Lok Sabha elections: For Patna Muslims security a major issue

By Manzar Bilal and Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,

We do not hope anything from political parties for it is useless. Yes, we will vote for a party which assures to provide adequate security to the Muslim community from organized violence. Given the scenario of the country it will be better for us to vote for UPA at least to keep L K Advani away from being prime minister of India” says Muhammad Saleem, a fruit seller in Patna.

His views are shared by most of those Patnaites TwoCircles.net talked to. Security and keeping communal forces out of power are major concerns for people in this backward state where civic amenities are rare. Given the history of the Congress, a section is considering alternative. However, many are fed up with political parties, and hence have lost interest in elections.

Muhammad Saleem, a fruit seller in Patna

When TCN team in Patna met Muslims from different classes to know their opinions they found them angry with political parties because all of them have always exploited and cheated the community. They also criticized Muslim leaders who just serve their own purposes and do not dare to raise voice in Parliament and assemblies against cruelty on Muslims.

“We are not happy with any political party because all have been befooling us since Independence. No one is going to solve our problems until we ourselves stand to do so. Once our ratio in government sector was 14 percent and now it is less than 2 percent” said Qamar Rizwi, a businessman in Patna city. He further said: “I am not able to decide as to which party I should vote as all parties are sailing in the same boat”.

Qamar Rizwi, a businessman in Patna

50-year-old Hafiz Mazaherul Haq is so much upset with political parties that he is not interested to vote. He does not remember when he voted last. “I do not vote for any party because they are not serious about our problems and I do not see any alternative for which I should vote” he added.

Though Muslims are disappointed with all the parties including Congress but because they do not see any suitable alternative so some of them have soft corner for UPA alliance compared to NDA. They are going to vote only on the basis of security matter and to keep BJP out of power.

“This is a parliamentary election so we should vote for the party keeping an eye on national and international issues” said Mr. Fazluddin, owner of a cloth shop, adding that the present government led by UPA alliance has done better works at national and international level than NDA alliance. “Though the Sachar Committee report remains to be implemented but this government implemented many schemes for the minority communities compared to the previous one” he said.

Mr. Fazluddin, owner of a cloth shop in Patna

Muhammad Mahmood, a poor worker from Sitamarhi district working in Patna, expressed his anguish saying that besides giving every kind of sacrifice Muslims are discriminated in every aspect of life in the country. Asked which party he is going to vote for he said: “I will vote for the party which will provide security to Muslims and manage peaceful environment in the country because whenever violence erupts we become jobless” said Md. Mahmood.

Muhammad Saleem, a fruit seller in Sabzi Bagh, Patna, felt sorry to say that even Muslim leaders are not sincere to solve the problems faced by Muslims, let alone the politicians from other community. “We do not hope anything from political parties for it is useless. Yes, we will vote for a party which will give assurances that they will provide adequate security to the Muslim community from organized violence” he said adding, “Seeing the scenario of the country it will be better for us to vote for UPA alliance at least to keep L K Advani away from being prime minister of India” said Saleem.

“We want to live peacefully along with other communities in the country, and during this government led by UPA we did not see any pre-planned riot such as Gujrat riot so we will give vote in favour of UPA alliance” said 60-year-old vendor Muhammad Moheet. “Government should initiate to tackle poverty that we are facing today” he added.

Muhammad Moheet, vendor in Patna

As Muslims have bitter experience with Congress and BJP some of them want to do new experience and give chance to any new alliance.

Muhammad Asrar, a social activist, blamed all political parties that came to power after Independence for pushing Muslim community towards educational, social and financial backwardness by their double-standard policies. “Both Congress and BJP have always pained us. If Congress is a secular party so why it did not implement the Sachar Committee report and Sri Krishna Commission report and why Babri Masjid case is still stuck in court” he said. He also said that many welfare schemes were announced by government but how many Muslims have benefited is not known. “We will vote for non-UPA and non-BJP alliance so we can test them also” said Asrar.

“We want to change the government so that no party can take us as for granted and then neglect our problems and exploit us as happened in the past” said Dr. Ataur Rahman. He also advised Muslim leaders to learn lessons from the leaders of other communities who do not hesitate to go any extent for the benefit of their communities.

Normalcy returning to riot torn Gopalgunj District

By Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net reporter,

Patna: Saran Division Commissioner Ashok Kumar Chauhan while talking to twocircles.net said:"Members from both the sides are taking round of the area to take locals in confidence. Situation is completely under control and no untoward incidence has been reported so far since the past few hours. We have taken all the precautionary measures to avoid recurrence of any unfortunate incident".

It is to be recalled that around yesterday afternoon tension broke out between the members of two communities in the Pathanpatti area of Gopalganj district in Bihar, which falls under Barawli police station.

Tension escalated when members of a particular community decided to follow through the route of Pathanpati area, along with the procession, led by a strong mob, for the purpose of idol immersion on the occasion of Saraswati puja.

Madrasa Insaful Uloom was put on fire but all the students were able to make safe exit.

Gopalganj tense, madrasa put on fire by ‘idol processionists’

By Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net reporter,

Patna: A madrasa called Insaful Uloom and some houses of Muslims were put on fire today in Pathan Patti area of Barauli Police Station in Bihar’s Gopalganj district allegedly by a mob of thousands of processionists who were taking idols for immersion through a route never used for that purpose.

Eyewitness talks to TwoCircles.net:

In the ensuing clash between the two communities some people including some policemen have reportedly sustained injuries. A police sub-inspector is reported to have died of heart attack immediately after the incident.

Locals told TwoCircles.net that the idols of Hindu deity Saraswati was immersed some days back but people from five villages did not immerse their idols and were adamant to take them through the Muslim area which was never used for immersion procession. On that route fall a mosque and Madrasa Insaful Uloom. Village head had already written to authorities that the route should not be used. However, they remained adamant.

Today around 1 pm a mob of more than 10 thousand processionists from the five villages gathered at a place and proceeded with the idols to the route which was prohibited. The administration was aware of the situation as the news about growing tension in the area was coming in the local media for some days. But they did not do enough to keep the anti-social elements from executing their plan. Today the police force was deployed in the area. Yet, as soon as the mob reached Muslim area, they attacked the madrasa and put it on fire. They also put on fire some huts of Muslims, which followed stone pelting from the two sides and some people including policemen were injured. Some students of the madrasa were also injured while their belongings were burnt.

To control the situation security forces have been called in from neighboring districts of Muzaffarpur and Motihari. Senior police officers are camping in the area.

The area falls in Barauli Vidhan Sabha constituency which is currently represented by BJP MLA Ram Parvesh Singh, who is also state tourism minister. People say what happened today was well planned and executed keeping in view the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Communal tension broke out in Gopalgunj district

By Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: As per the initial report available tension broke out in the Barawli area of Gopalganj district in Bihar when people from majority community were crossing the Pathanpatti area for the purpose of idol immersion on the occasion of Saraswati Puja.

Two groups from both communities clashed in the area which led to the injury of few people and a police inspector.

As per the sources the furious crowd has attacked some madrasas in the Pathanpatti area, which has led to the worsening of the situation.

Situation is still tense but under control.

District Magistrate, superintendent of Police and other admistration officials have reached the spot to take stock of the situation.

Further details are awaited.

Republic Day celebrations at madrasas in Mumbai, Patna

By Abdul Hameed and Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,

Belying a perception that madrasas generally show little interest in national festivals like Independence Day and Republic Day, several Islamic seminaries in Mumbai and Patna and many others across the country, along with the nation, celebrated the Yaum-e-Jamhuriya (Republic Day) today with enthusiasm.

Following the national tradition madrasa teachers and students gathered under the National Flag – Tiranga – hoisted it and sang the National Anthem and National Song with teachers reminding their pupils about the importance of the day and that they should be a faithful citizen of the country.

The whole Mumbai today celebrated the 60th Republic Day with joy and fervor and programs were organized at schools, colleges, and madrasas and even on the pavements.

Madrasa Rahmania in Govandi celebrated the Republic Day with the same spirit. Located in the Muslim-dominated area the madrasa has been conducting programs and hoisting flags on 15 August and 26 January for nearly 8 years and it attracts many people from its vicinity too.

The students of the madrasa presented their programs on the occasion that included the National Anthem and National Song (Sare Jahan se achchha Hindustan hamara) followed by speeches by the students focusing on the Muslims' contribution towards freedom of the country.

“Some years back our madrasa would not hoist the flag but at the suggestion of a municipal officer we have been doing so for the last eight years,” Maulana Jalaluddin, secretary of the madrasa, told TwoCircles.net.

“We hold programs on Independence Day and Republic Day to express our solidarity with the whole India and through this we tell the people about what our forefathers sacrificed for the sake of the country,” said the Maulana.

With same national spirit several madrasas in Bihar including Al-Mahadul Aali, a madrasa run in Patna by the Imarat Sharia (Bihar, Orissa & Jharkhand), celebrated the Republic Day.

Located in a densely populated Muslim locality of Phulwari Shareef in Bihar’s capital madrasa Al-Mahadul Aali celebrated the 60th Republic Day with full national spirit.

After hoisting the Tiranga Maulana Abdul Basit, secretary of the madrasa, told the students about the responsibility of a good citizen. He emphasized communal harmony and brotherhood among the people of the country. Quoting Allama Iqbal’s couplet "Ai Aabrood Ganga Woh Din Hai Yaad Tujhko, Utra Tere Kinare Jab Kaarwan Hamara" Maulana Abdul Basit told his students that they should not forget the purpose of the caravan of their forefathers that came here. He said: We should live here peacefully and maintain good relationship with our countrymen. We must not do anything that hurts others.

While talking to some madrasa students it was noticed that like their counterparts of modern schools the new generation of madrasas know a little about Independence Day and Republic Day and some of them are confused about the history of these two days.

Waheedur Rahman and Muhammad Ajmal, Class VI students of Madrasa Rahmania say: We celebrate 26 January as Republic Day every year because the Constitution of India came into force on the very day in 1950. Correct. But Muhammad Zahid of the same class is a little confused when he says today is Independence Day and 15 August is Republic Day. Similarly Abdul Haseeb of Class IV says 26 January is Yaum-e-Jamhuriya (Republic Day) and we are celebrating the day since 1946 while Ubaidullah who did his SSC says we have been celebrating Republic Day since 1947 or 1957.