One more astonishing commentary

The one-sided and unfair reporting of the Bangladesh scenario in the Indian media has found mention here (in this column) earlier; a magazine like Tehelka is also no exception though it usually tries to bring the ground reality to the limelight. Now a more astonishing and more distressing commentary by a very renowned and globally acclaimed commentator has come to the fore, on the same subject and in the same tone. This commentator is our Kuldip Nayar, who is the senior most journalist after Sardar Khushwant Singh. Having seen the headline of his article in some daily newspapers on 20 March, it was hoped that the writer would have done justice to the topic and suggested to the Bangladesh administration not to dig up the old issue; that he would have advised the new generation to forget the bitterness of 1971 and direct all the energies to the progress and development of the country; that he would have condemned the excesses and persecution perpetrated by the government of that country on Jamaat-e-Islami, severely criticized the methodology and decisions of the international tribunal, and would have asked Sheikh Hasina as to why it did not occur to her to initiate cases of war crimes when she had come to power earlier and why it has occurred to her now. Now what has happened there that she is targeting Jamaat people there, sidelining all the State affairs?

And this is the same Nayar sahib
But there was nothing of the sort in the commentary of Mr. Nayar; not even a bit of objectivity. It was on the same line that the Indian media has adopted on the issue: “The sense of Joi Bangla is returning home… a country which had lost its ethos is returning to the right path… the spirit of Bangladesh has enlivened in the people of Bangladesh… they want death sentence for the perpetrators of war crimes and ban on the Jamat-e-Islami… this spirit of the youth is necessary for the development of Bangladesh…. The situation is not easy when money is pouring into the coffers of the Jamat.” It is interesting to note that this is the same Mr. Nayar who has been active for a long time for the betterment of Indo-Pak relations. He keeps on advising both the countries to forget the bitterness of 1947 and establish cordial relations afresh; there is no gain in keeping the bitterness of Partition intact. But he is very much happy at the return of the 1971 bitterness in Bangladesh and at the “awareness” of sense of revenge in the youth there, is encouraging it and deems it necessary for the development of Bangladesh.

Had he been aware…
It was, and is even today, my opinion that Mr. Kuldip Nayar is a well-aware journalist; that he keeps deep insight into the events and developments and comments thereon objectively. But not a single quality of his could be seen in his commentary on the Bangladesh scenario. As for the Jamaat there, he has given the impression of total ignorance about it. Had he been aware of it, he would have written: “As a patriotic unit the Jamaat had been against the division of Pakistan; its men might have taken part in the armed struggle but the charges of killing innocents, attacking non-Muslims, excesses against women, looting properties and indulging in destructive activities levelled against them are wrong and baseless….” Perhaps Mr. Nayar would have also written: “During the 1971 war there was widespread propaganda against the Jamaat besides the Pakistani army; they had been character-assassinated; baseless news and information were being spread. These news and reports were released with the dateline of “Mujeeb Nagar” and this “Mujeeb Nagar” was situated in a hotel of Calcutta (now Kolkata)….” But I don’t know whether Mr. Nayar is really unaware (of these facts) or is practising feigned ignorance as a policy of expediency. However I respect Mr. Nayar very much but this commentary of his did not behove his status and position. Even now, it is my pleasant view that he could not get the time to understand the present ground realities in Bangladesh. 

28/03/13 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf

Most important point of the commentary

One important point in the commentary on the irresponsible behaviour of the Indian police that the renowned journalist of English media Sagarika Ghose has published in the Hindustan Times (13 March) on the question of terror incidents is also the lack of transparency in police actions. She writes: “The police must be transparent on why the Muslim youths were caught and must openly state on what basis the youths were implicated. It is only when the cult of secrecy on flawed investigations is broken, that we can make sure that other innocents are not caught and those who are continuing to bomb with impunity are brought to justice. The rise of Islamic radicalism, and its possible links with terror are concerns, but investigations need to be transparent and not end up as fishing expeditions where a person's faith or political beliefs determine his guilt in a criminal case.”

This demand is old
The lady commentator’s view that the police should clearly express the causes of its action is the point that Muslim leaders and human rights groups have been putting forward in one way or the other. This has been reiterated in this column as well. But the police and the supporters of its action reject it saying that this is not possible and that the police cannot be made to follow it. – On the demand that before raiding a house or detaining the accused the police should at least take the dignitaries of the vicinity in confidence, the police reject the demand saying this would alert the accused and prove cause of their escape. There is indeed worth in this anxiety of the police; the news may reach the accused. But it is not necessary that the accused are real culprits; even the innocent persons can escape, thinking of the police excesses and ill-known methods. But the police can do this work at least soon after the detention. The family members and neighbours of the accused should be called in the police station and briefed with solid evidence about the charges levelled against the accused person or persons.

The reason of laying stress
And Sagarika has laid stress on this very point. And the reason of her laying stress is that the police raid a house and detain whomsoever they like; then they do not say where and how the accused are, not to say of mentioning of the causes of the detention. It has also been observed that the police pick up a person in the dead of night and many days later claim that they have arrested him at some railway station or bus stand. Then they also claim to have seized from him “solid documental proof”; and these “proofs” are the ones they prepare during the period from the day of picking up and the day of claiming his arrest. – But it is not that easy for the police to accept Sagarika’s demand of transparency. For, this mentality and this strategy are not only of the police and other government agencies; there might be state policy behind it. If the police had not been bad-intentioned and they indeed had the proofs, they must have revealed them at the very first instance as this is their need as well. It is necessary that a delegation comprising Muslim leaders, human rights activists, justice-loving members of the civil society and analysts like Sagarika Ghose talks to the Home Ministry in this regard.

22/03/13 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf

The commentary awaited

The Muslims have been raising voice against the smear campaign going on for many years to harass the Muslim citizens by dubbing the acts of violence perpetrated by some unknown and unseen forces as Islamic terrorism. Human rights groups and some noble souls also speak against this situation. But it was desired that there should be some realistic commentary thereon by an eminent personality of mainstream media; for media plays an important role in this situation not only by airing the false stories of police and investigating agencies but by instigating people with the help of making mountain out of a molehill as well. It is the media with the help of which the mischief-mongers and investigating agencies run their business of lies by committing blasts or making them done. The media accomplishes 90% task of implementing the plans. This desire has been fulfilled after a long time. In the Hindustan Times of 13 March, an extraordinary article on this situation by the renowned lady of English media Sagarika Ghose has been published.

Basic points of the commentary
Whatever has been said in this article entitled “Our Keystone Cops” can be understood with these points – “After every blast incident the police having fixed the doubt only on Muslims detain them and they do this work to satisfy the “patriotic” media…. The Home Minister was made to apologise for his statement on Saffron terrorism; but when innocent Muslims are acquitted by courts of law, why an apology is not offered to them?... The police do not have any solid evidence except absurd theories….. If blasts are made by Muslims, why haven’t the agencies told the nation as yet as to why they do this and what their demands are…. Courts too scarcely take notice of the irresponsible behaviour of investigating agencies…. An assertive Hindutva nationalism on social media seeks to demonise the Muslim…. The police can never reach the realities of terror incidents if the police thus continue its trend of implicating individuals of a particular community in a targeted manner…. There must be transparency in the police work.…”

Might it be a state policy?
In her straightforward analysis, Sagarika Ghose has made four institutions the butt of her criticism: police, political leadership, courts and media. Such feelings on media have been expressed by Justice Katju and Teesta Setalvad as well. But this in itself shows extraordinary courage on the part of a towering media executive. However, Sagarika has not turned her focus towards state policymakers while this may be the state policy as well. For without it this destructive policy cannot be promoted. These institutions are nothing before the state power. Matter-of-factly, our government is taking part practically in the campaign of “war on terror” America has launched worldwide. Increasing relationship with America and Israel, participation of American and Israeli agencies in the investigation of blasts, the tone and tenor of anti-Muslim propaganda tell us clearly that whatever is happening is in accordance with the state policy. If these realities are proved on paper, then in this situation what would be the reaction of people like Sagarika Ghose, Justice Markande Katju, Teesta Setalvad, Vidya Subramaniam and Vibhuti Narain Rai? We would stand contended if these people tell us that this is not the case.

19/03/13 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf

The reporting of Bangladesh

The reports of developments in the Muslim country Bangladesh in our east that have been published in Indian media and are still finding place therein from time to time, are not the reports of events and developments; rather this is a campaign of twisting of facts and changing the direction of events. This is propaganda of the policies of the government of that country; there is no trace of journalistic integrity and search for the reality; the entire stress is on opposition of Islam by targeting Jamaat-e-Islami. In this situation when the 9 March issue of the Tehelka weekly came out with a special story on this subject, the idea that came in mind was that as this magazine has earned name in revealing scandals and bringing the realities to light so here too it might have proved its mettle, for what is happening with Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh is also a scandal, very big political scandal. But the tone of the Tehelka story was the same as other newspapers and magazines have. There was nothing of investigation; only the reporting of statements and allegations made by anti-Islam forces.

Next issue of Tehelka
When the next issue of Tehelka (16 March) came, the readers generally were full of praise for its Bangladesh story and spewed venom against Islam. A reader named Thomas wrote: “Only Muslims can contain Islamism.” A commentator named Ashok Malik has complained to the government and the Indian media that they are not supporting anti-Jamaat (Islam) forces in Bangladesh as they should have. According to the commentator, “the new generation there deserves our help and support.” In this issue, there is an article “Do not give political colour to the protests” by a Bangladeshi lady professor named Amina Mohsin, in which there is some voice of reason to some extent. The issue of rekindling the fire of Bangla and Bangladeshi has been criticised. She has written that the accused of war crimes are not only in Jamaat and Bangladesh National Party; they are also in Awami League; so cases should be filed against them as well. Tehelka did publish this article but thought it necessary to add the note that “these are the personal views of the writer” viz. the magazine does not agree to it.

This is not a matter of surprise at all
This reporting of Tehelka is of course unexpected but not a matter of surprise at all. For, howsoever courage and honesty a media organisation may claim to have; it does have a limit. There are many causes of search for the truth and then keeping from expressing it. There are many causes like “national interest”, business compulsion, TRP, being unaware of realities, purchasing power of the government, lack of direct awareness of the faiths of others, lack of will and search for knowing the truth, influence of hostile propaganda, ease in reporting, personal leaning, on the basis of which an editor, reporter or commentator keeps from speaking the truth. But there should be some newspaper, magazine or channel in this country that brings to light the facts without caring for anything. For example, one allegation levelled against Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is that its men had attacked the civilians in 1971, committed sexual assault against women, and were involved in looting and killing. The world might believe all this due to ignorance but an individual who is aware of Islam, Islamic Movement and Jamaat-e-Islami even in the least, cannot believe all this till the last day. Had there been any responsible media, it might have confirmed this claim easily. 

16/03/13 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf

Marriageable age?

When the chaudharies of khap panchayat of Haryana recently said that one of the causes of assaults on women is late marriage hence marriage should be solemnized in early age, the champions of the “cause” of women mounted their diatribe on them; and the chaudharies too kept mum. And when, last month, the lady president of Indian Psychiatric Society Dr. Indira Sharma, in her presidential address, made the same statement, the champions including some members of her Society made much hue and cry against her as well. Khap chaudharies of Haryana were simple persons; they were not highly educated and perhaps they were aware of it; there they kept mum at the aggression of educated persons. Common people also understood that the villagers of khap panchayat can’t understand such a serious issue. But Indira Sharma was neither a chaudhary of Haryana nor an uneducated villager; she had formed this opinion after much deliberation, and her professional acumen was also behind it. Therefore, she stuck to her opinion (The Times of India, 9 February). Dr. Indira is also Head of the Psychiatric Department of Banaras Hindu University. Her subject is human psychology.

These different opinions
This discussion on the age of marriage is in the backdrop of an incident of sexual assault on a 23-year-old female student in Delhi on 16 December last. Among the six barbarians was a 16-year-old boy whom the Indian law considers juvenile. Another aspect of this is the proposal advanced by the khap panchayat, Dr. Indira Sharma and many conscientious individuals and circles like them. They are of the view that marriage should be solemnized soon after the age of puberty otherwise problems are bound to come. On the other hand, the idea of keeping population under control is lurking behind the government stand on fixing 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys as the minimum age for marriage. Those who are making much hue and cry on the views of the khap panchayat and Indira Sharma say that there is no relation between the age of marriage and sexual assaults. And it is these people who say that sexual assaults should not be linked with women’s lifestyle, dress and stepping out of their homes, and that young girls should not be told anything in this regard.

What looks apparent
An analysis of the entire scenario reveals the insincerity of the Indian society, especially of those sections which create furor on sexual excesses but do not support the need of searching the causes. Rather they get agitated at the very mention of causes. And if the trend, tendency and thinking of the society is deliberated upon more intensively, a sad reality comes to light that the sexual morality of Indian society is changing fast. Some recent court verdicts show it. Recent evidence is the proposal of Justice Verma Committee that the condition for a sexual act with “mutual consent” should be lessened from 18 years to 16 years. It means this is not necessary for the couples to be married. When the national society is not sincere on a serious issue like sexual crimes, there is no hope for any positive result however loud you raise a voice against it. Then is there no need that some far-sighted group comes to the fore to tell the citizens of the country that the issue of sexual crimes should not be taken separately. This is in fact part of the collective moral rot of the country. 

13/03/13 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf