There is a dire need in India for the “proportionate representation” electoral system as the present “first-past-the-post” electoral system is faulty, says M C Raj, founder of campaign for electoral reforms in India (CERI). Raj and his wife Jyoti, through CERI, have been promoting and pushing for the PR electoral system in India for several years.
Raj was quoted as saying that the present first-past-the-post system “is engineered towards exclusion of the disadvantaged sections of society, especially the downtrodden, women and minorities. “The problem is that parties with less than 30% of votes win more percentage of seats and claim the right to form governments. This leaves out a vast majority of voters unrepresented in governance,” he said. There are members in the present Lok Sabha who got less than 10% votes but won the seat as others did not manage to get that many votes.
PROTEST IN RAJYA SABHA OVER EULOGISING GANDHI’S KILLER GODSE
The Rajya Sabha witnessed protests on 11 December as opposition leaders raised the issue of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse being eulogised in Maharashtra. “Nathuram Godse ‘shaurya divas’ (bravery day) is being observed in Maharashtra,” said Congress leader Husain Dalwai, raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha. He alleged that two legislators were also in the list of invitees.
“They are deliberately observing the ‘shaurya divas’ of the man who killed the Father of the Nation. There was forced conversion in Agra, and now this…,” Dalwai said, alleging that groups associated with ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were responsible for this.
MALABAR TO HOST GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON ISLAMIC MEDICINE
The International Institute of Islamic Medicine, US, will conduct a 3-day global conference on history of Islamic medicine, in Kozhikode and Malappuram from 2 January, 2015. Kerala is hosting this annual conference for the first time. “It will be the 14th edition of the conference,” said Fakhruddin Mohammed, chairman of the Muslim Educational, Social and Cultural Organisation (MESCO), Hyderabad, which is one of the national hosts of the conference. The Muslim Educational Society (MES), Almas Hopital, Kottakkal, Dr. Kutty’s Healthcare, Kozhikode, KMCT group of institutions, and Shadan Medical Institutions are co-sponsors of the conference.
An exhibition to be held at different venues showcasing Muslim contributions to sciences in the Middle Ages will be the focus of the conference. The conference shed light on the history of Islamic medicine and the advances made by modern medicine. Experts from across the globe will present papers on subjects such as history of Islamic medicine, surgery and anaesthesia, pharmacology, cardiology, ophthalmology, public health and hygiene, Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and homoeopathy.
ARMS LESSONS AT TEMPLE: RSS FACES THE HEAT
Devaswom Ombudsman Justice R. Bhaskaran has filed a report before the Kerala High Court stating that he has received complaints against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for using the premises of Thrikkadavoor Mahadeva Temple, Kollam to impart arms training and to store arms and explosives. The court initiated suo motu proceedings on the basis of the report and issued notices to the Travancore Devaswom Board and the Temple Advisory Committee.
A division bench comprising Justice P.N. Ravindran and Justice P.B. Suresh Kumar issued the notices.
Retired high court judge Justice R. Bhaskaran, the current ombudsman, submitted that he had received complaints from two local residents and several others alleging that the RSS was using the temple premises for imparting arms lessons.
UP CABINET NO TO COMPULSORY REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGES
The Uttar Pradesh state cabinet rejected the proposal for compulsory registration of marriages during its meeting on 6 December. Several Muslim organisations had voiced their concern against the compulsory registration of marriages for all communities. Executive Committee member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Zafaryab Jilani, who is also the additional advocate general, said that the board has two reservations over the move.
He opined that first, marriages should not be considered null and void if they are not registered and secondly, proper arrangements should be made so that those in far-flung areas do not face problems. “We do not oppose in totality but there are certain reservations. We had also suggested that our Darul Qaza that solemnise nikahs, can be given status of sub-registrar for registration of Muslim marriages,” Jilani said.
MUSLIM FAMILIES DENY CHANGING FAITH, SLAM HINDUTVA GROUPS
About 57 Muslim families contested on 9 December hardline Hindutva groups Dharma Jagaran Manch and Bajrang Dal’s claim that they have switched to Hinduism, saying they were tricked into a conversion event couched as a “homecoming ceremony” in Agra. “We were not aware that it was an exercise to convert us to Hinduism. We are Muslims and would continue to be so,” said Noor Mohammad, one of the people who alleged that the two Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh offshoots had lured them into Monday’s programme to collect BPL and ration cards.
The Bajrang Dal said the families “reconverted to their original faith” at the event after having embraced Islam some 25 years ago. Such reports stoke fears of the rise of the Hindu right fringe which has shown signs of assertiveness since the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
DALITS ARE NOW SAFFRON FORCES’ FOOT SOLDIERS
After polarising Dalits against Muslims in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, saffron forces are now using them to lead the charge towards their goal of a grand ‘Hindu Rashtra’, believe social analysts and Dalit thinkers. This would not only harm communal amity but in the long run also hit the Dalit rights movement started by Ambedkar, they say. Nand Kishore Valmiki, leader of Dharm Jagran Manch and Bajrag Dal activists who allegedly led the execution of the ‘ghar wapasi’ of 50 Muslim families, is on the run after being named in the FIR accusing him of ‘forced conversion’.
A resident of Valmiki Basti in Ved Nagar locality of Agra, 40 years old Nand Kishore hit the headlines after one Ibrahim of the same locality lodged a complaint against him for getting people lured to convert into Hinduism. Police said that they were investigating the case if Valmiki lured people to embrace Hinduism by promising them of getting them a BPL card.
MUSLIMS REBUFF NAIK’S RAM TEMPLE REMARK
Muslim organisations and opposition parties on 12 December accused Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik of making an unconstitutional statement on a sub judice subject when he called for construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.
Maulana Syed Nizamuddin, the general secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), linked the governor’s statement to the ruling BJP’s promise ahead of the Lok Sabha election but he asserted the Babri MasjidRam Janmabhoomi land dispute was pending in the Supreme Court and its verdict has to be accepted by one and all. “By (making) such statements, Naik has been trying to influence the judiciary and keep the people in good humour,” he said, reprising the fact the subject is sub judice.
JANATA PARIVAR TO SIT ON DHARNA AGAINST MODI-LED GOVT AT JANTAR MANTAR
Reviewing the anti-people orientation of the Modi government, the new grand alliance of Janata Party breakaways planned to organise its first public event – a dharna (sit-in) against Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Union government at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on December 22.
The dharna is being organised to highlight BJP’s failure to fulfil its promise of bringing back black money stashed abroad, farmers’ issues, un-employment, price rise and border security. The December 22 programme was announced soon after the alliance came into being on December 4. The alliance comprises six regional parties. Notably, the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, the LohiaVahini and Yuvjan Sabha – the premier frontal organization of the ruling party are expected to lend muscle to the programme. Apart from SP, Janata Dal (Secular), RJD, Janata Dal (United), Indian National Lok Dal formed the alliance.