IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – September 7th, 2009

by on September 6, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMMUNAL HARMONY

NEWS HEADLINES

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

US RIGHTS GROUP CALLS UPON THE FDI MAGAZINE TO CANCEL THE STATE OF GUJARAT AWARD

September 4, 2009

 

Indian Muslim Council – USA (IMC-USA: http://www.imc-usa.org/), an advocacy group working towards safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos, called the decision of fDi magazine not to honor Narendra Modi the Asian Personality of 2009 award as a step in the right direction. IMC-USA further urged fDi Magazine to cancel the amended award to the State of Gujarat in lieu of Narendra Modi.

Following widespread protests from rights activists, the fDi Magazine amended the award to be given to Modi with the statement" Following a review prompted by the ongoing investigation into the 2002 Gujarat riots, fDi has decided to present its award to Gujarat state, rather than Mr Narendra Modi, the state’s chief minister". The statement further said "Mr Modi was chief minister of Gujarat at the time of the riots. Mr Modi’s alleged role in connection to the riots is under investigation in which over 2,000 innocent people were killed". This open state sponsored massacre of minority Muslims occurred in 2002 under Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister. In addition, hundreds of women were gang raped on the streets of Gujarat, over 150,000 people were ethnically cleansed and an estimated damage of $500 million was caused to minority owned properties. Narendra Modi is widely regarded as the architect of these massacres, considered to be the most brutal in the history of India since its Independence. After almost 7 years of evasion from any judicial purview on April 24th 2009 the Indian Supreme Court finally asked a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the role of 64 people, including that of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the Gujarat 2002 riots cases.

"It was on Modi’s watch that the massacres took place and he continues to be the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Giving the award to the State of Gujarat instead of Modi is akin to awarding Nazi establishment instead of Hitler" said Mr. Rasheed Ahmed, IMC-USA’s President. "Tens of thousands of ethnically cleansed victims of the 2002 violence still live in refugee camps. The State of Gujarat under Modi continues to actively create hurdles into the prosecution of those involved in the violence" he further added.

In 2005, the US State Department banned him from entering the United States following his involvement in these massacres.A recent report published in the beginning of 2009 by the United Nations Human Rights Council has warned of a "very real risk" of a repeat of the 2002 Gujarat riots in the country unless politicians stop exploiting communal distinctions that presents a dim picture of religious intolerance in India. The report compiled by U.N. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Asma Jahangir states that members of the Muslim community shared their concerns about the ongoing repercussions of communal violence, after the Gujarat massacre in 2002.

Modi has become a huge liability for the State of Gujarat and the industrious Gujarati community. In spite of media hype about Gujarat’s ability to attract foreign investments, a an independent analysis done by journalists Dionne Bunsha (for Frontline) and Salil Tripathi (for The Mint) concluded that foreign investment has declined consistently after Modi became the chief minister of Gujarat.

Indian Muslim Council-USA is the largest advocacy organization of Indian Muslims in the United States with 10 chapters across the nation.

CONTACT:
Dr. Hyder Khan
phone/fax: 1-800-839-7270
email: media@imc-usa.org

References::
[Supreme Court Order] http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?659024
[UN Human Rights Report by Asma Jahangir] http://www.sacw.net/article641.html
[Dionne and Salil analysis] http://www.counterpunch.org/prashad09022009.html

[Back to Top]

COMMUNAL HARMONY

MAINTAIN COMMUNAL HARMONY: THAROOR (SEP 5, 2009, EXPRESS BUZZ)

"Communal harmony is the hallmark of Kerala and it should not be disrupted under any circumstances," said Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor here on Friday. Inaugurating the annual public meeting of various spiritual organisations at the St Mary’s Cathedral at Manarcaud, he said that it was a totally different picture in places like Gujarat and Orissa and called upon the Church to strive hard to maintain the communal harmony among different religious groups in the State.

At the meet, which was organised in connection with the ongoing ‘Ettunombu Perunnal’, Tharoor said that in addition to having faith in God, spiritual uplift and prayers, one should also be keen to get involved in social welfare activities such as education and healthcare. "It is heartening to note that the Manarcud Church, established more than thousand years ago, has been contributing a lot for this cause without looking into the caste or creed of the beneficiaries," he said.

Tharoor also stressed the need for encouraging English education in addition to the native language as it would enable one to work around the world. "Many closed doors can be opened by learning English", he said. Taking queue from the oft-quoted words of Sree Narayana Guru, calling for the uplift of man irrespective of the religion to which he belonged, Shashi Tharoor said that in the present milieu, these words could be modified into ‘irrespective of differing politics, the nation should grow’.

Kozhikode diocese Metropolitan Paulose Mar Iraneus presided over the function. Assembly Speaker K Radhakrishnan officially opened the newly-constructed block at the St Mary’s Hospital, which is functioning under the Church. Opposition leader Oommen Chandy distributed the education merit award on the occasion. Jose K Mani MP handed over the foundation stone for the 11 houses to be constructed by Martha Mariam Sevika Sangham for the poor. MLA s Mons Joseph and V N Vasavan offered felicitations. Programme convener Rev Kuriakose Cor-Episcopa Kizhakkedam honoured Fr Mathews Vadakkedath to mark his completion of 25 years of service at the church. Four elders, among the laity of the parish, were also honoured on the occasion. Cathedral main vicar Rev E T Kuriakose Cor-Episcopa Ittiath welcomed the gathering and chief trustee P V Mathew proposed a vote of thanks.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/print.aspx?artid=X7Q3z9lupgc=

[Back to Top]

NEWS HEADLINES

GUJARAT HC LIFTS BAN ON JASWANTS BOOK (SEP 4, 2009, HINDUSTAN TIMES)

The Gujarat High Court on Friday struck down the ban the BJP-run Gujarat government had imposed on expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh’s book. It set aside the notification issued by the government banning Singh’s Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence and observed the government seem to have taken the step without reading the book.

"I’m thrilled and feel vindicated," said Singh, who was expelled from the BJP for writing it. Chief Minister Narendra Modi had banned the book the very day, August 19, on which Singh was expelled, claiming it made derogatory references to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, which could disturb public tranquility in the state.

"The ban amounts to serious inroads into fundamental rights," the court observed. It pointed out the notification was silent on how the book would disturb peace. Nor could the government’s counsel explain it. But the Gujarat government seemed unwilling to give up. "The order does not stop us from bringing a fresh notification if we want to," said Jaynarayan Vyas, state government spokesman.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/450197.aspx

SEE ALSO:

[Back to Top]

JASWANT COCKS A SNOOK AT BJP, CALLS FIRST MEETING OF PAC (SEP 3, 2009, INDIAN EXPRESS)

In another snub to the BJP, a defiant Jaswant Singh has, as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, convened its first meeting on September 7. The BJP had earlier demanded that Jaswant quit the position after his expulsion from the party "as it was party that had nominated him as the panel chairman". Senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and S S Ahluwalia had also visited the residence of Jaswant Singh a couple of days ago asking him to step down from the position. Unless the Speaker steps in and asks Jaswant to step down, there is no hurdle in Jaswant convening the September 7 meeting. The former BJP leader has reportedly written to the members of the committee to attend the meeting.

A chastened BJP on Thursday said that it was up to Jaswant to continue as chairman of the PAC after his expulsion from the party. "We (BJP) have left it to Jaswant Singh to decide whether he would retain the PAC chairmanship after expulsion. BJP will take a decision on the future course of action on the current imbroglio over the post at an appropriate time and an appropriate stage," said BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Yashwant Sinha and Gopinath Munde are the other two BJP leaders on the Public Accounts Committee. While Munde was not available for comment, Yashwant Sinha said he would not be able to attend the meeting as he was touring his constituency. "I am on a tour of my constituency and will be in Jharkhand for sometime and will not be able to attend the meeting," he said.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/511781/

SEE ALSO:

[Back to Top]

FRESH RIVALRY IN BJP (SEP 4, 2009, THE TRIBUNE)

RSS chief Mohanrao Bhagwat may have put Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani and BJP president Rajnath Singh on notice to quit their respective posts soon, but the notice itself has triggered fresh rivalry within the BJP, complicating the situation further for the organisation and making the succession process in the party that much more difficult. In fact, for all the hype accompanying the first widely publicised interaction of the Sangh chief with BJP leaders, it seems he could not succeed in his mission of effecting a total revamp of the BJP leadership or at least announcing a time frame for it. Sources said that was to a large extent due to lack of unanimity in the Sangh itself on Advani and Rajnath’s successors.

When Bhagwat arrived here last week Rajnath was the first to visit the Sangh chief. Rajnath, under attack from Advani camp for encouraging groupism and infighting, reportedly offered to quit his post instantly. But he also complained that though after Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani he was the longest serving BJP president, in effect he did not get even six months to work independently without interference from Advani and his camp followers. Rajnath had succeeded Advani in 2005 when Advani was removed for his praise of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Pakistan. Sources said Rajnath told Bhagwat how the first six months of his tenure borrowed from Advani’s tenure he maintained a low profile, since he had to be elected formally at the end of these six months.

BJP organisational elections were followed by one after another state assembly elections which gave him time to revamp the organisation. He was looking forward to take command after UP Assembly elections. But there the party was swept out, denting Rajnath’s moral authority. By October 2007 there was pressure on him to declare Advani as the prime ministerial candidate and once that was done in December 2007 Advani just took over as the parallel power centre till the general election results. After Rajnath meeting with Bhagwat, Advani camp followers namely Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, M Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar went to meet Bhagwat the next day. They reportedly complained of Rajnath encouraging groupism and infighting in the party. They were, however, told by Bhagwat that he would prefer a complete outsider to succeed Rajnath.

The next day Advani met Bhagwat. But before that Bhagwat went to Murli Manohar Joshi’s house for lunch where Joshi warned him against allowing Sushma to succeed Advani as LoP saying that he would not want to work under her. When Advani met Bhagwat, he said he offered to step down. But he suggested putting in place a sound and consensual succession plan, lest there may be further chaos after him. And that is where the catch lies. Advani would like to move after a consensual succession plan has been put in place and Bhagwat also seemed to appreciate that. But that seems to be a Catch 22 situation. Sources said as long as Rajnath/Advani duo are at the helm of affairs and their groups active it won’t be easy to find candidates for the two posts acceptable to all concerned.

Notwithstanding Bhagwat’s personal disinclination to appoint any of the four Advani camp followers, sources say the names of both Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj are still under consideration and so is Sushma and Joshi’s name for the LoP post. Other names like that of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, B.S. Yedyurappa and even Narendra Modi have also been mentioned. But clearly there is no unanimity in the BJP or even in the RSS over anyone and till then Advani can sit comfortably.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090904/main4.htm

SEE ALSO:

[Back to Top]

ARREST WARRANT AGAINST EX-MLA ACCUSED OF MURDER (AUG 29, 2009, TIMES OF INDIA)

Former BJP MLA from Limkheda Babu Bhabhor is a wanted man for his ‘alleged’ involvement in the murder of BJP’s Limkheda general secretary Raman Baria. Dahod police obtained the warrant on Friday evening for the murder, which is believed to have taken place because of an extramarital affair that Baria’s wife had with Bhabhor.

The warrant under Section 70 of Criminal Procedures Code (CrPC) was obtained from a Limkheda court on Friday evening. Bhabhor has been on the run ever since the case was filed while Baria’s wife Leela and Bhabhor’s close aide Bharat Patel were arrested in connection with the murder, which was committed on July 22.

The former legislator ‘allegedly’ visited Leela’s house on the night of July 22 with Patel, who killed Baria with a sharp-edged weapon. Baria was murdered in the room where Leela was sleeping and his bike was set up in flames outside the house. Police suspected Leela to be an accomplice to the crime after she claimed that she had been waken up in the wee hours by a noise which sounded like that of an ox that had freed itself. Police suspect that on the fateful night, Patel called Leela outside her house to meet Bhabhor. Meanwhile, thinking that Baria would wake up and spot them.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4949361.cms

SEE ALSO:

[Back to Top]

BRANDING AZAMGARH AS TERROR HUB UNFAIR: SHABANA AZMI (SEP 4, 2009, TIMES OF INDIA)

Noted film and theatre personality Shabana Azmi is distressed that her native place is in news for all the wrong reasons. Presently on a visit to her native house ‘fateh-e-manzil’ in Mizwa village here, the birth place of her late father and acclaimed ‘shayar’ Kaifi Azmi, Shabana said branding Azamgarh as a terror hub was unfair.

"Azamgarh is the birth place of people like author Rahul Sanskritayan, scholar Allama Shibli Nomani and poet Kaifi Azmi, who were the living examples of communal amity and brotherhood

Related posts:

  1. IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – September 14th, 2009
  2. IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – September 21st, 2009
  3. IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – September 28th, 2009
  4. IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – August 24th, 2009
  5. IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – September 3rd, 2007

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: