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Embracing Islam will be real home coming: Asaduddin Owaisi

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asaduddin-owaisi

Hyderabad: Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that Islam is the ‘real home’ of all religions in the world and hence the real ‘home coming’ will be when people of other religions embrace it.

The MP from Hyderabad said that every child is born as a Muslim but his parents convert him to other religions. “The real home coming will be when people of other religions embrace Islam,” he said, addressing a public meeting on the eve of ‘Milad-un-Nabi’ Saturday night.

The MIM leader said the Sangh Parivar was running a campaign in the name of ‘home coming’.

“Muslims are being allured with Rs.5 lakh and Christians with Rs.2 lakh to convert. Only five lakh? What a joke. Muslims can’t leave Islam even if you give them the wealth of the world,” he said, amid loud cheers from thousands of people at Darussalam, the MIM headquarters.

The Muslim leader invited people of all faiths to accept Islam but made it clear that there is no compulsion. “You come back. We can’t give money but we guarantee you success in this world and thereafter,” said the MP.

Stating that India is the country of ‘our father’, Owaisi said Adam who is the father of entire humanity landed in India when he came to Earth. He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on ‘ghar wapsi’.

“Have you ever thought what will happen to the country. How foreign exchange will come to India. You announced that you will bring 100 billion dollars. Will this bring FDI (foreign direct investment),” he asked.

The MIM president decried attempts to link terrorism with Islam. He said terrorism can be eliminated from Earth only by following the teachings of Islam. “Islam came to end terrorism and repression. Allah sent Prophet Mohammad as Rehmat-ul-lil Alameen (mercy to the world),” he said.

Demanding action against Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and Hafiz Saeed for killing innocents, Owaisi said the enemies of the country are enemies of Muslims. He said MIM has political differences with the Bharatiya Janata Party but supports any action against the enemies of the country and has made this stand clear in parliament.

(IANS)

Muslim quota row: MIM to launch stir on January 6

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asaduddin-owaisi

Mumbai: Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) will launch an agitation against Maharashtra government’s decision to scrap job reservations for Muslims.

The party will hold a rally in Beed on January 6, to be addressed by party President Asaduddin Owaisi. MIM MLA from Aurangabad, Imtiaz Jaleel and Byculla MLA Waris Pahan will also be addressing the gathering which will be attended by party workers from across the state.

The party has asked all MIM units to submit a memorandum to respective district collectors or tehsildars on January 6 to register their protest against the state government’s indifferent attitude towards reservation for Muslims, Jaleel said.

“The state government has brought a bill in the Nagpur state legislative assembly session in December that will enable 16 per cent reservations for Marathas while refusing to bring an ordinance for continuing reservations for Muslims,” he said.

The matter related to reservations for Muslims and Marathas is scheduled to be heard in the Bombay High Court, after the Supreme Court refused to entertain the petition of the state government.

(PTI)

After skullcaps, Gujarat Police make ‘dummy terrorists’ shout Islamic slogans during mock drill

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Ahmedabad: A video of police mock drill showing dummy militants shouting pro-Islamic slogan emerged on Thursday in Gujarat, a day after controversy erupted over men, playing the part of terrorists, being made to wear skullcaps in a similar exercise in Surat.

Reacting to the Surat episode that came to light on Wednesday, Chief Minister Anandi Patel admitted it as a “mistake” to show people posing as terrorists in the drill in skullcaps.

The latest video is of another anti-terror mock drill at Narmada dam site in Kevadia area of Narmada district. It shows policemen holding two dummy terrorists who were shouting “take our lives, if you want. Islam Zindabad (long live Islam)”.

When contacted by PTI, Narmada Superintendent of Police Jaypalsinh Rathore said an inquiry will be conducted into the issue.

“I came to know about this incident (of projecting terrorists as Muslims) through media. If such an incident has happened, we will conduct an inquiry and take necessary actions against those responsible,” he said.

“The mock drill was a routine police exercise which was conducted a week ago in Kevadia area,” Rathore added.

As the Surat episode generated controversy and invited criticism from several quarters, including from the chief of Gujarat BJP Minority Cell, Patel told a TV channel it is wrong to link religion with terrorism.

“It’s wrong to link religion with terrorism. The issue has been resolved and the matter should be put to rest now. The mistake has been rectified,” she said.

The anti-terror drills were conducted ahead of the two high-profile events being held in the state – Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (January 7 to 9) and Vibrant Gujarat Investors Summit (January 11 to 13) – both in Gandhinagar.

(PTI)

A Muslim scholar with a passion for Sanskrit

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Pandit Dastagir

Mumbai: In downtown Worli, it is common to hear the strange greeting of ‘Assalamu-Alaykum, Guruji’ whenever an 80-year-old Muslim man steps out of his modest home. He is none other than renowned Sanskrit scholar Pandit Gulam Dastagir, who over six decades has impressed the Shankaracharyas, late prime minister Indira Gandhi, RSS leaders and Islamic scholars, all with equal elan.

Armed with a deep knowledge of both Islam and Sanskrit, Pandit Dastagir can speak with authority on any religious topic — and earn their unabashed admiration.

Born in Chikhali village in Solapur district, Pandit Dastagir completed his schooling before joining a government Sanskrit institution.

“I was the only Muslim student in a class of around four dozen Brahmins. My Brahmin Guruji developed a special liking for me and encouraged me. I acquired my entire Sanskrit knowledge of the scriptures, Vedas and other texts there,” Pandit Dastagir told IANS.

Around mid-1950s, he shifted to Mumbai and joined the Maratha Mandir Sansthan’s Marathi-medium Worli High School as a Sanskrit teacher for all classes.

Two decades later, to comply with professional requirements, he appeared directly for a Master’s degree in Sanskrit from Mysore University.

After the Emergency, when the Janata Party ruled India, Pandit Dastagir was suddenly targeted. “They suspected I was a namesake Muslim propagating the RSS and Jana Sangh ideology through Sanskrit. It was only after a long investigation that they were proved wrong,” the man chuckled.

When Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980, she summoned him and was surprised to discover that Pandit Dastagir was actually a ‘Syedvanshi’, or belonging to a clan considered the direct descendents of Prophet Mohammed.

“She met me several times and appreciated my knowledge and love for Sanskrit. In 1982, she told the education ministry to appoint me as a ‘Rashtriya Sanskrit Pracharak’,” Pandit Dastagir said.

When baffled officials asked Gandhi how should his duties be classified, she reportedly shot back: “He will teach us what needs to be done. Let him function independently.”

For two years, he toured India extensively and propagated Sanskrit in government and private institutions. He quit the post after Gandhi’s assassination in 1984.

“I acquired MA in Sanskrit only in 1987 when I was around 50 years old although I was proficient in the language long before.”

Since his retirement, Pandit Dastagir lectures on the similarities between Islam and Hinduism with reference to various aspects of one of the world’s oldest and richest languages, Sanskrit.

“Sanskrit is not only for Brahmins. But this perception made the masses reluctant to study it. I create awareness about Sanskrit all over India among different castes and religions,” he said.

Pandit Dastagir explained that Hinduism does not recognize ‘conversions’ or the caste system. “The current craze for ‘conversions’ has no basis in Hindu scriptures. It is not recognized. At best, you can change a person’s name, not his soul from the religion of his/her birth,” he said.

An old darling of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), Pandit Dastagir credits the group with giving him full encouragement to pursue his vocation without having to change his religion.

He feels the RSS was not against any religion. “But if anybody threatens Hinduism, they will hit back, irrespective of the opponent’s religious beliefs,” Pandit Dastagir said.

He has also never encountered objections from fellow Muslims over his passion for Sanskrit. “Comparative study of different religions makes you more reasonable. I am not a fanatic, just an ordinary Muslim.”

His love for Sanskrit has not made him lose Islamic identity. He prays daily at the mosque. “I have built up a huge library of thousands of books on Sanskrit and Islam which I study and propagate,” Pandit Dastagir said.

He laments that there are many other Muslim Sanskrit scholars in the country but financial constraints prevent them from propagating the ancient Indian language.

Pandit Dastagir’s wife Vahida is a supporting housewife. Their son Badiujjama is a Sanskrit scholar but runs a shop, elder daughter Gyasunissa Shaikh runs a Sanskrit research centre in Solapur, and their other daughter Kamrunnisa Patil never pursued her father’s passion.

(IANS)

K M Shareef re-elected as Chairman of Popular Front of India

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K M Shareef

Calicut: Mr K M Shareef has been re-elected the Chairman of Popular Front of India by the National General Assembly of Popular Front of India which was held at Malabar House, Puthanathani in Malappuram district on 27-29 December 2014. The Assembly concluded with the election of National Executive Council members and National Functionaries for the next two year term. The other National Functionaries are E M Abdul Rahiman (Kerala Vice Chairman, M. Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Tamil Nadu) General Secretary and Muhammad Khalid (Manipur) Treasurer.

In addition to the above, the members who constitute the new National Executive Council are as follows: O M Abdul Salam, C Abdul Samad, M Abdul Samad, Abdul Vahid Sait, C K Afsal, Anis Ahmed, Ashraf Moulavi Karamana, Hamid Muhammad, Prof P Koya, Muhammad Roshan, Adv Muhammad Yusuf.

The Assembly started with the introductory speech by the chairman K M Shareef. The annual report was presented by the General Secretary O M A Salam. The members reviewed the report and submitted suggestions for next term.

During past one year the organisation has shown considerable increase in number of members and units across the country. At present the organisation has around 80,000 cadres along with more than 3 lakh associates. In addition to 11 states where the organisation has full-fledged network, it has registered expansion and growth in another 7 states.

During the current one year, Popular Front has intervened in different social, political and international issues. A nationwide campaign was held demanding the repeal of the draconian law UAPA. The organisation has taken steps to build a broad based alliance of different minority and civil rights leaders and groups against growing authoritarian and communal tendencies. The national movement against UAPA, the Sikh-Muslim mission for communal harmony, the joint platform that has commemorated anti-Sikh riot of 1984 and Babri Masjid demolition of 1992 are a few among such steps. In the context of Israel’s attack on people of Gaza, Popular Front held nation-wide solidarity campaign captioned ‘I am Gaza’.

In the community development and social welfare areas, the organisation has undertaken the School Chalo campaign cum service programmes during the current year also. 78,889 school kits were distributed in 16 states at a cost of Rs. 2,54,59,116. An amount of 94,17,802 were spent for scholarships. 2047 students got the benefit of this scheme. In addition it was reported that around Rupees 8 crore were locally mobilized and utilized in different activities such calamity relief, medical support, home to homeless, drinking water and self employment. Immediately after the flood in Kashmir, the organisation has launched a relief and rehabilitation project. Along with the distribution of food and clothing, 347 winter homes were constructed and handed over to stranded families in 35 villages. This task was completed within 3 months by spending around Rs 2 crores collected from public.

A set of resolutions pertaining to various social and political issues were adopted after discussions. The Assembly renewed their pledge to stand in the forefront to empower Muslims and all other deprived and targeted classes and take them to a bright future in spite of all adversaries. The NGA has also resolved to strengthen the struggles against the communal, fascist, anti-people, anti-democratic and anti-national challenges increasingly engulfing the nation. Moulana Usman Baig, Prof P Koya and Anis Ahmed addressed different sessions. Around 200 delegates from 11 states participated in the NGA. The programme was concluded with address by relieving general secretary O M A Salam and re-elected chairman K M Shareef. The programme director Adv Muhammad Yusuf proposed vote of thanks.

Muslims are Indians by choice, not only by birth: Asaduddin Owaisi in Bhatkal

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Asaduddin Owaisi Bhatkal

Bhatkal: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has said that those who suspect Indian Muslims’ patriotism should know that Muslims are the only community who are Indians not only by birth but also by choice.

Addressing the valedictory ceremony of the centenary celebration of the Majlis-e-Islah Wa Tanzeem, a leading social organization in Bhatkal, warned the communal forces against maligning the image of this coastal town.

Criticizing the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ re-conversion drive taken up by Hindu outfits, he said, “Instead of talking about Ghar Wapsi (‘homecoming’), let them talk about ‘black money Wapsi’. This is the land where Prophet Adam stepped his feet. We are from this land. Our faith is not so weak that we will listen to the Ghar Wapsi propaganda.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to bring black money within a month after coming to power, and depositing Rs 15 lac in every person’s bank account. What happened to that promise now?” he questioned.

Asserting that Islam has nothing to do with terrorism and terrorist activities, he said, “I condemn the global attitude of relating violence with Islam. There is no relationship between ISIS, the terrorist organization and Islam. ISIS was born in the US.

“There are thousands of Dalit and Muslim prisoners languishing in jails for no fault of theirs. They should be released. Innocent Muslim youth should be acquited of the accusations of violence,” he opined.

He further said, “The police had warned that peace would be disrupted if I came to Bhatkal. Bhatkal is a part of India and I will keep coming here. Nobody can silence me.

“Those who call me communal should answer a few questions first. What is the reason for Muslims in India to remain backward and poor? There are Muslims in India who live under abject poverty. There are 42 percent of poor Muslims in Gujarat, 52.7 percent in Assam and 22.4 percent in Karnataka. Who is responsible for this? We are not vote bank machines. This is our land too, and we have every right to run the country and strive for its prosperity. Our children too should get education and reach the moon. Do not play politics with education. Give us scholarships and better facilities, so that we also get quality education. Do not deprive us of our fundamental rights,” Owaisi urged.

Owaisi congratulated Majlis-e-Islah Wa Tanzeem on completing 100 years and appreciated the service it has been rendering to society, especially with relief aids during natural calamities like the Kashmir floods.

Convener of the centenary celebrations committee Abdulla Damudi compered the programme while Tanzeem secretary Mohideen Altaf Kharuri proposed the vote of thanks.

Markazi Jamatul Muslimeen chief qazi Muhammed Iqbal Mullah Nadvi, Khalifa Jamath qazi Maulana Khwaja Mohideen Akrami Nadvi, Tanzeem president Muzammil Qaziya, vice-president S M Syed Parvez and others were present.

Mumbai court drops MCOCA charges in IM terror email case against 23 Muslims

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Mumbai: In a major setback to the Mumbai police, a court here dropped the charges under stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act against the 23 persons arrested for having links with terrorist group Indian Mujahideen reported PTI.

The Mumbai crime branch had arrested a set of 23 people in August 2008 and alleged that they were behind the terror emails that warned bomb blasts and later claimed the responsibility of the bombings. The accused, said the police, had hacked into the unsecured wi-fi network of a private firm Chembur, Khalsa college’s wi-fi and the wi-fi network of an American national, Ken Heywood (who stayed in Navi Mumbai).

Furious at the latest development, crime branch officials have declared it will appeal against the order of special court before the Bombay High Court.

It should be noted that the court has already granted bail to seven accused in the case due to insufficient evidence to support prosecution case against them. Mumbai crime branch had investigated the case in the aftermath of the August 23, 2008 Ahmedabad blast. The prosecution charge sheet claimed the accused had sent out email – especially to the media – claiming responsibility of the blasts.

A similar order had been passed earlier in the 2012 Pune serial blasts case. The crime branch of the police had arrested these men in connection with email sent to media houses and government offices minutes before blasts in Surat, Delhi and Hyderabad, allegedly carried out by the IM.

The Mumbai police’s spokesperson Dhananjay Kulkarni said the police will challenge the order. As the special MCOCA judge A L Pansare dropped the charges under the Act, the case is likely to be assigned to a regular court now.

In February this year, the court had dropped MCOCA charges from the Pune blasts case, observing that sections of MCOCA and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act cannot be applied together.

A series of 21 blasts had rocked Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008 in a span of 70 minutes, killing 56 and wounding over 200. Twenty-six unexploded bombs were found at different locations in Surat between July 28 and 30.

Two cars filled with material required for making explosives and detonators were found parked on the roadside near a hospital and other on the outskirts of Surat.

It was claimed that IM, had sent e-mails to TV channels claiming responsibility for the blasts.

Indologist Koenraad Elst says "…make it uncool to be Muslims" at the Goa conclave of the Hindutva Right, draws flak

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Koenraad Elst

Utorda: Former Jordanian Prime Minister Abdelsalam al-Majali Saturday walked out of the India Ideas Conclave 2014 held in Goa protesting the anti-Islam remarks by Belgian Indologist Koenraad Elst.

“I am appalled at what I heard from the platform about insulting Islam and insulting the Prophet. One can criticize this, that and the other but don’t insult. To try to destroy the whole faith is wrong”, Abdelsalam al-Majali said while walking out of the event organised by India Foundation whose directors include Union Minister Suresh Prabhu and Shaurya Doval, son of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

“We came here to understand each other and try to be peaceful. It is very sad to be at such a conference to hear insults on a religion which is followed by over one billion people”, he added.

According to the Indian Express, Elst while addressing the session on ‘Religion — Tolerance and Terror’ at the India Ideas Conclave 2014, said: “On the whole, you should make it uncool to be Muslims. That will help them. You do not forcefully need to convert them. Through this, they will themselves outgrow Islam.”

Referring to the row over the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ campaign, Elst said: “The Vishwa Hindu Parishad is coming under criticism for the one thing that they are doing very well which is Ghar Wapsi. We need to liberate Muslims from Islam. Every Muslim is an abductee and must be brought back.”

Elst anti Muslim rant was also criticised by Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, former secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Countries, who lodged a protest with the organisation.

“We are hearing a speech of hatred. You cannot use your freedom of speech to hurt others. I was very happy being here until I heard this speech of hatred”, Dr. Ihsanoglu said.

Gunnar Stalsett, Bishop Emeritus of Oslo, and others also questioned the “demonization” of an entire faith.

We will raise Hindu population in India to 100%, says Praveen Togadia

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Praveen Togadia

Bhopal: A day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat described India as a “Hindu rashtra”, senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia on Sunday said efforts will be made to “increase” the percentage of Hindus in the country, but skirted the issue of religious conversion.

He also said Bhagwat’s assertion of “Hindu rashtra (Hindu nation)” at the Kolkata convention is like a “gospel” for VHP.

“We are going to take percentage of Hindus to 100 in country. Currently there are 82 per cent Hindus in India, and we don’t want this number to be halved. We won’t tolerate Hindus becoming a minority in the country,” Togadia, who is also international working president of VHP, said while addressing a function here.

Togadia however skirted the issue of religious conversions during his address.

Alleging that innocent Hindus are “being converted” to other faiths by “allurement”, including cash, Togadia said VHP will provide security to Hindus in the country besides whatever help they may need in foreign countries.

Reiterating VHP’s opposition to “Love jihad”, Togadia said that his outfit wants to “eradicate the social evil of caste from Hindu society”.

In his address to a Hindu convention in Kolkata yesterday, Bhagwat had defended the current controversial campaign of the Sangh Parivar and dared the opposition to support a law banning religious conversions. He had also described the country as a “Hindu rashtra.” To a query on the issue of religious conversion, Togadia refused to comment, saying, “a raging debate is already going on in Parliament on this issue.”

“VHP is awakening 100 crore Hindus of the country so that each one of them will get food, education, medicine and employment,” Togadia said replying to a query whether the focus on religious conversions by various Sangh Pariwar outfits is at variance with the talk of development by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(PTI)

Will finish Christianity and Islam in India by 2021: Dharma Jagran Manch leader Rajeshwar Singh

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Rajeshwar Singh

by Mariam Shaheen, ABP

New Delhi: Dharm Jagran Manch leader Rajeshwar Singh, of the Aligarh Christmas conversion programme fame, has raked up a new controversy with a fresh dose of vitriol.

Rajeshwar Singh has said that they plan to root out Christianity and Islam from India by December 31, 2021, adding that Christians and Muslims essentially have no right to live in the country.

“India’s inner voice has spoken. Just wait and watch. 31 December 2021 is the last for Christianity and Islam in this country. We will finish Christianity and Islam in this country by 31 December 2021. This is our aim,” Rajeshwar said.

Such comments are not new to the saffron leader, and he has been in the news for voicing similar views earlier as well.

His organisation had planned a mass conversion programme in Aligarh on Christmas. After widespread outrage over it, the future of the plan remains undecided.

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