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Monthly Archives: January 2011
Are Blasphemy Laws Islamic?
Salmaan Taseer was killed, as confessed by his murderous bodyguard, for being a staunch opponent of the blasphemy law of Pakistan and seeking Presidential pardon for Aasia Bibi.It is a fact that the use of derogatory language against Prophet Muhammad, or for that matter any Prophet, is considered a great sin in Islam. But it is also no ordinary crime to sentence somebody to death without evidence. So far the charges against Aasia Bibi have not been incontrovertibly proved. The Quran records some of the nasty insinuations that were hurled at the Prophet (see 25:41 and 38:4-5) and defends and consoles him without suggesting any mundane punishment for the abusers. Such invectives would certainly have hurt the Prophet and therefore, he is assuaged with, “Have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble dignity” (73:10) and, “You possess the most exalted standard of character” (68:4). After having comforted the Prophet thus, the Quran advises him, and through him his followers, to “forgive and overlook; for God loves those who are kind” (5:13). There are several instances in the Prophet’s life which show that he tolerated the foul language of even his sworn enemies. Continue reading
Tiranga: A Gimmick By RSS
The RSS/BJP gang is once again on to its old pastime of whipping up frenzy against Muslims. They plan to unfurl, Tricolour, the Indian National Flag in Srinagar on January 26, 2011. Organiser, the RSS English organ in its third issue (July 17, 1947) disturbed by the Constituent Assembly’s decision to select the Tricolour as the National Flag, carried an editorial titled ‘National Flag’, demanding that the saffron flag be chosen instead. Even after independence when the Tricolour became the National Flag, it was the RSS which refused to accept it as the National Flag. Importantly, nowhere in the functioning of the RSS is the Tricolour or National Flag used even today. The RSS headquarters at Reshambaugh, Nagpur does not fly it nor do the RSS shakhas display it in daily parades. It seems the National Flag is meant only to whip up frenzy against Muslims. In 1991(Ekta Yatra) it was Murli Manohar Joshi, another favourite in the RSS hierarchy, who went to unfurl the Tricolour at Lal Chowk of Srinagar, Kashmir. Uma Bharti carried a Tri-colour because it was an Idgah which was being targeted by Hindutva. Continue reading
BJP’s Rashtriya Ekta Yatra: Heading In Wrong Direction
BJP fascination with Muslims, Kashmir, Pakistan and Yatras is never going to end. Latest in the series, Rashtriya Ekta Yatra, is heading towards Kashmir for hoisting flag in Lal Chowk, Srinagar on 26th January.This time flag hoisting is planned when normalcy has just returned to valley after weeks of unrest. BJP Rashtriya Ekta Yatra should have headed to North East instead of North West. China has become very aggressive in North East India and specially Arunachal Pradesh. All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has decided to protest “humiliation” meted out to sportsmen by boycotting the Republic Day celebration and all function of national importance. China’s “Map World” is showing Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin- two area in dispute with India – as part of China. George Fernandes had suggested that China must be perceived as a threat by “any person who is concerned with India’s security.” Robert Blackwill have said “China using Pakistan to slow India’s rise”. BJP narrow vision is not doing any good for the country and such narrow vision is not expected from a national party which has ruled India for six years. Continue reading
Selective Justice For Muslim Religious Places In Delhi
Delhi govt. officials accompanied by 500 armed police personnel and DDA demolition squad and equipments reached a Hindu dominated locality Jangpura-B to demolish a small Mosque in this area known as Masjid Noor. Rule of law has been implemented and “illegal structure” (Noor Mosque) on Delhi Govt. land has been done away with. The Delhi High Court four years back ordered the Delhi state govt to stop illegal cutting of Dargah Panch Peer trees behind the Prime Ministers of India’s residence. What happened? Despite running from pillar to post the Dargah land was captured by Association of Retired Civil Servants for constructing Civil Servants Club. Today the dargah has been wired within 250 yards by area SHO. The green belt has been reduced to stones. On 9 acres of Dargah land worth at least 20,000 Crores the three storied Club building has almost finished its construction. This writer approached everyone from PM to Sonia to Urdu Media, Muslim leaders, Muslim ministers and MPs but till date nothing has happened despite the High Court orders in favour of the Dargah. Continue reading
Islam, Family and Modernity
According to Islamic teachings, sex is permissible only within the institution of marriage as sex only for pleasure, is not permissible; sex is basically meant for raising family. Today in western countries, people do not want to take responsibility for raising family but want to have sex for pleasure and hence ‘live-in’ arrangement has come into vogue and this concept of live-in has dealt great blow to the institution of family. In this arrangement both man and woman can walk away any time they like. Every attempt is made to avoid begetting children and, if at all, children are born, the whole responsibility will come on a single parent, especially on mother. The result is man tries to have multiple partners to enjoy sex and woman is burdened with children and faces psychological stresses and strain. Continue reading
Jangpura Masjid: Factual Position
The Delhi High Court had not ordered demolition of the Jangpura Masjid as the Delhi Waqf Board had informed the DDA that the mosque was on its registered graveyard land. But Delhi Lt. Governor approved an unknown Religious Committee’s 16th June 2009 recommendation to demolish the mosque which was ultimately demolished on 12th January 2011. The matter had reached this stage while, using huge police force, DDA demolished the masjid on 12 January 2011. In the Gazette Notification of Delhi Government dated 25 September 1975 in Khasra no. 633 at entry no. 20 is mentioned the Muslim graveyard measuring 6 bigha 13 biswa. Government officers are not sensitized toward Muslims. Many a time their prejudice continues against Muslims as in the case of Masjid Noor of Jangpura, New Delhi. Continue reading
Communal Riots In 2010
The year 2010 of course did not witness riots like Mumbai in 1992-93 or one like in Gujarat in 2002 but did witness riots mostly in either middle level cities or even small towns and villages. According to the Home Ministry data between 2001 and 2009 6,541 communal clashes occurred and 2,234 persons were killed. Though the number of communal clashes may be correct officially the number of casualties is never reported accurately in official records for various reasons. In 2002 in Gujarat alone, all non-official sources agree, was 2000 dead and official sources are showing number of deaths between 2001 sand 2009 i.e. over a period of 8 years as 2,234 i.e. minus Gujarat total number of dead over a period of 8 years in all only 234 persons died which can hardly be accurate. Continue reading
Binayak Sen – Gandhi Of Our Era
Mahatma Gandhi of the present Era, I must say, Dr. Binayak Sen, a doctor by profession is a noted Human rights activist who has dedicated his life for a Cause. He worked for the tribal people of Chhattisgarh who are devoid of the basic amenities. On 24th Dec, the Sessions court of Raipur found him guilty of sedition and sentenced him to life imprisonment. His only crime is that he raised his voice against the ‘Salwa Judum’, a private force armed by the Chhattisgarh government to take on the Tribals and Maoists, forcing them to leave their land to the big-shot Mining companies. Salwa Judum has committed many crimes, the list of which is endless; burnt houses, looted tribal’s property, raped women and killed people. Continue reading
Vagaries Of First-Past-The-Post Electoral System
The Janata Dal (United)-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance with just 39.1 per cent votes managed to get around 85 per cent of seats––206 in the House of 243––while the Rashtriya Janata Dal-Lok Janshakti Party combine of Lalu Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan ended up getting just 10 per cent seats when they actually got over 25.3 per cent votes. RJD got 18.6 per cent votes while LJP 6.7 per cent. Congress, which got 8.37 per cent votes, won just four seats. How could this happen when even in 1952 and 1957 Bihar Assembly elections, the then ruling Congress did not win so much seats notwithstanding the fact that there was no formidable opposition party in the state then? Continue reading
Khwaja Abdul Hamied (1898-1972)
Indian pharmaceutical industry is the second largest in the world in terms of volumes produced and is among the top six as far as financial turn-over is concerned. This extraordinary success story has two principal authors – “Acharya” Prafulla Chandra Roy who founded the Bengal Chemicals in 1901 and Khwaja Abdul Hameid of CIPLA established in 1935. CIPLA has grown from strength to strength wit its current turnover exceeding ` 5000 crores or well over $ 1 billion. Dr Hamied is therefore deservedly regarded as the father of indigenous modern pharmaceutical industry of India. This pre-eminence makes him as one of the most remarkable Indian Muslim of recent times and his life and achievements deserve to be known more widely. Continue reading