Maharashtra Jamiat leader Gulzar Azmi gets death threat from gangster Ravi Pujari
Mumbai: An office-bearer of the Maharashtra unit of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) has allegedly received a death threat from a man claiming to be fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari, police said on Sunday. Gulzar Azmi, secretary of JUH's legal cell of Maharashtra unit, complained to police yesterday alleging that a man claiming to be Ravi Pujari rang him up at the office landline and gave death threats warning that he should not keep any association with the underworld don Chhota Shakeel, said the outfit's member Rahmatulla Qasmi. Anil Madvi, senior inspector with J J Marg police station, said, "We have received a written application from Azmi yesterday, in which he alleged that Pujari threatened him. As a precautionary measure, a constable has been assigned the job to protect Azmi."The threat comes days after BJP legislator Ashish Shelar, who is also party Mumbai unit chief, alleged on the floor of the House during the ongoing Maharashtra Assembly session in Nagpur, that JUH collects "huge" donations to fight cases for people arrested on terror charges and should be banned as it "promotes" terrorism. He also alleged that the outfit has links with the Chhota Shakeel gang.PTI
Probe funding of RSS, other Hindutva outfits, demands Jamiat-e-Ulema
Mumbai: Jamiat-e-Ulema Maharashtra on Saturday while terming the allegations made by BJP MLA Ashish Shelar as 'bundle of lies' demanded a probe into the funding of the RSS and other Hindutva outfits. "We are fully ready for any kind of inquiry the govt wants to initiate against the Jamiat-e-Ulema. But, it should also initiate similar probe against the RSS and other Hindutva outfits to cheque their sources of funding", Jamiat-e-Ulema Maharashtra Gen Secretary Haleemulah Qasmi said while talking to the media.Qasmi was reacting to the allegations levelled by Mumbai BJP president and MLA Ashish Shelar in the Maharashtra assembly against the Jamiat-e-Ulema. While stating that the Jamiat-e-Ulema is promoting terrorism by providing legal aid to those arrested in terror cases, Shelar had demanded an inquiry into the funding of the Jamiat. Shelar had also demanded a ban on the Jamiat if necessary. Shelar's allegations made in the Maharashtra assembly were protested by the opposition MLAs especially those belonging to Congress, Samajwadi Party, AIMIM.CM Fadnavis however defended his party MLA and also favored an inquiry against the Jamiat. ummid.com
'FORCED' CONVERSION OF MINORITIES?
Shakhas sprout along Punjab border belt, RSS pracharak says 'our time has come'
Bhikhiwind (Punjab): At a time when it is under attack for its 'ghar wapsi' campaign, the RSS is returning to the very grounds from where it was uprooted at the height of militancy in Punjab, a state where the relations of its political arm, the BJP, with ruling partner SAD is already under strain. Towns and villages along the border with Pakistan — from Bhikhiwind to Khemkaran to Pahuwind – have been waking up every morning to the sights and sounds of shakhas in parks and grounds. In 1980s, Sikh militants forced Hindu families to flee the countryside. Now, 3 decades later, RSS and its affiliates hope to extend the Parivar footprint along the border belt. College student Sunil Kumar, shakha in-charge at Bhikhiwind, ensures 40 boys gather every morning at a school ground. "School and college students, mostly from the weaker sections, come here.Others have begun taking interest after we organised a big function on Dussehra," he said.RSS affiliates have been reaching out to the rural population through a network of educational and social welfare organisations. Workers say they have also been told to prevent conversion of Dalit Sikhs to Christianity and "return to the faith" those who have already crossed over. Last Sunday, the Dussehra ground in Tarn Taran, 25 km from the border, hosted the annual Sangh sammelan. A pracharak from Delhi told the gathering of volunteers: "The combined work of all our organisations is beginning to show results in your area. Our time has come. You must prepare yourself to be part of a national movement." Pamphlets about a 'Virat Dharm Sammelan', being organised in Tarn Taran by the VHP and Bajrang Dal on Feb.8, were distributed. Dr Karunesh Gupta, who heads the RSS Amritsar vibhag, said: "Such an event was not possible in these parts a few years ago."Brigadier (retired) JK Gagneja, RSS sahprant sanchalak, said there are 795 shakhas across Punjab, up from 200 a few years ago, and the focus now is on the border areas. The youth, he said, comprise 60% of their workforce and are spearheading most activities. Functioning of single-teacher schools, most run by the Ekal Abhiyan Yojana (EAY)and Madhav Rao Muley Sewa Trust (MRMST), are being coordinated by RSS veterans. EAY, funded mainly by NRIs, is a large network of more than 50,000 single-teacher schools across the country. indian express
VHP presses for anti-conversion law: 'At one point, the entire world was Hindu'
Mumbai: Notwithstanding mass "ghar wapsi" events by saffron groups in UP, VHP leaders on Sunday pressed for an anti-conversion law, accusing Christians and Muslims of wooing Hindus towards their religions. "At a point of time, the entire world was Hindu. There were 700 crore Hindus, and now there are just 100 crore. Currently, there are 82% Hindus in this country. If we don't create awareness and take steps now, in a few decades this number will drop to 46%. If conversions are wrong, then why is the govt not passing an anti-conversion law?" asked senior VHP leader Praveen Togadia addressing Virat Hindu Sammelan here. Another VHP leader Narendra Maharaj from Ratnagiri said the Hindu society is tolerant and does not indulge in religious conversions, but it is the Christians and the Muslims who convert people. Function, was organised to mark the 50th year of the VHP. Jain Muni Vinamra Sagar said, "Hindus who embraced other religious should undergo reconversions." indian Express
40 Muslim families converted by Yogi's outfit 4 months ago still live in margins: HT report
Kushinagar: 6 months ago, Lalchand used to fast during Ramzan, go to the mosque to offer prayers and greeted other Muslims at the Eidgah grounds. Now, the 37-year-old sports a sacred thread and points at the spot where he sacrificed a goat during Dussehra. "I fasted during Ramzan when my name was Naseeruddin. Now I go with Hindus to celebrate Diwali," he says.He is one of the 200 people in UP's Ghazipur village, who have converted to Hinduism. All 40 families who converted belong to the impoverished Nat (nomadic) tribe. Why did they become Hindu? Community elder Ekam says their forefathers were Hindus but Muslims converted them, saying their burial practices were closer to Islam. 4 months back, activists from the Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV), founded by Gorakhpur BJP MP Yogi Adityanath, met the families. "Yogi welcomed us in the Hindu fold - it's ghar wapsi (home coming) he told us; if you return, your dignity would be protected," says Ekam. The village's name was also changed to Hari Om Nagar. Women, too, practise Hindu customs now. Godawali - earlier called Tabbasum - says she fasted on Teej with Hindu women.Once they decided to convert, Muslims pressurised them but the Nats remained adamant, Ekam says. "We used to live marginalised lives as Muslims, so what is wrong with conversion?" the elder asks. But have their lives improved? Not noticeably. Still forced to live on the outskirts of the village, the 40 families share only two hand pumps. Hindustan Times
Dharam Jagaran Samiti, which plans to convert 4000, goes underground
Aligarh: Hindutva outfit Dharam Jagaran Samiti, which plans to convert 4,000 Muslims and Christians on Dec.25 here, has gone underground fearing crackdown by the local administration. Rajeshwar Singh, the zonal chief of the organisation, remains untraceable with his phone switched off. the hindu
Aligarh bans conversions on Xmas, Sangh unfazed: HT report
VHP to organise 'Ghar Wapasi' in Rae Bareli
Lucknow: VHP Monday announced its plan to organise a 'Ghar Wapasi' (home coming) programme in Rae Bareli, Congress president Sonia Gandhi's parliamentary constituency.VHP's Rae Bareli district unit chief Harish Chandra Sharma said the saffron group has identified 60 families who were ready for 'home coming'. There was no allurement or coercion in the process, Sharma added. He also said some "pseudo-secular" parties and politicians were trying to give "ghar wapasi" a communal colour though it was a simple and consistent work done by the VHP and its affiliates.VHP leader said the group plans to conduct "ghar wapasi" of about 100 families and as soon as this target is met, a date would be announced for the re-conversion to Hinduism. the hindu
Conversion is what Muslims, Christians do; what VHP does is not conversion: VHP's head of 'Ghar Vapsi' programme
VHP's Jugal Kishore, in charge of 'Ghar Vapsi' meant to 'reconvert' Muslims and Christians, speaks in an interview to ET on the controversial programme:"What we do is not conversion. We want conversions done by other religions through huge funding of petro dollars and missionaries to be investigated and stopped. Religious conversion is a national problem. We want a bill which will make it difficult to convert people to other religions. Conversion is an attack on country and a conspiracy to divide it again by attacking the roots of our national culture."Reponding on asking why is VHP converting people, Kishore said, "What we do is 'ghar vapsi' - getting back converted people back into the fold. It is not conversion. When we went to the northeast, tribals were seen worshipping nature. We said, Hinduism also worships nature, tulsi, the peepal tree, gaumata, etc. We are no different." Responding to a remark that there is no such thing as conversion in Sanatan Dharma, VHP leader said, "Again, this is not conversion. It is a simple acknowledgement that some people were converted to other religions and now want to return. This has been done by people historically too." On asking how do returnees fix in Hindu's caste structured society, he said, "Most people already know which caste they belong to despite conversion to Islam or Christianity. In some cases, Hindus of their caste groups are contacted and a caste identity is accorded. Hindu leaders assure them that they would have consanguinity and marriage relations. On asking why are Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs not targeted, he said "We don't consider these religions as foreign to India's culture. They originated here. We consider Buddha as part of Vishnu's Dashavatar. These religions do not cut one away from our cultural moorings. We don't consider them foreign, as we consider Islam and Christianity." Economic Times
Agra conversion: Son, relative of main accused held
Agra: The son and a relative of Nand Kishore Balmiki, the main accused in the Agra conversion row case, were today arrested from Etah district. According to Agra City SP Samir Sourav, though Nand Kishore managed to give police the slip, his son Rahul Balmiki and relative Krishna Kumar were arrested from a guest house in Mehta Park area of Etah this afternoon. PTI
District nod or not, ghar wapsi will surely happen, challenges Dharm Jagran Samiti: Indian Express
Aligrah: A large "ghar wapsi" (reconversion) ceremony, being planned by RSS affiliate Dharm Jagran Samiti in Aligarh on Dec.25, may lead to trouble as the district administration intends to deny permission for the event, while the outfit is adamant on going through with it. According to pamphlets distributed by the outfit, the event is meant as retaliation to the "attack" on the nation by "Muslims, Christians, Maoists and terrorists". "India has been facing a battle between asuras (demons) and devs (gods). Today, the Indian society is under attack from Muslims, Christians, Maoists and terrorists and they want to end us as a nation," reads a pamphlet by the outfit distributed along with right wing publications. The pamphlet adds,"We being the ones fighting for gods are on the defensive, while they have gone on an all-out offensive to destroy the Indian culture. Their main weapon is Jihad."
Babri demolition was show of Hindu unity, don't stop ghar wapsi: Adityanath to Govt
Batting for the 'ghar wapsi' campaign of the RSS and its affiliates, BJP MP Yogi Adityanath on Sunday urged the Centre not to intervene "if Hindus who were forcibly converted want to become Hindus again". He also called for "Hindu unity", saying "one had measure of their unity in 1992 when they united and the Babri Masjid was demolished". indian express
Converts to get caste, gotra of Hindu ancestors: Adityanath
We'll hold ghar vapsi events across India: Adityanath
Conversions by Hindu outfits an attempt to lure Muslims: Muslim Personal Law Board
Lucknow: Amid a raging row over alleged forced re-conversion in Agra, All India Muslim Personal Law Board on Sunday accused the VHP and other Hindu outfits of initiating the conversion campaign to "lure" poor Muslims. Asking the govt to take stern steps to check such incidents which polarise people on religious lines, the board at the same time said the design of communal forces could be defeated if well-to-do Muslims unite and help their brothers. "In Agra it was seen that communal organisations resorted to conversion of Muslims by promising them Aadhar and ration cards. VHP and other Hindu organisations have launched conversion campaign to take advantage of poverty of Muslims," General Secretary of AIMPLB, Maulana Nizamuddin said."If well-to-do Muslims unite and help their brothers of weaker section socially and economically, the designs of communal forces involved in conversion campaign could be defeated," Nizamuddin said. Reacting to the reports that a Hindu-outfit has announced mass conversion of Christians and Muslims in Aligarh on Dec.25, Mualana said that govt should take note of "real intentions" of the organisation behind this. PTI
Forced conversions, call for anti-conversion bill are brazen attacks on Constitution: IAMC
Illinois: Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India's pluralist and tolerant ethos has condemned the forced conversion of Muslims in Agra as well as the govt 's suggested "remedy", of pushing the anti-conversion bill, currently adopted in five states across India, as brazen attacks on the nation's Constitution. News reports indicate 200 Muslims were made to participate in a ceremony, "converting" them to Hinduism. The individuals later denied having changed their faith, and referred to false promises as well as intimidation at the hands of the Hindutva militant organizations as the reason for their participation in the ceremony.MilliGazette
Muslims converted to Hinduism in Agra accept they are from Bangladesh, claims ABP News
New Delhi: Just after two days of ABP News investigation on the citizenship of Muslims converted to Hinduism in Agra, few of them came forward and accepted that they came to India with their fathers few years back from Bangladesh. Their acceptance on the camera of ABP News confirmed the investigation in which we raised the question on their address and nationality as our reporters visited on the given address of one of the couple who converted to Hinduism in the 'Ghar Wapsi' programme of VHP. ABP News
Rein in Hindutva forces: Karunanidhi urges Modi
Chennai: M Karunanidhi urged PM Narendra Modi to rein in Hindutva outfits who are making a "mockery of communal harmony" and joined other parties in voicing apprehension that observing Good Governance Day on Dec.25 could hamper Christmas festivities. Referring to alleged statement of Dharma Jagran Samiti to go in for mass conversions in Varanasi, the DMK chief wondered how such a thing could happen in a constituency represented by the PM himself. "Samiti's announcement of financial inducement of Rs 2 to 5 lakh for Christians & Muslims to embrace Hindu faith in UP makes a mockery of communal harmony in India,"he said. thehindu
Justice Sachar expresses shock on UP's governor's call for early construction of Ram Temple
New Delhi: "I am shocked at the constitutional impropriety of UP Governor Shri Ram Naik statement publically calling for the early construction of Ram Temple. His describing it as a desire by everyone is a crude partisan political statement. Surely he knows that this disruptive action of RSS has already done immense damage to the secular face of India. It is a gratuitous insult not only to the biggest Minority in the country but to overwhelming population of country who are against creating a religious divide. It is still more shocking to people like us that it should have been spoken at Avadh University named after Dr. Lohia socialist leader, who throughout fought for communal harmony. Governor is expected to have an even handed approach to all the citizens of the State. But when Governor Naik makes a statement which will inevitably cause grave alarm to 18% Minority Population of UP, I have no doubt that at the minimum it is a fit case where the least that Central Govt is expected to do is to transfer him to another state though frankly it is a fit case for removal of the Governor. " Milli Gazette
No dilution in BJP stand on Article 370: Arun Jaitley
Jammu: Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, speaking to party workers in poll-bound Jammu, on Sunday said that the BJP's stand on Article 370 was "still the same" and hadn't undergone any dilution or revision. In recent days, the Congress has accused the saffron party of joining hands with the separatists in the Kashmir valley and asked it to clear its stand on Article 370. The law grants special autonomous status to J&K. TOI
Accused of rape during Muzaffarnagar riots, 2 held from police exam centres
Lucknow: 2 men, accused of rape during the Muzaffarnagar riots last year, were arrested Sunday in Moradabad while they were taking an examination for jobs as UP police constables. They were arrested from two different examination centres. Police named them as Gaurav (22) and Neelu (23), residents of Fugana in Muzaffarnagar, who had been missing ever since cases were filed against them. ASP Manoj Kumar Jha said Gaurav and Neelu are accused in two different cases of rape that took place during the riots. He said Gaurav is also an accused in a murder case.indian express
Common prayer norm irks Ahmedabad Municipal Urdu medium schools
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/common-prayer-norm-irks-amc-urdu-medium-schools/
Ahmedabad:Discontinuing the decades old practice of conducting separate prayers during the morning and afternoon assembly sessions by municipal schools in Urdu and Gujarati medium,Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) School Board has asked the Urdu medium schools sharing the campus with Gujarati medium schools to have a common prayer.This decision has irked parents of Urdu school students who are largely Muslims. They have also submitted a memorandum to AMC School Board authorities questioning the intention behind this change and have demanded the authorities to allow the old practice to continue in Urdu municipal schools. "If the intention of the authorities in removing this age-old practice is honest then why have they not passed any written orders but verbally asked the schools to conduct their prayers with the Gujarati medium schools. We do not want our children to follow anti-Islam prayers in schools," said Mohammad Ayub, president of Jamalpur-based Social Edification and Welfare Association, in his representation submitted on Dec.8 to Administrative Officer LD Desai. The recent change has been implemented by the AMC School Board authorities on a trial basis from this week in Urdu medium schools of south zone. indian express
ABVP warns AMU Students' Union not to cast aspersions on RSS
New Delhi: Joining issues with the AMU Students' Union over the conversion row, BJP's students' wing ABVP on December 14 warned it against casting aspersions on the RSS. ABVP's Coordinator Pushpendra Pachauri, while strongly criticising the statement of AMUSU V-P Masoodul Hasan who had said that "RSS is spreading ill will amongst people", asked him to "remain within limits" in his criticism of the RSS. Hasan on Dec.12 had said, "The time has arrived to finally confront the RSS which is spreading ill will amongst people by promoting divisive issues. The nation has now to decide whether it stands with the Father of the Nation, Mahatama Gandhi or with Nathuram Godse". AMUSU President Abdullah Azzam said, "We have written a letter to the Union Home Minister drawing his attention to the likely fall out of provocative issues like organised and forced mass conversions on the country's law and order situation. We have urged him to take immediate precautionary measures for preventing any communal strife as a result of such campaigns." indian express
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