INDIA AND OTHER 127 NATIONS, VOTE AT UN AGAINST TRUMP’S DECISION ON JERUSALEM
A total of 128 countries including India voted against US President Donald Trump’s decision on Jerusalem 21 December in favor of a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Earlier, Trump had warned to cut off financial aid to countries that voted in favour. A total of 128 countries backed the resolution while nine voted against and 35 remain abstained. However, United States found itself isolated on the international world stage as many of its Western and Arab allies voted despite US threat. According to India its position on the issue was independent and consistent. Earlier in September while intervening on Palestine on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said the path to Israel-Jerusalem peace clearly lay in an early negotiated solution between Israel and Palestine with mutual recognition and security arrangements. The vote was called at the request of Arab and Muslim countries. The United States, backing its ally Israel, vetoed the resolution on Monday in the 15-member UN Security Council. The remaining 14 Security Council members voted in favour of the Egyptian-drafted resolution, which did not specifically mention the United States or Trump but which expressed “deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem.”
MUSLIM FAMILY LENDS PLOT FOR HINDU MAN’S LAST RITES IN KERALA
A Muslim family in Kerala provided a plot for Hindu man’s last rites which has been appreciated by one and all. The man was sick for long after he had collapsed while playing cricket. Kasargode district in the northern end of Kerala has been in the news lately, but for all the wrong reasons- regarding a few people’s alleged links with terror outfit Islamic State. But on the other side this news marks a shining example of religious harmony in the district which requires to be told to all very loud and clear. Twenty-six-year-old Padmanabhan used to work in a mobile shop and died recently. He had been battling heart-related ailments for long after he had collapsed while playing cricket. The family lives in Jodkallu, Paivalige Grama panchayat, which shares the border with Karnataka, lives in a small one-bedroom house on four cents of land.
CENTRE CRIMINALIZING TRIPLE TALAQ TO INSTILL FEAR AMONG MUSLIMS’
With the criminalizing triple talaq, the government is trying to fuel fear in the Muslim community as believed by women’s rights activists. In a press conference held on 21 December by Bebaak Collective, an intervener in support of the triple talaq plea by Shayara Bano in Supreme Court, activists and lawyers also asked why the government was bringing a bill without consulting the civil society and various stakeholders. According to the draft law, pronouncing instant triple talaq will be considered illegal and void and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband. It would be a non-bailable, cognisable offence. “At a time there have been incidents of violence against the Muslim community and no redressal available to them, this bill will give legal power to target the Muslims,” said Sadhna Saxena from the Saheli Trust. “The law is intended to fuel fear of the state by being able to walk into your home and incarcerate Muslim men,” said Ayesha Kidwai, a professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University. Another activist questioned the inherent contradiction in the draft law that renders pronouncement of instant triple talaq void and yet sends the man to jail. “When the marriage is not broken why send the man to jail. The law will make me a divorcee,” said Shabina Mumtaz, a social worker from UP.
MUSLIM FAMILY IN MEERUT GIVES UP LAND AFTER PROTESTS BY RESIDENTS
According to local police, a Muslim family in Meerut has decided to give up their house located in a Hindu-dominated area of Meerut city after protests by local residents as well as BJP leaders. The family faced protests from residents, BJP corporator Sandeep Goel and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) general secretary Deepak Sharma. A Muslim man named Noman had recently bought a house in Maliwara locality in Meerut from Sanjay Rastogi. When they went to take possession of the house they had to face protests from residents, BJP corporator Sandeep Goel and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) general secretary Deepak Sharma. Following this, police took Noman and Rastogi to the police station, where it was decided that the buyer would leave the house and would be refunded the amount he paid. SP (City) Maan Singh Chauhan said: “After hearing about the gathering, a police team rushed to the spot and pacified the people. Noman, head of the Muslim family, decided to leave as he was afraid of the circumstances. We offered him protection if he wanted to stay. But he decided that he will leave if he gets back the money.”
NCM FORMS COMMITTEE TO GIVE MINORITY TAG FOR HINDUS
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has very recently formed a three-member committee to find out whether Hindus should get minority status in eight states where they are in minority or not. Led by NCM vice-chairman George Kurien, the team will talk to lawyers and other stakeholders and will prepare a detailed report in three months. In the second week of December, NCM members discussed a petition of BJP activist Aswini Upadhyay seeking minority status for Hindus in eight states: J&K, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Punjab. Upadhyay had originally filed a petition in the Supreme Court. The court declined to adjudicate, saying it is not something that the court can decide on. Upadhyay then approached the Commission with his plea. Upadhyay’s petition stated: “According to 2011 Census, Hindus are a minitory in eight states…. But their minority rights are being siphoned off illegally and arbitrarily to the majority population because neither central nor state governments have notified Hindus as a ‘minority’ under Section 2(c) of National Commission for Minority Act. Therefore, Hindus are being deprived of their basic rights, guaranteed under Articles 25 to 30.”
MUSLIMS ARE ATTACKED IN THE NAME OF COW, MANDIR, LOVE JIHAD
Communal forces target dalits, tribals and minorities, particularly Muslims in the name of cow, mandir, love Jihad. However, in ancient India the upper class of Hindu religion used to sacrifice cow and used to eat beef. It was Gautama Buddha who opposed it and put a ban on cow sacrifice. Polarization in the name of cow, mandir and love jihad issues is apparently against Muslims but the real agenda is against all backward classes who are striving to provide their community equal status in the society. If at all fascist forces have sympathy towards cows, they should first give shelter and fodder to the stray cows eating plastic on the street side which leads to their death. These views were made by Prof. Ram Puniyani, at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram in Baghlingampally. Puniyani was addressing a public meet entitled ‘Protection of social and democratic rights in present scenario’.
JNMC ASSISTANT PROF TO ATTEND WHO EB-142 MEETING
Dr Nafis Faizi (Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College—JNMC, Aligarh Muslim University—AMU) has been invited to attend the World Health Organisation Executive Board (WHO EB-142) meeting as a part of Global Health Watch in Geneva, Switzerland. Dr Faizi has also been invited by Medicus Mundi International Network (MMI) to attend the 142nd session of the WHO Executive Board from January 22 to January 27, 2018. As a member of Global Health Watch, Dr Faizi will advocate the arguments in the arguments in the policy briefs towards delegates and make floor statements. Dr Faizi, alumnus of International People’s Health University, Manchester Metropolitan University and AMU has been working as an Assistant Professor with the JNMC since 2015.AMU Vice Chancellor, Professor Tariq Mansoor has extended his congratulations and best wishes for Dr Faizi’s participation in the meet.