No platform other than the Parliament could be more powerful to raise the voice of the voiceless – to inform the government and the nation about the grievances of the common people, the minorities, the downtrodden. Yet, Muslim Lok Sabha Members do not use the platform as much as they are expected to. Their performance during Lok Sabha session July-Aug 2009 was disappointing as majority of 30 Muslim MPs did not ask any question, nor did they take part in debate. Debutants also remained silent except Badruddin Ajmal, Dhubri MP and chief of Assam United Democratic Front. He asked six questions and also took part in debate.
Senior Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi led from front as he asked 47 questions, far ahead from other Muslim MPs. Following is a report card of Muslim Lok Sabha MPs in the recent session of the House.
Type of Questions
Questions are of three types:-
Starred, Unstarred and Short Notice Questions
A Starred Question is one to which a member desires an oral answer in the House and which is distinguished by an asterisk mark. When a question is answered orally, supplementary questions can be asked thereon. Only 20 questions can be listed for oral answer on a day.
An Unstarred Question: is one which is not called for oral answer in the House and on which no supplementary questions can consequently be asked. To such a question, a written answer is deemed to have been laid on the Table after the Question Hour by the Minister to whom it is addressed. It is printed in the official report of the sitting of the House for which it is put down. Only 230 questions can be listed for written answer on a day.
A Short Notice Question is one which relates to a matter of urgent public importance and can be asked with shorter notice than the period of notice prescribed for an ordinary question. Like a starred question, it is answered orally followed by supplementary questions.
Name: Mr. Abdul Mannan Hossain Age: 57 Constituency: Murshidabad (West Bengal ) Party name: Indian National Congress(INC) No. of questions: 0
By Manzar Bilal and Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: With the sun rising in the morning of 15th August 2009 in the erstwhile Azeemabad, people came out in the streets to celebrate Independence Day. Besides hoisting flags, they presented different kinds of cultural programs. Like other communities Muslims of the city also celebrated the day with full enthusiasm – they hoisted flags at offices, workshops and religious and educational institutions, and paid homage to freedom fighters.
Muslim teenagers were excitedly marching on the roads towards their educational institutions raising slogans with holding flags.
Tiranga being hoisted at Imarat Shariah
“Freedom means that a man can express his view, can act upon his religious obligations and can think freely without any barrier. It is one of the most important bounties of Almighty God which was snatched from us by British government. It was the same day-15th August 1947- when we Indian got that bounty back. We, therefore, celebrate this day as national celebration day” said Maulana Anisur Rahman Qasmi, nazim Imarat Shariah Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand while talking to TwoCircles.net.
“As Muslims we give especial importance to this day and remember our forefathers who sacrificed for the freedom and we also convey the message to new generations that to protect the freedom and sovereignty of the country is responsibility of every Indian” he added.
Tiranga being hoisted at Al-Ma’had-ul-Aali
Freedom fighter Maulana Saeed Ahmad, who is also na’eb Qazi of Imarat Shariah, hoisted the Tiranga at Imarat Shariah headquarters in Patna.
On the occasion he recalled the British rule: “It was the time when we all Indian had one aim – to throw out the British government from our country. We actively participated in the freedom movement. We visited rural areas to create awareness about freedom struggle. Whenever we went, we went with national flag with making slogans: ‘Hindustan Zindabad, Congress Zindabad and Jamiat Ulema Zindabad’. It was happiest moment when we got freedom from cruelty of British government” he told.
Muslim kids with Tiranga
In another programme, at 8 am a team of Ulema gathered to celebrate Independence Day in the compound of Al-Ma’had-ul-Aali, a centre where ulema are trained in Islamic fiqh. After hoisting the flag they recited the famous poem of Allama Iqbal ‘Sare Jahan se Accha Hindustan Hamara.’
Though students at Al-Ma’had were little in number because of annual vacation but those who were present there actively participated in the ceremony.
Muslim kids with Tiranga
Expressing his view on why we celebrate Independence Day Maulana Badr Ahmad Mujibi, headmaster of Al-Ma’had told TCN, “We celebrate this day as Independence Day as after a long struggle our country got freedom on this day. Our forefathers also took part in freedom struggle and gave matchless contribution to the country.
“Maulana Fazle Haq Kherabadi, Maulana Ismail Shaheed, Mulana Ahmad Shaheed, Maulana Qasim Nanotwi, Maulana Mhmood Hasan Deobandi and Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madni and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad etc. are some names of those who played a vital role in freedom of country” he added.
Patna: Though Urdu became second official language in Bihar in 1981 during the regime of Dr. Jagannath Mishra, unfortunately it is yet to enjoy this status fully as the order mostly remained on paper. Bihar Awami Urdu Nifaz Committee launched a state wide movement in Patna today against the discrimination with Urdu.
More than a quarter century after the order, today one can hardly find Urdu knowing officers in government offices. The reason is that Urdu knowing officers and workers have not been appointed for a long time after retirement of previous officers.
Moreover, the officers who have been appointed as Urdu officers have been directed to perform other work not related to Urdu.
The Bihar Awami Urdu Nifaz Committee held a peaceful and non-political agitation at Kargil Chowk in Patna on 21st July and demanded full implementation of the order making Urdu the second official language of the state.
Ashraf Asthanvi, the convener of the Committee, said that this is not a movement of any particular party, organization and religion but it is of all those who have space for Urdu in their hearts.
Talking to TwoCircles.net Mr. Ashraf Asthanvi said: “Though Urdu language has been accepted as secondary official language by the government it is yet to get its place in offices from the assembly to secretariat to block level. Urdu Teachers and professors are not being appointed in schools, colleges and universities for the posts fallen vacant.”
Asked about the purpose of the agitation he said: “We want complete implementation of the recommendation made by government in 1981 and legal action against those offices that put barrier in the way of Urdu” said Mr. Ashraf.
On the future course of action of the committee, he said: “We are going to launch a state-wide agitation which has been started today. We will hold programs in every district of the state and form committees at districts level. Soon we will organize a big program in Gandhi Maidan, Patna wherein Urdu loving people will participate in large number from all parts of the state then we will submit memorandum to the honorable governor of the state demanding immediate action regarding this aspect.”
Mr. Mubarak Hussain, president of Bihar Urdu Molazmieen Union, told TCN: “Every government that came to power in the state took some decision in favor of Urdu but some narrow-minded officers did not let them implement and we Urdu speakers have been silent. Two years back Nitish kumar government ordered to establish Urdu Training Centers in all the districts to train those officers who are unaware of Urdu. In Patna the office for the center was established but soon after it was transferred into storeroom where garbage are being put.”
“In 1995 government separated Urdu directorate but unfortunately its director was not given power as head of the department which means he can not take action against those officers who commit mistakes and also he can not reward to those who do any appreciable work. This made it meaningless” Mr. Mubarak Hussain said.
Addressing the program, Advocate Mr. Shakeel Ahsan said “It was our fault that we could not move to implement the decision taken by government about Urdu. But I am happy that we started a movement under the banner of Awami Urdu Nifaz committee so we request them not to stop it here but go with it to every street of the state till our purpose is served.”
“Urdu is not the language of Muslims but it is the language of India which has played a vital role in freedom of the country but because of discrimination of some officers Urdu was pushed aside in every field” said Mr. Bari Azmi, a Congress leader.
Mr. Arshad, a social activist, said: “We should make the problems of Urdu a political issue and demand parties to solve that in exchange of votes. We should also gather youths to empower our movement.”
On the occasion Mr. Ashraf Asthanvi informed people that on 5th June 2009 then Bihar governor Mr. R.L Bhatia sent a latter to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar about implementation of Urdu at official level. Mr. Nitish Kumar after having a glance on the latter on 10th June 2009 sent it to chief sectary and chief secretary forwarded this latter on 11th June 2009 to chief of the Urdu directorate Mr. Gresh Shanker. But after that where the latter has gone no one knows. When Mr. Gresh Shanker was asked about that he denied and said he did not receive any such latter.
