Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Muslim League demands dismissal of Narendra Modi

By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: The Indian Union Muslim League has demanded Union Government to dismiss immediately Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of IPS and IAS officers’ allegations that he played key role in the killing of thousands of Muslims in 2002 infamous Gujarat riot by asking senior police officers to let Hindu mobs vent their anger against Muslims.

“We demand from Central Government to dismiss Modi immediately and arrest him for killing thousands of Muslims in 2002 Gujarat riot. I think after so many evidences came to the light against him, no reasons left to let him to be on the post” said Prof. Dr. Basir Ahmed Khan, National President of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) while talking to TCN over phone.

Criticizing Central Government for not taking action against Modi he said: “Modi would have been behind bar long ago, if Central Government has taken action but it always escaped the issue saying court can take decision on the matter. But it is an unacceptable excuse because Centre has power to dismiss the state government if it fails to maintain law and order in the state. Is there any doubt that Modi government failed to protect its citizens?” he asked.

“In my opinion, Congress did not act against Modi and always has soft corner for him because it has been using him for getting votes of Muslims. When elections come it creates fear of Modi among Muslims and asks votes to stop him from the top post. Therefore, it does not want bury the issue by taking action against Modi” he alleged.

Dr. Basir said that there are same reasons behind banning SIMI without adequate proofs and letting free RSS, Ram Sena and Abhinav Bharat despite plenty of evidences are available against them.

“Before coming to power, Congress promised to take action against Modi but it did not fulfill it till today. Congress makes new statements time to time on sensitive issues through Digvijay Singh but when it comes to action it fails” he added.

Notably, Senior IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt revealed in his affidavit to Supreme Court that at a special meeting on 27th Feb. 2002 Modi asked top police officers of the state to let the rioting mobs vent their anger to teach Muslims a lesson.

While suspended IAS officer Pradeep Sharma has alleged that during 2002 anti-Muslim riots, an official of chief minister’s office (CMO) approached him to ask his brother Kuldeep Sharma, who was Inspector General of Police, not to protect Muslims.

At the time of riot Pradeep Sharma was municipal commissioner of Jamnagar while his brother Kuldeep Sharma was Inspector General of Police of Ahmedabad Range.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Thousands of Muslims rendered homeless in Ranchi

By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: Thousands of poor slum-dwellers have been rendered homeless in Ranchi after the BJP-led Jharkhand government partially and selectively acted on the state High Court order to remove illegal constructions. The Jharkhand High Court had issued order to remove all illegal constructions but the state government applied it only on slums where the poor live while leaving untouched the rich and affluent who are occupying illegal lands.


Government ignored rehabilitation order

Most importantly, the court had instructed the government to make sure proper rehabilitation/resettlement of the affected people prior to removing the encroachments but the administration completely ignored this part of the order and made thousands of people homeless.


The Muslim-dominated Islam Nagar slum colony of the state capital was worst affected among the areas that came under the anti-encroachment drive. On April 5 when the residents of Islam Nagar saw bulldozers razing their houses to dust, they protested against it only inviting the wrath of the police that promptly opened fire killing two of the protestors.



The reaction

The matter has put the state on boil as several organizations have joined hands and floated an umbrella outfit, Jharkhand Bachao Nagarik Abhiyan to stand up against the inhuman act of the government.

Several politicians including BJP Ranchi MLA and Assembly Speaker CP Singh, former BJP MLA from Jamshedpur Sarju Rai, former Jharkhand chief minister Babulal Marandi and a number of Congress leaders including Ranchi MP Subodh Kant Sahay staged sit-in in the capital demanding suspension of the drive and rehabilitation of the affected people first.


To whom land belongs?

“The 90% population of Islam Nagar were Muslims and 10% are adivasis. The anti-encroachment drive has affected 25 thousand people of the colony while almost 1800 houses were razed so far. The way the government opted was totally inhuman” said Mohd Rizwan of United Milli Forum while talking to TCN from Ranchi.

“Though the land of Islam Nagar colony belongs to Polytechnic Engineering College, in 1966 after a riot erupted in Ranchi the government rehabilitated the affected people here. Since then they had been living there with all the legal facilities such as electricity, water and ration and they were also using their rights to vote in all elections. But today the government has forced them to live under the open sky without any alternative” he added.

Mr. Tanweer of Sangam Urdu daily who was present when anti-encroachment drive was going on in Islam Nagar said: “The police did not care of sentiment of those who were losing their houses and things they owned after hard works. The Police opened fire at these poor in which two lost lives while at least 10 got injured who are still in hospital. But shamelessly the state government did not do anything for the victims.”


Why only slums came under order?

“There are hundreds of acres land in the state that are illegally occupied, but the government applied the order only for those who are mostly daily wagers that too without rehabilitation” Tanweer added.

He said that displaced people are in sorry condition. “They lost everything. They do not have anything to eat. The Muslim organizations such as Imarat Shariah and Jamaat-e-Islami are providing relief packages to victims and several individuals also came out to help them but no relief was given by government” he told.


Muslim organizations demand compensation, rehabilitation

It should be mentioned here that two days back a delegation comprising representatives of different organizations led by Maulana Anisur Rahman Qasmi, General Secretary of Imarat Shariah, submitted a memorandum to Jharkhand governor with several demands.

“We demanded that the residents of Islam Nagar should be rehabilitated at the same site where they had been living for more than 40 years. We also demanded Rs.10 lakh as compensation for the families of two persons each who died in police firing on April 5” said Dr. Hassan Raza, state President of Jamaat-e-Islami, who was part of the delegation.


Court ordered rehabilitation of displaced

Meanwhile, the Jharkhand High Court on 19th April has ordered Jharkhand government to allot land at concessional rates to the residents of Islam Nagar.


The division bench of Chief Justice Bhagawati Prasad and Justice P C Tatia directed the government that those affected people who were living on encroached land for over 20 years should be allotted a piece of land at concessional rate and they will pay for it in instalments. But they have to submit valid proof such as voter identity card or ration card to claim the land.

It will be interesting to see if the government rehabilitates the victims following the court order or will remain inactive in this regard as earlier.


[Photo by www.newzfirst.com]

Time to stand up to resolve our problems: Inamdar

By Manzar Bilal,

Patna: There have been lots of meetings to know about our problems. It is time to stand up to think that now we can solve our problems. When we start work, we will get confidence and then we will move on toward success. We should think how to implement our own agenda but unfortunately we expect that from government. These views were expressed by eminent educationist from Pune, Mr P.A. Inamdar.

He was speaking at a program entitled Talim and Talim Ki Tanzeem organized by Rahmani Foundation of Munger at Haj Bhawan here on 27th March.



P.A. Inamdar


Speaking on the topic, Inamdar said RTE act has changed the situation of the country. “We should not spend our money on establishment of new schools because it has become the responsibility of government through RTE Act. Yes that money we should spend on education and not on building of schools because education has become business, and so, our children need huge money to pay fees for higher education,” he said.

“We must learn computer and technology because it is the need of our time, otherwise we will remain behind everyone. We are giving computer education to poor children of slums in Pune. We are running 15 centers for the purpose,” he said.



L-R: Ajmal Farid, P.A. Inamdar, Ahmad Ashfaq Kareem, Dr Lutfur Rahman, Shafi Mashhadi & Manzar Jameel


A huge amount of government for minority will come in near future, so have we any plan to receive that amount for betterment of Muslims? One person in every district of state can change the picture, he said and promised to work for the Muslims in Bihar but urged to work as ‘the thing that is better for our own children that is for the community also.’ We need quality to rule the world and not majority as we know that we ruled the country when we were in little number, he added.

Addressing the audience, Prof. Dr Lutfur Rahman said that a community needs to get excellence in education to get honor and power in the world. “But today we are worst in education so how can we progress?” said former MLA and noted Urdu Journalist Rahman.



Maulana Wali Rahmani and others



There are many Muslims who are wealthy. If each of them takes responsibility to afford education of one child then picture will be quite different. Similarly, those who do not have wealth but have knowledge they can play good role by following the ‘Each one, Teach one’ principle.

Ajmal Farid, Editor, Patna Urdu daily Qaumi Tanzeem said that Islam is religion which gave much importance to education. This is evident from the first wahi (revelation to Prophet). “Till Muslims were taking this message seriously they were in the front at every level, but now Muslims are lagging behind only due to ignoring the message.”



Audience


Ex- IAS Shafi Mashhadi said that Muslims are 15 million in the state of Bihar but out of them only 40% Muslims are literate the rest are illiterate, and only 20% Muslim women in the state are literate.

In Bihar there are only few Muslim NGOs that are working for Muslim welfare. So, need to establish sincere NGOs because we know that government are implementing welfare schemes through NGOs, he said.



Audience


Muslims intellectuals and elites are really culprits for this sorry condition of the community because they did not perform their responsibilities in this regard, he averred.

The program was presided over by Ahmad Ashfaq Kareem while Maulana Wali Rahmani was the patron of the program.

Book terms Iqbal, Sir Syed ‘communal’; journalists want ban

By Manzar Bilal,

Patna: The All India Urdu Journalists Forum organized today (27 March) a protest dharna at Kargil Chowk here in Bihar capital city of Patna demanding ban on the ‘controversial book’ “Adhunik Bharat Mein Samajik Parivartan (Social Change in Modern India)” in which its author J P Singh, director, Higher Education, Bihar, has allegedly described Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Dr. Allama Iqbal as communal and separatist leaders of Muslim community.



The Protestors demanded, removal of the author of the book from his post and action against him alleging that because of ‘wrong portrayal’ of two towering Muslim personalities, he has hurt the sentiments of the community and has tried to disturb the communal harmony of the peaceful state of Bihar.



Ashraf Asthanvi showing book containing remarks against Sir Syed and Iqbal


Ashraf Asthanvi, senior Urdu journalist and president of All India Urdu Journalists Forum said:“We are here to demand immediate ban on the book and action against author because he alleged two patriotic Muslim leaders without any proof which is intolerable.”





Showing the controversial text of the book Mr. Asthanvi said: “See how a communal minded author alleged our great leaders as communal. How great Iqbal, who gave message of communal harmony by his verse “Mazhab Nahi Sikhata Apas main Ber Rakhna, (religion doesn’t advocate religious enmity)”, can be communal and how Sir Syed, who gave precious gift to India in the shape of AMU, can be separatist?” he asked.



Protest demanding ban on book containing remarks against Sir Syed and Iqbal


“We have not only raised the issue through newspapers but also wrote several letters to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar seeking ban on the book and sacking of the author but all these failed to draw CM’s attention towards such sensitive issue” he said.

The day the book got highlighted, Muslim leaders protested against the book. The issue was also raised in the “Legislative Assembly and Council by RJD leaders” demanding its ban but so far the government has largely been silent on this issue.

Later, protesters met Governor of Bihar and handed over memorandum to him seeking his intervene in the matter. They also planned to approach the Patna High Court if required.


[Photos and video shot by Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net]

First time in Bihar: Muslims are Opposition Leader both in Assembly & Council

By Manzar Bilal,

Patna: With reinstatement of Prof. Ghulam Ghaus as Opposition Leader of Bihar Legislative Council (Upper House) recently, a new history was written in the state: It is the first time when the post of Opposition Leader in both Houses of Bihar legislature is being held by Muslims. Abdul Bari Siddiqui, who also comes from Ghaus’s party RJD, is Opposition Leader in Bihar Legislative Assembly.

Former state Minister and RJD MLA Siddiqui is heading Opposition in Assembly while Ghulam Ghaus, who has served as Opposition Leader in the Council from 2005 to 2010, has started his new inning of the same post.

Abdul Bari Siddiqui

Though RJD has only 22 members in the current Assembly, Abdul Bari Siddiqui is executing the job of a strong and effective Opposition Leader which made the RJD presence felt in the House, and in the state. Besides using his own chances to quiz the government on several issues, he does not miss the opportunities of sub-question in the House. Interestingly, he does not raise the issue verbally and lightly, rather he argues equipped with facts and documents; therefore he made government speechless several times.



Abdul Bari Siddiqui


It is said that after many years Bihar Assembly has got strong Opposition Leader in the form of Mr. Siddiqui. Even Chief Minister Mr. Nitish Kumar has admitted that Mr. Siddiqui does not leave any stone unturned to attack on the government.

Abdul Bari Siddiqui, who was the part of Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement in the 1970s, is a close friend of and loyal to RJD Chief Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav. He is among big faces of RJD as well as Muslim leaders in the state.

He represented Bahera constituency in Darbhanga district thrice (1995 to 2010) and in 2010 Assembly Election he won from Alinagar constituency in the same district. Lalu Prasad fielded Mr. Siddiqui as party candidate of Madhubani constituency in 2009 Lok Sabha Election against Dr. Shakeel Ahmad of Congress and Hukum Deo Narayan Yadav of BJP. Though he lost to Hukum Deo with a margin of 4000 votes, he proved his popularity by pushing Dr. Shakeel Ahmad, who won the seat two times, at No. 3.

The 63-year-old Mr. Siddiqui held various portfolios in Lalu-Rabri regime since 1995 to 2005. Besides, he also served as Bihar president of RJD for three consecutive terms.

In 2010 Assembly Election RJD faced embarrassing defeat by getting only 22 seats out of 243. Many big RJD leaders lost their seats including former Opposition Leader Rabri Devi and her deputy Shakeel Ahmad Khan, but Mr. Siddiqui won and thus he was given the responsibility of Opposition Leader which he is carrying on successfully and effectively.

Prof. Ghulam Ghaus

On the other hand Prof. Ghulam Ghaus, who is nephew of late freedom fighter and ex- Minister and Speaker of Bihar Assembly Mr. Ghulam Sarwar, also did well in his job as Opposition Leader in Legislative Council in his first term.



Prof. Ghulam Ghaus


Three-time MLC Mr. Ghaus faced some difficulties to retain the post for the second term as the ruling alliance of JDU-BJP was not willing to accept him as Opposition Leader. Before Bihar Assembly Elections in Oct-Nov 2010, RJD recommended his name for the post but chairman of the Bihar Legislative Council, Tara Kant Jha put the issue on hold until elections were over. But even several months after the elections and despite written application by Abdul Bari Siddiqui to the chairman demanding appointment of Mr. Ghulam Ghaus as Opposition Leader it did not happen.

However, as Bihar Legislative Council was going to organize centenary celebration on 22 March 2011, which was attended by President Pratibha Singh Patil, Mr. Tara Kant Jha on 18 March announced that RJD member, Ghulam Ghaus, has been made Leader of the Opposition in the House.

[Photo: viewpatna]