by Editor | Sep 20, 2024 | News
Syed Ali Mujtaba
A Facebook user shared the viral clip and wrote: “Traitor in Police -: Latest News: Shahnawaz Khan, who worked as DSP in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, was caught by an anti-corruption team with illegal weapons and crores of Rupees. He was caught red-handed as he was handing out guns, pistols, etc. to his friends. Indeed, a Muslim can never be a patriot… even if he is in a government job; he is ready for anything to spread terror… now Yogi Baba will take this case well!”
This post was attached to the video and was essentially a bribery case that was deliberately turned upside down to malign the entire Muslim community and spread canard against them without any rhyme or reason.
The sequence of the story goes like this; one person goes to the police station to file a case in under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. He meets the head constables Shahnawaz Khan and Yogesh Kumar who demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 which was later renegotiated to Rs 15,000. The victim went to the police station with the bribe money along with the Vigilance department team that entrapped Shahnawaz Khan. This arrest was captured live by the Vigilance team to showcase its accomplishments.
Confirming that it was a bribery case, Rajesh Singh, a Vigilance team member refuted the false claims on social media. “Shahnawaz was arrested only for taking a bribe of Rs 15,000 and there were no weapons or crores of cash with him,” Rajesh Singh said.
Shahnawaz, was a head constable and not a DSP as reported in the social media. He was a Peshkar (person who does documentation) in the ACP’s office in Babupurva, Kanpur. The allegation of supplying weapons and crores of cash was only a canard that was spread by anti-Muslim forces in social India.
It seems some people with anti-Muslim agendas are regulating social media with the sole purpose of spreading hatred against Muslims in India.
Such a kind of cybercrime is a new kind of hate crime that has sprung up under the BJP rule. Making use of the power of the Internet such crime is being committed and such criminals go scot-free as there is none to rein in the Hindu nationalists.
The saddest part is there is none to raise the voice against such injustices going on against Muslims in India. This is a chilling commentary on the status of Muslims in India.
by Editor | Sep 17, 2024 | Muslim World, Uncategorized
India has sharply condemned recent comments made by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei, which included India in a list of places where Muslims are suffering, alongside Gaza and Myanmar. In a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the remarks were labelled as “misinformed” and “unacceptable.” The MEA urged Iran to reflect on its record regarding minority rights before making such observations about other nations.
Khamenei’s comments were posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed. In his statement, Khamenei criticized the Islamic world for being indifferent to the suffering of Muslims globally, mentioning Myanmar, Gaza, and India.
The Indian government responded with a detailed rebuttal, saying that countries should focus on their own issues before commenting on the internal matters of others. This is not the first time Khamenei has commented on Indian Muslim issues.
In March 2020, following the northeast Delhi riots, Khamenei referred to the violence as a “massacre of Muslims” and called on India to address the actions of “extremist Hindus and their parties” to avoid isolation from the Muslim world.
Previously, Khamenei had also expressed concerns over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir following the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019, and he has criticized India for past events such as the 2002 Gujarat riots and the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition.
Khamenei’s criticisms have often been intertwined with broader geopolitical issues, including Iran’s strained relations with global powers like the United States. Despite these tensions, India and Iran have maintained diplomatic and economic relations, though such comments continue to strain this relationship.
by Editor | Sep 17, 2024 | News
Asad Mirza
International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) latest report reveals that half of the global population lacks social protection, exacerbating vulnerabilities amid the escalating climate crisis. Over 90% of individuals in climate-vulnerable countries are without any safety net, highlighting a critical gap in support for those most affected by environmental changes.
The ILO’s World Social Protection Report 2024-26: Universal social protection for climate action and a just transition, released last week states that around 50 per cent of the global population – which could be described as the privileged one, do have access to at least one social protection benefit – but 3.8 billion people globally lack any kind of safety net, including 1.8 billion children worldwide.
“Climate change does not recognise borders, and we cannot build a wall to keep the crisis out,” said Gilbert Houngbo, ILO Director-General. “The climate crisis affects us all and represents the single, gravest threat to social justice today.”
Findings showed that governments are failing to make full use of the powerful potential of social protection to counter the effects of the climate crisis and support a just transition to a greener future.
A ‘deeply divided world’
For the first time, more than half of the global population (52.4 per cent) has some form of social protection, climbing from 42.8 per cent in 2015, the year when the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted, according to the report.
But, in the 20 most climate-vulnerable countries, 91.3 per cent of people – or 364 million – still go without any security net. More broadly, in the 50 most climate-vulnerable countries, 75 per cent of the population – or 2.1 billion people – lack any social or livelihood protection, provided by their governments.
“The stark disparity in the right to social protection is a reflection of our deeply divided world,” said Mia Seppo, ILO Assistant Director-General. “The most urgent challenge is protecting those at the frontline of the climate crisis.”
Globally, most children (76.1 per cent) still have no effective social protection coverage, and a substantial gender gap persists, with women’s effective coverage lagging behind men by 50.1 and 54.6 per cent, respectively.
These gaps are especially significant, given the potential role of social protection in softening the impact of climate change, helping people and societies adapt to a new climate-volatile reality and facilitating a just transition to a sustainable future.
The ILO chief cautioned that many of the countries experiencing the most brutal consequences of this crisis are particularly ill-equipped to handle its environmental and livelihood consequences.
“We must recognise that what happens to impacted communities will affect us all,” Houngbo said.
How social protection helps
Social protection can help people adapt to and cope with climate-related shocks by providing social protection benefits, such as income security and access to healthcare, and cushion families, workers and enterprises during the green transition.
It can also enable more sustainable economic practices, including supporting employees with training and upskilling for employment in green and low carbon sectors.
“Social protection is essential to ensure that the ongoing green and low-carbon energy transition leaves no one behind,” Houngbo said. “The imperative to make social protection universal is not only ethical; it is also practical. By supporting and protecting workers everywhere, we can help to alleviate fears about the transition, which is essential to mobilise popular support for a sustainable and just transition.”, he further said.
Governments must step in
Despite its role as a catalyst and an enabler of positive climate action, governments are failing to make the most of social protection’s potential, largely because of persistent coverage gaps and significant underinvestment, the new report found.
On average, countries spend 12.9 per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on social protection, excluding health. However, while high-income countries spend an average of 16.2 per cent, low-income countries allocate only 0.8 per cent of their GDP to social protection.
Low-income countries, including the most climate-vulnerable States, need an additional $308.5 billion a year, or 52.3 per cent of their GDP, to guarantee at least basic coverage and international support will be needed to reach this goal.
‘Time to up the ante’
The ILO report calls for decisive and integrated policy action to close protection gaps, arguing that, “it is time to up the ante” and invest significantly in social protection.
Recommendations to help guide policy and ensure effective and sustainable outcomes include preparing for both “routine” life cycle risks and climate-related shocks with social protection systems and using social protection to support climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts while securing public acceptance of those measures.
The report also recommends prioritising investment in social protection, including external support for countries with limited fiscal space.
Need to focus on Social Protection
Social protection also contributes to raising adaptive capacities, including those of future generations through its positive impacts on human development, productive investment, and livelihood diversification. Moreover, an inclusive and efficient loss and damage response at scale can leverage social protection systems, particularly when high levels of coverage and preparedness exist.
Social protection systems are also key for compensating and cushioning people and enterprises from the potential adverse impacts of mitigation and other environmental policies. When combined with active labour market policies, they can help people transition to greener jobs and more sustainable economic practices.
Social protection can also directly support mitigation efforts. The greening of public pension funds, the conversion of fossil fuel subsidies into social protection benefits, and the provision of income support to disincentivise harmful activity to protect and restore crucial natural carbon sinks, are some of the options to support emission reductions.
Social protection systems, as part of an integrated policy response, meet the imperatives of mitigation and adaptation in an equitable manner. Social protection helps to protect people’s incomes, health and jobs, as well as enterprises, from climate shocks and the adverse impacts of climate policies. Social protection encourages productive risk-taking and forward planning and thus can ensure that everyone – including the most vulnerable – can gain from climate change adaptation measures.
It can enable job restructuring, protect living standards, maintain social cohesion, reduce vulnerability, and contribute to building fairer, more inclusive societies, and sustainable and productive economies. However, social protection cannot do this on its own. It needs to work in tandem with other policies to enable effective mitigation and adaptation policies, which are so utterly vital for a liveable planet.
Social protection increases the resilience of people, economies and societies by providing a systematic policy response to mutually reinforcing life-cycle risks and climate-related risks (which look poised to become increasingly inseparable and indistinct with each decimal point of global warming).
In this context, policymakers will have to achieve a double objective: implementing climate policies to support mitigation and adaptation efforts to contain the climate crisis, while at the same time strengthening social protection to address both ordinary life-cycle risks and climate risks. In the context of an evolving risk landscape, policymakers must ensure their social protection systems can deal with both types of risk.
by Editor | Sep 15, 2024 | News
New Delhi, September 15, 2024:Jamia Hamdard celebrated its Founder’s Day on September 14, 2024 with great enthusiasm and reverence, honouring the legacy of its visionary founder, Hakeem Abdul Hameed. The event was graced by the esteemed presence of Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Hon’ble Minister of AYUSH (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Government of India as the Chief Guest.
The day commenced with a warm Welcome Address by Prof. Reshma Nasreen, DSW, Jamia Hamdard who set a reflective and celebratory tone. Prof. Nasreen’s eloquence underscored the importance of the occasion and the university’s commitment to its founder’s ideals.
Prof. (Dr.) M. Afshar Alam, Vice Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard, passionately spoke about the significance of Founder’s Day in reaffirming the university’s dedication to the values of Hakeem Abdul Hameed, a pioneer in Unani medicine and education. He emphasized the enduring impact of Hakeem Abdul Hameed’s visionary leadership on the institution and beyond.
The highlight of the celebration was the prestigious Hakeem Abdul Hameed Memorial Lecture 2024, delivered by Prof. Syed Ainul Hasan, Vice-Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad. Titled “Globalization of Language, Literature and Culture” the lecture offered profound insights into the relationship between globalization and the evolution of language, literature and culture. Prof. Hasan’s erudition and eloquence captivated the audience, providing valuable perspectives on cultural exchange and global interconnectedness.
In a landmark event for the advancement of Unani medicine, the Centre of Excellence in Unani Medicine (Pharmacognosy and Pharmacology) was inaugurated under the Ayurswathya Yojana, an initiative of the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. The inauguration, held on Founder’s Day, was led by Shri Prataprao Jadhav and witnessed by esteemed guests including Janab Hammad Ahmed, Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard; Prof. (Dr.) M. Afshar Alam, Vice Chancellor, Dr. M. A. Sikandar, Registrar; Prof. (Dr.) Sayeed Ahmad, Director of the Centre of Excellence; Dr. Kaustubh Upadhyaya, Advisor (Ayurveda), Ministry of AYUSH; Dr. N. Zaheer Ahmed, Director General, CCRUM, Ministry of AYUSH; and Prof. Asim Ali Khan, Dean, School of Unani Medical Education and Research (SUMER).
Shri Jadhav, in his address, highlighted the importance of traditional systems of medicine like Unani in addressing modern healthcare challenges. He praised the Ministry’s efforts to promote and strengthen indigenous medical systems under the Ayurswathya Yojana. “The Centre of Excellence in Unani Medicine will pave the way for advanced research in pharmacognosy and pharmacology and contribute to the global recognition of Unani medicine,” he remarked.
Janab Hammad Ahmed, Hon’ble Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard expressed gratitude to the Ministry of AYUSH for their support in establishing this state-of-the-art centre, emphasizing Jamia Hamdard’s pioneering role in traditional medicine education and research. Prof. (Dr.) M. Afshar Alam, Vice Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard reiterated the university’s commitment to advancing the scientific understanding of Unani medicine and providing cutting-edge research facilities for scholars.
Prof. Dr. Sayeed Ahmad, Director of the Centre of Excellence, outlined the objectives of the centre, stating that it will focus on in-depth research in pharmacognosy and pharmacology to scientifically validate Unani formulations and explore new therapeutic potentials. “This centre will serve as a hub for innovation, research, and development, bridging the gap between traditional knowledge and modern scientific advancements,” he added.
The event also featured notable dignitaries, including Mr. Sajid Ahmed, CEO and Secretary, Hamdard National Foundation (HECA); Mr. S.S Akhtar, Controller of Examinations; Deans, Head of Departments and Senior officials of Jamia Hamdard.
Shri Jadhav also discussed the Government of India’s initiatives to promote Unani medicine under the Ministry of AYUSH and commended Jamia Hamdard’s efforts to empower women and improve their status within Indian society.
The program concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Dr. M.A. Sikandar, Registrar of Jamia Hamdard, who expressed gratitude to all dignitaries, faculty members, students, and staff for their active participation and contributions to the event’s success.
The Founder’s Day celebrations at Jamia Hamdard serve each year as a platform for reflecting on the university’s achievements and its unwavering commitment to the values and vision of Hakeem Abdul Hameed. The entire university community, including teaching and non-teaching staff, research scholars, and students, participated in this significant occasion, reaffirming their dedication to the institution’s mission.
by Editor | Sep 15, 2024 | News, Opinion, Opinions
Syed Ali Mujtaba
New Delhi: It seems that after the destruction of the Babari masjid, the appetite for the demolition of mosques continues unabated in India.
Media reports are agog with stories about mosques being demolished in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
Someone needs to do a count of how many mosques have been destroyed since the ill-fated event on December 6. 1992.
The latest incident occurred on Friday, September 13, 2024, at the Railway Colony in Prayagraj/Allahabad. There when the Muslim worshippers arrived for the weekly Friday prayers, they found their place of worship in a demolished state.
The mosque was situated around 150 meters from Prayagraj Railway Station and was torn down by the local authorities without any prior notice or following any legal procedure.
Eyewitnesses reported that during demolition no one gave any respect to the copies of the holy Holy Quran kept inside the mosque that were reported to be desecrated during the incident.
Some apologists have argued that the mosque was constructed on unauthorized land. Since it was done without legal permission, the demolition of the mosque did not warrant following any legal procedure.
The straight answer is that this was a functional mosque where people were going for religious purposes and that is protected under the right of religious freedom. In such a case Muslims cannot be subjected to such a targeted attack on their place of worship.
No doubt, the sudden demolition of the mosque has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the local Muslims and the community members are in shock over such an outrageous activity.
This incident has raised serious concerns about the protection of Muslim religious sites and the legal protocols that should be followed in such matters.
What is noticed is that the Hindutva elements have found a new handle to attack the Muslim community and this time targeting the mosques that may be constructed on unauthorized land.
Recently, the Sanjauli mosque in Shimla grabbed headlines for unauthorized construction. This was followed by a similar incident at a mosque in Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. In both places, a peaceful resolution was reached after the consultation with the concerned parties.
However, in the case of the Railway Colony mosque in Prayagraj, no such efforts were ever being made. The mosque was demolished to humiliate the Muslim community. Explicit in the design was an anti-Muslim agenda.
This is a sorry picture of contemporary India, where wanton destruction of Muslim religious sites has become a new pastime in India.
