by Editor | Sep 27, 2024 | News, Opinion, Opinions, Politics
Syed Ali Mujtaba
The BJP government has come up with the claim that it has done many things for the welfare of Muslims after completing 100 days in office.
The Minister of Minority Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju, held a press conference on September 24, 2024, listing the JP government’s achievements for the welfare of the Muslims in India.
First, Kiren Rijiju said the Ministry of Minority Affairs had organized Lok Samvardhan Parv, an event to showcase the schemes and programmes, the government has undertaken for the welfare of the minorities. What does the fair mean to the common man living on the margins?
Second, Kiren Rijiju says his ministry has planned funds for loans under the National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC). This scheme has extended a credit of over Rs.1000 crores to over 2.5 lakh beneficiaries during 2024-25. The NMDFC has also signed MoUs with three banks in three States for the implementation of NMDFC schemes.
Again, the stakeholders in these states have to ascertain whether any such government claim has reached them or not.
Kiren Rijiju, then says his ministry has sanctioned Rs. 21.00 corers to the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (JKLFC) for the financial year 2024-25. No one knows if this is an announcement or if it’s being implemented on the ground.
In the same vein, Kiren Rijiju says that his ministry has announced Rs. 10 crores to the Sindhu Infrastructure Development Corporation (SIDCO) in J&K and Ladakh. Is this fund for the people living in these areas or for the promotion of Sindhu i.e. Indus (Hindu) civilization?
Kiren Rijiju talks at length about “Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan” (PM VIKAS) which is an integrated scheme aimed towards the socio-economic upliftment of minorities through various initiatives. This is an ongoing scheme from the past several years that has been integrated into one by clubbing five schemes of the previous Congress government. This has nothing to do with the achievements of 100 days of Modi 3.0 rule.
i) Providing skill development training in courses covering both modern and traditional job roles.
ii) Organizing capacity-building workshops for artisans.
iii) Preserving the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of minority communities.
iv) Promoting minority women’s leadership and entrepreneurship.
v) Educational support to minority youth through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)
vi) Addressing infrastructure needs in convergence with the Ministry’s PMJVK scheme.
Kiren Rijiju further says that the PM Vikas scheme will facilitate credit linkages by connecting beneficiaries with loan programs offered by the NMDFC. Beneficiaries would also be supported for market linkages through the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) to enhance their livelihood.
Such claims have to be vetted by an independent auditor to validate the claims made by the Minister of Minority Affairs.
Then, Kiren Rijiju claimed that his Ministry had launched Haj Suvidha App an end-to-end digital solution for the Haj pilgrims. It provides the pilgrims access to training content, accommodation and flight details, baggage information, an emergency helpline (SOS), grievance redressal, feedback, language translation, and miscellaneous information and services related to the pilgrimage.
The Minister should be asked about the digital literacy rate of Muslims, and how many Muslims possess an Android mobile phone with internet connections. So for whom was such an app developed?
Kiren Rijiju has also claimed that his ministry has released an ‘Operational Manual’ for conducting Urs at the Durgah of Khawaja Moin ud din Chishti at Ajmer. This manual codifies and standardizes the conduct of the Urs to ensure a satisfactory experience for the pilgrims during the period of Urs. The Minster also claims to develop a DKS Suvidha Mobile App and a Web portal for this purpose.
The Minister says this is for the welfare of the Indian Muslims. He must calculate the amount the pilgrims invest during their pilgrimage period and that goes to the state coffers. Can that be compared to the services offered by the government in the form of an ‘Operational Manual’ and mobile App and website? In real terms is it a Muslim welfare measure?
Kiren Rijiju further says that his ministry has ensured optimum utilization of funds initiated for use at the PM GatiShakti portal. This is to ensure zero overlapping of the schemes identified for the areas of implementation. He also says that a new PMJVK web portal is developed for overall digitized approval processes.
What the Minister is trying to say is that the digital format is the achievement of the BJP government for the welfare of Indian Muslims. He does not bother to talk about how many Muslims have benefited from the government’s initiative in 100 days in office. Since there is none to dissect the government’s claim that the media publishes as a gospel of truth.
The circulation of such pulp fiction is a pithy commentary on the BJP government’s approach towards the welfare of Muslim citizens of India. Even though it’s a piece of public knowledge, that Muslims are nearly 20 crore or 15% of the Indian population.
by Editor | Sep 26, 2024 | News
Syed Ali Mujtaba
Muslims in Himachal Pradesh particularly in Shimla are presently being intimidated by the frenzied demand for demolishing the alleged illegal part of the mosque in Sanjauli. The Muslim community is also being blamed for migrating to the hill state for their livelihood purposes. The journalist had an online interview with activist Dimple Oberoi Vahali, a resident of Shimla and a social activist working for the rights of the minority community. Here is the Q&A that could illuminate the current situation in Shimla and Himachal Pradesh.
Q- How is the current situation in Shimla about Sanjauli Mosque row?
A- The present situation is extremely worrisome and disturbing. I am deeply aggrieved by the gravity of circumstances built up in the last few weeks around the Mosque in the Sanjauli locality of Shimla. It is a matter of serious concern that there was mass mobilization against the construction of the Mosque in the city.
Q- Is the Sanjauli Mosque the only unauthorized structure in Shimla?
No. It is part of public knowledge that thousands of illegal constructions in Shimla but they are not being questioned. It is well known that the portions of the newly constructed wing of the Shimla Secretariat and High Court building, and several buildings of prominent locals, the elite, and capitalists, including temples are illegally constructed in Shimla. Many of those protesting against the Mosque may be involved in illegal construction. As per Municipal Corporation records, the fact is, that Sanjauli and other parts of Shimla are full of illegal buildings. It won’t be incorrect to say, that there are thousands of illegal buildings in Shimla.
Q- Then why is the Mosque being singled out?
A – There is a global trend towards Islamophobia that we are all well aware of. Then within our country too, for the last several years, much more than earlier times, we have witnessed a strong anti-Muslim wave. It is part of everyday knowledge of how the Muslim minority is being treated in India. Controversies are created and Muslims are being subjugated. Majoritarian politics has been divisive and has made deep inroads of ‘othering’ into the collective psyche.
The agitation around the Mosque should not be seen as a singular event but has to be contextualized within this larger scenario prevailing across the country. It is a hegemonic process where anti-Muslim sentiments can be easily ignited. The same is currently at work in Himachal Pradesh.
History is witness to the fact that when the secular fabric of society is disturbed, majoritarian forces often assert their supremacy and collective power by making the minorities feel small and helpless. This phenomenon is seen to be at work in Himachal Pradesh, just as in many other parts of India.
Q- What is the condition of the Muslim community in Shimla and Himachal Pradesh?
A- The present situation is worrisome. As people belonging to Himachal Pradesh, we have not seen such mass mobilization against the Muslim community in the recent past. Muslims had a harmonious relationship with the Hindu community all these years. Muslims have respected and blended themselves into the composite culture of Himachal Pradesh.
However. this is not the present situation. Muslims in Shimla and Himachal Pradesh are feeling insecure and intimidated. To maintain communal harmony the WAQF Board has volunteered to demolish parts of the Mosque that were alleged to be unauthorized In my view, this should not have happened because it will reinstate the minority binary of Muslims and make them feel small and helpless. It needs to be reiterated that the part of the Mosque under controversy, whether legal or illegal, should not be demolished. As conscious citizens, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that Muslims are treated with respect and equality and there should be empathy between all communities.
Q- Are there any ripple effects of the controversy surrounding Sanjauli Mosque?
A- Yes already news is coming from many parts of the state that the construction of several Mosques in other parts is being questioned. This is a very tension-provoking development.
Q- What is the insider versus outsider controversy in Shimla?
A- There are two levels of discourses that are operating at present. The questioning of the construction of the Mosques in Himachal on various grounds in several places, and the discourse of insiders and outsiders—migrant Muslims being Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. (At another level, we must ask ourselves where is this tendency to other the Bangladeshi and Rohingyas stems from. What is wrong with being a Bangladeshi or Rohingya? Why must we always see them as the fear evoking ‘Other’? This discourse of ‘insiders’ vs ‘outsiders’ is alarming and deeply troubling for those on the social margins.
We urge the political powers to safeguard the interests and protect the rights of the Muslims in Himachal where at present the Congress government is at the helm. We fear that ‘othering’ will continue to play a highly divisive role, making deeper inroads into the minds of ordinary citizens of Himachal Pradesh.
Q- Is there a politics of the opposition BJP in this simmering controversy?
A- The Hindutva party politics has a strong role in this simmering controversy. There is also a divide within the Congress which is also being utilized to the advantage of the opposition. However, even the party in power is not addressing the issue of what the minority community is being subjected to. Additionally, as I have said before, this is a complex matter in which anti-minority sentiments have made their inroads all around.
The matter is not confined to the BJP or Congress but is one of deep hegemony against the Muslim 0community. This is the mindset of the State as well as the majority community.
Q- Do you think communal forces have a role to play in this controversy?
Saying that this only is a matter of illegal construction, and not paying heed to the communal shades is to ignore a situation that is getting out of hand. I feel this will have a grave consequence for our collective future. We must acknowledge that communal factors played a role in this entire issue. After accepting this fact, the collective effort should be to sincerely try to reverse the ‘othering’ climate developing in Himachal Pradesh. We must first acknowledge a problem and make reparative efforts to safeguard the minority community and build peace and harmony in the State.
It could be fair that the Muslim minority community be allowed to co-exist with respect and dignity in Himachal Pradesh. For this, all efforts should be made to maintain the secular culture of the hill State. This is a trying time and needs collective reaction to build a climate of peaceful coexistence in the state.
Q- What do you suggest to be done to protect the Muslims in such circumstances?
A- The State of Himachal Pradesh must immediately take action and stop the rising tension in Shimla and all over the state. The State is ethically responsible for offering safety and full security to its minority communities.
The rational forces among the civil society should raise their voices to restore peace and communal harmony in the state. Amongst other steps to be taken, is immediate protection should be given to the Sanjauli Mosque, whether constructed legally or otherwise.
The political parties are urged to safeguard the interests of the Muslims in Himachal Pradesh. I appeal to the present Congress government to protect the Muslims who have lived in peace and harmony for long years in the state.
I also urge the state government not to encourage the issue of ‘insider and outsider’ and to create an atmosphere of ‘othering’ the Muslims. The state government must protect the rights of the Muslim community and should not demolish their places of worship. The government should also stand for the rights of the vendors and not make laws that will create further problems for their livelihood. I also urge the political parties to respect the composite culture of the state and talk about inter-religious tolerance and inter-faith respect. The State government must activate educational institutions and cultural forms to promote secular values. That’s the only way the future generations can imbibe true respect for composite cultural, and religious pluralism and create an inclusive society.
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This exclusive interview was given to Syed Ali Mujtaba, a journalist based in Chennai.
by Editor | Sep 26, 2024 | News, Politics
Asad Mirza
The latest Quad Summit is largely seen as an effort by the US Joe Biden to leave a lasting legacy. Though PM Modi ticked all boxes, yet nothing substantial for India was gained at the summit, apart from the optics.
PM Modi along with President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attended the Quad Summit at President Biden’s hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, 100 miles north of capital, Washington DC, last weekend.
India was initially set to host the Quad summit this year but agreed to swap duties as Biden’s time in office will end in next two months. The leaders met ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York City this week.
The Delaware Summit is also seen by many analysts as an attempt by President Biden aiming to put a final stamp on an alliance he hopes will endure beyond his presidency. Or which might be referred to in the broader context of a Biden Doctrine. Concerns are also being raised about the fate of the Quad, if Trump returns to power.
QUAD Summit
At the summit, China and its actions in the South China Sea were first on the agenda. At the start of the discussion, Biden was caught in a hot mic moment and could be heard saying that Chinese President Xi Jinping is looking to “buy himself some diplomatic space, in my view, to aggressively pursue China’s interest.”
“We believe Xi Jinping is looking to focus on domestic economic challenges and minimise the turbulence in China diplomatic relationships,” Biden could be heard saying.
In a joint statement after the summit, the leaders of the Quad countries said that they are “seriously concerned” about China’s escalations in the South China Sea, without naming the country by name.
Biden emphasised that his administration views Beijing’s actions as a tactical shift rather than a fundamental change in strategy. The Quad leaders also unveiled a significant strategy to bolster maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and pledged for lasting peace in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed the Quad’s commitment to a rules-based global order, emphasising respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity. In his address, Modi said a free, open, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific is a shared priority of the Quad.
The leaders also announced a new regional Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI), to enable partners to maximize tools provided through Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) and other Quad initiatives.
In addition, an expansion of the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, which helps countries monitor illegal fishing and other unlawful activities in their waters, to the Indian Ocean and provide partners with more sophisticated technology and training, was also announced.
They also launched a logistics network to allow the US military to share cargo space on aircraft and vessels to be used in humanitarian assistance or disaster relief operations. The partnership will also roll out new Open Radio Access Network pilot projects in the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, the most personal announcement by President Biden focused on new joint efforts to fight cancer. The Quad leaders launched a new partnership aimed at reducing cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific, a global extension of the president’s signature “Cancer Moonshot” initiative. This included efforts to provide more cervical cancer screenings in the region and increase vaccinations for human papillomavirus or HPV, a main cause for cervical cancer.
However, the Chinese newspaper Global Times in an editorial criticising the Quad summit wrote that everyone knows that the Quad summit is aimed at China, but the participants want to cover it up, demonstrating how the encirclement of China enjoys little support in the international arena.
The editorial criticised the joint statement issued by the Quad besides saying that although Western public opinion had previously heightened the rhetoric surrounding the meeting “to deal with aggressive China,” we see that, apart from continuing to hype the “China threat” and “Indo-Pacific crisis” theories behind closed doors, Quad has achieved nothing substantial.
It further opined that the Quad’s situation is also a microcosm of the closed and exclusive small circles that the US has pieced together around China.
Modi-Abbas Meeting
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged India’s “unwavering support” to the people of Palestine as he held talks with the President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday (September 22, 2024) evening, during his visit to New York and the United Nations. The meeting comes days after India abstained on a UN resolution calling on Israel to vacate the Occupied Palestinian Territories within the next 12 months.
During Sunday’s meeting, Mr Modi discussed “India’s support to Palestine at the United Nations”. “Mr Modi emphasised that only a two-State solution would deliver peace, as he called for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, the release of hostages, and a return to diplomacy and dialogue,” a government readout said.
Mr Modi also held talks with Nepali Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Sunday. They discussed a range of subjects, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, listing hydropower cooperation, people to people ties and increasing connectivity.
Modi’s Outreach
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also addressed the Indian diaspora in New York’s Nassau Coliseum and dubbed them the Rashtradoot. He said, “I have always understood the capabilities of the Indian diaspora. I understood it even when I held no official position…For me, you all have been strong brand ambassadors of India. This is why I call you Rashtradoot…”
Speaking about the contributions of Indians living in America, he said, “For the world, AI means artificial intelligence, but for me, AI also means American-Indian spirit. This is the new ‘AI’ power of the world…I salute the Indian diaspora here.”
PM Modi then went on to say that Indians are also a strong voice of the Global South… “Today, when India says something on a global platform, the world listens. Some time ago when I said that this is not the era of war, its severity was understood by all…,” he said. Modi also announced that India has decided to open two new consulates in Boston and Los Angeles.
IPEF Agreements
Further, India on Sunday signed the 14-member, Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) bloc’s agreements on a clean and fair economy with an aim to enhance cooperation in these areas. The agreements would help facilitate development, access, and deployment of clean energy and climate-friendly technologies; catalyse investment and strengthen measures for anti-corruption, tax transparency etc. and improve business environment, the Commerce Ministry said in a statement.
The agreement on clean economy intends to accelerate efforts of IPEF partners towards energy security, GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions mitigation, developing innovative ways of reducing dependence on fossil fuel energy, promoting technical cooperation, capacity building, besides collaborating to facilitate development, access, and deployment of clean energy and climate-friendly technologies.
The IPEF, focuses on building economic cooperation through its four key pillars — trade, supply chain resilience, clean economy, and fair economy (focusing on tax and anti-corruption).
All in all, the US visit by Prime Minister ticked all boxes for him, articulating India’s support and ambitions for Quad, enhancing regional collaboration, enhancing his rapport with the US presidents and of course, targeting the Indian diaspora in the US, which comes to his aide at election time in India. But in reality, nothing substantial was achieved during the visit from India’s view.
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(Asad Mirza is a New Delhi-based senior commentator on international and strategic affairs, environmental issues, an interfaith practitioner, and a media consultant.)
by Editor | Sep 26, 2024 | News, News & Trending
Syed Ali Mujtaba
The Hindus in India were shocked to hear the news that scared ‘Ladus’ at the Tirupati temple contains beef, pork, and fish particles. Lab report of samples sent from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam to the National Dairy Development Board in Gujarat said: “The samples certify that beef tallow and animal fat – lard, and fish oil were used in the preparation of Ghee which was supplied to Tirumala had 19.7 % of such contents.”
This news also shocked the Muslims who are lynched, bruised, and battered in several parts of the country for alleged beef eating. Muslims are curious as to why Cow vigilantes are keeping silent on the beef controversy that erupted at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
That means if Hindus are made to eat beef then it is an act of religiosity and piety but Muslims cannot do that, because for Hindus it’s a sacrilegious act. The cow vigilante that is on the prowl to kill the Muslims at the slightest pretext for eating beef, is in complete silence about how to defend the Hindus, when they have committed the same sin and whose punishment is death for the Muslims.
The Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh is one of the wealthiest temples in the world. Its net worth is 3 lakh crore Indian rupees. The TTD net worth is more than the capitalization of Wipro, Nestle, ONGC, IOC, and many other companies listed in the Indian stock market. Many state governments in India, approach TTD to lend money on interest to pay salaries to its employees.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust oversees the upkeep of the Venkateswara Temple which receives 50,000 to 100,000 visitors per day. This makes this temple one of the most visited religious sites in the world, attracting 30 to 40 million visitors annually.
The TTD prepares and distributes over 3,50,000 laddus daily to the devotees. The laddus are offered as ‘mahaprasadam’ to devotees after the Darshan of the Lord Venkateswara Swamy. A simple calculation can tell how many Hindus have been made impure by consuming beef through the ladus.
A firefighting exercise is going on right now, and the blame game is moving in circles with each stakeholder saying I got nothing to do with this controversy.
The first to issue clarification is the TTD saying that the divinity and purity of Srivari laddu is ‘unblemished.’ It adds that now it has set up a testing laboratory within its premises to avoid such controversy erupting again.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has alleged that previous CM Jagan Mohan Reddy was responsible for comprising religious ‘purity’ of the Hindus who were forced to consume adulterated ghee that contained beef. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu blamed Jagan Reddy for stopping supplies from his Heritage Dairy, which had supplied Ghee to the TTD earlier.
YSRCP leader Jagan Reddy has hit back at Naidu accusing him of politicizing the issue. The ex-Chief Minister has moved the Andhra Pradesh high court to demand an investigation into Naidu’s claims, demanding action against him for ‘twisting’ facts.
AR Dairy, a Dindigul-based firm in Tamil Nadu that was short-listed among the five companies to supply Ghee to the TTD is right now at the center of the controversy of supplying adulterated Ghee to the TTD. AR Dairy spokesperson told the media, “We used to supply ghee to the TTD till June- July but have stopped since then. We supplied only 0.1%, of the total supply made to the TTD from other sources.”
In the same context when the Gujarat lab broke the beef story, some social media without verifying facts started attacking Amul Dairy for committing such a sacrilegious act. Amul Diary immediately issued a rebuttal and is now flinging FIRs against the media outlets that went gung-ho against the taste of India Company that brought white revolution in the country.
Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has ordered an SIT inquiry into the adulterated Ladus being distributed at the Shaivite temple in south India. He is also consulting Hindu priests to do the ‘samprokshana’ (ritualistic purification) seeking forgiveness for the sin of consuming beef.
The Hindu icon Yogi Adityanath and the Haridwar priest gang that has openly given a call to kill Muslims are total sixes and sevens on how to blame Muslims for waging ‘Ladu Jihad’ in the country.
Trivia: I disguise myself as a saint or anybody oh Ghalib and watch the activities of the world. “Bana kar faqeeron ka hum bhes Ghalib Tamasha-e-Ahl-e-Karam dekhte hein”
by Editor | Sep 20, 2024 | Uncategorized
Syed Ali Mujtaba
Hyderabad – In what could be called a tale of communal harmony a Muslim couple Afzal and Muskan participated and won the Ganesh ‘Laddu Auction’ bid on the occasion of the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival that fell on Sat, Sept 7, 2024
The auction took place on September 16, 2024, at the Vigneshwara Ganesh Mandali in Bhattupalli of Kagaznagar Mandal, in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district in Telangana
Afzal and Muskan, who participated in the auction, said that when they heard that the Vigneshwara Ganesh Mandali was organizing a “laddus auction,” they decided to participate and prepared special laddus for the occasion.
Their laddu was the traditional round-shaped laddu that we often know, but it was not for home consumption but for the devotion of Lord Ganesha. The couple was happy that their ‘Laddu’ was sold for the maximum bid at the auction, fetching them a princely price of Rupees 13,216.
Villagers from Bhattupalli were happy that a Muslim couple had won the auction for the scared ‘laddu’, which reflected the spirit of communal harmony that prevails in this part of the world.
It’s a tight slap on the Hindutva zealots who want to turn India into, a Hindu- Hindi – Hindustan paradigm. It shows the Nehruvian idea of ‘Unity in diversity’ still is cherished in the Bhattupalli village of Telangana.
The Religious figure in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district is Hinduism (89.05%), and Islam (8.17%).
Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district headquartered at Asifabad, is a predominantly tribal town. The district has two revenue divisions – Asifabad and Kaghaznagar.
The Bhattupalli village comes under Kaghaznagar Mandal and is situated just 5km away from the sub-district headquarters at Kagaznagar. The Villagers of Bhattupalli village, for all major economic activities, are dependent on Kaghaznagar town.
