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In a bizarre and dangerous development, a minister in the Mulayam Singh Yadav’s government in UP, Haji Yaqoob Quereshi has announced an award of Rs 51 Crore for cartoonist’s head who drew the caricature of Prophet Muhammad. He said that the people of Meerut would contribute for the award. The state government has come out with an equally bizarre and potentially more dangerous defence of the minister in question.
Principal secretary (Home) Alok Sinha said in Lucknow that Quereshi was just expressing the sentiments of the people of Meerut.
Sinha said it did not constitute any criminal offence. “The announcement had been made taking into account the feelings of the people… There is no offence to make such an announcement about a person living in a distant foreign country,” Sinha told reporters.
“In a democracy such announcements are made in a normal way… It cannot be said to be a law and order issue”.
I don’t know why Alok Sinha considers it to be ‘normal’, but it is of utmost concern to me that a minister in the most populous state of the largest democracy in the world makes such an announcement. And how does the Principal Secretary (Home) knows that Yaqoob Quereshi was expressing the sentiments of the people of Meerut? Is he insinuating that the Muslims of Meerut believe in this ridiculous announcement by the minister? AIMPLB members have critized the minister’s statemet ,
“Anyone who does anything wrong has to be punished under the law of the land to which he belongs,” pointed out Idgah Imam Maulana Khalid Rasheed. “Such statements only go on to help those targeting Muslims across the world.
There were riots in Mau in October 2005, and Muslim houses were burnt recently in Faizabad and the law and order situation in the state is deteriorating day by day.
Jannatunnissa, whose home was burnt, weeps as she narrates her family’s plight.
Instead of looking after the security of its people and working for the development, the UP government and its ministers think that they can make such stupid announcements in the name of ’sentiments’ and get away with them.
It is a sad, sad day for Indian Muslims and Indian Democracy.
Mohib
{ 18 comments }
I agree completely, but I wouldn’t blame Indian Muslims as a whole for what one idiotic politician has done. Just as you don’t blame Hindus as a whole for what lunatics in the Hindu right wing do (or Americans as a whole for what Bush does). It is a sad day for Indian democracy as a whole, but it is not a sad day for Indian Muslims because they bear no responsibility for what this idiot has said.
The Home Secretary is even more irresponsible than the minister. He should know that as per the Criminal Procedure Code, it is unlawful to call for anybody’s death or to place a bounty on somebody’s head, even if the victim is not in India or not an Indian citizen. It is only appropriate that a criminal case be filed against this minister and that he be punished for this utterly irresponsible act.
I believe this minister should be immedietly sacked for such a thing. This issue will do nothing but tarnish the image of India in the world. I already saw this news mentioned on the Yahoo Hompage. This is just @#@$@# ridicolous.
Action will be fine. Probably he needs that because isn’t as suave as politicians who without speaking a word can get their own country men murdered, raped in communal riots and use police and administration for the same.
I was obviously not blaming the entire community. My major concern is that politicians such as these are seen to be representative of Indian Muslims and such pronouncements go a long way in reinforcing the stereotypes about IMs.
As Adnan recently pointed out in his recent post that many times we are forced to become part of unnecessary controversies.
You are absolutely right Mohib Bhai. I was just making my comment on the posts. Of course, the statement has the tacit backing of Mulayam and the poor fellow is just a puppet. Mulayam is losing upper caste vote and wants Muslim vote bank intact.
I assume that the 51 crores he has promised must have come from the mismanagement and plunder of wakf board properties by “muslim” politicians
I am saying this because the state Wakf Boards must be under “minority affairs”
This idiot needs to be reminded that there were atleast 12 different cartoonists. (calculating 51 crores*12 itself will explode his head)
If this idiot even has 1 crore, I am really interested. What I don’t get it is NDTV asking for a poll whether he should be sacked?(via SM)
btw, Mohib/Adnan, what is this Popularity – XYZ% at the end of every post? A snarky reference to the controversy, maybe? If that is the case, I heart it
ps: Sorry for not replying earlier to yr emails. I was held up with somethings on work-pesonal front. Resurfaced for some fresh air
You’ve got some good momentum going here. I am totally digging it. Watch out for my email.
Hello Suhail sahab,
Welcome to the blog !!
Here is the latest from IE on the controversy.
Cartoons: Spontaneous rage? Look at drama, well-scripted
The popularity % for each post is calculated by a plugin installed in WP using the number of views, number of comments etc.
Best,
Mohib
Come on guys do not be so naive. Do you think the minister would really shell down so much money.? We need to look at the statement he made in a different way. I guess he was trying to express or let the world know how upset the indian muslims are about this issue. Offcourse every muslim is upset about it.
But then RSS affiliated newspapers kind of misinterpreted his statement with an intention of projecting indian muslims as terrorist (Indian Express is one such highly anti muslim newspaper).
I would say “WE SHOULD SIMPLY IGNORE SUCH NEWS ITEMS”
Now why am I saying this. Listen
Suppose we read this news items (UP Minister Promises Rs 51 Crore for Cartoonist’s Head) and then what we do is, we email it to our friends and they keep emailing to other. So this means that this new item that was misinterpreted by (RSS affiliated newspapers) is getting more popular and we are making it popular by letting our friends know and this chain does not stop. Apart from emailing linking such news items of blogs or sites make that link more popular and hence gets higher ranking on the search engines. This means more people get to read it.
So do not forward to friends nor link it. Simply ignore it so that (UP Minister Promises Rs 51 Crore for Cartoonist’s Head) does not become popular and cause more harm to muslims from India.
Also note that there is lot of bias against the Indian muslims not only in indian newspapers but also some of the news agency like AP,The reason for this is because most of the reporters working for foreign news agencies are communal Hindus (Please my hindu friends do not be offended by this. I am not saying every hindu is communal but then there are some hindus who really dislike the muslims for whatever reason. )
Jaffer, why the heck wouldnt any sane person be offended by a Minister offering 51 Crores to kill the cartoonists? I loathed MF Hussains paintings- I didnt ask for him to be killed!
Please realize that despite being offended religiously, human life is not something to be taken out each time we are offended!
And the papers mentioning it are very correct- there is no RSS conspiracy. Its just that people were outraged!
Venkat, I never said that the minister was right in offering a reward. I have said that we need to ignore statements that is only said to create a sensation. I think it was not right what MF Hussain did too.
But let me ask you something. The Hindu Goddess Lakshmi have you seen her picture. Is her body not revealed to a great extent. Do you think that is right?
Why dont you criticize your own community that projects one of your most popular goddess in a very sexy manner.
Jaffer,
In Hinduism , there are also Women Godesses. It is not their in Islam and maybe you dont have the capability to understand such aspects of other religions. The very idea that there can be Women Goddess – must be difficult for you to accept or is it not the case ?. In Hindu Culture, we don’t cover ourselves inside a black burqa like how it is done in Arabian culture. Hindu women have the freedom to wear their traditional dresses like Sari and etc. You should understand that you (going by your name) belong to a religion where Women are not appreciated as much as other religions like Hindusim does. In your religion – Women are more potrayed from their sexuality point of view rather than celebrated for any of their other capabilities. Thats why in Islam – women are equated to some stupidly perceived ‘Family honor, Community Honor’ and hell breaks loose when she exerts her freedom.
For Muslims like you – what is the reason that Women have to be covered from head to toe when they are in the public so that guys like you wouldnt get excited ?. Is it that – you guys by nature are always in a sexually-turned on state or is it that you guys dont have control over your senses ?. Why dont you guys just stick your life, manage it the way you want to without affecting other people ?.
What makes you guys think that ‘Goddess Lakshmi’ is projected in a ’sexy’ manner. It is insulting for Hindus like me to here such views being propogated. It will be good to known that, here you need to exercise your discretion in what you say about others. For Hindus, the way she is potrayed is perfectly fine – dressed in a Sari and decorated with ornaments and showering gold coins. Hindus worship her for the ‘Wealth’ aspect of living and not because she is ‘Sexy’.
I hope you are not a Male Muslim Punk who thinks Women are by nature created for ‘Sexual Purposes’ and not equal to men. I hope you learn to sensitise yourself about other difering aspects of life and apply discretion when courting others with questions.
It is necessary for and your fellow like-minded Muslims, coccooned in your ‘Women must be veiled’ arabian culture – to keep in Mind that you guys(if you are Indians) live in a multi-cultural society and moderate what ideas you are talking about.
I am also curious to ask, how you perceive Hindu/Christian women when you meet them in your day-to-day life ?. How much of your Islamism kicks in, when you start judging them ?.
Will appreciate if you or any similar Muslims who perceive ‘Hindu Goddesses as Sexy’ – can reply to my questions.
Thanks,
A Goddess Saraswathi and Goddess Lakshmi worshipping Hindu
Jaffer,
Interesting that you perceive Hindu Goddess Lakshmi ( http://www.koausa.org/Gods/Laxmi1.jpg )as “Very Sexy” because I have seen a lot of her pictures but never felt it like that. I hope you do understand the older temples depict representation of that era.
A. L. Bhasham, in his monumental work “The Wonder That Was India”, notes that for many centuries Indian women did not wear upper garments except during winter in certain parts of northern India. He quotes the example of the Nayar tribal women of south India, who until the mid-20th Century went about topless. Bhasham implies that the Muslim invasions were what altered the dress codes of Indian women.
http://livingheritage.org/toplessness.htm
I hope the muslim invasion period is over.
What you are saying is very typical attitude of some people. For example, see the following defense of a Pakistani muslim man in a rape case in Australia.
They were not covering their face or wearing a headscarf, and therefore, the rapist proclaimed: “I’m not doing anything wrong.�
Its always the “others” fault. And others have to subsrcibe to “your” viewpoint.
Yes most of Hindus always had dislikes for Muslim society. The time has again and again shown that the more the Muslim Society have done injustice to Hindu Society, destroyed their places of worship, portrayed their Holy Goddess in Nude and even Bharat Mata, the more Hindus have started to repel, spread hatred for Muslim community and untouchability for Muslim as a whole. For Hindus Kashi, Mathura, Ayodhya are more than Mecca for Muslims. We believe that any act of terror in these holy places by a Muslim should be avoided. If they want their God not be portrayed as cartoon, they should also refrain to indulge themselves to do insult to Hindu Goddess. May God Bless you.
LSGaya3, I have a lot of hindu friends and I know lot more Hinduism than most of hindus know by themeslves. This is religion is one of the oldest religion which has not changed with time.
Islam says that women need to cover her body or wear dresses in such a way so as to protect the private parts. There are reason for this.
In saudi arabia during our prophet started to preach about one god people were pagans or what you call idol worshippers, they would drink, have sex, use women as objects of sex and so on. There were many evils in that society during that period and not to forget the hindu society did have lots of evils (sati,child marriages,..) till 50 years back which were then banned.
The religion Islam got some system to the pagan society in the middle east. Women were given fair treatment after they became muslims and not as you percieve that women are treated as objects of sex.
Coming to the pictures of your Goddess Lakshmi, Raj has pasted a link that shows this goddess wearing a sari from top tp bottom but then arent there pictures of this goddess showing her navel and her breasts popping out, please do not be offened I am not trying to offend anyone here. This merely is a honest view. How would it feel when you see your goddess in such a manner. I am sure you feel offened or you simply do not realize that due to the fact that your faith would not take your mind in that direction.
Fine for hindus it is normal but then say for a foreigner when he see such images of your goddess then do you think he will see it the same way as you see.
My point is if you are condeming MF Hussain for painting your goddess in nude then you should also condemn your fellow hindus who make such revealing pictures of your goddess.
Ravi, Muslims and Hindus have lots of differences amount themselves we have totally opposite views, you guys are idol worshippers whereas the very basis of Islam is worship one god and no idol worship.
All acts of violence are condemend in the highest manner. I think muslims and hindus have not other choice but to live together in this country because of the fact that muslims are spread all over India and they are the 180 million in number. The numbers are so huge that even if a hitler is born in india he cannot exterminate the muslims. So this means muslims are a reality and the hindus need to accept this fact that muslims are not invaders anymore they are now Indian muslims.
Jaffer Wrote
“….I know lot more Hinduism than most of hindus know by themeslves. This is religion is one of the oldest religion which has not changed with time…..”
”
……..but then arent there pictures of this goddess showing her navel and her breasts popping out, please do not be offened I am not trying to offend anyone here. This merely is a honest view. How would it feel when you see your goddess in such a manner. I am sure you feel offened or you simply do not realize that due to the fact that your faith would not take your mind in that direction……..”
“……….and not to forget the hindu society did have lots of evils (sati,child marriages,..) till 50 years back which were then banned…..”
Jaffer – you seem to be contradictig here …Early on you say…Hindu religion didnt change with time but lateryou say Hindu religion has banned Sati, Child Marriage etc. The only way , i can understand my Hindu religion is that it has the capacity to throw away its outdated aspects like Lack of Right to Equality and equal Property for Hindu Women, Sati, Caste discrimination, Child marriages & etc. All the above 3 crimes are punishable offences in India now and Hindu Women have their basic right to be treated equal to Men and their right to property of their family. Do you agree, here ?
But Islam, seems to be still stuck with its stone age arabian culture. Muslim Women must not work with men of other religions and similar fatwas are still being issued every week and not a whimper from Muslims.
Now Jaffer – I have not come across Pictures of Hindu godesses who ’show their navels’ or who have their ‘breasts popping out’ ?. Since you claim to know more abt Hinduism – Can you please mention, the name of the goddess or atleast point me to a picture or link, which is related to such a ‘revealing’ Goddess. ?
Also you talk…”ISLAM Says…Like this..”, “ISLAM Says…Like that” and it sort of shows your blind unquestioning faith as is normal for majority of muslims . Most of you people, look at other religions only from your religion’s standpoint – which shows that either you are intolerant and bigoted or you are immature enough to understand the differing aspects of life. I am inclined to think this is more of Intolerance and bigottedness of Muslims because, look at Saudi Arabia – considered as the country which contains the holy shrine for all Muslims – It discriminates other religions & people of other religions because it deems Islam is the only religion and the superior religion. Hindus are not even allowed to carry a picture of their god or wear their religious symbols, once there. If a Hindu Man or Women is killed in SA- the Money paid to the Hindu victim is the lowest among all the different religions. When that is the way Hindus and non-Muslims in general are treated in the holy land of Islam – Why should all the other non-Muslim majority countries give the Muslims all the security and freedom to practise their religion in their non-islamic country ?.
Jaffer or any Muslim – Do you want to answer this question that i am raising here. Why should Muslims be treated sans any inequality and given all the freedom to lead their life they want – when SA discriminates against people of other religions ?. Isnt it hypocritical that Muslims in all non-muslim democracy perceive themselves as Minorities and claim all sorts of special rules and concessions from those non-muslim deocracies inspite of them being shown equality and given all freedom but Muslims themselves in many of their Muslim majority countries illtreat Non-muslim minorities ?.
The relations between Hindus and Muslims in India will become amicable more when such discrimination against Hindus is stopped in Saudi Arabia and the persecution, of Hindu Minority in Pakistan/Bangladesh stops. Till then Indian Muslims will always have to explain the question that i have just asked above and be hated for their hypcorisy by a section of Hindus ?. Will Indian Muslims request the Saudia Arabia & similar majority Muslim countries – to provide all non-muslims or atleast for their Hindu brothers & sisters – their right to treated with equality and the basic freedom to practise their religion ?. Any Indian Muslims want to even talk about this issue that i am raising here ???
I don’t like Islam for many reasons – for the Prophet having married a girl child & also his own Son’s wife, for the acceptance of polygamy and primarily for the reason of treating Women in a poor way as though she were the property of the men and for having a perspective of Women from the point of view of her Sexuality alone. This is still the case only in Islam whereas every other major religion has evolved to drive away its own evils. But that a few cartoons can make Musims – all around the world – violent, shows the insecurity within Muslims when we see the way they have reacted.
For Hindus, Women are potrayed for many of her positive qualities
and religious concepts, rituals are based on such aspects too. Hence the natural tendency among Hindus to not prceive Women from her Sexuality point of view alone. That could be the reason why – unlike Burqa Clad Women or a Goddess in this case – A Women goddess showing her face, hair and dressed in a non-Burqa like costume – is seen as ‘Sexy’ by guys like you. No wonder – MFHussain goes to not only draw Hindu Goddesses in Nude and but also in some compromising positions with Lord Ganesh or Hanuman.
So tell me – Jaffer – Do you also have a similar opinion about all the Hindu Women, you might have met in your daily life all these days – since they surely dress up in Sarees, Churidhars and not in Burqas for sure ?.
If you fell I am wrong in harboring these ideas about Islam – anybody wants to dispel these notions about Islam of mine ?. But before doing that please also answer the questions that i have posed before in this comment.
Thanks,
A ‘Discriminated in Saudi Arabia’ Hindu
Gaya,
Good that you mentioned how you feel about certain things. Let me try to explain this to you.
> I am inclined to think this is more of Intolerance and bigottedness of
> Muslims because, look at Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is a declared Muslim country unlike India which is a secular country. As per what is written in the constitution of India everyone is equal and free to practise his faith. At the time of the partition India opted for this. This was her choice. Now coming to Saudi like I said it is a declared muslim contry and they have a law that forbids people from other faith to practise there religion. This is something that has not been implemented recently but this has been going on for a long time. You know very well that not only muslims but white christians from Europe are not allowed to follow there faith.
Do you know that in most parts of Europe muslims are not allowed to construct places of religion. It is almost similair to what non muslims express in saudi. Well what hurts most is that despite being citizens of european countries muslims are still not allowed to build places of worship and you should know that Islam is an officially reconized religion is most parts of europe unlike in saudi non muslim faiths are not officially reconized. Also I do know that hindu and christians privately practise there faith in there apartments. They collect together and so on. Finally India is a secular country officially unlike saudi so please do not compare india with saudi in this case.
> for the acceptance of polygamy and primarily for the reason of
> treating Women
In Islam men are allowed to marry upto 4 wives but with certain conditions like
the women should be a widow, the marriage should not be for the sake of desire for sex, marry to support a poor women, and so on
Finally tell me something Gaya,
When you see a women who wears a mini skirt or a transparent saree where you see her legs and parts of her body what will be your first reaction. would it not be something like “wow she is hot” or “man she is exposing so much” or say if someone see his sister wearing a dress like that would he not be embarrased and try to remind her to wear something more decent.
and
When you see a women in Burqa tell me what would your reaction be. I am hundered percent sure you will not have reaction as the dress this women is wearing is not at all provocative.
I am not a shortminded guy nor am looking at other religions from my own religion point of view. There are somethings that are right an there is no way your heart can deny it. That is TRUTH.
Search for it. The REAL TRUTH
Jaffer,
Just call me by the complete name used in my posts.
I really will appreciate that.
Try putting yourself in the position of an Indian Hindu and let your feelings develop about how as a Hindu you feel when your religious places are being bombed, when Hindu traders get killed for refusing to shut shops because Muslims want to protest Bush’s visit and against cartoons drawn by some obscure europeans.
Its not wrong at all for Hindus to harbour the negative feelings that they have for Muslims after such developments. Its normal for a backlash type tendency to brew among certain Hindus and ultimately get unleashed when more similar incidents trigger it. Personally – I wouldnt indulge in violence even when provoked to very trying circumstances too since that violent act would violate my very existence as a ‘human being’. But It would not be difficult to condone such acts also as i can understand the urge for certain less-discriminating, more-emotionally-reactive Hindus to hit back, so that they can feel fleetingly comfortable of having replied.
As young Hindus like me start asserting the need for a Secular & democratic country like India to have common laws for all peoples in certain aspects of living – Life will only get difficult for certain muslims as they will have to start complying with the secular laws of the land (more like Common Civil Code) and not any convenient law that tilts towards Sharia and etc. I dont know if you have problems with such potential developments?. But if you are favourable of such amendments, its nice to know abt people among your religion with such ideas – otherwise well brace for some interesting times.
Still waiting for the numerous answers – I had requested.
If you feel, i am asking difficult answers – I can only say that it will only be through discussions and arguments like these that there can be any possible fruitful dissolution of differences, sinking of negative feelings between Indian Muslims and Hindus.
Thanks for providing the opportunity to continue posting my opinions and questions here :-
‘Still Waiting for Answers’ LSGaya3
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