NCM ASKS RIZVI TO APOLOGISE FOR HIS REMARKS ON QUR’ĀN
The National Commission for Minorities on March 15 slammed former Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board chairman Wasim Rizvi for his statement calling for the removal of certain verses from the Qur’ān, asking him to withdraw his comments and tender an unconditional apology. The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) issued a notice to Rizvi on the directions of NCM Vice Chairman Atif Rasheed and said his remarks were “highly provocative, objectionable and malicious, prejudicial to maintenance of peace and harmony, with intent to outrage the religious feelings of a particular community and to insult the particular religion”. The NCM’s notice came over complaints received from Abdul Majid Nizami, Ali Raza Zaidi, Mohd Faizan Chaudhary and Maulana Syed Nazar Abbas. Members of the Muslim community have also protested in Lucknow against Rizvi, who has moved the Supreme Court seeking the removal of 26 verses from the Quran.
DALIT SCHOLAR IN KERALA BURNS HIS PHD THESIS ON JOB ISSUE
Aji KM, a PhD scholar who also holds UGC NET and hails from Dalit community in Kerala burnt his doctoral thesis in show of dissent against the illicit appointments within the Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University on March 5. The restive applicant alleged that he was not shortlisted for the post of an Assistant Professor despite being eligible. While infusing himself in kerosene inside the Malayalam University Tirur, the 42-year-old claimed that he is unable to find a job, even after many years of receiving his PhD from the Malayalam Department of Kalady University, due to political and partisan appointments. “I was expecting to be short listed as being qualified for the post of Literature Study at the Malayalam Department. But not only has my name excluded, the University has not yet revealed the criteria for appointment,” Aji was reported as saying.
ULEMA IN U’KHAND WON’T SOLEMNISE NIKAH WITH DOWRY
Shaken by the death of a woman in Ahmedabad, who killed herself after being harassed for dowry, Ulema of Uttarakhand have taken a stand not to solemnise any wedding where anyone demands dowry and any family that seeks dowry will face a social boycott. “The sin of dowry has destroyed families and taken lives. We have decided to stop conducting Nikah ceremonies for marriages where there is an exchange of dowry. These families will also be boycotted by the society if they are not willing to change themselves,” said Mufti Salim Ahmed, member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). In Bhopal, the Masjid Committee and Darul Qaza announced the same. And in Hyderabad, the Jamiat Ahle Hadees Hyderabad and Secunderabad launched an awareness campaign against dowry.
BUDGET CUTS CAUSES POOR MINORITY ENROLMENT IN HIGHER STUDIES
The recent revelation by the central government that minority students constitute only 7.5% of higher education enrolment points towards a very worrisome situation. While there has been an enhanced awareness among minorities, especially the Muslim community, towards education in the last 2-3 decades, the support provided by the government to bridge this historic gap in the education sector is continuously dwindling. As predicted, the consistent budget cuts in minority scholarships and Maulana Azad Fellowship in the last 6-7 years has resulted in this poor minority enrolment figure. The government should immediately hike the scholarships and do necessary policy intervention to provide reservation for select backward castes among minorities, said Fawaz Shaheen, National Secretary, Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO).
SECOND LYNCHING IN A WEEK IN JHARKHAND
In Jharkhand, a 27-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death in the early hours of Sunday (May 14) on suspicion of bike theft under Angara police station limits in the state capital. Mubarak Khan was thrashed to death by the locals allegedly for trying to steal the battery and wheels of a Pulsar bike in Sirka Village. “Mubarak was a driver by profession. He was called by someone to Sirka village and deliberately killed on false allegations of bike-stealing. He was first tied to an electric pole and thrashed brutally,” said Zakir Khan, one of the locals. A battery has been found near the bike along with a jack used for changing the tires of a four-wheeler. “What is the use of a jack for stealing wheels of a bike,” Zakir questioned, further affirming that Mubarak was framed under a conspiracy as he was having a dispute with some villagers of Sirka.
ANOTHER MUSLIM BEATEN UP IN UP TEMPLE
Days after a Muslim boy was mercilessly thrashed for drinking water in a temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, a similar incident has been reported from Etawah, a city in Uttar Pradesh. A Muslim labourer who went to work at a temple is reported to have been tied and beaten up by two people on March 16. The previous incident happened on March 12 when a 13-year-old boy was mercilessly beaten for no reason except that he was a Muslim. Similarly, Danish, the victim of thrashing in Etawa, says that he was targeted after they came to know his Muslim identity.
38 ARRESTED IN BHAINSA COMMUNAL VIOLENCE: TELANGANA POLICE
A week after tension between two communities led to violence in Bhainsa town of northern Telangana’s Nirmal district, the police on March 16 said they have arrested 38 persons so far and that they are on the lookout for 70 others for their involvement in the violence. Addressing the press, Y Nagi Reddy, inspector-general (north zone), said that 26 cases were registered in connection to the violence and most of the accused were members of the Hindu Vahini. As many as 38 persons, including four children, belonging to both the communities, have been arrested and remanded in judicial custody, he said. “Apart from those arrested, the involvement of 70 others is established and efforts are ongoing to apprehend them,” he said.
COURT SLAMS POLICE FOR ARRESTING COMPLAINANT
On March 17, a Delhi court pulled the Delhi Police up for “arresting the complainant” in a case of arson and vandalism at a mosque during the communal violence in Northeast Delhi. The observations were made by Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav, who called the arrest absurd and directed DCP (North East) to file a status report on the investigation carried out so far. According to a report in The Indian Express, the judge also summoned SHO (Karawal Nagar) on March 25 with the case diaries. According to the complaint before the court, about 20-25 people had gathered in the Madina Masjid Gali on February 25, 2020 allegedly armed with lathis, sticks, acid, rods and petrol bottles. The accused then allegedly broke into the mosque and started destroying everything.
CHRISTIANS ATTACKED, BEATEN AT PRAYER MEETING BY ARMED MOB
A mob of about 70 people carrying weapons attacked a group of Christians who were praying at a believer’s home in India’s eastern state of Chhattisgarh last week, burning Bibles and vandalising furniture, according to a report, which said at least six Christians sustained serious injuries. The Christians were attending a prayer meeting at the house of a fellow believer in Surguda village in the state’s Bastar District when some of the men in the mob surrounded the property and the others entered the house to attack, according to the U.K.-based group, Christian Solidarity Worldwide. The men, believed to be Hindu nationalists, verbally abused and physically assaulted the Christians, burning Bibles, furniture, bicycles and a motorcycle, CSW reported, adding that at least six Christians had to be admitted to the hospital due to severe injuries.