "deliver", may be made to shed some of the multiple porrfolios they hold.

Banerjee last reshuffled the cabinet November 2012.

By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net

From thousands of original stories that we do every year, it is not easy to select just a few. But to give our readers a recap of the year, we present 12 stories, one for each month of 2013. These stories are not necessarily the "best" story of that month but chosen to reflect the diversity of topics and regions that we cover through out the year.

January

The year began for us with wrapping of a series on Bodoland violence: The nine-part series looked at the history of the conflict and the condition of the camps.

February

Irresponsible and sensational media coverage glooms over Hyderabad twin bomb blasts: Hyderabad saw two blasts on Feb 21st that killed 17 and injured over 100. This piece analyzed media's prejudiced reporting when it comes to terrorism.

March

Alienated and angry Muslim youth: A very disturbing development in the country is the alienation and anger of Muslim youth. This has to be moderated and controlled by the community leadership. The failure to do so could be very harmful to Muslims and also to the country.

April

78000 cheques given in pre-matric scholarships to minority students in WB are invalid:West Bengal Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (WBMDFC) have disbursed the pre-matric scholarship for the year 2012-13 to nearly 12 lakhs minority students.However, several thousands cheques are reported to have ‘bounced’ from the WBMDFC account due to either insufficient funds or as the cheques reached concerned schools or students after the expiry of the dates, accepted Abu Ayesh Mondal, Chaimen of the WBMDFC when contacted by the TCN.

May

SDPI and WPI: A critical glimpse on their performances in Karnataka Assembly elections: Both SDPI and WPI contested Assembly polls in the hope and desperation to make a pan Karnataka presence; however, as the results were declared none of them were able to win a single seat. But it became clear that while the former succeeded somewhat in proving it’s ‘worth’, the latter failed miserably in making a mark in the state

June

Muslims in Sikkim: “There is only one masjid in Gangtok. This area is called Apar Arithang. There are around six to seven thousand Muslims here. The masjid was constructed in 1942-43. It was then constructed with wood. It is said that a wealthy Tibetian Muslim from Ladakh, named Sabila Sardar had acquired the land for the masjid from the local ruler. The descendants of Sabila Sardar still live in Gangtok."

July

It is not always the Mullah!: I think it’s high time for those among us with the sobriquets of moderates and liberals, that it’s not always the Mullah! By saying so, you are insulting my intelligence and doubt my capability of comprehending things for myself and entirely on my own. There may be and there are increasing instances of women opting for Islamic veil, of their own free will, of their own accord. It’s their choice, made without any sort of compulsion.The Mullahs won't be able to make any moolah here, with us the educated Muslim women of today.

August

Hilal hangover: Why Indian Muslims turn Moon sighting into Moon fighting?: The strike of crescent gets the knack to bring Muslims at loggerheads, every year it’s the same dilemma which engulf the spirit of Ramzan or Eid ul Fitr across India, the mess over Moon sighting. TwoCircles.net spoke with different players across India umpiring the Moon Match to bring out a perspective on why the supervision is going astray and how this crescent chemistry is igniting strong reactions among Indian Muslims.

September

Muslim youth and Muzaffarnagar violence: Be it the communal riots in Muzaffarnagar in UP or relatively small one in Nawada in Bihar it is time for the Muslims, especially its leadership, to make introspection before lambasting anyone else.But unfortunately the community leadership has reacted in immature manner. Some went to the extent of equating Muzaffarnagar with Gujarat while others alleged that Mulayam has become Narendra Modi. The All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat sought dismissal of the Akhilesh government––as if that is the best solution.

October

The Qurbani Revolution: Bakerid as an empowerment device for downtrodden: A young man dressed in bureau formals with a laptop bag on his shoulders is chasing a young lamb for a customer. Mohammed Mahboob Ali a business management graduate with 15 years of expertise with MNCs like Nestle and Heinz India has now found a new solace in sheep trading. For him it’s not just any job it’s a virtual Muslim social revolution.Millions of Muslims in India who slaughter animals during Eid-ul-Azha or Bakreid doesn’t give a second thought that this multimillion dollar event could hold more avenues to please Allah than by just shedding animal blood.

November

TCN Impact: 99acres to put checks for discriminatory ads: Leading property website 99acres.com has responded to the TCN story on contained offensive references to the religious minority community. The website has advertisements that openly discriminates against Muslims.Referring to the posting of a classified advertisement placed by M/S Jacinta Estates for sale of a property at 99acres.com, the website managers accept that “the said listing contained offensive references to a religious community.”

December

Salma: Writing the poetry of freedom: When Rajathi Samsudeen, was 13 years old, her family forced her to discontinue her studies and shut her away in the four corners of the house for nine years, later tricking her into marriage, against her wishes.In those nine years of solitude, shunned from the outside world, words and words alone became her sole companion. After marriage, her husband insisted she stay indoors, forbidding her from writing, which by now had become her only mode of expression. Finally when her poems reached the hands of a publisher and were published, Rajathi, who by then had taken the pen name Salma, to conceal her identification, had become a sensation among Tamil readers. Today she is one of the most renowned Tamil poets and her journey so far has only been a beginning.

Link:

TCN 2012 in 12 stories

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Mumbai: Following the teaching of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that “cleanliness is half of religion,” a group of youths including Shias and Sunnis, numbering to over 150 people, made sure to keep the path of the procession of Aba’een as clean as possible.

Arba’een is marked on the 40th day of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, which this year fell on December 24. Muslims, particularly the Shias, mourned the death of Prophet’s grandson, for him who stood up in order to support the preaching of his grandfather.

“It seems very wrong for his followers to create a mess on the street and leave it for the BMC and others to clean,” said the organisers.

On December 24, the volunteers tied big trash bags at almost all the spots along the juloos route, so that visiting pilgrims could throw their waste such as glass, paper etc. The trash bags were laid all along from JJ to Mazgaon.

More than one lakh people are believed to be present in this juloos from all over Maharashtra every year, most of them dressed in black clothes. The procession starts at 4 pm from Mogul Masjid near Bhindi Bazaar and ends at Khoja Cemetery at Mazgaon.

Every year, lot of waste is left behind on the road after the juloos ends. But this year, people noticed the difference. The owner of Greenfield restaurant (which falls on the route) said, “The waste this year have gone down by 80 per cent, compared to the previous juloos. This is a very good thing and it should continue. People think well about this kind of work.”

Aliraza Namdar, well known TV and theatre actor also appreciated the hard work done by the volunteers and wished them luck for future projects. Owais Rizvi, Shezanali Hemani, Tabish Mehdi, Akeel Abbas Naqvi, Sohel Ajani, Roshan, and others were part of volunteer group.

Prominent religious scholars and leaders from the community participate in the juloos.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Hyderabad: A complaint has been filed with Chief Election Commissioner of Election Commission of India to unregister and ban Bharatiya Janta Party for violation of election model code of conduct from past three consecutive national elections.

Advocate Ghulam Rabbani in his complaint submitted to ECI through A.P Chief Electoral Officer stated that as per Section 1 Clause (1) & (3) of the Model Code Of Conduct “No party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic and there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes. Mosques, Churches, Temples or other places of worship shall not be used as forum for election propaganda.”

He submitted that Bharatyia Janata Party has been repeatedly violating the above mention section of the Model Code of Conduct from past 15 years.

In the year 1998 the BJP in its Election Manifesto has mentioned in Chapter-2

“The BJP is convinced that Hindutva has immense potentiality to re-energize this nation and strengthen and discipline it to undertake the arduous task of nation-building. This can and does trigger a higher level of patriotism that can transform the country to greater levels of efficiency and performance. It is with such integrative ideas in mind; the BJP joined the Ram Janmabhoomi movement for the construction of Shri Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. This greatest mass movement in post-Independence history reoriented the disoriented polity in India and strengthened the foundation of cultural nationalism.

The BJP is committed to facilitate the construction of a magnificent Shri Ram Mandir at Ram Janmasthan in Ayodhya where a makeshift temple already exists. Shri Ram lies at the core of Indian consciousness. The BJP will explore all consensual, legal and constitutional means to facilitate the construction of Shri Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.”

And in the year 2004 the Bharatiya Janata Party in its Election Manifesto has mentioned VISION DOCUMENT – 2004, 14 point in highlights that

“Commitment to construction of a magnificent Ram Mandir at Ayodhya; Amicable resolution of the issue through dialogue for starting a new chapter in Hindu-Muslim relations”

And in the section “Our Basic Mission and Commitments” mentions

“Ram Mandir in Ayodhya: The BJP reaffirms its commitment to the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. As Maryada Purushottam, Ram is an inspiring cultural symbol of India. His birthplace in Ayodhya is also associated with the religious sentiments of crores of Hindus. The BJP remains committed to its stand that the judiciary's verdict in this matter should be accepted by all. However, we believe that dialogue, and a negotiated settlement

in an atmosphere of mutual trust and goodwill, are the best way of achieving this goal. The BJP appeals to the religious and social leaders of the Hindu and Muslim communities to speed up the process of dialogue and bring it to an amicable and early fruition. We hope that these efforts will succeed in heralding a new chapter of amity in Hindu-Muslim relations and fortify national integration.”

And in the year 2009 the Bharatiya Janata Party in its Election Manifesto has mentioned in section DEFENDING THE CIVILISATION point 1, “The BJP remains committed to the construction of a grand Ram Mandir at Ayodhya”.

Adv. Rabbani claims that above mentioned item’s from BJP’s manifesto establishes that Party has been contesting last three elections by including the construction of grand Ram Mandir at Ayodhya as their main agenda which is clearly against the rules prescribed by ECI and violation of Model Code of Conduct for the guidance of Political Parties and candidates.

Ram Mandir and Babari Masjid issue in the past has sparked several communal riots among communities. Petitioner expressed his surprise that this communal conflict propagation as an election agenda has not been noticed by the ECI.

For the above mentioned cause, he appealed ECI to unregister BJP and to ban it from contesting from any election in future.

In the past also there have been complains filed to ECI to unregister political parties, but ECI repeatedly expressed its lack of authority for doing so.

In the recent case A.S. Rao, a Sangh Parivar activist filed a complaint with ECI to unregister MIM after hate speech controversy of Akbaruddin Owaisi. ECI again declined in doing so, citing lack of jurisdiction over the matter.

Aggrieved by ECI ruling, petitioner Rao approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court. On Dec 17 Justice Sai found the matter as of larger public importance and posted the PIL for the hearing on divisional bench.

Adv. Ghulam Rabbani, speaking with TCN candidly acknowledge that ECI might return him with same ruling and hence he is already planning to file a similar PIL in High Court to merge it with existing litigation of banning MIM to make the legal matter more broad in its consequence.

He hopes, with expected stiff ruling from High Court, BJP will refrain from making Ram Mandir an election issue, at least in its manifesto for the coming 2014 elections.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

New Delhi: The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) has demanded relief funds from all over India through its public appeal ‘Demand Relief, Rehabilitation, and Justice for Muzaffarnagar’s Riot Survivors.’ The party has also declared January 2, 2014 as National Protest Day.

“Friends the bitterly cold winter has begun. And the stories of Muzaffarnagar’s relief camps jolts our conscience. Thousands of people, who have watched their loved ones killed in cold blood, and who have been raped, and lost their homes and means of survival, languish in the relief camps of Muzaffarnagar. The Uttar Pradesh Government had pleaded earlier that they were helpless to prevent the communal violence. But why has the Government turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the plight of those in the relief camps?” an appeal by the party reads.

The release states that 28 children in various camps at Shamli have died since the beginning of the winter season. There also have been gang rapes during the riots and in the relief camps and despite FIRs being filed no arrest has been made yet and the BJP MLAs who orchestrated the riots have been felicitated instead by BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Adding to the catastrophe, “Akhilesh government issued an order to forcibly evict the riot-hit from the relief camps, and pressurize them to accept a Rs 5 lakh payment in exchange for giving up their right to return to the villages by signing the affidavit which says, ‘I and my family left our village and our home due to the violent incidents there. We will not return to our village and home under any circumstances,” it added.

To make the matter worse, the release states that UP forest government has booked thousands of Muzaffarnagar riots victims for setting up relief camps by “encroaching” on forest land.

“The report submitted to the UP Government by the 10-member committee of ministers under the leadership of senior SP Minister Shivpal Yadav, appallingly, blames the madrasas running of the relief camp for not wanting to wind up the relief camps in spite of the situation having returned to normal” complains the party release. Even the SIT constituted to probe the matter has not yet spoken to the victims.

“On 2nd January 2014, the CPI (ML) has called for an all-India protest day demanding immediate arrest and prosecution of all rioters and rape-accused named in FIRs, and demanding that the State Government of UP ensure urgent relief and rehabilitation measures for the riot-displaced and riot-affected people,” concludes the party release.

By IANS,

New Delhi : President Pranab Mukherjee will visit Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra Dec 27-28.

The president will inaugurate the 37th Indian Social Science Congress-2013 at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh Dec 27, said a press release from the President's House.

In Maharashtra, he will inaugurate the 66th annual session of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE), CHEMCON 2013 at Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai Dec 27.

The president will also inaugurate the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress at National Sports Club of India, Worli the same day.

On Dec 28, Mukherjee will unveil the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Thane. He will also inaugurate the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Tribal Research and Training Institute at Pune.

The statue of Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj at All India Shri Shivaji Memorial Society, Pune will also be unveiled by him the same day.

He will reach Rashtrapati Nilayam, Secunderabad Dec 28.