Jamaat condemns attack on Swami Agnivesh
The President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari strongly condemned the attack on Swami Agnivesh in Jharkhand. In a statement on July 19, Maulana Umari said: “We strongly condemn the heinous and cowardly attack in Pakud (Jharkhand) on renowned social activist and Arya Samaj leader Swami Agniveshji. He has always been in the forefront for social justice and communal harmony. Till now most of the mob-lynchings took place against those from the Muslim community but now a renowned religious head from the majority community has been attacked and it shows the severity of the situation.”
The Jamaat chief averred: “He has been attacked by those who want to polarise society in the name of religion and cannot tolerate anybody who exposes their divisive policies. It seems the attackers were confident that they can break the law and no action would be taken against them. We demand stern action against the guilty and the officers who were in charge of maintaining law and order but failed to protect Swamiji.”
‘Lynch mobs emboldened since BJP came to power’
Sadiq Shaikh, 63, is indebted to two of his family friends. “They have been looking after me and my family financially,” he said. “If not for them, I wonder how we would have survived.” Sadiq is the father of Mohsin Shaikh, the 24-year old techie who was lynched on June 2, 2014, in Pune. His was the first instance of what has since become an epidemic in India.
It has been over four years since they lost an earning member but, Sadiq said, the family has received little help. “The Minority Commission from the Centre visited me in August 2014,” he was cited as saying in a report on July 20. “They asked me what my demands are and promised to fulfil them. I had asked for a fast track court to ensure justice within a year, and a government job for my younger son, Mubin… Rs 50 lakh as compensation, and a ban on Hindu Rashtra Sena, which is involved in the murder of my son.”
None of the demands has been met. “Four years later, they have not even framed charges,” complained Sadiq. “Ujjwal Nikam (special public prosecutor) abruptly walked away from the case as well.”
Dissent essential in open society: Hamid Ansari
Dissent is of critical importance in an open society and its suppression could metamorphose it into an illiberal and ethnic democracy, former Vice President Hamid Ansari said on July 17. He was speaking at the formal release of his latest book Dare I Question: Reflections on Contemporary Challenges in the national capital. A compilation of his speeches and writings, the book (Haranand Publications/Rs 795/239 pages), examines the question: What is it to be an Indian? “What is it to be an Indian is the question that I have raised in the preface… there is apprehension that India’s democracy could metamorphose into an illiberal, ethnic democracy based on principles of a social-political philosophy called Hindutva,” Ansari said.
The former Vice President said that secularism in the Indian context means symmetrical treatment of the different religious communities, defence of minority rights, and prevention of bigotry.
Ex-GOI Secretary criticises DNA profiling bill
E.A.S. Sarma, who previously served as Secretary to the Government of India, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, exhorting him to reconsider the Central Government’s plans to introduce a bill regarding DNA-based technology to be used for the DNA profiling of Indian citizens, a report said on July 18. Earlier this month, the Union Cabinet approved the DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2018, which permits law enforcement agencies to gather DNA samples, establish ‘DNA profiles’ and special databases that can be used for criminal investigations.
Sarma has expressed distress in his letter to Modi, saying that “a legislation on DNA-profiling of the citizens has serious implications for the citizens’ privacy,” adding, “In view of the far reaching public interest implications associated with any proposal to identify citizens through their DNA profiles, there should have been a much wider public discussion and debate on the subject, prior to the government going ahead with the drafting of such a law.”
DMC issues Notice to Delhi University Registrar
A report in The Pioneer (July 11) and other newspapers said that Delhi University is going to start an MA course in political science on “Islam and international relations” under which “Islam and transnational terrorism” will be taught. Delhi Minorities Commission has issued a suo motu notice to the Registrar of Delhi University, asking him: “Has the university, while starting a course on “Islamic terrorism” deliberated that individuals and groups belonging to many religions have indulged in terrorism across the world in recent times. In such a situation, starting a course only on “Islamic terrorism” will send a wrong message to society, increase communal tension and help hate politics.” DMC has asked the Registrar to send all information about this course, a list of the books which will be used to teach this course and if persons and groups belonging to other religions also will be studied under this course.
It may be mentioned here that earlier Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) had planned to start a similar course but thanks to the swift intervention of DMC, JNU backtracked and its Registrar wrote to the Commission that no such course has been approved.
Notice to Lady Shriram College over exclusion of Urdu
Taking suo motu cognisance of press reports, Delhi Minorities Commission has issued a notice to the principal of Lady Shri Ram College, asking her to reply why B.A. Urdu Programme has been dropped this year. The Commission has also asked for details of the year-wise list of students in this course since its inception and how many Urdu teachers are engaged by the college at present.
Delhi HC Quashes Penalty Imposed On Kanhaiya By JNU
The Delhi High Court on July 20 set aside an order of Jawaharlal Nehru University’s appellate authority imposing a penalty on its former students union president Kanhaiya Kumar in connection with a 2016 incident in which alleged anti-India slogans were raised at an event. Justice Siddharth Mridul called the JNU office’s order against Kanhaiya “illegal, irrational and irregular,” and asked the University to take a decision on the matter after a proper hearing, after which the counsel for the varsity submitted that they are recalling the decision.
The court remanded the matter back to the appellate authority to conduct de novo proceedings in accordance with law. Kumar had moved the high court on July 17, seeking direction to quash the office order of July 4 passed by JNU through the chief proctor. He was held guilty for doing an act in violation of discipline and conduct and the fine was imposed on him.
Ban on Islamic channels is Hindutva agenda: alleges KEA
The Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) Chairman Haji Muhammad Yasin Khan has condemned the banning of Islamic channels in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, terming it “execution of Hindutva agenda” in the Muslim dominated state, a report said on July 19. Khan, who also heads the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) said the act of ban was aimed at demeaning Islam, which is actually a religion of peace. He said the government decision has hurt religious sentiments of the people of the state.
“The word from the religion of peace will only be stopped by those who don’t want peace. But let these warmongers and communal bigots know that Islam is the religion of peace and will continue to be the same despite such communal onslaughts,” Khan said. He said by banning the Islamic channels the government has sent a wrong signal to the world community.