In digging up evidence of Hindu presence under many Mughal monuments we would be only digging our own graves. To the ex-CJI DY Chandrachud goes the discredit of giving wings to such behaviour by diluting the Places of Worship Act. I doubt it would end with Muslim mosques.
Next on the target will be Christian churches. Already there are noises about churches. The Sambhal riots give an indication of what is going to happen in the future unless this is stopped right now. And what if the Dalits and other Scheduled Castes demand retribution for the thousands of years of oppression which continues even now? Historians and archaeologists are going to be in great demand in the near future!
Anthony Henriques
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Can We Think of Veto Power in Parliament?
It is seen that the ruling party securing two-third majority or more passes some laws considering only its party interests even if it goes against the interest of the nation. It really defeats the spirit of democracy in a society. In 1976, the Indira Gandhi-ledCongress Government managed to secure more than two-thirds seats in parliament, enabling her to pass some laws really contrary to the interest of the citizens though the opposition party opposed them. Similarly, the BJP Government also passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 though the Opposition vehemently opposed it.
In fact, there should be the provision of veto powers for both ruling party and opposition in parliament – suppose four for ruling party and three for opposition. If a Bill tabled in parliament and if it is considered contrary to the interest of the nation, any political party should have de jure right to veto it so as to stop its passage in parliament. If the parliament can do so, it would heighten the spirit and interest of citizens more towards democracy and usher in a new era of democracy.
Muhammad Abdus Samad
Dhupdhara, Assam
Human Milk, For Sale!
There are various products in Baby Healthcare like Johnson Baby Powder, Milk like Nanpro,Similac,Dexolac, Lactogen formula, etc. The childcare industry in India has now new entrants. And it is mother’s milk (human milk) procured from lactatingwomen mostly in rural areas, then processed and sold. It is a very ‘dangerous’ situation for Muslims indeed.
According to reports in The Print and The Times of India, two companies in India namely Mohali-based Neslak Biosciences Private Limited and Bengaluru-based NeoLacta Lifesciences Private Limited, the Indian arm of a UK-based company (launched in 2021 and 2016 respectively) and engaged in human milk marketing activities. They claim that they convert mothers’ milk into powder form before selling it back to customers for an exorbitant price. It is claimed that the company has the technology to test the quality of milk and says it helps hospitals set up donor milk banks. These two private for-profit companies, with patented technology, are processing and selling human milk – a product, sector and industry currently unregulated by the government.
Activists have raised concerns, questioning the ethics behind the exploitation of the poor, lactating rural women and selling their milk to affluent urban families. A group of doctors say the companies claim to be promoting human milk when as per the Infant Milk Substitutes Act, the products they are selling would clearly fall under a formula.
The report further states that in India, around 90 out of 110 milk banks are in government hospitals or medical colleges and the remaining are in private hospitals.
Muslims would prefer to avoid the product as according to Islamic Shariah, relationship of blood is established through a donor mother’s milk with the baby that receives it.
Syed Ilyas Basha
Muradnagar, Hyderabad