PM's Eyewash actions on mob lynching victims - Wahed

మొసలి కన్నీళ్ళతో మభ్యపెట్టలేరు
- వాహెద్
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ఎన్డీయే ప్రభుత్వం అధికారంలోకి వచ్చిన తర్వాతి నుంచి ముస్లిములకు సంబంధించి రెండు ముఖ్యమైన అంశాలు చర్చల్లోకి వచ్చాయి. అందులో ఒకటి త్రిపుల్ తలాక్. రెండవది గోరక్షణ పేరుతో ముస్లిములపై హత్యాకాండ. విచిత్రమేమంటే, పాలకపక్ష నేతలు త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ గురించి మాట్లాడుతూ కనబడ్డారే కాని హత్యాకాండపై నోరు విప్పింది చాలా తక్కువ. పాలకపక్షం, రాజకీయ నేతలు సరే మన మీడియా కూడా త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ పై ఉత్సాహం చూపించి, కవరేజిలో భూమ్యాకాశాలు ఏకం చేసిందే కాని ఈ హత్యాకాండ పట్ల అంత శ్రద్ధ చూపలేదు.
ఈ హత్యాకాండ ఎంత అనాగరికంగా, ఎంత అమానుషంగా జరుగుతుందంటే ఆవును చంపారన్న అనుమానం ఉంటే చాలు చంపేయడం, గొడ్డుమాంస అన్న అనుమానంతో చంపేయడం, ముస్లిములుగా కనబడితే చాలు దాడులు చేయడం ఇవన్నీ చట్టబద్దపాలన అనేది లేనేలేదని స్పష్టం చేస్తున్న సంఘటనలు. అయినా మీడియాకు ఇవి పెద్దగా పట్టలేదు. విచిత్రమేమంటే గొడ్డుమాంసం అన్న అనుమానంతో హత్యలు జరుగుతున్నాయి కాని గొడ్డుమాంసమే ఎగుమతి చేసే అల్ కబీర్ తదితర బడా బడా వ్యాపారసంస్థల వైపు ఈ గోరక్షక ముఠాలు కనీసం కన్నెత్తి కూడా చూడడం లేదు. జూన్ 23వ తేదీన జునైద్ ఖాన్ హత్యతో ఈ గోగ్రవాద హత్యల బీభత్సం జాతినిర్ఘాంతపోయేలా చేసింది. నాట్ ఇన్ మై నేమ్ అంటూ ప్రజలు నిరసన ప్రదర్శనలు చేపట్టేలా చేసింది. కాని అదే సమయంలో ఘనత వహించిన ప్రభుత్వం ముస్లిం పర్సనల్ లా స్థానంలో జండర్ జస్ట్ లా తీసుకొచ్చి ముస్లిమ్ మహిళలను కాపాడ్డానికి నడుం కట్టే ప్రయత్నాలు చేస్తున్నానంది. ఒకవైపు ముస్లిములపై దాడులు హత్యాకాండ నిరాఘాటంగా జరుగుతుంటే మరోవైపు ముస్లిమ్ మహిళలను కాపాడ్డానికి ప్రభుత్వం నడుంకట్టి కొత్త చట్టం తెస్తానని చెప్పడం ఎంత హాస్యాస్పదం.
దేశంలో ముస్లిమ్ సముదాయానికి సంబంధించిన ఈ రెండు సమస్యలను మరింత లోతుగా చూడవలసిన అవసరం ఉంది.
రాజస్థాన్ బిర్లోకాలో 2015 మార్చి 31వ తేదీన 60 సంవత్సరాల వృద్ధుడు అబ్దుల్ గఫార్ ఖురైషీని గుంపులు దాడి చేసి చంపేశాయి. ఈ దాడికి ముందు ఏం జరిగిందన్నది కూడా గమనార్హం. ముస్లిములు విందుభోజనాల కోసం 200 ఆవులను చంపేశారన్న వార్తలు, ఫోటోలు వాట్సప్, ఫేస్ బుక్ లో చక్కర్లు కొట్టడం ప్రారంభమైంది. ఎన్నడూ మతకలహాలన్నది ఎరుగని బిర్లోకాలో ఉద్రిక్తత చోటు చేసుకుంది. అబ్దుల్ గఫార్ ఖురైషీ పొరుగున ఉండే వ్యక్తి జనాన్ని రెచ్చగొట్టాడు. జనం రెచ్చిపోయి చంపేశారు. మీడియాలో ఈ వార్తకు ప్రాముఖ్యమే లభించలేదు. ఇది మార్చి 2015లో జరిగింది. కాని ఆగష్టు 20, 2015న భారతీయ ముస్లిమ్ మహిళా ఆందోళన్ తాము సర్వే చేశామని చెప్పుకుంటూ విడుదల చేసిన నివేదికకు మీడియా పతాక శీర్షికల ప్రాముఖ్యం ఇచ్చింది. త్రిపుల్ తలాక్, బహుభార్వత్వాలను రద్దు చేయడమే ముస్లిమ్ మహిళల సమస్యలకు పరిష్కారమని ప్రెస్ కాన్ఫరెన్సు పెట్టి ఈ సంస్థ చెప్పిన మాటలను వేదవాక్కులుగా మీడియా గౌరవించి ప్రచురించింది. భారతదేశంలో ముస్లిమ్ మహిళలందరూ త్రిపుల్ తలాక్, బహుభార్వత్వం తీవ్ర సమస్యలుగా భావిస్తున్నారని, ఈ సర్వేలో అది స్పష్టమైపోయిందన్నట్లు మీడియా దండోరా మొదలు పెట్టింది. గోమాంసం పేరుతో హత్యలు జరుగుతుంటే ముస్లిమ్ మహిళలు త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ ప్రధాన సమస్యగా భావించారని చెప్పడం మీడియా అమ్ముడుపోయిన వైనాన్ని చాటి చెబుతుంది. అవిద్య, పేదరికం, వెనుకబాటు వంటి అనేక సమస్యలకు తోడు భారత ముస్లిం సమాజం గోగ్రవాద దాడులతో అతలాకుతలమవుతుంటే మీడియా మాత్రం భారత ముస్లిం సమాజానికి ఉన్న ఒకే ఒక సమస్య త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ అని నమ్మించే ప్రయత్నాలు చేసింది. ఎవరిని నమ్మించే ప్రయత్నాలు. ముస్లిములకు వారి సమస్యలు ఎలాగూ తెలుసు కాబట్టి వారు నమ్మరు. ముస్లిమేతరులను, ముఖ్యంగా హిందూ ప్రజానీకాన్ని నమ్మించే ప్రయత్నం. దానివల్ల ఏం జరుగుతుంది? త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ విషయంలో ముస్లిములు వ్యతిరేకిస్తూ అనాగరికంగా వ్యవహరిస్తున్నారన్న భావం ముస్లిమేతర సమాజంలో కలుగ జేయడం, ముఖ్యంగా బహుభార్వత్వం పట్ల ముస్లిములు సంస్కరణను వ్యతిరేకిస్తున్నారని హిందూ ప్రజలను నమ్మబలికి ఆ విధంగా ముస్లిములు తమ జనాభా పెంచుకునే ప్రయత్నాలు చేస్తున్నారన్న హాస్యాస్పదమైన మాటను నమ్మేలా చేయడం. ఈ కుట్రలో మీడియాపూర్తిగా పాలు పంచుకుంది.
త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ విషయంలో మీడియా ఇచ్చిన తీవ్ర ప్రచారం చివరకు సుప్రీంకోర్టులోను ప్రతిధ్వనించింది. అక్టోబరు 16, 2015న ఒక హిందూ మహిళకు సంబంధించిన కేసులో వ్యాఖ్యనిస్తూ ఈ వివక్షలను విచారించడానికి స్పెషల్ బెంచ్ ఏర్పాటు చేయాలని ప్రధాన న్యాయమూర్తికి సూచించింది. కాని దానికి కొన్ని రోజుల ముందే జరిగిన హత్యాకాండను మాత్రం ఎవరూ పట్టించుకోలేదు. భారత లౌకికవిలువలను సర్వనాశనం చేస్తున్న మతతత్వ విషం ఎంత భయానకంగా విస్తరిస్తుందో సుప్రీంకోర్టు పట్టించుకున్న దాఖలా కాని, దీనిపై వ్యాఖ్యానించిన ఉదాహరణ కాని లేదు. ఎందువల్లనంటే మీడియా ఈ వార్తలకు పెద్దగా ప్రాముఖ్యం ఇవ్వడమే లేదు.
సుప్రీంకోర్టు ఈ వ్యాఖ్యలను అక్టోబరులో చేసింది. అంతకు ముందు సెప్టెంబరు 28వ తేదీన యాభై సంవత్సరాల ముహమ్మద్ అక్లాక్ ను దాద్రిలో అతని ఇంట్లోనే గుంపులు దాడి చేసి చంపేశాయి. గొడ్డుమాంసం ఉందన్న అనుమానంతో చంపేశాయి. ఆయన ఇంట్లో గొడ్డుమాంసం లేదని తర్వాత తెలిసింది. అక్లాక్ కూతరు అడిగిన ప్రశ్న ’’ఆ మాంసం గొడ్డుమాంసం కాకపోతే నా తండ్రిని తెచ్చివ్వగలరా?‘‘ అన్న ప్రశ్న సుప్రీంకోర్టుకు కాని, మన పాలకపెద్దలకు కాని వినబడనే లేదు. అక్లాక్ కేసు విషయంలో మీడియా కాస్త శ్రద్ధ చూపించింది. కాని ఆ తర్వాత జరిగిన సంఘటనల పట్ల మళ్ళీ మీడియా అంత శ్రద్ధ చూపించలేదు. అక్లాక్ కేసు విషయంలో పబ్లిసిటీ కూడా గోరక్షకులకు పబ్లిసిటీ ఇచ్చే ఉద్దేశ్యంతో చేసిన పనేమో అన్న అనుమానాలు కూడా కలుగుతున్నాయి. ఎందుకంటే అక్లాక్ కేసు తర్వాత అక్టోబరు 9వ తేదీన కేవలం కొన్ని రోజుల వ్యవధిలో జమ్ములో హిందూ జనాభా అధికంగా ఉన్న ప్రాంతంలో 19 సంవత్సరాల జాహిద్ అహ్మద్ ను గోరక్షకుల గుంపు వాహనంలోనే తగులబెట్టి చంపేశాయి. కారణం గోహత్య అన్న రూమార్లు ప్రచారంలో పెట్టడం. ఈ వార్త మరి మీడియాకు ఎందుకు కనబడలేదు. కేవలం కొన్ని రోజుల వ్యవధిలోనే జరిగిన సంఘటన ఇది. అక్టోబరు 13వ తేదీన నోమాన్ అనే ట్రక్కు డ్రయివరును పశువులు రవాణా చేస్తున్నాడన్న అనుమానంతో దాడి చేసి చంపేశారు. వరుసగా గుంపుల హత్యాకాండ జరుగుతుంటే మీడియాకు అది ముఖ్యమైన వార్త కాదా?
ఈ వార్తలేవీ మీడియాలో ప్రముఖంగా రాలేదు. కాని భారతీయ ముస్లిమ్ మహిళా ఆందోళన్ కు చెందిన ముగ్గురు మహిళలు నవంబరులో ప్రధాని గారికి రాసిన లేఖను మీడియా కళ్ళకద్దుకుని పబ్లిసిటీ ఇచ్చింది. త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ రద్దు చేసి ముస్లిమ్ మహిళలను కాపాడ్డమే ముస్లిం సమాజానికి చేసే పెద్ద మేలుగా ప్రచారం భారీగా జరిగింది.
ఇదంతా 2015లో జరిగిన వ్యవహారం. జులై 16, 2016న వెంకయ్యనాయుడు యూనిఫాం సివిల్ కోడ్, ఆరెస్సెస్ పరిభాషలో కామన్ సివిల్ కోడ్ వస్తే సెక్యులరిజమ్ పునాదులు చాలా గట్టిపడతాయని అన్నాడు. గాంధీజీని కూడా ఆయన కోట్ చేశాడు. ’’మతాలన్ని పరస్పర సహకారంతో బతికే పూర్తి సహనశీలం కలిగిన దేశం కావాలి‘‘ అని గాంధీగారు చెప్పిన మాటలను ఉద్ఘాటించాడు.
ఉత్తరప్రదేశ్ ఎన్నికల ప్రచారంలో మోడీ త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ గురించి మాట్లాడుతూ ముస్లిమ్ మహిళల సమస్యల పట్ల కడవల కొద్ది కన్నీరు కార్చాడు. ఆ తర్వాత అబూ సాలెహ్ షరీఫ్, సయ్యద్ ఖాలిద్ వంటి పరిశోధకులు మోడీని నిలదీశారు. 2011 జనాభా లెక్కలను ఉదాహరిస్తూ ముస్లిముల్లో విడాకులు పొందిన మహిళల శాతం కన్నా, హిందువుల్లో భర్త వదిలేసి, విడాకులు పొంది దుర్భరస్థితిలో బతుకుతున్న మహిళల శాతం చాలా ఎక్కువని వారి విషయమేమిటని నిలదీశారు. గణాంకాలు నిర్ఘాంతపోయేలా ముందుకు వచ్చాయి. 23 లక్షల మంది మహిళలు భర్త వదిలేసిన వాళ్ళు లేక, విడాకులు పొందిన వాళ్ళుంటే అందులో కేవలం 2 లక్షల 80 వేల మంది మాత్రమే ముస్లిం మహిళలు. ఈ ముస్లిమ్ మహిళల కష్టాల గురించి కన్నీళ్ళు సరే, మిగిలిన 20 లక్షల మహిళల సంగతేంటని అడిగారు.
ఉత్తరప్రదేశ్ ఎన్నికల్లో బిజేపి గెలుపు వెనుక అనేక కారణాలున్నాయి. కాని ఎన్నికల్లో గెలిచిన వెంటనే ముఖ్యమంత్రిగా పదవీ బాధ్యతలు స్వీకరించిన యోగీ ఆదిత్యనాథ్ త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ గురించి మాట్లాడుతూ ద్రౌపది వస్త్రాపరణం వంటిదన్నాడు. ఆయన కేబినేట్లో మంత్రి స్వామీ ప్రసాద్ మౌర్య మరింత రెచ్చిపోయి ముస్లిములు తమ కామవాంఛ కోసం త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ వాడుకుంటున్నారని అన్నాడు. మీడియా ఈ వార్తలకు ఇవ్వవలసిన ప్రాముఖ్యం ఇచ్చింది. మరి భార్యలను వదిలేసే ఇతర మతాల వాళ్ళు ఎందుకు వదిలేస్తున్నారు? ఈ ప్రశ్న సహజంగానే వస్తుంది కదా. 2011 గణాంకాల ప్రకారం 20లక్షల మంది ఇలాంటి మహిళలు ముస్లిమేతరులే. ఇప్పుడు ఈ సంఖ్య మరింత పెరిగి ఉంటుంది. కాని మీడియా ఈ వాస్తవాలకు ఎన్నడూ ప్రాముఖ్యం ఇవ్వలేదు. బిజేపి, ఆరెస్సెస్ నేతల మాట నేలకు రాలక ముందే పతాక శీర్షికల్లో అలంకరణలుగా మార్చేస్తుంది. స్వామీ ప్రసాద్ మౌర్య వెంటనే క్షమాపణ చెప్పాలని ముస్లిమ్ విమెన్ పర్సనల్ లా బోర్డు డిమాండ్ కూడా మీడియాకు కనబడలేదు.
అసలు ఉత్తరప్రదేశ్ లో బిజేపి విజయానికి కారణం ముస్లిమ్ మహిళలు పెద్ద ఎత్తున మోడీ మాటలకు ప్రభావితులై, త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ కు వ్యతిరేకంగా ఓటు చేయడమే అన్న విశ్లేషణలు నిస్సిగ్గుగా మీడియా అందించింది. ఒకవైపు గుంపుల హత్యాకాండలో చస్తున్న ముస్లిముల ప్రాణాలు ముస్లిమ్ మహిళలకు ముఖ్యంగా కనబడలేదు, కాని త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ (ముస్లిముల్లో విడాకులు తక్కువ) ఒక్కటే తమ సమస్యగా ముస్లిమ్ మహిళలు భావించారని చెప్పే ఈ మేధావులు, పాత్రికేయులు మానవత్వాన్ని నిలువెత్తు గోతిలో పాతేశారని చెప్పాలి.
ఎందుకంటే, ఒకవైపు ఉత్తరప్రదేశ్ ముఖ్యమంత్రి కూడా ప్రధాని అడుగుజాడల్లో త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ విషయమై కన్నీళ్ళు కారుస్తున్నప్పుడే యోగీ ఆదిత్యనాథ్ స్థాపించిన, ఆయన నాయకత్వం వహించే హిందూ యువవాహిని కార్యకర్తలు ముగ్గురిని పోలీసులు అరెస్టు చేయకతప్పలేదు. 45 సంవత్సరాల గులాం ముహమ్మద్ పై దాడి చేసి చంపేశారు. కారణం ఒక హిందూ అమ్మాయి ముస్లిమ్ యువకుగిని ప్రేమించి పెద్దలను వ్యతిరేకించి వారిద్దరు పారిపోడానికి కారణం అతనే అన్న అనుమానం. లవ్ జిహాద్ అంటే ఇదే అని ప్రచారం చేసి గుంపులు ఆయనపై దాడి చేసి చంపేశాయి. ముస్లిములపై దాడులు చేయడానికి ఆరెస్సెస్ దాని అనుబంధ సంస్థలు అనేక సాకులు అందించాయి. అందులో లవ్ జిహాద్ కూడా ఒకటి. ఉత్తరప్రదేశ్ ఎన్నికల్లో త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ వల్ల బిజేపికి ఓట్లు పడ్డాయని విశ్లేషణలు అందించడానికి ఉత్సాహపడిన మీడియా ఈ హత్యలకు మాత్రం పెద్ద ప్రాముఖ్యం ఇవ్వలేదు.
త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ విషయంలో సుప్రీంకోర్టు ముందుకు వచ్చిన మూడు ప్రతిపాదనలు ఇక్కడ గమనార్హమైనవి. అవి : 1. చట్టం ద్వారా కలుగజేసుకుని త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ రాజ్యంగవిరుద్దంగా ప్రకటించి ప్రభుత్వం కొత్త చట్టం చేయడం, 2. న్యాయపరంగా కలుగజేసుకుని తలాక్ కేవలం ఖుర్ఆన్ పేర్కొన్న సూత్రాల ప్రకారం, అహ్సన్ పద్ధతిలో మూడునెలల ప్రక్రియగా జరగాలని తీర్మానించడం. 3. ముస్లిమ్ సముదాయంలో అంతర్గతంగానే సంస్కరణలు రావడం.
అనేక ముస్లిం సంస్థలు, చివరకు భారతీయ ముస్లిం మహిళా ఆందోళన్ కూడా రెండవ ఆప్షన్ వైపు మొగ్గు చూపాయి. ముస్లిమ్ పర్సనల్ లా బోర్డు మూడవ ఆప్షన్ వైపు మొగ్గు చూపింది. కాని విచిత్రంగా ప్రభుత్వం తరఫున వాదించిన ముకుల్ రోహ్తగీ మాత్రం అసలు తలాక్ అనేదే నిషేధించాలని అన్నాడు. ఇది హాస్యాస్పదంగా అనిపించడం లేదా. తలాక్ అనేదే నిషేధిస్తే, ముస్లిములకు విడాకులనేవి లేనే లేవని భావించాలా? హిందూకోడ్ బిల్లు వచ్చినప్పుడు ఈ మతతత్వవాదులు ఎంత నిరసన తెలిపారో ఇక్కడ ఒక్కసారి గుర్తుకు తెచ్చుకోవాలి. ఇప్పుడు అస్సలు విడాకులే ఉండకూడదన్న వాదప ముకుల్ రోహ్తగీ చేశాడు. మరి ముస్లిములకు విడాకుల అవకాశం లేదా అంటే ముందు రద్దు చేయండి తర్వాత మేం మరో చట్టం తెస్తాం అన్నాడు. అంటే ఈ ప్రభుత్వం ముస్లిమ్ పర్సనల్ లాను రద్దు చేయాలన్న లక్ష్యంతో పనిచేస్తుందే తప్ప మరో ఉద్దేశ్యమేమీ లేదు. వెంకయ్య నాయుడు మరో అడుగు ముందుకు వేసి సుప్రీంకోర్టు త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ రద్దు చేయకపోతే తామే చట్టం చేసేస్తామని అన్నాడు. పర్సనల్ లా వ్యవహారాల్లో కలుగుజేసుకోవడం మా ఉద్దేశ్యం కాదు, మహిళలకు న్యాయం చేయడమే మా ద్దేశ్యం అని గంభీరంగా తమ సదుద్దేశ్యాన్ని చెప్పాడు కాని మరోవైపు గోగ్రవాదం జనాన్ని చంపుతుంటే, ముఖ్యంగా ముస్లిములను చంపుతుంటే ఆయన మాటలు పైశాచికంగా కనిపించడం లేదా?
2010 నుంచి 2017 మధ్య కాలంలో గొడ్డుమాంసం, గోగ్రవాదం సంబంధించి జరిగిన సంఘటనలు మొత్తం 63 అయితే అందులో 32 సంఘటనలు బీజేపి పాలిత రాష్ట్రాల్లోనే జరిగాయి. దాడులన్నీ దాదాపుగా ముస్లిములపైనే జరిగాయి. ఈ సంఘటనల్లో దాదాపు 97శాతం మోడీ అధికారంలోకి వచ్చిన తర్వాతే జరిగాయి. 2017లో ఈ హత్యలు మరింత పెరిగాయి. ఈ నేపథ్యంలో త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ కాదు అసలు తలాక్ రద్దు చేసి ముస్లిమ్ మహిళల సమస్యలు పరిష్కారిస్తామంటున్న మాటలను ఎలా అర్ధం చేసుకోవాలి.
మన మీడియా గోగ్రవాదాన్ని పట్టించుకోకపోయినా అంతర్జాతీయంగా ఈ సంఘటనలు ప్రచారం పొందుతూనే ఉన్నాయి. భారతదేశం అహింసాభూమి అని, గాంధీ గారి దేశమని ప్రపంచదేశాల్లో ఉన్న మన ప్రతిష్ఠ ఇప్పుడు మసకబారుతోంది. ఫ్రాన్సులో రచయిత, జర్నలిస్టు విలియం డి తామారిస్ ఒక్ కామిక్ పుస్తకం రాశాడు. గోరక్షకుల గురించిన పుస్తకమది. దేశంలోని వివిధ రాష్ట్రాల్లో బీఫ్ బ్యాన్ గురించి, హిందూత్వ గురించి రాసిన పుస్తకం. ఈ రచయిత ఫ్రాన్సులో కూర్చుని రాయలేదు, దాద్రిలో ముహమ్మద్ అక్లాక్ హత్య తరువాత గోరక్షకుడిగా చెప్పుకునే విజయకాంత్ చౌహాన్ అనే వ్యక్తిని కలిసి మాట్లాడిన తర్వాత ఈ పుస్తకంపై పనిచేయడం ప్రారంభించాడు. భారతదేశమంటే తమ మనసుల్లో ఉన్నా భావాలన్నీ ఈ పుస్తక రచన క్రమంలో సేకరించిన సమాచారంతో మారిపోయాయని ఆయన అన్నాడు. స్క్రోల్ డాట్ ఇన్ ఈ విషయమై కథనాన్నిచ్చింది. గాంధీగారి దేశంగా భావించేవాళ్లమని ఇప్పుడా పరిస్థితి లేదని రచయిత అన్నాడు. మహారాష్ట్ర, హర్యానా, రాజస్తాన్, ఉత్తరప్రదేశ్, కేరళ రాష్ట్రాల్లో రచయిత పర్యటించాడు. విజయకాంత్ చౌహాన్ అనబడే ఈ గోరక్షకుడు మాత్రమే కాదు, గోరక్షకులు చాలా మంది జర్నలిస్టులతో మాట్లాడ్డానికి చాలా ఉత్సాహం చూపించారంట. విజయకాంత్ అయితే తానే నాథూరాం గాడ్సే అయితే మరోసారి గాంధీని చంపుతానన్నాడట (స్క్రోల్ డాట్ ఇన్). ఈ పుస్తకం మార్కెటులోకి వచ్చిన తర్వాత ఫ్రెంచ్ మీడియా 2002 గుజరాత్ ఘోరకలి గురించి కూడా మాట్లాడ్డం మొదలుపెట్టింది.
గోగ్రవాదం దేశాన్ని అంతర్జాతీయంగా అప్రతిష్ఠపాలు చేస్తుంటే, హత్యలు వరుసగా జరుగుతుంటే, మోడీ కేవలం మాటలతో గోరక్షణ పేరుతో హింసను భరించలేమంటూ కేవలం ముచ్చటగా మూడు సార్లు (ఇప్పటి వరకు) ప్రకటించి చేతులు దులుపుకున్నారు. కాని మరోవైపు త్రిపుల్ తలాక్ రద్దు చేసి ముస్లిమ్ మహిళల కష్టాలు తీరుస్తామంటూ వందలసార్లు, వేలసార్లు ప్రకటిస్తూ వస్తున్నారు. ఈ మాటలను ఎవరైనా నమ్మవచ్చు కాని దౌర్జన్యాలకు గురవుతున్న ముస్లిములు, దళితులు మాత్రం నమ్మలేరు.

Noida Case - Wahed

న్యాయం - Wahed
గత కొంతకాలంగా నోయిడా, ఉత్తరప్రదేశ్ లో జరుగుతున్నది వర్గపోరాటమే. నోయిడాలోని పోష్ కాలనీలో డబ్బుకు కొదువలేని సంపన్న వర్గాలకు, రోజుకూలి చేసుకునే జొహ్రాకాలనీ వాసులకు మధ్య జరుగుతున్న ఈ ఘర్షణలో సహజంగానే ప్రభుత్వము, మంత్రులు, పోలీసు, పాలనాయంత్రాంగాలన్నీ సంపన్న వర్గాలకు కొమ్ముకాస్తూ నిలబడ్డాయి. మాహాగన్ మోడర్నే పేరుతో ఉన్న ఈ పోష్ కాలనీ గేటెడ్ కమ్యునిటీ. ఇక్కడ ఇండ్లలో పాచి పని చేసే జొహ్రాబీ కనబడకుండా పోయింది. ఈ కాలనీకి పక్కనే ఉన్న మురికివాడలో నివసించే జొహ్రాబీ ఈ కాలనీలో సేఠీ కుటుంబం వద్ద పనిచేసేది. ఆమె భర్త ఆమెను వెదుక్కుంటూ అక్కడికి వచ్చాడు. అక్కడి సెక్యురిటీగార్డులు అడ్డుకున్నారు. మురికివాడ నివాసులు ఆమె ఎక్కడుందో చెప్పాలంటూ నిరసనగా వచ్చారు. చివరకు ఆమె ఎక్కడున్నదో తెలిసింది.
రెండు నెలల జీతం ఇమ్మని అడిగిన పాపానికి ఆమెను నిర్బంధించారని జొహ్రాబీ చెప్పింది. మరోవైపు ఆమెను నిర్బంధించిన సేఠీ కుటుంబం కూడా మురికివాడ వాసులపై కేసు పెట్టారు. అయితే కేంద్రమంత్రి మహేష్ శర్మకు రెండు పక్షాల వాదనలు వినేంత తీరిక లేదు. సహజంగానే పేదల బాధలు వినే తీరిక పాలకులకు ఉండదు. ఏకపక్షంగా సేఠీ కుటుంబం అమాయకులనీ, వారికి ఎలాంటి పాపం తెలియదని ప్రకటించాడు. పోలీసులు కొంతమంది మురికివాడ వాసులను, ఇండ్లల్లో పనిచేసేవారిని అరెస్టు చేశారు. అరెస్టయిన వారికి అస్సలు బెయిలు కూడా దొరక్కుండా చేస్తానని బెదిరించాడు. ఇది కేవలం బెదిరింపు మాత్రమే కాదు, ఉత్తరప్రదేశ్ పోలీసులు వెంటనే అరెస్టు చేసినవారిపై హత్యాప్రయత్నం కేసులు కూడా పెట్టేసి రాజకీయ నేతలకు సంతోషం కలిగించారు. ఈ పోష్ కాలనీలోని అమాయక సంపన్నుల్లో ఎవరికి ఎలాంటి గాయాలు లేవు. వారిపై భౌతిక దాడులు జరిగినట్లు ఎఫ్ ఐ ఆర్ లలో ఎక్కడా ప్రస్తావన కూడా లేదు. మరి హత్యాయత్నం కేసులు ఎలా ఫైలయ్యాయి?
స్పష్టంగా కనబడుతున్న విషయమేమంటే, మురికివాడలో నివసించే పేదలపై బలం ప్రయోగించి, పోష్ కాలనీలోని సంపన్నులకు వత్తాసు పలుకుతున్నారు నేతలు. కేసు ఎలాంటిదయినా, ఒక మంత్రి బెయిలు దొరక్కుండా చేస్తానని బెదిరించడం ప్రజాస్వామ్యం ఏ స్థాయికి పతనమైందో చెప్పే సంఘటన. ఒకవైపు జాతీయ రాజధాని ప్రాంతంలో అత్యంత సంపన్నులు, మరోవైపు పొట్టకూటి కోసం పొరుగు రాష్ట్రం నుంచి వచ్చిన నిరుపేదలు. ఈ వివాదంలో మరో కోణం కూడా ఉంది. ఈ నిరుపేదలంతా బెంగాలు నుంచి వలస వచ్చిన ముస్లిములు. కాబట్టి దీనికి మతంరంగు పులమడం కూడా వెంటనే జరిగిపోయింది. వాట్సప్, ఫేస్ బుక్కుల ద్వారా అబద్దాలు, ఫేక్ వార్తలు ప్రచారం చేయడంలో సిగ్గు ఎగ్గు లేకుండా వ్యవహరించే ఈ సోకాల్డ్ చదువుకున్నవాళ్ళు వెంటనే మురికివాడ వాసులను బంగ్లాదేశీ అక్రమ చొరబాటుదారులుగా కూడా ప్రచారం మొదలుపెట్టారు. అది అబద్దమని, ఈ పేదలంతా బెంగాలుకు చెందిన వారన్నది రుజువైన సత్యం. కాని అబద్దాలు చెప్పేవారికి సిగ్గెగ్గులు ఉండవు. ఈ అబద్దాన్ని ప్రచారంలో పెట్టడమే కాదు, మరో మాల్దా అంటూ ప్రచారం మొదలుపెట్టారు.
ఈ సంఘటన మన నగరాల్లో వర్గవిభజన ఎలాంటిదో చాటి చెప్పే సంఘటన. ధనికులకు, పేదలకు మధ్య ఘర్షణలో యావత్తు రాజ్యం ధనికులకు వత్తాసు పలుకుతుందని చాటి చెప్పిన సంఘటన. ఈ సంఘటనలో యాధృచ్ఛికంగా పేదలు బెంగాలు నుంచి వచ్చిన ముస్లిములు కాబట్టి వారిని బంగ్లాదేశీలుగా ముద్రవేయడం జరిగింది. అలా కాకుండా ఈ పేదలు దళితులు లేదా మరో బలహీనవర్గానికి చెందినవారైతే మరో ముద్ర వేసి వేధించేవారు. అసంఘటితరంగంలో పనిచేస్తున్న ఈ మురికివాడల పేదల బతుకులు ఎంత దుర్భరంగా ఉన్నాయో ప్రత్యేకంగా చెప్పనవసరం లేదు. కాని దేశంలోని సంపన్న వర్గాలకు ఈ వివక్షలు, దౌర్జన్యాలు తమ హక్కుగా కనబడతాయి. కాని మహేష్ శర్మ వంటి మంత్రులు ’’చాలా మంది ఇండ్లల్లో పనిమనిషికి పెళ్ళాం కన్నా ఎక్కువ విలువ ఉంటుంది‘‘ అంటూ అసభ్యంగా, అశ్లీలంగా జోకులేస్తారు. ఈ సంపన్న వర్గాలే అన్నది మన ప్రజాస్వామ్యం అసలు రూపం అర్ధం చేసుకోడానికి ఉపయోగపడే వాస్తవం.

French comic book by William de Tamaris

French comic book by William de Tamaris 

July 20, 2017
https://communalism.blogspot.in/2017/07/french-comic-book-by-william-de-tamaris.html

French comic book by William de Tamaris uses India’s war on beef to illustrate the dangers of Hindutva
scroll.in - 20 July 2017
A French comic book uses India’s war on beef to illustrate the dangers of Hindutva
‘Sacred Cow’ is re-examining stereotypes in the wake of mob lynchings and cow vigilantism.

A French comic book uses India’s war on beef to illustrate the dangers of Hindutva
By William de Tamaris, illustrated by George H

Noopur Tiwari
India is the land of ahimsa where the cow is considered holy by all its peace-loving people. This enduring cliché could finally be on its way out, if not from Western Europe, then at least from France.
A 30-page French comic book by journalist and author William de Tamaris tells the story of self-styled gau rakshaks, and the alarming trend of vigilante violence spreading across India. Tracing the history of beef bans across several Indian states, the comic highlights the rise of Hindu nationalism and introduces French readers to the concepts of Hindutva and the propaganda for a Hindu nation.
“We were inspired to do the story after I met Vijaykant Chauhan, who calls himself a gau rakshak,” said de Tamaris, who met Chauhan shortly after the lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri, in September 2015. It was then that he decided to work on the subject along with illustrator George H.
The authors admitted that they had harboured a number of stereotypes about India for years, but that changed during the course of their research. “Here I was, supposedly, in the land of tolerance but the hate in the discourse of so-called gau rakshaks was shocking,” said de Tamaris. “In France, people still believe India is the land of Gandhi but that no longer holds true.”
By William de Tamaris, illustrated by George H. 
By William de Tamaris, illustrated by George H.
The story took the French authors to Maharashtara, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala. They say that Chauhan was keen to talk to journalists, and told them that if he were Nathuram Godse, he would kill Gandhi all over again.
The French authors also spoke to Muslims of the Qureshi community, who have traditionally been involved in butchery, in Maharashtra. They found that the impact of the beef ban and ensuing vigilante violence by gau rakshaks was immense – many have lost their livelihoods and live in constant fear. Some are unable to send their children to school and are resigned to their fate.
By William de Tamaris, illustrated by George H. 
By William de Tamaris, illustrated by George H.
Soon after the release of the comic book, French mainstream media began to speak of genocide and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the same breath, while referring to the 2002 Gujarat riots. Analysts in a news discussion on a leading radio channel concluded that this brand of politics and the “extreme discourse” was bringing “instability” to India.
In the month of June, Modi received a warm welcome (and a bear hug) in Paris from France’s newly elected President, Emmanuel Macron. This was Modi’s third visit to France since he was elected as prime minister in 2014.
By William de Tamaris, illustrated by George H. 
By William de Tamaris, illustrated by George H.
Any references to Modi or his political discourse still remain sparse in the French media. The focus has been on the sales of the French Rafale fighter jets and controversial Areva nuclear reactors, both worth billions of euros. More recently, President Macron has tried to project India (referred to regularly in the French press as “one of the biggest polluters of the planet”), as a leading partner in climate diplomacy.
By William de Tamaris, illustrated by George H. 
By William de Tamaris, illustrated by George H.

Crack down on cow vigilantes, PM tells States

Crack down on cow vigilantes, PM tells States
Vikas Pathak NEW DELHI, JULY 16, 2017 14:25 IST
UPDATED: JULY 17, 2017 01:07 IST
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Modi-oppn
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, members of his Cabinet and Opposition leaders at the all-party meeting in New Delhi on July 16, 2017.   | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy
Anti-social elements spreading anarchy in the name of ‘gau’ protection: Modi

Addressing an all-party meeting a day before the monsoon session of Parliament begins on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said State governments should take strict action against cow vigilantes indulging in violence.

“Some anti-social elements have made cow protection a medium for spreading anarchy. People involved in disturbing harmony in the country are also taking advantage of it,” he said.

According to him, “These affect the image of the country. State governments should take strict action against such anti-social elements.”

“Cow is treated as a mother and it is an emotive issue. But we have to understand that there are laws governing cow protection and breaking these is not an alternative.”

From Akhlaq of Dadri to Junaid of Ballabgarh: Attacks by cow vigilantes since 2015

Mr. Modi had last spoken against cow vigilantism on June 30 at the Sabarmati Ashram, calling violence in the name of ‘gau bhakti’ antithetical to Mahatma Gandhi’s views.

On August 6, 2016, too, he had spoken out against cow vigilantes, labelling them “anti-social.”

Concerns have been widely expressed in recent times over cow vigilante attacks reported from different parts of India.

Modi warns cow vigilantes, says killing people in the name of 'gau bhakti' cannot be accepted

The meeting came hours before the customary pre-session all-party meet called by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan late in the evening.

Political corruption

Mr. Modi also brought up the issue of political corruption, days after the family of RJD chief Lalu Prasad came under the scanner of central agencies.

“In the last few decades, the image of politicians has suffered because of the actions of some political leaders. We must convince people that not all politicians are corrupt,” he said.

“What is required is clean politics and action against corrupt politicians. It is the responsibility of all political parties to take action against such tainted leaders.”

He wanted parties to unite against those people who cried political vendetta when the law was taking its own course.

The All-India Trinamool Congress, which had earlier said it would boycott this meeting amid differences with the BJP over the recent violence in West Bengal, stayed away. The Janata Dal (United) also skipped the meeting.

The meeting began at 11 a.m., with leaders from political parties and Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Ananth Kumar, among others, being present. It lasted till past 1 pm.

Opposition leaders expressed concern over the Sino-Indian stand-off, expressing the hope that the matter would be resolved soon. They also expressed concern over the disturbed situation in Kashmir.

Later, Mr. Ananth Kumar told the media that on the issue of Kashmir and China, all parties said they were with the government.

Cow vigilantes ‘anti-social’: Modi breaks his silence

“Farm distress” and the “economic burdens” on the people were also taken up. Opposition leaders took up the issue of recent attacks on minorities and Dalits.

The Prime Minister came when the meeting was on and addressed the assembled leaders for five-seven minutes, said a participant.

The issue of cow vigilantism and political corruption apart, Mr. Modi commended both sides on the dignified nature of the presidential campaign, adding that it would have been good if a consensus had been arrived at.

Mr. Modi also called upon all parties to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Quit India movement, which falls on August 9.


Modi asks states to crack down on cow vigilantes, calls for ‘stringent action’
Ahead of the Monsoon Session from Monday, the PM asked state governments to take strict action against cow vigilantes, and cautioned against giving the issue a political or communal colour.

INDIA Updated: Jul 17, 2017 00:14 IST
Saubhadra Chatterji
Saubhadra Chatterji 
Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Arun Jaitley, Parliamentary affairs ministers Ananthkumar and SS Ahluwalia (extreme right) with former prime minister and JD(S) president HD Deve Gowda (extreme left) during an all-party meeting ahead of monsoon session, in New Delhi on Sunday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Arun Jaitley, Parliamentary affairs ministers Ananthkumar and SS Ahluwalia (extreme right) with former prime minister and JD(S) president HD Deve Gowda (extreme left) during an all-party meeting ahead of monsoon session, in New Delhi on Sunday. (PTI Photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the state governments to sternly deal with those who incite violence in the garb of protecting cows, a day before the monsoon session of Parliament begins with the opposition geared up to raise the issue.

“Cow is revered as the mother in our country. Public sentiments are attached with the cow. However, people must know that there is a law to protect the cow and the violation of law is not an alternative,” Modi said, acknowledging that such violence impacts India’s image in the world.

“It has an impact on the image of the nation. State governments must deal sternly against such anti-social elements,” he said.

The PM also said, “Some anti social elements have incited violence in the name of cow protection. Those engaged in disturbing the harmony in the country are trying to take advantage of the situation,” he said at the all-party meeting convened by parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar.

Read more

Maharashtra: Why Marathwada’s farmers dread the new cattle law

16 new bills listed in monsoon session of Parliament
The monsoon session of Parliament will start Monday amid the latest round of tussle between the government and opposition over issues, including the atrocities related to cow vigilantism. Three days ago, a man was attacked over suspicion that he was carrying beef.

This is not the first time Modi spoke against the self-styled cow protection groups, but on Sunday the PM also tried to underline that it is the state government that must act against such hooligans and criminals, in a bid to deflect the possible Opposition attack on his party and government. “Maintaining law and order is the responsibility of State Governments and wherever these incidents are taking place, state Governments must deal firmly with it. The State Governments must also see to it that in the name of cow protection some people are settling their personal rivalry,” the PM said.

While he called upon all political parties to “condemn strongly the goondaism”, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the government will be targeted over issues of Kashmir and the border stand-off with China.

The government has closed all doors for dialogue, leading to political suffocation in Kahsmir,” Azad alleged. The parties like Left, Trinamool Congress are keen to discuss the “misuse” of CBI and the “Modi government’s vendetta politics”.

CPI(M) to take up women’s quota bill, cow vigilantism

The CPI(M) declared on Sunday it would raise the issue of cow vigilantism in the House and demand the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill.

“Every day, the country is witnessing an incident of cow vigilantism and so many innocents are being killed in the name of cows. This issue needs to be discussed and the government should answer,” party’s general secretary Sitaram Yechury told reporters in New Delhi.

Read more

Monsoon session likely to be stormy: Oppn may bring up Sikkim row, Amarnath yatra attack

Expect political cloudbursts as Parliament’s monsoon session begins
He also demanded that the Women’s Reservation Bill be passed. “Before the Lok Sabha elections, the Prime Minister had promised the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill. Now the government should ensure it,” the CPI(M)leader said, referring to the proposed law that seeks to ensure 33% reservation for women in elected bodies.


He said in what was perhaps the shortest monsoon session in the history of Parliament, the government has listed 16 bills “apart from the so many bills pending in both the Houses” for the 14 working days of the session.

ONGOLE FLEXIE

ONGOLE FLEXIE

Kashmiris do not need to prove their humanity. India needs to prove its own.

Global Opinions
Kashmiris do not need to prove their humanity. India needs to prove its own.
By Hafsa Kanjwal July 12 at 8:22 PM
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2017/07/12/kashmiris-do-not-need-to-prove-their-humanity-india-needs-to-prove-its-own/?utm_term=.46bd742c3538

Kashmiri civil society groups organized a sit-in protest Tuesday, a day after the killing of seven Amarnath pilgrims, in Pratap Park, Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. (Courtesy of Peer Suhail)
Hafsa Kanjwal is an assistant professor in South Asian history at Lafayette College. Her PhD, from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, was on the social history of modern Kashmir.

In her July 10 Post commentary, “Why a terrorist attack on Hindu pilgrims could change everything for Kashmir,” Indian journalist Barkha Dutt patronizingly let the people of Kashmir — who have been struggling for their right to self-determination for nearly 70 years — know that their “cause” has lost its “moral compass.” She referred to an attack on Hindu pilgrims, or yatris, during Kashmir’s annual Amarnath pilgrimage on Monday, which tragically killed seven pilgrims and injured 19. She claimed that “armed, jihadist terrorists” targeted innocent civilians. Pointing to how extremists are winning the battle in Kashmir, Dutt argued that because these actions are being committed in their name, Kashmiris need to prove that they are not “complicit in another example of the withering away of humanity.”

Dutt undermined Kashmir’s legitimate struggle by brushing it with the stroke of jihadist extremist terrorism. Here is some context she missed in doing so.

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First, according to reports, the attack was not targeting innocent civilians.  The inspector general of the Jammu and Kashmir police — a group that would hardly be the first to stand up for militants in Kashmir — has stated that the bus carrying the pilgrims was caught in crossfire when militants targeted an Indian police post. In other words, the pilgrims were not the targets of the attack; Indian forces were. Indeed, the major militant outfits operating in Kashmir — along with all of the pro-freedom groups operating under the nomenclature of “Joint Resistance Leadership” — have condemned the attack.


Second, Kashmiris do not need any lessons in humanity. During the devastating floods of 2014, Kashmiris were seen rescuing soldiers of the Indian army who were posted in the region, though the Indian army is an institution they consider an occupying and oppressive force. In July 2016, less than a week after the killing of popular Kashmiri rebel Burhan Wani, local Kashmiri Muslims rescued more than a dozen Hindu pilgrims injured in an accident on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. Locals risked their lives, defying a government-imposed curfew to rescue the pilgrims and take them to a hospital in the capital city, Srinagar. Last week, local Kashmiris helped pilgrims when a gas cylinder exploded inside their bus, even collecting money for their lost baggage.  In the aftermath of Monday’s attack, Kashmiris have been donating blood for the victims. They continue to provide food, water and other essentials for the pilgrims.

Kashmiris from all walks of life, including prominent civil society members, have condemned the attack and called for an impartial and immediate probe to find out why and how the attack occurred.

Even the home minister of India, Rajnath Singh, tweeted that “the people of Kashmir have strongly condemned the terror attack on Amarnath yatris.” On Tuesday, the day after the attack, prominent civil society members organized a sit-in to protest the killings. One of the organizers of the sit-in, Khurram Parvez, stated, “We are all united against the killings of Amarnath yatris. Are Indians united against the killings, disappearances, torture, sexualized violence, maiming, and demonization of Kashmiris by the Indian state?”


Dutt asked, “In the land of Mahatma Gandhi, why is there not one nonviolent icon in the Kashmir Valley?” Perhaps Dutt would have to look no further than Parveena Ahangar, who is known as the Iron Lady of Kashmir in the manner of Irom Sharmila from Manipur. The Indian army abducted Ahangar’s son in the early 1990s. As head of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons, Ahangar tirelessly works with family members of other victims of enforced disappearances, traveling from jail to jail to seek information on their loved ones. In 2005, Ahangar was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Dutt, who has reported extensively from Kashmir, surely knows what has happened when Kashmiris have attempted to “nonviolently” register their grievance against Indian rule in the past, whether through protests, writing or organized resistance: They have met the draconian face of the Indian state.  This has included repeated cuts to the Internet and blocking of social media. Violence, even religious extremism, was never the first option for Kashmiris; it came to the fore only when nonviolent and secular forms of protest were brutally quashed.

Instead of commenting on the supposed rise of extremism in Kashmir or even suggesting that Kashmiris have been silent in expressing their opposition to violence, Dutt should put more focus on the role of the media and civil society in India. Prominent Indian politicians, artists, athletes and journalists have expressed their bloodlust — even calls for the genocide of Kashmiris — after the attack.  In one of countless examples, Indian journalist Abhijit Majumder of the India Today Group tweeted: “Enough is enough. Throw the pellets away, bring out the bullets,” in reference to the Indian state’s reliance on pellets — which have blinded more than 1,000 youths in the past year alone — during protests.


This attack occurred a year after the Indian state decided to execute the “Doval doctrine,” an aggressive hard-line strategy that uses all that is in the Indian state’s power to stop any discussion of Kashmir’s political status. It includes a spike in counterinsurgency operations, keeping a tab on writers and journalists, and responding brutally to any form of protest. The rise in “extremism” is happening in the context of a complete assault of Kashmiri lives, movement and speech.

India — coming under the scrutiny of the international community for the rise of its own extremist Hindutva forces — is surely not interested in increasing international attention to its crimes in Kashmir. And so, perhaps Dutt can answer one question: Whom does it benefit to posit the Kashmiri struggle as becoming increasingly jihadist and extremist, a sure way to erase any international sympathies with the movement? And why?

If there is anyone who has lost their moral compass, it is the Indian government and broader society, not Kashmiris, who are simply demanding what is rightfully theirs: a life of dignity and freedom from occupation.

Supreme Court suspends ban on Beef across India

Cattle trade for slaughter: Supreme Court suspends ban across India

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/supreme-court-puts-on-hold-ban-on-cattle-trade-for-slaughter-govt-says-new-rules-by-august-end/story-WypElt9CMgFZP1wxPsLdgJ.html

The Narendra Modi government on May 25 banned sale of cattle, including cows, for slaughter and restricted cattle trade to farm owners.

INDIA Updated: Jul 12, 2017 07:42 IST

Bhadra Sinha

Bhadra Sinha 

Hindustan Times, New Delhi

cattle trade

A file photo a cow shelter in Dhanbad, Jharkhand.(HT)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended to all of India the Madras high court order that put on hold the Centre’s notification banning sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter, a move that had triggered howls of protest.

The Centre told the court the cattle-trade rules, which several states refused to implement, would not come into effect. It would revise the rules by the August-end after considering the objections.

“Needless to say that the interim direction issued by the Madurai bench of the Madras high court shall continue and extend to the entire country,” the bench of Chief Justice JS Khehar and justice DY Chandrachud said.

The Modi government on May 25 banned sale of cattle, including cows, for slaughter and restricted cattle trade to farm owners, a decision that hit poor farmers and squeezed supplies to the country’s Rs 1 lakh-crore meat industry.

Rivals have accused the government of pushing a beef ban through the back door in keeping with the BJP’s Hindutva agenda.

Read more

Leather to meat, how BJP’s beef crackdown is devastating Dalits and Muslims

Notebandi to bazarbandi: India’s cattle farmers stare at ruin

The court told the petitioners that they were free to come back to it if they find the new rules wanting.

The top court is hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the ban that was put on hold by the Madras high court on May 30.

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The ban has hurt mostly Muslim meat and leather traders who face mounting violence by cow vigilante groups. Farmers have also been deprived of a traditional source of income from selling non-milch and ageing cattle.

Most states have weekly markets where animals are traded and these markets are primary source of supply for meat traders.

The controversial rules sparked protests and beef fests across India with several states – such as Kerala and West Bengal – saying they wouldn’t implement the order as the government can’t dictate food habits.

Even some of the BJP’s allies in the northeast – where beef is part of the daily diet – have reservations.

One of the demands of the meat industry is the exclusion of buffalo from the list of animals governed by the new rules.

An NGO has argued that the rules framed under the prevention of cruelty to animals act are against public interest.

The petitions also noted that only state governments were empowered to make laws on cattle markets and fairs, which rendered the new rules arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional.

Supreme Court stays Centre’s notification banning the sale of cattle for slaughter

The top court said livelihoods could not be ‘subjected to uncertainties’.

Supreme Court stays Centre’s notification banning the sale of cattle for slaughter

The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the central government’s notification banning the sale of cattle for slaughter at markets across the country. The Centre said it would not oppose the ruling, but might change the new rules if necessary, The Indian Express reported.

The top court said that people’s livelihoods could not be “subjected to uncertainties” because of the ban, News18 reported. The bench extended a stay initially issued by the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court. On May 30, the Madras High Court had issued a nation-wide stay on the notification.

On Tuesday, the central government told the Supreme Court that because of objections from the public, it was re-considering “certain aspects” of the notification, The Hindu reported. However, during the hearing, Additional Solicitor General PS Narasimha, who was representing the Centre, said this did not mean the rules would be repealed. The report added that Narasimha said the central government did not object to the court extending the Madras High Court ban. While extending the stay, Chief Justice Khehar JS Khehar said, “A balanced view will be needed to keep the rules in abeyance until you finalise everything and re-notfify the amended rules”.

The government had earlier said the notification did not amount to a beef ban, as was reported, and that it was open to suggestions on it. It had also said the intention behind the notification was not to harm any particular group, restrict the food habits of people or affect business. However, the notification had attracted massive criticism from Opposition parties, and even the Bharatiya Janata Party in certain states because of its focus on cows.

The new rules formulated under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act disallow the sale of cattle – cows, buffaloes, bullocks, calves and camels – for slaughter in animal markets. The government had defended the notification, with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stating that it had nothing to do with state laws on cow slaughter, but only affected the place of sale.

India Supreme Court suspends cattle slaughter ban

11 July 2017

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-40565457

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An Indian caretaker guides calves through the door at a cow shelter in New Delhi on April 25, 2017Image copyrightAFP

Image caption

Slaughtering cows is already banned in several Indian states

India's Supreme Court has suspended a law that would have banned the sale of cattle for slaughter nationwide.

The government order aimed to "prevent uncontrolled and unregulated animal trade" at livestock markets.

For the first time the sale for slaughter of buffaloes and camels as well as cows, which Hindus consider holy, would have been illegal.

It would have had a major impact on the meat and leather industries and hit livelihoods, the chief justice said.

These industries are dominated by minority Muslims and the proposed law was widely opposed.

The new law had already been stayed by a lower court in the southern state of Tamil Nadu on 30 May, days after it was first announced.

The top court said the Madras high court's interim order, which lapsed on 8 July, would continue and remained in force across the country.

The government is now expected to make changes and resubmit amendments to the law by the end of August.

Vigilantes

Cows are considered holy by India's majority Hindu population and slaughtering them is already banned in most but not all states, but this would have been the first time buffaloes had been included in a slaughter ban.

India states oppose cow slaughter ban

Indian PM Modi condemns murder over cows

Is India's ban on beef 'food fascism'?

Most of India's beef comes from water buffaloes rather than cows. With annual exports worth $4bn (£3.1bn), India is the largest exporter of beef, mostly buffalo meat, in the world.

Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar said in his order that "the livelihood of people should not be affected by this".

Petitioners in Tamil Nadu had argued that the ban infringed their right to choose what they ate.

Abdul Faheem Qureshi, the head of the Muslim All India Jamiatul Quresh Action Committee that supports meat sellers, who had lodged the petition with the Supreme Court, told Reuters news agency that the order was a "victory".

Many states have actively started enforcing bans on cow slaughter after the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party formed India's federal government in 2014.

The western state of Gujarat passed a law in March making the slaughter of cows punishable with life imprisonment. In addition to government bans, vigilante groups who portray themselves as protectors of cows have been active in several states.

In some cases, these groups have killed Muslim men they suspect of killing cows. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said last year that cow vigilante groups made him "angry", said again in June that killing in the name of cow protection was "not acceptable".

However, this has not stopped attacks against cattle traders.

Mr Modi's critics say the new law is aimed at appeasing India's Hindu community.

M. N. Roy on the Historical Role of Islam

M. N. Roy on the Historical Role of Islam

(Islam and Modern Age, March 2005)

Asghar Ali Engineer

M.N. Roy was greatly attracted towards Marxism though later on he renounced his Marxist views and became a secularist and rationalist. He was critical of traditional religion and wanted a secular state to remain away from religious ideologies and religious institutions to maintain its secular character. However, he was highly appreciative of democratic and egalitarian character of Islam and Islamic teachings.

Before we throw light on Roy’s views about Islam we would like to assert that any modern thinkers, literateurs and writers have greatly appreciated democratic and egalitarian character of Islam but have regretted at the same time that Muslims did not remain true to Islamic teachings. Islam, besides other things greatly stressed the importance of justice. Justice forms one of the core teachings of Islam. It lays great emphasis on all forms of justice, social, economic as well as gender justice. However, Islamic society, which ought to have been an exemplary just society soon degenerated into tyrannical hierarchical society. Women lost their Qur’anic rights and common Muslims their social and political rights. Feudalism and feudal values overwhelmed Islamic values and Islamic revolution was undone within three decades of its inception. Imam Husain, the grandson of the Prophet made a lastly attempt to restore Islamic values through his martyrdom but his was the last protest.

Husain’s martyrdom did inspire subsequent generation of Muslims but the protest was defused and deactivated by giving it a harmless form of mourning. It lost its revolutionary thrust and did not challenge the personal tyrannical rule and various dynastic rulers captured power. However, it is not our intention here to throw light on Muslim history but on Roy’s views of Islam.

M.N.Roy’s book was first published in 1939. Roy was from a Brahmin family from West Bengal. He began to take part in underground revolutionary activity at the age of 14. His revolutionary zeal took him to various countries in search of arms from Java to Japan to China to San Francisco to Mexico. In Mexico he joined Mexican Socialist Party. Thereafter Roy went to Moscow in 1920 and met Lenin to discuss with him the national liberation movements in colonial countries. His commitment and intellectual sharpness enabled him to occupy high positions in all policy-making bodies of the Communist International.

Roy came to India in 1930 incognito but was arrested in July 1931 and was tried and sentenced to imprisonment for 12 years for conspiring to overthrow the British Government. However, his sentence was reduced to six years on appeal. He completed the sentence in 1936 and was released from Jail. He appealed to Indians to join Indian National Congress in millions. He wanted the Congress leaders to thoroughly democratise the Congress and build it from village and Taluka level. He wrote Historical Role of Islam during this period in 1939 when he was struggling for thorough democratisation of society.

It was during this struggle that he realised the importance of the role Islam had played in history. Thus he writes in the introductory chapter of his book “But with us, today in India, particularly with Hindus, a proper understanding of the historical role of Islam and the contribution it has made to human culture has acquired a supreme political importance.” He acknowledges that India has more Muslims than any single Islamic country (he wrote this before partition) and yet he felt after centuries of existence of Muslims they are considered an extraneous element. Roy says, “So completely have the Mohammedans become an integral part of the Indian nation that the annals of the Muslim rule are justly recorded as chapters of history of India.”

As for prejudice against Muslims and Islam Roy ascribes it to the relationship between the conquerors and the conquered. Though this relationship, he says has become the thing of the past but the prejudice remains and this prejudice has become “not only an effective obstacle to national cohesion but also a hindrance for a dispassionate view of history.” He also feels that “No civilised people in the world are so ignorant of Islamic history and contemptuous of the Mohammedan religion as the Hindus. Spiritual imperialism is an outstanding feature of our nationalist ideology.”

Roy quotes the famous historian Gibbon when he describes rise and expansion of Islam as “one of the most memorable revolutions which has impressed a new and lasting character on the nations of the globe.” Roy then goes on to say, “One is simply amazed to contemplate the incredible rapidity with which the two mightiest empires of the ancient time were subverted by the comparatively small band of nomads issuing from the Arabian desert fired with the zeal of a new faith. Hardly fifty years had passed since Mohammad assumed the role of the singular Prophet spreading his Message of peace at the point of the sword, when his followers victoriously planted the banner of Islam on the confines of India, on the one hand, and on the shores of the Atlantic, on the other.”

Roy, with his Marxist background and sharp intellect could penetrate to the causes of the rapid spread of Islam with its revolutionary message. Roy, unlike other historians or interpreters of Islam did not confine this understanding to the religious and spiritual side of Islam but brought to the front its political side and rich cultural contribution. Thus he maintains, “Islam rose rather as a political movement than a religion in the strictest sense of the word. In the initial stages of its history, it was essentially a call for the unity of the nomadic tribes inhabiting the Arabian desert.”

Christianity at one time had given the oppressed of the world a hope but once opted by the Roman empire it lost its revolutionary character and degenerated into a prop for the oppressive empire. Now the message of hope and salvation came from the “Caravan traders of Arabia who had stood outside the corrupting atmosphere of the decomposed Roman world, and prospered by their advantageous position”. The “Revolt of Islam” saved humanity.”

There is great need to understand this character of Islam. It was revolt against the corrupt and exploitative establishment. The Qur’anic message was to empower the ‘mustad’ifin (weaker sections) of society and disinherit the mustakbirin (the arrogant and powerful). Qur’an narrates the story of Israelites and Pharoas as that of the oppressed and the powerful and the victory of the Israelites led by Moses is the victory of the oppressed. Allah promises to make the mustad’ifin inherit this earth. It was this revolutionary message of the Qur’an, which empowered the nomads of the desert to conquer the world and smash the oppressive and exploitative Roman and Sassanid empires, the two most powerful empires of the world. It is this revolutionary and political character of Islam that attracts M. N. Roy, himself a one time revolutionary.

Roy strongly disagrees with those who utterly distort Islamic history and denigrate it as fanatical movement with ‘sword in one hand, and the Qur’an in the other’. He maintains that Muslim conquerors, unlike other barbarians, were distinguished “by the nobility of their character, purity of purpose and piety of spirit. Their devoutness might have been fortified by superstition, but was not strained by hypocrisy. Their fanaticism was softened by generosity and sound common-sense. Their ambition was remarkably free from selfishness.”

Roy, in order to prove his point, quotes from the advice given by the first Caliph Abu Bakr to his followers, which explains why Islam attracted people to its fold. Roy says his (Abu Bakr’s) memorable injunctions to the “Army of God” ran thus: “Be just; the unjust never prosper. Be valiant; die rather than yield. Be merciful; slay neither old men, nor women, nor children. Destroy neither fruit trees, nor grains, nor cattle. Keep your word even to your enemy. Molest not those men who live retired from the world.”

Then Roy comments that “he irresistible march of the ‘Army of God’ bears testimony to that this remarkable injunction was uttered sincerely by the venerable chief, and obeyed strictly by the devout followers.” Roy also rightly points out that these Saracen invaders hardly faced any resistance and were welcome by people as liberators. The early historians of Islam like Baladhuri also point out that oppressed people of Roman Empire opened the doors of strong citadels as these invaders were seen as liberators. Fakhri, another historian has also left for the posterity the dialogue between Rustam, the bravest general of Iran and the two ambassadors sent by Sa’ad bin Waqqas. These two ‘simpleton Bedouins’ dismissed with contempt by Rustom had warned is (Rustom) that tomorrow when we fight you in the battlefield you will be defeated because all your slaves and oppressed peasantry will support us. And this is precisely what happened and the ruler of Sassanid Empire had to run for his life. The slaves and oppressed peasants welcomed these simpleton Bedoins as their liberators.

Thus Roy observes “Everywhere the Saracen invaders were welcome as deliverers by peoples oppressed and tormented by Byzantine corruption, Persian despotism and Christian superstition. Fanatically faithful to the revolutionary teachings of the Prophet, and obediently acting according to the noble wise and eminently practical injunctions of the Khalif, the Saracen invaders easily enlisted the sympathy and support of the peoples they conquered. No invader can establish an abiding domination over conquered peoples, except with their active support or tacit tolerance.”

Roy could easily understand this revolutionary character of teachings of Islam and dynamism of early Islamic history because he himself was a revolutionary and was fighting against the tyrannical rule of colonial establishment and wanted to see India transformed into a just and democratic society. Islam played great role in transforming the primitive tribal Arabia into a most powerful and most modern empire according to the standards of those days. Russia, the then primitive from the then contemporary standards of Europe was transformed into most modern and dynamic nation of its time after revolution.

This was possible in Arabia because of revolutionary teachings of Islam on one hand, and, because of supreme sacrifices and simple life pattern adopted by the Prophet and his close companions. Roy gives few examples of the style of those early revolutionaries. “Khaled”, he says, “whom the Prophet called the ‘sword of God’, whose almost legendary valour had united Aqrabia, Mesopotamia and Syria under the banner of Islam, died in the possession only of his horse, his arms, and a single slave. The great hero is credited to have declared in his youth, ‘it is not the delicacies of Syria, or fading delights of this world, that have prompted me to devote my life in the cause of religion, I only seek the favour of God, and his apostle.’(recorded by the historian Abul Feda).

Then he gives example of Omrou. “The valiant conqueror of Egypt”, he says, “Omrou, was distinguished by poetic genius in addition to martial valour. The following remarkable passage occurs in his report to Khalif Omar: ‘The crowds of husbandmen who blacken the land may be compared to a swarm of industrious ants; and their native indolence is quickened by the lash of the taskmaster. But the riches they extract are unequally shared between those who labour and those who possess.’ That was a view far advance in time. The idea of social equity was unknown in all the lands of ancient civilisation. The toilers, either as slaves or as sudras were object of contempt and exploitation. They were hardly considered as human beings. The economic principle, primitively formulated in the memorable injunction of the first Khalif, evolved out of the interest of the Arab traders, revolutionised the old social idea. A part of the wealth produced by the toiling masses, when left with themselves, becomes a powerful impetus to trade. In his administration of the conquered kingdoms of the Pharaos and the Ptolmies, the Arab warrior sought with success to mend glaring inequities that had offended his poetic vision. Egypt, robbed and despoiled for centuries by the Greeks and the Romans, prospered under the Saracens.

Roy was also aware that the state of war and conquest did not last for ever. It was but a temporary phase. The Arabs and other Muslims showed their intellectual calibre too and also engaged in trade and industry. The Saracens (some suggest it is corrupted form of sehranashin i.e. dwellers in desert) sought prosperity not only through wars of conquest but also through trade and industry; fame, not only in the field of battle, but in the pursuit of science and literature; and happiness, no longer in the fanatical worship of one God and his only Prophet, but in the harmless enjoyment of domestic and social life. War was no longer the passion and proud profession of the Saracens, because they had found interest and delight in a peaceful world created by the prowess of their forefathers. The progeny of the intrepid heroes, who had flocked to the belligerent standard of Abu Bakr and Omar, with the hope of paradise and incidentally earthly spoils, found the modest occupation of trade and industry more profitable, and science and philosophy more gratifying.”

It is interesting to note that prosperity and valour in battlefield do not go together. Prosperity and intellectual pursuits did have telling effect on the Muslim valour and they fell easy prey to Mongol hordes who sacked Baghdad in 1258. The noted historian Fakhri, referred to above, has drawn this contrast when the Arabs invaded Iran during the second Caliph’s reign and defeated army of Rustom who was known for is valour. The Persians sunk in prosperity and luxurious living could not face the Bedouins charged with zeal of new faith and devoid of soft life but few hundred years later, Fakhri points out, the same Arabs, now used to soft life and luxurious living could not stand up to the Changezi hordes fired with the zeal of conquering the world.

Roy also counters the myth that Islam and war go together. He maintains that it is gross misunderstanding of history to confound Islam with militarism. He rightly points out that the prophet of Islam was not the Prophet of Saracen warriors but of Arab Merchants of Mecca. The very name of his religion Islam means to make or making of peace indicates his aim. Thus his aim was to establish peace in the world. Peace on earth, Roy says was of immediate importance, and greater consequence. Even the temporal interest of Arabian merchants required it; for trade thrives under peaceful conditions.  

Roy points out that the main arteries of international trade of the medieval world ran through the countries which embraced Islam and were united in the Saracen Empire. The northern routes of trade with China, which passed through Constantinople to Italy and other countries of Western Europe, had become extremely risky owing to the Scythian inroads and ruinous fiscal policy of the Byzantine Empire. After their conquest of Syria, Mesopotamia, Persia and the territories across the Oxus, the Arabs captured the Chinese trade and diverted it to pass through their domain of North Africa and Spain, ultimately to reach the markets of Western Europe. During the eighth to the eleventh centuries, practically the entire trade between India and China, on the one hand, and Europe, on the other, was done by the Arabs. Thousands of traders travelled with their caravans loaded with precious cargoes. They were not persecuted or detested as their kind had been in all the countries of antique civilisation with the honourable exception of Greece. In the Empire of Saracens they belonged to the ruling class.

Thus M.N. Roy points out that Islam promoted trade unlike feudal monarchs of ancient empires persecuted traders and levied heavy taxes on them. Thus Islam represented progressive forces as against feudal monarchy. Thus Islam was of great help in promoting world trade and so also paved way for peace and prosperity not only in Arabia but also in other countries liked together by way of trade.

Roy repeatedly stresses that Islam did not promote war but peace. He refutes the propaganda that it offered Qur’an or the sword. He says, “as a matter of fact, the alternatives were very differently offered. It was: Accept the Koran or pay tribute to the Saracen conqueror!. The Sword of God was unsheathed only when neither of the alternatives was accepted. The economic interest of the Arab trader, which produced the monotheistic creed of Islam, was antagonistic to the indiscriminate bloodshed. The lands through which the trade-routes lay must be conquered and brought under the domination of the unitary state. The object would be all the better realised, should the conquered peoples accept the new religion; for, then the Unitarian State would be established on a solid foundation.

However, Roy also points out that production and consumption of commodities are the essential factors of trade. Therefore, it was not compatible with the historic role of Islam to massacre the artisan and peasant masses, or to destroy opulent cities for the impiety of rejecting the Koran. What was necessary was their subjugation to the believers of the new creed. Under the domination of the followers of the Prophet, unbelieving peoples were allowed to hold their imperfect faiths and to continue their perverse worships.

Roy perhaps was not aware of the Qur’anic teachings well enough as the Qur’an gives complete freedom to people to follow their religion. The Qur’an clearly states that “there is no compulsion in matters of faith.” Even unbelievers have been given freedom to worship in their own way after warning that they will be accountable to Allah for what they do. Islam, not only gave freedom to people to pursue their respective faiths but also declared that Allah had sent prophets or guides to all peoples and nations in the world. Thus it accepted the truth of other religions as well. The Qur’an asserted that it has come to confirm the Truth already existing.

Roy, however, is aware of the fact that Islam did not spread because of its intolerance of other faiths but the inner contradiction of pre-existing religions. Thus he clearly points out “…the cause of the sweeping religious revolution was not the intolerance of the new creed (i.e. Islam), but the decay of the old faith, and the general chaos and despair caused by that decay. The faith of the gospel of Jesus, established by the talent, piety and power of Cyrian, Athanasius and Augustine, had been subverted by Arian and Donatist heresies, and Catholic fury with which the impoverished masses revolting under the banner of religious heresy suppressed, had ruined the once prosperous provinces economically.”

Thus it will be seen that Roy tried to understand historical role of Islam more objectively compared to those who view it with hostility or with inherited prejudices and ascribe to it their own views. Roy thus rendered great service by projecting historical rule of Islam in an unbiased manner. Roy was not a believer in religion as he was Marxist and rationalist (though he had renounced his Marxist views) but still he had honesty to understand the historical rule of Islam more objectively compared to others. Also, he found Islam far more progressive, egalitarian and advocating justice for all.

His contemporaries in India were highly prejudicial to Islam and denounced it as a religion of fanatics and warmongers. Seen in this background Roy viewed Islam and its historical role with unprejudiced mind and therein lies the importance of this book. He also points out that European renaissance would not have been possible but for Arabs who preserved Greek knowledge and passed it on to Europe through Averos.

Roy comes to the conclusion that “Islam as the most rigorous mono-theistic religion closed the chapter of human history dominated by the religious node of thought, and by its very nature was open to unorthodox interpretations which eventually liquidated the religious mode of thought and laid foundation of modern rationalism.”

One may not of course agree with everything that Roy says about Islam and its historical rule but much that he says is quite valuable and fights prejudices against Islam prevalent even today and it is for this reason that I have chosen to write on Roy’s book on Historical Role of Islam.

 -------------------------------------
Institute of Islamic Studies,

Mumbai.

STOP LYNCHING OF MUSLIMS!

STOP LYNCHING OF MUSLIMS! 

There were 63 Cases recorded during last five years.
62 cases were registered after Narendra Modi assumed the post of Prime Minister.

28 Murders Recorded.
24 Muslims - 4 Dalits. Muslim boy stabbed to death on train after argument turns into religious slurs
The incident took place on Thursday evening between Okhla and Asoti in Haryana.

INDIA Updated: Jun 27, 2017 17:51 IST
Ananya Bhardwaj
Ananya Bhardwaj 
Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Beef
Police said one person was arrested on Friday and he has confessed to his involvement in the killing of Hafiz Junaid (16), which came amid several incidents of assaults on Muslims across the country over beef and cow slaughter.(Sonu Mehta/HT Photo)
One minor Muslim boy was allegedly stabbed to death and four others were injured on board a Mathura-bound train, police said on Friday, when an argument over a seat turned into religious slurs and triggered a mob attack on family members returning home from Eid shopping.

The incident took place on Thursday evening between Okhla and Asoti in Haryana, a distance of about 60 km.

Police said one person was arrested on Friday and he has confessed to his involvement in the killing of Hafiz Junaid (16), which came amid several incidents of assaults on Muslims across the country over beef and cow slaughter.

Opposition parties accuse the BJP-led government at the Centre of not reigning in fringe groups that are allegedly targeting the minority community over issues considered sacrosanct by the Hindus.

The four injured told Hindustan Times at Khaddawli, a small village in Haryana’s Faridabad district, the attackers repeatedly called them “anti-nationals” and “beef eaters”, threw their skull caps on the floor, caught their beards and taunted them with terms such as “mulla”.

Junaid was a student of Islamic studies in Surat, Gujarat along with his brother Hashim (20). The other injured are Md Mausin (16) and Md Moin (18).

Junaid’s elder brother Md Sakir, who boarded the train at Ballabgarh after being informed over phone by one of them, was also allegedly stabbed and is admitted to AIIMS.

Hashim said trouble started when a group of 15-20 people boarded the train at Okhla and asked the four to vacate the seat, which led to an argument.

Read more

Jharkhand: Principal jailed for cooking ‘beef’ in school kitchen

Food a personal choice, nobody tells me what to eat: Venkaiah Naidu
“One of them pushed my brother Junaid. He initially thought that it was unintentional as the bogie was crowded. But when he did it again, my brother asked them to behave. The man got angry and threw Junaid’s skull cap on the floor. The man started calling him an anti-national and asked us all to vacate the seat,” Hashim said.

He alleged that others in the group joined in and attacked them.

The youth said they deboarded the train at Tughlaquabad station and got up in the adjoining bogie. Meanwhile, Hashim called his brother, Sakir, and narrated the episode, asking him to pick them up from Ballabgarh station.

The men, however, allegedly cornered them again before they could get down at Ballabgarh.

“We thought it was over, but they came looking for us again. The train stopped at Ballabgarh and as we were about to get down, a man with a knife blocked the gate,” Hashim said.

“While Mausin managed to jump down, Junaid, Moin and me got stuck inside. Meanwhile, Sakir, whom I had called also boarded the train to rescue us and got stuck. The men then locked the gate and the train started again,” Hashim added.

He alleged that four men then held Junaid by his arms and one of them stabbed him multiple times in his chest.

“Three men held me when I tried to intervene and stabbed me thrice in the back and shoulder. One of us even tried to pull the chain to stop the train but it was not working,” he added.

He alleged that none of the passengers came to their help. “Instead, they asked those men to finish us all,” he said.

The attackers then threw them out of the train at the next station, Asoti.

Kamaldeep Goyal, a superintendent of the Government Railway Police (GRP) said they are also probing allegations that one their officers was present at Ballabgarh when the train stopped but did nothing to save the youth.

Junaid’s last rites were performed on Friday.

(With inputs from Prabhu Razdan)



Jharkhand lynching : Muslim women threaten to take up arms against cow vigilantes
The women say they are disillusioned with the police and believe the government is in cahoots with cow vigilantes.

INDIA Updated: Jul 01, 2017 18:46 IST
Sanjoy Dey
Sanjoy Dey 
Hindustan Times, Manuwa (Ramgarh)
Jharkhand lynching
“Mob justice would be meted with mob-justice,” said Mariam Khatun (centre in green), the wife of the dead trader, as scores of people flooded her modest home to console her. (Parwaz Khan/ Hindustan Times)
The mob lynching of a Muslim trader in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh two days ago has sent ripples of anger through the local population with women of the community saying they would pick up arms against self-styled cow protectors.

The women say they are disillusioned with the police and believe the government is in cahoots with cow vigilantes. A mob of 100 people on Thursday thrashed trader Alimuddin, also known as Asgar Ali, and set his car on fire on the suspicion that he was transporting beef – the latest in a string of similar incidents of cow-related violence.

“Mob justice would be meted with mob-justice,” said Mariam Khatun, the wife of the dead trader, as scores of people flooded her modest home to console her. Around her, 70-odd women, many of them associated with local organisations, nodded in agreement.

The village has erupted in anger and grief as many say Muslim men are becoming soft targets in the name of beef trade. Earlier in June, a 200-strong mob thrashed a 55-year-old Muslim dairy owner and set his house ablaze after a cow carcass was found near his home in Giridih.

Read more

Bajrang Dal activists killed my husband: Widow of man lynched in Jharkhand

The string of lynchings point to a national dysfunction
“We are scared of rising incidents of lynching targeting only Muslim men in the state. These are not accidents but a deliberate act of few groups supported by the administration,” said Mamina Khatun. She said that women were living in fear every day, worried that the male members of the family might not return home.

“If government can’t act, we will pick up arms against them to save our men,” she said.

There is also anger against the administration that is seen as complicit in the violence.

“Why do people of a particular community have so much interest in our eating habit, when we do not peep into their kitchen? Asked Abida Khatun, another resident of the village.

But others advise calm and don’t want communal tensions flaring in the Muslim-majority village of 350 households. Whenever younger men appeared restless, the elders were seen convincing them out to understand the situation. “We are peace-loving people. A mere incident cannot instigate us to take law in hands,” said Bhola Khan, who played a role of mediator between the villagers and the administration.

Sahjad Ahmad, a student of Jamia Millia Islamia, of a neighbouring village said, “Our anger is that police did not take action against the culprit even after passing more than 30 hours. The villagers have simple demand to nab the culprits and punish them.”


Muslim boy MURDERED after being accused of transporting banned beef
Junaid Khan, 15, was stabbed to death by an angry mob while travelling from New Delhi with members of his family
His brother Shakir sustained injuries to his throat, chest and hands
Between 15 and 20 men pulled out knives and set upon the brothers while making anti-Muslim comments
See more news from India at www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome 
By Mailonline India and Afp
PUBLISHED: 07:34 BST, 24 June 2017 | UPDATED: 22:29 BST, 24 June 2017
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A Muslim teenager has been stabbed to death by an angry mob, who suspected he was carrying beef - an offence in many parts of the Hindu-majority country.

Indian police on Saturday said they arrested a person after the stabbing. 

Junaid Khan, 15, was travelling from New Delhi on Friday with three of his brothers when a fight erupted over seats.

Cows are revered by Hindus and slaughtering them as well as possession or consumption of beef is banned in most Indian states, with some imposing life sentences for breaking the law +3
Cows are revered by Hindus and slaughtering them as well as possession or consumption of beef is banned in most Indian states, with some imposing life sentences for breaking the law

Two-year-old boy 'beaten to death over potty training'
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Between 15 and 20 men pulled out knives and set upon the brothers while making anti-Muslim comments and insisting one of the packets they were carrying contained beef.

While Khan was stabbed to death, his brother Shakir sustained injuries to his throat, chest and hands, police said.

'The fight started over seats. We are looking into the matter and we have arrested one of the accused who is a 35-year-old old man from (northern state of) Haryana,' Ajay Kumar, a government railway police official told AFP.

At animal markets across India you can no longer buy or sell cattle, including cows, for slaughter +3
At animal markets across India you can no longer buy or sell cattle, including cows, for slaughter

Khan's brother Hassem told reporters the mob ignored their repeated pleas that they were not carrying any beef.

'They were pointing at a packet which had food and saying we should not be allowed to sit since we were carrying beef,' Haseem said.

The incident is the latest such attack by Hindu vigilantes in India, where there have been a spate of assaults against Muslims and low-caste Dalits.

Pehlu Khan was beaten to death last week after allegedly being suspected of transporting cattle for slaughter +3
Pehlu Khan was beaten to death last week after allegedly being suspected of transporting cattle for slaughter 

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In the last two years, nearly a dozen Muslim men have been killed across the country on suspicion of eating beef or smuggling cows.

Critics say vigilantes have been emboldened by the election in 2014 of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party.

Last year Modi criticised the cow protection vigilantes and urged a crackdown against groups using religion as a cover for committing crimes.

Cows are revered by Hindus and slaughtering them as well as possession or consumption of beef is banned in most Indian states, with some imposing life sentences for breaking the law. 



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-4634900/India-mob-kills-Muslim-teen-beef-row-one-arrested.html#ixzz4ll8cndEy 
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BJP leader arrested in Muslim trader’s lynching case; prime accused surrenders
Mahto, who is the BJP’s Ramgarh district media in-charge, claimed innocence, saying he had visited the spot after the police arrived to take stock of the incident.

INDIA Updated: Jul 01, 2017 23:51 IST
Bedanti Saran & Sanjoy Dey
Bedanti Saran & Sanjoy Dey 
Hindustan Times, Manuwa (Ramgarh)/Ranchi
ramgarh
Police detain local leaders after communal tension erupted at Manuwa village following the lynching of Alimuddin by a mob allegedly for carrying beef in his van on Thursday.(HT FILE PHOTO)
Ramgarh police have arrested a BJP leader, Nityanand Mahto on Saturday in connection with the lynching of a Muslim trader Alimuddin by a mob in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh two days back.

The main accused Chottu Rana, who was seen beating Alimuddin with a stick repeatedly in a video, surrendered before the court, Ramgarh superintendent of police, Kaushal Kishore said.

55-year-old Alimuddin alias Asgar Ali was lynched by a frenzied mob of about 100 people for allegedly carrying beef in his car. The incident happened at the Bazartand market of the district on Thursday, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that he disapproved killing people in the name of protecting cows.

A video of the brutal incident also went viral following which police have arrested eight of the 13 people named in the FIR. The other five have been identified and would be arrested soon, officials said.

Mahto, who is the BJP’s Ramgarh district media- in-charge, claimed innocence, saying he had visited the spot after the police arrived to take stock of the incident, and demanded a fair investigation into the matter.

The police had also detained a member of Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) of Ramgarh district for interrogation but released him later due to lack of evidence, police sources said.

On the arrest of saffron activists, state BJP’s media in-charge Shivpujan Pathak said the party will not defend anybody, but added that all the accused had the right to a fair trial.

He also reiterated chief minister Raghubar Das’s assurance to not spare anyone involved in the case, whatever his/her socio-political stature was. “He (CM) has also instructed the police in this regard.”

Read more

Jharkhand lynching: Muslim women threaten to take up arms against cow vigilantes

‘It’s barbaric’: Venkaiah Naidu condemns Jharkhand lynching but says no religious angle
On Friday, police had formed a special investigation team (SIT) under deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and constituted four teams to nab the accused.

The criminal investigation department (CID), headquarters, also formed a special team to assist the SIT in Ramgarh.

“We have sought arrest warrants against seven other accused named in the FIR,” said Ramgarh deputy development commissioner (DDC) Sunil Kumar.

Inspector General (IG) ML Meena, also in-charge of law and order in north Chhotanagpur region, took stock of the situation in Ramgarh district along with other officials on Friday.

Meena had said that the prohibitory orders in Ramgarh will not be withdrawn until the situation returns to normal.

Thursday’s lynching was the second attack in June by cow vigilantes in Jharkhand as a 200-strong mob thrashed a 55-year-old Muslim dairy owner and set his house ablaze after a cow carcass was found near his home in Giridih district on Tuesday.

In May, a mob lynched four Muslim cattle traders at a village in Saraikelka Kharswan district after accusing them of being child traffickers.

Global Opinions
As India’s Muslims are lynched, Modi keeps silent
By Nilanjana Bhowmick June 28

A protest on Wednesday in Hyderabad, India, against a spate of violent attacks across the country targeting its Muslim minority. (Mahesh Kumar A./Associated Press)
Nilanjana Bhowmick is a journalist and writer in India.

NEW DELHI — On June 23, three days before India celebrated Eid, 15-year-old Junaid Khan was stabbed to death by a group of men aboard a train. He was going home to Khandawli, a village in the north Indian state of Haryana, after shopping for new clothes in New Delhi, accompanied by his brother and a couple of friends. The mob mocked their skullcaps and taunted them for eating beef, before stabbing them.

Eid was somber in Khandawli on Monday, as it was across the country. In a national first, scores of Muslims across the country offered their Eid prayers while wearing a black band, a symbol of protest against the killing of the teen as well as growing atrocities against Muslims in the country, which have been increasing since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office three  years ago. In September 2015, a Muslim man, Mohammad Akhlaq, was lynched in Dadri near the Indian capital, over rumors that he had killed a local cow and stored its meat in his refrigerator. The month after that, 16-year-old Zahid Rasool Bhatt died when vigilante groups attacked his truck with a bomb in Udhampur. In March 2017, suspected cattle traders Muhammed Majloom and Azad Khan were hanged in Latehar. In May, traders were thrashed in Malegaon, Maharashtra for allegedly storing beef. In Jharkhand in May, 19-year-old Mohammed Shalik was tied to a pole and beaten to death, reportedly over a romantic relationship with a Hindu girl. In May, two more Muslim men, Abu Hanifa and Riazuddin Ali, were killed for allegedly stealing cattle in Assam. More recently, on June 7, a Muslim man was attacked in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, on suspicion of transporting beef to an Iftar gathering. Two more cases of lynching over cow slaughter rumors were reported earlier this week in eastern India.

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On Sunday, before his first visit with President Trump, Modi addressed India through his radio program Mann Ki Baat (Heart-to-heart-talk). And while his monologue touched upon various topics, including yoga, toilets, sports, a meeting with the Queen, books as gifts and the … er … weather, Junaid Khan’s murder didn’t find a nano-second of air time.


Modi did not mention the more than a dozen cases of lynchings, mostly against Muslims, recorded in India since September last year, especially in states ruled by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Modi also did not address the violence of the cow-vigilante groups, who often owe allegiance to the BJP or its ideological parent the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

And while the list grows longer every day, the violence against Muslims and cow-vigilante groups have not elicited a single tweet of condemnation from India’s social media savvy prime minister, who is quick to condemn atrocities all over the world. Modi’s silence, in fact, is beginning to feel like a redux of the Gujarat riots in 2002 which killed more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims. For years he stayed silent, and when he spoke finally, he had compared the riots to a puppy being run over.

Amnesty International  released a statement Wednesday evening, calling the situation “deeply worrying” and accused Modi and other BJP leaders of not condemning the attacks and in fact to have “even justified the attacks at times.” Aakar Patel, executive director of Amnesty International India, said in a statement, “The Indian Prime Minister, senior BJP leaders and Chief Ministers must break their silence and unequivocally condemn the attacks.”


A soon-to-be-published report by the Mumbai-based Centre for Study of Society and Secularism and the U.K.-based Minority Rights Group International notes there has been a notable increase in hostility towards India’s religious minorities since the BJP government, led by Modi, came to power in May 2014 and began to actively promote Hindu nationalism.

According to the report, the volatile state of Uttar Pradesh in north India, site of the disputed Ayodhya Ram temple and where India witnessed one of its worst communal riots in 1992, saw a spike in communal violence since the BJP came to power in the state this year. The appointment of Yogi Adityanath, a Hindu hard-liner known for his controversial anti-Muslim views, as the chief minister of the state dismayed many at the time.

Modi’s silence over these attacks, the report says, has emboldened extremist right-wing groups. Recently, in another first, no BJP ministers attended the traditional Iftar gathering that the president of India hosts every year.


There is a silent but systematic slaughter against Muslims in progress in India. It’s not too late to call it out.

Pro-Modi Muslim Group’s Appeal to Modi: Please Stop the Lynching of Muslims in India
BY THE WIRE STAFF ON 25/06/2017 • LEAVE A COMMENT
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What makes the call especially significant is that FMSA head Jasim Mohammad was one of the first Muslim activists to welcome Modi after he won the 2014 elections.


Jasim Mohammad (right) presents some of his books to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Credit: Special Arrangement
New Delhi: Days after a Muslim youth from Haryana was murdered by passengers on a train a short distance from the national capital, the Forum for Muslim Studies and Analysis (FMSA), a pro-Modi Muslim group in Aligarh, has appealed to the prime minister  to “do something to stop the open lynching of Muslims who are Indian citizens”.

What makes the call especially significant is that FMSA head Jasim Mohammad was one of the first Muslim activists in the country to welcome Modi after he won a decisive mandate on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party in May 2014 and to have, in his own words, “expressed faith in Modi’s vision of sabka saath, sabka vikas”.

Jasim who has been receiving flak from other Muslims the past three years for supporting Modi has, in his letter, finally sought to alert the prime minister to the “rising tide of anarchy against Muslims in the country”.

“Since a long time, some incidents are taking place in [the] country, particularly in north India wherein the Muslims are being lynched on one pretext or the other, which is sending a wrong message among society not only among Muslims but also in other communities,” said Jasim in his letter, a copy of which is with The Wire.

“Such incidents like [the one in which] Junaid, a Hafiz-e-Qur’an, has been lynched on a Mathura-bound train between Okhla and Asoti villages (Haryana) have increased concern for the security of Indian citizens who happen to be Muslims. Though the incident concerns the state government, people look towards the Central government and say why [it] is not taking any action,” the letter further said.

“There is dire need to control and contain such incidents otherwise I am afraid that we are entering a dangerous phase which will indicate that the government has lost control. I am associating with thousands of people socially and carrying on your agenda, so please pay attention and do something to stop the open lynching of Muslims who are Indian citizens,” said Jasim, who has written six books in Urdu praising Modi’s idea of governance and has met the prime minister several times in the past two years.

The titles of Jasim Mohammad’s books make his leanings amply clear: Narendra Bhai Modi “Farsh se Arsh Tak”,
Statesman Narendra Modi, Mann se Jan tak – Narendra Modi, Aalami Qaid – Narendra Bhai Modi, Narendra Modi Calling,  Mann Ki Baat’ I & II and The Message Narendra Modi.

Mohammad told Modi in his letter that though he was proud of being called a “Modi bhakt”, he did not have any answer to questions posed to him by fellow Muslims about the perceived silence of the Modi government and its inaction in preventing the lynching of Muslims in the country.

“I feel proud and honoured to be called a ‘Modi bhakt’. I am associated with you and publicly favour you without any hitch. But now thousands of people are asking me questions about this rise of lynching trend, but I am at loss to reply them,” wrote Jasim who last year announced the establishment of ‘Narendra Modi scholarships’ for poor and bright Muslim students.

He said that the call among Muslims to observe Eid while wearing a black ribbon as a protest against the trend of lynching would hurt the country in the eyes of people the world over. “You will be aware that now Muslims are appealing on social media and in public to celebrate this Eid wearing black badges as [a] protest. I believe that this will not only send a wrong message within country but it will certainly make impact internationally,” he said.

Jasim Mohammad said in his letter to Modi that the failure to take action against the rising trend of anarchy against Muslims, would eventually be bad for Modi’s image of running a strong government.

Finally, apprehensive that his letter should not be taken as criticism of Modi’s governance, he ends his letter saying, “Believe me, I am with you but I am sending you this letter in good faith to save your dignity and prestige apart [from] saving national unity.”

Narendra Modi warns cow vigilantes: Killing in the name of gau bhakti is unacceptable
PM Modi was speaking at the centenary celebrations of the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad in Gujarat. 
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By: Express Web Desk | New Delhi | Updated: June 29, 2017 3:53 pm
 narendra modi, modi cow vigilantes, sabarmati ashram, cow attacks, lynching, junaid khan PM Narendra Modi at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad (ANI photo)
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a stern message to cow vigilantes in the country saying that killing in the name of cow is unacceptable. He was speaking at the centenary celebrations of the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
“Killing people in the name of cow is unacceptable. No one has the right to take law into his/her hands. We belong to a land of non-violence. Violence is not the solution to any problem,” said the Prime Minister. He added that Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation, would not approve of such incidents.
“Vinoba Bhave and Mahatma Gandhi have shown the path to practice gau-bhakti,” PM Modi said.
Narendra Modi Warns Cow Vigilantes: Killing In The Name Of Cow Is Unacceptable

The remarks come in the backdrop of several incidents of lynching and murder of people by self-styled cow vigilante groups over rumours of cow slaughter. The most recent incident was the murder of 15-year-old Junaid Khan by a group of people on a Mathura-bound train in Ballabhgarh in Haryana after an argument escalated over seats. Junaid, who was accompanied by his two brothers, was going back home after Eid shopping when he was mocked over his skull cap and referred to as a ‘beef-eater.’ Five people have been held so far in the incident.

In August last year, the Prime Minister had similarly criticised the actions of self-styled cow vigilantes and asked the States to prepare dossiers on them.
“It makes me angry that people are running shops in the name of cow protection… Some people indulge in anti-social activities at night, and in the day masquerade as cow protectors,” PM Modi said. He added that people who wanted to serve cows should ensure that the animals do not eat plastic.
On Wednesday, demonstrations were carried out by citizens under the banner of ‘Not In My Name’ at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and several other cities across the country protesting the government’s silence over such attacks on Dalits and minorities. People held banners saying ‘All lives matter’ and ‘Muslim lives matter.’
“Unless we speak up, the people who are behind it are by default going to think that they have the majority’s support — which is not true”, Monami Basu, Professor of Economics at Delhi University told indianexpress.com at the protest.
For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App


Cow vigilantes ‘anti-social’: Modi breaks his silence
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI,  AUGUST 06, 2016 23:54 IST
UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 20, 2016 13:39 IST
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MyGau1
In first townhall address, Prime Minister asks States to prepare dossiers on such “cow protectors”.

Breaking his silence on cow vigilantes in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday strongly condemned their actions, saying most of them were anti-social elements masquerading as gau rakshaks (cow protectors).

Mr. Modi asked the State governments to prepare a dossier on such “cow protectors”, while asserting that about 80 per cent of them would be found to be involved in illegal activities.

“It makes me angry that people are running shops in the name of cow protection… Some people indulge in anti-social activities at night, and in the day masquerade as cow protectors,” the Prime Minister said.

Need for compassion 

Mr. Modi, speaking at his first townhall-style address to mark the second anniversary of his government’s MyGov initiative, said such volunteer groups were not meant to harass and oppress others. There is a need for compassion and an ability to sacrifice to do social service, he said.

Mr. Modi’s comments come at a time when questions are being raised on his silence amid the spate of attacks, particularly in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, on Dalits, allegedly in the name of cow protection.

There have been a series of violent protests in his home State demanding stern action against members of the vigilante group who brutally assaulted four Dalit men.

He pointed out that more cows were dying after consuming plastics than being slaughtered, adding that those wanting to serve them should work towards stopping the animals from eating plastics.

He also said that while holding the Prime Minister responsible for everything that happens at the panchayat, gram panchayat, district and State level in the nation is good for politics and TRPs, it affects governance.

“For good governance it is important that people responsible for tasks be held accountable… then there will be improvement.” he said.

Growth vital

Economic growth of more than 8 per cent for 30 years will bring everything that is good in the world to India, Mr Modi said answering pre-recorded video questions posted on the MyGov portal.

Talking about the National Rurban Mission, Mr Modi spoke about the plan to develop 300 villages across the country with infrastructure at par with cities and launched the slogan, “Aatma gaaon ki, suvidha sheher ki” (Soul of the villages, facilities of the city).

India first

To a question on his foreign policy, Mr Modi said “India First” was his focus point, alongside protecting the country’s economic and strategic interests.

Mr Modi also launched the PMO Mobile Application and interacted with the youngsters who had developed it.

(With Samarth Bansal)


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Cow vigilantism: Retired IAS, IPS officers slam Modi govt in an open letter
A group of retired bureaucrats have written an open letter condemning the recent incidents of attacks and mob lynching in the name of cow protection. They have alleged that this is happening with tacit complicity of state machinery.


IndiaToday.in  | Edited by Prabhash K Dutta
New Delhi, July 1, 2017 | UPDATED 13:24 IST
A +A -
Narendra Modi offering food to a cow at the Krishi Mela Agricultural Fair at Limkheda in Dohad in May 2013

HIGHLIGHTS
1Retired IAS, IPS officers write open letter against cow vigilantism.
2Ex-bureaucrats slam Modi government for not acting tough.
3Retired officers appeal to government to check vigilantism.
Over 60 retired IAS and IPS officers have written an open letter to the Narendra Modi government asking it to enforce the rule of law and not allow vigilantism to grow.
The open letter has been signed by 65 officers including noted former bureaucrats Bhaskar Ghose, Harsh Mandar and Wajahat Habibullah.
The former administrators are particularly unhappy with the way self-appointed cow vigilantes are going around, attacking and lynching people in the name of protecting the animal. Majority of such attacks in recent past have had communal overtones.
They ex-bureaucrats said, "Gau-rakshaks function with impunity and seem to be doing so with the tacit complicity or active encouragement of state machinery."
The letter was written on June 24. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his 'anger' against cow vigilantism since then at public meeting in Gujarat.
Speaking at Sabaramati Ashram on Thursday, Prime Minister Modi warned those "taking law in their hands in the name of protection of cows."
'INTOLERANCE EVERYWHERE'
They also expressed deep concern over growing intolerance in the universities across the country. They said, "Student groups and faculty members on campuses like Hyderabad and JNU, who raise troubling questions about equality, social justice and freedom, are subject to attack by the administration, with a supportive government to back them."
The retired top officials are also critical of the Centre's action against the NGOs for violating foreign contribution laws. "Several reputed NGOs and civil society organisations are being charged with violating the provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and the Income Tax Act," they said.
They further said, "While we agree that genuine violators should be identified we note with dismay that several of the targeted groups are those who have taken stands against government policies, expressed dissent or supported communities in cases against the state."
"There is a growing hyper-nationalism that reduces any critique to a binary: if you are not with the government, you are anti-national," the retired IAS and IPS officers said, adding, "These actions undermine the rule of law and the Indian Constitution since only the state - through its various organs and institutions - has the power to enforce the law."
Following is the full text:
Open Letter by Retired Officials on the Growing Religious Intolerance
Saturday 24 June 2017
The following is an open letter of sixtyfive retired officials released on June 12, 2017.
We are a group of retired officers of All India and Central services of different batches, who have worked with the Central and State governments in the course of our careers. We should make it clear that as a group, we have no affiliation with any political party but believe in the credo of impartiality, neutrality and commitment to the Indian constitution. A sense of deep disquiet at what has been happening in India has prompted us to write this open letter to chronicle our reservations and misgivings about recent developments in the body politic. What has gone wrong?
It appears as if there is a growing climate of religious intolerance that is aimed primarily at Muslims. In Uttar Pradesh, in the run-up to the elections, an odious and frankly communal comparison was made between the relative number of burial grounds and cremation grounds. The question was also asked as to whether electricity was being supplied equally to different communities during their religious festivals. All this without any basis in fact or evidence. The banning of slaughter-houses targets the minorities and affects their livelihoods as well. Such intolerance breeds violence in a communally charged atmosphere-even to the extent of a local leader in UP provoking an attack upon the residence of a Superintendent of Police, whose family was terrorised.
Vigilantism has become widespread. An Akhlaq is killed on the basis of a suspicion that the meat he has is beef and a Pehlu Khan is lynched while transporting to his place two cows he had bought and for which he had the necessary papers. Nomadic shepherds are attacked in Jammu and Kashmir on some suspicion as they practice their age-old occu-pation of moving from one place to another along with their cattle and belongings.
 Punitive action against the perpetrators of violence does not take place promptly but cruelly, the victims have FIRs registered against them. The behaviour of vigilantes-who act as if they are prosecutor, judge and executioner rolled into one-flies in the face of law and juris-prudence. These actions undermine the rule of law and the Indian Constitution since only the state-through its various organs and insti-tutions-has the power to enforce the law.
Vigilantism has become popular as 'anti-Romeo' squads threaten young couples who go out together, hold hands and are perhaps in love with each other. A thinly-veiled effort to prevent a Hindu-Muslim relationship or marriage, there is no justification in law to harass these couples, particularly when there is no complaint from the woman of being ill-treated.
Student groups and faculty members on campuses like Hyderabad and JNU, who raise troubling questions about equality, social justice and freedom, are subject to attack by the administration, with a supportive government to back them. In Jodhpur, a planned lecture by a renowned academic was cancelled under pressure and the faculty that organised the event subjected to disciplinary action. What happened in Jodhpur has happened at other institutions as well. Argumentation and discussion about different perspectives-the life-blood not only of institutions of learning but of democracy itself-are being throttled. Disagree-ment and dissent are considered seditious and anti-national. Such attitudes have a chilling impact on free speech and thought.
Several reputed NGOs and civil society organisations are being charged with violating the provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and the Income Tax Act. While we agree that genuine violators should be identified and penalised, we note with dismay that several of the targeted groups are those who have taken stands against government policies, expressed dissent or supported communities in cases against the state.
We are also seeing an ugly trend of trolling, threats and online intimidation of activists, journalists, writers and intellectuals who disagree with the dominant ideology. How does this square with free speech?
There is a growing hyper-nationalism that reduces any critique to a binary: if you are not with the government, you are anti-national. Those in authority should not be questioned- that is the clear message.
In the face of a rising authoritarianism and majoritarianism, which do not allow for reasoned debate, discussion and dissent, we appeal to all public authorities, public institutions and constitutional bodies to take heed of these disturbing trends and take corrective action. We have to reclaim and defend the spirit of the Constitution of India, as envisaged by the founding fathers.
(Inputs from Seemi Pasha in New Delhi)

Walk the talk: Modi’s remarks on cow vigilantism need to be backed by action
JULY 01, 2017 00:02 IST
UPDATED: JULY 02, 2017 20:24 IST
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Narendra Modi’s remarks on cow vigilantism are pointless, unless backed by action

While it is impossible to fault Prime Minister Narendra Modi for speaking up against killing in the name of cow protection, it is equally impossible to be convinced about its earnestness and efficacy. His remarks at an event in Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati ashram have come at a time when there is a groundswell of popular revulsion about violent, even murderous, cow vigilantism, leaving the unfortunate impression that it was but a response to public pressure. The #NotInMyName movement, which began with a Facebook invitation to participate in a protest in Delhi, had assumed viral dimensions, with other cities in India and elsewhere in the world organising or planning to organise similar events. What began as a somewhat limited mobilisation to campaign against lynching morphed into a broader movement involving all communities against state apathy to the phenomenon. The timing is not the only thing that gives rise to scepticism about Mr. Modi’s observations about cow vigilantism. Frequency is the other issue. A phenomenon that has wreaked violence, affected livelihoods, and created insecurities over the last couple of years — all of which have been compounded by a mischievous and hugely flawed order to regulate cattle sale — is deserving of a more muscular and frequent response. More importantly, it needs to be coupled with tangible action on the ground.

One of the contradictions that Mr. Modi must square up to as well as grapple with is that, by and large, aggressive cow vigilantes who take the law into their own hands are members or sympathisers of one or the other organisations of the Sangh Parivar, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s extended family. Given this, words are simply not enough — unaccompanied by strong corroborative action, they only serve to perpetuate the lie that the top is either totally divorced from the distasteful happenings at the bottom or that it doesn’t have the means to control it. It is true that as Prime Minister, Mr. Modi has no direct control over law and order, which is a State subject. But as the BJP’s most popular leader, one who has no real rivals in the party, he must wield his influence and power to crack down on those who indulge in violence in the name of cow protection. In the absence of this, Mr Modi’s remarks may constitute nothing more than a mild reprimand. There is no denying that speech is better than silence and his remarks may help sharpen the focus on how determined governments are to uphold the rule of law — firmly, decisively, and in a manner that deters cow vigilantism. Any politician worth his salt knows there is Condemnation and there is condemnation. Mr. Modi should show us that he hasn’t used the small c.

Cow vigilantes defy PM Modi yet again, attack drivers transporting cattle in Assam
A group of cow vigilantes stopped three vehicles transporting cows and beat up the drivers on the outskirts of Guwahati while accusing them of cattle smuggling.


IndiaToday.in  | Edited by Shashank Shantanu
New Delhi, July 3, 2017 | UPDATED 15:15 IST
A +A -
Cow vigilantes attack driver in Guwahati 
HIGHLIGHTS
1A group of men attack drivers transporting cows in Guwahati.
2Drivers beaten up, accused of smuggling cows.
3Attackers claimed they belong to Hindu Yuva Chhatra Parishad.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stern warning to self-proclaimed cow vigilantes seems to have fallen to deaf ears as a group of men attacked a truck drivers transporting cows in Guwahati. The incident took place on Sunday (July 2).
According to reports, a group of cow vigilantes stopped three vehicles transporting cows and beat up the drivers on the outskirts of Guwahati. The incident took place near Sonapur some 30 km from capital Guwahati.
The vehicles were coming from Tinsukia in Upper Assam when the members of the Hindu Yuva Chhatra Parishad's unit stopped them  and asked the drivers to step out. The men then brutally thrashed the drivers accusing them of cow smuggling.
'NOT ACCEPTABLE'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last week said that killing of people in the name of cow protection is not acceptable. PM Modi's remarks came amid a spurt of attacks by cow vigilantes and a wave of protests.
Delivering a speech to mark the centenary of the Sabarmati ashram in Ahmedabad and 150th birth anniversary of Shrimad Rajchandraji, a guru to Mahatma Gandhi, Modi said unleashing violence against others went against the ideals of the Father of the Nation.
"Killing people in the name of 'gau bhakti' is not acceptable. This is not something Mahatma Gandhi would approve," he said.
"Let's all work together. Let's create the India of Mahatma Gandhi's dreams. Let's create an India our freedom fighters would be proud of," the prime minister said.
"No person in this nation has the right to take the law in his or her own hands," he said.
The Prime Minister's remarks came against the backdrop of growing incidents of cow vigilantism.
A Muslim youth was last week killed on board a Mathura-bound train by people who taunted his family and repeatedly called them "anti-nationals" and "beef eaters".
"Violence never has and never will solve any problem. As a society, there is no place for violence," Modi said.
Last week, thousands of people across the country took to the streets in a citizens' protest named 'Not in My Name' against the recent incidents of mob killings.


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Muslim man dons burqa to escape lynching, cops baffled
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/muslim-man-dons-burqa-to-escape-lynching-cops-baffled/articleshow/59449360.cms

Muslim man dons burqa to escape lynching, cops baffled

Anuja Jaiswal | TNN | Updated: Jul 5, 2017, 06.01 AM IST

Nazmul Hassan, an assistant engineer in Kasimpur power station, was caught wearing a burqa at Aligarh railway station
Nazmul Hassan, an assistant engineer in Kasimpur power station, was caught wearing a burqa at Aligarh railway station
AGRA: Paranoid over the recent lynching of Muslims, a 42-year-old assistant engineer in Aligarh's Kasimpur power station was caught at the railway station on Sunday afternoon wearing a burqa. Alerted by other travellers, GRP men observed his suspicious movements for some time before they detained him. When questioned by police and intelligence officials, Nazmul Hassan told them that he wanted to conceal his identity as he was scared of being lynched for being a Muslim man.

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Hassan told police officials that he had to frequent Delhi to take care of an ailing cousin and had accidentally pushed a man while alighting at the Aligarh railway station last week. According to Hassan, the man insulted him and his religion in full public view and threatened him openly, as others joined in, that they would not allow him to live in the city. "I had read about Junaid's killing in a train in Ballabhgarh a few days ago. I was scared for my life after the threat, but couldn't avoid travelling. So I thought of wearing a burqa," Hassan told cops.
Though he was released by police after questioning, his act left senior police officials wondering about the extent of insecurity among minorities.
Top Comment

This is really sad... People should feel safe and free in our country... While Muslim terrorism all across the world is unacceptable, equally undesirable is Hindu extremism growing these days in our country.
Pras
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Senior superintendent of police Rajesh Pandey said they had verified Hassan's claims and have so far found nothing amiss in them. He said, "When Hassan was handed over to the GRP, he was crying and shaking and kept repeating that he is a simple man who has never done anything wrong." Pandey said Hassan was released after questioning and they are in touch with him.
Hassan said as he had to go to Delhi on Sunday to visit his ailing cousin. He was scared to travel alone but he could not find anyone to accompany him. Senior sub-inspector (GRP), who is also the investigating officer in Hassan's case, said, "We found nothing suspicious in his statement to police. Different agencies verified that his act of wearing burqa was born out of his fear following the incident that occurred with him at the railway station last week."

Attacks against Muslims, Dalits grew sharply in India under Modi: US report
According to the report, religious tolerance has deteriorated and religious freedom violations have escalated dramatically since 2014.


IANS  | Posted by Sonalee Borgohain
Washington, February 10, 2017 | UPDATED 06:56 IST
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PM Narendra Modi

PM Narendra Modi
HIGHLIGHTS
1As per the report, hate crimes, social boycotts and forced conversion have escalated.
2It stated that India faces serious challenges to its pluralistic traditions.
3It said India should adopt the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Religious tolerance has deteriorated and religious freedom violations have increased in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's regime, a report by an independent bipartisan American body has claimed.
The report, titled 'Constitutional and Legal Challenges Faced by Religious Minorities in India' and sponsored by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), said the religious minority communities and Dalits face discrimination and persecution in India where hate crimes, social boycotts and forced conversion have escalated dramatically since 2014.
"Under Congress Party and BJP-led governments, religious minority communities and Dalits, both have faced discrimination and persecution due to a combination of overly broad or ill-defined laws, an inefficient criminal justice system, and a lack of jurisprudential consistency. In particular, since 2014, hate crimes, social boycotts, assaults, and forced conversion have escalated dramatically," said the report.
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"Since the BJP assumed power, religious minority communities have been subject to derogatory comments by BJP politicians and numerous violent attacks and forced conversions by affiliated Hindu nationalist groups such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Sangh Parivar, and Vishva Hindu Parishad," it said.
WHAT THE USCIRF-SPONSORED REPORT STATES
The USCIRF-sponsored report is written by Iqtidat Karamat Cheema, who is director for UK-based Institute for Leadership and Community Development. The report further says there are constitutional provisions and state and national laws in India that do not comply with international standards of freedom of religion or belief, including Article 18 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The report suggested that the US government should put religious freedom and human rights at the heart of all trade, aid and diplomatic interactions with India.
"India is a religiously diverse and democratic society with a Constitution that provides legal equality for its citizens irrespective of their religion and prohibits religion-based discrimination," said USCIRF chair Thomas J. Reese.
ALSO READ|  Religious tolerance in India deteriorating, says US rights expert
"However, the reality is far different... India's pluralistic tradition faces serious challenges in a number of its states."
"During the past few years, religious tolerance has deteriorated and religious freedom violations have increased in some areas of India. To reverse this negative trajectory, the Indian and state governments must align theirs laws with both the country's constitutional commitments and international human rights standards," he said.
The report stated that India faces serious challenges to both its pluralistic traditions and its religious minorities. "Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Jains generally are fearful of what the future portends. Dalits also are increasingly being attacked and harassed".
"The Indian government-at both the national and state levels-often ignores its constitutional commitments to protect the rights of religious minorities. National and state laws are used to violate the religious freedom of minority communities; however, very little is known about the laws," it said.
STATES WITH MOST INCIDENTS OF RELIGIOUSLY-MOTIVATED ATTACKS
It stated that the states of Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan tend to have the greatest number of incidents of religiously-motivated attacks and communal violence, as well as the largest religious minority populations.
Quoting India's Home Ministry figures, it said that in 2015, India experienced a 17 per cent increase in communal violence, when compared to the previous year. In 2015, there were 751 reported incidents of communal violence, up from 644 in 2014.
The report recommended the US government to urge the Indian government to push its states that have adopted anti-conversion laws to repeal or amend them to conform to international norms.
It further urged the Indian government to immediately lift its sanctions against non-governmental organisations working for the welfare of the minorities in India.
"Identify Hindutva groups that raise funds from US citizens and support hate campaigns in India. Such groups should be banned from operating in the United States if they are found to spread hatred against religious minorities in India," it said.
INDIAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD REFORM ANTI-CONVERSION LAWS
The report further stated that Indian government should reform the anti-conversion laws and appreciate that "both conversion and reconversion by use of force, fraud, or allurement are equally bad and infringe upon a person's freedom of conscience".
It said that India should not impose Hindu personal status laws on Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain communities, but instead provide them with a provision of personal status laws as per their distinct religious beliefs and practices.
It recommended that India adopt the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
"Operationalise the term 'minority' in its federal laws and comply with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities.
"Drop Explanation II in Article 25 of its constitution and recognize Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism as distinct religions with their own separate religious identities.
Lastly, it said that India should also not impose Hindu personal status laws on Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain communities, but instead provide them with a provision of personal status laws as per their distinct religious beliefs and practices.

Global Opinions
As India’s Muslims are lynched, Modi keeps silent
By Nilanjana Bhowmick June 28

A protest on Wednesday in Hyderabad, India, against a spate of violent attacks across the country targeting its Muslim minority. (Mahesh Kumar A./Associated Press)
Nilanjana Bhowmick is a journalist and writer in India.

NEW DELHI — On June 23, three days before India celebrated Eid, 15-year-old Junaid Khan was stabbed to death by a group of men aboard a train. He was going home to Khandawli, a village in the north Indian state of Haryana, after shopping for new clothes in New Delhi, accompanied by his brother and a couple of friends. The mob mocked their skullcaps and taunted them for eating beef, before stabbing them.

Eid was somber in Khandawli on Monday, as it was across the country. In a national first, scores of Muslims across the country offered their Eid prayers while wearing a black band, a symbol of protest against the killing of the teen as well as growing atrocities against Muslims in the country, which have been increasing since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office three  years ago. In September 2015, a Muslim man, Mohammad Akhlaq, was lynched in Dadri near the Indian capital, over rumors that he had killed a local cow and stored its meat in his refrigerator. The month after that, 16-year-old Zahid Rasool Bhatt died when vigilante groups attacked his truck with a bomb in Udhampur. In March 2017, suspected cattle traders Muhammed Majloom and Azad Khan were hanged in Latehar. In May, traders were thrashed in Malegaon, Maharashtra for allegedly storing beef. In Jharkhand in May, 19-year-old Mohammed Shalik was tied to a pole and beaten to death, reportedly over a romantic relationship with a Hindu girl. In May, two more Muslim men, Abu Hanifa and Riazuddin Ali, were killed for allegedly stealing cattle in Assam. More recently, on June 7, a Muslim man was attacked in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, on suspicion of transporting beef to an Iftar gathering. Two more cases of lynching over cow slaughter rumors were reported earlier this week in eastern India.

Suspended from Aam Aadmi Party, Amanatullah Khan made Delhi assembly panel chief
The members to these committee are appointed with tacit approval of the ruling party.

DELHI Updated: May 07, 2017 18:23 IST
Press Trust of India, New Delhi
Amanatullah Khan
Suspended AAP leader and now chairman of a panel of the Delhi assembly, Amanatullah Khan.(HT File)
A fresh round of tussle is likely to erupt in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as its MLA Amanatullah Khan, who was recently suspended from the party for attacking senior leader Kumar Vishwas, has been appointed as the chairman of a panel of the Delhi assembly.

Khan, the MLA from Okhla, has also been appointed as a member in seven newly-constituted committees, including the Special Inquiry Committee of the House by the speaker.

The move is seemed to have been taken to placate Khan, considered as a prominent Muslim face in the party.

An MLA, who had spoken in favour of Vishwas, termed Khan’s appointment as a “promotion”.

Read more

AAP highlights: Vishwas pacified, Kejriwal tweets photo to show all is well

Kejriwal may have ended crisis with temporary truce but AAP turmoil not over
The members to these committee are appointed with tacit approval of the ruling party. The party said the appointment of members to these committees was the “prerogative” of the speaker.

Khan had accused Vishwas of being an “RSS-BJP agent” and plotting a coup in the party.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia had to convince Vishwas who had insisted on stern action against Khan. He had also threatened to quit the party.

By suspending Khan, a “mask”, Vishwas had tried attacking the “coterie” who was hatching “conspiracy” against him.

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By suspending Khan, the party also averted a major crisis.

Sisodia had visited Khan at this residence, just hours after his suspension from the party.

However, with the appointment of Khan to these committees, the party could face a fresh crisis as many MLAs were believed to be backing Vishwas.

Sources in the party said all AAP legislators including Somnath Bharti, Alka Lamba and Bhavna Gaur, who had backed Vishwas, have been accommodated in the library committee.

It is, however, not considered as prestigious with the panel having little work to do.

Bharti, who had openly advocated a greater role for Vishwas in the party, was removed as the chairman of the Privileges Committee and Kailash Gehlot appointed in his place.

Sources close to Vishwas declined to react to this development, but indicated that the leader, who was pacified just two days ago, is unhappy over the development.

“With this development the leadership has sought to send a message that it backs Amanatullah and has given him a promotion. Whoever gave statements in favour of Vishwas have been cut to size,” an MLA who had backed Vishwas said.

Woman and girl ‘gang-raped as punishment for eating beef’
 Women worship a cow, an animal held sacred by Hindu beliefs, during Bach Baras festival in Ajmer, India.  
Women worship a cow, an animal held sacred by Hindu beliefs, during Bach Baras festival in Ajmer, India.   CREDIT: REUTERS/HIMANSHU SHARMA
 Adam Boult 
12 SEPTEMBER 2016 • 8:01PM
Four suspects have been charged with rape and murder after a Muslim woman and her 14-year-old cousin were gang-raped and two of their relations murdered in India’s Haryana province last month.

The group of men in their 30s allegedly entered the victims’ home in the Mewat district on August 24, assaulting the 20-year-old woman and teenager. An older man and woman were tied up and beaten to death.

The woman told the BBC: "They [the accused men] said that we ate cow meat and that is why we were being disgraced [raped]. They even threatened to kill me and my family if we ever told anybody what happened to us."


Abid Khan, a member of the Mewat Bar Association, said: “We have never had any religious tensions here since independence. People [Hindus and Muslims] have always lived in peace in this area. It’s possible that this incident was planned to create religious tensions in the area.”


Killing cows is banned in many states of India, a majority-Hindu country that also has sizeable Muslim, Christian and Buddhist minorities.

“Cow protection” groups have recently proliferated across the country, buoyed by a ruling Hindu nationalist government which has encouraged stronger anti-cow slaughter laws.

In July this year violent protests broke out across the state of Gujarat after a Hindu gang beat and publicly humiliated four low-caste youths accused of killing a cow.

The youths were spotted stripping the dead cow’s hide near the town of Una. They were subsequently stripped, tied to a car and beaten with belts and iron rods by the vigilantes, as a large crowd looked on. A video of the attack was widely circulated online.

In 2015, a 50-year-old Muslim man, Mohammad Akhlaq, was beaten to death over rumours he had eaten beef.

Police told reporters Mr Akhlaq was dragged from his house on the outskirts of New Delhi and attacked by around 100 people.


Mr Akhlaq's daughter, Sajida, told the Indian Express: "They accused us of keeping cow meat, broke down our doors and started beating my father and brother. My father was dragged outside and beaten with bricks."


‘How could they hate us so much’: Family in shock after 16-year-old Muslim boy stabbed to death on train
Police said one person was arrested for his involvement in Hafiz Junaid’s killing, which came amid several incidents of assaults on Muslims across the country over beef and cow slaughter.

DELHI Updated: Jun 27, 2017 17:51 IST
Ananya Bhardwaj
Ananya Bhardwaj 
New Delhi, Hindustan Times
Beef lynching
Junaid was a student of Islamic studies in Surat, Gujarat.(HT PHOTO)
It was on Wednesday evening that Junaid and Hashim attained the title of a “Hafiz” after investing over three years to memorize the Quran by heart and got Rs 1500 as a reward from their mother.

It was their first Eid after becoming a Hafiz and they wanted to look their best. To celebrate and shop, they planned a visit to Delhi’s Jama Masjid and promised to return before sundown. One of the two could not.

Junaid was allegedly stabbed to death and four others were injured on board a Mathura-bound train when an argument over a seat turned into religious slurs and triggered a mob attack on family members returning home from Eid shopping.

The incident took place on Thursday evening between Okhla and Asoti in Haryana, a distance of about 60 km. The four injured told Hindustan Times at Khaddawli, a small village in Haryana’s Faridabad district, the attackers repeatedly called them “anti-nationals” and “beef eaters”, threw their skull caps on the floor, caught their beards and taunted them with terms such as “mulla”.


Junaid’s brother, Hashim , and father, Jalaluddin, are in a state of shock. (Ravi Choudhary/HT PHOTO)
“Junaid was so happy that he will be formally felicitated for their achievement on Eid. Since Ramzan started, he and Hashim had been reciting the Quran everyday at the mosque. They wanted to look good, so they specially went to purchase a new set of clothes to Jama Masjid. Their mother asked them to fetch the best sewaiyan and sweets to be served on the festival. He promised to reach home early, but what reached home was his dead body. How could those men be so cruel to have pierced my son’s body like that,” Jallaluddin, Junaid’s father, said.

“He was a child. He was just 16. How could they hate us so much to have killed him so brutally? When I reached the spot, my son Hashim was sitting on the station with Junaid’s body soaked in blood in his lap,” he added, even as he was being consoled intermittently by fellow villagers in Khadwali, Haryana.

Jallaluddin had reached Ballabgarh station to pick up his sons so that they could go to open the fast together, but when he reached the train had already left.


Family members lament Junaid’s death. (Ravi Choudhary/HT PHOTO)
“Sakir (Junaid’s elder brother who boarded the train at Ballabgarh after being informed about the attack) called me saying that he was going to the station to pick up the boys. He asked me to come to the station as well. He never told me that there was a problem. When I reached the station, the train had already left. When I could not locate the boys I called Sakir, he also did not take the call. Junaid and Hashim too did not pick. I thought the boys must have left. What did I know that they were fighting for their life,” he said.

Saira, Junaid’s mother, was oblivious to the news of her son’s death. Till Friday morning she was not informed about it. When the women from the village started visiting her to console her, she wondered why they were there.

“Women kept coming and asking me about Junaid. I wondered why they were referring to him in the past tense. No one ever told me that he was no more. How could they hide it from me,” she said, fighting back her tears.

“I got to know only when his body returned home this morning. When he did not reach home last night, I kept asking his father about his whereabouts but no one answered me,” she said.


Saira said she will never be able to celebrate the festival of Eid. “This time it was special. My sons became the Hafiz. The preservers. And a day later I lost him. How can this be justified. How am I to cope up with this loss?”

Stop Lynching Muslims in the name of Cow.

DAUD HOSSAIN Kolkata, India

Being a Muslim I am frightened after the dreadful incident as many Muslims whether  young or old has been lynched by Hindu Cow-vigilants over the last two years in the name of Cow though our Constitution of India clearly says that India is a secular country and People of India can eat according to their choice but this cow-vigilants are not stopping by the govt as didn't take any severe action against them or even silenced over this serious issue seems that Govt is supporting by muming over the issues .So if the Supreme Court of India and President of India (Head of the state) can take necessary actions agaist them then Minority people of India like Muslims will get rid of from lynching by the goons.