West Bengal Govt sleeping on its Muslim quota decision

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Kolkata: Two months on since Left Front government of West Bengal announced to give 10% reservation to Muslims but no development has been seen on the ground towards its implementation till the date. It seems it is sleeping on its February decision and wants to cash in on just the decision. This is evident from the Left leaders election meetings for coming civic body elections where they say they will implement it very soon.

Well aware of the fact that Muslims gave it a big jolt in last Lok Sabha elections, the state government is trying its best to woo Muslims by announcing quick implementation of promised reservation for them in every meeting with an eye on the elections for 82 civic bodies scheduled next month and Assembly elections next year.





Chief Minister Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee yesterday said that his government is working on fast track for immediate implementation of 10% reservation for Muslims. Above all, he strongly advocated for the reservation for Muslims which was never heard earlier from him and any Left leader.

“If there can be reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, why can’t Muslims be provided with the same as they are also backward?” he argued. He was speaking at a program organized by the West Bengal Minorities Development and Finance Corporation.

He further said that the condition of minorities especially Muslims is worse in all over the country and a society can never progress with backwardness of such a large number of people. So, there is a need to work for their development.

He also announced that in the 12 districts where the percentage of minority population is higher, the state government would spend Rs 500 crores under central government’s scheme Multi-Sectoral Development Program.

Notably, under pressure of Muslim organizations and leaders the West Bengal government announced in first week of February to give 10% reservation for Muslims in jobs to win back their votes. Muslims largely did not vote for Left in last Lok Sabha elections that is considered to be main reason for the defeat of the party.

Now Imarat Shariah puts its weight behind Muslim reservation demand

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Patna: As all Muslim religious and social organizations are demanding reservation for the Muslim community in the light of Ranganath Mishra Commission recommendations for some time, North India’s reverend Islamic seminary Imarat Shariah (Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa) also put its weight behind the demand. The seminary also demanded quota for Muslim and other backward class women in the Women Reservation Bill.

At the end of daylong meeting of its Advisory Board – where various issues confronting the Muslim community were discussed, the Imarat Shariah here yesterday demanded 10% reservation for Muslims in the light of Mishra Commission report and quota for Muslim and other backward women in the Women Reservation Bill that will secure 33% seats in legislative bodies for women.
Over 200 members of Advisory Board of Imarat Shariah from Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa were here to attend its annual meeting. The meeting also discussed AMU campus in Kishanganj and Right to Education Act.





“Despite Sachar Committee disclosed worse condition of Muslims and Mishra Commission recommended reservation as remedy for their problems, their reports, unfortunately, were not discussed in the Parliament and no action has been taken so far in this regard. We appeal to the government to give 10% reservation to Muslims and also to amend Article 341 to include backward Muslims in the category of SC” the Imarat demanded.

They also expressed deep concern over Women Reservation Bill in its present form and felt that it will reduce Muslim representation that is already inadequate.

“We reject the WRB in its present form because it is not in favor of weaker section especially Muslims who are the country’s second majority community. We condemn the government for getting it passed in Rajya Sabha forcefully ignoring the interest of large number of citizens. We demand quota for Muslims and other backward classes to ensure their representation” they said.

The meeting also demanded the government to ask courts not to interfere with Muslim personal law while giving verdicts.

“It is sorrowful that today various courts are giving verdicts violating Muslim personal law which is against the Constitution of the country because it gives safeguard to all religions. Therefore, we appeal to them not to ignore Islamic Shariah while giving verdict on Muslim personal law” they appealed.

On AMU campus in Kishanganj they appreciated Nitish Government for allotting 250 acres lands and urged his government to take tough action against extremists who are opposing it and trying to spread the communal poison in the state.

“We urge Bihar government to be strict against communal forces like ABPV who are crying foul against setting up AMU campus in educationally backward Kishanganj district. Undoubtedly, it will be beneficial for all people of the state. So, it is necessary to restrain these communalists otherwise they would disturb the peaceful environment of the state” they added.

The meeting welcomed the RTE and demanded that it should be implemented effectively especially for Muslims who are lagging behind in education as Sachar Committee revealed. It also appealed to Muslims to take benefit from this act as much as they can to increase the educational percentage.

The meeting also stressed to make pressure group in every area to wash out the social evils. The meeting was presided over by Maulana Nizamuddin, Amir-e-Shariat of Imarat Shariah and general secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board.

Use of centre’s minority welfare fund should be mandatory: Bihar ex-CM

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,

Patna: Ex-Bihar Chief Minister Dr. Jagannath Mishra wrote to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for provision making it mandatory for state governments to use the Central Government’s fund meant for welfare of minorities. Mishra has written in the light of the facts that while the Centre has sanctioned Rs 2600 crores for minorities the state governments are not bothering to use the amount.

“Last year government has allotted Rs. 1749 crores for Minority welfare which has been increased this year to Rs. 2600 crores. Of them Rs. 1204 crore is exclusively for development of 90 Minority concentrated districts while last year Rs. 869.5 was allotted for the same purpose. But unfortunately, there has not seen any impact of that amount because state governments did not show their interest to use the amount for the progressive works. Only five states have worked in this regard,” the former Bihar chief minister wrote and urged for provision to make use of centre’ minority welfare fund mandatory for states.





“Therefore, I request you to bring a provision which makes mandatory for state governments to use the central amounts for Minority welfare” Mishra wrote in the letter.

He also urged the centre to fully implement Sachar and Mishra Commission reports to better the social, educational and economical condition of Muslims.

"Sachar committee disclosed the fact that Muslims are worse compared to other citizens. Mishra Commission has submitted its report three years back recommending reservation to Muslims but no initiative has been taken to implement these reports. Government is making ifs and buts and has failed to ensure development work for Minorities especially Muslims"he said. He also urged PM to monitor the schemes run for Minority welfare and to ensure their implementation at grass roots.

Jamiat Ulema (Mahmood group) holding conf in Patna, facing opposition from Arshad group

By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: After Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Deoband and Kolkata, it is Patna where Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (Mahmood Madani faction) is going to hold conference on Muslim issues on 1st April 2010. The program will be organized at historic Gandhi Maidan in the heart of the Bihar’s capital city.

The JUH central as well as state team is busy in the preparation of the program for last three months. JUH president (Mahmood faction) Qari Usman, general secretary Maulana Hakimuddin and its leader and MP Maulana Mahmood Madani are camping in the state for a month to make the program successful. For that they have been visiting areas of different districts of the state.





According to the organizers implementation of Ranganath Mishra Commission report, the official status of Urdu language in the state on ground level, Women Reservation Bill and other burning topics related to the community and country will be on the agenda of the program.

But as Maulana Arshad Madni faction has strong root in the state, organizing group is facing hard opposition.

Qari Moeenuddin, president of Bihar unit of JUH and Hassan Ahmad Qadri, the general secretary, (Arshad Madni faction), termed the program as an effort to gain political benefit. They also alleged that rebel group is violating the rule and regulation of JUH to find their land in the state.

In a press release they blamed Maulana Mahmood Madani to exploit Muslims for his own benefit. “When Maulana Mahmood Madani was national general secretary of JUH, he had always ignored Bihar. Not to speak financial help, he was not even interested to attend big programs in the state but now he is visiting from village to village. It is only because he wants to show a crowd of Muslims so that once again he can get Rajya Sabha seat from any party” reads the statement.

“He is advertising that the program is to put pressure on government to implement Mishra Commission while he reached to Rajya Sabha by a communal party and has voted in favor of Women reservation Bill which is against Muslim interests” it further reads.

Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Ejaz Ali, Khurshid Anwar of RJD, Nihal Akhter, spokesperson of National Muslim Dalit Sena, and several other leaders also criticized Maulana Mahmood Madani for voting in the favor of Women reservation Bill.

However, some other Muslim groups are coming out in support of Mahmood Madani group. Muslim United Front and some other organizations are fully supporting it. After a long period any Muslim organization is going to hold program on Muslim issues in Gandhi Maidan. Therefore, it is expected that a big crowd will be seen on 1st April here.

AMU campus row: A hot cake for Bihar political parties

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Patna: With Assembly elections round the corner in Bihar, political parties here have started to woo voters in different ways. The issue of AMU campus in Kishanganj is being used by almost all parties to increase their vote accounts. To attract Hindu votes, BJP’s youth wing ABVP – and BJP leaders behind the curtain as well -- are opposing the campus saying it will provide shelter to militants. The opposition parties including RJD and Congress, on the other hand, are trying to get sympathy of Muslims by issuing statements against ABVP and Bihar government.

Interestingly, JD-U is also not left behind. Its leaders strongly condemned ABVP for their opposition to AMU campus in Kishanganj. It means they too do not want to lose Muslim vote which they it got in the last assembly elections, helping the party to power.

Making an attack on Chief Minister Mr. Nitish Kumar, Bihar Congress chief Mr. Anil Sharma said the state government is backing ABVP by not taking legal action against them.

“On one hand Nitish Kumar allotted land for setting up AMU branch in Kishanganj and on the other, he has failed to take action against members of ABVP who are spreading hatred and flaring up religious sentiments” Sharma said adding that if Congress came to power it will request AMU as well as other national universities to open their branches in the state.

RJD spokesperson Mr. Shakeel Ahmad Khan also accused the Nitish government for indulging in double game.

“Bihar government does not tire to take credit for setting up AMU campus in Kishanganj and propagating it at high level to get Muslims’ votes. But its partner’s youth wing is opposing it and terming it as dangerous for the country. Moreover, according to news reports, RSS and BJP workers are capturing parts of the allotted land but government did not take any action in this matter,” Khan said.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made it clear that the decision to establish AMU centre in Kishanganj is not wrong as the centre would empower the people of all sections educationally. But as the opposition continued its attack on the government on the issue, the newly elected chief of JD-U Minority Cell Maulana Abu Talib Rahmani took on rivals and said that JD-U’s stand on the issue is clear from the day one.

“AMU has been a secular institution and a large number of non-Muslim students have been getting education from there. Therefore, those who are opposing it are not on right path. The AMU campus will benefit people of all classes and also it will glorify the name of Bihar all over the world” he said while addressing his first press conference after assuming office.

Many social organizations including Sarjapuri Vikas Morcha and Rashtriya Jan Jagran Morcha also condemned the ABVP for their shameful act.

The president of Sarjapuri Vikas Morcha Mr. Tara Chand said: “The AMU campus will surely increase the educational graph in Bihar as many poor students despite having abilities but due to lack of money are unable to go out of state for higher education. The campus will help them and thus we will have more doctors, engineers and professionals in our state.”

He advised ABVP that if they are sincere then they should protest for schools, colleges and universities that lack teachers, buildings and other facilities or where teachers do not attend classes.

Lalu, Paswan demand Muslim quota within WRB at Jamiat Ulema conf

By Manzar Bilal and Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: Four days before Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is holding an all-party meeting to ensure support for passage of the Women Reservation Bill in the coming session of the Parliament, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan yesterday reiterated their demand that without provision for sub-quota for Muslim and backward class women, the Bill will not be acceptable to them. They were addressing Jamiat Ulema conference on Muslim reservation in Patna yesterday.

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Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) organized the massive conference here demanding the government to solve the problems confronting the Muslim community. Reservation for Muslims in education and job, quota within Women Reservation Bill for Muslim and marginalized women and implementation of Urdu language at ground level were top issues raised at the conference held at historic Gandhi Maidan last night.




A number of Muslim, social and political leaders from different parts of the country came to address the conference while thousands of people from across the state were present to listen to them. Despite a call for Bihar bandh by BJP’s youth wing ABVP a massive crowd traveled from distant areas of the state to attend the program which formally began after Maghrib and went on till late night.




Rather than speaking on the topics of the program, political leaders from different parties spent much time on blaming each other. Ironically, these leaders were given unlimited time to speak while prominent personalities who were to speak on Muslim issues either given little time or not at all. Even president of JUH Maulana Qari Usman was given few minutes at the end of the program when the auditorium looked almost empty.



Speaking on the occasion JUH leader and MP Maulana Mahmood Madni said: “To seek reservation for Muslim means to seek reservation for the country because Muslims are second largest community of the country. So, country cannot progress without progress of Muslims. In a scenario, when all other backward people are given reservation then why Muslims cannot be given that? Muslims are backward today because of government’s wrong policies. Therefore it is government’s responsibility to redress the condition of Muslims.”



Rejecting the allegation that he voted for Women Reservation Bill in Rajya Sabha he said:” It is incorrect that I have voted for WRB in the Parliament. Our stand have always been that without due share for weaker section WRB will never be acceptable for us.”




Urging Muslim youths to make all efforts for the success in all fields he said: “Rights are not given but you have to get them. I mean you should create quality within yourselves and get skills of all asperse in such quality that others will be forced to give your rights and take your help unwillingly.”


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On ABVP’s opposition to AMU campus in Kishnanganj he said: “AMU campus will be in the favor of all people of the region irrespective of their religions, castes and creeds then what does it mean for this opposition except foolishness? Suppose this centre is going to benefit only to Muslims then also it is in the favor of country. APJ Abul Kalam’f qualification benefited the country or not? I think these people are not well-wishers so we should aware of them and come forward to build a peaceful and beautiful India.

Addressing the gathering LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan said: “If Women Reservation Bill will be implemented in present form, it will affect the Muslims more and their number will come down from 28 to 8. Muslim should be given 10% reservation as Mishra panel recommended. They are trying to create fight between Muslims and other backward class people who are talking about giving 8% reservation to Muslims from 27% which is recommended by Mandal Commission for other backward.”


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RJD chief Lalu Perasad expressed his determination to oppose Women Reservation Bill without quota for Muslim and backward women. “Our fight for WRB will continue unless quota within quota is provided. We are ready to be thrown out of parliament but not ready to favor the bill in its present form” he expressed.


Eminent social activist Sawami Agnivesh in his speech criticized those who link religions with terrorism. He also urged Muslims to follow the teachings of prophet Mohammad (PBUH). He said people should come to fight for social evils especially alcohol and dowry.

“I appreciate Nitish Kumar for his progressive works in the state but I condemn his decision to have two shops for wine in every panchayet. He has to ban on such shops otherwise people will never forgive him” he added.

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On Muslim Reservation he said: “It is time for Central government to implement Ranganath Mishra Commission recommendation and stop cheating Muslims. Nitish government should also take action in this regard on the pattern of southern states.”

He also condemned ABVP for opposing AMU off-campus in Kishanganj and said they are enemy of education.

“AMU campus will not have only Muslim students then why it is being opposed by a party who is partner in government? It is nothing but dirty politics and putting barrier in the way of progressive step” he said.

Maulana Idris, president Bihar JUH demanded government to give quota for Muslim to reduce their educational and social backwardness. He demanded the state government to give Urdu its due position. “State Government should implement Urdu in all offices and department. Urdu teachers and employees should not be used for other works. Madarsa teachers should be given their due rights. Their salaries must be given at time and equal to school teachers. The construction of boundary walls for graveyards should be completed as soon as possible” he added.

National president of JUH Maulana Qari Usman, JUH general secratry Maulana Hakimuddin, Akhterul Iman, RJD MLA, Sabir Ali, Rajya Sabha MP, and many others also spoke on the occasion.

ABVP’s Bihar bandh against AMU Kishanganj campus flop

By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: Life remained unaffected today in Patna and other parts of the state, making flop the Bihar bandh call of BJP’s youth wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad against the coming Kishanganj campus of Aligarh Muslim University. The unsuccessful bandh sent a strong signal across that public does not buy the view of ABVP that the AMU campus in Muslim dominated eastern Bihar district will become a shelter for terrorists.

To oppose the AMU campus ABVP had given a call for state bandh today. But vehicular traffic was almost normal in the capital city and shops were open. Jamiat Ulema organized a state-level conference in Gandhi Maidan. The daylong program was attended by thousands of people from across the state. RJD leader Lalu Prasad and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan addressed the gathering. Jamiat leader and MP Maulana Mahmood Madani had organized the conference.


Two days back, ABVP had staged a protest and tried to entre the Assembly campus to press the government not to allow the AMU campus. The state government has already given 250 acres of land for the campus. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has rejected the ABVP’s view, and said the campus will help improve the educational condition in the state.

Bihar madrasa teachers raise voice against discrimination, demand justice

By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: “Madrasas have a glorious history of producing prominent personalities and dignitaries who rendered their yeoman service for the community and the country. Maulana Hasrat Mohani, Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad are among them whose footsteps are followed today proudly. Government should solve the problems of madrasa teachers so that they could continue their work” said Ashraf Farid, Editor, Qaumi Tanzim Urdu daily, while addressing ‘All Bihar Madrasa and Urdu Convention’ at Urdu Bhawan in Patna yesterday.




To demand salaries and facilities as given to regular school teachers, hundreds of madrasa teachers from different parts of Bihar gathered in the state capital. When both school teachers and madrasa teachers are government employees and doing same work then why they are not given same facilities and salaries, the organizers asked. They also demanded that discrimination between madrasa and school students should also be ended and madrasa students should be given scholarship and free books as school students are provided.

“Bihar government is serious about the problems of madrasa teachers and thinking to give them salaries equivalent to school teachers. We are trying to find out the way for that” said Shahid Ali Khan, Minister for Minority Welfare in Bihar government.

The program was organized jointly by All Bihar Madrasa Teachers Association and Bihar Anjuman Traqqi Urdu.



Speaking on the occasion, Abdul Qayyum Ansari, Secretary Anjuman Traqqi Urdu, said: “It is regretful that our leaders have failed to raise the issues related to Urdu and Madrasa in legislative houses. So, we should fight our own for our rights otherwise we will not be given our due rights.”

Maulana Zahir-ul-Haq, president All Bihar Madrasa Teachers Association, said: “We have been fighting for the cause of madrasa teachers since 1974. During the regime of late Chief Minister Kirpuri Thakur we got increase in our salaries from Rs. 2 to Rs. 200 because of our continued efforts. But till today there are lots of problems of madrasas and madrasa teachers for that we have to fight united.”

The program was also addressed by Mohammad Irshadullah, Chairman of Bihar Sunni Waqf Board, Saleem Pervez, JD (U) MLC from Saran and Maulana Abul Kalam Qasmi, principal of Madrasa Islamia Shamsul Hoda.

Earlier in the morning a delegation headed by Maulana Zahir-ul-Haq met Minister Mr. Shahid Ali Khan in his chamber and handed over a list of their demands to forward to the chief Minister. They warned that they wanted a reply from the government within two days otherwise they will launch movement for fulfillment of their demands.

Badruddin Ajmal losing grip on party MLAs, cross-voting helps Cong

By Manzar Bilal, TowCircles.net,

Patna: It seems that All India United Democratic Front of perfume baron and MP Maulana Badruddin Ajmal is losing grip on the party MLAs in Assam. The cross-voting of AIUDF MLAs and some other Opposition MLAs helped Congress win two Rajya Sabha seats from the state two days ago. AIUDF, however, has alleged Congress of using money power to win the seats.

In the Raya Sabha elections held on March 26, Congress retained its two seats from Assam. The Congress fielded two candidates – Nazneen Farooq as first preference candidate and Silvious Condpan the second preference. The Congress’ first preference candidate Nazneen Farooq got 43 votes and second preference Silvious Condpan 42 votes while the opposition’s unanimous candidate Jayanta Baruah got 40 votes. Congress though has support of 75 MLAs it got votes from 85 MLAs ensuring the win of its candidates. While opposition parties including AGP, BJP, AIUDF, and Left parties as well as some independent MLAs had projected Jayanta Baruah, the owner of the mass circulated Asomiya Pratidin newspaper, as the consensus non-political candidate of the combined opposition.



In 126-member house, Congress has 57 MLAs of its own, 11 MLAs from its ally Bodo People's Front and eight independent MLAs while opposition parties AGP has 24 MLAs, BJP 10, AIUDF nine, the Left parties have three MLAs.

Seven MLAs from three major opposition parties -- Rumi Nath, Abhijit Hazarika, Shambhu Singh Malla and Kartiksena Sinha of the BJP, Anwarul Haque and Rasul Haque of the AUDF and AGP's Abdul Aziz -- voted for the Congress candidate for the second seat. One MLA each of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and Ganashakti also supported the Congress.


Congress termed it as historic win and victory of truth but opposition has alleged it of using money power for the purpose which is “murder of democracy.”

Talking to TwoCircles.net Dr. Bahrul Islam, Gen. Secretary and spokesperson of AIUDF, said: “It was nothing but money power which made Congress able to secure both seats, otherwise our candidate was in the position to win one seat as we had 48 votes. But as usual Congress played dirty game for political gain.”

He also said that it was moral defeat of Congress as well as those MLAs of opposition parties who voted for Congress candidate.

Asked why he is confident that there was money power behind Congress victory he said: “AIUDF MLA Rasul Haque was one of those who purposed to support Jayanta Baruah and party has decided to do so after consulting all the members in several meetings but in the time of voting Mr. Rasul Haque voted against party’s line. What could be said except that a big deal has been done which lured him to go against party’s whip? Two Ministers in the state government were seen to take BJP MLAs who favored Congress candidate in the car to assembly house which strengthen the point that there was money power behind the Congress victory.”

Interestingly, the rebel leaders of AIUDF defended themselves by arguing that they voted for Congress candidates because they did not want to go on the line of BJP. BJP rebel MLAs presented the same logic that they went against rival AIUDF.

However, rejecting their argument all the MLAs who voted against their party lines have been suspended. They include Dr Rumi Nath, Abhijit Hazarika, Sambhu Singh Mallah and Kartik Sena Sinha of BJP, Rasul Haque and Anwarul Haque of AIUDF, Abdul Aziz of AGP.

“It is very shameful matter especially for that our two MLAs sold themselves for money. We have suspended both MLAs for their anti-party activities and tomorrow we will give an application to speaker and appeal to cancel their membership as BJP has already done it” said Dr. Bahrul Islam.

Asked if their application will be accepted he said: “We will do our work but whether we will succeed or not it depends on speaker.”