Rasheed, et al-
Maybe you folks could assist us with forming Indian Hindu Council - USA ('Defending India's freedom, democracy and NON-SUBSERVIENT Pluralism')
It would be GREAT if Indian Muslims stopped behaving like Nawabs, Badshahs, etc., and lived shoulder to shoulder with Hindus and others.
Rahul
From: "Rasheed Ahmed" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: IMC-USA: Religious freedom: U.S. panel lists India among 'violators' Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2004 15:24:00 -0600
Indian Muslim Council, USA (IMC-USA) 'Defending India's freedom, democracy and pluralism' IMC-USA Weekly News Digest - February 22nd, 2004
In this issue...
Communal Harmony in Action:
* Gandhi would have been <> proud of them * Making a difference <>
News Headlines:
* Religious freedom: U.S. <> panel lists India among `violators' * US panel on religious <> freedom wants to visit India * Salt in mass grave may <> explain Gujarat's missing in Bilkis case * Not just salt to decompose <> bodies, more evidence of Gujarat cops' cover-up * Film on Gujarat riots wins <> two awards in Berlin * IPTA artists resent <> growing fascism in India * BJP's star trek continues: <> Hema, Dharam to join * RSS first in Uma team <> * Declaring India `Hindu <> Rashtra' meaningless: Kanchi seer * Muslims unmoved by <> Mulayam's Friday order
Opinions & Editorials:
* Now, for a conservative <> Hindu response - By Sadar Nayeem * Somanatha and Mahmud - By <> Romila Thapar * The case of the salted <> bodies - By Rakesh Shukla * BJP's weapons of mass <> persuasion - By S.S.Gill
Communal Harmony in Action:
Gandhi would have been proud of them (Feb 18 2004, Indian Express) Ankush Dhanvijay, Commissioner of Police, Amravati His tactful handling of the situation on several occasions has prevented major riots in Amravati, otherwise a communally sensitive town. He's organised harmony weeks, an 'Ekta rally' and other programmes to promote communal harmony. He's had the support of citizens across the city-the Amravati Municipal Corporation even passed a resolution applauding his work.
Gulabrao Pol, Deputy Inspector General (Motor Transport), Pune When Mumbai was burning in the post-Babri fervour, neighbouring Bhiwandi-known for its long history of communal clashes-remained silent. Among those responsible for this success was Pol, serving as deputy commissioner in Bhiwandi then.
Rajvardhan, Superintendent of Police, Gadchiroli When riots broke out in Malegaon in October 2001, Rajvardhan was recalled from Buldhana. That's the level of support he enjoyed, from both communities, during his stint as sub-divisional police officer there. After taking over as additional superintendent, Rajvardhan took the initiative to form peace committees in 90 adjoining villages. The impact of his work was such that the entire town of Malegaon remained peaceful even when neighbouring Gujarat saw unprecedented riots post-Godhra.
Kaiser Ahmed, Inspector (Crime Intelligence Department), SB-I During the post-Babri riots in 1992-1993, Ahmed was posted at Pydhonie, a predominantly Muslim area. Here, he formed Mohalla Ekta Committees to bridge the gap between the two communities, something that set a trend to be followed by other police stations. He repeated his experiments successfully when he was posted in similar communally sensitive areas later. http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=76319
SEE ALSO:
Gadchiroli SP gets Gandhi peace award (Feb 19 2004, Times of India) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/504925.cms
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Making a difference (Feb 12 2004, Mid-Day) Ghazala and Irfana Mujawar had always wanted to do something for the people of the area spanned with pre-dominantly a lower middle class population. "Education is extremely important", she emphasises. .. But Ghazala deliberately chose Harinagar to begin her endeavours into reality even if meant a beginning so simple as this. The area is extremely fragmented on a religious basis so much so that the Hindu-dominated area is referred to as Hindustan and the Muslim dominated area as Pakistan. ''I wanted my school to be the buffer zone. It is precisely the reason why I have named my school as Young Indians' school." "It really hurts when Muslims are asked to prove their patriotism", Ghazala says. As if to make a point, the walls of the tiny classrooms are replete with 'I love India' paintings and the tricolour. Initially Hindu parents were apprehensive to send their kids to her school. "But now 15 per cent of our 100-odd students are non-Muslim which is noteworthy.'' http://ww1.mid-day.com/mumbaikar/2004/february/76245.htm
SEE ALSO:
On a mission for communal amity (Feb 6 2004, NewsToday) http://newstodaynet.com/06feb/rf6.htm
A day at the school (Feb 15 2004, The Week) http://www.the-week.com/24feb15/currentevents_article4.html
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News Headlines:
Religious freedom: U.S. panel lists India among `violators' (Feb 12 2004, The Hindu) WASHINGTON, FEB. 11. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended to the Secretary of State that 11 countries including India be designated as "Countries of Particular Concern" (CPCs) on account of the "systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom that the governments are responsible for or have tolerated." .."In India violence including fatal attacks against Muslims and Christians continues and the government has yet to address adequately the killing of an estimated 2,000 Muslims in Gujarat in 2002," Mr. Young wrote. "Several Ministers from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have publicly allied themselves with extremist Hindu organisations known collectively as the Sangh Parivar whose members regularly employ hate speech against religious minorities, have been implicated in violence against them and seek legislation to prohibit the religious conversion of Dalits and others from Hinduism," the commission has said. http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/12/stories/2004021205401100.htm
SEE ALSO:
Dissent in US body over naming India as 'country of concern' (Feb 11 2004, Hindustan Times) http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_569189,00050001.htm
'India violating religious freedom' (Feb 11 2004, Times of India) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/491241.cms
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US panel on religious freedom wants to visit India (Feb 19 2004, Hindustan Times) The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has sought a fresh invitation to visit India for a firsthand assessment of the state of religious freedom in the country. The commission, which recently recommended inclusion of India in a dubious list of "countries of particular concern," says New Delhi should not block a fact-finding mission if it believes that the situation is not as bad as made out in media reports. The recommendation has been justified on grounds of "continuing violence against Muslims and Christians" and what the panel regards as the Government's failure to adequately address the Gujarat killings issue. "India is the only democratic country that has not extended an invitation for the commission to visit, and we would welcome that invitation," panel chairman Michael Young said while speaking to journalists in Washington. http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_578976,00050001.htm
SEE ALSO:
India has not addressed `serious problems': U.S. panel (Feb 20 2004, The Hindu) http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/20/stories/2004022007831100.htm
Avoid rights violations in J&K: Govt directs forces (Feb 14 2004, Times of India) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/496640.cms
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Salt in mass grave may explain Gujarat's missing in Bilkis case (Feb 9 2004, Indian Express) NEW DELHI/VADODARA, FEBRUARY 8: The CBI, probing the mass rape and murder of 14 people during the Gujarat riots, claims they have found several packets of salt while exhuming human remains from a mass grave in Dahod - the Gujarat police claimed the victims were missing - suspected to be the site where bodies of family members of Bilkis Yaqoob Rasool were dumped. CBI sources said witnesses have told them that a Gujarat Police head constable Nalpat Singh - he's one of the 12 arrested by the CBI after the Supreme Court reopened the case of Bilkis whose plight was highlighted by The Indian Express - ordered them to fetch 60 kg of salt to get rid of the bodies in March 2002. The salt was used for early disintegration of the bodies but that, CBI sources said, did not really happen because the moisture-content in the soil - the grave's near a rivulet - was very high. http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=40751
SEE ALSO:
Mass rape & murder: Exhumed in Gujarat, remains come to Delhi (Feb 6 2004, Newindpress) http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IEP20040205143844
Court refuses Gujarat policemen bail in rape case (Feb 11 2004, IANS) http://in.news.yahoo.com/040211/43/2bfse.html
Sabarmati suspect: cops, crowd face off in Godhra (Feb 19 2004, Indian Express) http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=41406
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Not just salt to decompose bodies, more evidence of Gujarat cops' cover-up (Feb 11 2004, Indian Express) NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 10: When the CBI submits its 15-page status report on the mass murder and rape of 14 of Bilqis Yakoob Rasool's relatives to the Supreme Court tomorrow, it will present pieces of a grotesque jigsaw puzzle that piece together a disturbing picture of the Gujarat police. Senior CBI officials and forensic scientists have confirmed to The Indian Express that pieces of clothing exhumed from the site in Dahod match those featured in photographs taken of the bodies when the Gujarat police hurriedly conducted the post mortem. http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=40888
SEE ALSO:
Police goofed up in Bilkis case: CBI (Feb 13 2004, Times of India) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/493594.cms
Police submit Gujarat riot report (Feb 12 2004, BBC) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3481745.stm
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Film on Gujarat riots wins two awards in Berlin (Feb 17 2004, Times of India) MUMBAI: Final Solution, Rakesh Sharma's searing documentary on Gujarat riots, has won two awards at the 54th Berlin International Film Festival. The film, incidentally, was rejected for the recently concluded Mumbai International Festival, allegedly on account of its politically sensitive content. It was this very content that struck a chord with both the jury members and audiences at Berlin. The jury citation of the Wolfgang Staudte award says: "An epic documentary focussing on a culture of hatred and indifference." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/500473.cms
SEE ALSO:
Film on Gujarat riots bags awards at Berlin festival (Feb 16 2004, IANS) http://in.news.yahoo.com/040216/43/2biqp.html
Riot on reel: Gujarat films find an audience (Feb 6 2004, Indian Express) http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=75206
For 'fearless' Gujarat riots coverage, Indian Express gets award (Feb 16 2004, Indian Express) http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=41195
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IPTA artists resent growing fascism in India (Feb 8 2004, Times of India) PATNA: The assault on artists and their creativity by self-appointed cultural police in various parts of the country found an expression in plays presented by artists of Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA), Patna. The IPTA artists, through their plays, showed their concern for the recent vandalism by Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists at Surat where the paintings by eminent artists were destroyed at the exhibition in Garden Gallery of Modern Art and Textile. They also expressed sadness over the growing fascism in the country which is a threat to artists. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/483377.cms
SEE ALSO:
Modi paid back in his own coin (Feb 12 2004, Statesman) http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2 <http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=35 506> &theme=&usrsess=1&id=35506
Attack on Freedom of Speech and expression in Rajasthan (Feb 13 2004, Sabrang) http://sabrang.com/news/2004/13feb04.htm
Habib Tanvir MP govt's latest victim? (Feb 15 2004, Deccan Herald) http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb152004/n5.asp
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BJP's star trek continues: Hema, Dharam to join (Feb 19 2004, Times of India) The party, which hogged the headlines by inducting Maneka and Varun Gandhi and, later, Navjot Sidhu and others will showcase former Union minister Arif Mohammad Khan, and Hema Malini as its latest trophies. Also on the anvil is the induction of Hema Malini's reel and real life partner Dharemendra. The induction of Garam Dharam has been planned with an eye on the Jat votes. That the actor continues to be a draw with his community was evident from the response Hema Malini got in Rajasthan where she had been strategically deployed by the party. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/504962.cms
SEE ALSO:
Arif Mohammed Khan may join BJP (Feb 16 2004, Times of India) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/498413.cms
When Hindutva met Sidhutva... (Feb 19 2004, Times of India) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/504957.cms
LS Polls: BJP`s New Stars (Feb 2004, SIFY) http://sify.com/news/imagegallery.php?cid=2496 <http://sify.com/news/imagegallery.php?cid=2496&type=E&idx=&id=13393426> &type=E&idx=&id=13393426
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RSS first in Uma team (Feb 12 2004, Telegraph) Bhopal, Feb. 11: For the first time in the history of independent India, a functionary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been appointed �political adviser� to the Madhya Pradesh government. Chief minister Uma Bharti today appointed Anil Dave, the Bhopal division RSS chief, to the coveted post. A close aide of Uma said: �Yes, for the first time in our history, an office-bearer of the RSS has been loaned to the government.� The BJP regimes at the Centre and states are packed with persons with RSS background, he said. �But for the first time a direct recruitment has been made.� Dave, who will hold a cabinet minister's rank, was the chief architect of Uma's landslide victory in the recent Assembly polls. He worked round the clock, operating behind the scenes from a nameless three-room outhouse in the heart of Bhopal. The �command and operations� office was called �Jawli�, named after a place in Maharashtra where Shivaji is said to have assassinated Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's general and point man Shaista Khan. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040212/asp/nation/story_2887109.asp
SEE ALSO:
Now official: Uma gives RSS a foot and more in govt door (Feb 12 2004, Indian Express) http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=40979
Sangh Parivar to launch network of cooperative units, Self Help Groups (Feb 6 2004, KeralaNext) http://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=25779
VHP has its eye on top 20 LS constituencies (Feb 8 2004, Indian Express) http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=75415
Munda govt drops charges, 'rioters', kar sevaks freed (Feb 17 2004, Indian Express) http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=41264
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Declaring India `Hindu Rashtra' meaningless: Kanchi seer (Feb 15 2004, The Hindu) Bhopal, Feb. 15 (PTI): Rejecting the idea of declaring India a 'Hindu Rashtra', the Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamkoti Peetham, Swami Jayendra Saraswati, today said such proposals are meaningless as Hindus are in majority everywhere in the country. "People should understand that Hindus in our country are already a majority in every sphere -- population wise as also in terms of representation in Government," he said at a 'Meet The Press' programme here. http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/00115200059.htm
SEE ALSO:
India will be made a Hindu state: Togadia (Feb 13 2004, The Hindu) http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/00113101561.htm
Vajpayee vows to build controversial temple at Ayodhya (Feb 8 2004, IANS) http://in.news.yahoo.com/040208/137/2bdoj.html
Advani commits to Ram temple cause (Feb 9 2004, Economic Times) http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/484428.cms
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Muslims unmoved by Mulayam's Friday order (Feb 20 2004, Times of India) Except for a few odd clergymen, Muslims at large refused to buy this tokenism. In fact, by showing such blatant appeasement, he gave the Sangh Parivar ample to shout about. Muslim leaders have called Mulayam's move "a politically opportunistic decision". Kamal Faruqui, member of the Muslim Personal Law Board, said: "Muslims don't need emotive issues. They need constructive issues which translate into a better life. They need schools and not a half-day of teaching so they can pray on Fridays." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow/50924 4.cms
SEE ALSO:
'Why is Mulayam doing it now?' (Feb 19 2004, Rediff) http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/feb/19up.htm
Urdu's not Greek for this group (Feb 8 2004, Indian Express) http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=75418
Christie's to auction Mughal riches (Feb 11 2004, Times of India) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/490605.cms
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Opinions and Editorials:
Now, for a conservative Hindu response - By Sadar Nayeem (Feb 10 2004, The Statesman) The Deoband School edict against cow slaughter represents the coming to fruition of the Muslim community's pressure on its conservative clergy, writes SK SADAR NAYEEM ..Under these circumstances, the Deoband fatwa will have a long-lasting resonance amongst the people of all sections of society, especially Hindus, to the extent that this time round, Muslims have voluntarily made a positive gesture vis-�-vis an issue close to their heart. This proves that the Muslim community is once again all set to leap out of isolation to embrace a brave new world challenging orthodoxy. It would add to the fight which Indian Muslims would hopefully undertake in a bid to attack their own social ills on a mass scale. It's now the turn of the vast majority of Hindus, especially those who have reinforced their prejudices against Muslims, to reciprocate. The political hawks will then fail in their strategy to widen communal cleavage to garner votes. Communal mobilisation in the name of Hindutva or Islam will then be thwarted. The battle will have to be fought by both Hindus and Muslims from within. http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=4 <http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=4&theme=&usrsess=1&id=35 335> &theme=&usrsess=1&id=35335
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Hindu nationalism: Harmony or discord? - By Rahul Sarnaik (Feb 13 2004, BBC) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3478687.stm
Retrace Bapu's footsteps - By Kuldip Nayar (Feb 10 2004, Indian Express) http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=40762
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Somanatha and Mahmud - By Romila Thapar (Vol 16, Iss 8, Frontline) Mahmud of Ghazni's raid on the Somanatha temple in 1026 did not create a Hindu-Muslim dichotomy. Indeed a rigorous historical analysis of five different narratives or representations of what happened yields surprising new insights. ...MAHMUD'S raid on the temple of Somanatha and the destruction of the idol has become an event of immense significance in the writing of Indian history since the last couple of centuries. According to some writers, it has been seminal to antagonistic Hindu-Muslim relations over the last thousand years. Yet a careful investigation of the representation of this event and related matters in various sources of this thousand year period suggests that this conventional view is in itself a misrepresentation of the reading of the event in terms of Hindu-Muslim relations. http://www.flonnet.com/fl1608/16081210.htm
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The de-fabrication of a history - By C P Bhambhri (Feb 16 2004, Business Standard) http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=34 <http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=34&story=34407> &story=34407
The likes of Modi and Togadia will destroy India's - Editorial (Feb 7 2004, Telegraph) http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040207/asp/opinion/story_2863828.asp
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The case of the salted bodies - By Rakesh Shukla (Feb 13 2004, Indian Express) Sprinkling of salt on bodies to ensure their early disintegration and the recovery of human remains on exhumation from collective graves bring back memories of Nazi Germany. This is the scenario unfolding in the Bilkis Bano case - the solitary case that the Supreme Court has thought it fit to direct the CBI to investigate. The order by Head Constable Nalpat Singh to the panch witnesses to buy salt to decompose bodies and the impending arrest of the deputy superintendent of police, Ramon Bhagora, are illustrative of the nature and extent of the cover-up by the Gujarat police. However, it is no one's case that these policemen had any personal �animus� in the matter. The probable involvement of Jaswant Bhabhor, the then state civil supplies minister, is a pointer towards the reasons that motivated the the police personnel to destroy, hide and tamper with crucial evidence, instead of collecting evidence of grave crimes like murder and rape as per their bounden duty. http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=40991
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The Friday fix - Editorial (Feb 21 Indian Express) http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=41503
Flash in the pan? - By Praful Bidwai (Feb 20 2004, Hindustan Times) http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_578954,00120001.htm
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BJP's weapons of mass persuasion - By S.S.Gill (Feb 20 2004, Indian Express) Just one year ago the economy was in the dumps, agricultural and industrial production was declining, investment in both sectors was shrinking, unemployment was mounting, fiscal deficit was unmanageable, the Congress ruled in 14 states and Gujarat was the largest of the four states ruled by the BJP. Then there was a bountiful monsoon. So, all economic indicators started moving upwards. And to cap this stroke of good luck, the BJP snatched three states from the Congress. Suddenly, India started ''shining'' and became ''incredible'', people began ''feeling good''. Overnight, we were racing to become one of the world's leading economies.
...Let there be no doubt that if the BJP returns to power, it will follow a far more aggressive Hindutva agenda than it has done so far. Vajpayee is rightly credited with sagacity and statesmanship. But he is also an astute politician. It is not generally realised how systematically he has emasculated all his alliance partners. The education minister has systematically saffronised school education, as also research institutes receiving government grants. Now he is extending the BJP's hegemony over leading technical and professional institutions. Handpicked loyalists man critical positions in the official media. And let us not forget that BJP ministers have repeatedly asserted their commitment to Hindutva and it was only compulsions of coalition politics which tampered their fervour. The RSS has already announced that even if the Ayodhya dispute is resolved, its demand for Mathura and Kashi will not be given up. It is not unlikely that the next time, the zeal of the BJP-led government might get the better of its discretion. http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=41437
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