This strange argument

Recently newspapers started a debate that no big communal riot occurred in any part of the country after 2002, and this shows that communal amity has been established in the country. This debate was initiated at the completion of ten years of anti-Muslim pogrom in Gujarat, and certain commentators advised that the Muslims, having forgotten whatever had happened in Gujarat, should concentrate themselves on their socio-economic development. In this context the issue of reservation also came under discussion, and column-writers of a particular mentality expressed their view that as the socio-economic condition of Muslims is improving, the Muslim community should give up its claim to reservation.  An article on this subject was published in The Hindustan Times of 16^th March. The writer Ram Chandra Guha has emphasized that since the condition of Muslims has turned for the better, they should not stake any claim which might provide an opportunity for communalism to raise its head in the country once again. Some commentators and letter-writers rejected this deceitful view with strong arguments.

The candidness of a writer

Now Ram Puniyani, in his fresh article, has strongly rejected both these assumptions. He has written that neither communal amity has been established in the country nor the socio-economic condition of Muslims has changed for the better. Non-occurrence of any major communal riot within a period of ten years does not mean that prejudice and discrimination against Muslims has come to an end. The fact remains that even today this discrimination continues more or less in every branch of life in the country. The police are biased during riots even today as it was seen in Rajasthan recently. The government has adopted a policy all over the country that after every incident of violence the case is “solved” by detaining some Muslims. There is talk of forgetting the incidents that shook Gujarat in 2002 but Muslims are in a worse condition there even today. The victims were not delivered justice nor were they rehabilitated – those who want to keep Muslims deprived of reservation on the ground of non-occurrence of riots are in the wrong. Ram Puniyani is a straightforward and realistic writer of English. This article of his was published in the March 21 issue of The Hindustan Times.

Analyze it more deeply

The realities pointed out by Ram Puniyani are undoubtedly real. There is also no doubt in the fact that he has displayed much courage. However if he gives a further fillip to his courage and analyze the causes of the prevailing situation more deeply, he would definitely reach the conclusion that this is the result of the same planned conspiracy which was hatched during the last few years of the British Raj and a few years before the independence of the country. In the beginning such a situation was created in which a large chunk of Muslims of the subcontinent started seeing solution to their problems in their having a separate State, and then with much deceit a small piece of land in the name of Pakistan was dished out to them and thus the united strength of Muslims was broken, and having taken them permanent hostage they were practically treated as second class citizens. Then putting total responsibility of Partition on their shoulders, continuous propaganda was unleashed against them through syllabi, history books and media. This deep and far-reaching Machiavellian conspiracy was bound to result in the situation which Ram Puniyani is lamenting today. The most colossal loss the Muslim community had to bear is that having been in this situation it forgot its status of Daie (caller to the truth) and Ummat-e-Wast (the median community).

28/03/12 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf

The media doesn’t like this

The Indian media has been worried for quite some time that the new generation of Pakistan is increasingly turning towards religion; and they (those who are turning towards religion) include those who had been active in different fields of art and culture, and now they are marching towards religious terrorism. Many comments and analyses on this subject have found place in media during the last few days. Now The Times of India (Mar 18) has lamented on the religious tendencies of musicians and dancers of Pakistan. Referring to Pakistani newspapers, its reporter in Delhi has reported: “Faith & fear silence Pakistan's singers”, and that music is dying gradually in the land of Taliban. To the reporter, its major reason is the threats issued by religious fanatics to the artistes. But the examples he has cited do not suggest any force or coercion behind causing this change in the artistes. May be, in the tribal areas of north-west Pakistan, where there is much stress on following the Shari’ah values, sale of cheap and blue videos is prohibited.

Examples cited by the reporter

(1) Until a few months ago, Lahore’s pop singer Shiraz Uppal's caller tune was a song from an Indian film; now, one hears a prayer. Uppal has recently declared that he has taken an exile from pop music because his religion forbids it. (2) UAE-based Pashtun singer Nazia Iqbal, at a programme this January, announced that she would quit music to live as a "devoted Muslim woman". She also announced her plans to open madrassas in Pakistan. (3) A senior pop singer named Ali Haider made the transition from pop to devotional songs in 2009. Now, he sings only religious naats and has taken to preaching. – The reporter has written that certain singers and musicians have been killed by religious extremists. But even after going through full report on its web site it is not clear that people are doing so under force and coercion. However, the reporter has tried to prove this.

This is particular mindset

In fact, a particular kind of mindset is found in our media as a result of its indifference to Islamic values. They cannot bear promotion of Islamic trend even in a Muslim country. A few years ago some newspapers made hue and cry on the abundance of Muslims in Sri Lankan mosques and on following of Islamic values at common places, saying that Islamic fundamentalism was on increase. The same hue and cry was raised recently on the enthusiasm for Islamic values seen among the men and women of Maldives. And a few years ago the same voice was raised on the bearded faces of some Pakistani cricket players and their Islamic leanings. However then they had not got an opportunity, even after their attempts to find one, to talk of force and coercion used by gun-trotting persons. This mindset is the fruit of traditional anti-Islam minds running the media, and also to some extent the result of their unawareness with Islamic values. It is better that the persons of Pakistan about whom these objections are raised react thereto. Pakistani High Commission should also take notice of such reports.

25/03/12 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf

The visit and return of a so-called writer

A so-called English writer Salman Rushdie visited Delhi secretly, addressed a crowd of some literate persons in Delhi, telling them whatever he had been invited for, and returned secretly. During his address to the royal crowd, he mocked in a funny way at those who had objected to his visit. In this conclave of India Today i.e. the tamasha of corporate media, Imran Khan of Pakistan was also invited but when he came to know that Rushdie too was invited to this tamasha, he refused to participate therein and also explained the reason for refusal that he would not like to sit with a person who has hurt millions of men. Akhilesh Yadav from U.P. and Umar Abdullah from Kashmir were also invited to the tamasha, but they sought excuse citing their preoccupations. Rushdie mocked at these two also along with Imran. As for the oppositions asserted by Congress leaders, he said, “Their speculations went wrong; the Congress was defeated badly in Uttar Pradesh.”

He is an impostor

But this time it is useless to talk of the mischief of Rushdie; he adopted the same tone and temper for which the whole western world showers praises on him. Even in this country only the mental slaves of the West opt to honour him. This Satanic writer cannot be expected of any soft attitude, seeking forgiveness and expressing regret. He would fall from the affection of the western Christian world and its cultural slaves the day he effects a change in his tone. Then why would he do this business of utter loss? He is a cunning, mischievous and shrewd writer and works on his personal agenda. He has won the hearts of all destructive forces by haranguing against Islam and its sacred personages. Otherwise, who would have cared for this characterless, voluptuous animal; however detailed and sensational stories of his waywardness and sexual anarchy must have been published. The statements of his former “wives” would have found place in the corporate media. Then his freedom of expression would have been compared with that of Arvind Kejriwal, who has been issued notice for calling a spade a spade.

Analysis but from which angle

The mind-set which invited Rushdie here should be analysed. The corporate owners of India Today Group knew it perfectly well that the question of Rushdie’s participation in Jaipur Literary Festival had caused a great controversy recently, and the move was vehemently opposed by the sections of citizens whom Rushdie had caused mental torture; it had caused an awkward situation for the organisers too. But despite this the Group invited him, why? Has he really contributed something worthwhile to literature and history? Or is freedom of expression really very dear to this corporate media? Or is it that the entire programme would have flopped had Rushdie not participated therein, and defamed the Group? There was nothing of the sort. Non-participation of Rushdie would have made no difference – in fact this mischievous act was done willingly and this is the same mind-set that makes those who call names to minorities hero even inside the country. Bal Thackeray, Modi and Uma Bharti are its examples. Therefore it is this mentality, and not the stooges and swindlers like Rushdie, that has to be analysed.   

16/03/12 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf

This is also a leader

Many might have heard the name of Dr. Subramanian Swamy, also seen him in photographs, and read news items about him that he is a typical person in Indian politics. Now there is news that his Janata Party has joined N.D.A. N.D.A is a forum of some Opposition parties led by B.J.P. The news is that Janata Party has joined it. But the fact remains that it is Swamy who has joined it, and not his party. Because his party does not exist. Might be it is there on paper only as many schools are on paper only. This news does not hold much importance for common people or for those who have been keeping an eye on the manoeuvrings of Indian politics for fifteen or twenty years; however this news is indeed interesting for those who have been aware of Dr. Swamy’s political gimmicks since 1980s. In the very beginning Dr. Swamy was with Bharatiya Jana Sangh. During the Emergency imposed in 1975 he went underground wandering about. When the Janata Party was formed in 1977, he joined it. But when Bharatiya Jana Sangh was reinstated in the form of Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980, he did not re-join it; or even if he might have re-joined it, he soon left it only to hurl abuses on the party.

The list of abuses

And the abuses were not minor. He called R.S.S a terrorist and anti-national organisation, held it responsible for riots, called Sangh and B.J.P. leaders coward, used to say that those people happened to be very pigeon-hearted; and if the administration and police act in an stringent manner, they would be seen nowhere. Had the complete list of abuses been in the record of some people, they are the senior B.J.P. leaders of today. Swamy had made all these allegations against the B.J.P. during the movement for restoration of Babri Masjid. At that time Swamy was in full support of Muslim standpoint, and used to participate in their every big programme. Not only this, Swamy raised his voice against anti-Muslim riots and the excesses committed against Muslims by the police and administration. It was only due to him that the incident of Muslim massacre in Hashimpura in Meerut got attention at international level. The campaign of Subramanian Swamy against B.J.P (R.S.S) and in favour of Muslims was so intense that he was dubbed a pro-Muslim leader. But a few years ago, Swamy took a sudden turn and appeared in his old Jana Sangh colour. And then this colour got deepened.

This is the worst kind of corruption

Opposing Sachar Committee, filing a case against Islamic Banking in Kerala and writing poisonous comments against Muslims in a Mumbai-based magazine, Swamy qualified himself fully for the B.J.P. Now why did the party not throw a red carpet for this leader? This remains the history of the party. It can stoop to any level for attainment of its specific interests. It has done the same in cases of Uma Bharti of Madhya Pradesh, Kalyan Singh of U.P, and Gopi Nath Munde of Maharashtra. One more reason for its closeness with Subramanian Swamy is that nowadays he is much against Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and the B.J.P thinks that this can topple the Congress government at the Centre. We are not interested in the wayward politics of Dr. Swamy nor in the morality of B.J.P; however this opportunistic politics of both presents a glimpse of electoral politics in India and shows how deep moral decadence has gone. Anna Hazare and his team should also pay attention to this worst kind of corruption.

19/03/12 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf

Script Writing of Police

When the police arrest an individual, sometimes they concoct very typical stories to buttress their action.  And if the arrest is related to terrorism and the concerned person is a Muslim, the typicality of those stories gets enhanced. But it has been often seen that the police, in their script, care less about the judges in courts and more about the media and common public. This is so because the media is ever ready to take forward those stories and the common public is also ever ready to believe them; and the police want this only. Therefore, they do not care much about the ultimate end of their stories, and in most cases act upon the advice of Sahir Ludhianvi:

Woh afsaana jisay anjaam tak lana na ho mumkin,

Usay ek khoobsoorat mor day kar chorna achcha.

(The story that is difficult to be concluded,

It is better to drop it at some interesting turn.)

Because, before giving it some interesting turn, the intent of their political policymakers is served in the form of ruination of the life of the concerned person and devastation of his family and in defaming his community. The latest example is that of a youth named Aamir of Delhi. This is why the police do not take it necessary to seek the services of intelligent and expert script writers.

The police did so here also

Delhi Police did so in the case of the renowned journalist of Delhi, Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi. Besides the usual mentality of police, the zeal of activism and the desire to win praise, this time Israeli pressure was also at work. Israel wanted that the Iranian hand in the “terror” attack on its lady diplomat’s car in New Delhi on Feb 13 must be proved as soon as possible so that its aggressive stand against Iran may get strengthened. Although the Israeli pressure was not on Delhi police rather on the Government of India, and despite Israel’s raising of much hue and cry the initial stand of the Government of India was that it had not reached the conclusion, yet the anxiety of Tel Aviv was increasing so much so that it said the Indian police had solid proof but they did not want to reveal. On the other hand, the Union Home Ministry was also seen drifting away from its initial stand. Therefore, under these very circumstances, Mr. Kazmi was arrested in a dramatic manner. And the manner he was arrested was, as was evident from the images, that as if he were the “most wanted terrorist”, caught at the airport or railway station while trying to escape, and the police personnel had also wrapped the kind of cloth, which a religious Muslim usually use, around his head and face so that the onlookers might not have any doubt in ascertaining as to who the arrested person is.

The requirement of solid course of action

And as far as the question of script is concerned, the details are there in newspapers; the readers can themselves read and guess how “solid” a case the police have prepared and how “concrete” proof they have gathered. Mr. Kazmi’s reporting for Iranian news agency, visiting Iran and Iraq repeatedly, going on a visit to Syria along with a group of journalists after the car blast, recovery of a doubtful bike from his residence, frequent visit to Iranian embassy (in New Delhi), his belonging to the Shia community (so that his close connection with Iran may be proved) – It is a matter of satisfaction that the journalist community and human rights groups have taken due notice of the excesses done to Mr. Kazmi. Muslim leaders have expressed and are expressing their anger and agony. But all this should not remain mere customary; efforts should be made to make it result-oriented. The fact to be kept in view is that the Delhi police did this act at a time when protest marches are being staged against detention of innocent Muslim youth in different parts of the country. The Muslims in Delhi in particular have provided a proof of their being awakened in this regard. It is as if you do whatever you can and the police would do what they want to. Is this situation not demanding a solid and spirited course of action?

16/03/12 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf