On Hillary Clinton’s Visit to South Asia

We are deeply disappointed with some issues raised by the U S Secretary of State, Ms. Hillary Clinton during her visit to India this week. As a sovereign country India is free to trade with any country on its own choice. We take strong exception to Ms Clinton's attempted intervention on our bi-lateral deal with Iran. We also object to Ms Clinton's interference in the matter of the water of river Teesta, which is an issue between two peaceful co-operative neighbours. We shall appreciate if no third party gets involved into the matter, uninvited.

Apart from it, we would have appreciated if Ms Clinton could make US ally Pakistan act against Hafiz Saeed, the man “wanted” in connection with 26/11 Mumbai blasts. The Americans should know that “colonial era is over” and India is not a banana republic like Pakistan. They must understand that India is not an insignificant state on the threshold of being identified as a “failed state” like Bangladesh where she openly supported former chairman of Grameen Bank and her old friend Mr.Younus.

India is a superpower in the region and a very important country in Asia. It has a distinct foreign policy and will not tolerate any intrusion from anyone including America.

The loot of waqf properties in India

A Karnataka government-appointed committee, which surveyed Waqf board lands in the state recently, has stumbled upon a multi-crore scandal and has submitted a 7,000-page report on the scam to the chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda. It has shocked all as the latest Waqf scam is touted to be larger than the 2G spectrum scam that rocked the country last year. The committee found that major irregularities had taken place between 2001 and 2012 in the transfer of Waqf land to private parties through mutation where an estimated loss to the exchequer was likely to be around Rs 2 lakh crores. Mutation is a legal process through which government land is transferred or sold to individuals, institutions, persons or firms after proper verification of all documents related to the land. It’s clear that the legal process was flagrantly violated in Karnataka while selling or transferring the Waqf lands to private individuals. Of the Waqf board's 33,741 properties spread across a whopping 54,000 acres of registered land, around 27,000 acres have not been used for what they are meant for, and were disposed off illegally.

Understanding Waqf

Under Muslim rule in India the concept of Waqf was more broadly comprehended as aligned with the spirit of charitable contributions approved by the Quran. Waqf implies the endowment of property, moveable or immovable, tangible or intangible to Allah by a Muslim, under the premise that the transfer will benefit the deprived. As a legal transaction, the Waqif (settler) appoints himself or another truthful person as Mutawalli (Manager) in an endowment deed (Waqf-namaah) to oversee the Waqf (charitable trust). As it implies a surrender of properties to Allah, a Waqf deed is unchangeable and everlasting. In harmony with the true spirit of Islam, Indian Muslim rulers bigheartedly dedicated property such as land and its revenue rights to Awqaf (plural of Waqf) created with the aim of maintaining Mosques, Madrasas, Dragahs, Khanqahs, Maqbaras, Ashoorkhanas, Qabristans (graveyards), Takiyas, Idgahs, Imambaras, Anjumans, Tombs, Orphanages (yatimkhanas) etc. Besides the charitable intent that clearly underlined these donations, for instance, land could have been Waqf(ed) for the creation of a graveyard where poor people could bury their dead. These donations to Awqaf were also done with the interest of promoting the tenets of Islam. Under Muslim rule, the presence of Islamic courts overseen by Qazis ensured that the Mutawallis discharged their duties fairly. Their mismanagement of the properties was considered breach of the trust reposed in them for which they were duly punished. Therefore keeping all religious obligations in mind the Central Waqf Council, an Indian statutory body was established in 1964 by the Government of India under Waqf Act, 1954 for the purpose of advising it on matters pertaining to working of the State Waqf Board sand proper administration of the Wakfs in the country.

Loot of waqfs

The scam involving the Waqf properties that has surfaced in Karnataka is not an isolated case. Loot of the waqf estates has been going on all across the country. The mismanagement of the properties in India reflects the Muslim community’s failure to build a clean and organized establishment that could look after the vast estate efficiently. Most Muslims in India live in phenomenally bad socioeconomic condition. Poverty, lack of education and unemployment are rampant in the community. If the Waqf properties were managed or utilized the way they are supposed to be, many of the community’s perennial problems could have been resolved without any help from outside. Sadly, those, who wield power and have been installed as leaders in the community, have turned corrupt. Most of them sitting on top of the existing institutions that control the waqf estates have been found selling away the properties piece by piece, for personal gain. It frustrates us as we find that more than 70% of India’s Waqf estates have already been sold away in the past decades by our unscrupulous Muslim leaders.

There is a complex set of reasons for this state of affairs in institutions that claim to work for the benefit of the country’s largest minority and the world’s second-largest Muslim population. Even in the case of Waqf, political hangers-on and operators from the minority community are sent off to man the boards. The policies of successive governments have created a class of “Sarkari Musalmans” adept at capturing institutions and bagging positions through which they can patronize others down the pecking order.

Even common Muslims just see the Waqf placard and believe the land belongs to them. They are encouraged to believe there is some higher religious purpose to Waqf, little knowing the fact that it has become a synonym for daylight robbery. The greatest hypocrisy perhaps is that the men who violate the spirit of charity behind the concept of Waqf then pretend to be committed and dutiful believers. This resource has been mortgaged, sold and encroached upon with the connivance of the very institutions and individuals responsible for safeguarding it, turning it all into a systemic rot. The Waqf boards in most states of India are repositories of corruption, in league with local land sharks and builders. They continue to get away with the daylight robbery of their own community because, whenever there is any demand for scrutiny, they mischievously take cover behind the “Islam in danger” sentiment.

Some glaring examples of suspected land deals from across the land:

Chennai: In 1997, the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board took the decision to outright sell 1,710 square feet of land in the commercialized Triplicane High street in Madras for a paltry Rs 3 lakh. A sale like this would have required the sanction of at least two-thirds of the board members.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Waqf Board got a measly Rs 16 lakh for 4,532square metres in the upscale Altamount Road on which none other than Mukesh Ambani has built his plush 27-storey home.

Bangalore: Developed on about five acres of land, the Windsor Manor hotel here was till recently giving the board a rent of Rs 12,000 a month for a property worth not less than Rs 500 crore.

Faridabad: The Waqf board has been leasing out about five acres of land on 11-month leases for several years at a ridiculously low rent between Rs 500 and Rs 1,500 per month. A factory was built at the place and land use altered.

Kolkata: Shaw Wallace was giving a miniscule amount as rent for the palatial building at the BBD Bag business district in Kolkata until the new Mutawalli of the Prince Ghulam Mohammed Waqf Estate dragged the corporate house to the court.

Encroachment of waqf properties in West Bengal

So across the country, there are examples of the huge Waqf mess. West Bengal which has highest numbers of Waqf properties in the country is no indifferent and has higher record of property encroachment as well i.e., like 4,000 illegal occupants are in possession of a property in Calcutta known as the Mysore Family Fateha Fund Waqf Estate. There are over few hundred mosques in Calcutta and other adjoining districts where Waqf lands have been encroached upon unlawfully. Sixty-four other mosques in the state have been illegally occupied by outsiders. West Bengal which has approximately 184,000 Waqf properties, accounting for 31% of such properties in the country has suffered the most at the hands of corrupt Mutawallis or managers of Waqf properties with the help of officials belonging to the Ministry of Land and Land Reforms (during the left regime) have got many of them sold. The CPI (M) built party offices on several such wakf plots. The Left Front government also transformed a 50,000 sq m property in Tufanganj, Cooch Behar worth Rs 20 crores into a state bus depot and warehouse. In Midnapore (Kharagpur) a big departmental store and other commercial complex have come up on a land which was a Muslim Burial Ground (Kabrastan) not very long ago. Similarly hundreds of Bighas of Waqf land were acquired and transferred to private coal mining company in Burdwan districts for a mere pittance through some shoddy deals. So many prime Waqf plots and properties have changed character because of legal loopholes, thereby denying Muslims a religious endowment under Islamic law, where the income was meant for sole use in charitable purposes.

In Feb 1996, irregularities were first detected at a Waqf property on Collin Street, Kolkata, which involved the prime accused Mr. Hamidul Huda and his family. And with so many unanswered questions and mounting pressure the then chief minister of Bengal Late Com. Jyoti Basu appointed a one-man judicial commission headed by Justice Gitesh Ranjan Bhattacharya in March 1997. Testimonies from the representatives of several Muslim organizations and Imams were recorded. And after almost 5 years of investigation, the inquiry report was submitted on 31 Dec 2001 to the West Bengal government. And on the basis of the report, Mr. Hamidul Huda, a CPI-M leader and former member of the Waqf Board was arrested. But many still feel that prime accused Mr. Hamidul Huda was just being made a scapegoat to shield some CPI-M bigwigs. Many even feel that if the Left Front government desired to clear its name it should have taken upon itself very seriously and must have followed the recommendations made by Justice GR Bhattacharya Commission report.

Recommendations of Justice GR Bhattacharya Commission

-- Decentralize Waqf properties management and form district Waqf boards in view of the mess over listed and unlisted properties throughout the state.

-- Prevent concentration of power and plug the routes to escape responsibilities by the Waqf Board members and Waqf Commissioner.

-- Fix collective and individual responsibility and bar anybody from holding office for more than one term. A member or his close relatives should not be involved in transfer and transaction of Waqf property.

-- Laws and rules regarding lease and tenancy should be changed.

-- Complete survey and enrollment of Waqf properties in the quickest possible time.

-- Empower trustees of Waqf properties to move court against unauthorized sale.

-- No sale of Waqf properties to be registered without the board’s permission

Modus operandi of the scamsters

Outright sale

Builder or businessman identifies a Waqf property.
They approach members of the board.
The land is sold for a pittance.
Board members get their cuts.

Discounted rent

It happens in states where outright sale is not encouraged.
Builder/ businessman approach board members.
The land is given on a ridiculously low lease.
Land use is changed to facilitate commercial exploitation.
Members pocket their cuts.

Although Waqf is a national reserve for use in building institutions and earn income for Muslims, it is so awfully managed that it is the only system where practically no accountability is demanded. Cases of unashamed corruption flourish. Land is sold off to make way for private buildings, hotels, malls or factories for a trifle or given out for shockingly low rents to commercial interests. The boards have become an avenue for political patronage. Muslims who cannot be accommodated in ministries are sent off here. They mostly never do anything to help the community. In most cases, they are hand-in-glove with the land mafia and encroachers. The mess in the boards also reflects the apathy of state governments. Many have not constituted boards; none have carried out a survey of Waqf properties as required by the 1995 Act.

But in West Bengal at least the newly elected government has learnt from the Left’s mistakes and the incumbent Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee has taken a significant initiative towards sorting out the legal problems surrounding Waqf properties in the state so that their revenue can be distributed for the socio-economic benefit of the Muslim community. She has announced a CBI probe into the dealings of the previous Waqf board, and has launched many pro-minorities proposals which include a scheme of monthly honorarium for the Imams, which is duly linked with the funds at the State Waqf Board. In addition to all above she has sought data on the matter, as Waqf properties are worth more than Rs 70,000 crores in West Bengal, the highest anywhere in India. She is surely aware that Muslims will not need any government help if Waqf revenues are used fairly for their benefit, something which the Left Front ignored. The WB government has already taken action to avoid further dilemmas in managing the Waqf estates in the state. Measures are being planned to prevent recurrence of irregularities and lapses that happened in the past. Elections were held to the Waqf Board. Survey of Waqf property is being undertaken. Tribunal has been set up and more will be constituted if the situation demands. Responsibilities for Board members are now being fixed. Hence to add transparency to the working of the Waqf, “Tenure Restricting Bill” should also be considered.

As matter of fact WAQF is one of those areas in which accountability has not been demanded by anyone. The community itself has not demanded accountability, possibly because Muslims are ignorant about these issues. However, things tend to change once awareness builds up as it’s happening in Kerala, where Muslims are literate and demand accountability. The Waqf board is manned by professionals and headed by two advocates, not by racketeers. Even the Bureaucrats in the ministry of minority affairs in New Delhi cite the work done by Kerala Waqf board as example of good work and ask other states to emulate it.

There is no doubt that widespread misappropriation of the Waqf properties is taking place across India. Safeguarding the estates was the duty of the successive federal and state governments. But none performed their duty. The community itself is also responsible for the build-up of this Waqf mess. Muslims must understand that Waqf is a national resource that should have been tapped for use in the welfare of the “Muslim Community”.

Sri Lanka’s Muslims: Caught in the crossfire…

During much of the 25-year war in Sri Lanka, attention was focussed on the altercation between the majority Sinhalese and the largest minority Tamils. The views of the country’s Muslims, who constitute about 9 per cent of the population and see themselves as a separate racial group, have largely remained overlooked. Understanding their role in the conflict and addressing their political ambition are essential if there is to be a lasting peace resolution. For centuries, the Muslim community has been scattered around Sri Lanka living in co-existence with the other two main ethnic communities (Sinhalese and Tamil) with very close socio-economic interactions among them. For years Muslim and Tamil children attended the same school but took different roles in cultural displays and sporting events. However as the ethnic crisis developed into armed conflict with Tamil youth taking to arms and the LTTE (Liberation of Tamil Tigers for Eelam) being formed, it became apparent that in the early eighties, in the east of Sri Lanka, there was a conflict of interest between Muslims and Tamils. Whilst this was initially at a manageable and political level, it slowly disintegrated in 1990 as the LTTE massacred worshippers in a mosque in Batticaloa and other attacks on Muslim civilians.

But before this, Muslims and Tamils had been traditionally included into local life as mutually supporting communities. There were Muslim traders, tailors, iron mongers, laborers and scholars. The Muslims in Jaffna had lived next to each other and therefore densely occupied a small part of this town. As part of the arena of culture and scholarship, Muslims formed an important part of the historic University of Jaffna. But when the development of districts took place in sixties and seventies, it hit the Muslims harder economically. A number of Muslim youth thus became convinced of Tamil militant ideology and joined the LTTE's military wing. In several Muslim villages and towns the LTTE opened its branch offices and was gradually gaining popularity amongst certain sections of the Muslim community. But soon this development received a setback when Tamil-Muslim riots broke out in April 1985, apparently over an incident in the town of Mannar in the north where three Muslim worshippers were said to have been gunned down by Tamil militants inside a mosque.
Following the above 1985 riots the LTTE changed its approach towards Muslims and unleashed some of its most ferocious acts of savagery on the innocent Muslims of Polonnaruwa in the Northeastern and Kattankudy and Eravur in the Eastern provinces. Tens and hundreds of Muslim men, women and children were massacred in their homes, fields, markets; the entire Muslim population of Jaffna in the north were evicted from their homes at gunpoint and turned into refugees overnight. They are still living in camps without any hope of returning to their places of birth. In short, the LTTE seems to have erroneously decided on a mission of ethnic cleansing in the Tamil districts. As a result of this mistaken strategy the LTTE lost all sympathy it had within the Muslim community and the animosity between the Tamils and the Muslims become widest.

Thus changing it all, on the 23rd of October 1990, Muslims were given an “expulsion ultimatum” merely 24hrs to exit from the so called ‘Tamil land’ by leaving all their possessions behind”. Armed LTTE cadres had gone round every village and handed over letters from their district leaders forcing the chief trustees /Imams/religious heads of all mosques to read out the letters over loud speakers. The letters ordered all the Muslims to vacate their respective villages within 48 hours and hand over all their belongings such as vehicles, radios, sewing machines, water pumps etc to LTTE cadres at a particular village school. They said the orders were from the LTTE high ranks and anyone trying to disobey shall be eliminated. After the deadline the armed cadres came round to push the Muslim residents out of their homes: men, women and children were herded through a narrow passage and, at the point of exit from the village they were bodily searched for ill-gotten gains. Metallic cutters were used to remove jewelleries that could not be easily removed, and each family was only allowed to take about 200 rupees (5 US dollars at that time). In some cases, the Muslims were not even allowed to change their clothing. All possessions of the Muslims were deemed by the LTTE to belong to Tamil Eelam.

The Muslims from other parts of the Northern Province (Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi) suffered the same fate as well. Approximately 95,000 men, women and children were expelled. (For details please refer to UTHRJ; Report 6, Chapter 3, andhttp://jaffnamuslims.lk) But this incident has been largely gone from the chronicles of the Sri Lankan conflict. Even the successive governments have failed to provide sufficient support to the displaced Muslims who find themselves in a political wilderness, without much of a voice, despite having representation in the government. Problems with education, proper shelter and sanitation plague the camps and so the displaced people were dependent on tedious jobs or handouts from generous donors or the government and charitable organizations.

The 2002 ceasefire agreement (CFA) was dissatisfaction to many Muslims. They had no self-decisive representation at the peace talks, and many feared that any accord that gave the LTTE un-restricted control of the north and east, even in a centralized arrangement, would be critically damaging to their own welfare. Despite talks between Muslim leaders and the LTTE, they continued to suffer brutal attacks. Since the recommencement of large-scale military action in mid-2006, Muslims have again been caught up in the fighting in the east. Dozens have been killed and thousands displaced. Memories of LTTE cruelty are still fresh and bitter disputes with Tamils over land and resources remain compelling in the east. It is important to know that Muslims have never resorted to armed insurgency to assert their political position, although some have worked with the security forces, and few were members of early Tamil militant groups. But Muslims, mostly remained determined to peacefully channeling their annoyance through the political process by negotiating with the government and Tamil militants at different times. But there is no guarantee that this obligation to non-violence will be maintained, predominantly given the frustration visible among younger Muslims in the Eastern region. In some areas there are Muslim armed groups but they are small and not a major security threat. Fears of armed Islamist movements emerging seem to be overstated, regularly for political ends. But there is a clear and present danger they will take on a role in inter-communal clashes if the conflict continues to infringe upon their safety.
When Muslims were heaved upon miseries by the vindictive LTTE, the non-Tamil Sinhalese leaders too targeted the Muslims. During the period the Sinhalese leadership had been instrumental in instigating the Sinhalese masses to attack Muslim lives and property. The racial riot of 1915 was the first major episode in the Lankan history when Sinhalese animosity towards the Muslims was violently expressed. The most celebrated Sri Lankan Buddhist evangelist of that time, Anagarika Dharmapala, was a leading campaigner against Muslim presence in the country. He (just like any other RSS leader in India) termed Muslims as 'aliens' and 'foreigners' who according to him, deserved to be deported to Arabia. Although Dharmapala is long dead, but the echo of his views can still be heard during times of Sinhala-Muslim tension. Many among the Sinhalese Muslims believe that the Muslim domination in business in the country should be reversed. Both the spiritual and secular branches of the Sinhalese middle class share this view, and it cannot be denied that most of the communal violence against the Muslims has had economic overtones.

Till date there is no interest among Sri Lankan Muslims in fundamentalist versions of Islam, although there have been some negligible violent clashes between orthodox and Sufi movements. But this hostility remained limited and most Muslims show considerable lenience to other sects and faiths. Nevertheless, the conflict is at least partly responsible for some Muslims channeling their frustrations and identity issues into religious disputes. Almost all Muslim peace proposals remain dependent on the politics of the major Tamil and Sinhalese parties. Whereas most of the times the government evades consultation with ethnic minorities (including the Muslims) and do not seem to include significant devolution of powers to local communities.

Apart from occasional ceasefires, from the 1980s through May 2009, the civil war raged across the country and the government along with the increasingly authoritative LTTE got engaged in widespread violence, often against defenseless civilians. Lankan forces are believed to be behind thousands of forced disappearances of Tamils (both Hindus and Muslims), mostly in the north and east. War crimes by both sides (the govt forces and the LTTE) in the last year of fighting may have contributed to as many as 40,000 Tamil civilian deaths. But it’s a big relief that the LTTE, the most dreaded terrorist outfit of south Asia, which took the life of our former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi, is now extinct in Sri Lanka. The organization which killed and maimed lives of thousands of Sinhalese and Tamil Muslims, spread terror across the island carried out suicide bombings and attacked civilian targets, especially in Colombo and the villages bordering the Tamil-speaking Muslims in the north and east of the island country. These “border villages” suffered enormously during the conflict. Some of the major LTTE incidents include the 1985 attack at the Sri Maha Bhodiya in Anuradhapura, where it murdered more than 100 Buddhist pilgrims, the 1996 suicide truck bombing of the Central Bank in Colombo in which over 70 people died, the 1998 suicide truck bombing at the Buddhist Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, and the 2008 suicide bombing at the Colombo Fort railway station. The Tamil rebels also eliminated many political leaders, which include Sri Lankan deputy defence minister Ranjan Wijeratne in1991, President Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1993 and foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in 2005.

There is hardly any doubt that the LTTE was an evil organization whose leadership had no reservations about killing Sinhalese civilians or Tamil political opponents ( including the unfortunate Muslims) to serve its own political and personal ambitions. At the same time many Tamils in Sri Lanka and abroad perceived that the LTTE was the only group that stood for them and presented their demands to the government and the majority Sinhalese population that had repeatedly targeted the Tamils. The complex 30-year relationship between the LTTE and the Tamil civilians cannot be judged by the government’s simple “with us or against us” paradigm, particularly after such a brutalizing and humiliating victory.

In the country's interest Sri Lanka continued their offensives against the LTTE, until the rebel group was literally wiped off. But the government is yet to pay any attention to the rights of the civilians. It was expected that The Sri Lankan government would set up camps, to provide shelter to thousands of innocent civilians fleeing the war zone. But it never happened. Post-conflict efforts to bring societies together are always burdened with difficulties, particularly in cases of deep racial division. In Sri Lanka the challenge is even greater, because the government denies that ethnicity was the driving factor behind the civil war. After all conflicts, issues of reconciliation and accountability arise. The Lankan government has tried to collapse the two and has said that both can be dealt with through domestic mechanisms. Reconciliation is a more forward-looking process of healing divisions between and within communities.

Although reestablishing of cordial relations after long periods of conflict never happens quickly. And in Sri Lanka there is a serious risk that it may not happen at all. The government’s intransigence and triumphalism a full two years after declaring victory over the LTTE has meant the country is yet to see any semblance of compromise or inclusiveness for both the Tamil Hindus and Tamil Muslims. To avoid an eventual return to violence, the government must change course drastically. The 30-year emergency needs to come to an end, and government repression of the media and political opponents must stop. Restoring the rule of law and accountability in the island is essential, as is a political settlement to provide real devolution of power. Attention must also be paid to the many victims of these three decades of war and political violence from all three main ethnic groups – Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. Indeed, rebuilding relations among those communities and getting to a point where each has some real understanding of what the others have gone through should be a central goal. All of this will take years, but the sooner the process starts it’s better for the country- the chances of resumption of another conflict will be less and less.

Summary of some of the identified Muslim civilians killed by LTTE -

26 Muslims were killed at Ottamawadi in December 1987
41 Muslims were killed at Karaitheevu in November 1987
35 Muslims were killed at Kinniya in April 1987
52 Muslims were killed at Mutur in October 1987
21 Muslims were killed at Sammanthurai Mosque in April 1989
67 Muslims were killed at Valaichchenai from April 1985 to July 2002
67 Muslims were killed at Kattankudy in December 1987
168 Muslims were killed at Kattankudy in July in 1990
147 Muslims were killed at Kattankudy Mosque in August 1990
58 Muslims were killed at Akkaraipattu in July 1990
14 Muslims were killed at Kattankudy Mosque in July 1990
13 Muslims were killed in November 1989
19 Muslims were killed at Alimnagar in August 1990
126 Muslims were killed at Eravur in August 1990
53 Muslims were killed at Ambalanthurai in August 1990
23 Muslims were killed at Sainthamaruthu in September 1992
15 Muslims were killed at Addalaichchenai in May 1990
?37 Muslims were killed at Pallitthidal, Akbarpuram in October1992
200 Muslims were killed at Kalmunai, Akkaraipattu and Pottuvil in June 1990
33 Muslims were killed at Ampara in August 1990
186 Muslims were killed by Police in June 1990
147 Muslims were killed at Alingippottanai in April 1992
30 Muslims were killed at Pottuvil in June 1991

WHEN WILL INDIAN ARMED FORCES DO JUSTICE TO MUSLIMS?

The Indian army is expected to remain a truly secular institution, without any prejudice or bias towards any religion, caste or creed. The Chiefs of this national army have come from different religious backgrounds. But interestingly, none came from the Muslim community. The [much-talked] Sachar Committee which was formed by the government to map the Muslim participation in different social and economic spheres in the country recommended the headcount of Muslims in different levels of the army some years ago. However, the idea of Muslim head count in the army was strongly resisted by the then Army chief, General JJ Singh, who said that any such survey would dent the core of the institution. But there was no harm in getting the information as the government has the right to know the current status of Muslims in India. National security should be a top concern for the government. But to know how the community is faring in all terms of development must also be welcomed, as it may help the government chalk out various schemes to improve the social status of the backward community.

But this hue and cry then did not remain confined to the army HQs only. In January 2006, L.K. Advani, then Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, walked out from the house obviously over the proposal of Muslim headcount in the army. But Why Mr. Advani & Company was so afraid by the idea of Muslim headcount in Indian Army? What was so offensive, secret or classified info hidden in it? There have been similar surveys in police and paramilitary forces in the country.

In fact there are four important reasons which support the move of the Muslim headcount in the army.

1. The Sachar Committee was constituted to look into the representation of Muslims in various segments of private and public sector employment. So if it was seeking the details of Muslim employees in various levels, what was the fuss about this information in the armed forces?

2. Army already has region or community based regiments in place since British colonial days. The battle cries are based on religion and gods of different religions. Then why there was all this noise about Muslim headcount?

3. Muslims are underrepresented in the army. To rectify it we ought to take a headcount in the first step. This has already been done in the police and paramilitary. So why should army object to this?

4. And most importantly, the army chief is to serve the government as we have seen in the case of incumbent army chief, his valid grievance and the outcome so far, then why the then army chief questioned a decision of the government? And if, is it acceptable in a democracy?


Perhaps the reasons for keeping things such secretly wrapped are the substandard statistics of Muslims serving the army. While there is no official report, but the strength of Muslims is roughly around 2 % and the figure comes around 29,000 in the million-strong Indian army, according to a news channel survey programme titled Minority Report. And If the number of Muslims serving in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) infantry that has over 50% Muslims and those in other wings not directly dealing with warfare are excluded, the proportion is definitely too low. So out of a Muslim population of nearly 20 crores, barely 29,000 Muslims were found suitable for Indian Army. Is it not pathetic!

Adding to the woes it’s equally regretful that there has not been a single Muslim Army Chief except Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif, PVSM who as the first Muslim Chief of Air Staff of the IAF was involved fully in the re-equipment and modernization plans of the air force. He convinced the government to approve the procurement of the Jaguar strike aircraft, a proposal which was lying dormant for over 8 years. He also held negotiations with the Russians and saw the induction of the MiG-23 and later, the MiG-25 aircraft into the IAF. And what could be more unfortunate than the incident that even Rasoolan Bibi, wife (widow) of Hawaldar Abdul Hameed- who was conferred the nation’s highest gallantry award Param Vir Chakra posthumously during the 1965 India-Pakistan war, literally had to beg President Pratibha Patil’s intervention to get her cataract operated in 2008.


But coming back to the real issue, the reason for the Muslim under-representation in the Indian army lies partly in history, and its public revelation must harm nobody. Whatever the exact percentage, a huge Muslim under-representation in our army is a fact. So is a huge Sikh over-representation. See the contrast. Sikhs form 1.86 per cent of India’s population but number around 8 per cent in the Indian army. While Muslims comprise about 18 per cent of India’s population but are 2 per cent in the army. Why is this truth about Muslim under-representation in the armed forces going censored? But an illogical love of confidentiality causes Indian rulers to hide information whose public admission would harm nobody. Just as Muslims are under-represented in the army, so are the Bengalis, Biharis, Oriyas, south Indians or Gujaratis. And just as Sikhs are over-represented, so are the Jats, Dogras, Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Gurkhas, Marathas and others. The Indian army’s recruitment pattern was set 150 years ago by India’s 1857 uprising. Shocked by the revolt, the British army adopted a recruitment strategy that punished the groups which rebelled against them and rewarded the ones that stayed trustworthy. Because Muslims of Awadh, Bihar and West Bengal led the uprising against the British, the British army stopped hiring soldiers from these areas. Also blacklisted from these places were high-caste Hindus whose regiments in Bengal were also mutineers. In disparity, the British raised the recruitment of castes that had stood by the British to put down the revolution and honored as martial races, they received preferential treatment in army recruitment for the following 90 years. Like any institution, the Indian army is a prisoner of the past.


Even today, the Indian Army favors enlisting men from the martial races. Their over-representation in the Indian army is enormous and figures bear this out. Of 2.87 lakh jawans hired by the army in between 2004 to 2006, a disproportionate 44,471 came from three “martial” states, Punjab, Haryana, and the mountain state of Uttaranchal. So these states which account for 5 per cent of India’s population provided 15 per cent of India’s army jawans.

In contrast, the fewest recruits came from “non-martial” West Bengal and Bihar. These two states account for 30 per cent of India’s population, but they provided only 14 per cent of army jawans in this three-year period. So the Indian army has not only a religion-based disparity in recruitment, but also one based on caste and region. A glimpse of this discrimination was provided by a press release issued by a defence office in Jammu ten years ago. Seeking recruits for the Indian army, the press release said: “No vacancies for Muslims and tradesmen.” Meaning that aggressive Dogras were welcome to apply, but not Hindu business castes like the Baniyas and the Khatris.


Why does India have separate regiments for the Sikhs, Jats, Dogras, Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Mahars, the Nagas, even the Gurkhas, but not a single regiment for the Muslims? This is tragic but it’s the truth which shouldn’t be suppressed. It should be recognized and dealt with. Muslim under-recruitment in the Indian army is an outcome of Partition. India and Pakistan’s antagonism is seen in both countries as Hindu versus Muslim terms, which is absolutely incorrect. But this chauvinism in itself discourages qualified Muslim youths from applying, which drives down Muslim numbers even more. Hence it’s quite right that the Muslims under-recruitment in the army strips the community of a good, life-long source of employment. It’s a sad situation which is not so easy to correct.


India’s armed forces are averse to hire Muslims as soldiers because they suspect the community’s loyalty to India. This discrimination is a natural outcome of the bitter rivalry between India and Pakistan over 60 years. In similar situations, the same thing happens all over the world. The Israeli army doesn’t trust its Arab soldiers in jobs related to defence security. The Buddhist Sinhalese army under-recruits its Hindu Tamils for fear that their sympathies could lie with the Tamil Tigers. And After 9/11, US army recruiters would probably screen a Muslim American volunteer more thoroughly than a Christian American.


This under-representation of Muslims and other caste or regional groups benefits the over-represented ones. The composition of the Indian army is totally awry numbers-wise. West Bengal’s population is eight times that of Uttaranchal. But Uttaranchal provided almost the same number of army recruits as West Bengal almost every year. Compare a “martial” Punjab with a non-martial Gujarat. Punjab’s population is half that of Gujarat. But it provided four times as many people to the Indian army as Gujarat. The Indian army hired far more recruits in Rajasthan than in Tamil Nadu though Tamil Nadu’s population is higher. So basically, the Indian army is subjugated numbers-wise by Sikhs and Hindi-speaking Hindus of north India. This imperfect current status quo must go. Why Muslims are expected to wear patriotism on their sleeves and there is absolutely no reason to disbelieve or distrust people of this community. Muslims are as much Indian as any other in this country and have always stood firmly on the forefront whenever there’s a call of duty for the country. A few untoward stray incidents must not stand in account for the test of loyalty always, as because going by such biased benchmark it may initiate an awful precedent. As many such incidents had offenders, perpetrators who were not from the minority community.

This unwritten divisive law of mistrust and bias must go. But none of it will end until we help make these things end by taking some proactive steps. This current state of mind and pertinent approach will only lead to more divergence and separation between the largest minorities (Muslims) and the ruling majority (Hindus). And the entire country will be perpetually distrustful, forever looking over our shoulders and living a life in fear, that fear framed by metal detectors, security cameras, and sharp glances at people who appear to be with grown beard and a skull cap. Hence In the end following the chart below will enlighten the vocabulary of the people who presume Muslims as alien or anti Indians.
The Charts divulges the names of some who made not only the community but the country proud:

Param Vir Chakra
Company Havildar Major Abdul Hamid, (4 Grenadiers)

Maha Vir Chakra
Mohammed Ismail: 1947-48 Operation
Brig. Mohammed Usman: Indo-Pakistan War

Kirti Chakra
2007: Mohd. Shan Ahmed (posthumous) was posted as Cash Overseer at post office Jhansi. On 26 December, 2005, resisted looting of cash and in the attempt succumbed to fatal injuries inflicted by armed miscreants. He belonged to Jhansi (UP).

2009:
Lance Havildar Aziz Mohd: 20 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (Posthumous)
Sapper/Operator Executive Machinery Budhu Khan (Posthumous)
Naik Mohd Sadiq

2008:
Rifleman Abdul Hamid Chara: 162 Infantry Battalion TA (H&H)JAK LI/18 Rashtriya Rifles(posthumous)

2007:
Rifleman Raiece Ahmad Ganaie: Jammy & Kashmir Light Infantry/50 Rashtriya Rifles

2006:
Havildar Mohammad Maroof: 23 Rajput Regiment,
Havildar Abrahim: Jammu And Kashmir Light Infantry/47 Rashtriya Rifles
Rifleman Riyaz Ahmad Bhat: Assam Regiment/35 Rashtriya Rifles




Sena Medal (gallantry)
2009:
Havildar Ilyas Ali: 32 Assam Rifles
Lance Naik Javaid Ahmad Wani: Jamm and Kashmir Light Infantry// 44 Rashtriya Rifles
Rifleman Mohamad Hadish: 24 Assam Rifles (Posthumous)

2008:
Subedar Mohd Rashid: Jammu and Kashmir Rifles/28 Rashtriya Rifles
Naik Mohammed Amin Bhat: Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry/62 Rashtriya Rifles
Sepoy Abdul Hamid: 153 Infantry Battalion (TA) Dogra
Sepoy Abdul Hamid: 156 Inf Bn TA (H&H) Punjab/58 Rashtriya Rifles
Sepoy Qumer-ud-din Beg: 156 Inf Bn TA (H&H) Punjab/58 Rashtriya Rifles
Rifleman Ishtiaq Ahmed: Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry/18 Rashtriya Rifles
Rifleman Mehmood Ahmed Itoo: Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry/33 Rashtriya Rifles
Rifleman Mohd Yousaf Lone: 161 Infantry Battalion TA (H&H) JAK LI
Rifleman Mazafar Iqbal: 14 Assam Rifles

2007:
Captain Anas Ahmad: 19 Kumaon Regiment
Lance Naik Mehmood Shah: 3 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry
Sepoy Mohd Sharief: 159 Infantry Batallion (TA)(H&G) Dogra, 23 Rashtriya Rifles
Sepoy Jabir Khan: Mechanised Infantry/9 Rashtriya Rifles
Rifleman Gohar Ali Khan: Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry/19 Rashtriya Rifles
Rifleman Mohammad Sayed Mantoo: Jammu & Kashmir Fiels/18 Rashtriya Rifles
Rifleman Abdul Rahim Dar: 162 Infantry Battalion (TA) JAK LI/14 Rashtriya Rifles
Rifleman Nazir Ahmad Wani: 162 Infantry Battalion (TA) JAK LI/14 Rashtriya Rifles
Rifleman Md Ibrahim Khan: 33 Assam Rifles

2006:
Company Havildar Major Mohammad Ashraf Sheikh: 22 Maratha Light Infantry.
Lance Naik Farooq Ahmad Rather: 20 Jammu And Kashmir Rifles

Param Vishisht Seva Medal
The Param Vishsish Seva Medal is awarded to recognize "distinguished service of the most exceptional order" to all ranks of the armed forces. In practice, however, the award tends to be granted only to the most senior officers of the various branches of the Indian military. The award may be granted posthumously and subsequent awards are represented by a bar worn on the ribbon. The award carries with it the right to use "P.V.S.M." as post nominal letters.

2008:
Lieutenant General Zameer uddin Shah, SM, VSM: Regiment of Artillery(General Cadre)
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

2009:
Major General Syed Ata Hasnain, SM, VSM: Infantry: HQ 19 Infantry Division

Vishisht Seva Medal
2009:
Air Commodore Naseem Akhtar: Flying (Pilot)

2008:
Group Captain Zia Ahmad Rizvi: Logistics

Sena Medal
2009:
Brigadier Khurshid Maneck Balsara: Naga Regiment
Brigadier Pattiarimal Mohamadali Hariz, VSM: Mechanised Infantry/ HQ 91 Infantry Brigade
2008:
Colonel Steve Muzaffar Ismail: 2/1 Gorkha Rifles
Subedar Mohd Ilyas: 3, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regimental Centre

Nao Sena Medal (gallantry)

Vayu Sena Medal (gallantry)
2009:
JWO Jawed Hussain Siddiqi, Flt Eng

2009:
Rakshak:
Lance/Naik Abdul Rashid Khan: Territorial Army, 5 Rashtriya Rifles
Rhino:
Captain Mudassar Iqbal: 2 Bihar

WILL ABSOLUTE POWER CUT SHORT MAMATA'S DREAM RUN?

The West Bengal government has a lot to answer in the Park Street rape case which was earlier ridiculed by it, but the CCTV footage from the hotel provided vital clues about the attack and showed the victim was indeed telling the truth. Unfortunately, the victim of the horrendous rape was first mocked by Madan Mitra, a minister who instead of offering help questioned the integrity and morality of the victim. Then the Chief Minister rubbished her complaint as a conspiracy to slander her government. But soon it turned out that the victim was telling the truth. The police later confirmed that the lady was indeed raped at gunpoint as she had claimed. The big issue now, is will the Mamata Banerjee government apologize for the disgrace this woman has been subjected to? Will the Mamata Banerjee government now apologize for victimizing the sufferer?

Although, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has very strong views on these issues and in regard to a similar incident in 2000 it noted that “In Indian society, any girl or woman would not make such allegations (of rape) against a person as she is fully aware of the repercussions flowing there from. If she is found to be false (sic), she would be looked at by society with contempt throughout her life”.

Prior to this landmark judgment delivered in State of Karnataka Vs Manjanna (4), doctors would examine victims of rape only after they received a request from the police. For this to happen, the victim had to gather the guts to register a complaint against the accused in a police station of the correct jurisdiction. There could be undue delays in this, considering the social obstacles that women face in coming out in the open against the accused. Further, a woman is often detested just for being the sufferer of rape. Yet, society often blames the victim for delays in complaining about the offence, giving less significance to the monstrous act of the accused and the mental and physical ordeal that the woman has to surmount before registering a complaint. Only after this delayed registering of a complaint against the accused would the police investigation be initiated and an application forwarded to a doctor at the government hospital asking for medical examination of the victim of rape. On many occasions if the victim reported directly to the hospital, she would be denied this crucial medico-legal examination and compilation of medical confirmation because the police had not issued a demand for it, addressed to the doctor. By the time the police requisition could be arranged there was considerable delay and much of the medical evidence was gone or could not be collected. This would result in release of the accused in many cases, due to the lack of evidence to incriminate the accused or link him to the offence. The benefit of doubt was awarded to the accused, denying fairness to the already distressed victim.

In its 2000 judgment, the Supreme Court recognized that the rape victim's need for a medical check constituted a "medico-legal emergency". Second, it was also the right of the victim of rape to approach medical services first before legally registering a complaint in a police station. The hospital was obliged to examine her right away; they could always consequently commence a police complaint on the demand of the victim. As a result of this landmark judgment, the doctor or hospital is now required to examine a victim of rape if she reports to the hospital directly, and willingly, without a police request. The judgment recognizes the three ways by which a hospital may receive a victim of rape: voluntary reporting by the victim; reporting on requisition by the police, and reporting on requisition by the Court. Unfortunately this information has not been disseminated to all doctors, and the majority of them still insist on a police requisition before examining a rape victim.

Apart from it the Supreme Court in 1994 also directed the National Commission for Women to develop a scheme and set up a Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to provide financial assistance to victims of rape, the commission initiated the process of drafting the scheme in 1995. In 2005, the government provided the commission with guidelines on planning a procedure to disburse funds to victims. The scheme provides for setting up of a National Criminal Injuries Relief and Rehabilitation Board, which will have counterparts in each state and districts in the respective states. Under the scheme, the victim is entitled to restorative financial support adding up to Rs 2-3 lakh. According to it, victims who have lodged an FIR after the scheme comes to effect will be eligible for compensation from the government.

But Mamata Banerjee seems to be opposing almost anything and everything. She’s still behaving like an activist, as a leader of the opposition battling an unreal enemy. Suddenly, having defeated her enemy-of-long, she’s without a target in front. It seems Mamata has suddenly become unsure of her purpose in life – running amok in a maddening and thrilling start to her tenure, from announcing new trains despite budgetary constraint to painting the city white and blue her favorite colors. And in the process, misreading the mandate the people of West Bengal gave her.

What Mamata needs to show is a more responsible and tolerant face. It’s in many years that the state government in West Bengal is from the same combination as the central government. She should use this to her advantage and gain. It’s absolutely fine for her as CM to be upset about a few things, but she should not make this into a habitual routine and desist from making irresponsible statements. She should instead exploit the Congress’s numerical weakness at the Center to get more funds for the state and more projects approved – but she shouldn’t push the center so much that they start looking for alternate associates. If Mamata now went into the opposition’s grouping, her decline in WB would be inevitable.

It is a delicate and tentative time for the Congress at the center as well. But the difference is that the Congress realizes its situation and is playing it calmly till it’s necessary; But Mamata isn’t and is continuing to throw her weight around. The Congress is clearly playing a waiting game – waiting for the UP results to spring up a more consistent friend in Mulayam Singh (Samajwadi Party). If that happens, Mamata will suddenly find herself booted out from her arrangement of strength. Who’s she going to throw a tantrum against then? Mamata must understand that the mandate was against the left misrule and not in favour of TMC and she has escalated to the power corridors by default, but she could take the situation to her advantage by good governance, perseverance, impartiality and integrity. However she’s just continuing in the same vein that the Left used to do, making herself somewhat synonymous to the Left.

The people of Bengal rejected the Left ideology and doesn’t desire different – maybe a little less callous version of the same broth that they have been served for nearly four decades? The Bengal today is dying for financial liberalization. They want factories and manufactures, so that they can get jobs in their own state. They want private investment to pour in. Even the eminence of urban communications in Kolkata is shoddier than even in Mumbai. With high number of pre-historic Ambassador cars in Kolkata, a visitor to the city would be puzzled if one has been transported back in time!

The people in here have voted for “paribartan” the much-needed change. And in the absence of any moderate option to the Left, they voted for Mamata. But sooner they are getting dissatisfied. And in the meantime, if the Left becomes even slightly understanding – though that’s a near impracticality (as for now) – Mamata’s dream run will be over even before her term ends.

But that’s the fear of absolute power that makes one more vulnerable with increased danger of losing the gigantic support. Being an ex-congressperson she must be aware how Rajiv Gandhi dissipated away the 411 seats he got in the 1984 elections? That’s what absolute power does. It makes politicians arrogant, unsighted and in limbo at times. Mamata’s 184 seats are almost 2/3rds of the assembly – that’s why she’s got the nerve to bully the Congress to pull out of her government. But if she were real smart she would push the Congress, but for better means definitely.

The state is already feeling the financial pangs in addition to it. Any exodus of senior government officials applying to go on a central government deputation is set to be another blow. It might have deep repercussion on forthcoming Panchayat elections as well. The situation is somewhat unstable in light of the Park Street rape case where a senior police officer stood by the victim even as many others, including the chief minister, were suspicious about the complainant's statement. Whether the chief minister will allow central government deputation for the officers (who deserved appreciation and accolades) -- concern remains anyone's guess.


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MUSLIM QUOTA: WHY CONGRESS LEFT KHURSHID ISOLATED?

The response on the controversy surrounding Salman Khurshid's statement on Muslim reservation is enormous with every political party vying for his head. But the question remains intact: Has Mr. Khurshid done any wrong in quoting from the manifesto of the Congress party? Apparently the disapproval is as he made statements for the development of Muslims, upliftment of socio-economic status of the community. Leave aside the opposition some from his own political outfit, his colleagues have shown strong reservations on his comments. Even though Muslims hardly have anything to achieve from the entire controversy and doubt even Khurshid’s concerns as crocodile tears, but then too he has shown some courage and sincerity to speak truth even if it was meant for political mileage over his opponents.

This is Congress culture

It is so gloomy to see Mr. Salman Khurshid literally isolated and secluded in his own party defending his legitimate statement but regrettably this has been the Congress culture all along. One might recall how this party shunned A.R. Antulay for his similar pro-Muslim remarks on the floor of the house during UPA –I regime, resulting which he was dumped and denied a parliamentary elections ticket later in 2009 thus bringing an end to his political career as well. This “run with the hare and hunt with the hounds”, policy has engendered dearly to the Congress’s credibility.

In that way BJP is much more anchored and deeply rooted as they tend to stand beside their leaders in whatever the outcome or circumstances be. The entire world cried foul with 2002 Gujarat Riots with Narendra Modi at the centre of all negative attention or L.K. Advani faced similar flakes during Babri Masjid demolition and aftermath, but the party threw its weight behind on both such incidents. The entire Hindutva machinery was put on damage control to see trouble through.

"Only a Hindu can be a Muslim leader"

While Khurshid was never a Muslim, in the way identity politics tags leaders by community or caste. The Anglophile's labored Hindi-Urdu made him incompatible with the suitable 'minority' image, and it appeared in tune with intra-party dynamics. The traditional belief in Congress has held that "only a Hindu can be a Muslim leader". Biggies like H N Bahuguna and Arjun Singh carefully cultivated the "secular" image. AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh has modeled himself on his guru Dau saab, his controversial views on reservation, Batla House and even his "Osamaji" seen in that light. Congressmen believe that a Muslim's backing of minority issues in a country with the ghost of the Partition would draw charges of "communalism", which in itself is absurd. In a country like ours every community, caste, section have their own indigenous leadership for advocacy of their needs and requirements i.e.; Paswan and Mayawati for Dalits, Laloo and Mulayam for Yadavs, Advani and team for upper caste Hindus but none to speak exclusively for rights and dignity of Muslims. Why? Why so much fusses when someone talks about Muslims in India? Muslims are no aliens but part of this country and seeking one’s justifiable Right guaranteed is no appeasement by any means.

Muslim quota a legitimate demand

Muslims are 13.4 per cent of India’s population and are considered to be a marginalized community because in comparison to other communities, they have over the years been deprived of the benefits of socio-economic development. Recognizing that Muslims in India were lagging behind in terms of various development indicators, the government set up a high-level committee in 2005. Chaired by Justice Rajindar Sachar, the committee examined the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community in India. The report discusses in detail the marginalization of this community. It suggests that on a range of social, economic and educational indicators the situation of the Muslim community is comparable to that of other marginalized communities like Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Economic and social marginalization experienced by Muslims has other dimensions as well. Like other minorities, Muslim customs and practices are sometimes quite distinct from what is seen as the mainstream.

The Indian Dalit Muslims (considering its overall condition, the entire community must be considered as Dalit/OBC, but that’s a different issue all together) are a part of society, which is completely absent from the Constitution, parliamentary democracy and the debates of mainstream politics. The census report usually records the number count of the different castes included as Dalit and a brief outline on their present status. But in these reports, we find not even a trace of the population of Dalit Muslims. The deeply disturbing fact however is that the public sphere of our society doesn’t even deem it necessary to hold discussions on this group. It is very surprising that neither the media nor the academia or even street discussions have ever included this group within the ambit of their discussion.

As per the 2001 census and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) of 2005 Muslims in India have abysmally low say in governance despite having literacy percentage of 59 against Hindus' 65. They are the most deprived in terms of socio-economic parameters including their share of jobs.

Follow the table for details:

3% of IAS officers,

4% of IPS officers

1.8 % of Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers are from the community

2.2 % of all bank employees, including of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), are Muslims.

Drawing a comparison with Hindus, it says that while 63.6 % of Muslims live in non-permanent houses, 55.2 % Hindus live in similar conditions

30% of Muslims have access to electricity while 43.2 % of Hindus have access to electricity.

(Similarly) 19.4 % of Muslims have access to piped water against 25.3 % Hindus.

Jains were the most literate at 94 %, followed by Christians at 80 %, Buddhists at 73 %, Sikhs at 70% and Hindus at 65 %.

25% of Muslim children in the 6-14 age group have either never been to school or have dropped out. This percentage is much higher than of other community.

But irrespective of all above there are political parties who still see “Muslim appeasements” in all corrective initiatives and visions to rectify the social, economic and educational imbalance of all these years. And in such a case the community gracefully desires to change position with the “so called” underprivileged and deprived majority community with the privileges and advantages Muslims enjoys!

But whatever the outcome the suave minister's unexpected belligerence over last fortnight on 'Muslim issues' woke party men and observers to a new Khurshid, one eager to be seen as community leader. An absolute about-turn for the man, who spent years in Congress resisting use of identity as a bargaining chip and after March 6, Salman Khurshid may find it tough to live down the image of a 'Muslim' leader. However let’s hope his enlightened concerns are real this time.

International Media equally biased against Muslims & Islam..

There are numerous cases to judge whether there is bias against Muslims in the media, but in recent times look no further than the press coverage regarding the terrorist attack that took place in Norway not very long ago. Impartial population waited impatiently to read this act being explicitly described as a “terrorist attack” or an “act of terrorism” by the mainstream media.

But never once the “Christian” label was used despite the fact that Mr. Breivik was a self-described devout Christian often comparing his “holy” mission to that of the Knights Templar, a group of warriors that formed the core of the Crusades who invaded Muslim lands during the 12th century. To use the Christian label would certainly be wrong as it is well established that Christianity, like Islam and Judaism, never ignore acts of violence against innocent people.

But notwithstanding the fact that the alleged executor of the attack was a Christian who is well known in Facebook circles, the religion, while mentioned in some articles, was never the center of attention. The media instead described the attacker as a “far right-wing” extremist who was inclined by a “Neo-Nazi” type of philosophy.

Therefore the important question is: Why is it when the person responsible for the terrorist act happens to be Muslim all of a sudden the religion becomes the focus instead? And Terms such as “Islamic terrorism”, “Islamic extremism” or “Islamic fundamentalism” are often used to describe the ideology the killer clings to. The Western governments add fuel to the fire of Islamophobic sentiments in their societies with inflammatory and rabble-rousing actions and statements, the Western media mischievously try their best to portray a lopsided, biased and prejudiced image of Muslims in an attempt which should be interpreted as an incontestable crusade against more than 25% of the world population.

It is important to know that Muslims have been predictably considered as the villains of the fables of the Western governments and despite their undeniable and precious services to the world, they never received a fair, reasonable and humane treatment by the superpowers, either from the dishonest, deceitful and warmonger Russia that massacred some 50,000 innocent Muslims in Chechnya, or from the egotistical, bullying United States that caged scores of blameless Muslims in its illegitimate, underground confinement in Guantanamo bay and Abu Ghraib following the 9/11 attacks. As a result of such malicious propaganda by the unfair media the public got so much used to using these house-hold tags, that many from the community are being called 'Osama,' 'terrorist,' 'al-Qaeda' in the workplace, by their co-workers or are not being hired or are sacked just because of their hijab’s.

But nobody asked the Western media that how it would be possible to defend the killing of unarmed civilians as an act of self defense while they even lacked a knife to defend their lives against the rifles of the Israeli commandos. When it was needed to lower the depth of the truth, the mainstream media scored the best goal: 3,500 guiltless Gazans were massacred in a short period of less than 3 weeks, and the Western media acted so unsympathetically that one might have felt as if nothing had really taken place!

Although the European and American politicians and statesmen have unarguably admitted that Israel is the sole owner of nuclear weapons in the Middle East, they have never made any effort to inspect Israel's nuclear armory which contains up to 200 atomic warheads; however, they have destroyed Iraq and have lethally put an ever-increasing demands on Iran to abandon its nuclear rights and put an end to its nuclear program which the International Atomic Energy Agency has avowed as nonviolent and unthreatening.

The unfair Media deliberately introduce Muslims as terrorists and try to institutionalize the idea that Muslims are always inclined to carry out excessive actions such as killing the other people or persecuting the followers of other religions or forcing them to convert to Islam. They misuse some pillars and principals of Islam to portray their preferred image of this religion and its followers and hence spread panic and fear among the Europeans and Americans.

The Western media outlets never show the real image of Islam to their audiences and neither tell them that the essence of this religion is based on mutual respect, benevolence, peace, love and human dignity. They never allude to the fact that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was one of the pioneers of human rights in his time and emphasized on preserving and respecting the human dignity enormously. They never reveal the verses of Holy Quran in which it is declared that killing one person is tantamount to killing all of the persons in the view of Islam. They never tell their audiences that in the view of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), it was even unlawful to kill a sparrow for the sake of entertainment. Hence will the mainstream media ever admit that they too share some responsibility in helping promote hatred towards Muslims?

Unfortunately, the public opinion in the West is unaware of the realities of Islam and Muslims. The media has the power to shape the public opinion one way or the other and expecting impartiality will never be considered as seeking a favour. In the words of Malcolm X “The media is the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power”

http://twocircles.net/2012feb01/international_media_equally_biased_against_muslims_islam.html