tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10403968185701552072024-03-08T03:34:02.073-08:00mujtabas-musingsSYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.comBlogger432125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-26845447574640479382024-02-19T14:06:00.000-08:002024-02-19T14:06:14.595-08:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9wGduc6XFwunu03eJmeJoDj70TvHI_JX1FHM8CBllO02PsMH2Jy8J43hwMi89MQvZOOsk4s8jrT8Omn8atfViXdhYhhEWWR1OcZK5LbGaithGSIOE5UwN7xDqitkNYnZ_erU-dahfI9JvB479mMMIb4k7ovnnXSsEH1HGDlZ8YjaztofsPKSOznXRBNJ/s612/istockphoto-534887633-612x612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="459" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9wGduc6XFwunu03eJmeJoDj70TvHI_JX1FHM8CBllO02PsMH2Jy8J43hwMi89MQvZOOsk4s8jrT8Omn8atfViXdhYhhEWWR1OcZK5LbGaithGSIOE5UwN7xDqitkNYnZ_erU-dahfI9JvB479mMMIb4k7ovnnXSsEH1HGDlZ8YjaztofsPKSOznXRBNJ/s320/istockphoto-534887633-612x612.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">Call for Papers for an Edited Volume</span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">“India’s Social Development Agenda sacrificed on the altar of Hindu Nationalism”</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">An edited volume tentatively called “India’s Developmental Agenda Sacrificed on the Altar of Hindu Nationalism” is being planned to understand the layers of the BJP rule under the Premiership of Narendra Modi. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">The book which is going to be part of academic research is edited by Dr. Syed Ali Mujtaba, a well-known journalist, author of five books, media influencer, etc. The book will be tentatively published by a renowned publisher based in New Delhi. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">In India, the Hindutva madness has been accentuated since the BJP government came to power in 2014. Since then only one agenda that surmounts all other agenda is Islamophobia. In the process of building a hate narrative against Indian Muslims, many pressing issues facing the country have been sidelined.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">As a result, India has gone down on many popular human indexes in comparison to the other countries in the world. Just look where India stands in the Hunger Index, Human Development Index, Press Freedom Index, Environmental Index, Human Rights Index, and Social Justice Index etc.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">The reality is the BJP rule since 2014 has failed to address the real challenges faced by the country. The classical example is India’s health infrastructure that got exposed during the time of Covid -19. The BJP government blamed the pandemic on the Muslims and called it Corona Jihad launched by the Muslims. The innocent Tabligi Jammat members were hunted in the country blaming them for spreading the virus. Since then the noise volume of Islamophobia has been raised so high that it is hurting the ears of common Indians.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">The BJP government is manipulating the data of all the failing indexes, blaming the foreign data surveys to be biased against India. To skirt the issues facing the country a narrative being built by the BJP that India is witnessing Ram Rajya under Narendra Modi’s rule.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">It is with this intention in mind the edited volume “India’s Developmental Agenda Sacrificed on the Altar of Hindu Nationalism” is being planned. The purpose of the book is to call off the bluff of the half-baked lies and concocted truth by the votaries of the BJP rule. This edited volume is planned to solicit essays on several themes that give the grim reality of India under the Ram Rajya of the BJP rule. The themes are: - </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">1- ‘Challenges to Indian Democracy</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">2- Challenges to Indian Diversity-</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">3- Challenges to Indian Democracy</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">4- Challenges to Gender issues</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">5- Challenges to Social equality in India</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">6- Challenges to Social inclusion in India</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">7- Challenges to Human development</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">8- Challenges to Popular struggles and movements in India</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> 9- Challenges to the right to dissent in India</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">10- Challenges to protectant religious identity in India</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">11- Challenges to the backward Caste groups in India</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> 12- India’s social realities from the Hindutva paradigm 13- India's social reality from ‘Hindu-Muslim’ confrontationist angle</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">14- Human values being trampled by a wave of Hindu nationalism</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">15- India's constitution being trampled </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">16- Rising unemployment in India</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">17- Inflation and Rising prices in India</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">18- Rising social inequality in India</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">19- Rising human rights abuses in India</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">20 - Failing human development in India</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">21- Failing Secular Agenda in India</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">22- India failing in the Hunger Index</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">23- India failing in the Human Development Index</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">24- India failing in the Press Freedom Index</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">25- India failing in the Environmental Index</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">26- India failing in the Human Rights Index</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">27- India failing in the Social Justice Index-</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">28- India failing in the Interfaith relation-</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">29- The status of minorities in India</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">30- Any other related themes that can fit into the basic concept of the book</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">Kindly, pitch in an abstract of 150 words to get acceptance for your essay to be included in the book. You can mail your abstract to <a href="mailto:%7bsyedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com%7d" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">{syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com}</a> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> <br /></span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-28603050505236433712023-11-20T05:04:00.000-08:002023-11-20T05:04:22.106-08:00<p> <span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicah4h1FnHzpq8RIjC229UZ0T9pfKhd4_B2iw7W0zeTDiZ-qa3-kNagTCxAGkyQHHc_GQQqVkdOlXqaClPKH4fZHYsq1MvmxpKLH3JEo5TOrjx6bpyvs7wAQ-C2wo95gLtCqEzRVJkN-aSol8zdatUW3_Mu4BRLS1DRluJZSzjLUzS_NEQQPCwzVLnuslQ/s960/Chicago-Palestine-Rally.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicah4h1FnHzpq8RIjC229UZ0T9pfKhd4_B2iw7W0zeTDiZ-qa3-kNagTCxAGkyQHHc_GQQqVkdOlXqaClPKH4fZHYsq1MvmxpKLH3JEo5TOrjx6bpyvs7wAQ-C2wo95gLtCqEzRVJkN-aSol8zdatUW3_Mu4BRLS1DRluJZSzjLUzS_NEQQPCwzVLnuslQ/w684-h180/Chicago-Palestine-Rally.jpeg" width="684" /></a></div><br /><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Protest against Israel
not allowed in Mumbai, 13 detained</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Mumbai </span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">police picked up 13 individuals, 11 of whom are students
belonging to the Muslim community for taking part in a prayer meeting in
solidarity with children who were killed in Palestine. The prayer meeting was held
on November 14, 2023, the Children's Day, at the Juhu beach. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The detainees were charged under sections 37 (1), 37 (3), and
135 of the Maharashtra Police Act (MPA), according to a press note from the People’s Union
for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Maharashtra. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">According to the PUCL handout, the youth detained had
responded to a multi-city call emanating from an Instagram account
‘solidaritymovement’ and had gone to Juhu beach to attend a peaceful prayer
gathering there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> However, after the
prayer, some students went to collect the posters and ply cards that they had
earlier voluntarily kept in the police cabin near the beach. The police there started questioning
them and asked them to pose with the posters and placards and photographed
them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The police told them they would escort them to the Bus Stop to
ensure they leave safely. As they proceeded, a police van arrived and they
were forcibly pushed into the van and taken to the Juhu Police Station. Among
the detainees 4 were under-age youth (2 boys and 2 girls), the PUCL press
release said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The youth were detained for almost 8 hours and when they were
released were asked to return the next day and provide all their personal
details along with their Aadhar Card xerox copy and 2 photographs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">PUCL Maharashtra expressed grave concern at the increasing
trend of criminalizing public protest and deplored the manner in which police
in Mumbai lodge cases against those participating in such democratic events.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The right to protest is a fundamental right of citizens
guaranteed under the Indian Constitution. However, the increasing number of
such instances shows that the right to protest of citizens is not only being
infringed upon but being met with harsh and intimidating police action and
criminal sanctions. In many places in India, Civil society organizations are
being denied and met with sanctions that are gatherings for anti-war public
protests on the ongoing Israeli war on Palestine. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-----<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be
contacted at </span><a href="mailto:syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-39167236251791479272023-07-11T10:39:00.001-07:002023-07-11T10:39:19.668-07:00<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbeN38EG6HjWLSXEJaNnNQwrzSvearY5HrWn7ce2KaaYlkY-yJGj0fSJEVw9ZnX05JD0eKTCEk4nlAQmXFXvlw6THfJ-nlHyOjUhtZtD_3wHgOCgNiJg1ns-KrnfbAdV-sFSgzK69AHbzgoQRZe7nZ3NCdyN049j77A-Te2x8fW4zVqKoXgacVHzILOis/s275/download%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbeN38EG6HjWLSXEJaNnNQwrzSvearY5HrWn7ce2KaaYlkY-yJGj0fSJEVw9ZnX05JD0eKTCEk4nlAQmXFXvlw6THfJ-nlHyOjUhtZtD_3wHgOCgNiJg1ns-KrnfbAdV-sFSgzK69AHbzgoQRZe7nZ3NCdyN049j77A-Te2x8fW4zVqKoXgacVHzILOis/w441-h275/download%20(3).jpg" width="441" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 20pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 20pt; text-align: justify;">Plight Muslim Children in Non-Madrasa Schools</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is an interesting book titled “Mothering a Muslim” by
Nazia Erum (2017) that gives a lucid account of the plight of Muslim Children in
Non- Madrasa Schools. The author captures some hard realities of what it means
to be a Muslim in non-madrasa schools in India. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The author has given a number of anecdotes where Muslim children
are subjected to slurs from their non-Muslim peers and there are none to stop
such kind of kind of harassment meted out to them. It’s a book based on
testifiers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1- The book says, a
Muslim boy testified that they don’t feel like going to school because the
teachers always single them out and beat them. The teachers don’t let us
participate in any sports. Class monitors are always chosen from among Hindu
boys. The teachers insult us by saying; ‘You children come to school only to play
and don’t want to study.’ Whenever they check our workbooks, they make negative
comments about our work and throw the workbooks at our faces.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2- Another testifier
told her mother that her teacher says: ‘You Muslim people have no brains, you
read only Quran and pray to Allah and don’t respect knowledge.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3- Another testifier
said that a substitute teacher had said in the class that the floods in
Uttarakhand happened because Muslims have opened meat shops there. Uttarakhand
is a place of worship for Hindus but because of the Muslims, the disaster
happened. Hindus had to pay for their sins. The child felt bad when such things
are told about Muslims in the class.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4- Another boy, said:
Whenever the teachers are angry, they call us Mullahs. The Hindu boys also call
us Mullahs because our fathers have beards. One father of our classmates had
come to submit a form to the school. The teacher referred to him as ‘the man
with a beard and laughed at him. All the Hindu children laughed too and made fun
of him in front of the whole class. We Muslim students felt terrible at such
gestures. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5- Some Muslim
children complained to their mothers that they don’t like to be Muslim
because they feel insecure in their school. They said some Hindu boys laugh at
them and in case of a fight most Hindus gang up to beat the Muslim boy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In some fancied schools where there are negligible Muslim
students, the school management decided to keep the Parents Teacher Meeting on
Eid-ul-Fitr day, ignoring the national holiday. The mothers of the Muslim
children are coxed to attend the meetings on their festival day and they did
for not being singled out as being troublesome mum. The same school had
declared Karva Chauth a holiday because all the teachers were Hindus and busy
fasting for their husbands. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, this is where we are today, some non-Madarsa schools still
blame a Muslim child for his religious identity. Why Muslim children in non-madrasa schools
are made to suffer in their classrooms. This needs serious discussion. However, no one likes to do any tough
conversation on such issues because it's a non-issue for the majority community. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 20pt;">Certainly calling Muslim children names is not an act of
nation-building rather it’s an anti-national activity. If that is what is
happening in non- Madrasa Schools, with the Muslim children then advocating
reform in the Madrasa should think twice it gets implemented.</span><span style="font-size: 20pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;">---</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> S<span>yed Ali Mujtaba is journalist based in Chennai. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-11488181115182235752022-07-08T17:25:00.001-07:002022-07-08T17:25:17.190-07:00Two Religious controversies Two Views in India <p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Opinion</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Two Religious controversies Two
Views in India </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Syed Ali Mujtaba</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdhAyLbsmI3dJkSiLRwoYS9_VUlhrAx0y8534KHaBhDwRvOBkVvD-saaonqkHLFXYUV1Mhqb6cibtfefbqbkU4dX0qKHNFp28hYIJ-soTun3fZo5PALmHgFMVcSxTaQeAgMYtH2uvJBchTgO12pfFu9W_bTc8Z-_etVW3gtLmNEP2VJNCiabcGSAczA/s535/291709997_5668387569840538_1957914033702999971_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdhAyLbsmI3dJkSiLRwoYS9_VUlhrAx0y8534KHaBhDwRvOBkVvD-saaonqkHLFXYUV1Mhqb6cibtfefbqbkU4dX0qKHNFp28hYIJ-soTun3fZo5PALmHgFMVcSxTaQeAgMYtH2uvJBchTgO12pfFu9W_bTc8Z-_etVW3gtLmNEP2VJNCiabcGSAczA/w622-h320/291709997_5668387569840538_1957914033702999971_n.jpg" width="622" /></a></b></div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">In India, two religious controversies
are raging on. First, the adverse remarks made by the BJP office-bearer Nupur
Sharma, and second the poster of the documentary film “Kaali” released by its
director Leena Manimekalai.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">While Nurpur Sharma incensed the
feelings of the Muslims by her remarks against the Prophet, purposefully tarring
his image, Leena Manimekalai demeaned Kaali, one of the most revered deities of
the Hindu religion, through the poster of her documentary film.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Although the government of India
took measures to douse the flames lit up by the BJP functionary, no BJP leader
or Sangh Parivar or Hindu religious heads uttered a word of condemnation
against the Hindu hate monger. Their conspiracy of silence has given support
to Nupur Sharma’s diatribe, which is a new normal in India.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">However, when the Supreme Court of
India made some scathing remarks against a female hate monger, more than 100
eminent citizens of the country including Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju
hauled the Supreme Court judge for his unnecessary comments about Ms. Sharma.
Their attack on the judge inadvertently sounded as if they are supporting Nupur
Sharma’s words against the Prophet of Islam. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The scene changes to Canada and
the spotlight focuses on the poster of the film Kaali, released by its director
of Leena Manimekalai, and the entire discourse of hurting the religious
sentiments change from the Muslims (they) and Hindus (we).</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A hell gets to let loose in India
and sermons are being given; “Liberty comes along with sensitivity, freedom
comes along with responsibility, can we live in the world without being
sensitive, respectful, and responsible,” demanding the arrest of the filmmaker
Leena Manimekalai.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A forceful narrative is built in
India that Leena Manimekalai has hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindus.
There is a cacophony to arrest Manimekalai from Canada and bring her to India,
while Indian citizen Nupur Sharma is shielded in some safe heaven to avoid
probable arrest. These are two parameters to judge two religious controversies
in India. Means, its wearer alone knows where the shoe pinches!<b> </b></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The fact is<b> </b>religious
controversy fails to die down in India. Close on the heels of the Prophet
Mohammad controversy, the Kaali controversy is raging now in India. At the
center of this controversy is the poster of the documentary film Kaali, where a
woman is dressed as the Hindu goddess Kaali and is seen smoking a cigarette and
holding a Trishul in one hand and a Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
(LGBTQ) flag in the other.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The Madurai-born, Toronto-based
filmmaker Leena Manimekalai posted a tweet about her documentary film ‘Kaali’
and shared the poster of her movie. In her tweet, she said; “Super thrilled to
share the launch of my recent film at Aga Khan Museum as part of its ‘Rhythms
of Canada Film Festival and I am excited about it”…</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This poster created a huge buzz on
social media and invited a backlash in India. This led Indian High Commission
in Canada to urge the Canadian authorities to withdraw the poster that was
showcased as part of the ‘Under the Tent’ project at the Aga Khan Museum,
Toronto. The museum authorities deeply regretted the disrespectful depiction of
Hindu Gods and said if it inadvertently causes offense to the Hindu faith it
can immediately withdraw the poster.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The micro-blogging site, Twitter
also removed the poster saying that the tweet from Ms. Manimekalai has been
withheld in India in response to a legal demand.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Ms. Manimekalai, reacting to
Twitter removing her film’s poster, asked if Twitter would also withhold the
tweets of the hate mongers as well. “This is hilarious. Will Twitter withhold
the tweets of the 200000 hate mongers? These lowlife trolls tweeted and spread
the very same poster that they find objectionable. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“Kaali cannot be lynched. Kaali
cannot be raped. Kaali cannot be destroyed. She is the goddess of death,”
Manimekalai tweeted on the micro-blogging site.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Back in India, the religious
outrage was vented through scores of complaints in the police stations, seeking
Manimekalai's arrest. A large number of complaints were filed for hurting the
religious sentiments of Hindus. The complainants said the Manimekalai’s poster
depicts Goddess Kaali in a manner “unacceptable by any Hindu” and that it was a
“deliberate distortion of the Hindu religion and culture with malicious intent
to insult Hindu religious feelings”.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Jumping into the controversy was
TMC MP Mohua Moitra who reportedly said that she had every right as an
individual to imagine Goddess Kali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting
deity, as each person had his or her unique way of offering prayers.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This led to another round of
outrage against the TMC MP. No less than 56 complaints were filed against
Moitra in West Bengal alone, seeking her immediate arrest. Suvendu Adhikari the
BJP and leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly said, “The TMC
government and the state police have been very active in seeking police action
against Nupur Sharma, but they have not taken any action against Mahua Moitra
and there can’t be a different set of rules for BJP and TMC leaders.”</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Meanwhile, some FIRs were filed
against Ms. Moitra in Madhya Pradesh, a BJP-ruled state. Madhya Pradesh Chief
Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “Hindu religious sentiments have been hurt
by Mahua Moitra’s statement and insult of Hindu deities will not be tolerated
at any cost.”</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Ms. Mahua Moitra facing attacks
from the BJP reacted, “truth doesn’t need backup forces, I am a worshipper of
Kaali, and not afraid of saffron “goons.” The ruling TMC distanced itself
from Ms. Moitra’s comments, even as the controversy rages on.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Another angle of the Kaali
controversy that has emerged is a contest between the people who worship Kaali
as straight nosed, thin-lipped, baby-faced, fair-complexioned deity
against those who worship her with darker skin tone, broad nose with the world
view of Kaali as a raw, non-apologetic, having an identity of her own kind of
deity.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The Kaali poster outraged the feelings
mostly in the North Indian states calling it blasphemous and hurting religious
sentiments. Those who worship Kaali as a baby-faced, calm goddess do not like
the worshiper of the same goddesses who smoke a cigarette, love booze,
drink blood and eat meat and epitomize Maha Kaali in every sense. The
north-South divide is the subtle theme in the Kaali controversy that is raging
on in the country.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This bizarre narrative is going on
in tandem with an anti-Muslim diatribe in India. While on one hand, some Indians
want to teach Muslims a lesson or two, the same folks want to do the same to
the South Indians too. This is new India, the “Post-Truth India – The
Brand New Republic” welcoming you on board. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">---------</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist
based in Chennai. His forthcoming book is “Post-Truth India – The Brand New
Republic.” He can be contacted at </span><a href="mailto:syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-24840265845016873742022-06-19T14:30:00.002-07:002022-06-19T14:30:27.929-07:00 The world must stop Hindu fascism in India - Ajit Sahi<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAalUp-llesQokgBV0H8qq5amgEsjqEQ949OoC_WsRe4fSmeCzACbhaiOEpDLw1dL8fEauKbTfKKR7BX_iunk4sReoNJrNYr7UKU3T2bmwC_egfOzw2HizR37jqKFkEyFPADaaQqMNggJFiusZj041vwLFP81uflXzrDBzsoXBcxisDeynTDGpQqd2Qw/s2560/IMG_6536-scaled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="2560" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAalUp-llesQokgBV0H8qq5amgEsjqEQ949OoC_WsRe4fSmeCzACbhaiOEpDLw1dL8fEauKbTfKKR7BX_iunk4sReoNJrNYr7UKU3T2bmwC_egfOzw2HizR37jqKFkEyFPADaaQqMNggJFiusZj041vwLFP81uflXzrDBzsoXBcxisDeynTDGpQqd2Qw/w570-h267/IMG_6536-scaled.jpg" width="570" /></a></div> <p></p><p></p><p><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The world must stop Hindu fascism in India - Ajit Sahi</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Syed Ali Mujtaba</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Meet Ajit Sahi a veteran
journalist, and civil rights activist who works as an Advocacy Director at the
Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and is currently based in the US.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Earlier Ajit worked as
the executive editor of Tehelka weekly, where he was a political and
investigative journalist. Apart from being a veteran journalist, Ajit is a
dedicated campaigner for civil liberties, human rights, and religious freedom
in India for over three decades.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Ajit Sahi recently
received the first Swami Agnivesh Memorial Award for his fearless commitment to
human rights and for continuing the legacy of the noble soul who fought for
justice for all.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">While receiving the award
at the virtual event on December 18, 2021, Sahi said, “(Swami
Agnivesh) was a giant. People like him inspired hundreds of thousands in my
generation and I hope that he’ll continue to inspire many more.”</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The most interesting
aspect of Ajit Sahi’s personality is being a Hindu; he tirelessly works for the
rights of Muslims of India. He has dedicated himself to protecting the plural
values of Indian society. He is rooted in the values of the Hindu faith and
opposes the Hindu supremacist ideology propagated by the RSS.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Sahi had testified before
the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the U.S. Congress and “spoken boldly
about human rights violations in India.”</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Recently, Ajit Shai
delivered a powerful speech at ICNA-MAS Convention where he openly spoke
against the RSS and its toxic ideology called Hindutva. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Here is his speech that
gives a glimpse of his commitment to be the voice of the Indian
Muslims. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g84bc7eE-s" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g84bc7eE-s</span></a><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> --</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a
journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at </span><a href="mailto:syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</span></a><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.65pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-25363207969610936552022-06-18T09:47:00.003-07:002022-06-18T21:31:38.652-07:00 Hindu – Muslim Relation has reached the Tipping Point<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoUZiWs6mz6zNfLdPF-F9uZI0e984baKeh5XeOh7alPW5heJC22yu5mYqwzMUpmP6qom20VDLI9bVFfZEIMzBlqYRidNxYuyiTSr0morjpALn_N9UxfILQ9H8FGhU0AVgOz6GuFv5jiIXvZfSWZs-hq0JzDetWHXOaGkp2YX_RCoyXAk1g-KCnFHRzA/s715/Ganga-and-Jamuna.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="715" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoUZiWs6mz6zNfLdPF-F9uZI0e984baKeh5XeOh7alPW5heJC22yu5mYqwzMUpmP6qom20VDLI9bVFfZEIMzBlqYRidNxYuyiTSr0morjpALn_N9UxfILQ9H8FGhU0AVgOz6GuFv5jiIXvZfSWZs-hq0JzDetWHXOaGkp2YX_RCoyXAk1g-KCnFHRzA/w581-h243/Ganga-and-Jamuna.jpg" width="581" /></a></div><br /> <b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Hindu – Muslim Relation
has reached the Tipping Point</span></b><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Syed Ali Mujtaba</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Hindu – Muslim relations
have reached a tipping point in India. This has happened under the BJP rule
where a series of anti-Muslim events is witnessed to convert the Indian
political scene into an 80 vs 20 format to consolidate the Hindu majority by
vilification of Muslim minority on 24x7 bases. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">There has been a series
of events that have followed since 2014 and to count a few are lynching of the
Muslims by the cow vigilant, citizenship amendment act, Tablighi Jamat and
Corona connect, Delhi riots, <i>‘Dharma Sansads’</i>, Hijab, Halal, Azan,
Gyanwapi mosque, blasphemous remarks against the prophet, bulldozing of
Muslim protestors homes, are all sordid tales in the dipping Hindu – Muslim
relations in India. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">How did this situation
emerge?</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">All these situations have
emerged in the backdrop of three broad phases to cover up the crisis of
governance that is the hallmark of the BJP rule. The starting point was the t
demonetization of the currency on Nov 8, 2016. This knocked the bottom out of
the economy and its cascading effect was felt in every sphere of activity
leaving India battered and bruised. The BJP government in order to cover its
policy paralysis engaged in the politics of Hindu- Muslim polarization to cover
up its wrongs. The government media its mouthpiece and tasked it to rationalize
all the government actions no matter how much flawed they may be. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Second is the landslide
victory of the BJP in the General Elections 2019. Narendra Modi after winning
the 2019 elections demolished the principle of federalism and pull down as many
as nine elected state governments in the country. He devised a new relationship
with Jammu and Kashmir abrogating article 370 and robed its statehood status by
making it two union territories. He brought in the Citizenship (Amendment) Act
and National Register of Citizens and extracted the <i>Ram Mandir </i>judgment
from the Supreme Court. The foremost thing that he did was to invoke the Hindu
nationalist spirit among the youth by othering the Muslims. He did it to make
India a <i>Hindu Rastra</i>.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The third thing under the
BJP's rule is its mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister made a
horrendous mess of the Covid 19 management. He put the Parliament in the
freezer and took control of the situation to announce a total lockdown but when
it created an unprecedented economic crisis, he delegated his responsibilities
to the state governments. During the lockdown period, he froze the recruitment
and this led to rising in the unemployment situation. He then brought in the
farm laws and made amendments to the labor laws. The Chinese occupation of
Indian territories was covered up by raising the nationalist ante and he kept
playing the anti-Muslim card to cover up his failures. Muslims of India were
pulverized under the bogey of Hindi – Hindu – Hindustan. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">After coming to power,
Narendra Modi brought his own style of governance that cared a dam about
democracy, pluralism, and rule of law. First, he stopped paying heed to the
constitutional guarantee of equal citizenship. He stopped paying heed to the
idea of pluralism and secularism. He started polarizing society on a majority
and minority basis. He evolved the 80 vs 20 political formula. This politics of
majoritarianism united the Hindus and ostracized the Muslims.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The Prime Minister by doing
this subverted democracy, the constitution, principles of pluralism, and rule
of law. In this 80-20 political paradigm, the BJP government was successful in
making the Muslims the enemy of the nation. A plethora of anti -Muslim
religious discrimination and persecution was started under the BJP rule that
led to the dipping of Hindu-Muslim relations. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The majoritarian
political ideology of hating Muslims was implemented through legitimate means;
enacting citizenship laws and using the state power to suppress the Muslim
protestors. It was also implemented through the subversion of government
agencies and allowing non-state actors to attack the helpless Muslims. The BJP
leadership allowed the rogue elements to run riot and commit brutalities
against Muslims. This has poisoned the social relationship and shaken the
foundation of multicultural social formation in the country. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">All this happened because
Muslims were the safest enemy of Hindus in India. Muslims' numerical minority,
social, economic, and educationally backwardness, and their dependence on the
Hindu community made them vulnerable homo-sapiens. The BJP government
successfully pitted the 80 % majority population against the 15% minority
population where the latter have no chance to win. It’s precise because this
situation of the Muslim community makes them an attractive enemy of the Hindus.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> Narendra Modi has
made Muslims a vanquished community who are at the mercy of the Hindu majority.
Muslims are reduced to punching bags whom all and sundry can flog
anywhere on the streets as the Indian state has absolved its responsibility to
protect them. Perhaps, this is the reason why there is such an easy consent and
consensus for the making of the Hindu Rashtra. The pivot of Hindu Rastra is
Muslims on whom all blame is rested for the wrongs in India. Literally, Muslims
are made the national enemy and are being purged through genocidal means.
</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Anti-Muslim politics over
the years</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">India in the first two
decades after Independence witnessed a glorious period of Hindu-Muslim
relationship. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s leadership saw to it that the
country was steered under the principles of secularism, democratic values, and
constitutionalism.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">However, under Indira
Gandhi’s rule, principles gave way to electoral politics. She adopted a dual
policy toward the Muslims; one she cajoled Muslims with certain sops and acted
as their messiah. On the other, she initiated anti- Muslims programs. Her reign
is littered with communal riots in the country. Indra Gandhi reduced
Muslims of India to be a Congress vote bank. She pretended to be their security
provider but in reality butchered them through communal riots. Muslims even
then rallied behind Congress as they thought it to be a better bet as their
protector against the fascist BJP.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Indira’s son Rajiv Gandhi
was a political novice. He was sucked into the vortex of vote bank politics. He
innocently played into the hands of those who did the communal polarization of
Hindus and Muslims. He appeased the Hindu community by opening the gates of
Babari masjid and allowing the ‘Shilanayas’ ceremony to be performed for the
construction of the Ram Mandir. Willy-nilly Rajiv Gandhi further pushed the
anti-Muslim agenda of the Congress party.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Rajiv Gandhi’s successor
Narshima Rao presided over the demolition of the Babari mosque and with that,
he eroded the myth of Muslims being equal citizens of the country.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It was on the anti-Muslim
platform that was built by L.K Advani’s <i>Rath Yathra</i> that the
BJP gained power with Atal Behari Vajpayee becoming the PM of the country.
Since Vajpayee headed a coalition government, he could not push the anti-Muslim
agenda of the BJP or initiate the <i>Hindu Rastra </i>agenda.<i> </i>However,
his unsavory comments made against the Muslims in Goa in 2002 remain etched in
the memory. PM Manmohan Singh who succeeded Vajpayee tried to hold the communal
balance at the center even though the six of 6 worst communal riots took place
under his UPA rule. Aligarh riots in 2006, Dhule riots in 2008,
Deganga riots in 2010, Bharatpur riots in 2011, Assam riots in 2012,
and Muzzafarnagar riots in 2013, to name a few. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Hindu – Muslim relations
under Narendra Modi</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Narendra Modi has changed
the entire social structure of the Hindu- Muslim relationship since 2014 when
he first came to power. His anti-Muslim divisive agenda in the pursuit of Hindu
Rashtra turned the Hindu-Muslim relationship where each passing day, it’s
deteriorating at a breakneck speed taking it to the point of no return. Under
Modi's rule, the anti-Muslim mobilization drive has now been organically
getting embedded into the grass-root level. It has acquired a momentum of its
own and has relatively become free of government control. This was seen at the
outbreak of communal riots in multiple laces during Ram Navami and
Hanuman <i>Jayanti </i>celebrations in 2022.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The credit goes to the
Modi government that the world is talking about today about the genocide of the
Muslims in India. Under Modi's rule, the anti-Muslim vigilantes have become
autonomous centers of power. The Modi rule has given them freehand to the Hindu
radicalized gangs who are masquerading as nationalists and patriots having the
license to kill the Muslims.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It is to the credit of
the BJP government that it has made the opposition political parties, bureaucracy,
media, civil society events judiciary literally impotent characters. Either
they are too scared of the BJP government or they are sucked into Hindutva
politics that they have lost the will and inclination to uphold the rule of law
and to protect the Muslims. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In such a situation, what
the Muslim should do to salvage the tipping Hindu-Muslim relations. The
choice before them is to concede to fall on the feet of the Hindus and stop
fighting for constitutional rights and redefine a new relationship in the
context of ‘Hindu Rashrata.’ The other option is to resist BJP’s designs
and bear the brunt of being demonized, pulverized, and dehumanized and wait for
‘Ache Din.’</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It is certain that the
BJP government cannot push its anti-Muslim agenda beyond a certain point. The
BJP knows that if they continue to do so they will be pushing India into
large-scale violence and societal chaos that may have a repelling effect.
</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The anti-Muslim fire lit
by the BJP currently has spilled over to the unemployed youth of the country.
Their collective anger that recently chanted the war cry of ‘<i>Jai Sri Ram’</i> against
the Muslims has now changed to <i>‘Bharat Matta Ki Jai’ </i>directed
against the BJP. The unemployed youth are so annoyed by the <i>Agnipath</i> scheme
of the BJP that the government is finding it hard to control. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The anti-Muslim agenda of
Narinder Modi to consolidate the Hindu vote bank has reduced India into a ship
on fire in the mid-ocean with ammunition on board.
Undoubtedly the Hindu – Muslim
relationship has reached the tipping point under the BJP rule.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">-------</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 12.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a
journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at <a href="mailto:syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-31699294254630794992022-04-22T18:38:00.000-07:002022-04-22T18:38:21.583-07:00Assam CM attempting to check the Muslim growth rate in the State <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd6ZhHymO49r3gV6EHSclzbad4s0DVPm3VLbfjvCEPMrCe-TxyYVjnK_mwvwA7IDMwEhJNMhBR9LhT0n4WjYqJhj-Y71stUtP3j3lSnYliCUYDHbuJUjgiP8Irk1YV4YMC_la7lRGgl2P4GFPMJOfnwOZidFWJLmIjAor4UUKqydZzpKp1zNEbWVx2A/s790/assam-muslims.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="790" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd6ZhHymO49r3gV6EHSclzbad4s0DVPm3VLbfjvCEPMrCe-TxyYVjnK_mwvwA7IDMwEhJNMhBR9LhT0n4WjYqJhj-Y71stUtP3j3lSnYliCUYDHbuJUjgiP8Irk1YV4YMC_la7lRGgl2P4GFPMJOfnwOZidFWJLmIjAor4UUKqydZzpKp1zNEbWVx2A/w636-h215/assam-muslims.jpg" width="636" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Assam CM attempting to check the Muslim growth rate in the State </span><span style="font-size: large;">By Syed Ali Mujtaba</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is beset with the problem to control the Muslim population growth rate in the state. He has constituted seven sub-committees in July 2021 asking them to recommend ways and means to address the issue of the growing Muslim population in Assam. The report is submitted to the Chief Minister on Friday, April 22, 2022</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The sub-committees while preparing the report have deliberated on the issues like health, education, skill development, preservation of cultural identity, financial inclusion, and empowerment of women to control the growth of the Muslim population in Assam. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Assam Chief Minister after receiving the recommendations made by the panels said that his government would formulate short, medium, and long terms plan to control population growth among the Muslim community.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Assam Chief Minister had earlier held several interactive meetings with intellectuals and prominent citizens belonging to the Muslim community where he reportedly told them that the high population growth among Muslims has caused poverty and illiteracy in the community. He appealed to the community leaders to adhere to the population policy with a two-child norm and take family planning measures to check the population growth among Muslims. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">According to the 2001 and 2011 Census, the Muslim population is growing at a rate of 29 percent (decadal). In contrast, the Hindu population has come down from 22 percent to 16 percent and has further reduced to 10 percent during the latest censuses.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Muslims comprise 34.22 percent of the 3.12 crore population of Assam, of which 4 percent are indigenous Assamese Muslims and the remaining are mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The number game of democracy is playing out against the BJP’s Hindutva politics. The saffron party is finding it hard to maintain its ascendency in the state due to the growth of the Muslim population in Assam.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Muslim voters are determining factor in at least 30 to 35 seats out total of 126 Assembly seats of Assam. Out of 34 districts in Assam, in 6 districts the Muslim population is 50 percent or more. In another 19 districts, the Muslim population is 12 percent or more. So in 25 out of 34 districts in Assam Muslims are electorally significant.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">However, this has become a problem for the BJP, because democracy is a number game and in this game, BJP is losing out decisively.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In order to address the problem, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma constituted seven committees to recommend government-specific policies and measures to decelerate the growth of the Muslim population in Assam.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Assam Chief Minister has taken the plea that his aim is to eradicate poverty and illiteracy among the Muslim community and he wants to accelerate the socio-economic and academic empowerment of the Muslim community, but the actual intention is to trim the Muslim population’s growth rate. He wants to create an even playfield so that the Hindu vote bank can have an ascendency over the Muslim population in the state.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defines Assamese nationalism in Hindu terms, his pitch to check the growth rate of the Muslims, is seen as an attempt to amplify his rhetoric.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">——</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-87642217541150378472022-04-10T02:37:00.001-07:002022-04-10T02:37:15.078-07:00 LOST CULTURE - WESTERN PUNJAB’S IMPRINTS ON DISTRICT SHIEKHPURA OF BIHAR<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrcrtiHGKopQ9GnNTDVGZd6ildWjeNJhT3J4UC8LYp4bcUyLrK0ddrQ1xfo7VerPcZGaUHRSNNOziBwSiA4vm_7vD4yEt57kjaDhOkT1OiAjLSKy-GyMjvDSujfId3LZYomXNT21AAT7VhtGw7Y7T-6r7pksobQpr6jDief50zviGt2eXWfLDy2HTmg/s300/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFwVJBNtQI2qXzyV9L-xAldrrfcr6BtR0k9AhTGpX5BwsyxCBx6F3LFyjcfsUHe-bwwzeqotCK-9yMUqopJJbGxjAXBkGNJSp4HcoeaPq4UEGl1L3ev4qR-ScCuuliS7SFV8YW4ImgI74ePPDOg_XlzbHp6D493mXXtDkE54m7paydaLSBKWqst1HfQ/s232/images.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="232" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFwVJBNtQI2qXzyV9L-xAldrrfcr6BtR0k9AhTGpX5BwsyxCBx6F3LFyjcfsUHe-bwwzeqotCK-9yMUqopJJbGxjAXBkGNJSp4HcoeaPq4UEGl1L3ev4qR-ScCuuliS7SFV8YW4ImgI74ePPDOg_XlzbHp6D493mXXtDkE54m7paydaLSBKWqst1HfQ/s1600/images.png" width="232" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrcrtiHGKopQ9GnNTDVGZd6ildWjeNJhT3J4UC8LYp4bcUyLrK0ddrQ1xfo7VerPcZGaUHRSNNOziBwSiA4vm_7vD4yEt57kjaDhOkT1OiAjLSKy-GyMjvDSujfId3LZYomXNT21AAT7VhtGw7Y7T-6r7pksobQpr6jDief50zviGt2eXWfLDy2HTmg/s300/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrcrtiHGKopQ9GnNTDVGZd6ildWjeNJhT3J4UC8LYp4bcUyLrK0ddrQ1xfo7VerPcZGaUHRSNNOziBwSiA4vm_7vD4yEt57kjaDhOkT1OiAjLSKy-GyMjvDSujfId3LZYomXNT21AAT7VhtGw7Y7T-6r7pksobQpr6jDief50zviGt2eXWfLDy2HTmg/w300-h204/images.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><b>LOST CULTURE - <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">WESTERN PUNJAB’S IMPRINTS ON DISTRICT SHIEKHPURA OF BIHAR</span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;"><b> </b></span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">SYED ALI MUJTABA</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">I am a native of village Maanay, Panchayat – Chakandra, Block Chewara. I am trying to develop a linguistic theory based on the spoken native words that have huge Punjabi imprints in the lingua franca in my native place called Shiekhpura, a district of Bihar in India. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">The evidence so far I have collected is as follows. </span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">1-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">There is district Shekhupura in Pakistan’s Punjab province. Here we have a district with the name but with a little tongue twist called Shiekhpura district in Bihar.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">There are several names of the villages that are carbon copies of the names that exist today on the other side of the border in the Pakistani territory.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">i)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">There is Chakdara Fort in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. We have a village called Chakandara in the Shiekhpura district in Bihar.</span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">ii)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">Pind means village in Punjabi - we have a village with the same name called Pind in the Shiekhpura district of Bihar.</span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">iii)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">Bilo means a beautiful girl in Punjabi – There is a village called Bilo in the Shiekhpura district of Bihar.</span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">iv)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">Khande means corner in Punjabi - There is a village named Khande, in Shiekhpura district in Bihar</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">There are a lot of colloquial words which are actually Punjabi in origin but are commonly spoken as a lingua franca in the Shiekhpura district in Bihar.</span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">i)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">Gal bat – is a Punjabi word which means talk in Shiekhpra in Bihar it means doing talking or some common talk</span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">ii)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">Boot-roo – This is a Punjabi word or Persian word that means like an idol – This has come to mean any infant in Shiekhpura district in Bihar.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">3- Kubela – This is a Punjabi word meaning ‘evening.’ This has come to mean late evening in Shiekhpura district in Bihar</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 20pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">There are other linguistic other similar comparisons that I am working on to develop my study. I will be glad if anyone can add input to my study. This will definitely add to developing my thoughts further.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">---</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">Dr. Syed Ali Mujtaba is a Professor at Guru Nanak College in Chennai, India. He comes from the </span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">village Maanay, District Shiekhpura Bihar. He has grown up in South Delhi in the Punjabi locality and has a smattering knowledge of the Punjabi language. He is trying to develop a comparative study based on his linguistic grip of two different places. He can be contacted at s</span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "inherit", "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><a href="mailto:yedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">yedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</a> </span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-20433368372505164502022-03-17T03:28:00.000-07:002022-03-17T03:28:02.947-07:00 A Hijabi girl winning 16 medals proves a point to anti-Hijab forces in India <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmNehMeK02kp0lEep6X4q8p8UF2ipWnkQCqkD2qKYumxIZGfa2nc8jusYGt9SAwrLcAe3BLIx4aCS1g-kSpc4rcGm5_htWKh6Uy-LyQGEgY5yAjgA_stj1bAe4knqm6r1TiMgdOQm9u_HZyZ0QrIWqPxrKdha5UKwieR-uLXdGN5A8HBD9Nn1yX1DV2A=s1410" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="1002" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmNehMeK02kp0lEep6X4q8p8UF2ipWnkQCqkD2qKYumxIZGfa2nc8jusYGt9SAwrLcAe3BLIx4aCS1g-kSpc4rcGm5_htWKh6Uy-LyQGEgY5yAjgA_stj1bAe4knqm6r1TiMgdOQm9u_HZyZ0QrIWqPxrKdha5UKwieR-uLXdGN5A8HBD9Nn1yX1DV2A=w591-h416" width="591" /></a></div><b> </b><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify;">A Hijabi girl winning 16 medals proves a point to anti-Hijab
forces in India </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A girl with Hijab bags 16 gold medals in studies gives a bold
reply to all those who are for its ‘ban’ in the educational institutions of the
country. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meet Hijabi Bushra Mateen, a 22-year-old civil engineering
graduate from SLN College of Engineering, Raichur, who has bagged 16 gold
medals, at the 21st annual convocation of Visvesvaraya Technological
University, on March 10. She has secured a grade of 9.47 out of 10, in her
studies donning a headscarf all her life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bushra Mateen won first place in 16 different categories, the
highest by a single student from VTU University. The tally includes the
VTU gold medal for the topper as well as other endowment medals. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bushra created a record of sorts in the history of VTU
because to date the maximum number of gold medals won by a single student was
13. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At the event, Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla delivered the
convocation speech. Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot presided over the function.
Minister of Higher Education Dr. CN Aswathanarayan was the Chief Guest of the
event. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bushra received her early education at St. Mary’s Convent
School, Raichur, and completed her pre-university at Pramana PU College,
Raichur. She got over 90% marks in all her exams. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bushra Mateen’s father, Sheikh Zaheeruddin, is a government
civil engineer and her mother is a bachelor in arts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bushra’s father who was present on the occasion said “Bushra
was good at studying since childhood and she has worked hard for her studies.
We are all very proud that she has got the fruits of her labor.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bushra’s mother gave a piece of advice on the necessity to
educate girls for the development of the nation. “It is extremely important for
women to get educated. They should be empowered to make their own decisions.
And education is the most important way to do that,” she said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bushra's future goal is to appear for the UPSC Civil Services
exam for which she has already started preparing from November 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “When I started with the course, I wanted to work
for the government as that is the best place to work as a civil engineer but
later, I realized I wanted to go for UPSC as it provides a bigger canvas to
serve the country, she said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bushra Mateen uses Hijab since her childhood and says the
headscarf has never come in the way of her studies. “Hijab is my choice and
fundamental and constitutional right. It has never come in my way to achieve my
target nor has any non-Muslim ever objected to it. I have never faced any
problem right from my school days to college because of wearing Hijab,” she
said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist. He can be contacted at
syedalimjtaba2007@gmail.com <o:p></o:p></span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-75668093402216481642022-01-15T04:32:00.011-08:002022-01-15T04:37:18.495-08:00'Bulli Bai' App Case - Advent of Cyber Hindu Jihadist in India<p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">'Bulli Bai' App Case - Advent of Cyber Hindu Jihadist in India</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">Syed Ali Mujtaba</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8U45xo6U8ndH_5MvqyXjQyF2HwH6T57cK3v_9UwlYEnz8U9qbThT_cEuokfDoVEk6FdrTS47W_yYgVfVnVqHdT-A1ysdNLPu5e8twuYFUT_Wk3qF0kOMdygJ-5Ls3ffZDRNCVVwRc0fbZH0tlzIO53ovrYHIAbt5YlsS5ssndqRfJnvWTAqrI8m1euw=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8U45xo6U8ndH_5MvqyXjQyF2HwH6T57cK3v_9UwlYEnz8U9qbThT_cEuokfDoVEk6FdrTS47W_yYgVfVnVqHdT-A1ysdNLPu5e8twuYFUT_Wk3qF0kOMdygJ-5Ls3ffZDRNCVVwRc0fbZH0tlzIO53ovrYHIAbt5YlsS5ssndqRfJnvWTAqrI8m1euw=w640-h278" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The arrests made in the 'Bulli Bai' app case by the cyber branch police from Mumbai and Delhi suggest the existence of Hindu Cyber Jihadists in India. It is now common wisdom that the Hindutva brigade has created a cyber-ecosystem in the country that can pose an internal security threat to the country. </span>Those arrested in the 'Bulli Bai' app case are; Shweta Singh (19) from Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand, Mayank Rawat (21) from Kotdwar in Uttarakhand, Vishal Kumar Jha (21) from Bengaluru, Niraj Bishnoi, of Jorhat Assam, and Aumkareshwar Thakur from Indore. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">While Shweta Singh is an aspiring engineering student, Mayank Rawat is a Chemistry honors student from Zakir Hussain College Delhi, Vishal Kumar Jha is an engineering student in Bengaluru, Niraj Bishnoi is a second-year B.Tech student from VIT Bhopal, and Aumkareshwar Thakur holds a Bachelor of Computer Application degree.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">It was found during the course of the investigation that all these young tech-savvy youth knew each other and worked on the instructions for someone who is based in Nepal. The common interests of all are they are motivated by Hindutva ideology. All are fired with the zeal to make India a Hindu Rashtra, a la Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">This bunch of young folks created an app called the 'Bulli Bai' app where they uploaded photographs of Muslim women mostly social activists and posted them on the GitHub platform on 'auction'. Bulli Bai is a derogatory Hindi slang used by right-wing Hindu trolls for Muslim women.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> These cyber Jihadists targeted Muslim women who were vocal about the rising tide of Hindutva in India. Among those listed for 'auction' are prominent Muslim journalists, activists’ lawyers, and public figures. Many among them were active in the anti CAA protests that rocked the country in 2020.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">A 2018 Amnesty International report has said that ‘online harassment in India has shown that the more vocal a woman was, the more likely she was to be targeted - the scale of this increased for women from religious minorities.’</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">The most disgusting aspect of this gory crime was that even Najeeb’s mother was listed in the 'Bulli Bai' auction. Najeeb was a JNU student who disappeared from the campus during Kaniya Kumar’s ‘Azadi’ agitation. It is widely believed he has been murdered by the right-wing Hindu activists on campus. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">This is the second attempt by cyber Jihadists to harass Muslim women by "auctioning" them online. In July 2021, an app and website called "Sulli Deals" were created with profiles of more than 80 Muslim women, using their photos describing them as "deals of the day" online. Sulli is also a pejorative term used for Muslim women by Hindutva extremists. Then the Delhi Police had registered a case against some unknown persons but made no arrests in the case probably because their hands were tied due to political pressure from above.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">In the 'Bulli Bai' app case there was no actual 'auction' or 'sale' that happened but the purpose was to humiliate the Muslim women for being vocal protestors and also to intimidate some 20 crores Muslim population in India and to cow them in submission. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">These are two undercurrent themes in the arrests made in the 'Bulli Bai' app case. First is there is an organized racket that exists in India comprising of cyber foot soldiers of Hindutva working for the creation of Hindu Rashtra, and the second is to intimidate and humiliate the Muslim population in India.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">The Bulli app and Sulli app is a well-planned project with a vast operational network where public and private actors are involved for a common goal to create Hindu Rashtra in India. The operational structure of this network is to use the cyber troops to manipulate public discourse, harass and intimidate independent voices, and unleash a reign of terror through cyberbullying and thus creating a partisan information environment in India.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">These Cyber Jihadists are not bothered about the broader implications of their activity on the public discourse in India nor do they care about the sanctity of the country’s democratic processes because they are guided by some vested interests whose objective is creating a Hindu India. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">These ideological enriched cyber creatures want to use the power of the internet to have their way in the making of the brand new republic. The few arrests that have been made so far, in this case, could be just the tip of the iceberg and many more sleeping cells could be in place waiting for the instructions to lunch another defamatory app. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">It is common knowledge that the BJP IT Cell has a team of core members who guide some 20,000 cyber troops to automate hate and manipulate public perceptions across major social media platforms in India. The top echelon creates exclusive content which is well planned and thought out to impact the target and then it's shared to the cyber troop to carry out the activities on different internet platforms.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">It is public knowledge that the BJP IT cell core team comprises about 150 members who are paid a very high and those belonging to the cyber troop are salary are ideologically committed folks working on hourly wages. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">An investigation has found that the “Tek Fog” App is used by the operatives of the BJP IT cell. This is the most potent weapon to harass the critics and intimidate them. This app is the brainchild of a devilish and diabolic mindset. The folks working on this project enjoy the state patronage and are on a mission to create social disharmony in the country. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">Thanks to the political resolve of the Shiv Sena government that it gave the ‘go ahead’ signal to the Mumbai police cybercrime branch to tackle this case. The Delhi police cyber branch that has been sleeping over the Sulli app case too became active this time. Both did a swift operation to nab the culprits in no time.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">The cyber branch police first found out the IP addresses of the devices from which the pictures were uploaded on the app and through the IP addresses, they found the locations of the culprits. Accordingly, they sent the police team to a different location, and with the help of GPS and IP addresses, they nabbed the culprits.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">When police arrested Vishal Kumar Jha from Bengaluru, he informed about Shweta Singh from Uttrakhand, who revealed Mayank Rawat’s name, and in this way, all the culprits were nabbed because they were in touch with each other and made the job easy for the police. While making these arrests the police made it public that there could be many more people involved in the case and those arrested were just the tip of the iceberg. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> The message from the cybercrime branch of police was those who believe in the anonymity that the internet provides them are misplaced. They must know that once the resolve to get them is firmed up, it’s very easy to catch them from whichever device they are using for the crime.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">As one watches the spectacle of the 'Bulli Bai' app case, one thing that emerges clearly is that all the arrests made are from the BJP ruled states. Karnataka, Uttrakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, all are BJP ruled states. So patronage from the state double engine government cannot be ruled out to do such activity. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">The ongoing profiling of the Muslims by the Hindutva Jihadists is also an indicator of a skillful campaign scripted by the master strategists in the well-organized IT cell. It’s from there planning of such campaign is designed and the cyber troops are instructed to carry out the hate campaign in a well-orchestrated manner.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">It is also seen that under the current political dispensation at the center the hate factories are in full bloom. The hate propaganda, disinformation campaign is part of a well-crafted state policy going on since 2014 to polarize the society. It’s seen that one campaign ends the other is ready for circulation. The entire purpose of such a campaign is to build hatred against the Muslims in India so that Hindus can be united as a vote bank to perpetuate the BJP rule in the country. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> The Muslim community has no clue how to counter these hate mongers. They expect the government, the police, the court, the political parties to come to their rescue but their wishes seldom get fulfilled. As a result, they suffer vilification, intimidation, a humiliation in silence. The evildoers through the Bulli app and Sulli app are carrying on their hate campaign. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">There is an urgent need to engage conscious people in India to raise awareness about such evil practices going on in the country. The idea of making a counter-strategy to combat such evil designs can only be successful if like-minded people come together for such a specific purpose. The hate factories in India can only be silenced if professionals, technical persons, visionaries take part in this battle of cyber warfare. Only positive spirits of India who want moderation, toleration, and peaceful co-existence can uphold the true spirit of the country.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">----</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at <a href="mailto:syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> <br /></span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-86121623108830032962021-10-14T04:24:00.003-07:002021-10-14T04:32:08.702-07:00Alternative Narrative on Women Empowerment in Afghanistan<p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Alternative Narrative on Women Empowerment in Afghanistan</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Syed Ali Mujtaba</span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YZPYANTrFAvhR-xER4YIgXdRo3EX1aaq3GQX6G3O1Qmuzb35y_1hVETN83qADy89g4iZfYtRAJxdgmXQpOWUDMQfXrR1_4a1XPUYcsZUy05-cqVobKajrahM5bi2-hjjR7_ABH1w9OI3/s1840/0fezu0pmpuaesk43kdy77a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1840" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YZPYANTrFAvhR-xER4YIgXdRo3EX1aaq3GQX6G3O1Qmuzb35y_1hVETN83qADy89g4iZfYtRAJxdgmXQpOWUDMQfXrR1_4a1XPUYcsZUy05-cqVobKajrahM5bi2-hjjR7_ABH1w9OI3/w501-h281/0fezu0pmpuaesk43kdy77a.jpg" width="501" /></a></div><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>There is much talk about the trampling of women’s rights in Afghanistan in the media. The narrative being built is how under the Taliban rule, girls are not allowed to go to school, working women are told to stay home, demonstrations by women are put down with iron hands, women are not represented in the Afghan government, etc. <p></p><p>These views on the repression of Afghan women under Taliban rule are occupying the dominant space of the media. India along with the US allies is insisting that the Taliban government should shun their conservatism and give women the freedom to move about freely, go to school, go to work and induct them into the government. This dominant view is backed up by the condition that if the Taliban do not become soft on their women, the western aid promised to them will be stopped, and also they may not be recognized as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.</p><p>These are valid points to impress the progressive societies. However what is being preached and propagated 0is only one side of the story about the Afghan women and there is another side of the story as well. This remains unheard and needs to be told for the people to cast their judgment on this issue.</p><p>The starting point for this narrative is what the US and its ally really did for the empowerment of women during the 20 years of occupation of Afghanistan. The freedom that Afghan women got under US protection was to wear jeans, play football or cricket in public, and go to school or work but that was only to a very small section of women living in Kabul. The rest of the country had no such freedom that’s alien to Afghan women. As such with the retreat of the US the Afghan women have really have lost nothing as they never enjoyed anything that was for a tiny minority living in Kabul. </p><p>The majority of the Afghans who live in the rural areas remain rooted in their traditional values. It’s since time immemorial their lives have never changed. In fact, their sufferings increased manifold with the US occupation of their country. They were subjected to daily bombings, wanton killings, and arbitrary violence of the warlords, some of them being allied to the US forces. In such kind of repressive atmosphere under the US occupation, the lives of Afghan women deteriorated further than improved on freedom and liberty index. </p><p>The US had repeatedly stated that promoting women’s rights was one of the key reasons for their intervention in Afghanistan. However, after 20 years their record says they did nothing to improve the condition of women in Afghanistan. The fact is 80% of Afghan girls do not have any school to go, the health care centers for women and child remains abysmally low. These facts point that US occupation did not improve the condition of women of Afghanistan rather it made it worse. </p><p>The Afghan war cost the US taxpayer US$2 trillion but not even a fraction of it went to the Afghan women. The fact is the rural areas where women largely live never got benefited from the western donors and aid agencies and their condition never improved. The corruption in the middle siphoned off much of the money supposed to go to them. What little went to the rural areas did not make any significant impact on the lives of the women of Afghanistan. Even the basic amenities such as health, education, and water supplies were not improved by the US-controlled government. </p><p>The sorry state of affairs in Afghanistan is to be solely blamed on the international community that is largely responsible for the all-around devastation of that country. The ‘Afghan Jihad’ has brought untold misery and mayhem to the people of Afghanistan. Nearly four decades of war have left the country totally battered and bruised.</p><p>Now when Afghanistan has got freedom from foreign occupation, the west is talking about the plight of the women under Taliban rule. This is to absolve themselves from the sorry state of affairs created by them in Afghanistan. The US and its allies are making a case to browbeat the Taliban using women's freedom as an alibi to cover their incompetence to correct the wrongs in Afghanistan. </p><p>The Afghan women had never experienced the individual freedoms enjoyed by the women of the west. Such freedom is alien to them. The societies of the occident have undergone tremendous changes following the renaissance and reformation, the birth of Protestantism, agriculture and industrial revolutions, capital formation, etc. The American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Russian Revolution had tremendous impacts on the lives of people in the west and had their own impact on the women living in these countries. </p><p>In comparison, the societies of the orient have not experienced any such shock therapies. They witnessed very slow-paced changes that too after reaching a higher level of economic development. Educational development was the key to women's empowerment in all Asian societies.</p><p>In this social context, Afghan women are at the bottom of the ladder because their country has neither been economically sound nor they made any progress in educating its people. The women in Afghanistan are still struggling to gain respect in their homes. They still live in a male-dominated family where their repression is a common theme. They yet have to become partners in the decision-making process of the family. Their fight is to gain ascendency in the family and then in the society and after that to become visible on the streets. All these are tall order and a work in progress.</p><p>The majority of the Afghan women are happy at the departure of the foreign troops. They are equally happy at the return of the native rule, no matter how flawed that may be. They now feel at ease at the modicum of peace being established in their country that eggs them towards freedom of mind and to determine them the pace of their development. </p><p>However, right now, the top priority of Afghanistan is the reconstruction and economic safety of the people rather than the empowerment of women. The focus is on repairing and improving the infrastructure, ensuring supplies of essential goods and services, creating institutional structure, training manpower for administration purposes, etc. Improving the condition of women is below the agenda of priorities in Afghanistan.</p><p>The US and its ally after their abject failure to improve the condition of the people are talking about women’s rights. Their precondition to release financial aid and de-freeze the Afghan assets locked in western banks only after the improvement of the women’s rights is quite disgusting. This is being done at a time when Afghanistan desperately needs funds to stem the human catastrophe ticking over their country. </p><p>The threat to stop foreign aid to Afghanistan is a total misreading of the women empowerment narrative in that war-torn country. The US and its allies should allow the Afghan women to choose the kind of social change they may like to bring about and the kind of values, mores, and norms they may like to adopt to live freely in their country. They should also be allowed to change at their own pace and not at the likings of the foreign powers. </p><p>Empowerment of women is a work that has just started in Afghanistan. It may take a long time to reach the benchmark set by the western countries. Till then we have to support the reconstruction efforts of Afghanistan and at the same time give a gentle push to the task of women empowerment there. </p><p>---</p><p>Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</p><p><br /></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-24709171327625213452021-08-22T14:47:00.002-07:002021-08-22T15:13:56.634-07:00How British Media Reported Tipu Sultan<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBpDUJUrwTVC3mZ2OIkjD16pphDt2nZGrNG0i2-ek50H0c3fzwiNfSMRIJ8S5b8PQWrx58kbf5_ALOTZARSLwYAqeHtVHZvwrITwN_ZCNPU5k0jT2F6HoybxcO95vod0kdEYp4rM6JR9W/s2048/81m3X9RD3LL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1340" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBpDUJUrwTVC3mZ2OIkjD16pphDt2nZGrNG0i2-ek50H0c3fzwiNfSMRIJ8S5b8PQWrx58kbf5_ALOTZARSLwYAqeHtVHZvwrITwN_ZCNPU5k0jT2F6HoybxcO95vod0kdEYp4rM6JR9W/w590-h444/81m3X9RD3LL.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">How British Media Reported Tipu Sultan </span></b><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps no other ruler of India has been covered by the
British media as Fateh Ali Sahab Tipu a.k.a Tipu Sultan born at Devanhalli in 1750
and died at Seringapatam on May 4, 1799. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Tipu was the most feared Indian in Britain and his activities
were widely reported in British media. The people in England hungrily awaited
reports of the latest outrage of Tipu Sultan during the four Anglo-Mysore Wars.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> Tipu sultan was at the
forefront of the British public’s consciousness and his terrifying tales of
attacks on the British forces and threats to trading settlements in Madras
presidency appeared at regular intervals in the British newspapers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The return of British prisoners of war, some of whom were held
captive in Mysore for several years, led to the writing of books that told
harrowing stories of hardship and torture at the hand of this Indian ruler.
Many of these accounts were self-serving and those who followed Tipu
Sultan's activities closely were unnerved reading his tales of defiance. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Tipu Sultan was possibly the most famous Indian in the whole
of the United Kingdom. When he died at the hands of General Harris’s troops, that
besieged his island capital Seringapatam in 1799, there were celebrations in
Britain. The authors, playwrights, and painters created works to celebrate his
demise and the crown’s victor over the Tiger of Mysore. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> The news of Tipu’s death
was so powerful event that it fuelled much creativity throughout England. Not
only authors and playwrights but also artists and painters used canvas to
glorify the end of a dreaded Indian ruler who defied the British might. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Tipu Sultan extensively used tiger imagery to convey a sense
of his awesome power. Tiger images emblazoned his golden throne, his textiles,
coins, swords, and his soldier’s uniforms.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> It is no coincidence
that the Seringapatam medal, awarded to those who had taken part in the siege depicts a rampaging lion mauling a supine tiger, suggesting that the
Tiger of Mysore was mauled by the lion i.e. the British empire. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Tipu Sultan held sway in the public mind of the English
people well into the nineteenth century. As late as 1868, Wilkie Collins chose
the siege of Srirangapattana and its subsequent looting as the setting for the
opening of his bestselling novel ‘The Moonstone.’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The ‘South Asia Gallery’ at the British Museum has provided a
space for the legendary Indian ruler Tipu Sultan. It displays his sword, ring, and perfume box. The descriptions of his objects by the British Museum are following:
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“From 1766, the greatest threat to the East India Company
came from the ruler of Mysore. In 1782 Tipu Sultan became the ruler of the
province. His military and administrative skill made him a legend during his
lifetime. He was feared and respected both by the English and his countrymen. England
sent its best troops to try and defeat him and kidnapped his sons in 1792. He
was finally killed in 1799, during a battle in which the British successfully
gained control of the city Sarirangapatnam. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Tipu’s possessions
(‘everything that power could command or money could purchase’) were taken by
victors and are now in collections all over the world. This sword, decorated
with his emblem, the tiger is from his treasury, but the gold ring is said to
have been taken from his finger after the battle by Arthur Henry Cole, the resident
of Mysore.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The description of </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">Tipu Sultan</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">at at the London Museum suggests that how important the ruler of Mysore was for the British government. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">It needs to be reminded that Tipu Sultan
was secular to the core. His chief minister Purnaiya was a Hindu, and so were
several other prominent nobles at his court. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Tipu Sultan was a generous patron of several Hindu temples.
This included the Sri Ranganatha temple near his main palace at
Srirangapattana. He respected the Swami of the Sringeri Math and called him Jagadguru.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">---<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai, can be
contacted at <a href="mailto:syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com">syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</a>
. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-56122461334251626022021-08-15T18:50:00.003-07:002021-08-15T18:51:43.194-07:00Afghanistan- Modi has distanced India from Taliban <p> </p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcV6K5hHe2eOajsxX4kadlTSjEzZTfFYJBQbgvIsr779OvKzKJNBBioRRZtl-YkPpO66idhZmjvksnRTHwMq_Ta-Qn_CZMPEh4rdbf04Lpr84LUBGmKH2dLtONzZq-pvGO8Wp5lpF-JhT/s1280/956233-modi-ashraf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcV6K5hHe2eOajsxX4kadlTSjEzZTfFYJBQbgvIsr779OvKzKJNBBioRRZtl-YkPpO66idhZmjvksnRTHwMq_Ta-Qn_CZMPEh4rdbf04Lpr84LUBGmKH2dLtONzZq-pvGO8Wp5lpF-JhT/w503-h243/956233-modi-ashraf.jpg" width="503" /></a></b></div><b style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Afghanistan- Modi has
distanced India from the Taliban </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">In India, it's being fiercely debated that why the BJP
government did reach out to the Taliban when every other stakeholder was
talking to them for quite some time? US,
Russia, China, and Iran is in a much better position to deal with the Taliban
and address their concerns, whereas the Modi government’s domestic agenda has
tied India’s hand to reach out to the Taliban.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes after 2014, the US and other prominent countries
changed their perception towards the Taliban. They realized that the center of
gravity rests on these Pashtun guerrillas and so they started talking with the
Taliban so that they can exit from Afghanistan.
However, the BJP government’s myopic view of the situation in
Afghanistan kept them opposing the Taliban. India continued supporting the puppet
government in Afghanistan without having plan ‘B’ in place, in case, if the
current government falls down. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Indian response to the developments in Afghanistan has
exposed the chinks in the Modi government’s foreign policy. His arrogance in statecraft
is singularly responsible for putting India into the most disadvantaged
situation in Afghanistan. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">What does the BJP government’s opposition to the Taliban has
done to India? The first and foremost is
the threat to India’s investments made in Afghanistan. India has invested over
3 billion USD in Afghanistan. It's close to two decades now that India has been
a partner in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. It has built infrastructures in
education, medical, agriculture, power generation fields. India has constructed
a new Parliament building in Kabul. It engaged in constructing the Shahtoot Dam
on the Kabul River. India has also built roads, schools, universities,
hospitals, and sports stadiums in different parts of Afghanistan. All these
were with good intention to develop Afghanistan. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">However, the question remains, why India did not make any
plan to protect its interests if the US and the planted government leave the
scene. India was relying on these two fragile sources of strength, hoping US cover
will remain forever and the puppet government will serve its interests. Both,
these pillars that India thought were its strength have been blown away by the
winds of change sweeping across Afghanistan, leaving India in no man’s land. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The Modi government’s ill-conceived foreign policy towards
Afghanistan has numerous impacts on India. The first price for not negotiating
with the Taliban is likely to make India forfeit all its investments made in
Afghanistan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The second harm the BJP government did by stonewalling the
Taliban is it has put the lives of many Indians at risk in Afghanistan.
Recently, the Taliban had displayed its anti-Indian intentions clear, killing
an Indian photojournalist in a cold blood manner. India has little option than
to pull out its national from Afghanistan. It has been organizing operation
‘Airlift’ to take out its citizen from Afghanistan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The most interesting question that arises here is; whether
the BJP government gives shelter/ asylum/citizenship to people who were in the
Afghan government, with whom India had been engaging for 20 years or so while
doing the reconstruction work in Afghanistan. If India does not protect them
then it will bring a bad name to the country and in case if India welcomes such
persecuted Muslims how will they bypass the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA). If
that happens, will the BJP lose the sheen of its religious nationalism
project? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The third fall out of the Taliban’s hold on Afghanistan will
be on India’s internal security. India cannot stop the mushrooming of the
terror groups in Afghanistan who are furious at the anti-Islam- anti-Muslim
agenda being pursued in India. In such a case, new factions of terror groups will
emerge in Afghanistan on which
India will have no control. Many may be infiltrating inside India and
it’s likely that terror activities in Kashmir may increase. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The fourth fall out of
Taliban control of Afghanistan will be that they will make India a
transit route to smuggle their drugs to foreign destinations. Taliban are bound
to increase the production of drugs to generate more revenue to run the
government and with the golden triangle being heavily guarded, it’s Indian
waters that may become a conduit route for the Afghan drugs to move to the foreign
countries. A treaty with the Taliban could have addressed such issues, but the
BJP government’s arrogance has doomed all such national concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The fifth fall out of India’s ill-conceived foreign policy
towards the Taliban is losing all the partners that may have facilitated India
to play a role in the Afghan peace process. Now India cannot cut much ice,
vis-à-vis Pakistan or China, because of the given relationship with the BJP
government with these two countries. A troika has been made with Russia, China
Iran, and Pakistan leaving out India. India going into the American camp has
lost both Russia and China. Even the US has sidestepped India and has made a
deal with Central Asian republics, Afghanistan and Pakistan to keep its
interest afloat in that region, where India has no role to play.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, when the US-backed Afghan government has fallen, India
is scrambling for reconciliation with the Taliban but all such overtures have
been so far unanswered. It needs to be remembered that the Taliban had reached
out to the Indian diplomats in 2018 in Russia to make friends but India did not
give any weightage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The former chief of the Taliban’s Doha office; Syed Akbar
Agha has publicly stated that the Taliban are not keen to reconcile with India.
The Taliban leader said; “In fact, we had earlier sent messages of peace and
friendship but India had rebuffed them and now it’s late.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Another spokesperson for the Taliban in Doha Suhail Shaheen
has commented that after their spectacular victories on the battlefield, India
is changing its colors. Shaheen alleged that India was arming the Afghan
government all along so, “how it’s possible to talk with them when they were
arming the puppet regime? This is contradictory as they with our enemies and
not with us. If they stick to their policy of supporting a government-imposed
on Afghans, then maybe they should be worried about us and not the Taliban.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s no secret that India has provided military equipment
like helicopters, artillery field pieces, small arms, radar, ammunition,
amongst others, to the Afghan government to fight the Taliban. In such a case,
how India can prove its neutrality to the Taliban.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Taliban’s recent statement reaffirms that they are not happy
with India. They have blamed India for
not having an impartial attitude towards them and with the Indian government
taking sides supporting Afghanistan, they have doomed their prospects in
dealing with the Taliban. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As the drama is unfolding drama in Afghanistan and of
Taliban’s victory is keenly watched all over the world, the debate is raging in
India as to who has shot our motherland on its foot. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The responsibility for creating a threat to India squarely
rests on the current government which has put the country in such a situation
that cannot be reversed. After Pakistan and China, the Modi government has made
Afghanistan a new headache for India. The narrative of post-truth India making
of the brand new republic is solely responsible for creating the threats from
Afghanistan. The Modi government’s squinted foreign policy towards Afghanistan
has shot India on its foot. It has made the country limp to search for a
vantage position from where it can deal with a country that has otherwise been
friends with India for long. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">--------<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be
contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-71956033524771792702021-08-09T05:14:00.003-07:002021-08-15T18:44:54.786-07:00India Searching for Space in Afghan Peace Process<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l7JgbSEEtw4p9RRKlGcB_ohH4el5_Qs1DKXrshrjOLBlp8aexHY8fjjqKBHT9mCqH_rXmggMLqljSazCV9VktLlfgYpNBBal5hg75Scmi2OHspS1fbgeHWH3jw40PhTVA5CAtYhYgTSA/s274/download.jpg" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="274" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l7JgbSEEtw4p9RRKlGcB_ohH4el5_Qs1DKXrshrjOLBlp8aexHY8fjjqKBHT9mCqH_rXmggMLqljSazCV9VktLlfgYpNBBal5hg75Scmi2OHspS1fbgeHWH3jw40PhTVA5CAtYhYgTSA/w556-h282/download.jpg" width="556" /></a><br /><br /> <b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">India Searching for
Space in Afghan Peace Process</span></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">India’s External Affairs Minister Jaishanker was in Iran,
apparently searching space for India in the peace process in Afghanistan. Well
it’s the magnanimity of Iranian leadership to meet India’s Foreign Minister, as
New Delhi is on the list of non-friends, if not enemies. The reason being,
India voting against Iran in the United Nations. India’s desperation over the
developments in Afghanistan is evident because knowing well the facts on the ground, the PMO has sent the External Affairs Minister to go to Tehran and make friends with Iranians. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Why was Iran India’s External Affairs Minister Jaishanker
destination, why not Moscow or Riyadh or UAE? Well, India has lost Moscow’s
cover, since it stopped buying defence equipment from Russia. India has also distanced from Moscow since it abandoned the socialist path and has been following the capitalist path, making </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">anti-working-class laws. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">India’s
domestic compulsions that have been pushing for making India a Hindu religious
state further distances Russia, as the two countries are not on the same ideological
plane.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">India’s open preferences for anti- Islam anti-Muslim agenda
at home do not placate the Wahabis and Salafis brand of Islam of the Mid-East as well.
This leaves India with the option to court Shiite Iran.</span><span style="font-size: 16px;">I think our Minister has forgotten the Iranian fatwa on the <i>Satanic Verses. </i>In</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> his learned<i> </i>vision, </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">Shiite Iran </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">will tolerate Hindus' slurs on Islam and anti-Muslim campaign in India. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Notwithstanding the facts, the fact remains that India wants
to take Iran’s help to protect its interests in Afghanistan. How far Iran will serve India’s wishful interest in
Afghanistan remains to be seen, none the less India’s External Affairs Minister
had gone to Tehran to break the ice, searching for space in the Afghan peace
process. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There is no denying the fact that the US's exit from Afghanistan has brought instability to the
entire region. The geopolitical situation in that region is in flux. The
military vacuum created by the US retreat has moved regional powers to move
into Afghanistan. The idea of a regional
solution to Afghanistan has always had a political appeal, but the divergent
regional strategic vision has limited the peace prospects in Afghanistan. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Even as a sustainable regional consensus remains elusive in Afganistan, Russia,
Pakistan and China have formed a troika to deal with the situation developing in Afghanistan. They have left
India out in the Afghan peace deal, and this has made ‘Viswa-Guru’ running to
Iran, searching for space in the peace process in Afghanistan. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Who are the regional players in the Afghan peace process? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Pakistan -</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The first and foremost regional
actor is India's arch-rival Pakistan. It was frontline state for the US from 1979
to 1990 and helped the US build the military machine called ‘Mujahedeen’ to oust
the Soviet invaders. It was at the behest of the US; Pakistan created the backup force called the Taliban to
replace the Mujahedeen at a later stage. After the withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan in
1994, Pakistan played a key role in placing the Taliban on the hot seat of power in
Kabul. 1994-2001, Taliban rule in
Afghanistan, saw Afghanistan becoming heaven of Anti – American forces, leading to an attack on Twin Tower in New York
on September 11, 2001. This triggered a direct invasion of the US into Afghanistan. Pakistan
was once again made a frontline state by the US in its war against terror. The US was successful in ousting the Taliban and physically supported an Afghan regime that the US placed in
Kabul for the next twenty years. However, having failed to bring stability to Afghanistan, the US bought peace with the Taliban and made an exit from the place it desired to bring enduring freedom. This has made
Pakistan is once again relevant in the Afghan peace deal because it has been handling the Mujahedeen and the Taliban for from last forty years or so. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Iran –</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Iran is another neighbor that has
close involvement with Afghanistan. This
is because Persian being the court language and well
understood and spoken in Afghanistan all over and second, a large Shia population living in
Northern provinces of Afghanistan. Iran
has been traditionally protecting the interests of its population and most of the ruling elite in Afghanistan are of the Shia sect. Iran can’t forfeit the historical role it has played in the political stability
in Afghanistan. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tajikistan – Uzbekistan
– Turkmenistan etc</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. –
These central Asian republics share borders with Afghanistan. They too have
their ethnic population residing in Afghanistan. These multiethnic groups in Afganistan have a support base in central Asian republics. </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">As a result, Tajikstan – Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">have a decisive role in the future political settlement in Afghanistan. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Russia –</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Even though Russia is an extra-regional power since </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">1979 </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">it's been playing a huge role in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
After the 1990s, Russia has been on the Taliban side to
oust the US occupation of Afghanistan. It is well known that Russia has been
providing military assistance to the Taliban to sustain its anti-US military campaign.
Therefore, Russia has a huge interest in shaping the peace process in Afghanistan. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">China </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">– China has emerged as a new player
in the peace process in Afghanistan. It wants to enter into the power vacuum left behind by the US. China shares a border with Afghanistan and there are unconfirmed reports that say that it has been training the Taliban, providing them arms and
ammunition to fight against American occupation forces. </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">China offers the Taliban the recognition of its alternative vision of governance that does not conform </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">to the Western model</span><span style="font-size: 16px;">. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">China is willing to recognize the Taliban
as the legitimate ruler of Afghanistan. Just like Myanmar, China is ready to
protect the Taliban regime against any western sanctions. China is aware of its
role as a regional player and </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">has a huge stake in bringing stability to Afghanistan. China's </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">main interest is to make its
belt and road policy run into central Asian republics. It wants China- Pakistan
Economic Corridor (CPEC) to be extended beyond Pakistan and through Afghanistan
enter into the central Asian Republics. Besides, China is keen on mining
activity, that’s in abundance in Afghanistan and remains unexplored. All these grand designs of China are quite palatable to the Taliban. They are </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">receptive to the
Chinese investments in Afghanistan as this may bring all-around development to their
country. So, China has a huge stake in peace and stability in Afghanistan. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">India-</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> All these factors have been
increasingly pushing India into a geopolitical tight spot in Afghanistan. This
is because the era of prolonged peace in Afghanistan secured by the US military
presence has come to an end. It means new constraints on India’s ability to
operate inside Afghanistan. As such India’s lack of direct physical access to
Afghanistan and that underlines the importance of having effective
regional partners for playing peacemakers.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But who could be India’s regional partners? Certainly Pakistan and
China is ruled out because the current political dispensation in Delhi sees the two countries as enemies of India. As a result, New Delhi is intensifying its engagement with Iran. In fact, India had made great
preparation to hold Afghanistan through Iran, committing to build Chabhar port.
However, India voted against Iran at the United Nations giving weightage to the US over Iran and that has turned to be its undoing. Now, it remains to be seen how much weightage Iran gives to India
to meddle into Afghanistan. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">India has invested billions of dollars after the US invasion </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">of Afghanistan. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> It has constructed a new Parliament building in Kabul. India has also built
dams, roads, schools, universities, hospitals, and sports stadiums in different
parts of Afghanistan. This means India has to gate crash into Afghanistan to safeguard its interests. That is the reason the current leadership in Delhi is courting Iran, expecting it to facilitate India's entry into Afghanistan. However, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> this is subjected to numerous
ifs and buts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, will India lose all its investments in Afghanistan, </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">which run into billions of rupees</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">? Certainly not! India has some history of engaging
Taliban. Indian officials had first direct contact with the Taliban in
2013, when they issued a visa to senior Taliban leader Abdul Salam Zaeef for attending a
conference in Delhi. </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">Further in 2018, some senior Taliban leaders met with Indian representatives in Moscow. Indian officials and Taliban leaders held a meeting in Doha in June 2021. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> It was reported that the Taliban leader Mullah Baradar was
in contact with former Afghan president Hamid Karzai, who was pushing Russia,
Iran and India to start a dialogue with the Taliban. Taliban group was aware
that India was providing military support to the US-backed Afghan government and it had
warned Delhi to remain impartial. The Taliban leadership had made it clear that they would not interfere in
Kashmir to suit India’s interests. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As a result, India has to rethink its stand on dealing with the Taliban if it likes to protect its
interest in Afghanistan. Since India is in no position to dictate terms to the Taliban it </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">has to evolve a new policy that is different from the current policy of supporting the US-backed <span>Afghan regime. </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">India's new policy should not be based on Pakistan and China’s moves in Afganistan. India
has to acknowledge the fact that it cannot match the reach and depth of Pakistan and China that has land boundaries with Afghanistan. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The good thing is,
Taliban has signaled that it will not be a proxy for anyone and will
pursue its independent policies. This gives India the opportunity to deal
exclusively with the Taliban. Taliban has already given assurance that it will not
support Pakistan-backed anti-India terrorist groups from its soil. It remains to be seen that India gives an assurance to refrain from Muslim bashing that's currently going on to build a new relationship with the
Taliban.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There is no denying the fact Taliban remains a major force to
reckon with in Afghanistan. There cannot be any peace in Afghanistan without
Taliban playing a central role in the Afghan peace process. At the same time,
Taliban cannot rule the whole of Afghanistan without accommodating the interests of
other groups in that country. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If India has to protect its investments in
Afghanistan, it has to directly deal with the Taliban. India has to remain
active and patient watching the evolving situation in Afghanistan. There may be many opportunities for India
that may bacon it from the front door in the Afghan peace process, and this need not
be through Iran. Certainly for this, India has to bottle up its own Taliban! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">--<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be
contacted at <a href="mailto:syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com">syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-26370363270375531432021-07-04T16:20:00.001-07:002021-07-04T16:20:30.271-07:00Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan Model is Now Real <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vGRdDm1qWTgEOGyE5AK0ofOrmUjUJxxkGDXYp5p7ujvLDnbB82uzTbbZ6yEFd9NXkqikQwf-xzSqNBk2iiXLUnNFV-os3LTT1FIYuHzLKJiz-Kkl_8UjYabJb5Dl3BEpjhm29hNjGuuy/s1024/GettyImages-1134724476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1024" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vGRdDm1qWTgEOGyE5AK0ofOrmUjUJxxkGDXYp5p7ujvLDnbB82uzTbbZ6yEFd9NXkqikQwf-xzSqNBk2iiXLUnNFV-os3LTT1FIYuHzLKJiz-Kkl_8UjYabJb5Dl3BEpjhm29hNjGuuy/w467-h228/GettyImages-1134724476.jpg" width="467" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan
Model is Now Real </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali
Mujtaba <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The new Pew Research Center report has come out with
startling revelation as it says that for many Hindus, national identity,
religion, and language are closely connected. Nearly, 76% of Hindus say being
Hindu is very important to be truly Indian. Nearly two-thirds of Hindus say
it is very important to speak Hindi to be truly Indian.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The new Pew Research Center report is based on a face-to-face
survey of 29,999 Indian adults fielded between late 2019 and early 2020. This
was before the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey takes a closer look at religious
identity, nationalism, and tolerance in Indian society. The survey was conducted
by local interviewers in 17 languages and covered nearly all of India’s states
and union territories. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hindus who strongly link Hindu and Indian identities express
a keen desire for religious segregation. They say they do not have much in
common with members of other religious groups. Most of the 86% of India’s large
Hindu population, says their close friends come mainly or entirely from their
own religious community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hindus who strongly link Hindu and Indian identities feel it
is very important to stop Hindu women from marrying into another religion. Roughly
two-thirds of Hindus say it is very important to stop Hindu women (67%) and
Hindu men (65%) from marrying into other religious communities. Even those who
place less importance on Hinduism’s role in national identity, hold the same
view about inter-religious marriages. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Among Hindus who say it is very important to be Hindu to be
truly Indian, 80% of them also say it is very important to speak Hindi to be
truly Indian. Most Hindus in India say being able to speak Hindi is very
important to be ‘truly’ Indian. Moreover, Hindus in the Northern (69%) and
Central (83%) strongly link Hindi with national identity. Together, the
Northern and Central regions cover the country’s “Hindi belt,” where Hindi is
most prevalent. The vast majority of Hindus in these regions strongly link
Indian identity with being able to speak Hindi.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Majority of Hindus say a person who eats beef cannot be a
Hindu. Dietary laws are central to Indians’ religious identity. Hindus
traditionally view cows as sacred, and laws on cow slaughter have recently been
a flashpoint in India. Nearly three-quarters of Hindus (72%) in India say a
person cannot be Hindu if they eat beef. This is larger than the shares of
Hindus, who say a person cannot be Hindu if they do not believe in God (49%) or
never go to a temple (48%).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Among Hindus, views of national identity, go hand-in-hand
with politics. Support for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is greater
among Hindus who closely associate their religious identity and the Hindi
language with being truly Indian. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the 2019 national elections, 60% of Hindu voters who think
it is very important to be Hindu and to speak Hindi to be truly Indian cast
their vote for the BJP. In comparison, only 33% of Hindu voters feel less
strongly about both these aspects of national identity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These views also map onto regional support for the BJP, which
tends to be much higher in the Northern and Central parts of the country than
in the South.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">India’s caste system, an ancient system of social hierarchy continues
to dominate Indian society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A large
majority of Indians overall (70%), say that most or all of their close friends
share the same caste. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Large shares of Indians (64%) say it is very important to
stop women of their caste from marrying into other castes. Similarly, about the
same share (62%) say it is very important to stop the men in their caste from
marrying into other castes. Across the different castes, all object to
interreligious marriages. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The survey finds that three-quarters of Muslims (74%) supporting
having access to the existing system of Islamic courts. To this followers of
other religions are less supportive and don’t concur with Muslims having access
to this separate court system.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">According to a Pew report, Religious conversion is not alarming
as it is made out to be. Among Hindus, for instance, any conversion out of the
group is matched by conversion into the group. So Hindus gain as many people as
they lose. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As far as Christians are
concerned there are some net gains from conversion. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These are inchoate images of changing India. India is making
a decisive change from the Nehruvian era to a Hindi Hindu Hindustan identity, the call given by V.D Savarkar. Nehruvian India aspired for an inclusive society. There was no connection between the state and religion. Indian nationalism and Hindu nationalism were poles apart. Hindi was not a synonym for Indian nationalism. There were 14 other languages that enjoyed equal status with Hindi. It's precisely because of the diversity of languages in India, Hindi could not become the national language of the country. </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Nehruvian India aspired for a casteless society. It encouraged inter-caste marriages to break the barriers of caste hierarchy. Inter-religious marriages were encouraged in </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Nehruvian India</span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"> to bridge the social tension between the religious communities in the country. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The new Pew Research Center report amply points a</span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">ll these ideals of India that were envisioned in </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Nehruvian India</span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">are set aside. India has moved to the </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">‘Post- Truth era and Indians are living in 'The Brand New Republic.’</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. His
forthcoming book is ‘Post- Truth India, The Brand New Republic.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can be contacted at </span><a href="mailto:syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-10228990840631580322021-06-20T09:26:00.006-07:002021-06-20T09:28:16.734-07:00India's Islamic Heritage Sites Being Documented <p><br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcjKcpR3Qn3ZNWX3LM6Ng6F27XeSPuyRyoW9a8gUK_TSUHpkGESEpDaGq41xj7V3WlFW69xcaTvK7hLToD4kk8qrS8eO0bBy3Zt3B7zgFLRaULAwqgK67c8K8vo_bcq3o0GHwR9ZD4TZB/s720/202062438_954194508727034_212084994145556172_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcjKcpR3Qn3ZNWX3LM6Ng6F27XeSPuyRyoW9a8gUK_TSUHpkGESEpDaGq41xj7V3WlFW69xcaTvK7hLToD4kk8qrS8eO0bBy3Zt3B7zgFLRaULAwqgK67c8K8vo_bcq3o0GHwR9ZD4TZB/w599-h277/202062438_954194508727034_212084994145556172_n.jpg" width="599" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">India's Islamic Heritage Sites Being Documented </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Syed Ali Mujtaba</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Mr. Siraj Thakor, from Toronto, Canada, has undertaken the monumental task of creating an online database of all the Islamic Heritage Sites of India. He likes to preserve it digitally and make it available to all to cherish the Islamic past of this great country.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Mr. Siraj is looking for volunteers to assist him with the information on Islamic Heritage Sites in India. In response to his call, someone wrote to me with detailed information about a graceful mosque that lies in ruins in the Gaya district of Bihar.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This mosque popularly called ‘Lodi mosque’ was built around 1536 AD during the Lodhi rule in India. It is believed that Sultan Ibrahim Lodi, one of the rulers of the Lodhi dynasty had taken initiatives to get this mosque constructed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This mosque is about 25 km from Gaya on Gaya-Patna road. It is exactly near Kundwa village at Khijrasarai block in Gaya district. It is situated on the banks of the river Falgu, a kilometer from village Kundwa. On the West of the river is Lodhipur village colloquially called Lodpur, while on the east is Kundwa village.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The mosque becomes functional only during the ‘Eid’ and ‘Bakrid’ festivals when some Muslims from Kundwa village come to offer prayers in this mosque. For the rest of the years, this mosque remains a picture of neglect and want for maintenance. There is no Azaan called from this mosque as there is no one to take care of this house of worship. Some people have illegally occupied the land around this mosque but there is none to challenge such encroachments.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This historical mosque comes under the Archaeological Survey of India but neither ASI nor the Bihar government nor the Waqf Board, have any concern in protecting this Islamic heritage site. It is in this context people like Mr. Siraj Thakor, who is the Past President of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI), comes into the picture. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> He wrote to me: “Dear Brother Syed Ali Mujtaba, ASAK, I am a Past President of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI), We have undertaken the monumental task of creating an online database of all the Islamic Heritage Sites of India to preserve it digitally and make it available to all. I would take this opportunity to request you to be part of our team to collect info on Islamic Heritage Sites in your area. Alternatively, can you put in touch with someone or the organization which would be interested in such a historical task and leaves a legacy for the Indian Muslim generation to come? Wassalaam- Siraj Thakor.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Mr. Siraj has started an All India campaign to document such historical Islamic heritage sites in ruins. If you have any similar story of any such Islamic heritage site near you, please write to him directly with photographs; (thakorsiraj@hotmail.com). You can even contact him on ‘WhatsApp’ -+1 416-277-7082.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a huge initiative and the efforts of people like Mr. Siraj needs to be strengthened. Anyone, anyone where in the country who feels concerned about vanishing Islamic Heritage Sites in India must come forward and join his team.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">– Maiñ akelā hī chalā thā jānib-e-manzil magar– log saath aate gae aur kārvāñ bantā gayā –</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">(Translation: I set off alone towards my goal, but, people came along and it began to turn into a caravan!)</span></p><p>—</p><p>Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-41909174174698196592021-04-08T03:49:00.003-07:002021-04-08T03:49:43.078-07:00 Some Muslims set to visit Temple on Ugadi day<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Some Muslims set to visit Temple on Ugadi day</span></div></blockquote></div><p></p><p> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Syed Ali Mujtaba</span></p><p>Chennai: Come, Ugadi, the Telegu New Year that falls this year on April 13, 2021, and some Muslims of the Kadapa town in Andhra Pradesh will be seen flocking to the historic Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swamy temple to seek blessings from the presiding deity for a great year ahead. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCunXvNdHoK_j3pRhTj144yROJKPiHmbMNqEgRNRx_Hdw09Rx0Ut_oJu_xOkuxVsUGR_cfc8Esj8Y2HzFaedT-WkjAeacfkGYdzVe0wMAVVbAFa_8tqcI9SnWjYuxacVU5DKzIOkYmHtgN/s720/Muslim+women_0.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCunXvNdHoK_j3pRhTj144yROJKPiHmbMNqEgRNRx_Hdw09Rx0Ut_oJu_xOkuxVsUGR_cfc8Esj8Y2HzFaedT-WkjAeacfkGYdzVe0wMAVVbAFa_8tqcI9SnWjYuxacVU5DKzIOkYmHtgN/s320/Muslim+women_0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Lord Venkateswara, Balaji is a form of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared here to save mankind from the trials and troubles of Kali Yuga.</p><p>This tradition is centuries old in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. Many Muslims from Chittoor, Kurnool, and Anantapur district visit the Balaji temple every year on Ugadi day.</p><p>The temple is popularly known as Devuni - Kadapa, or the threshold of the Lord, and is considered as the gateway to Tirumala, some 120 km away, the abode of Lord Sri Venkateswara in Tirupati.</p><p>The members of the Muslim community believe that Lord Balaji had married a Muslim woman known as Bibi Nancharamma. According to a popular legend, Bibi Nancharamma was one of the consorts of Lord Balaji, a local Muslim woman. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJH8enY-XeCQggolXEBKWIhOqhmDnX7mhHtG-SsAOqyRny0YkFsiWnpqXkmTWlCdlXDECvKMld76G-vouyIowh_eMrKovQsd5DazZq7BWzXjXQXT4-rpRDIhS9PAD4WPrQQRSOMlMvmbC8/s602/main-qimg-c7c29661b4efa678c4b8e6593ad4ade4.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJH8enY-XeCQggolXEBKWIhOqhmDnX7mhHtG-SsAOqyRny0YkFsiWnpqXkmTWlCdlXDECvKMld76G-vouyIowh_eMrKovQsd5DazZq7BWzXjXQXT4-rpRDIhS9PAD4WPrQQRSOMlMvmbC8/s320/main-qimg-c7c29661b4efa678c4b8e6593ad4ade4.webp" width="320" /></a>Another legend is Bibi Nancharamma was the daughter of Malik Kafur, the General of Allaudin Khilji in South India whom Lord Balaji married in 1311 AD. The Muslim community of this region since then treats Lord Venkateswara as their son-in-law.</p><p>Muslims throng the Devuni - Kadapa temple right from 6.00 AM and scores of men and women take ‘harathi’, consume the ‘teertham’ and ‘prasadam’ and accept the “satagopam” placed on their head by the temple priests there.</p><p>On the day of the temple visit, Muslims do not touch any non-vegetarian food. They take bath and carry flowers, jaggery, sugarcane pieces, and tamarind to offer to the deity. This includes ‘Vepapathi,’ a special dish made of jaggery and sugarcane.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLw-EwG_yPuQ-qrEf82uHQ-5JFbtR8JvIlrznIw_8shYVXJkqqpCJeOnTF6BoJvujQ1o1Q9krfhjPx1QWqdExvtRSkSLecmyLSrZOvgOYWt-MidG2Tg9AKgeNV3FFmb_AfBgalJuwdjDJ/s750/Kadapa_Muslim_Ugadi_3x2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLw-EwG_yPuQ-qrEf82uHQ-5JFbtR8JvIlrznIw_8shYVXJkqqpCJeOnTF6BoJvujQ1o1Q9krfhjPx1QWqdExvtRSkSLecmyLSrZOvgOYWt-MidG2Tg9AKgeNV3FFmb_AfBgalJuwdjDJ/s320/Kadapa_Muslim_Ugadi_3x2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Priests conducted special prayers and bless the Muslim devotees as they do to the Hindu devotee. This tradition is centuries old and there is nothing Hindu- Muslim about it. This is done every year and those who visit the temple are allowed to pray and seek blessings for peace and prosperity for the year ahead. <p></p><p>Kadapa incidentally has a Dargah, which is frequented by the Hindus, and the Muslim priest there does the same act without making any fuss about the Muslim or the Hindu community. </p><p>Well, this is real India untouched by the pollution of high politics of Hindu nationalism. In post-truth India, where the brand new republic is being experimented, such practices of interfaith communal harmony show mirror how pluralism is thriving in the country. </p><p>--</p><p>Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</p><p><br /></p><p> </p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-16870643263579086862021-04-06T10:49:00.003-07:002021-04-06T13:50:55.091-07:00Hindutva has arrived in America! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFqwQqPzRYKMfR9Rli4fWE5YwFO24O7Y6mXgJu7h9HoxanaiLqywk2s8FWGEUwlOF-nN6L5UY3zb5yTo-tVlwLGFUnAjDdPTL_kG-89HdELubAO3c6bs2wnE1USsUg20xBGBD2fVu_itv/s2048/AhsSsKy.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFqwQqPzRYKMfR9Rli4fWE5YwFO24O7Y6mXgJu7h9HoxanaiLqywk2s8FWGEUwlOF-nN6L5UY3zb5yTo-tVlwLGFUnAjDdPTL_kG-89HdELubAO3c6bs2wnE1USsUg20xBGBD2fVu_itv/s320/AhsSsKy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <b style="font-size: x-large;">Hindutva has Arrived in America! </b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Syed
Ali Mujtaba </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This
may not be news for those who have little connection with US domestic politics,
but for those who are closely watching the house of Uncle Sam it's apparent that
Hindutva forces </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: left;">have arrived in America! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This
is an interesting development that needs to be closely watched as America’s "melting pot culture" is having the taste of India’s Hindu organizations that </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">are challenging the core US values in its home turf.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">These organizations are; 'Hindu SwayamSevak' (HSS) - the International Wing of the RSS, the Vishwa
Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), the Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) and the
Hindu American Foundation (HAF). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">These organizations are extolling the virtues
of the Hindutva ideology and teaching the Americans the values of Hindu
Civilization. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Surprisingly
these Hindu outfits do not claim to be the custodian of ‘Santam Dharma.’ The
confine being the advocacy group of Hindu Americans but do not define
‘Hinduism.’ They seem to be self-convinced to represent the entire caste
matrix of ‘Santam Dharma’ along with the Hindu minority groups like; Sikhs,
Buddhists and Jains in their world view of
Hinduism. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Among
the Hindutva organizations, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) is the most
articulate organization. It was founded by rich, articulate, and highly
educated second-generation Indians in 2003 with the mission to educate the
Americans about Hindus and Hinduism. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> The
HAF came into existence barely a few months after the Gujarat pogrom in 2002
which was against the Muslims and there was huge outrage against then Gujarat
Chief Minister Narendra Modi. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimumLjSpksiv5gFKPAsG3feYeVYoASt3sLuWCenfv8e0IGwqCjR25s-zMDiZKcwr3J3yvk07q6Fi6kC6XwyMQK-5v1804ZpCO_fkExWInWDr686Yudl2RQaS6VgyXxvpTkCLLHEVvSJt0u/s720/168120361_5678276632213243_8718240984671606250_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimumLjSpksiv5gFKPAsG3feYeVYoASt3sLuWCenfv8e0IGwqCjR25s-zMDiZKcwr3J3yvk07q6Fi6kC6XwyMQK-5v1804ZpCO_fkExWInWDr686Yudl2RQaS6VgyXxvpTkCLLHEVvSJt0u/s320/168120361_5678276632213243_8718240984671606250_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
HAF justifies the Gujarat communal riots calling them a spontaneous act, an
outburst of the Hindus against the Muslims who they say were responsible for
the death of ‘Kar Sevaks’ in the Godhra train tragedy. A similar stance was
taken by them during the 2020 Delhi pogrom. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
HAF members are on a mission to support Narendra Modi and his extremist
policies. They dismiss all criticism against him as ‘Hindu-Phobia.’ </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Going
through the website of HAF one gets the impression it’s an extension of
Hindutva forces that are currently at work in the US. They have
put stories on their website that suggests their energies are focused
on supporting Modi’s acts in the ‘Dreamland.’
</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> After
2014, the HAF’s effort is to defend Prime Minister Modi’s policies. Be it, note
ban, GST, making J&K a UT., the lockdown, etc. The talented pool of young
and accomplished voices of HAF is defending Narendra Modi as a savior of
mankind, projecting him as the world’s ‘greatest leader.’ </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This
group’s speckless campaign was finely articulated at the ‘Howdy Modi’ show. This
particular event during the Trump administration boosted the Indian Prime
Minister’s image in America and showcased the Hindu- American voting muscle to the
Americans.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Banking on the large
Hindu voters, such </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">lobby groups </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">are propping up Hindu candidates that could
represent their ‘Hindutva ideology’ in the US Congress, thus</span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"> making deep inroads into the US politics.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Tulsi
Gabbard, Sri Preston Kulkarni, Padma Kuppa, Raja Krishnamurti were candidates
that was backed by the Hindu lobby groups in America. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Some civil rights activists in the US have accused HAF of
backing a fascist ideology. They in turn are rebutted with the accusation
that they are pro-Islamists suffering from Hindu-Phobia.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
HAF proclaims to be involved in the areas of human rights, civil rights, and
education, etc. They say their motto is to promote dignity, mutual
respect, and pluralism along with the well-being of the ‘Hindus.’ </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">However,
these sweet words are a charade, the truth is their mother outfits RSS and the BJP in India
instruct them to make inroads into US politics. The neo-rich Hindu Americans
are donating extensively to support the Hindu candidates so that they can
impact US politics. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
HAF job is also to challenge the mainstream US media on their reportage on
India. Several websites are propped up by them that are engaged in challenging
the popular media outlets like NYT, Washington Post, and Time, Newsweek, etc. Their job
is to refute the negative coverage of the Indian Prime Minister and his policies. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
HAF claims it is a politically agnostic and non-partisan group that does
not favor or endorse any political party or candidate and is not affiliated
with any religious or political organization. However, if we go to their
website, they have put stories on ‘Bengali Hindu Genocide in 1971’, ‘India's
Citizenship Amendment Act,’ ‘Kashmir and Articles 370/35A’, ‘Correcting Media
Portrayals of Hinduism’, Commercial use of Hindu Images, etc. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">All these
stories, tear open the underbelly of Hindutva forces in America from where the
yank Golwarkars and Sarwakars ooze out. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">There
is a need to keep a close watch on such organizations that are spreading their
tentacles in US politics. They need to be put on a leash before they make any
deadly assaults on the American value system. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">-----------</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Syed
Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at </span><a href="mailto:syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-56006415651899742002021-01-02T07:52:00.005-08:002021-01-07T00:29:10.333-08:00Democracy has won over ‘Demoncracy’ in J&K Polls<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0u0S2fTCsW_PCBo40jMB5EAeOllxMaaje_KSmNyj1ZYzB6aWlB-DNYGRuVcTkkjP2w6DitmqDteOfwdtglMjJaePBTr-l5XtI6c2p8r7a4WNqVMofa_UcJ3vWzMlWro7cBskmglBrjep/s800/54743f3953806.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="800" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0u0S2fTCsW_PCBo40jMB5EAeOllxMaaje_KSmNyj1ZYzB6aWlB-DNYGRuVcTkkjP2w6DitmqDteOfwdtglMjJaePBTr-l5XtI6c2p8r7a4WNqVMofa_UcJ3vWzMlWro7cBskmglBrjep/w737-h250/54743f3953806.jpg" width="737" /></a></b></div><b style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></b>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20pt;">Democracy
has won over ‘Demoncracy’ in J&K</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali
Mujtaba<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">The BJP government
in Delhi has conducted the District Development Council in J&K. This was
done almost one year of its occupational rule. The poll was conducted to make a
point that people of J&K endorsed BJP’s decision of August 5, 2019.
The results speak how miserably the BJP has failed. Inherent in the BJP’s
victory beguile is the slur that Democracy has won over ‘Demoncracy’ in J&K</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">There are few
things that need to be analyzed with regard to the DDC poll results. The BJP’s
strategy was that the local poll will be boycotted by the people of Kashmir and
in such case its victory in Jammu will hold the credibility of the poll and
that would justify its August 5, 2019 decision. The participation of the
mainstream party in the polls upset the BJP’s calculation. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The results of the
DDC polls did not endorse the BJP’s move to revoke the special provisions to
the J&K and make it a Union Territory. In fact the poll verdict made a loud
statement for the restoration of the autonomy which was forcibly taken by the
BJP government in Delhi. It also made a statement that the people of the Valley
desperately need freedom, peace, dignity and democracy.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> The poll
results highlighted the total alienation of the people of the valley towards
the Delhi rule. The restoration of faith and trust deficit that BJP has created
will linger on long after it ceases to be the rulers of ‘Hindusthan.’</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The BJP’s claim
that it has emerged as a single largest party at the DDC has to be accepted
with a pinch of salt. Out of 75 seats that the BJP won, 72 have come from
the Jammu region, that too from six Hindu dominated districts —Jammu, Kathua,
Udhampur, Samba and Doda and Reasi. In these districts there is sharp
religious polarization between Hindu Jammu and Muslim Kashmir. These districts
are traditional Hindutva vote banks and there is nothing to celebrate about the
BJP’s win. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The fact is the
Congress won 26 seats in the Jammu region and the ‘Alliance’ won in both mixed
areas, as well as in Muslim-dominated areas, makes BJP claims of being the
single largest party being hollow.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The puzzle is how
did the BJP win three seats in the Srinagar region? How it got 3 per cent votes
in the Valley? Independent sources say, the 3 seats are won by coercive
methods. People were asked at gunpoint to vote for BJP. Many votes were cast in
absentia by bogus voting. Those managing the booths voted for the BJP. Huge
security personnel took part in the state orchestrated voting process. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">There were reports
that the alliance parties were not allowed to campaign freely, their movements
were restricted. The central government made life difficult for the top leaders
to reach out to the masses. The BJP candidates or its allies were given full
security to campaign. Many high profile Muslim BJP leaders like Shahnawaz
Hussain and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi went to for campaigning to the valley.
Even with all these, hullabaloo the BJP could win only 3
seats. Given the administrative paraphernalia and security set up that the BJP
has put up in the Kashmir valley, this very poor show by the mighty state
power. Certainly, the result does not suggest that the BJP has become a
mainstream party in the Valley.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The BJP backed Apni
Party hardly had any significant impact in the DDC polls. There were reports
that the BJP used the state machinery to the benefit of the Apni party. It has
also pumped in huge cash and resources to help it win the polls. But in spite
of all the backing given by the BJP, the Apani party could win only 12 seats.
The BJP thus miserably failed in creating an alternative leadership in the
Kashmir valley. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The BJP’s moves to
change the course of Kashmir valley’s politics by propping up Apni Party was
totally debunked by the people of the Kashmir valley. In BJP’s circles,
Altaf Bukhari, the leader of the Apani party is touted to be the new Shiekh
Abdullah who will hold the BJP’s flag high in the Kashmir Valley. The
DDC results point that Altaf Bukari has become the
Altaf Hussain of Pakistan – a crook to the core.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The DDC poll also did not endorse the BJP claim
that its move of August 5, 2019 has been able to contain the scourge of
terrorism in J&K.? The statistics of militancy related activities
speak the fact that armed militancy has increased since the state became a
Union Territory. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The BJP claims to
end dynasty rule has also not got vindicated at the DDC poll? The fact is BJP’s
campaign to remove dynasties in J&K did not reflect on the poll results.
People have restored faith in the old dynasties of Abdullahs, Muftis and Sajjad
Lone. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In sum the DDC poll
results clearly reflect a mass resentment and anger at the state of affairs in
the Union Territory of J&K. People have clearly voted against the
‘demoncracy’ that is thrust on them. The poll verdict points that the people
unanimously oppose the central government’s move to abrogate Article 370, the
dissolution of the state assembly, the arrest of political leaders, the
lockdown, the clampdown, and the totalitarian and authoritarian methods adopted
by the BJP. The DDC poll results reflect a total failure of the BJP government
towards J&K.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The DDC poll on the
positive side has restored people's faith in the electoral process. The results
vindicate that people want restoration of autonomy, state assembly and true
federalism in J&K. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">--</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in
Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-358464940962404202020-09-21T11:10:00.002-07:002020-09-21T11:10:42.679-07:00 ‘Love Jihad’ twist to Sandalwood Drugs Scandal <div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator"><p style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1200" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiincUZffGhSuCCcWj6Qu4jnFC4qM0IZCqiALGOlguPHmssda5OFJhJOGXpKwzeOadM5HT_2yBAlnxroo0Q67yWKsmkl22NDLU5eB6TWFTIwPkDRqLAY9ZB5uKy4PRrRksUwYc5BVPAjXp8/w320-h190/sanjjanaa-galrani-1200.jpg" width="320" /></p></div><p><b>‘Love Jihad’ twist to Sandalwood Drugs Scandal </b></p><p><b>Syed Ali Mujtaba </b></p><p>The Sandalwood drug scandal in Karnataka has led to arrest of several film stars that has now sparked a new controversy and that’s ‘Love Jihad.’ Sandalwood refers to the Kannada language film industry in Karnataka.</p><p>The Sandalwood drug scandal story became juicy after the arrest actress Sanjjanaa Galrani by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) on September 8.</p><p>A twitter handler @ShobhaBJP whose actual name is Shobha Karandlaje has raised the issue of the evil link between Love-Jihad-and Drugs. She pointed out that ‘Love-Jihad’ cases being reported across the country has links with drugs mafia. This BJP sympathizer wanted this angle to be also probed and the motive to stir social harmony to be stopped. </p><p>It is true that Sanjjanaa Galrani had converted to Islam in October 2018 and changed her name to Mahira. In the affidavit, the actress had declared that she converted to Islam on her own will after studying Islam for years. The document also has her photograph along with the date of conversion i.e. 9th October 2018.</p><p>Sanjjanaa Galrani who had made her film debut in Tamil Movie Oru Kadhal Seiver (2006), and soon became known for her controversial role in the Kannada film Ganda Hendathi (2006) remake of the Hindi film Murder (2004) is surrounded by rumors of dating Dr. Azeez Pasha, a Bengaluru-based cardiovascular surgeon. </p><p>The speculation became nearer to truth when a picture of Sanjjanaa Galrani with Azeez Pasha surfaced in the social media confirming their relationship. In the picture both could be seen dressed in a traditional outfit, which looks like a wedding attire. </p><p>On being quizzed, both Sanjjanaa and Dr Azeez had shared differing views about their marital status. The actress’ mother’s had her own opinion. Sanjjana who is trained in salsa dancer said; “I am not married, I want to make it clear that I am not,” She said while addressing to the media on the drug case. </p><p>On the other hand, Dr Azeez said, “Yes, the photograph is from a ceremony that is akin to a marriage.” But when Sanjjanaa’s mother was asked, she confirmed that actress got engaged to Pasha and their wedding was postponed due to Covid 19. </p><p>“They were engaged around three and a half years ago. They were set to be married this April, but the pandemic made us postpone it,” Sanjjanaa’s mother said. </p><p><br /></p><p>The Sandalwood Drug Case heated up after the arrest of Kanada actress Ragini Dwivedi on September 3, 2020. The arrest was made linking Kanada film actors with drugs. On September 8, the Central Crime Branch also arrested Sanjjanaa Galrani’s in the same case. </p><p>Sanjjanaa came under scanner after her assistant was held by the CCB officials for alleged role in supplying drugs in film parties. </p><p>Currently, Sanjjanaa and Ragini are lodged in the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru. Both have vehemently denied all such allegations. </p><p>Sanjjanaa in a video that went viral is seen refusing to give her blood samples and then arguing with the investigating officer and other senior doctors that she had lost trust in the police and that she had no clue why she was arrested.</p><p>The Central Crime Branch officials have named 12 people in the First Information Report (FIR) related to the use of contraband drugs in Sandalwood. </p><p>The CCB also arrested actor Ragini Dwivedi’s, friend and RTO clerk Ravishankar, realtor Rahul Shetty and an event manager, Viren Khanna, and Rahul Thonshe, a close friend of Sanjjanaa Galrani. </p><p>In the FIR, it has been mentioned that both the actresses Ragini Dwivedi and Sanjjanaa Galrani supplied illegal narcotic substance during parties that they organized. Apart from this, actor couple; Aindrita Ray and Diganth Manchale were also summoned during the investigation of the Sandalwood drug case.</p><p>Sanjjanaa Galrani who is brought up in Bengaluru, is of Sindhi origin. She received her first modeling offer when she was in college. She appeared in over 60 television advertisements, the most notable being a ‘Fastrack’ with John Abraham.</p><p>Sanjjanaa Galrani has done over 50 projects including 43 films. Her films include with Shivanna , Darshan , Pawan Kalyan, Prabhas Raju , Mohanlal, Mamooty besides other stalwarts in South India film industry. Her television projects include ‘Big Boss’ in Kanada. She has also worked at Colours Channel in Hindi. </p><p>The Sandalwood Drugs scandal has echoes from the arrest of Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty. Rhea was arrested for her alleged role in the drugs angle which had emerged in the investigations into the suicide death of her boyfriend and actor Sushant Singh Rajput.</p><p>Sushant Rajput was found dead at his apartment in Mumbai on June 14. The initial investigation revealed that prima facie it was a case of suicide but later his death has led to a drug trail in Bollywood, investigation of that is still being going on. </p><p><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigti-H66O9YUIb2hPNudmD-sz_HZl17cGT2fc85leWQSGnWrbogJnC4lMg6kmiI8wuko7nhb2xAznuo2QDmCvDSQwqqyZAOQExZINx7LOzlTG0g6MH9xBpCpjZETuzAcwAwVFzBHtRMfFj/w643-h240/Sanjjanaa-Galrani-converted-to-Islam.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="643" /></p><p>------------</p><p>Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-58670359414492915372020-09-12T05:43:00.000-07:002020-09-12T05:43:04.060-07:00On a Ladak Cliff India- China doing Handstands<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On a Ladak Cliff India-
China doing Handstands</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC791fDoht8TPqNcQtVmPQ3nC3mMbOvdbhDxKzqE0LQFrm3p4EMJ7hqBvswI84_Tfb8Yl7SujCRUqUsjGz1PXtXRZqbtxGvAYqq_WS5RnFCW_dlVCmaTlfWljBmnqwUgj9ceIPi0s32_8/s225/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC791fDoht8TPqNcQtVmPQ3nC3mMbOvdbhDxKzqE0LQFrm3p4EMJ7hqBvswI84_Tfb8Yl7SujCRUqUsjGz1PXtXRZqbtxGvAYqq_WS5RnFCW_dlVCmaTlfWljBmnqwUgj9ceIPi0s32_8/s0/images.jpg" /></a></div><br />The Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Pangong Tso remains
poised on a razor’s edge. India- China anim<span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify;">osity is high, mutual trust is nonexistent,
and all past agreements and mechanisms that provided the basis for managing the
border dispute has gone for a toss. The situation is slipping fast towards a
point of no return, but a war that looks eminent is something that both sides
have ruled out.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This has come out clearly in the India-China five points
agreement between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese
counterpart, Wang Yi, on the margins of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO) meet in Moscow. They agreed that these five points will guide the two
countries to ease the tension and work towards disengagement on the Line of
Actual Control (LAC). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The five points are; i) Both sides should not allow
differences to become disputes. ii) Both sides shall abide by all the existing
agreements and protocols. iii) Border troops of both sides should continue
their dialogue iv) Both sides to continue communications through the Special
Representatives mechanism V) Both sides should expedite to conclude new
confidence-building measures. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However the force posture on the ground suggests both sides
may not move towards any military de-escalation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It </span>is because of this the situation on the LAC is
not only alarming but incredibly on the edge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indian and Chinese troops are just a few
hundred meters apart at a forward position at Pangong Tso.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appears India- China are doing handstands on the edge of a cliff in </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">Ladak</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>India has consolidated
its force posture and held its forward position there. China has mobilized
massive number of troops including artillery, armored vehicles paratroopers,
infantry and air defence personnel. Its H-6 bombers and Y-20 large transport
aircraft are deployed at the LAC. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It looks both the countries are readying for war. But are there any real incentives for war?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>India certainly does not want a military conflict, less so because
country’s economy is devastated due to the pandemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand China too does not want a
war because it has other theaters of conflict hotter than Ladak. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So what does India and China wants? China wants India to
accept its bigger power status and its right to set the terms of engagement.
China further wants to force India to do reverse act without crossing the
threshold of war. However, India is equally determined not to play into the
Chinese hands. Rather India wants to go on the front foot and test Chinese
nerves as to how far it can go in such war of attrition. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is no sign of urgency between the contending parties
and even the approaching winter has no impact on the easing of the tensions.
Both the countries are caught in mental complacence determined for a
long haul waiting for other to blink. There is a danger in such strategy
because longer the standoff, the likelihood of tinderbox to get ignited due to any miscalculation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So what is at stake? Can India cede some of its territory
that it claims since 1962 and accept a unilateral withdrawal at LAC to defuse
the escalating tension.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would mean
redrawing of the LAC and accepting revision of LAC at China’s diktats. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">India has rejected such idea and has chosen to remain firm on
the ground and to achieve its strategic objective that is making China bend as
if it’s an Arm wrestling. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the other side, China as the stronger power sees no merit
in pulling back its troops, restoring status quo ante and handing over India a
“win“on a platter. Beijing is determined that not an inch of its territory to
be lost. Chinese side perceives that such a compromise on its part will not be
seen as the benevolence of greater power, but surrender to a resolute Indian
side. So Chinese side is determined its military is fully capable and confident
in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So what could be done in such a situation? External Affairs
Minister S Jaishankar had earlier said that the recent standoff between India
and China “has to be found in the domain of diplomacy.” However he quickly qualified his statement that any solution must be “predicated on honoring all agreements
and understandings and not attempting to alter the status quo unilaterally.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However, in the dialogue between defence Minister Rajnath
Singh and Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe on the margins of SCO at Moscow, the
Chinese side said that onus of the crisis is on India. And to this the defence
minister made counter allegation. He added<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>India is equally determined to protect its
sovereignty and its territorial integrity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So whatever hopes for peace was built before the meeting got quickly dissipated. </span><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s five point
agreement with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, have put a question mark
whether such agreement will really defuse the tension on the ground? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This becomes more nuanced with his
statement that any solution must be “predicated on honoring all
agreements and understandings and not attempting to alter the status quo
unilaterally.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If that is the case, will the Chinese side reciprocate him on
the ground especially after having gained an upper hand in the LAC crisis?
Going by the current situation where the two forces are poised head to head in
an eyeball to eyeball confrontation, the space for any compromise is almost
nonexistent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is certain that Chinese president Xi Jinping will not
pullback its troops perceiving that the cost of conflict weighs higher than
complying to India’s demand of going back to the April position. This will be a
huge loss for Chinese image both at home and abroad and such idea is totally
ruled out. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As far as India is concerned, going by the words of both
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affair’s Minister Jaishakar, it is
crystal clear, that India is not going to accept the current status quo and
push forward to dislodge the Chinese troops from its occupied position. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In such situation how can the tension be defused? Well
someone has rightly pointed out that diplomacy is the art of making possibility. So, it is
possible that a solution can still be hammered out through a face-saving
formula but what would be that mutually acceptable face-saver formula remains a
mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-----<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be
contacted at </span><a href="mailto:syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-38124203460672398682020-09-08T05:40:00.001-07:002020-09-08T05:40:36.649-07:00 China Closing on India, Opened New Flash-Point at POK<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>China Closing on India,
Opened New </b></span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><b>Flash-Point</b></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b> at POK<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfg6MIc-a6uEiGKiZ0AqHjSLyo28qHIdUo6HxcjqMM46Ys_Uw095f5ULE57YceHs__tncU68gh1fdFderATnv4zr4hpqAr7k8uIQUq1ais-GpOmbFnQzdxjy4RCz7wTwGBpdeNTex1zVa4/s639/355d0540-c6cf-11ea-abdf-8fd03b698b48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="639" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfg6MIc-a6uEiGKiZ0AqHjSLyo28qHIdUo6HxcjqMM46Ys_Uw095f5ULE57YceHs__tncU68gh1fdFderATnv4zr4hpqAr7k8uIQUq1ais-GpOmbFnQzdxjy4RCz7wTwGBpdeNTex1zVa4/s320/355d0540-c6cf-11ea-abdf-8fd03b698b48.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">China is closing on India at Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK)
and has opened a new flashpoint with the construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam in POK.
The way India has opposed the construction of the dam, it looks that after
Ladak, the POK could be the next big flash point between India and China. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on July 15, 2020 had kicked
off the construction work multi billion dollar project at the Diamer-Bhasha dam.
Pakistan government in May 2020, signed
a 442 billion contract with a joint venture of a Chinese state-run
firm and a commercial arm of Pakistan</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">’</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">s military for the construction of this dam.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">China Power, a Chinese state-run firm holds 70% and
Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), a commercial arm of its Armed
Forces hold 30% share in the consortium to build the Diamer-Bhasha dam.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pakistan’s Council of Common Interests (CCI) approved the
construction of the project in 2010. However, it suffered delays because of
international lending agencies which remained associated with the project, backtracked
due to opposition from India. Pakistan finally gave the contract to China.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">India in May 2020 had vehemently objected to the construction
of multipurpose Diamer Bhasha dam. India denounced the project calling it a
violation of its territorial sovereignty.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
</b>India has opposed the move on the grounds that Gilgit-Baltistan region is
part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and all such projects in the
Indian territories that are currently under Pakistan’s occupation are illegal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"This dam will lead to submergence of a large part of
land of the Indian union territories of J&K and Ladakh and we condemn the
continuous attempts by Pakistan to bring about material changes in Indian
territories under its illegal occupation,” Ministry of External Affairs
Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">China has rejected India’s concerns, calling them misplaced
and asserted that the economic partnership between China and Pakistan are
directed at enhancing development and the welfare of people. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media
briefing in Bajing that it is part of a "win-win" bilateral
cooperation to promote the wellbeing of the local population and the dam would
accelerate development and create job opportunities, besides improving
availability of water and clean energy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With regard to India’s objection that POK is inalienable part
of India, the Chinese spokesman said, “China's position on the issue of Kashmir
is consistent and it considers Kashmir is a historical baggage that has to be
unloaded as per UNSC relevant resolutions.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since the major part of the Diamer-Bhasha dam is located in
Gilgit-Baltistan, China has directly has crept into the theater of Kashmir
conflict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The construction of the dam has
brought a new dimension into the Kashmir conflict and may become a source of conflict
in the region. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Michael Kugelman, Deputy Director at the Asia program of Wilson
Center at Washington DC says; “exploiting India’s vulnerabilities is an
essential element of China’s “contain India” policy.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It is only a matter of time that China’s expansionist
strategy in Kashmir is more visible and India will have no option then to
challenge Chinese belligerence just like they did in Doklam, North Sikkim or
Ladakh,” Kugelman added. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The US academic sees the growing Chinese investments in
Pakistan-administered Kashmir as a strategy of closing on India. Kugelman <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>warns that Kashmir could emerge as the next
big flashpoint between India and China where Pakistan will have pivotal role to
play.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">According to Kugelman, “these moves will bring one more
tension to already strained India-China relationship. He was referring to the
tense situation in Ladak where Indian and Chinese troops are locking horns on
the Line of Actual Control (LAC). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chinese investment in POK for the Diamer Bhasha dam has
attracted <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>alarming response from India’s
Defence head. Chief of the Defence Staff General Bipan Rawat has repeatedly
talked about two front wars. About LAC standoff General Rawat has said, if
negotiations fails with China, then India is ready with the option of war. The
CDS is also of the view to bring the US into the theater India China Pakistan
conflict. He has given statement that India should join ‘Quad’ to contain China
at South China Sea. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chinese moves in Kashmir have certainly aggravated strains to
the already strained ties between India and China. The tension will involve
Pakistan and the fact is all three are nuclear-armed neighbors, the prospects
of the ‘Day After’ is chilling. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many Indian experts have expressed concerns over the alarming
situation developing on the LAC and LOC and attribute it to the ill-conceived hardline
policies of the BJP government towards Kashmir, Pakistan and China.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The alarming situation has its echoes from the BJP’s historic
judgment of abrogating Article 370 and doing away the special status to Jammu
and Kashmir. The BJP with such acts instead of cooling down the temperatures has
added fuel to the fire and has complicated the situation on the ground. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">War as an exit option from such complicated situation sends
chill in the spines of many Indian. The BJP government is under the impression
that China is another Iraq or Afghanistan where US may assemble a coalition of
force and come for India’s rescue. If the US does not come for India’s defence
can India hold the ground on its own? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This war of attrition started by the BJP for its domestic
consumption may go out of control and in such situation anything could happen.
The BJP may not be there to see the remains of the day, but will common Indians
cope up with such a situation is the big question that begs for an answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The best bet for India is to refrain from war mongering and cool
down the temperatures that has reached a new high in India-China, India
Pakistan relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be
contacted at </span><a href="mailto:syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-9266827240653218612020-09-04T08:31:00.002-07:002020-09-04T08:31:36.228-07:00Is BJP Responsible for Pushing Bangladesh out of India’s Orbit? Syed Ali Mujtaba<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXYaiyiZUdXcyDXHDwnr4Aol4BjhUqBv8MykQjRX4qQwEqGvA9CuscEcI3zY6_OAX7AnFd3xMJPDI982JAejE7iNlscULG9FWA1yNxko8O1fcmZ9673XkgSOVw7EUAxit8WhyDaC7r6WD/s1087/india-bangladesh.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1087" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXYaiyiZUdXcyDXHDwnr4Aol4BjhUqBv8MykQjRX4qQwEqGvA9CuscEcI3zY6_OAX7AnFd3xMJPDI982JAejE7iNlscULG9FWA1yNxko8O1fcmZ9673XkgSOVw7EUAxit8WhyDaC7r6WD/s320/india-bangladesh.webp" width="320" /></a></p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Is BJP Responsible for Pushing
Bangladesh out of India’s Orbit?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are some noteworthy developments taking place in India-
Bangladesh relationship which is not being reported in the mainstream media but
has significant impact on India as a nation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The first is India’s foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan
Shringla’s visit to Dhaka on August 18-19, 2020. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The seriousness of the visit can be
ascertained from the fact that India’s foreign secretary traveled to Dhaka on
a chartered aircraft. Apparently he may be having some serious issues to
discuss about India- Bangladesh bilateral relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However he was treated in a lukewarm manner when he arrived
in Dhaka. There was no Bangladeshi official to receive him at the Dhaka airport
nor there was anyone to see him off when he left. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">India’s foreign secretary was made to wait in his hotel room
for almost four hours and then when he went to the PMO he had to wait for
another one hour before was finally granted audience with Bangladeshi PM.
This treatment is unprecedented in India- Bangladesh relationship, but no media
ever reported and none had the audacity to ask uncomfortable question about it to the MEA. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“All Izz Well”- was
the curt reply of MEA spokesperson India Anurag Srivastava when he was asked about it. His face expression and sounded tone was more of “Three Idiots,” type the Amir Khan’s
blockbuster of 2009. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The fact is there was no discussions on bilateral relationship with the
Indian foreign secretary at the Bangladeshi PM at that brief meeting. Though as
a protocol Bangladeshi foreign secretary was present in the meeting but the foreign
minister of Bangladesh was conspicuous by his absence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The entire meeting of Indian foreign secretary with Bangldeshi
PM was only a courtesy call, a photo opportunity sans any tangibles a take away. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, a hype was built
in Indian media that Harsh Vardhan Shringla’s visit to Dhaka was a huge success.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The second most noteworthy development in India- Bangladesh
relationship is the shabby treatment meted to Ms Riva Ganguli, India’s High
Commissioner to Bangladesh. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is reported that Ms Riva Ganguli had to wait
unsuccessfully for almost four months to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
This is something significant as it suggests how much India Bangladesh
relations have plumed and how far Dhaka has moved away from New Delhi’s orbit. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The most important events that had occurred when Ms Riva
Ganguli has arrived in Dhaka in March 2019 are as follows. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms Riva Ganguli arrived to witness Dhaka-Delhi
relations unfolding in a manner that was unbelievable with an Awami League
government in power.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The first thing she witnessed was; Sheikh Hasina dropping
several pro-India heavyweights from her new cabinet. This happened without New
Delhi knowledge. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In October 2019, wshen Sheikh Hasina’s visited India her visit was</span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"> downgraded</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> from state visits to an official visit, depriving her of being received by the Indian
Prime Minister on arrival, a 21-gun salute and the guard of honor, ceremony etc. This is
a noticeable development in India- Bangladesh relationship but no media reported.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Later in November 2019 when Sheikh Hasina was in Kolkata to watch
Bangladesh-India cricket match but New Delhi soft peddled her visit to West Bengal capital. Riva Ganguli who went to Kolkata to meet </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Bangladeshi PM</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> was left gasping her breath. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ms Riva Ganguli is a witness to the first-hand account of Bangladesh
establishing a hand-in-glove relationship with China. This extended to
strategic areas where India was eased out right before her eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ms Riva Ganguli also watched China investing over $26 billion
soon after her arrival in Dhaka in strategic areas, with promises of much more
investments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When India wanted to get the major strategic project i.e.,
the second terminal in Sylhet airport and MS Riva Ganguli wanted to meet Sheikh
Hasina for this, the Bangladesh PMO delayed her appointment till the project was
given to China. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All these suggest that India’s High Commissioner’s to
Bangladesh has little role in molding the decision of the neighboring
countries towards India. These developments has the potentials
of game-changer in worsening the India- Bangladesh ties.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The main reason for deteriorating India- Bangladesh ties is
the BJP government’s blatant anti-Muslim, anti-Bangladesh policy to energize
its Hindutva vote bank. This indeed has severely impacted India Bangladesh
relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Home Minister Amit Shah openly called Bangladeshi Muslims as
‘termites.’ This was bait for Hindutva hardliners, a mental massaging to pump up their
radical ideology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some other BJP leaders had openly threatened the Bangladeshi
Muslims to be thrown into the Bay of Bengal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The National Registration Act (NRC), the Citizenship
Amendment Act (CAA) and all such actions of the BJP government have anti –
Muslin anti- Bangladesh agenda. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even though the BJP remains in a denial mode the
impact of its policies such as the NCR and the CAA, cast a long shadow on India- Bangladesh relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The BJP in order to please its Hindutva constituency has mortgaged
Bangladesh to China. The primary focus of the BJP is its Hindu vote bank and even
though it means denial of the gains India had made in 1971. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Such anti-Muslim anti Islam policy of the BJP may be sound of
music to the Hindu vote bank but it has sullied India’s image in the
community of nations where Islam and Muslim’s have a significant global presence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another harm BJP’s Hindutva ideology has done to India is to re-establish
the idea of two-nation theory propounded by Muslim League in 1940’s for which
it is being blamed in India. It appears that the Hinduvta ideology of the BJP concurs with
the idea of Muslim League and it tries to reinforce this version of Indian history. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well these are some seminal changes taking place under the BJP rule in
India. The primary focus of the BJP is building the Hindu identity of the
country, even if it means denting India’s relationship with other countries. India's crest fallen relationship with Bangladesh is a pointer that the
political leadership of the country is working against India as a nation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The large Indian population
has to a make judgment whether they want BJP and its ideology to dominate the
political discourse in the country or it want to change the sullying image of India that is being perpetrated by the BJP though through it’s supermicist ideology. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The ball of improving India-Bangladesh relations is in New
Delhi’s court. A change in attitude in India’s foreign policy in
dealing with the neighbor </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">such as Bangladesh may go long way in mending the sullen
ties.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">--------<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He is
author of the book Soundings on South Asia (Sterling, 2005). He can be
contacted at <a href="mailto:syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com">syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-31396126621094219052020-09-03T04:00:00.008-07:002020-09-03T04:24:51.259-07:00Love Jihad Echoes at Indian Girl’s marriage with Bangladeshi Boy<p><b style="text-align: justify;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Love Jihad- Indian
Girl’s marriage with Bangladeshi Boy</span></b></b></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> By Syed Ali Mujtaba</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsxLzsj2F9YyTsz-yqzLDkFMBT6BEKUb5R7zxbsDQktkj0aTuVf0DoXOk3BLHt2ebdNBwY7IMH9wtot1jBMRs28o8pejXGfMfcATEXC-5OMaddrLt9Q-mt_QQT6N4_DZP3vc5W7CIPGRX/s275/images.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsxLzsj2F9YyTsz-yqzLDkFMBT6BEKUb5R7zxbsDQktkj0aTuVf0DoXOk3BLHt2ebdNBwY7IMH9wtot1jBMRs28o8pejXGfMfcATEXC-5OMaddrLt9Q-mt_QQT6N4_DZP3vc5W7CIPGRX/s0/images.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">Chennai: A Chennai-based businessman has lodged a complaint
with the Chennai Central Crime Branch on May 21, 2020, that his daughter has been
kidnapped from London to Bangla</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify;">desh by some Bangladeshi nationals.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The girl's father in his complaint says that his daughter who
was studying in London where a Bangladeshi national named Nafees enticed her
into a relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The girl’s father alleges that the prime accused Nafees, had married
her daughter in London and later abducted her to Bangladesh where she is
allegedly confined to a house.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Nafees is the son of a top politician in Bangladesh. His
father is Shakhawat Hossain Bakul, a leader of Bangladesh National Party (BNP)
who is a former Member of Parliament of Bangladesh. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">In the complaint the father of the girl says, her daughter was
"radicalized" and was forced to convert to Islam. He calls the
marriage as a case of ‘Love Jihad.’ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The case came to light when the girl managed to call her parents
from Bangladesh and revealed that she had been sexually harassed and was being
tortured.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The girl’s father, who had migrated to Chennai from north
India, a few years ago and runs a business in Royapuram then, contacted Nafees
and others for her daughter’s release.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The culprits demanded money from him and made him lodge a
complaint with the Chennai Central Crime Branch.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">A case was registered in a Chennai police station relating to
human trafficking against Nafees and few Bangladeshi nationals on a complaint for
kidnapping of a city-based woman from the UK to Bangladesh. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The City police
station transferred the case to Chennai Central Crime Branch (CCB) which in
turned transferred it to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Chennai Police Commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal has said,
since the case involves investigation in foreign countries it has been
transferred to National Investigation Agency (NIA)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The NIA has confirmed that to have received information from
the Tamil Nadu government regarding the registration of case on May 28, 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The NIA has filed a FIR for alleged kidnapping and
trafficking of an Indian citizen. It is investigating the case under various
sections of the Indian Penal Code. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">In the FIR the NIA has named Nafess as prime accused and few
other Bangladeshi nationals. The FIR also includes other names like Malaysia based
Islamic preacher, Zakir Naik and Yasir Qadri and Nauman Ali Khan, both US-based
preachers of Pakistan origin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">This high-profile case involves investigation in Bangladesh,
UK, Malaysia, and the US. As a result investigation of this "love jihad"
case is closely watched by many Indians. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">---<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be
contacted at <a href="mailto:syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com">syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1040396818570155207.post-32462683697547241062020-09-01T13:23:00.000-07:002020-09-01T13:23:07.454-07:00Survey says 89.1 Per Cent Chinese Support Military Retaliation against India<p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwmp-pmlRzffvlRnkdc4ZUGQtwoxmJf8WbPsCCu-adIC4DXFkN6zzIpVvilwZ7UPUbVIjturTKpmJ6IxN2fa7AYgHmfW5MebmMBSsbmMXTA-a8MYPWFRuRYVDnlcRetFdp_7VQe0l38AG/s1200/1079704575_0_178_3058_1898_1200x0_80_0_1_bf43c088fc111e4c5293a3d0d84dd0e1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwmp-pmlRzffvlRnkdc4ZUGQtwoxmJf8WbPsCCu-adIC4DXFkN6zzIpVvilwZ7UPUbVIjturTKpmJ6IxN2fa7AYgHmfW5MebmMBSsbmMXTA-a8MYPWFRuRYVDnlcRetFdp_7VQe0l38AG/s640/1079704575_0_178_3058_1898_1200x0_80_0_1_bf43c088fc111e4c5293a3d0d84dd0e1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">Survey says 89.1 Per Cent Chinese Support Military Retaliation against India<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">Syed Ali Mujtaba<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Chennai Sept 2, 2020: The Global Ti</span>mes and China Institutes
of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) have recently conducted a
survey on China- India border tension asking people if they agree that the
Chinese government should be tough in fighting back against India's
provocations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To this, 89.1 per cent
support military retaliation and 50.4 per "strongly supporting"
self-defence and counterattacks, the Global Times reported.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meanwhile, China has issued a rebuttal to the Indian Army’s
claims of August 31st events reported in the media that Indian troops had
successfully foiled the PLA designs to cross the Line of Actual Control (LAC).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The People’s Liberation Army PLA’s Western Theater Command
issued a statement saying, its Indian troops that had "illegally crossed
the LAC on August 31, which is a severe violation of the consensus reached
before at the multi-level talks between the two countries."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Such blatant provocations lead to tensions on the
border," the PLA statement said, urging India to withdraw its troops that
crossed the LAC and strictly restrain frontline forces.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Indian action this time will definitely escalate
tensions, as China has been forced to be tough and would take action; otherwise
the Indian provocation would be endless," Chinese state-run newspaper
'Global Times' quoted PLA’s Western Theater Command statement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Admitting that the "negotiations held by the both sides
since June 15 have achieved limited progress, the Chinese media reportedly
blamed India for maintaining a tough stance."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The report quoted experts saying that Indian side had
"even urged Chinese troops to retreat from some locations within Chinese
territory, which China has refused."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">India's Ministry of Defence issued a statement on August 31
that Indian troops had preemptively thwarted Chinese intentions to
unilaterally change the status quo on the southern bank of Pangong Tso in
Eastern Ladakh.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It further said, People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops had
violated the previous consensus arrived at during military and diplomatic
engagements during the ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh and carried out
provocative military movements to change the status quo.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Indian troops preempted this PLA activity on the
Southern Bank of Pangong Tso Lake, undertook measures to strengthen our
positions and thwart Chinese intentions to unilaterally change facts on the
ground," the government statement said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The statement ended with pacifying not that the Indian Army
is committed to maintaining peace and tranquility through dialogue, but is also
equally determined to protect its territorial integrity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On Aug 24, 2020, Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat
had said, if talk fails, military option to deal with Chinese transgressions is
on the table. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He added that Indian armed forces are fully prepared to
tackle any threat from China and there is no lack of coordination among the
principal intelligence agencies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syed Ali
Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at
syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>SYED ALI MUJTABAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723463282501151067noreply@blogger.com0