The Indian Herald: Online English Newspaper

Bangladesh pips India, spoils Sachin Tendulkar's 100th century party

2012-03-16T21:26:00.001+05:30

Tendulkar ecstatic after 100th ton

Sachin Tendulkar finally managed to score his 100th century but the party was spoiled as a resurgent Bangladesh chased 289 and trounced India in the scintiallating Asia Cup match at Mirpur.

India's shocking defeat evoked sharp reactions from across the country. The day was being awaited for long as Master Blaster hadn't reached three figures for ages.

India batted first and reached 289 thanks to quickfire 51 by Suresh Raina and Dhoni (21) in the end. Tendulkar was steady in hsi approach and reached 100. The nation erupted in joy and top leaders congratulated him. However, within hours the mood turned gloomy. Indian pacers bowled pathetically.

The full toss balls were sent to fence again and again. The Bangaldesh team won the match in the last over. A monumental moment that had led to celebrations suddenly led to shock and silence across the country where millions were watching the match that ended in a humiliating defeat.

Earlier, Sachin had scored his century (114) off 147 balls. He played slowly throughout the innings. The pressure on him to reach the milestone clearly showed on him. There were suggestions that he was dragging himseld like Kapil Dev and should retire without looking for personal records.

After all, Rahul Dravid, who debuted much later than Tendulkar, hung his boots recently. Till the 40th over, it seemed India would win the match. But Ashok Dinda and Irfan Pathan bowled loosely. Praveen Kumar, when brought again, in the later overs couldn't bowl well either.

Bangaldesh batsmen kept their heads down and snatched victory. They won the match by five wickets, ending with 293. The shameful defeat once again strengthens a notion that India often loses when Sachin Tendulkar plays well or hits a century.

It was in this much-awaited match that cricket legend Sachin, 38, who had till now scored 99 international hundreds including 51 test match and 48 one day international matches, reached the milestone which no other cricket player may achieve in future. Sadly, just like Bradman his last match ended in anti-climax.

TIH Bureau

Bonding with Bohras: Narendra Modi greets Bohra spiritual head Syedna Dr Burhanuddin on his 101st birthday

2012-03-14T23:19:00.002+05:30

Modi greets Syedna Sahib

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi greeted the spiritual head of Dawoodi Bohra community Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin on his 101st birthday celebration at Surat.

Modi personally visited Surat and attended the event. In a rare gesture, he bowed before the Muslim sect leader and also sat by his side. Bohras, a Shia Muslim sect, engaged in business and trade, are concentrated in Western Indian states.

The visit could pave the way for a change in Modi's image among Muslims. Syedna Sahab is the head of the Bohra community and wields influence over the financially-strong community.

Muslims feel that he didn't do enough during the horrific riots that took plcae in the state in the year 2002. Earlier, he had refused to accept a skullcap from a Sufi Muslim cleric last year. This had caused an uproar across the country.

Political watchers believe that for Modi to play a pan-Indian role in the national politics, it is imperative that he becomes acceptable to Muslims, who are the biggest religious minority in India, with a population of over 200 million (20 crore).

A section among Muslims in Gujarat have said that the horrors of 2002 anti-Muslim riots should be forgotten. Some Bohra groups were amongst the first to take steps for reconciliation towards the right-wing BJP that has consistenly been winning Assembly elections in the state.

TIH Bureau

Bilaspur SP commits suicide, shoots self with service revolver

2012-03-12T17:55:00.000+05:30

An officer of Indian Police Service (IPS) Rahul Sharma committed suicide by shooting himself with his own service revolver on Monday.

Sharma, 35, who was posted as Superintendent of Police (SP) at Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, killed self in the washroom at the Police Officers' Mess, which is situated close to the official bungalow meant for the district SP.

Initially it was suspected that family tensions prompted him to end his life but later it was revealed that he committed suicide because of inter-departmental tension. Sharma was earlier posted in Naxalite-infested Dantewada region in Southern Chhattisgarh.

Rahul Sharma was transferred just over two months ago and given the new posting as SP Bilaspur on January 1, 2012. As construction work was going on in the bungalow, he had recently shifted to the officers' mess. The local police are also shocked as to what led him to the extreme step.

In a later development, the suicide note left by Sharma, revealed that he was depressed due to his senior's interference and alleged harassment. His relations with his superior officer were not cordial, said sources. IG GP Singh himself informed media persons about the suicide note at a press conference later.

The CBI inquiry has been recommended even t hough local police have also begun the investigation. In neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, an IPS officer Narendra Kumar was recently killed while trying to stop mining mafia's operations in Morena. This is the second incident in less than a week when an elite service officer has died in the country.

TIH Bureau

UP Polls 2012: Samajwadi Party (SP) defeats BSP in Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, Congress-BJP marginalised

2012-03-07T03:07:00.001+05:30

Cycle Races Ahead

A resurgent Samajwadi Party (SP) emerged victorious in the UP Assembly election 2012, defeating BSP, even as the national parties were relegated to the margins in India's most populous state.

Aided by Muslims and Upper Caste voters' support, Mulayam Singh-led SP won 225 seats in the 403 member house.

Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) that was the ruling party was badly defeated. Right-wing BJP and the centrist Congress were reduced to irrelevance, as they came on the third and fourth positions.

Rahul Gandhi's high-pitched campaign failed to energize voters. Muslims, who form 21% of the UP voters, preferred SP over Congress. BJP failed to capitalise. Its leaders including state president Surya Pratap Shahi lost the election.

Veteran BJP leader and former Assembly speaker Kesri Nath Tripathi, suffered a humiliating defeat. The dynamic Akhilesh Yadav who led from the front during the campaign, emerged as the young face of Samajwadi Party. Ajit Singh's RLD couldn't perform as per expectations.

Congress tried to woo Muslims but its flip-flop over implementation of Sachar commission report, reservation for Muslims, Batla House inquiry, harassment of innocent young Muslims boys who were repeatedly arrested and tortured, had angered the community.

In Azamgarh, the party couldn't win a single seat. SP emerged victorious. The Samajwadi Party also got a chunk of Upper Caste votes. Anger against Mayawati government's policies was visible in the election results, as she could barely manage to get 80 seats.

In Uttarakhand, it was a tight finish, however, Congress had a lead of one seat over BJP and hence the former could be called by Governor for forming the government. In Punjab, for the first time in 40 years, anti-incumbency didn't work as Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP managed to win the election.

Captain Amarinder Singh who was projected as Chief Minister failed to capture the imagination of voter despite infighting in SAD and corruption charges against Badal family. In Goa, BJP won while Congress had a sweep in Manipur.

TIH Bureau

Great Gathering: Islamic scholar Dr Tahir ul Qadri attracts lakhs at Hyderabad during his visit to India

2012-03-02T02:22:00.000+05:30

Lakhs of Muslims gathered at Quli Qutub Shah stadium in Hyderabad to listen to eminent Sufi leader Dr Tahir ul Qadri, who is currently on a visit to India.

Sheikhul Islam Dr Qadri, who is remembered for issuing the first fatwa against terrorism, and is considered an authority on Islamic texts, gave a 'dars-e-hadis' or lecture on Hadith.

Dr Qadri, an outspoken critic of Wahabism and Deobandi ideology, said that 'wasila', which is seeking Allah's mercy through Prophet Muhammad, is perfectly justified as per tenets of Islam, and gave numerous examples from Hadith.

The moderate leader said that it was the duty of every Muslim to submit himself to Allah as well as his prophet. Love for Prophet is at the root of Islam and hence the believers must offer 'Salat' and 'Salam'. Dr Tahirul Qadri, who heads the Minhajul Quran international, earlier visited Gujarat during the India trip.

He went to Karjan (Vadodara) where he addressed a huge gathering, and urged them to stay away from communal clashes. Apart from Delhi, he has also visited Hyderabad, Deccan. Qadri who hails from Pakistan and is settled in Canada, had thanked Indian government.

A section had created an impression that he gave a clean-chit to Gujarat government led by Narendra Modi over the 2002 riots. However, the controversy ended after clarification by the Sufi scholar regarding his statement in Gujarat.

He will visit Ajmer (Rajasthan), Mumbai (Maharashtra), Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and Bengaluru (Karnataka) during his visit. Minhaj-ul-Quran that promotes Sufi thought and rejects hardliners is a movement that has branches in nearly 100 countries in the world.

TIH Bureau.

Saif Ali Khan booked for assaulting man in restaurant

2012-02-22T13:06:00.002+05:30

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan allegedly assaulted a man in a restaurant in Mumbai on Wednesday morning. The police had to be called after the scuffle.

The incident occurred in the restaurant inside Taj hotel. Khan, who was accompanied by Kareena Kapoor, had an argument with Khan.

After a heated exchange, the Bollywood star beat up the man and punched him in the nose. The victim got injured in the assault, said eyewitnesses

Khan faces arrest now, said police sources. The man who was attacked is identified as Iqbal. He received injuries and his nose got broken. The Colaba police have registered a case and could question Khan within the next few hours.

The incident occurred at 4 am. After the row, the police reached the hotel. Sources said that Khan's arrest may just be technical, and he could be let off on bail immediately after. However, the incident has shown Chhotey Nawab in poor light for his temper. It is not known yet what exactly flared up Saif. The police are investigating the case.

TIH Bureau

Second language status for Urdu demanded in Rajasthan

2012-02-22T03:17:00.002+05:30

The movement for demanding official language status for Urdu in Rajasthan has picked up, as several organisations have urged the State government to give the language its due.

The demand is in particular about designating all the regions in state where the number of Urdu speakers comprise more than 10% of population, as places where Urdu would get the status of a second official language along with Hindi.

Vociferous demands were made in this regard at the two-day national seminar which concluded in Jaipur. The participants said that after linguistic reorganisation, Urdu suffered the most in Rajasthan, as its official status was removed.

The Urdu Academy was established in 1979. But it remained inactive for a long time, until it was revived recently. The Academy chairman Dr Habibur Rahman Niazi said that Urdu had the status of official language in erstwhile Rajputana for well over a century, until 1949.

The Anjuman Farogh-e-Urdu has also began a campaign in this regard. Other demands include recruitment of Urdu teachers in schools and lecturers in colleges. Urdu is spoken widely in Rajathan along with Hindi and the local dialect Rajasthani.

TIH Bureau

Terror Trail: Hindu extremist group was responsible for blasts in mosques in Haryana, five members of terrorist module arrested in Patiala

2012-02-22T02:49:00.004+05:30

In a major revelation, the Punjab police has bust a right-wing Hindutva module that was involved in targeting mosques apart from planting bombs at madarsa, a building and a slaughter house in Haryana.

After an exhaustive investigation, Patiala police officials arrested five members of the radical Hindu terror group. All the arrested extremists including the terror mastermind Sagar alias Azad, hail from Haryana.

They have confessed involvement in the series of blasts in Haryana in 2009. The group called itself Azad organisation, said. SSP DP Singh before media persons in Patiala. The arrests are important as they suggest that fundamentalist and extremists outfits were still active in North India's Punjab-Haryana belt.

The group's members have confessed plating bombs in mosques in Mewat and Jind other than a blast in Safido. In a similar terror strike, one person had died in Saktapuri, said the members of module. The arrested persons include Sham Niwas, Praveen Sharma, Rajesh Kumar and Gurnam Singh.

It is not ruled out that the group might have links with Hindutva groups that have been involved in terror strikes. During the course of interrogation, the joint police teams are likely to get more information about the organisation's activities.

Just like Islamic terror groups SIMI-IM that were responsible in blasts in Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Varanasi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and some other cities in India, the Saffron terrorism has also emerged as a big threat for the country and the lists of places targeted by the Saffron extremists is long.

The role of Hindu terror network was established in blasts in Malegaon (targeted twice), Ajmer Dargah, Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid, Modasa town in Gujarat, Samjhauta Express, planing of bombs during Ijtema, incidents of targeting mosques in Jalna, Purna, Bajrang Dal workers' death during bomb-making in Kanpur.

There were similar incidents in Parbhani and Vashi. Other than Abhinav Bharat, the Sanatan Sanstha was accused of bomb blast in Goa and a group was found involved in attacks in Thane and Panvel. An incident of planting bomb inside Jama Masjid, Delh is also suspected to be the handiwork of Hindu terrorists.

TIH Bureau

Ahmadiyyas no longer Muslims in India, Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board to consider them outside Islam

2012-02-20T16:01:00.001+05:30

In a controversial decision, the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board has declared that it will not considered any of the religious institutions belonging to Ahmadiyya community in the state as Muslim property, because the Ahmadiyyas are not Muslims.

Now the Ahmadiyya places of worship would not be officially considered as Muslim mosques and Qazis would not perform the nikah (wedding ritual) of the Ahmadi couples.

Though Pakistan and some other countries treat Ahmadiyyas as non-Muslim, till now there was no open rift between Muslims and Ahmadiyyas in India.

But there are fears that after AP Waqf Board's decision that it will consider Ahmadiyya control over Muslim shrines as illegal, and having openly declared the 'Qadiyanis' as non-Muslim, the Waqf Boards and clergy in other states might also take similar stand.

The influential Deoband seminary has welcomed the move. The Khatm-e-Nabuwwat movement has been insisting that Ahmadiyyas were declared non-Muslims. In Hyderabad, there was strong opposition to Ahmedis going to Haj pilgrimage recently.Muslims consider Ahmadiyyas' outside the pale of Islam.

The Ahmadiyyas are accused that they consider Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as a prophet, which is opposed to Muslim belief that Prophet Muhammad was the last apostle of God.Ahmadiyyas claim that Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, a 19th century, religious scholar was a revivalist.

In India, Ahmadiyyas have a minuscule presence. In Qadian town in Punjab, which was home to the movement before partition, a sizable Ahmedi population resides, apart from their presence in some other cities.Till now Qadianis said that they faced little persecution in India.

Though there was a movement against their missionary activity in Punjab and UP, chiefly led by Majlis-e-Ahrar leader Maulana Habibur Rehman Sani Ludhianvi, the schism and this discrimination with the Ahmadiyya minority hadn't been witnessed elsewhere in India.

The diktat may not affect the Ahmadiyya community at the ground level. There have been calls by Ulema for social boycott and ban on Ahmedi missionary activity earlier too. But the recent announcement by a state administrative body has far serious implications.

However, it can lead to growing clamour over similar actions in other states and hence lead to friction. India hasn't witnessed such violence unlike Pakistan, Bangladesh or Indonesia, and hence the recent decision might ignite trouble.

TIH Bureau

Mumbai remains Shiv Sena citadel, Cong-NCP fail to exploit anti-incumbency in municipal election, Raj Thackeray's hopes to emerge as king-maker dashed

2012-02-17T13:39:00.002+05:30

Thackeray's Mumbai: Clan rule continues

Even after ruling the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for 17 years, Shiv Sena-BJP coalition was again poised to emerge as the leading group in the elections for the civic body, the results for which were emerging on Friday.

Despite fighting the election together for the first time in Mumbai, the NCP-Congress failed to make any impact and couldn't exploit the anti-incumbency. Though Shiv Sena-BJP didn't seem to get absolute majority, the performance defied all expectations.

Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) didn't do as well either. The trends for the 227 seats suggested, Shiv Sena-BJP heading for 105 seats, which is short of majority. Congress-NCP getting close to 65 seats followed by MNS (30). SP and independents form the rest (25).

In 2007 elections, Shiv Sena-BJP had won 112 seats while Congress had 71 seats, NCP had 14 councillors (corporators) while Samajwadi Party had eight seats. Seven MNS candidates had won in the municipal election then. In a 227 member house, a party needs 114 members to get majority.

Though Shiv Sena-BJP had easily won the corporation last time, on this occasion their seats have reduced slightly. But with the help of independents, they may be in a position to get hold of the corporation which has a budget of Rs 32,000 crores (including Rs 10,000 crore grant from Centre).

It was expected that MNS might be able to play the role of king-maker. But Raj Thackeray's hopes were dashed as Shiv Sena-BJP have almost managed to retain the number of seats and won't have much trouble in seizing power in the cash-rich municipal corporation.

Clearly, Uddhav Thackeray has survived the rebellion in Shiv Sena. MNS hasn't reached the expected strength in BMC that would help it dictate terms or ally with other groups to stop the Sena. Bombay remains Bal Thackeray's family pocket borough.

TIH Bureau

BJP ministers caught watching pornographic movie in Karnataka Assembly

2012-02-07T22:28:00.002+05:30

In a shocking incident, two BJP ministers were caught watching pornographic movie clips on their cell phones in the Karnataka Assembly, in what is being termed as a new low in the history of legislatures in the country.

The disgraced ministers--Laxman Savadi and CC Patil, were caught by a TV channel that was covering the assembly proceedings on Tuesday. Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda has said that he wasn't aware of the entire episode and it would be speaker's discretion to take action in this regard.

The ministers were watching the allegedly pornographic clip on their cell phones. The house was then debating the issue of right-wing Hindu extremists raising Pakistani flag to point fingers against Muslims and create tension in Bijapur.

Congress and Janata Dal (JDS) leaders have termed the incident as shameful and disgusting. They said that it marked a black day in the chapter of the Karnataka Assembly. Stones were thrown at Savadi's residence later in the day by a group of protesters.

The incident is latest in the series of controversies, the Saffron party has found itself embroiled into. The 'obscene clip' scandal comes in wake of allegations of corruption against the BJP leaders in this South Indian state.

TIH Bureau

Four authors who read Satanic Verses shunted from Jaipur Literary Festival, 'courageous' writers flee venue to avoid arrest

2012-01-24T01:04:00.000+05:30

The four participants at the Jaipur Literary Festival who read excerpts from Salman Rushdie's banned Satanic Verse were kicked out of the festival and asked to leave the venue.

Outraged over the sudden act of reading the book during the festival, the authors--Hari Kunzru, Amitava Kumar and two other little-known writers Jeet Thayil and Ruchir Joshi, the organisers asked the four persons to leave the place. They fled Jaipur soon after.

The humiliating exit came as the act to read excerpts was considered provocation. Interestingly, the Centre hadn't stopped Rushdie from visiting the country. No group in India, either Muslim or other party, had issued any threat to him.

Rushdie claimed that he faced threat. However, Rajasthan police categorically denied that they had any such input. But after Rushdie didn't arrive, self-styled flag bearers of free speech tried to read passages of Rushdie's book, prompting organisers to stop them.

The act invited criticism from different quarters. Muslim groups didn't seem happy over the authors getting kicked out of the country, and demanded action against them for breaking the law and reading the banned book to provoke others.

Shuted out from Jaipur literary festival the 'courageous authors Amitava Kumar Hari Kunzru Jeet Thayil and Ruchir Joshi fearing arrest hurriedly fled Jaipur and escaped, an act in sharp contrast from their 'bold' stand for freedom of speech and censorship.

After they left Jaipur, complaints were made to police against them for provocation. A section of media felt it as disgraceful that Rushdie didn't arrive her but the fact remains that it was what Taslima Nareen put, 'his cowardice'.

TIH Bureau

Jaipur Literary Festival takes 'Satanic turn', Salman Rushdie skips event

2012-01-21T02:23:00.001+05:30

Controversy was lead news on TV channels

The Jaipur Literary Festival took a 'satanic turn' as certain English writers read out from Salman Rushdie's banned book to express their disappointment over the writer's failure to turn up at the event.

The festival organisers tried to stop these writers. However, these writers claimed that it was their protest against the so-called attack on freedom of expression in the country.

Noted writer Amitava Kumar, Kashmiri Pandit author Hari Kunzru and a little-known author Ruchir Joshi read out passages from Rushdie's book Satanic Verses. However, the protest didn't go down well with everyone and also invited criticism.

Interestingly, the writers claimed that there was threat to Rushdie's life though no organisation had issued any threat against Rushdie, who has been living in Britain after Ayatollah Khomeini's fatwa against his blasphemous book.

Some Muslim groups had organised demonstrations and protests to demand that Indian government did not allow Rushdie to step into the country. The Indian government however said that Rushdie didn't need visa because of his Person of Indian Origin (PIO) status.

On social networking websites especially twitter, people had contrasting views. While some lauded the unique protest, others said that it was childish because Rushdie had shown cowardly behaviour and didn't come to India unlike Taslima Nareen who faced threats but still lived in India for years.

Channels claimed there was threat to Rushdie though it was said to be on the basis of certain 'intelligence inputs' or Rushdie's imaginary fears. In the past also he has attended the festival in Rajasthan that had passed off peacefully.

Interestingly, the issue of self-styled progressive writers and vocal middle-class silence for not showing similar solidarity to MF Husain who had painted Bharat Mata and faced threats from right-wing Hindu groups was raised.

Users mentioned that authors and intellectuals hadn't shown the guts and courage to support Husain. Except Amitava Kumar, no other writer of repute got into the controversy. A poet Jeet Thayil and a lesser known writer Samit Basu also read passages from the novel.

There were sharp arguments among users on Facebook and twitter. While there were supporters for the move who justified the act as it was not outlawed to read the book, others termed it as a drama. In process the literary festival was the loser as focus shifted on Rushdie despite his absence, instead of the current writing scenario.

TIH Bureau

Police cane-charge Muslims at Dargah Shah Mardan in Delhi, dozens hurt

2012-01-16T03:38:00.003+05:30

DCP Chhaya Sharma amid protesters

Dozens of Shia Muslims were injured when police resorted to cane-charge during the traditional Chehallum procession at Dargah Shah Mardan in South Delhi on Sunday.

The trouble began over reports that mourners who were taking part in the Chehallum observance were forcing open a gate that has been closed on a court order.

The police had a face-off the mourners. Tempers soared and the policemen lathi-charged the assembly. As report of the clash spread, tension gripped the South Delhi area. Muslim leaders and senior officials rushed to the spot. Local residents said that police used excessive force.

They alleged that policemen also fired in air apart from using tear gas shells though the situation didn't warrant such action. Policemen said that there was stone pelting from the Shia community and this led to the violence. But the situation was brought under control.

A senior Deputy Commissioner ranked officer who reached the Jor Bagh dargah, assured the agitators that those who had been detained would be released. Police accepted that crowd was lathi-charged but denied charges of firing.

TIH Bureau

Twelve killed in stampede at Shia shrine on Chehallum in Madhya Pradesh

2012-01-14T14:48:00.003+05:30

Twelve persons including four women were killed during a stampede at the Husain Tekri shrine in Jaora (Ratlam) in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday.

The incident occurred when thousands of Muslims had gathered to observe Chehallum, which falls on the 40th day of Yaum-e-Ashura, the martyrdom of Imam Husain.

This year just one gate was opened to the place where the ritual of walking of fire takes place in Jaora. The rush caused the stampede and 12 persons died in the incident. Tens of thousands of people including pilgrims had gathered at Husain Tekri.

The injured were taken to hospital. Husain Tekri Sharif is a famous shrine in Central India that is frequented by Shia and Sunni Muslims apart from Hindus. On Muharram and Chahallum, the faithful walk on fire to express their sorrow over the battle of Karbala.

Even after the mishap, nearly 30,000 people were present, to resume the ritual. Despite appeals to disperse, people remained at the shrine, waiting for their turn. Meanwhile, local dailies reported that police officials suspected the deaths might have been due to cold and asphyxiation also.

In the zeal to rush towards the 'rauza', many people got trampled and crushed. People from other countries had also arrived here for the occasion. The deaths came to light at around 1:30 am at night. The identities of all the persons who died are yet to be known.

Home Minister Umashankar Gupta and DGP SK Rout rushed to Ratlam after the report of stampede. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has also announced financial compensation for the kin of those who died in the mishap at Jaora. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered.

TIH Bureau

Ram Sene activists had hoisted Pakistani flag to create Hindu-Muslim tension

2012-01-11T03:06:00.001+05:30

Pramod Muthalik: Villain, once again!

The Pakistani flag was hoisted by right-wing extremist group Sri Ram Sene with the aim to put blame on local Muslims and create tension.

This sensational disclosure was made after Karnataka police arrested six youths who were activists of Ram Sene, the militant group, which has been involved in several other cases of crimes in the past in the South Indian state.

Police said that the main accused, Rakesh Math, and his accomplices, wanted to foment communal trouble in Bijapur. The flag was hoisted near tehsildar office in Sindagi. The Ram Sene (also known as Ram Sena) leaders have however said that its members were not involved in the incident.

The district leadership said that all those arrested in the incident owed allegiance to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Sene chief Pramod Muthalik also said that his workers were not involved in the incident. Other sources suggest that a BJP leader was involved in the incident to stir religious passions.

In the past also, pro-Hindutva elements have tried to mislead investigators either by leaving evidence near a madarsa or using fake beards and skullcaps, so as to pin blame on Muslims. Congress has demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident and has sought ban on Sri Ram Sene.

TIH Bureau

Babri Masjid demolition anniversary passes off peacefully: Muslim groups observe 'Black Day', demonstrations low key among both communities

2011-12-08T14:53:00.000+05:30

Protesters seek justice, urge Centre to build Babri mosque

The nineteenth anniversary of the demolition of the historic Babri Masjid passed off peacefully in India though it was marked by rallies, protests and demands to rebuild the mosques.

The security agencies and citizens heaved a sigh of relief as there was no report of any violence or showdown from across the country. This year, Ashura, the tenth of Muharram, coincided with anniversary of the mosque's demolition and thus police were extra alert.

The protests on December appeared subdued this year. Muslim organisations observe December 6 as Black Day. Hindu groups which celebrate the day as 'Shaurya Diwas' also seemed less enthusiastic this year and no showdown was reported from anywhere in the country.

At Karsewakpuram in Ayodhya, a section of saints and religious leaders affiliated with VHP vowed to build a grand Ram temple at the disputed site. Two VHP activists raising slogans and marching towards the structure (makeshift temple) were arrested. But there were no major events elsewhere.

Muslims organised peaeful protests and demonstrations in Hyderabad, Chennai and some cities of Uttar Pradesh. In Hyderabad, large parts of the city remained shut due to the 'bandh' call. The shutdown is an annual ritual now in the city.

In Tamil Nadu, organisations including Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam and several other groups organised protests and marches in Chennai, urging the centre to rebuild the 16th century mosque that was demolished by 'Kar Sewaks' in Ayodhya in 1992.

In Hyderabad, women took out a rally to demand justice and expressed anguish over failure to rebuilt the mosque, which was promised soon after demolition by then then Prime Minister PV Narsimharao. In Delhi, Lucknow and Mumbai also demonstrations were held.

In Western UP, particularly, Saharanpur, Muslims kept shops shut and wore black bands to protest the razing of the mosque. Effigy of LK Advani was also burnt at places. RJD leader Ramkripal Yadav took out a protest march in Bihar's capital Patna.

CPI (ML), Muslim Majlis, NCP, Indian National League (INL), Majlis-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (MIM), Tauhid Jamath and numerous other organisations held protests in different parts of the country. But there was no untoward incident.

TIH Bureau

Lakhs reach Chatiyabhoomi on Dr Ambedkar's death anniversary

2011-12-07T03:36:00.001+05:30

People going to Chaitya Bhoomi

Lakhs of people reached Dadar in Mumbai on Tuesday to pay respects to Dr BR Ambedkar, who framed the constitution of India, and is also seen as an icon by Dalits and other socially disadvantaged groups in the country.

The Chaitya Bhumi at Dadar in South Central Mumbai is a pilgrimage place for Buddhists and Dalits other than thousands of Ambedkarites who arrive every year on December 6. The day is observed as Ambedkar's Parinirvan Diwas.

From elderly people who travelled barefoot and arrived from far-flung rural areas to suave professionals, nearly a million Dalits gathered at the place of pilgrimage. Even though December 6 marks the demolition of Babri Masjid, the heavy security arrangements didn't deter the late leader's follower.

Amid chants of Jai Bhim, followers got down from the trains and walked towards the venue. Baba Sahab Ambedkar, who was born in a family that was treated an untouchable caste then, fought against the caste system and turned the Dalits into a strong community.

Lakhs pay homage to him at his memorial in what has become an annual pilgrimage now. The strength of the crowd at the Chaityabhoomi has been growing with every passing year. Similar is the crowd size at Nagpur where the diksha bhumi is located.

A hero among India's 250 million Dalits, Ambedkar had passed away in 1956. He had left Hinduism and embraced Buddhism as he felt that Upper Castes would continue to oppress his caste-men unless they took to Buddhist fold.

TIH Bureau

Haryana judge doesn't like Urdu words in court

2011-12-07T03:14:00.001+05:30

Even as Supreme Court judges quote couplets of Urdu in their judgments and the language is recognised as one of the official languages in the eighth schedule, a Haryana judge seems to have a problem with Urdu.

The judge MM Dhonchak while hearing a case in his court in Bhiwani (Haryana) scolded policemen for the use of Urdu. In a case of theft, when judge Dhonchak heard use of Urdu words, many of which are commonly used like 'roznamcha', he rapped the policemen and expressed his displeasure.

Surprising it may seem as even words like 'Adalat' and 'Kachehri' that are widely used terms for 'court' in India are also derived from Urdu. In fact, 'nyayalaya' is not a term people in rural areas still understand as Sanskritised Hindi could never become common.

It is noteworthy that across the world, language as it is spoken and easily understood is used with pride. But in a mad rush to impose Sanskritisation, self-styled nationalists had invented words like 'Dugdh' for Doodh (Milk) and forced complex banking terminology like 'aahran' for 'jamaa' (Withdrawal) that confuse ordinary people and create inconvenience in governance.

Shouldn't language be simple so that everyone can easily understand it. Its purpose is to communicate with ease. In North Indian states, a common language Hindstani that uses simple and commonly understood words of Hindi or Urdu is used. Of course, court is after all the best judge but in this case we may differ with the honourable court.

TIH Bureau

Popular Front of India (PFI) calls for social justice, holds rally in Delhi

2011-11-28T01:38:00.001+05:30

The Popular Front of India (PFI) which was till recently considered a South India based party made its presence felt with the two day convention and an impressive rally at Ramlila Ground in Delhi.

The PFI has made political parties attentive in North India as it makes an attempt to extend its reach, especially, after the successful conference-cum-rally.

The front claims to champion cause of all minorities and dispossessed people including Dalits, Muslims, Tribal and other backward castes but it is mostly believed to be a party of Muslims, more so, in South Indian states.

The state cadres arrived from all over the country to attend the Social Justice Conference. While the Ramlila Ground had a strong crowd, political watchers said that it is too early to predict how much support the South-based outfit would receive in the region.

Party leaders at the event stressed on need for social justice and issues pertaining to Muslims were raised. Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh, LJP leaders, activists and prominent Muslim intellectuals addressed the gathering that is estimated to be nearly around one lakh.

The PFI has strong base in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh. But police and intelligence agencies are wary of the group that is alleged to have hardliners in its fold also. In media reports, it is often termed as a radical outfit.

The prime reason is that its members had attacked a Christian professor for alleged blasphemy. However, this didn't deter its supporters and political-religious leaders who came in droves at the rally and demanded reservation for Muslims in government and private sector.

Interestingly, the participants in the conference were attacked by a group of another radical group the Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena (BSKS) that was known for the recent attack on anti-corruption activist and lawyer Prashant Bhushan, member of Anna Hazare's India Against Corruption team.

Over all the party made a impressive show of strength but political watchers say that it is not easy for a new outfit to create its base in North India. PFI and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) have organised big rallies on Independence Day in the past and have often run in trouble with the law-enforcement authorities.

TIH Bureau

Union Minister Sharad Pawar slapped in Delhi, attacker held

2011-11-24T15:20:00.001+05:30

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar was attacked by a youth at a function in New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) on Thursday.

The attacker, Harvinder Singh, was immediately caught by the security personnel. He claimed that he was upset with price rise and felt that as minister Sharad Pawar was not doing enough to check inflation that had made life of common people difficult.

Singh said that he had earlier arrested former minister Sukh Ram also who was convicted in the telecom scam case recently. The incident had occurred outside the court then. Police said that Singh would be interrogated to find out what drove him to assault the veteran minister.

The incident revived memories of the attack on Union Home Minister P Chidambaram by a journalist. Incidentally, the arrested youth that had it not been the anniversary of Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur, he might have been more ferocious in his assault.

Opposition parties condemned the incident but cautioned the Congress-led UPA to control prices and suggested that the frustration of public due to increase in prices of essential goods was manifesting into such bizarre acts of rage.

TIH Bureau

Hindu Vahini radicals arrested for stabbing spree in Hyderabad

2011-11-15T00:10:00.001+05:30

With the arrest of six activist of the right-wing group Hindu Vahini, the police have claimed solving the mystery behind the stabbing spree in Hyderabad during the Id-uz-Zuha festival.

The members of the group had allegedly committed attack on Muslims at five places in the city. The attackers had planned and committed the stabbings on the false pretext of cow slaughter by minority community in the city.

At least, eight persons were injured in the incidents that had caused panic in the communally sensitive metropolis. The arrested radicals include K Unni Krishna, Suryavanshi Santosh, Sadanand, S Vinod, P Kalyan and Prabha Bhargav.

Police had suspected that an extremist organisation could have been responsible for the incident that occurred during Baqrid. Unnikrishna is associated with the Telugu film industry while the rest are students, pursuing diverse courses.

Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, has a strong Muslim population. Though the city has not witnessed major communal riots in the last two decades, it was earlier known for religious clashes and fragile inter-communal relations.

In the last few years, it has been targeted by terrorists. Several bombs blasts occurred in the City. The role of Muslim militant groups and Hindu fundamentalist organisations have come to fore in these incidents of terrorism, particularly, at Lumbini Park and Mecca Masjid.

With the Telangana issue already on the boil, the police were not taking any chances. The Task Force of the Police Commissioner conducted investigation and arrested the Hindu Vahini extremists, within days of the stabbings.

TIH Bureau

RSS seeks Muslim hand to end Mayawati's rule in Uttar Pradesh

2011-10-31T03:42:00.000+05:30

The former chief of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) KC Sudarshan and Shia leader Kalb-e-Sadiq on Sunday urged the electorate to shun caste-based politics in Uttar Pradesh.

The appeal is seen as a desperate attempt of the RSS-BJP to forge an alliance with Muslims to end Mayawati's rule, so as to reclaim Uttar Pradesh.

Political experts feel that the former sarsanghchalak has been sent to give feelers to the Muslim community ahead of the UP Assembly elections. The BJP has begun wooing Muslims lately.

They said that Sudarshan's statement asking people to reject caste-based parties is an indication that the BJP wants to go to any extent to end the hegemony of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) that largely gets the Dalit votes in UP.

Due to strong Scheduled Caste (SC) support along with a fraction of Muslim vote, the BSP is in a comfortable position in UP.But the state that has a population of 20 crore and send the maximum MPs to Lok Sabha, is crucial for the BJP.

This is the reason Kalb-e-Sadiq, the leader of Shia Muslims has been extended an olive branch. Shias are considered more inclined towards BJP.But the leaders' meeting has caused a stir in Lucknow, as it LK Advani's 'rath yatra' that had led to the demolition of Babri Masjid.

But the situation has changed. The BJP wants to strengthen itself in the most populous state in order to pose a challenge to Congress.Strangely, the BJP had risen on the national scene due to its religion-based politics but its leaders are now urging electorate to reject caste-based parties.

Even on the issue of political parties speaking about reservation for Muslims, Sudarshan said that it should be on the basis of economic condition, rather than caste or community.For the moment, it seems BJP has discovered that 'caste' is the biggest stumbling block in its way to power at Lucknow.

Unless it gets support from other sections of the society, its Upper Caste, particularly, Brahmin-Bania electorate can't help it regain the power in UP. Thus the top RSS leader has been sent to Lucknow to woo the minorities.

TIH Bureau

Now Narendra Modi refuses scarf presented by Muslim in Navsari

2011-10-20T16:04:00.000+05:30

Modi refuses scarf in Navsari

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi landed into a major controversy that could jeopardize his entire exercise to present himself as an acceptable face in Indian politics, as he refused to accept scarf from a Muslim man in Gujarat.

After the last month's controversy when he had declined to take the 'topi' (skullcap), Modi was offered the traditional Islamic 'keffiyeh' (scarf) by a Muslim in Navsari where was observing his 'sadbhav' fast for communal harmony.

Apparently, fearing a backlash from his core constituency and facing the charge of appeasement, Modi didnt' accept the headscarf. Modi is currently on his 'yatra' to project a pro-development face and is travelling across Gujarat, holding similar fasts in different districts.

While Modi is seen as a champion of Hindutva, he needs to change his image for wider acceptability in the country. But the repeat of the Ahmedabad incident, is surely going to hurt Modi's chances. That he took shawls offered by others but can't accept even an Islamic scarf, is bound to create ripples.

Narendra Modi is already facing the heat after IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt made serious charges against him pertaining to Gujarat riots. After Bhatt was arrested and jailed, the BJP government had faced flak from different quarters for its witch-hunt.

Congress said that Modi's rally is not about spreading peace and harmony but is instead dividing society and ignoring an entire community. The BJP has termed it as non-issue once again. But the incidents in a row are likely to affect Modi's political prospects.

TIH Bureau

Sufis, Barelvi Muslims vow to take on Wahabis at Moradabad Mahapanchayat

2011-10-18T01:22:00.000+05:30

Sufi leaders seen at the stage in Moradabad

The newly floated All India Ulema and Mashaikh Board (AIUMB) has appealed to the majority Sunni Muslims in India to join hands for the uplift of the community.

AIUMB that chiefly comprises Barelvis, who follow the liberal Sufi tradition in the sub-continent, rued the disproportionate influence wielded by the Wahabi sect in the country.

Maulana Mahmood Ashraf Kachhochhvi, representing the famous Sufi shrine at Kachhauchha Sharif, was the main speaker at the event held in Western UP's Moradabad.

Addressing a large gathering of Muslims, the Sufi leaders lamented that though the Deobandi sect was barely a century old, it had greater influence on policy makers and politicians due to its institutions that include Nadwatul Uloom, Lucknow and Darul Uloom Deoband.

The emergence of the Board is also being linked to the forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. Barelwis form an overwhelming majority of Muslims in India, particularly, in North Indian states and more so in the country side.

Surprisingly, speakers hinted that Saudi money was the cause for Wahabi ideology flourishing in India.
Concern was also expressed over the fact that politicians lent more ear to Deobandi Ulema and the particular school of thought (Deobandis)always got more attention in media.

AIUMB leaders affirmed that 80% Indian Muslims belonged to the tolerant Sufi tradition and in turn close to Barelvis (Jamaat Ahl-e-Sunnat) unlike Deobandis. The extremism linked with Muslims was also termed as a Deobandi influence on moderate Islamic teachings in India.

The Mashaikh Board has the blessings of important Sufi dargahs in India apart from representatives of the prominent Islamic Khanqahs in the country. Issues of madarsa modernisation, police firing in Rudrapur, communal riots in different parts of the country, staged fake encounters, reservation for Muslims in jobs in accordance with their numerical strength in the population and protection of Waqf properties came up for discussion at the 'maha-panchayat'.

Syed Mahmood Ashraf Kichhouchhawi is the president of the AIUMB. However, Mohammad Ashraf is the general secretary. The Sajjada Nashins or heads of the dargahs and Imams attended the programme. More such conferences would be held in different regions in the state and outside, said organisers.

TIH Bureau

NCP demands second language status for Urdu at national level

2011-10-16T21:14:00.002+05:30

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has urged the Centre to give the status of second official language to Urdu in the country.

The party leader Tariq Anwar has made the demand regarding the language. Anwar said that Urdu is spoken across the length and breadth of the country and it was high time the language was officially made the second language at the national level.

While Urdu has been given the status of second language in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand, on ground level this hasn't improved the status of the language.

Recently, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared similar status for Urdu in West Bengal also. Anwar, who is currently a Member of Parliament (MP) from Maharashtra, said that Urdu was largely spoken by Muslims. He said that Urdu should be given its due.

However, he also urged the Urdu speakers to ensure that they use the language in their official communication and letters to administration, particularly, in states where Urdu was already declared a second language.

Speaking to journalists in Delhi, Anwar demanded CBI inquiry into the Forbesganj firing in Bihar and the recent communal riot in Uttarakhand's Rudrapur, on lines of the killings in Gopalgarh. He also said that the Sachar panel's recommendations should be implemented.

The NCP leader said that Bihar government must expedite the release of land for construction of Aligarh Muslim University's (AMU) campus in Kishanganj, else the NCP would go for a complete bandh in the state.

TIH Bureau

RSS to project Nitin Gadkari for PM's post, ignore Narendra Modi

2011-10-09T00:43:00.000+05:30

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) may prefer BJP chief Nitin Gadkari over Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, when it comes to projecting a leader for the post of Prime Minister ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Gadkari, a Brahmin from Maharashtra, may have greater acceptability and has the potential to forge alliances unlike Modi, whose strong Hindutva image comes in way of the party's electoral fortunes in states other than his home state Gujarat.

There are clear indications now that the RSS, which commands the BJP, likes Gadkari. He took over the party in the times of crisis, and has worked silently to rebuild the organisation, unlike Modi who regularly defies the Sangh leadership.

By not attending the recent party conclave in Delhi, to express his displeasure over RSS' giving responsibility to his arch-rival Sanjay Joshi, Narendra Modi has antagonised the Sangh. The RSS leaders are not comfortable with the personality-centric politics in Gujarat.

For RSS, the idea of defiant leader, even if he takes forwards its Hindutva agenda, is preposterous. After all, one has to be a 'karyakarta' in a cadre based party rather than an autocratic leader acting as a monarch. While Modi has emerged as strong Hindutva leader, he is not submissive.

The party leaders including the veteran Lal Krishna Advani and the rest of the leadership comprising the likes of Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh and Venkaiah Naidu are also wary of Modi's growing clout and persona.

RSS has never taken snubs lightly and it also wants to send a message that no individual howsoever strong he or she may be, they are not indispensable. Perhaps, skipping the national executive was not the right step for Modi. He has captured Ahmedabad but the road to Delhi is still far.

TIH Bureau

Rudrapur Riot: Uttarakhand police face flak over firing on protesters, death toll goes up to four

2011-10-04T11:55:00.001+05:30

The Uttarakhand police is facing flak for the allegedly indiscriminate firing in Rudrapur town that had witnessed communal violence after desecration of a religious text.

The State government has ordered a high-level inquiry to ascertain the circumstances in which police resorted to firing that resulsted in the death of four persons.

The District Magistrate BVR Purushottam, DIG Kumaon range Amit Sinha and SSP GS Martolia were shifted on late Tuesday evening for the abject failure in dealing with law-and-order situation.

Red-faced over growing criticism and particularly as images of violence and police shooting people point blank emerged, the State government removed these officers.With the state going to polls soon, the police firing and killings is all set to become a major issue for the political parties.

The trouble begun last week when a section of minority community complained that torn pages of the holy book were found along with flesh. Local groups allege that the administration didn't take the complaint seriously then and no action was taken. This led to growing discontent and tension built up in the town.

A demonstration was taken out subsequently. But the police fired at the protesters, resulting in deaths of two persons. Two more persons succumbed to injuries in the hospital later. The clashes between members of different communities were also reported. The role of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) has once again come under scanner for the excessive use of force.

Meanwhile, the situation in Rudrapur is tense but under control, especially, after the RAF was pressed into service. Curfew was imposed in the town soon after the clash. Rudrapur is a city in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand, which was formerly known as Uttaranchal.

Muslim leaders have criticised administration in the BJP-ruled state for its failure to prevent the communal riot and stop the large scale looting of shops apart from arson and destruction of property. The fact that the state government released just Rs 1 lakh each to kin of those who died in the police firing has also been criticised.

TIH Bureau

Mayawati irks Muslims: New UP districts named after Dalit personalities, minorities feel ignored

2011-10-01T00:49:00.000+05:30

Just for Dalits!

Discontent is simmering among Muslims in Uttar Pradesh who feel that while newly carved districts in the state were named after Dalit personalities, Muslims were ignored.

Muslim community feels that even though BSP supremo's vote bank chiefly comprises Dalits and Muslims, she hardly pays any attention to contribution of the Muslim leaders in UP.

The formation of three new districts viz. Hapur, Sambhal and Shamli was announced by Chief Minister Mayawati early this week. The demand to declare Muslim-dominated Deoband as a district was however ignored.

The districts have been named as Prabuddha Nagar, Panchsheel Nagar and Bhim Nagar. Muslims leaders say that since her first regime, she has been constantly naming districts after Dalits but never a district, scheme or major institution was named after Muslim leaders of freedom movement or Ulema.

"While 56,000 Muslim religious scholars sacrificed their lives during the war of independence in 1857, Mayawati government ignores the sentiments of Muslims", said legislator and Samajwadi Party leader Qazi Imran Masood, who belongs to an influential political family in the state.

"She just exploits Muslims after dumps them after getting the votes", he charged. Uttar Pradesh now has 75 districts. "I don't understand why none of BSP government's social welfare schemes have been named after a Muslim leader", he roared.

The new districts have been carved out of Moradabad, Ghaziabad and Muzaffar Nagar. Earlier, two districts Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar and Kashi Ram Nagar were carved out of Amethi (Sultanpur) and Etah.

UP has a population of 20 crore (200 million). Dalits form 21% of UP's population while Muslims constitute around 20% of the electorate. UP has 8% Yadav that mostly vote for Mulayam Singh's Samajwadi Party. While BSP large gets Dalit votes, section of Muslims and Upper Castes vote for it.

Upper Castes that include Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Kayasthas form another 15%. The rest are OBCs and intermediate castes. With Uttar Pradesh heading for a poll next year, Maywati is going all out to woo different sections of the society.

She had also written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, demanding reservation for Muslims and Upper castes. But her strategy of naming districts exclusively after Dalit leaders may hurt her electoral chances, feel political observers.

TIH Bureau

Gopalgarh massacre: Suspended Bharatpur Collector, SP booked for murder

2011-09-27T03:08:00.002+05:30

Ten days after Mev Muslims were killed in a massacre in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district, the two suspended officers--District Magistrate (DM) Krishna Kunal and SP Hinglaj Dan have been booked for murder.

The FIR against half-a-dozen persons including the two suspended officers was filed in the police station against them.

District Magistrate and Collector Krishna Kunal, an IAS officer of Bihar cadre, has already been suspended. The role of Kunal and the Superintendent of Police (SP) Hinglaj Dan came under severe criticism.

Contrary to the administration's claims, it was found that the victims died of bullet injuries. The gunshots were fired by the policemen. The claim that Mev Muslims had attacked police was also proved wrong as the mosque is located far from the police station and the marks of the blood and gore were found in the place of worship.

Apparently, there was no provocation from Mev Muslims but the administration under the influence of certain local Gujjar leaders, resorted to attack on Muslims. There were signs of armed policemen entering the mosque and targeting Muslims.

As fact finding teams that reached Bharatpur, found evidences of police excesses, the Centre also sent a team of Congress leaders. Subsequent reports led to mounting pressure on the local administration. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accepted that Meo Muslims were victims of the violence.

The DM and SP had been shunted out. A judicial inquiry has been instituted and the case has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). There is a strong demand to sack Home Minister Shanti Dhariwal for his failure to act and take moral responsibility for the horrific killings in Bharatpur.

TIH Bureau

Muslims' protest leads to cancellation of Ahmadiyya exhibition in Delhi

2011-09-25T03:14:00.001+05:30

Massive protest by Muslims led to cancellation of the Ahmadiyya sect's programme in the constitution club in Delhi.

The Ahmadiyya 'jamaat' of India had planned a three day event in the national capital but community leaders who term Ahmadiyyas as non-Muslims opposed it.

Ironically, it was the programme 'Exhibition on Quran' that was opposed by Muslim leaders. The Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Ahmad Bukhari, said that the Ahmadiyas are outside the pale of Islam, as they don't believe in finality of Prophet Muhammad.

Bukhari said that the sect has also made changes in the Holy Quran and thus any such event is unacceptable to Indian Muslims. The Shahi Imam began a protest march towards the club but was stopped by the police midway at Daryaganj.

He sat on a 'dharna' at the spot in protest, refusing to budge until the Qadiyanis' (Muslims use this term for Ahamadiyas as the sect's spiritual head and first leader hailed from Punjab's Qadiyan), event was cancelled and the exhibition closed.

Bukhari then ourted arrest and went to police station where he was released on bail later. Ahmadiyyas have been declared as non-Muslims in Pakistan and some other Islamic nations. But in India, the adherents of the sect are considered as Muslims.

The Ahmadiyyas prefer the term Ahmadi or Ahmedi for themselves and consider the word Qadiani as derogatory. Muslims allege that the group considers Ghulam Ahmad as a recent prophet, which is against fundamental Islamic belief, but the sect claims that he was a 'reviver' of religion.

Muslim leaders alleged that the sect presents its belief in the form of Islam but they are non-Muslims and shouldn't be allowed to propagate their heretic beliefs. Owing to law-and-order related issue, the administration later prevailed upon the organisers to cancel the event on the first day.

TIH Bureau

Crime in Delhi: Gay businessman killed by homosexual 'friends' for money

2011-09-24T01:35:00.001+05:30

Businessman Narendra Narang who was found murdered in his house in Delhi's Kirti Nagar had been killed by his gay partners with the aim of robbery.

Narang, 44, lived alone in the house. When neighbours told about foul smell coming from the place, the police broke into the house and had found him dead. There were no clothes on the body.

Investigation revealed that Narang was into homosexual relationships and had no regular partner. He had recently come in contact with two youths hailing from Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

The youths, Pradeep alias Sonu, 21, and Kamal Kishor, 19, knew that the businessman daily brought at least Rs 50,000 home. When he called them again recently to spend night with him, they had planned that they would kill him and escape with booty.

After the unnatural sexual act in bathroom with him, the duo strangulated him to death with a cable wire. Then they escaped with the money. During interrogation in the locality, police found Narang often called youths and gave them Rs 200-Rs 500 for a visit.

Sustained interrogation led to vital clues. Informers' tip and other evidences pointed towards the two youths. They were caught and during interrogation the accused confessed the crime. They said that the motive was to rob the businessman.

Narang was married in 1992 but had separated from his wife within months of marriage. Around Rs 50,000 robbed by them and the three cell phones were also recovered. The police are interrogating them to find if the youths were involved in other such crimes in the past.

TIH Bureau

Government Gag: Two suspended for Facebook comments in Bihar

2011-09-23T02:33:00.002+05:30

In an unprecedented move, two government officials were suspended in Bihar for comments on social networking website Facebook.

The incident has caused an outrage among netizens and intellectuals. Dr Musafir Prasad, who maintains a profile under the name Musafir Baitha, has been suspended from the Bihar Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council).

Another government employee Arun Narayan has also been issued suspension order. Their fault is that they 'dared' to discuss official administrative red-tape and bureaucratic lethargy on Facebook. Musafir had mentioned how his application had moved at snail's pace in the administrative setup.

Arun had made a comment on Bihar's politics. Following the Facebook comments, Council chairman issued the order. However, the decision may have boomeranged. The Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government is facing flak for the order.

The fact is that Bihar government seems to be too touchy and over-sensitive to any sort of criticism. This hasn't gone down well with the literary community and the citizens as well. Both Musafir and Arun Narayan who were till recently posted with Hindi language wing, are noted writers.

TIH Bureau

India, cricket world mourn Nawab of Pataudi's death

2011-09-23T01:21:00.002+05:30

One of the greatest cricketers to have ever walked on the cricket field, Mansoor Ali Khan, better known as Nawab of Pataudi, passed away at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi on Thursday.

With just one eye, Pataudi's exploits on the fields are truly legendary. The former cricketer had captained India in 40 tests and had given the Indian team taste of victory on foreign soil for the first time.

Pataudi, whose father Iftikhar Ali Khan alias Pataudi Senior, was also an accomplished international cricketer, will be buried in Pataudi town in Haryana. He died of cardiac arrest after respiratory failure. The one-eyed genius had amassed 2,793 runs in 46 tests.

Mansur Ali Khan was not just the heir of the erstwhile principality of Pataudi in Haryana but also a scion of the Muslim princely state, Bhopal, in Central India, from his mother's side. His mother Sajida Sultan was titular head of Bhopal state after the death of her father the last Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan.

Pataudi had inherited his father's love for sports, particularly, cricket. After losing his eye in a car accident in England, Pataudi still managed to play at the highest level of international cricket, and even went on to captain India. It was under his captaincy that India got the killer instinct and learnt the art of winning test matches.

Mansoor Ali Khan inspired his teammates and junior cricketers. It was under him that Prasanna would always become a lethal bowler, almost unplayable. The famous spin quartet became all the more effective when Pats captained the Indian team.

After a successful career, the flamboyant batsman hung his boots. He had married India's most glamorous actress Sharmila Tagore aka Ayesha. The couple's son Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan are Bollywood stars while Saba Ali Khan is a jewellery designer.

Apart from his cricketing exploits and royal lineage, Pataudi was also a style icon. He was amongst the first few celebrities who were approached for modelling in India. His autobiography Tiger's Tale tells a vivid account of his life.

TIH Bureau

Narendra Modi refuses to wear Muslim skullcap during his fast

2011-09-19T14:16:00.000+05:30

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's refusal to accept a skullcap from a Muslim cleric during his three day sadbhavana fast, has triggered a major controversy.

The cleric Imam Shahi Saiyed reached the venue of fast in Ahmedabad and handed Modi the 'topi', which he refused to take.The cleric later draped his green shawl on Modi.

The headgear or traditional caps are usually worn by leaders whenever they are offered at public programmes and functions by citizens. It is believed that Modi's effort to project himself as an inclusive leader may have suffered another major jolt because of his act on stage.

As TV channels beamed the image of Modi returning the 'topi', BJP leaders were suddenly on the defensive. The Muslim face of the party, Shahnawaz Khan, had to put up with journalists's queries about Modi's strong reaction to the Maulana's gesture.

While Modi is trying to emerge as an acceptable leader on the national stage, his past still haunts him. He was Chief Minister when Gujarat witnessed one of the worst communal riots, termed as Gujarat genocide in which nearly 2,000 Muslims were killed and many women were raped & murdered.

The refusal of Modi to take the cap from Imam has perhaps shown that he is not yet comfortable with Islamic symbols in a country that has 200 million Muslims. Despite trying to change his hardline Hindutva image and emerge as a leader who bats for communal harmony, it is not easy for NaMo to walk away from his image, which is his biggest asset as well as worst enemy.

TIH Bureau

Curfew in Bharatpur: Police fire after groups clash over land dispute

2011-09-15T02:29:00.000+05:30

Curfew was imposed in Bharatpur town in Rajasthan after the communal violence between two groups and the police firing that resulted in the death of eight persons.

The trouble began over the land for Muslim graveyard in Gopalgarh. The Gujjars who claimed ownership of the same land were opposed to Meo Muslims using the land as graveyard.

As a result there was tension in the area for the last couple of days. On Wednesday, violent clashes occurred between groups belonging to the two communities. Police resorted to firing in which several persons died. Reports about the number of persons killed in the firing varied.

The district collector had initially said that eight persons were killed but later retracted and said that he had been misinformed by the hospital authorities, as some of the victims were just unconscious and when checked again they were found to be alive.

But later as the persons injured in the violence succumbed, the death toll went up to eight. Activist Shabnam Hashmi has expressed fears that the number of persons killed could be even more.

Additional police force has been sent to Bharatpur. The Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and top police officials are keeping an eye on the law-and-order situation. Bharatpur distict borders Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. It has a large population of Muslim Mev community that is spread in Mewat region in three states.

As burnt bodies were recovered from a well, it became clear that the administration had failed to control the situation. Minority groups have alleged that the police was in cahoots with attackers who even fired at Muslims in a mosque. Muslim groups have demanded a CBI inquiry and removal of DM and SP.

TIH Bureau

Seven killed in police firing on Dalits in Tamil Nadu

2011-09-12T15:57:00.000+05:30

The death toll in the indiscriminate firing on Dalits in Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu has now risen to seven while many others were injured in the police action.

Chief Minister J Jayalalitha has announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each to the kin of those who died in the police firing. An inquiry has also been instituted to look into the circumstances in which the police personnel opened fire on unarmed citizens.

A retired High Court judge would conduct the probe. Earlier, the Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had seemignly justified the firing, saying that the angry crowd had attacked policemen which forced them to retaliate. The violence began after reports that Dalit leader John Pandian was detained.

Pandian was going to pay homage to legendary Dalit activist Immanuel Sekar on the latter's death anniversary then. After the local Dalits got restless, the police gathered in large numbers. In the ensuing confrontation, protesters resorted to stone pelting but police fired bullets.

TIH Bureau

Professor's 'anti-Muslim' comments upset Jamia Millia Islamia students

2011-09-10T23:27:00.000+05:30

A visiting professor at the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) university is alleged to have made objectionable comments and speak derogatorily to Muslim students during his class.

The incident has led to anger among students on the campus. The teacher, Prof PK Basu's outburst against Muslims and the communal comments stunned the students.

His ire was also directed at the Muslim students in the class. He even told a Muslim girl who was wearing veil as 'you blackhead', comment which left the students shell-shocked.

Basu further said that the dress (burqa) had been banned in other countries. Though students initially remained calm, they got upset when his tirade against Islam and Muslims continued. It is alleged that Basu used words like illiterate, idiot and stupid against the students.

Prof Basu also said that he had little regard for the faculty at the educational institution. Later students made a formal complaint to the university authorities regarding the hateful comments in the classroom. They have demanded that the professor be sacked. The Delhi-based JMI, which is a minority institution, is one of the leading universities in the country.

TIH Bureau

Tension after communal riot in Adoni town in Kurnool

2011-09-08T00:57:00.000+05:30

Curfew continues in Adoni town in Kurnool that had witnessed a communal clash which began over a petty dispute between two groups early this week.

But the violence forced administration to impose curfew. After reports of fresh clashes, senior officials have decided to continue the prohibitory orders until the situation returns to normalcy.

Adoni is located in Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh (AP). During the procession to take out idols and tableaux of Lord Ganesha for immersion, two groups had an argument.

The music played in front of a religious place angered the other group. The incident had occurred on Monday. The situation took a serious turn as both sides engaged in stone pelting and clashed openly. The police fired in the air and used force to bring the situation under control.

Nearly a dozen persons were injured, two of them critically, in the violence. After a fresh round of violence that was reported on Tuesday, more police companies are being rushed. Officers say that the situation is tense but now under control. The indefinite curfew would continue in the city, they said.

Adoni, a historic city, that has a population of nearly 3 lakh is known as Cotton town and is around 300 km from Hyderabad. Adoni has a strong Muslim population but witnessed no communal riot since 1970s when clashes last occurred here. It is situated in Karnool district.

TIH Bureau

Earthquake in Delhi: Scare as citizens experience tremors

2011-09-08T00:13:00.000+05:30

An earthquake was felt in Delhi and adjoining areas of the national capital on late Wednesday night.

As earth shook, residents came out of their homes.The tremors were felt in Delhi, NOIDA, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and parts of surrounding regions including UP and Haryana.

Though no loss of life or property was reported initially, reports suggested that the earthquake measured over 4.2 on the Richter scale.

Reports also suggested that there could be another quake within 40 minutes, after the first tremor was felt at 11:38 pm. The epicentre of the earthquake was at Sonepat in Haryana. Later reports suggested that no more tremors were expected in the region.

However, citizens were worried about staying indoors and at several places came out in the open, anticipating another earthquake. It proved to be an ominous day for Delhiites as a bomb blast at High Court caused deaths and injuries. After the terrorist strike, the earthquake was reported, though no loss of life was known till late Wednesday night.

TIH Bureau

Communal clash: Curfew in Ujjain after groups indulge in violence and rioting, police say situation under control

2011-09-03T12:05:00.000+05:30

Curfew was imposed in parts of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh after groups belonging to different communities clashed, leading to tension in the town.

The trouble had begun during Ganeshotsava celebrations. An irate mob resorted to stone pelting in which policemen sustained injuries. The vehicle of IG police was also damaged in the incident.

As situation worsened, additional police force was rushed. In view of heavy stone pelting, police used tear gas shells to quell the situation.

Later curfew was imposed in five police station areas including Mahakaal, Jiwajiganj, Kotwali and Khara Kuaan. Police said that Ganesh idol was installed in a shop on the mosque premises, which led to a heated argument between two sides.

After senior officials intervened, it as amicably agreed upon to install the idol at another place. But some activists belonging to Hindu organisations protested against the decision and this led to the group clash.

Later reports said that two persons were killed in the ensuing violence. Rapid Action Force (RAF) was deployed. Police said that situation was under control. Administration had stepped up vigil and declared holiday for schools.

TIH Bureau

Hindu terrorists convicted for bomb blasts in Thane, Mumbai: Court sentences Sanatan Sanstha members to 10 years' jail term

2011-08-30T01:16:00.000+05:30

A sessions court in Mumbai on Monday held two right-wing militants guilty for the bomb blast at a theatre in Thane that had occurred in 2008.

The court convicted Ramesh Gadkari and Vikram Bhave for planting bombs and causing blasts at Thane, Panvel and Vashi in Maharashtra.

Four other members of the same right-wing group who were charged with the same crime were however let off for lack of sufficient evidence. Those acquitted included Mangesh Nikkam, Santosh Angre, Hemant and Hari Divekar.

Though activists associated with Hindutva groups have been charged for terror strikes in Ajmer Dargah, Mecca Masjid blast at Hyderabad, Samjhauta Express and Modasa blast, this is one of the first such cases in which the court has convicted those accused of bomb blasts.

Justice NV Nhavkar will announce the quantum of sentence on Wednesday. Seven persons were injured when bomb exploded on June 4, 2008 in Gadkari Rangayatan theatre at Thane which falls in Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation area.

Another bomb explosion had occurred at a theatre in Vashi in Navi Mumbai on May 31 the same year. A bomb was also planted in Panvel in Raigad. The investigators had zeroed in on the role of right-wing Hindu extremists' group Sanatan Sanstha.

The bomb blast at Panvel cinema hall was to protest the screening of the Bollywood movie Jodhaa Akbar which was deemed as denigrating the Rajputs and Hindu culture. Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai had played lead roles in the film.

Similarly, plays were targeted. The fanatic members had objected to certain plays depicting Hindu gods, which they considered objectionable. The case has serious implications as it was initially considered a terrorist strike.

It also highlights that right-wing groups have been involved in terrorism in the country. Later reports suggest that the two 'terrorists' viz. Ramesh Gadkari and Vikram Bhave have been sentenced to ten years or rigorous imprisonment each.

TIH Bureau

Udit Raj emerges as symbol of Dalit, OBC, Muslim resistance after grand rally in Delhi

2011-08-25T14:17:00.000+05:30

Dr Udit Raj

With his huge rally to protest the exclusion of Dalits, Tribal, OBCs and Muslims apart from other minorities in the Anna Hazare's movement, Dr Udit Raj has emerged as the rallying point of the vast majority of citizens who oppose the current version of Jan Lok bill.

Dr Udit Raj's rally at India Gate on Wednesday that drew members from other groups also, has brought to fore the simmering discontent among the sections of society who felt that Hazare's movement was backed by casteist forces, urban elite and right-wing groups.

Political observers say that the demonstration and the march towards Jantar Mantar has send signals to the polity that Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Muslims, Other Backward Castes (OBCs) and sections of poor and weaker sections are suspicious of the anti-corruption movement.

They feel that the drive for Jan Lok Pal bill was not in the interests of the majority of Indians and was aimed at subverting the authority of the constitution. The fact that Hindutva leaders and spiritual gurus like Baba Ramdev, Bhayyu Maharaj and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar have been part of the Anna agitation has already alarmed Muslims and Dalits.

The slogans at the Ramlila Ground were also jingoistic and more in sync with Hindutva groups. "Media coverage of the agitation gave an impression as if the majority population supported Hazare whose movement to undermine parliament can have disastrous consequences", said an analyst.

"What is civil society? What mandate they have? If they are civil, are we uncivil?". "The truth is that the silent majority is strongly opposed to the bill but their voice is not aired by Upper Caste controlled media which is heavily biased in favour of Hazare".

"The Dalit-OBC-Minority led Save Constitution rally was not given adequate space in media but it has shaken power corridors and sent a powerful signal to everybody including politicians and society". "Had the rally not affected traffic, it might have been totally ignored by mainstream media".

Udit Raj, the president of Indian Justice Party, has been leading the agitation against Anna Hazare. He has said that a bill that will be in the interest of the Bahujans (majority Indians including SC/ST/OBC/Minorities) would be proposed soon.

Dalit activists feel that while Mayawati's stand on the issue has been ambiguous, Udit Raj has taken a lead and his campaign to mobilise the youths and forge a grand Dalit-Muslim alliance, which showed up in Delhi on Wednesday, have brought the real issues surrounding Anna movement to the fore.

Anna Hazare is on a fast at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi for over a week. Though he commands respect for his agitations and fasts against corruption, the current agitation organised by Team Anna which comprises Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi has alarmed large sections of society.

Kejriwal has been a supporter of Youth for Equality, a movement against caste based reservations in jobs and education. There has been no Dalit, Muslim or Tribal in the team though Saffron forces including RSS influence is clearly visible on the participants at the Ramlila Ground.

Muslim leaders have been skeptic as Anna had praised Narendra Modi. Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari had said that Muslims would consider supporting him if he condemns the massacre of Muslims during Gujarat riots and dissociate himself from his earlier stand.

TIH Bureau

Against Anna: Hundreds of Dalits, OBCs demonstrate against Hazare's movement at India Gate

2011-08-25T02:26:00.000+05:30

Hundreds of Dalits and members of Other Backward Castes (OBCs) staged a demonstration at the India Gate on Wednesday to express their opposition to the Anna Hazare's movement for Lok Pal bill.

The protesters who marched towards Jantar Mantar expressed outrage at the manner in which Team Anna was trying to subvert the authority of the constitution and place a body above the Chief Justice of Supreme Court as well as Prime Minister.

Holding placards and banners, the protesters raised slogans that expressed their resolve to save Indian constitution. Indian Justice Party chief Udit Raj is leading the movement and organised the 'Save Constitution' rally.

Raising slogans like 'Halla Bol', 'Inquilab Zindabad' and 'Samvidhan se chhed chhaad nahi chalegi', the protesters marched. "Anna Hazare's team doesn't have the mandate and it is against SC/STs and minorities", said a woman who yelled, 'Fight corruption but within the constitutional framework'.

Various Dalit, OBC and SC/ST groups supported the rally. Several Muslims were also seen in today's protest march. "We won't let anyone downplay the authority of the constitution, which is supreme", said another person in the demonstration.

Large chunks of Dalits, OBCs, Tribal and Muslims oppose the movement which they call an effort of upper caste forces propelled by right-wing forces to undermine the parliament. Those in rally alleged that Anna's movement was appropriated and hijacked by communal forces (read RSS).

Udit Raj, who is also Chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST organisations, has said that a Bahujan Lokpal Bill would be put forward now. Many of his supporters suspect that Anna's team has members who have been against caste based reservations in the past.

Raj has said that 85% Indians that include Dalits, Muslims, OBCs, Tribals and other weaker sections were not in support of Anna Hazare's anti-corruption fast at Ram Lila Ground, which has attracted attention in urban India.

It is alleged that the pro-BJP/RSS urban elite is driving the Anna movement with the help of newspapers and channels, which also protect the interests of the particular classes. Muslim leaders including Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari have already expressed reservations about the integrity of Team Anna and sought to clarify Hazare's stand on Gujarat riots.

TIH Bureau

Muslims support Anna Hazare but clerics & community leaders less convinced of the movement

2011-08-24T02:34:00.000+05:30

While large section of Muslim masses openly support Anna Hazare's anti-corruption drive, several Muslim clerics, community leaders and intellectuals have expressed reservation about the nature of movement.

The first to openly voice his dissatisfaction with Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari who questioned the association of right-wing forces in the movement.

Bukhari had also criticized the open chanting of jingoistic slogans like Vande Mataram.After Team Anna met him, Bukhari said that he could reconsider his position if Hazare clarifies his stand over the latter's praise of Gujarat's chief minister Narendra Modi.

But the Imam is not alone in voicing his concern over fears of RSS infiltration in the drive for Lok Pal bill.
Social activist Shabnam Hashmi on Tuesday questioned where Hazare was when North Indians were attacked in Maharashtra, when Christians were burnt in Orissa-Karnataka, Muslims persecuted in Gujarat and fake encounter staged in Batla House.

She said that those who are raising Gandhian slogans were missing then from the scene. Hashmi said that a vast majority of those present in the agitation have no clue about Lokpal or the implications of having such an ombudsman in the country.

The president of All India Muslim Youths Anti-Terrorism Front Shakil Saifi said that Hazare was never heard when Mumbai burnt in communal flames or when Muslims were killed in communal riots in Gujarat. Saifi said that Anna imitates Gandhi but unlike the Mahatma, Anna's team has no Muslim.

On the other hand, hundreds of Muslims under the banner of All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz, burnt effigies of Ahmad Bukhari, to protest his statement. Clerics and Imams in different parts of the country have supported the agitation and said that any step against corruption is sanctioned by Islam and thus Anna must be supported.

TIH Bureau

Is Anna Hazare's movement against Dalits, Tribals, Minorities?

2011-08-20T01:52:00.000+05:30

Is Anna anti-reservation?

The murmurs that Anna Hazare's agitation is elitist and against the interests of the Dalits, OBCs and Tribals are getting stronger by the day.

Prominent personalities, intellectuals and organisations representing Dalits, OBCs and Muslims have now openly begun criticising Hazare's team and its 'arrogance'. They claim that a section of elite and upwardly mobile middle class that mostly comprises Upper Castes is supporting the movement.

Dalit writer Chandrabhan Prasad has termed it a dangerous sign that a non-elected person is leading a movement which is driven by upper castes. He feels that the agitation is against the spirit of the Indian constitution.

Section of Muslims echo the same sentiment. Urdu poet Manzar Bhopali says that Anna Hazare talks of a revolution but it can't be compared at all to 'freedom movement'. 'Innumerable people gave sacrifices for independence. This is not such a movement'.

Manzar Bhopali says that Anna Hazare's movement is exclusivist and has no place for Muslims. "Where are Muslim faces. Have they been taken along? There are 200 million or 20 crore Muslims in India and they have been bypassed", he further says.

Questions are being raised about the lack of any Muslim, Dalit, Tribal or OBC in his team. But the Other Backward Castes (OBCs), an increasingly assertive section, that comprises one of the biggest chunks of Indian populace is now restless. The feel that 'manuvadi' and 'hindutva-vadis' are supporting this movement that represents injustice.

"The Upper Castes particularly Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Kayasthas and Vaishyas who constitute less than 10% of India's population had control over 90% seats in jobs and educational institutions but when reservations for SCs/STs changed the situation, they were upset. Now they see another chance to gain power by subverting Indian democracy", says a prominent writer.

"They want to hijack power which slipped from their hands after the great social revolution in India during VP Singh's era. But OBCs, minorities, tribal populace and Dalit bahujans won't let this media manufactured movement to take over the nation and sabotage the struggle of the real majority".

Says Dilip Mandal, "Anna's movement that is driven by casteist forces, moneyed elitists and corporate world is against constitution and is in conflict with the interests of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes other than OBCs. So can a movement be pro-poor and yet against interests of Dalits, Tribal, Muslims, who comprise majority of the poor in India.

Thinkers, activists and writers representing these sections are increasingly getting worried by the RSS penetration in the movement. They feel that while Jan Lokpal bill will hardly do any good to the society, it has raised false expectations that corruption would be eliminated in India.

It is felt that Hindutva groups are supporting the movement to get mileage over Congress and to turn the tide in favour of BJP and Sangh Parivar. There are allegations that TV is giving unprecedented coverage to the demonstrations just because the vocal middle class upper caste is supporting it while those opposing it are not being spoken to and their protests are not visible.

TIH Bureau

Jain PU college Mangalore discriminates against Muslim girl student!

2011-08-15T14:19:00.000+05:30

If a Hindu girl can wear bindi or mangal sutra and a Christian can have a cross dangling by neck, can't a Muslim student cover her head?

This debate has been triggered by the strange and autocratic decision of the management of Jain Pre-University College Moodbidri in Karnataka's Mangalore that bars a Muslim girl from attending classes.

The student, Hadiya, wears headscarf but the 'minority' institute doesn't allow her to step into the classroom wearing the hijab. The authorities have even asked her to stop stepping into the college premises. The principal in the conservative Jain-run college didn't come to her succour either.

Surprisingly, the district administration also appeared indifferent. But Hadiya says that she will fight for her rights. Government officials have been urged to take action but Dakshin Kannada commissioner hasn't issued any specific order in this regard.

Once known for its communal harmony and the Hindu-Muslim-Christian common culture, Mangalore has seen the rise of right-wing fundamentalist forces. Earlier also a girl Ayesha Amin had to face similar diktat by another college for wearing the veil.

Muslim organisations have decided to take up the issue strongly and get government to frame laws that should protect fundamental rights of citizens. Unfortunately, the row has erupted in a college run by a minority religious group's college.

TIH Bureau

Prakash Jha's 'anti-Dalit' movie Aarakshan banned in UP

2011-08-11T01:07:00.000+05:30

In a major setback to filmmaker Prakash Jha, the Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday said that his movie Aarakshan would not be screened in the state.

The Mayawati government declared that dialogues in the Bollywood movie were provocative and could lead to violence and hence it was not appropriate to allow the release.

UP is India's biggest state in terms of population and home to largest number of Urdu and Hindi speakers.Jha had landed in controversy after his twitter message recently.

He had also tweeted a joke, which he himself called 'politically incorrect' as it allegedly made fun of those who get reservation under SC/ST or OBC category vis-a-vis others or general (Upper Caste) category persons.

Later he had deleted the tweet. SC/ST panel chief PL Punia had also said that the film was anti-Dalit. Prakash Jha has however maintained that his movie was not against Dalits or students/aspirants belonging to the sections of society that get job quota under Mandal commission report.

He said that the movie had been cleared by censor board and it should be seen before labelling it as anti-Dalit. Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan play the lead roles in the film, which is scheduled for nationwide release on August 12.TIH Bureau

Christian man behind terrorist attack in Norway

2011-07-24T21:01:00.000+05:30

Contrary to initial suspicion, investigation has revealed that it was a Christian 'terrorist' who was involved in the bomb blast and mass killings in Norway that left nearly 92 persons dead.

The terrorist strikes have shaken this scandinavian country which is known for its peaceful citizens. Soon after the terror strike, most agencies and news reports focused primarily on Islamist groups.

But as investigation progressed, it emerged that a right-wing Christian fanatic who disliked the culture of coexistence and was against the 'invasion' of Norway by immigrants from outside, was responsible for the killings.

Anders Behring Breivik who has reportedly confessed his crime, has told investigators that he single-handedly committed the attacks including the planning of the bomb blast and the firing on the youth camp in Utoya. He disliked the state policty of multicultarism.

What perplexes the police is that the man was so fanatically driven towards his views. He had purchased a huge cache of fertilisers for the bomb blast. Despite his leanings towards the right-wing fringe Christian groups, he was not under observation.

TIH Bureau

Tribal terrorist group behind blast in Assam

2011-07-22T01:02:00.000+05:30

A tribal group has claimed responsibility for the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast that had caused derailment of the train and as a result injury to over 100 passengers in Assam recently.

The APA--Adivasi People's Army--a militant outfit had planted the bomb. Now the CRPF has arrested 16 members of the 292nd battalion of the 'terrorist outfit'.

The bomb had been planted on the track near Bhatkuchi and the explosion had caused derailment of Guwahati-Puri Express train early this month.

Police claim that it was an insurgent group active in Assam along with NDFB, Rabha Viper Army, Bodoland Royal Tigers Force and Karbi People Liberation Tigers (KPLT) among the several other militant organisations in North East that have been giving a tough time to security agencies.

Unlike groups that receive funding from Islamist networks in rest of the country, the APA and other groups active in Assam have mostly Hindu or Tribal cadre. They also have links with the Maoists in the neighbouring states of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar.

TIH Bureau

Desecration of Quran leads to anger, violence in Moradabad

2011-07-07T02:26:00.000+05:30

Moradabad was on the boil on Wednesday when angry groups of Muslims came on the streets and clashed with the police after reports of desecration of Holy Quran.

A police team had gone to a house where they had allegedly desecrated the Quran. As news spread, hundreds hit the street and fought pitched-battle with the police. The police vehicles were set ablaze.

Senior officials reached the spot but the angry crowd pelted stones. A DIG-level officer was also injured in the clashes. In recent past, Uttar Pradesh police has faced flak for excessive use of force against Dalits and Muslims.

Police denied that there was any desecration but residents insisted that the police party desecrated the holy book. Locals said that the policemen who went to Taslim Ahmed's residence had snatched the holy book which his daughter was reading and thrown the pages.

The road to Sambhal was blocked. Angry protesters set fire to a police chowki (outpost). The firing by policemen further angered the crowd. Nearly half-a-dozen persons were injured but no one had died in the violence.

TIH Bureau

Bihar govt urged to take action on Araria SP for Forbesganj killings

2011-06-23T01:55:00.000+05:30

Several political parties and social organisations have asked the Bihar government to take disciplinary action against the senior officials of Araria district for the unprovoked firing on villagers in Forbesganj earlier this month.

Minority groups have said that Superintendent of Police (SP) Garima Malik should be booked for murder, as a pregnant woman and a child had been shot dead in the brutal massacre that occurred after police began firing allegedly at a local BJP leader's instance.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said that a probe has been ordered but the judicial inquiry is yet to begin. Kumar who leads the JDU-BJP government avoided meeting the National Commission for Minorities chairman Wajahat Habibullah who visited the place on Wednesday.

Former union minister Ram Vilas Paswan who apprised Prime Minister about the gruesome killings, has also demanded tough action. The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) wants that the SP and SDO be suspended and charged with murder.

Meanwhile, Muslim groups took out a protest march and reached the Governor's House in Patna. They were demanding a CBI inquiry into the incident and arrest of BJP MLC Ashok Agarwal, his son Saurabh Agarwal, SP Garima Malik, Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) Ashok Chaudhary.

The protesters said that a case of murder should be registered against these officials. The RJD, Communist parties, Congress and several other outfits have already asked for action on officials including the SP in whose presence victims were kicked and jumped upon by the policemen.

TIH Bureau

Forbesganj firing: Police atrocities on Muslims hurts Nitish Kumar's secular image

2011-06-15T05:55:00.000+05:30

The firing on Muslims in Bihar's Forbesganj in which four villagers including a pregnant woman and an infant were killed, is fast turning into the biggest political challenge for the JDU-led coaliation.

The opposition has geared up to corner the State government over the issue. Meanwhile, social organisations, Muslim groups and civil rights bodies are also gunning for the police officials who ordered the firing on villagers.

This is the biggest challenge for Nitish Kumar who came to power with a resounding majority and formed the government with BJP's support. The incident has become a rallying point for the opposition parties including the RJD, LJP and Congress.

Ram Vilas Paswan, Lalu Yadav and prominent Congress leaders have joined hands to embarrass the government, as except one victim, the family of no other victim killed in the firing was handed over any financial compensation.

The firing took place in Araria's Forbesganj in the first week of June. But Baba Ramdev's fast overshadowed it. However, protests continued over the manner in which police opened fire at villagers. A video that showed a policeman stomping over and kicking a man who had been hit with a bullet, caused mass outrage.

Opposition hopes that Forbesganj issue would hurt Nitish Kumar, as he had cultivated his image carefully as a secular leader. By not letting Narendra Modi enter Bihar for campaign, Nitish had sent a signal to the minorities.

The latest incident is bound to give him a headache. Clearly, all is not well in Bihar. Though Nitish succeeded in improving law-and-order situation, this incident has come as a blot for the administration.

If the State government had taken firm action on the guilty it would not have faced such protests from Patna to Delhi. For now, the Opposition has got a stick to beat the JDU-BJP government with. Let's see if the Bihar governments goes for a damage control and accepts the demand for CBI inquiry.

TIH Bureau

Muslims relieved at Osama bin Laden's death, hope for harmony between Islam and Western world

2011-05-03T01:28:00.000+05:30

While a large section of Muslims seemed either happy or relieved at the reports that the United States (US) had hunted down its most wanted terrorist, there was some skepticism that the fugitive had finally been killed.

"Is he really dead?", "Have they killed him", "Was the body Osama's", these were the things heard in conversations. But the reaction among a large number of Muslims was different. They felt that with Laden's death, the war against terrorism launched by America and that caused Islamophobia, may finally end now.

Since 9/11, Muslims had to face racial profiling, were seen as suspects and often complained of harassment by security agencies. Terrorism is not limited to any religion or any particular country. Unfortunately in the last decade, the word came to be associated with Muslims.

The term 'terrorists' nearly became a synonym for the 'Muslim terrorist'. This increased tensions between US and the rest of the Islamic world. The killing of Osama, the global face of Al Qaeda, is not just a symbolic victory for America but also a logical end of the war that began with the destruction of Twin Towers.

Most Muslims feel that steadily over a period of time the relations between Islam and West would improve. Under George Bush, the American rhetoric had angered Muslims. Though the attack over Iraq had angered Islamic world, things have changed now.

A new wave of reforms is sweeping across the Middle East. However, America must tread cautiously as its actions in Afghanistan, Pakistan, attacks on Libya, handling of Egypt and Syria, are all being watched by the Muslims. US must not be seen as a country hell-bent on destabilizing Muslim nations.

For the moment, US can rejoice. With Osama buried deep in the sea, Muslims hope that the distortion of Islamic terms like 'jihad' would finally end now. For long, Muslims have seen the cycles of violence. It is hoped that there will be a new dawn in the world including Muslim countries.

TIH Bureau

Communal riot in Meerut: Attack on Imam leads to clashes

2011-04-26T01:22:00.000+05:30

Communal clashes broke out in Meerut, a communally sensitive town in Western UP, after a group of youths barged into a mosque and assaulted an Imam.

Police say that though there is slight tension in the City, the situation is now under control. Over two dozen persons were injured other than nearly 10 policemen who also sustained injuries.

Nearly 15 persons have been arrested in connection with the incident. Meerut has had a history of communal riots and was notorious for sectarian clashes between Hindus and Muslims till eighties, however, there has been no major clash since 1987.

The recent incident occurred when a group of Gujjar youths led by Sandeep entered the Chhoti Masjid in Qazipur on Hapur Road, and beat up Imam and some other devotees. The Imam was teaching Holy Quran to local children then.

As news spread, there was tension in the area. Reports say that despite calls to local SHO, the police didn't take any action and officers did not reach the place timely. This angered the minority population. Later there were clashes and the ire was mostly directed at police.

Many persons including policemen were injured. There were pitched battles on the street and police resorted to tear gas, cane-charge and use of rubber bullet to contain arson and violence. A house was set afire and the owner Naeem's wife and his daughters received burn injuries.

After flag march, the situation is now under control. Police said that city was now peaceful. There had been reports in newspapers for sometime that there were efforts to stoke communal feelings in Uttar Pradesh (UP) for the last few months.

With elections likely to be held in 2012 and the possibility that there could be an early election if BSP chief Mayawati goes for a poll by 2011-end, such incidents may help section of politicians who want polarization on communal lines to win votes.

Meerut, pronounced as Merath, had attained notoriety for the communal violence. The Maliana killings in which the role of UP's PAC was established, had occurred in 1987. Fortunately, the City had shed its communal past in the last 24 years and was no longer seen as a troubled place.

Prominent citizens and politicians have appealed to residents to maintain calm and ensure that there is no violence, as it can bring bad name to the City. Local MLAs and MPs have also said that the citizens should not pay heed to rumour-mongers and assist administration in bringing order.

TIH Bureau

Satya Sai Baba's death: A great journey ends in Puttaparthi in India

2011-04-24T16:03:00.000+05:30

One of the most incredible personalities, Godman Satya Sai Baba, who turned a living god and commanded millions of devotees in India and abroad, died on Sunday.

Satya Sai Baba, 85, was ill and was in intensive care unit (ICU) for a month. On April 24, it was formally declared that the Baba had passed away due to cardio-respiratory failure in Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh.

Though controversies surrounded him in lifetime, Sathya Sai Baba had a following in 178 countries and he left behind an empire that includes super-specialty hospitals and educational institutions.

Considered an 'avatar' of Shirdi's Sai Baba, the Satya Sai Baba had his devotees in most religions including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains and even Buddhists. But critics termed his movement as a cult.

Baba faced many allegations in his lifetime. Magician PC Sorcar had thrown a challenge to him also. There was a charge that his miracles were nothing by magician's tricks and that he used to bring out 'sacred ash' or fruits hidden in his sleeve to devout.

Another serious allegation was that of sexual abuse of males, particularly young boys. His devotees claimed all these allegations were false, part of a smear campaign and that they were just a means to get cheap popularity.

Whether a human or a God, the truth is that in a country where most avenues are closed for poor, he had a soothing presence for millions who had strong faith in him and who believed that his 'darshan' could heal them miraculously.

Surely, his death marks the end of an era. It is to be seen how Satya Sai Baba's spirit legacy is carried and whether the cash-rich trust continues to work for the poor and under-privileged with the same zeal, after Baba's demise.

TIH Bureau

Minor Jain girl raped at the behest of lady monk!

2011-04-20T12:40:00.000+05:30

A teenaged Jain girl who had been sent for spiritual training by her family was allegedly raped by five persons at the behest of a Jain 'Sadhvi'.

The victim, a 15-year-old girl, lives in an 'Ashram' in Gujarat's Panchmahal but was taken to Rajasthan recently where she was raped. Sadhvi Nirmal Prabha, a senior woman monk, had initiated the minor girl to the path of spirituality six months ago.

The 'diksha' ceremony had taken place in Rajasthan. The girl was taken to Netra Shivganj in Rajasthan and later to Khiwadi. The victim says that on the directions of Nirmal Prabha, a person Mahendra raped her and then four other youths also committed sexual act with her.

Nirmal Prabha's driver Pappu also sexually exploited the girl. The girl suffered the gang rape for months. She managed to escape to Falna and then reached Mount Abu from where she informed her family. Her father came to get her back to Pavagarh.

The girl has made some other sensational allegations. She said that the Sadhvi also used to drink secretly and watched pornographic clips. In her statement to police, she said that the woman monk had charged Rs 5,000 from the culprits for letting them rape her (victim).

On her complaint, the police have registered a case of rape against all the accused including the Sadhwi. Nirmal Prabha alias Nirmala Devi, who is charged with abetment of crime and aiding the rape accused, is a monk but was sometimes seen in Western clothes also, which surprised the neighbours.

Suspicious persons visited us and there is another complaint of similar nature against her. It is also alleged that she was close to a builder and had secretly married him though the Jain priests take 'brahmacharya' vow and remain celibate.

TIH Bureau

Lakhs participate in Muslim congregation in Ludhiana

2011-04-12T02:00:00.000+05:30

Lakhs of Muslims from all over the country participated in the Majis-e-Ahrar's conference organised in Ludhiana in Punjab. It was perhaps the biggest gathering of Muslims in Indian Punjab after partition.

Muslim leaders representing almost all the major schools of thought including Barelvi, Deobandi and Shia attended the programme which was held at Dana Mandi ground.

The Majlis' president Maulana Habibur Rahman Sani Ludhianvi said that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was the last prophet and any attempt to confront Muslims on this issue will be resisted strongly.

"That Muhammad was the seal of prophethood is a belief central to all Muslims and the members of the community can't accept any dilution in this belief."

The Majlis had organised the event to mark the centenary of the movement 'Tehrik-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwwat' which was launched to counter the Ahmadiyya sect's controversial proclamation regarding their leader Ghulam Ahmad Qadiyani.

Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad was the final prophet and the seal of prophethood. However, the Ahmadiyyas gave their leader Ghulam Ahmad Qadiyani the status of a prophet, which caused a schism between the sect and mainstream Muslims.

The Ahmadiyya sect was based in Qadian town in Indian Punjab. After partition, the Ahmadiyya leadership shifted to Pakistan's Rabwah town. In Pakistan, Ahmadiyyas have been officially declared as non-Muslims due to their beliefs.

After independence, most of the Muslim population from Indian Punjab had migrated to Pakistan. Except Maler Kotla town in Sangrur district, the Muslims had almost disappeared from the entire state in the wake of post-partition killings.

But in the last few decades, Muslims have become visible in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and other major cities of Punjab. Muslim population is estimated to be over 1 million in Punjab now.

The recent conference-cum-rally organised by the Majlis-e-Ahrar-e-Islam-e-Hind was the biggest such gathering of Muslims in Indian Punjab in the last 60 years.

The programme had started with recital of the Holy Quran. Later Urdu poets rendered 'naats' praising the Prophet. Eminent Shia cleric Maulana Kalb-e-Jawad, Ulema, Sajjada Nashin Ajmer Dargah and clerics from J&K, West Bengal, Kerala, Maharashtra, UP and other states were present during the programme.

TIH Bureau

India beat Sri Lanka in the final, win Cricket World Cup 2011

2011-04-03T11:50:00.000+05:30

India erupted in joy as the country where cricket is a religion finally won the World Cup after an agonizing wait of nearly 28 years.

Led by Captain Cool Mahendra Singh Dhoni and inspired performances by Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Gautam Gambhir and the entire cricket team, India thrashed Sri Lanka in the finals at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.

Dhoni played a captain's knock, hitting an unbeaten 91 and a last ball six to defeat Sri Lanka that had scored 274 thanks to Mahela Jayawardene's masterful century. For India, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli consolidated the innings after the early departure of Sachin Tendulkar and Sehwag.

Finally, Dhoni along with Yuvraj Singh guided India to victory. Earlier, speedsters Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel and Yuvraj Singh did well to restrict Lanka though in final hours, during power play, Sri Lankan batsmen tried their best to take the total up.

But an inspired Team India made a successful chase. Earlier, India had beaten Pakistan at Mohali. In the earlier league matches, Sachin Tendulkar, Virendra Sehwag and Raina also made important contributions with the bat. Yuvraj, with 15 wickets and over 300 runs, was the architect of Indian victory.

Zaheer Khan who clinched 21 wickets played an important role in India's victory. He emerged as the top wicket taker in the tournament along with Shahid Afridi who also got 21 wickets. For India, it was a sweet victory, more than a quarter century after Kapil Dev-led Indian team had won the 1983 World Cup.

For Sachin Tendulkar, it was an emotional moment as it was the sixth world cup he was playing in, and finally he was part of the Indian team that secured the coveted the trophy. There was euphoria across the country and celebrations began through out the nation.

TIH Bureau

'Saffron terrorists involved in blasts in Orissa, Karanataka

2011-04-03T11:35:00.000+05:30

The right-wing Hindu group involved in terror strikes in nearly a dozen cities including Malegaon, Ajmer, Hyderabad, also had a role in similar blasts in Karnataka and Orissa.

During interrogation with members of the extremist group Abhinav Bharat, its two key members have revealed that the organisation had set off bomb blasts in the two South Indian states. This gives a new dimension to the ongoing probe.

Hitherto the investigators didn't pay attention to involvement of Hindutva network in blasts in these two states. Though Orissa and Karnataka have witnessed large-scale communal riots in which Christians were targeted and churches were set ablaze, other than incidents of communal rioting.

It was in Orissa that Christian missionary Graham Steins and his children were burnt alive by a mob led by Dara Singh. However, the blasts in Hubli court which were earlier attributed to SIMI, had been found to be handiwork of a Hindu group led by Nagraj Jambagi.
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The Hubli incident had given the first indication of fanatical Hindu groups using criminals for terrorism. Till now, the focus was mostly on Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi.

The blasts in which the role of Abhinav Bharat, Sanatan Sanstha and Jai Vande Mataram have been found include Malegaon blasts in 2006 and 2008, Modasa blast in Gujarat, Samjhauta Express, Mecca Masjid at Hyderabad, Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan, Kanpur, blast at Jama Masjid at Delhi, explosions at Thane, Parbhani, Purna in Maharashtra, Goa and the failed plot to target Bhopal congregation.

TIH Bureau

BJP leader Yogi Aditya Nath's terror links bring embarrassment for party

2011-03-21T00:16:00.000+05:30

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in a soup after the name firebrand Hindutva leader Yogi Adityanath has come up during interrogation with Saffron terror suspects.

Adityanath is alleged to have financed the terrorism network and also supplied arms to the Hindu terrorists who attacked Muslim shrines and mosques in minority dominated Cities like Malegaon, Hyderabad, Ajmer, Modasa amongst others.

Bharat Rateshwar, a close aide of terrorist mastermind Aseemanand, has spilled the beans, claims Times Now channel, which showed a report about Rateshwar's interrogation report. He has confessed t hat Adityanath helped the network and provided arms and ammunitions.

Adityanath who is an MP from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh is known for his anti-Muslim rhetoric. He has been under the scanner earlier also. Rateshwar, who hails from Gujarat, has said that he and RSS activist Sunil Joshi had met Aditya Nath for assistance.

Apart from him the role of Indresh Kumar has already come up during the course of investigation by National Investigation Agency (NIA). The BJP has maintained a measured silence and its spokespersons have kept mum. RSS has also been reticent though its spokesman Ram Madhav said that he was against spreading stories of such interrogation reports.

TIH Bureau

Jains no longer Hindu, get religious minority status in AP

2011-03-13T22:58:00.000+05:30

Jains will now be considered a religious minority in Andhra Pradesh, the tenth state in the country to give such status to the adherents of the religion.

The State government has declared that followers of Jainism would be considered a religious minority in the state. There are just over 40,000 Jains in Andhra Pradesh, most of whom are concentrated in Hyderabad.

Jains are financially strong and own big businesses in Andhra Pradesh. The community had urged the AP government to give them the status of minority religion. Now that Jains will not be considered as Hindus in the state, they will get rights to run and open educational institutions for the community where seats can be reserved.

Jains are now considered a minority religion in 10 states. Jains have the highest concentration in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. Jain organisations have been insisting that they have a separate religious identity and should get benefits of a minority under Article 30.

Though Jains number around 4 million in the country, they account for less than 0.5 percent of the population. Some sections have resisted the attempts and say that Jains are culturally close to Hinduism and shouldn't be considered separate from Hindus.

TIH Bureau

Gunmen kill Christian minister over blasphemy law in Pakistan

2011-03-02T17:34:00.000+05:30

Unidentified gunmen shot dead Minorities' Affairs minister Shahbaz Bhatti in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan on Wednesday.

Bhatti, a Christian, was vocal in his opposition to the blasphemy law which have been misused. The gunmen fired nearly 20 bullets after intercepting his car when he was passing by a market after coming out of his mother's house.

He was taken to hospital where he was declared dead. The cabinet minister was receiving death threats for the last couple of months. The killers threw Urdu pamphlets denouncing those who are critical to the blasphemy laws.

The pamphlet suggested that the Taliban were behind the grisly murder of the minister. Recently Punjab governor Salman Taseer was also assassinated as he was also critical of the harsh laws under which those guilty of disrespect towards Islam get death penalty.

TIH Bureau

New dawn in Middle-East: Egyptian revolution succeeds, Mubarak goes

2011-02-12T01:54:00.000+05:30

The peaceful protests finally paved way for transition in Egypt, the biggest country in the Arab world, where President Hosni Mubarak stepped down after ruling the nation for nearly 30 years.

Eygptians erupted in joy as the autocratic rule came to an end. After 18 days of street protests and tens of thousands gathering at Tahrir square, one of the most unique revolutions in recent history brought the dictator down.

But democratic set up may not come as swiftly as everybody expects. On one hand it's the army that is now virtually running the country, while on the other hand there are apprehensions about the future politics, especially, as the Muslim Brotherhood takes the centrestage.

For now the army has taken over. But the aspirations of Egyptians will not be acomplished until a transparent and democratic election is held that could pave way for a moden Egypt. For now, there is celebration in Egypt and in rest of world.

TIH Bureau

Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak will not step down: Defiant dictator snubs internation pressure, refuses to resign

2011-02-11T02:26:00.000+05:30

Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has refused to step down. Contrary to expectations that he will announce his resignation during the speech on the state TV, he said that he will continue to hold to power.

Mubarak said that he will continue in office and shoulder the responsibility to usher Egypt from the current crisis. Even though a sea of humanity gathered at Tahrir square and the world watched Al Jazeera airing the speech and expecting him to resign, Mubarak said that he will remain in office till his successor is elected.

The dictator said that he will not listen to any power or source from outside Egypt. Regretting the loss of lives, he expressed his sympathies for the families of the martyrs. Though he looked downcast, Mubarak said that he understands the aspirations of youths and will do his best to take the country forward. But would not contest the September election.

An adamant Mubarak who is facing a wave of dissent and anger, insisted that he would not succumb to pressures of foreign countries. Though he said that the amendments will be made in the constitution and dialogues will continue as part of the reform process.

As millions watched the speech on internet, twitterers sent angry tweets and wrote messages on facebook denouncing the president. There was anger at Tahrir square also as earlier media reports suggested that he was about to quit. American pressure and Obama's suggestions didn't seem to have any affect.

Mubarak said that the need of the hour was peace and stability. He hinted that emergency laws would not be lifted. Recalling his own contribution for the country and invoking the pride of Egypt, the defiant dictator said that 'he will not be separated from the soil until he is buried'.

TIH Bureau

Syndicate bank manager accused of abusing Muslim youth, closing his account

2011-02-02T11:20:00.000+05:30

A Delhi student, Khalid Ali Abbasi, was allegedly abused by the manager of the Yamuna Vihar branch of Syndicate bank, and his account abruptly closed.

Abbasi, 19, who is a student of Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, has accused the manager of insulting him and his religion in front of the entire bank staff and visitors.

Abbasi said that he went to the bank to complain about his ATM card that was not functioning. But the manager abused him and made disparaging remarks about Muslims, Abbasi told media persons.

The manager Mahesh Chand Sharma called the security guard who asked Abbasi, whom they addressed as 'Mulla', to go away. Though the bank officer denied the charge, it is likely to be investigated and the CCTV cameras in the branch can be used to ascertain the truth.

Abbasi has already made separate complaints to the Minorities' Commission and also the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) about the religious discrimination and mistreatment which he claims to have faced in the Syndicate bank branch.

TIH Bureau

Revolution in Egypt: President Hosni Mubarak's dictatorship in trouble as protesters battle for regime change

2011-01-29T02:31:00.000+05:30

As tens of thousands of Egyptians came out on the streets to protest against President Hosni Mubarak, a regime change appeared on cards just on lines of the similar people's revolt in Tunisia recently.

Even though police took to streets, the citizens' anger manifested on the highways as they braved the tear gas and water cannons to express their disgust with the dictatorship under which bureaucratic corruption flourished and civil rights were curbed.

Despite efforts to crackdown, public fury was spreading, not just in Cairo but other important cities of the nation also. Such was the situation that the the headquarters of the ruling party NDP was burnt down in Cairo. Fearing unrest business honchos were leaving in private jets.

The Egyptian army was sent to quell the mobs but they have so far failed to check the massive protests. TV grabs showed images of burning tyres, smoke and huge crowds demonstrating against the present government.

Five persons had died while nearly 1,000 had been injured in clashes. With Tunisians having ousted their dictator and Yemen also facing a similar internal crisis, Egypt also appeared heading for the major showdown between the citizen-led revolution and the state.

The leaderless revolution got a shot in the arm with the arrival of pro-democracy Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei. The Friday prayers have become the place where thousands of devotees' assembly at mosques decided to defy curfew orders.

Petrol bombs flew and the rage was visible across the country. The Egyptian government has blocked internet services and cell phone networks, as it was suspected that Social media websites like Twitter and Facebook fuelled the rage.

The situation is alarming for monarchies in Middle East, as popular sentiment is growing against the rulers. Inflation, lack of job opportunities for educated youths, an angry middle-class and curbing of rights are among the reasons for the fury on Arab street.

TIH Bureau

Huge cash recovered from Buddhist spiritual guru Karmapa's residence

2011-01-28T06:01:00.000+05:30

The Himachal Pradesh police have recovered huge unaccounted cash estimated to be around Rs 4 crore (or 40 million) from the Gyuto Buddhist Monastery in Dharamshala.

The raids were conducted after Rs 1 crore was recovered from a car in Una. It is suspected that the total amount of unexplained cash could be to the tune of over Rs 10 crore. The police suspect it was illegal financial transaction through hawala route that came to India from Nepal.

Currencies of dozens of countries were recovered from the place. An monastery employee was earlier arrested in connection with 'benami' land deals.The monastery complex is the seat of Tibetan spiritual leader Karmapa who is the head of the Karma Kagyu sect of Buddhism.

The 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje had escaped from China and reached India in 2000. He lives at Sidhbari near Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh. There is a controversy as Trinley Thoye Dorje who lives in Kalimpong is believed by some other devotees as the 17th Karmapa.

The Income Tax officers have also begun their investigations regarding the source of large amount of cash. The authorities at the Tibetan government in-exile maintained silence and didn't speak to media persons about the disclosures and the police raids.

TIH Bureau

'Pakistan is anti-Urdu, hasn't given language its due status'

2011-01-23T21:32:00.000+05:30

Pakistan has proved to be an enemy of Urdu and its official policies have harmed the language which was once the lingua franca across the entier sub-continent.

This was the sentiment expressed by writers and journalists who attended the national seminar on Urdu language held at Makhanlal Chaturvedi University of Journalism.

The speakers said that Pakistan gave the status of national language to Urdu but no attempt was either made to implement the official status of the language or giving the language its due credit. The English-speaking powerful elite in Pakistan is agaisnt Urdu.

News editor of Hyderabad-based daily Siasat said that Punjabi is used more frequently in Pakistan than Urdu. He said that there is an institutional bias against Urdu. Though Urdu was also neglected in India and there was discrimination, the situation in Pakistan is surprising.

He said that Urdu newspapers are most secular and didn't practice the policy of either 'paid news' or 'advertorials' which has become common in English media. He also said that the page 3 culture hsan't invaded Urdu journalism.
Another journalist MM Azhari, editor of Delhi's Secular Qayadat said that the freedom movement that had brought citizens from all parts of India together was fought in Urdu and the slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad' came from Urdu.

Professor Braj Kishor Kuthiala, the Vice-Chancellor of University, said that a national news agency for Urdu media was the need of the hour and a work plan would be formulated to meet the challenges of the new age media in the Urdu.

Other speakers said that the situation of Urdu journalism in India is now looking up and the state governments are also forced to take interest in the issues of Urdu-speaking masses. Roznama Rashtriya Sahara's Asad Raza, Jadid Khabar's Masoom Moradabadi and Arif Khan also participated in the conference.

TIH Bureau

RAW's former woman officer takes off clothes in court

2011-01-21T01:07:00.000+05:30

In a shocking incident, an ex-officer of Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) stripped in the Delhi High court where she appeared on Thursday.

The woman--Nisha Priya Bhatia took off her dress when the hearing was adjourned in the High Court. The judge took a serious view of her indecent act and asked the police to ensure a medical check-up of the woman.

It is learnt that Bhatia initially shed her jacket and later took off her upper dress. She again repeated the act the same day and tried to get naked during the in-camera hearing but a woman lawyer intervened. As the incident was repeated in the day, the court deplored her act.

It is not established whether her attempt to denude herself was a result of extreme desperation or because she has turned mentally unsound. The 42-year-old woman has been in the midst of controversies in the past also.

She had earlier attempted suicide at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) last year. She had earlier accused the former RAW chief Ashok Chaturvedi of sexual harassment, a charge which he vehemently denied.

TIH Bureau

BJP leaders sheltered Saffron terrorists, says Digvijay Singh

2011-01-17T21:31:00.000+05:30

In a scathing attack on the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said that the Hindu extremists involved in Samjhauta Express blast were supported and given shelter by BJP leaders.

Speaking to journalists in Indore, Singh said that RSS pracharak and blast mastermind Sunil Joshi was murdered because he was blackmailing other leaders of BJP and RSS. Due to the same reason his friend Ramprasad Kaloda was also killed.

The former MP Chief Minister said that other militants like Sandeep Dange and Ramji Kalsangra may also be killed in similar fashion. He said that BJP government in MP didn't extend help to Haryana police that were investigating Samjhauta case.

Singh said that the top BJP leaders are fully involved in the conspiracy and a meeting was held by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to save the blast accused and thus Joshi murder case was not handed to outside agency.

Digvijay Singh has been outspoken on the issue of Hindu terrorism and has been consistently attacking the Sangh Parivar and BJP for their links with terrorists associated to hard line Hindutva group like Abhinav Bharat.

TIH Bureau

90 pilgrims feared killed as bus falls in ditch near Sabarimala temple

2011-01-15T00:03:00.000+05:30

A major mishap was reported from Kerala's Sabarimala temple where a bus carrying 100 pilgrims which was returning from the shrine, fell into a gorge.

Preliminary reports suggests that the number of devotees who died was over 90. The figure of those who got injured in the incident had also risen to nearly 100.

The accident occurred near the Sabarimala shrine in Idukki district at around 9 pm. The pilgrims were coming back after the Makaravilakku ritual at the temple.

There were also reports of stampede after the accident. Senior police officials and rescue workers had reached the spot. Earlier, thousands of devotees had flocked to the famous South Indian temple on the occasion of the 'makara samkrama puja'.

TIH Bureau

Mosque demolition triggers tension in Delhi, angry Muslims hit streets leading to traffic jam

2011-01-13T01:30:00.000+05:30

The demolition of an ancient mosque in Delhi led to tension as hundreds of angry Muslims took to streets and blocked traffic in Jangpura in South Delhi to protest the illegal demolition by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

Vehicular traffic was severely affected on the Jangpura flyover due to the agitation.The DDA anti-encroachment squad and police had earlier in the day demolished the Noor Masjid mosque.

Tempers soared when policemen lathi-charged the protesters and used tear gas to disperse the angry mob that had gathered at Hazrat Nizamuddin-Jangpura. The sudden action in the morning took residents by surprise.

Later in the day protesters gathered and traffic was badly hit. Muslim leaders also reached the place where local MLA TS Marwah had also arrived along with the devout for offering prayers (Namaz). Marwah said corrupt DDA officials and land mafia had joined hands to raze the mosque.

Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari criticised Chief Minister Sheila Dixit for the demolition of the mosque built on a waqf property. Lieutenant Governor Tejinder Khanna's role was also condemned by a number of Muslim leaders.

The local Muslim leaders have said that a delegation would meet Home Minister and apprise him of the situation. Policemen said that they used force and cane-charged the protesters because they were involved in stone pelting.

In a later development, the High Court on January 17 allowed Muslims to pray at the mosque. But the judge held that only ten persons can go to mosque until further orders (till two months) and there should not be any construction or attempt to rebuild the structure.

TIH Bureau

'Take action against Maharashtra police officers who framed Muslims in Malegaon blasts'

2011-01-09T21:34:00.000+05:30

After RSS leader and terrorist mastermind Aseemanand's confession that he was involved in the bomb blasts in Malegaon on two occasions, the political parties and local leaders have urged the government to take action against police officers who framed Muslim youths on both the occasions in Malegaon.

Senior leader Nihal Ahmed has castigated the Maharashtra police for claiming to crack the cases of blasts in Malegaon in 2006 and 2008. He said that it was always understand that innocents were arrested and thus the residents had shown black flags to Congress-NCP leaders in the past also but now the confession of RSS leader Aseemanand has proved the residents of Malegaon right.

MLA Mufti Mohd Ismail Qasmi has said that educated Muslim youths were arrested in hordes and there should be action against SP Raj Vardhan and ATS chief KP Raghuvanshi for the biased investigation and for falsely implicating the youths.

Senior leaders Asif Sheikh Rashid and Haji Yousuf have also demanded that the youths who were jailed should be immediately relased as real culprits have confessed their role. A number of other organisations have also questioned the role of ATS chief Rakesh Maria and other officers for the manner in which probes were conducted earlier.

Malegaon was targeted twice by Saffron terrorists. On September 8, 2006 blasts had occurred at Mushavarat Chowk on Shab-e-Barat in which 31 persons were killed. Two years later another blast had occurred in the same town. Abhinav Bharat's Pragya Thakur was arrested in this case.

Now Aseemanand has confessed involvement in Muslim-dominated Malegaon, Ajmer Dargah, Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid, Modassa, Samjhauta Express and some other blasts. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is conducting probe into the case.

TIH Bureau

Buddhists claim ownership of disputed site at Ayodhya

2011-01-09T02:31:00.000+05:30

Buddhists have also staked claim for ownership of the dispute site in Ayodhya that has been a bone of contention between Hindus and Muslims for decades.

The Chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST organisations Udit Raj has filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court that a Buddhist monastery existed on the site of the Babri mosque which was demolished by Hindu Kar Sevaks to build a make-shift Ram temple on December 6, 1992.

Udit Raj has demanded that the site be handed over to the Buddhists for construction of the Baudh Vihar. "We challenged the legality of the recent judgment on Ayodhya dividing the disputed site among Hindus and Muslims. It should be handed over to us as it belongs to the Buddhists", said Raj.

TIH Bureau

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was also Saffron terrorists' target!

2011-01-09T00:19:00.000+05:30

The confession made by Saffron terrorist mastermind Swami Aseemanand has led to sensational revalations including the fact that the Abhinav Bharat had also planned to strike Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

One of the key members of the Hindu terror network Shivam Dhakad had even conducted a recce and made a plan to target the prestigious Muslim university which is located in Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh.

Aseemanand has made the confession in presence of a magistrate under Section 164 of CrPC. News magazine Tehelka and Mail Today have published parts of the confession in which Swami admits that AMU was also on hitlist.

The RSS-linked Saffron terrorists had been involved in bomb blasts in Ajmer Dargah, Mecca Masjid at Hyderabad, Malegaon, Modassa, Samjhauta Express train and some other parts of the country. Like Muslim dominated towns, mosques and dargahs, they also had the plan to target the university.

TIH Bureau

Asimanand reveals RSS' terror links: Sangh Parivar under scanner

2011-01-07T17:41:00.000+05:30

The confession of terrorist mastermind Swami Asimanand who was involved in almost eight terror strikes in India including the Malegaon, Ajmer, Samjhauta Express and Modasa blasts, has brought the terror links of RSS under scanner.

Asimanand's confession before a magistrate spells trouble for the top RSS leadership as it lays bare the entire conspiracy of bomb blasts on Islamic shrines and cities that have large Muslim population. The network of RSS office-bearers and senior pracharaks in the terror strikes has seriously dented the claim of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) that claims itself as a nationalist and cultural organisation.

That Asimanand who had organised the Shabri Kumbh in Gujarat's Dangs district which had been attended by Chief Ministers of BJP ruled states is all the more serious, as the Swami was described the poster boy of Hindutva by the Sangh.

In his confession, the Swami has made chilling revelations including the blasts in Malegaon on two occasions, the Samjhauta Express blasts, terror strikes in Modasa, Ajmer Daragah, minor blasts in cities of Maharashtra and Kanpur, failed bombing plot in Bhopal other than the blast in Jama Masjid in which no one was killed.

Now RSS has to come clean as the charge sheet in different cases clearly show the links of top leadership with the extremists. BJP MPs including Yogi Adityanath and RSS ideologue Indresh are among the leaders who were allegedly aware of the strikes.

Until now Abhinav Bharat, Sanatan Sanstha, Bajrang Dal and similar groups' members were caught for fanaticism and blasts but the scenario has changed altogether now with the clear evidence against the senior functionaries.

All these years RSS has denied that Hindu terror exists in India but the recent revelations show that Hindu or Saffron terror had existed for long and was ignored. Its cadre and leaders were aware yet they closed eye to such activities.

In most of these cases the Muslim youths were falsely implicated. Now the onus is on Sangh Parivar to clean its organisation and introspect regarding its ideology that lets terrorists and extremists flourish. Time for BJP also to redefine and rethink its link with the Sangh Parivar of which it is a part.

Victim's vendetta: Rape accused BJP MLA murdered by woman in Bihar

2011-01-05T02:04:00.000+05:30

A BJP legislator was publicly stabbed to death by a woman who had been raped by him earlier. The woman had complained against the MLA Raj Kishor Kesri but despite registration of case no action was taken against him.

The incident that is indeed shocking and criminal also highlights a woman's frustration as she was apparently hapless as the accused was a powerful leader of the party that is sharing power in the JDU-led alliance in the state.

Kesri, 51, was meeting visitors when the woman Roopam Pathak reached his residence. Draped in a shawl, she was carrying a knife which she suddenly took out when she faced the MLA and stabbed her repeatedly until he fell down.

She was immediately caught. Kesri, a four-time legislator, died due to critical wounds received in the fatal stabbing spree. The woman who is a school teacher said that the 'rapist' MLA was scot-free while she was bearing the stigma as there was no action on him.

The 45-year-old woman had lodged a complaint of sexual harassment but rued that it was she who bore the brunt of social disrepute though she was a victim. The woman was beaten up and handed over to the police. She has been charged with murder.

TIH Bureau

Digvijay Singh turns tables on RSS-BJP, proves conversation with Karkare

2011-01-05T01:10:00.000+05:30

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh has presented the record of his telephonic conversation with the slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare just before the terrorist strike on Mumbai.

Singh showed the call record obtained from BSNL office at Bhopal. In his press conference at Delhi, the former Congress Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, asked Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil to apologise.

Patil had earlier said that Digvijay's claims were baseless and there was no record of his conversation with Karkare. Sangh Parivar and BJP leaders had also targeted Singh but the Congress leader today turned tables.

Digvijay Singh had earlier said that the former ATS chief had told him over phone that he was receiving threats from extremists after he had arrested Hindu terrorist groups' involvement in the Malegaon bomb blast.

TIH Bureau

'Sex swami' sodomised minor boys in Ashram

2010-11-22T16:43:00.000+05:30

The Pune police have arrested a self-styled Hindu spiritual guru Deepak Vishnu Lamkhande for sexual abuse of half-a-dozen teenagers in his ashram.

A teenager had told police that every night one boy was sexually abused at the Balak Ashram in Moshi. Lamkhade has been arrested and sent to jail.

TIH Bureau

CBI arrests 'Hindu terror' ideologue Swami Aseemanand

2010-11-19T17:38:00.000+05:30

Suspected terrorist mastermind Swami Aseemanand who is linked to RSS and Vishwa Hindu Parishad has been arrested for planning terror attacks on Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid and Ajmer Sufi Shrine.

Aseemanand's name was on the list of CBI's most wanted absconders. He was an alleged ideologue for the ultra-radical Hindutva militiants. More blast cases could be solved with his arrest.

TIH Bureau

Abbott Healthcare's Muslim employee faces religious discrimination in India!

2010-11-17T01:36:00.000+05:30

A Muslim employee of private company Abbott Healthcare Private Limited in India, has approached National Human Rights Commission, with the complaint that he was targeted by his senior who constantly abused him racially.

The complainant GR Chamanshaikh said that his boss Jaydeep Patil, an AMB, called him 'landya', a derogatory Marathi language term and a communal abuse, other than harassed him by denying leave on Islamic festivals.

TIH Bureau

'Pregnant' Sadhu refuses to undergo medical examination

2010-10-23T15:05:00.000+05:30

A Hindu ascetic who had hit headlines after claiming that he got pregnant after eating a mysterious fruit, has refused to undergo medical examination.

Pawan Baba, a resident of Etawah, who has been walking like a woman carrying child, has said that he doesn't need to give proof of his claims and won't get himself medically examined.

The 'Sadhu' said that he was expecting the baby soon. On television channels, he stubbornly said that he was in the final stages of pregnancy and could deliver soon.

Baba claimed that a saint had given a miraculous jack fruit to a woman in Haridwar. After eating it, she got pregnant. The same saint gave him another fruit and when he ate it, he felt the pain in abdomen. Though it could be a publicity stunt, TV channels held discussions with experts about the possibility of a man naturally conceiving a baby.

TIH Bureau

Six cops killed in landmine blast in Bihar

2010-10-23T14:50:00.000+05:30

Six security personnel were killed when suspected ultra-leftists blew up a landmine in Sheohar district in Bihar.

The blast occurred near Jhitkaiya village. Six personnel who were travelling in a police jeep were killed. Naxalites have given a call for boycott of polls in Sheohar where polling is scheduled on October 24.

TIH Bureau

RSS linked to terrorism: Chargesheet against Sangh leader in Ajmer blast

2010-10-23T14:41:00.000+05:30

A senior functionary of right-wing Hindu group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)has been termed a conspirator in the terrorist attack on the Sufi shrine at Ajmer.

The Rajasthan Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has filed chargesheet in the court two years after the bomb blast in the Ajmer dargah in 2007. Other leaders of ultra-right Abhinav Bharat and RSS activists have also been named in the case.

TIH Bureau

'Ban Bajrang Dal, VHP for Saffron terrorism'

2010-08-28T09:12:00.000+05:30

After Home Minister P Chidambaram cautioned police chiefs of all the states regarding the existence of Saffron terrorism, the demand to ban militant Hindu organisations affiliated to RSS was raised in Indian Parliament.

After the BJP members forced adjournment twice over Chidambaram's use of the term 'Saffron terrorism', the Rajya Sabha again assembled in the afternoon.

Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) supremo Ramvilas Paswan said that Hindutva forces have been involved in terrorist activities. He said that Chidambaram has made the right comment about extremist Hindu organisations.

Paswan said that RSS was involved in fanning hatred and communalism in the country and its affiliated organizations including Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) should be banned.

This angered the BJP and Shiv Sena members who reacted sharply. Amid the uproarious scenes and din, the speaker adjourned the Upper House for the day.

Earlier, BJP's Arun Jaitley said that the term was objectionable and it should not be used. BJP and Shiv Sena members said that a particular religion was being targeted and defamed while terror has no religion.

RSS chief's stand on Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri masjid dispute anti-national, say Muslim leaders

2010-08-19T02:16:00.000+05:30

Muslim leaders have sharply reacted to the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's statement in which he said that the Ram temple would be built at the disputed site in Ayodhya even if the court verdict is not in favour.

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind leader Maulana Arshad Madani said that the utterances of the RSS' chief are not only unconstitutional but also amount to sedition and treason.

Madani said that the Muslims have always said that they would abide by the judiciary, even if its verdict goes against us but the RSS leader has exposed the mindset of right-wing forces who don't believe in the law.

"When charges have been framed by CBI against 23 persons accused of demolition of the mosque and they include Shiv Sena's Bal Thackeray and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Acharya Dharmendra, the RSS leader is making a mockery of our democracy, particularly, when the Lucknow bench is about to pronounce the long-awaited judgment", he said.

Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari has also objected to the RSS stand. "The statement that temple would be constructed by force, is provocative and speaks volumes about the Hindutva forces' belief in law.

Bukhari said that it is a dangerous signal as lack of respect for law would lead to jungle-raj in this nation. He urged the Prime Minister to take a serious view of the RSS stand.

Other Muslim leaders have also criticised the RSS. The much-awaited verdict of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case is expected to arrive by mid-December.

TIH Bureau

Hindu extremists held for terrorist attack in Ajmer

2010-05-01T16:04:00.000+05:30

The blast in the Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer two years ago was the handiwork of Hindutva-inspired miliants. Their aim was to engineer communal rift and set off Hindu-Muslim riots.

The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Rajasthan police has arrested three persons including Devendra Gupta, member of the fundamentalist Hindu group Abhinav Bharat that had a role in Malegaon blast also.

The Home Minister of Rajasthan, Shanti Dhariwal, has said that the investigative agencies found sufficient evidence of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) in the attack on the shrine.

The Ajmer Dargah attracts millions of devotees from all over the world. Two more persons, one from Rajasthan and another from MP, have been arrested for the terrorist strike that had occurred on October 11, 2007.

Three persons were killed and 30 injured when a bomb hidden in tiffin box had exploded though another bomb that was also planted had failed to explode.

The role of Hindu activists in terrorism had first came after Malegaon blast probe when Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, Colonel Srikant Purohit and their accomplices were caught.

The blasts in Mecca Masjid at Hyderabad, Modassa in Gujarat, blasts in Purna, Jalna, Nanded, Samjhauta Express and some other terrorist attacks are also believed to be the handiwork of Abhinav Bharat.

TIH Bureau

Muslims must get job reservation across India: Mulayam

2010-03-27T01:54:00.000+05:30

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has welcomed the Supreme Court decision regarding continuation of reservation to Muslims in Andhra Pradesh and said that it should be extended to the entire nation.

The SP supremo said that just because of their religion, an entire community can't be kept away from facilities which are meant for backwards all over India. He said that the backward Muslims should get similar reservation in education and employment.

Yadav said that other states should take a lead and follow the AP government's initiative. He said that the Apex court has held that it doesn't matter whether one is a Hindu or Muslim, rather backwardness is the sole criterion for reservation.

He said that it is imperative that the minorities get justice. The former UP Chief Minister also said that the Centre should make a constitutional provision to ensure that there is no more injustice with Muslims in this regard.

TIH Bureau

Police fire at Muslims in Shimoga, 2 dead

2010-03-02T01:14:00.000+05:30

Two persons were killed while nearly a dozen others were injured in communal violence in Shimoga. The police fired at Muslims who were protesting publication of Taslima Nasreen's article in a Kannada daily.

Those who died were identified as Mustafa and Ataullah. One of them died of a police bullet while another died because of injuries in the communal clash.

The protest march had been taken out in Shimoga on Monday after a local newspaper Kannada Prabha published an article of controversial author Taslima Nasreen.

The protesters were forcing shop owners to close their establishments and resorted to stone pelting. But the police fired at them, which caused the death of a person.

Another person died in the clash, sources said. The incident is likely to become a political issue as it shows failure of police in dealing with the protestors

Though there have been protests by right-wing parties like Sri Ram Sene and VHP in the state, the police have rarely resorted to firing at the demonstrations.

In the past, the police were accused of being soft towards Hindutva outfits ever since BJP came to power. However, Chief Minister Yeddyurappa has said that he will take stern action and ordered that a case be registered against the newspaper for publishing the article.

A similar demonstration against the publication of the article in Hassan town also turned violent but there was no casualty. The police have also increased vigil in the capital, Bangalore.

The Karnataka police have been accused of biased and communal action in the last couple of years. During the communal riot in Mangalore, the police had received flak for targeting Muslims and taking the side of Bajrang Dal activists.

TIH Bureau

Red Terror: Maoists kill 20 paramilitary personnel in WB

2010-02-16T00:42:00.000+05:30

Left-wing extremists struck at two different places in West Midnapore district of West Bengal, killing 20 jawans. The incident occured just two days after terror attack in Pune.

Initial repors suggested that the Maoists targeted the CRPF camp after setting it ablaze in Silda. Another attack on a CRPF camp was reported from Dharampur.

Maoist leader Kishanji has reportedly claimed responsibility for this daredevil attack. This is one of the biggest Maoist guerillas' attack on police or armymen in West Bengal, which is witnessing a resurgence of the Naxalites.

Nearly 100 Naxalites were involved in the attacks in a single day. Kishanji has dared the Centre to continue the recently launched Operation Greenhunt against the ultra-left wing militancy.

TIH Bureau

Digvijay Singh raises doubts over Batla House encounter

2010-02-03T23:37:00.000+05:30

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh, who reached Sanjarpur town in Azamgarh on Wednesday, expressed doubts over the Batla House encounter in which police had claimed killing terrorists.

Singh reached Sanjarpur to meet family of another alleged terrorist Shahzad, who was arrested recently. While Rashtriya Ulama Council activists protested his visit and showed him black flags, Singh visited Shahzad's home and assured impartial probe.

He also said that the photographs of the youths killed in the encounter Delhi, raised doubts about the genuinity of the encounter. "The bullet wounds were on the head, which is not possible in cross-fire", said Singh.

Singh also said that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) did not listen to the other side. Ulema Council has alleged that the visit was an eyewash as Congress government is at the helm in Delhi and the encounter was held at its behest.

Two youths, who were allegedly members of Indian Mujahideen, a terrorist organisation, had been gunned down in the encounter at Batla House in Jamia Nagar in 2008.

Social activists, Muslim organisations and civil rights groups have been asserting that it was a fake encounter that was organised after the terrorist attack in Mumbai, to salvage the sagging image of government. The Delhi police special cell had killed the youths and inspector Mohan Chand Sharma had died in the exchange of fire.

TIH Bureau

Hero or Hypocrite: Amitabh Bachchan's 'opportunism' dents his image!

2010-02-03T16:12:00.000+05:30

Amitabh Bachchan's admiration for Bal Thackeray at a time when Shiv Sena is playing linguistic politics and fanning hatred over the issue of migrants to Mumbai, seems to have severely dented the star's image.

When Thackeray's party threatens Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan and warns talkies owners against screening the movie 'My Name is Khan', Bachchan goes ga ga over the fact that Uddhav Thackeray has seen his movie, Rann, and claims that Bal Thackeray wants a special show of the film arranged for him.

But Bachchan hasn't become a fallen hero overnight. Bachchan hails from Allahabad in UP, and despite numerous attacks on youths from North India, never uttered a word against the attacks. Shiv Sena, a right-wing party, remains opposed to North Indians, especially people from UP and Bihar.

Though Sachin Tendulkar, a Maharashtrian, said that he was an Indian first and Marathi later and even said that Mumbai was for all Indians, Amitabh Bachchan has never uttered a word.

Bachchan has also received flak for becoming a brand ambassador for Gujarat and praising Narendra Modi despite the fact that thousands were killed in Gujarat during the worst communal carnage in the year 2002 when the BJP was in power.

Interestingly, the former superstar sees no contradiction in his actions. On one hand his family cosied up with Samajwadi Party and his wife Jaya remains in Rajya Sabha, or even praising Uttar Pradesh government for its law-and-order when Mulayam Singh was at the helm.

The controversy over migrants' arrival in Mumbai has again shown Bachchan in poor light. Whenever he needs to promote his film or get a tax waiver for movie, he finds nothing wrong in cosying up with anybody--from Mulayam to Modi.

In fact, Amitabhs's lack of conviction on any of the issues has been a big letdown for his fans. Though he has earned fame for acting in Hindi movies, he has never dared to utter a word for Hindi speakers in Maharashtra.

While he sounded surprised when some sections demanded screening of Prakash Jha's film Aarakshan for its anti-Dalit references and termed it unacceptable, he conveniently forgot that when Sarkar Raj was about to be released, Bachchan had shown the movie to Bal Thackeray to get the latter's approval.

One may dislike it but Bachchan has no qualms in submitting himself to anybody for sake of personal benefits. Bal Thackeray's role in Mumbai riots and his indictment in Justice BN Sri Krishna Commission report or later the ignominous disenfranchisement are commonly known but Bachchan flaunts his relationship with Thackeray.

The angry man who had inspired generations, has failed to live up to the expectations of millions of fans. Far from being a statesman, he hasn't been able to speak up like a prominent citizen.

He may quote his father, late Harivansh Rai Bachchan's poems, but the fact is that Amitabh has failed not only his fans but also himself. It's time the legendary star did some serious introspection.

TIH Bureau

Sangh Vs Shiv Sena: Uddhav Thackeray hits out at RSS, dares it to propogate Hindi in South India

2010-02-01T11:52:00.000+05:30

Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said that RSS should stay away from the ongoing row over imposing Marathi in Maharashtra. "Where was Sangh during Mumbai riots?", he questioned.

Thackeray said that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) shouldn't speak for Hindi or the North Indians living in Maharashtra, and dared the Sangh to do the same in Southern India.

"RSS should rather go to South Indian states and propogate Hindi in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Padesh and Karnataka", said Thackeray whose stong stand on the issue of Hindi-Marathi conflict has come as a surprise.

It is also the first sign of a rift among the Sangh Parivar. Though Shiv Sena has not been a direct product of RSS, it has been ideologically close to the umbrella organisation.

However, RSS leader Ram Madhav's statement that Sangh workers would protect North Indians living in Mumbai, has irked the Sena. Bal Thackeray has already targeted actors Shahrukh Khan, Amir Khan and industrialist Mukesh Ambani over the issue.

While MNS leader Raj Thackeray has been lying low over the issue, Shiv Sena has taken a lead over the ongoing conflict as it felt that the party was losing its grip over the Marathi Manoos.

TIH Bureau

VHP to decide length of Muslims' beards, turn UP into Gujarat: Pravin Togadia

2010-01-30T01:44:00.000+05:30

VHP leader Pravin Togadia urged the parishad cadre in Rampur to turn UP into Gujarat. He also made allegedly objectionable comments about Muslim beards.

Togadia, who incidentally belongs to Jain religion but heads the extreme right-wing VHP, alleged that Muslims marry four times and produce 25 children that is the root cause of their unemployment.

He also attacked Deoband seminary for fatwa on Vande Mataram issue and threatened to take action against the Darul Uloom. The inflammatory speech on Friday, stunned local residents.

"Rampur would be turned a Hindu district and we will decide how many inches long beard a Muslim can grow", said Togadia, as reported in local newspapers.

Meanwhile, several local leaders have condemned Togadia. The district administration has also been criticised for letting Togadia vitiate the communal atmosphere.

Former SP leader Azam Khan has said that Togadia should immediately be booked and a police case be registered against him. "He should be tried in the court of law for his irresponsible and communal utterances", Khan said.

Earlier, Togadia made a similar speech at Moradabad. Addressing a gathering, he said that Hindus would not tolerate any attempt to extend reservation in jobs to Muslim community.

Togadiya, an oncologist, said that Hindu leaders and politicians who support minorities, perhaps do so because they might have a Muslim father (or mother).

TIH Bureau

Hindi is not India's national language: Court

2010-01-29T14:52:00.000+05:30

It is a common belief in North India that Hindi is the national language of the country but the language doesn't have such status.

The High Court decision has further cleared air about status of Hindi. The court held that though a large number of Indians feel that Hindi is national language, it is not officially recognised as the country's national language.

The Gujarat High Court made the observations while hearing a petition filed by one, Suresh Kachhadia. The petitioner had said that all packaged commodities should carry details about the goods in Hindi, and that should beprinted on cover.

The court however noted that there was no notification that Hindi was a national language. As per the constitution of the country also, there is no national language in India. Hindi is indeed an official language or Raj Bhasha (not Rashtriya Bhasha) along with English.

All other languages including Assamese, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi and Urdu are national languages and this list of 22 such official languages includes Hindi. But there is no single national language or Rashtriya Bhasha in India.

The figure for Hindi speakers gets higher in census as dialects and languages including Hindustani, Rajasthani, Bihari, Maithili, Bhojpuri,Gondi, Santhali, Malwi, Nimari, Chhattisgarhi, Bundelkhandi, Awadhi and dozens of such major regional languages spoken by indigenous population, tribal and villagers are clubbed in Hindi and listed as part of it.

TIH Bureau

Sania Mirza breaks engagement with Sohrab

2010-01-28T10:13:00.000+05:30

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has broken her engagement with family friend Sohrab Mirza. Her father Imran Mirza has confirmed that she is not going to marry Sohrab now.

Sania was engaged to Sohrab Mirza in July 2009. Sohrab, who is known to Sania since childhood, is studying in London. As he is pursuing MBA, the families had decided to hold the engagement ceremony earlier.

The marriage was planned two years later. While it is now confirmed that the Hyderabadi heart-throb has called off her engagement, it is not known what was the bone of contention. There were differences between them recently.

But the fans and relatives had no idea that the wedding would be cancelled. The break-up comes suddenly, as there were no reports about the relationship getting sour earlier. Sania, who had junior Wimbledon, and has reached the top 30 in WTA rankings, has beaten several leading international players in the circuit.

TIH Bureau

Shahrukh Khan offers Id Namaz in his bunglow

2010-01-23T00:44:00.000+05:30

Shahrukh Khan has said that he offers Id prayers at the roof of his house along with Muslim friends as he would get mobbed in mosque and this will distract others.

Speaking to Urdu journalists in an exclusive interactive session, Khan said that as per custom he prays in 'jamaat' along with other Muslims who gather at the roof of his bungalow Mannat on the occasion of Eid.

Khan said that his upcoming movie 'My name is Khan' gives the message to Muslims that they should focus on education. He also said that he never faced any discrimination because of his religion.

"I am proud of the fact that in India I have achieved tremendous success in career and got love from all communities though a section of Muslims targeted me".

Khan had earlier spoken to Hindi journalists and has now interacted with journalists of Urdu newspapers and magazines. 'My name is Khan' revolves around the story of a Muslim youth who goes to America in the aftermath of 9/11 and faces a host of problems.

TIH Bureau

Jinnah turned fundamentalist due to Gandhi, says Sudarshan

2010-01-19T00:58:00.000+05:30

Former chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh KC Sudarshan has said that Mohamed Ali Jinnah was not a fundamentalist Muslim but became one due to Gandhi.

Addressing a function in Madhya Pradesh, Sudarshan said that Jinnah was basically a nationalistic person and was a moderate leader who earlier held secular views.

Sudarshan said that Jinnah got bitter because he was ignored for years. "It was due to Gandhi's mistakes that Jinnah changed his political stand and became a pro-Islamic state leader who ultimately divided India".

"Gandhi supported Khilafat movement and took the help of the fiery Ali brothers that upset Jinnah and other moderates". Sudarshan, wha former sarsanghchalak (head) of the RSS was speaking at Timarni town in Harda district.

Sudarshan said that Jinnah was a progressive Muslim who stood for unity and integrity of country and remained in Congress until 1927 but later left the party and was held responsible for the partition.

The speech on Gandhi and Nehru's developmental vision was part of the Bhausahab Bhuskute memorial lecture series organised in Timarni on January 18. Earlier, ex-president of BJP LK Advani and former party leader Jaswant Singh's comments on Jinnah have also caused furore.

TIH Bureau

Warrant against Jain munis for sexually abusing kid

2010-01-16T13:43:00.001+05:30

The court has issued arrest warrants against two Jain clergymen for allegedly sexually abusing a minor boy who had been taken away from Indore.

Bhupendra, a minor boy, had been taken to Gujarat but was not allowed to go back to his family in Indore. His father Ramesh Chandra Verma approached the court when the 'saints' told him that his son had been turned into a 'muni'.

Bhupendra's letters had reached his father. In the letters he had told his father that he was sexually abused, taken to different cities and exploited by two 'saints'-Hemchandra Sagar and Jinchandra Sagar.

Upset, Verma, sought the return of his child but this was not to happen until he fought case in High Court and later on went up to the Supreme Court.

The Apex court held that the child be handed back. Now an Indore court has agreed that it was a heinous crime and issued arrest warrant against the two 'saints'.

TIH Bureau