National Dance & Singing Competition “JHANKAR BEATS”

We take immense pleasure to inform you that KSR Integrated Solutions is organizing National DANCE & SINGING Competition held in many cities of India.
KSR Integrated Solutions invites aspiring young artist to participate in its 2011-2012 Singing & Dancing Competition- “JHANKAR BEATS”. KSR’s purpose in mounting competitions is to assist young people with career potential in the arts. Contestants must first compete on the State level rounds. The first three winners (singer and Dancer) of every State competition will automatically compete for final will take place in New Delhi, India on 17th & 18th February, 2012.
THERE ARE 2 COMPETITIONS
HAPPENING SIDE BY SIDE & 2 SETS OF WINNERS
Our competition will select the competitors (Age between 10 to 30 max.) from (Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Himanchal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh) where they will be judged by prominent & professional judges (kindly go through JURY PROFILE on our website www.ksrentertainment.com) and they all will be suitably awarded by cash prizes, Trophies, certificates, Sponsor’s Awards and a chance to work for a movie and a new step in stardom. In addition to this, The singer will be awarded with a solo album of his/ her own and The dancer will be awarded with a video album.
Further, KSR is an event management, wedding planner, Exhibition/ Party organizer and an Entertainment company, formed by Mona P Vashistha in 2009. We offer solutions for entertainment, Sounds & Lights, Stage set-ups, Backdrop, Advertising, Printing, Audio-Visuals and Travel arrangements for all corporate events, exhibitions, wedding and private parties.
KSR is progressive & prominent destination platform and talent hunt organization. Our organization is also famous for its training in singing & dancing, continuing with the acclaimed legacy and tradition. KSR have already twice organized city level dance and singing competition in New Delhi in 2010. Our endeavor is that such events offer dancers & singers an opportunity to benchmark themselves against their peers and allow them to show off their talents to the luminaries of the profession - hoping that they might gain contracts in the future. Now our team are organizing a Grand competition that will exhibit diversified of talent hunt, promotion & various competitions.
Competition would be celebrated under the banner “JHANKAR BEATS”.
Our events aspire to satisfy the above mentioned aims within the best possible circumstances.
Kindly note that we will not accept any influence during the entire event. If you find anyone
who claim you to win the competition, kindly inform us otherwise KSR will not be responsible for any losses. If we find that you are trying to be influenced, we may be disqualified you from the competition.
We are looking for kind support from your organization.

For further assistance & information, kindly go through our websites:
www.ksrworld.com, www.ksrentertainment.com OR can contact us at below mention address.

Ex-Olympian Aslam Sher writes to Sonia on Dow Chemical sponsorship of London Olympics

Ex-Olympian Aslam Sher writes to Sonia on Dow Chemical sponsorship of London Olympics
To Take Up Bhopal Gas Tragedy survivors issue with IOA

Bhopal, December 05 (Pervez Bari): Former hockey Olympian turned politician Aslam Sher Khan, an ex-Lok Sabha Congress member, has written a letter to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, president of All India Congress Committee and chairman of the ruling United Progressive Alliance, (UPA), Government at the Centre, appealing her not to overlook the issue of Dow Chemical, the parent company of Union Carbide which was responsible for the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, world’s worst industrial catastrophe, in December 1984, which is amongst the sponsors of the London 2012 Olympic Games, and give it due consideration.
Addressing a Press conference here on Monday Aslam Sher said that Dow Chemical by offering £7 million sponsorship to London Olympics organisers
wants to wash away the killer tag through the medium of sports and Olympics appears to be the best venture for it to do so.
Aslam Sher in his letter dated November 24, 2011 to Mrs. Gandhi, the copy of which has also been send to all the members of the Congress Working Committee, said: “We are the ruling party in this country having 207 MPs in the Lok Sabha and thus the least we can do is to put pressure on the IOA (Indian Olympic Association) to lodge an official protest with the LOCOG (London Organising Committee of Olympic Games), over Dow’s sponsorship link with the London 2012 Olympics. It would be highly insensitive of the government to remain a mute spectator when MPs from foreign country are showing greater concern regarding justice for the people of Bhopal”.
The former Olympian revealed that a cross-party group of 24 MPs of UK Parliament have taken up the initiative and voiced a strong protest against the unethical deal between Dow Chemical and LOCOG. They have taken the initiative in the form of campaign which seeks the cancellation of the sponsorship deal.
Aslam Sher said: “I have written to some of these MPs which include Mr. Barry Gardiner, Mr. Keith Vaz and Ms. Tessa Jowell offering my support to their campaign. It is commendable that these MPs are showing great concern for the sentiments of the people of Bhopal and millions of Indians settled in UK. I have received a reply from Mr. Vaz who is keen to know whether I have received any response to my efforts”.
He wondered if UK MPs can take up the issue of Dow Chemical’s sponsorship of London Olympics then why can’t the Members of Parliament in India do the same. “Kya In LogoN Ne ChudiyaN Pahan Rakhi HaiN?” (Are these Indian MPs wearing bangles?)”, he remarked. It is the moral duty of these Indian MPs to mitigate the sufferings of the Bhopal gas disaster victims and survivors and support them in their fight of adequate compensation from Dow Chemical than that of their counterparts thousands of miles away, he opined. “Has India become a banana Republic?”, he asked.
Replying to a question Aslam Sher said if need arises he would not hesitate to don the role of Anna Hazare (known for Fight Against Corruption) in getting proper justice to the victims and survivors to their satisfaction which is a long drawn battle and has to be taken to its logical end. The battle has to be above party line and not Congress alone wherein all the political parties should chip in their efforts for the welfare of the victims and survivors, he added.
When asked what would be the line of action to realize his goal he said that small public meetings would be organized all over Bhopal where tragedy struck to make people realise their rightful claims and build pressure on the governments to take up their cases on priority basis as they have been languishing for the last 27 years.
“When the country is coming under pressure to take corrective course in the face of Anna’s movement then pressure will have also to be built for the Bhopal’s case. Why not the whole issue of the victims of Bhopal Gas Tragedy was reviewed and a clause added in the Nuclear deal with the US in the backdrop of the Bhopal disaster”, he asked.
If the Indian government takes up the issue in right earnest and decides to boycott the London Olympics in face of the Dow Chemical refusing to compensate adequately then the company will have to come to the negotiation table and pay through its nose to the victims and survivors, he maintained.
Aslam Sher said that if all this cannot force the London Olympics organising body to remove Dow from sponsoring the Olympics, the five and a half million gas victims and survivors will come out on roads to protest. “If needed, we will sit on indefinite fast donning the role of Anna Hazare to press the Indian government to register a protest”, he added.
He informed that he would take up the Bhopal victims issue in a big way at the former Olympians meeting to be held at New Delhi under the aegis of IOA on December 15.
Replying to a questioner he condemned the incidents of December 3 this year on the 27th anniversary without mincing any words against police atrocities on Bhopal gas victims. “Bhopal Ki Janata Ne Saabit Kardiya Hai Ke Gas Tragedy issue Abhi Bhi Zinda Hai”.
It may be pointed here that Bhopal Gas Tragedy survivors have been fighting for adequate compensation and proper rehabilitation for the last more than two-and-a-half decades. The victims and survivors resorted to “Rail Roko” (Train Blockade) on December 3 last on the occasion of 27th anniversary of the disaster to draw world’s attention, especially the Union and Madhya Pradesh state governments, towards their plight of misery and pain over the years with none to come to their rescue except lip service.
The peaceful “Rail Roko” protest by tens of thousands erupted into violence after police brutally resorted to cane-charge, tear-gassing and air-fire to clear the rail tracks to resume traffic on New Delhi-Chennai and New Delhi-Mumbai route. Infuriated gas victims, especially the youth, to vent ire indulged in stone-pelting and arson wherein several people including police and district officials were injured. About a dozen vehicles were torched.
Meanwhile, Aslam Sher on August 15, 2011 had a written a letter on the Bhopal issue to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh bringing his concerns to his (PM’s) notice and appealed to him that this matter was of national interest for India and, therefore, the Government of India through the IOA must raise its objections with the LOCOG. And, if the LOCOG refuses to cooperate then India should not hesitate from boycotting the London 2012 Olympic Games. The copy of the letter was also send to Union Sports Minister and the president of IOA.
It may be recalled here that 40 tones of methyl isocyanate, (MIC – a highly volatile toxic chemical), gas spewed from the pesticide plant – owned by Union Carbide India Limited, (UCIL), a subsidiary of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), USA – in the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984. The gas leak killed 3,000 people instantly and more than 25,000 over the years and inflicting grievous injuries on countless others. Many were deformed for life and many children born with the toxic effect are sick and with congenital malformations. It also affected 100,000 people that night and estimates are that more than 500,000 continue to suffer till date.
Meanwhile, it may be mentioned here that Aslam Sher Khan, who was born on July 15, 1953, helped the Indian Hockey team to win the Gold Medal in the 1975 World Cup held at Kuala Lumpur by scoring the winning goal. He as a member of the Indian team also participated in Munich Olympics held in 1972. He played hockey as a full back. He authored an autobiography titled "To Hell with Hockey". (pervezbari@eth.net)

Bhopal Gas Tragedy survivors charge police of triggering violence on 27th anniversary, parade injure

Bhopal Gas Tragedy survivors charge police of triggering violence on 27th anniversary, parade injured elderly women
Bhopal, December 07 (Pervez Bari): The observance of the 27th anniversary of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy, the world’s worst industrial catastrophe, which was marred by violence for the first time in more than last two-and-a-half decades has left the victims and survivors of the disaster bitter. Thereafter, the blame game has started as to who triggered violence leading to injuries to several people including elderly women gas victims and police and district personnel along with a dozen vehicles being torched.
The survivors have blamed the police of unleashing brutality on them in the shape of cane-charging, lobbing of teargas shells and firing in the air to disperse them who were staging a peaceful “Rail Roko” (Train Blockade) on December 3 last. The “Rail Roko” was organized as scheduled last under the banner of five NGOs working for their welfare at six spots in the city from Nishatpura to Berkhedi in deference to their long pending demands of adequate compensation, rehabilitation and proper medical facilities to all the victims’ kin and survivors of the tragedy. In this respect they have been pestering the Madhya Pradesh State Government and the Union Government to submit the correct figures of the dead and the injured in the curative petition pending in the Supreme Court of India. The government snubbed even the findings of the Indian Council of Medical Research, (ICMR), and followed the guidelines of the Union Carbide, the killer pesticide plant from where poisonous gas spewed out, in calculating the death and injuries figures.
The survivors are aghast at the government stance. According to NGOs working for the cause of gas victims, 22,917 people had died till the year 2009; 5,08,437 people became permanently disabled and 33,781 others sustained severe injuries. However, Government records show only 5,295 deaths, 4,902 with permanent disability, 35,455 with temporary disability and 527,894 with minor injuries.
Condemning the violence, the group of five NGOs said that it was precipitated by police action on “peaceful” protestors, announced at a joint Press conference that they will organise a detailed enquiry presided over by a retired judge of the High Court or Supreme Court. The enquiry is expected to help survivors in their attempts to gather evidence and initiate formal proceedings against those responsible for the violence, including the police.
However, the survivors’ groups were on the back-foot as they apologised to the media persons who were hurt, and said they will work towards ensuring that those responsible for the violence against media persons are identified and punished.
At the Press conference the media persons, especially those belonging to electronic media and photojournalists who became victims of mob violence, were up in arms of being put on the mat when they were targeted while covering the “Rail Roko” stir. They complained that their vehicles were burnt down, cameras & OB van damaged apart from being inflicted bodily harms on them when hell broke down after police started dragging elderly women and resorted to cane-charge, tear-gassing and air-firing to clear the rail tracks to resume train traffic on the New Delhi-Chennai and New Delhi-Mumbai route. This infuriated peaceful protesting tens of thousands of gas victims, especially the youth, who vent their ire by indulging in heavy stone-pelting and arson. The police apart from baton charge also retaliated with pelting of stones on the crowd in tit-for-tat fashion which is authenticated by photographs taken during the violence. In the melee that ensued several people including police and district officials were injured. About a dozen vehicles were torched.

Denying that the “Rail Roko” agitation was a “seditious activity” the organizations asked the government what administration was doing when they had informed it about blocking of train traffic more than a month ago. Secondly, they also said: “ Had we been violent we would have created the same scene at all the six places where we blocked the train traffic”.
Replying to a volley of questions Satinath Sarangi of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action, (BGIA), said: “We conducted the training so that the agitation remains peaceful and even administration knew about it”.
Calling the Madhya Pradesh Government''''''''s actions vindictive, the organisations laid the blame squarely on the police for the violence that ensued on December 3. "The first act of the police was to snatch away our PA system through which we could have stopped protestors from responding to police brutalities through violence," said Ms Rasheeda Bee, President, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh. Ms Rasheeda Bee said that she is an eye witness to the police instigating violence and creating a situation for criminal elements to join in.
Ms Rasheeda Bee introduced several women among the over 50 gas victims who were beaten with sticks and left bleeding while protesting peacefully. Even after peace was restored and the agitation called off, a large gang of policemen entered individual homes and shops in Umrao Dulha Bagh area and beat up people, damaged furniture, doors, windows and vehicles.
The representatives of five organizations viz. Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha, Bhopal Group for Information & Action and Children Against Dow Carbide, who gave the call for “Rail Roko” agitation, jointly addressed the Press conference.
Police attack sparks angry response
Meanwhile, a 15-year old boy Daoud has been seriously injured in hospital and may lose his hand after it was badly mangled by a rubber bullet fired by police. It happened at Berkhedi, one of six places where the survivors lay down on the tracks to stop trains. The attack on the women drove the younger boys and men to a fury and they began throwing stones at the police, who responded by throwing stones back at them. The police then fired rubber bullets directly into the mass of survivors on the tracks. This is when Daoud’s hand was injured.
Police attack and beat elderly women and men
Among the survivors in this place were several older women, among the Goldman Prize co-winner and co-founder of the Chingari Trust, Ms Rasheeda Bee (55). Police attacked her with cudgels and fists. Her brother in law, coming to her aid, had his leg broken in three places.
Among the other older ladies attacked by police with cudgels were Ms Hazra Bee, a grandmother whose grandchildren suffer serious birth defects, Meena Khatoon with bandages on forehead and nose and swollen face, and Bano Bee (60), whose hand is badly bruised and swollen. In 2006 in Delhi, Ms Bano Bee was knocked unconscious by a police kick to her ribs. In hospital she was threatened being cut open. The 18-year-old Ms Rafat was dragged along the stony ground till her skin was scraped off. Ms Nafisa was also beaten. Like Ms Rasheeda Bee and Ms Bano Bee, Ms Nafisa has twice walked the 500 miles to Delhi to register protest with the Central Government.
Until the police attacked the women the action had been peaceful. Pictures and footage from Berkhedi clearly show the police attacking with cudgels first, after which the situation grew increasingly violent. The protests passed off peacefully at the other five locations.
The organisations appealed to all citizens who had recorded the violence on December 3rd on their cameras and mobiles to send them the evidence for successful prosecution of police officials.
The Chief Minister has gone back on his assurance to initiate an independent and impartial investigation in to the incident of violence. Survivors and their children, including those who were not even present at the scene, are being charged with trumped up offences. Balkrishna Namdeo, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogi Sangharsh Morcha, has been charged with murderous assault and other serious offences without any evidence.
“If the police can present one single photograph, video or any other evidence to substantiate their charges against Namdeo, we will ourselves walk him to the jail,” said Satinath Sarangi of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action, (BGIA). The organizations called for immediate withdrawal of false charges on innocent gas victims and their children.
They said that the 14 men who are currently in police custody include those who were arrested while returning home from their workplace and were not present when violence broke out. "The men were stripped to their underpants, and beaten inside the police station where they were detained for well over 40 hours. These young men were not allowed to speak to their parents or lawyer and every right of an accused was violated,” said Ms Rachna Dhingra also from BGIA.
Meanwhile, the organizations opposed the Chief Minister’s recent demand for inclusion of 20 wards of New Bhopal in the gas-affected area. They said the demand did not have any scientific basis and would weaken the gas victim’s case for compensation fr0om Dow Chemical.
It may be recalled here that 40 tones of methyl isocyanate, (MIC – a highly volatile toxic chemical), gas spewed from the pesticide plant – owned by Union Carbide India Limited, (UCIL), a subsidiary of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), USA – in the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984. The gas leak killed 3,000 people instantly and more than 25,000 over the years and inflicting grievous injuries on countless others. Many were deformed for life and many children born with the toxic effect are sick and with congenital malformations. It also affected 100,000 people that night and estimates are that more than 500,000 continue to suffer till date. (pervezbari@eth.net)

Censured MP CM instructs officials to prevent illegal mining firmly

Censured MP CM instructs officials to prevent illegal mining firmly
Bhopal, December 09 (Pervez Bari): After having been castigated by the main Opposition Congress party in the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha during the no-confidence motion and then bluntly snubbed by its own, the NDA convener Sharad Yadav a few days back over the large scale illegal mining in Madhya Pradesh the Bharatiya Janata Party, (BJP), ruled state Government seems to have woken up from deep slumber and has decided to stem the rot that has set in on this aspect. As such Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mr. Shivraj Singh Chouhan has instructed that illegal mining should be prevented firmly. Intensive campaign should be launched to detect and curb such activities. He said that he will also review the actions taken during the campaign after January 15. The Chief Minister issued these instructions to officers during a videoconferencing at Mantralaya, the state secretariat, here on Thursday. This campaign will be conducted between December 15 and January 15 as per Mr. Chouhan''s instructions, an official spokesman said.
Mr. Chouhan said that officers of administration, police, forest and mining departments should coordinate to take major action. Collectors should hold Task Force''s meeting twice a month. Maximum fine should be imposed in cases of illegal mining. Collectors should review cases of illegal mining pending in courts and subordinate courts with a view to ensure their early disposal.
He said in strong words that action should be taken against illegal miners under Section 21 of MMDR Act 1957 for illegal mining and transportation and under Section 379 of Indian Penal Code in cases of raw minerals. FIRs should be lodged against them like cases of theft of government property. Besides, strict action should also be taken against vehicles and drivers engaged in illegal transportation of minerals under Motor Vehicle Act 1988 and MP Vehicle Rules 1994. All the entries in the software developed for Mining Department should be made within time-limit.
It may be mentioned here that a prominent daily had carried reports of illegal mining in Satna district of the state exposed by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Jagdish Prasad Sharma in his report.
Chief Minister Mr. Chouhan said that no black-marketeer of fertilisers be spared. Action will be taken against the concerning officers if such a complaint is received. He asked the collectors to keep a constant watch over supply and distribution of fertilisers. Strict Action should be taken under Fertilisers Control Order, Seed Control Order and Essential Commodities Act if information about irregularities is received. He said that stern legal action should be taken against those supply fake fertilisers and seeds to farmers.
He said that the State Government is committed to providing a good, clean and responsive administration. Corruption will not be tolerated in any form. He said that collectors are vigilance officers of districts and should use intelligence for collecting information related to corrupt practices. He said that boxes will be installed at district offices, Vallabh Bhavan and Chief Minister House for giving corruption-related information. Complaints will be looked into and strict action will be taken against the guilty. Mr. Chouhan said that Antyodaya Melas should be held before February 11, 2012. He said he will make surprise visits to Melas with a view to reviewing arrangements for the fairs. He said that process is underway for giving pattas to Schedule Tribes beneficiaries who are residing on the land under their possession since long, the official stated. (pervezbari@eth.net)
Date: 09-12-2011

Spirituality pervades Bhopal as stage set for ‘Aalami Tableeghi Ijtima’

Spirituality pervades Bhopal as stage set for ‘Aalami Tableeghi Ijtima’

Bhopal, December 09 (Pervez Bari): An aura of spirituality is pervading through the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal, the city of lakes, hills, Masjids and now Mandirs too, wherein the stage is all set for the 64th edition of “Aalami Tableeghi Ijtima” (World Preachers’ Congregation) which begins on Saturday soon after the Fajir Namaz (pre-dawn prayers).
Muslims from all over the globe from India and abroad in Jamaats (Groups of devotees) have descended here. Soon after the Friday prayers they have started converging from the walled city to the tent city at the Ijtima site which is about 15 kms on the northern outskirts of the town at Ghasipura in Eintkhedi village. The three-day Ijtima will be held here from December 10 and shall conclude on December 12 with mass “Dua” (prayer).
Over 300 Jamaatis from Russia, Kazakhstan, France, Indonesia, Malaysia, Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Ethiopia, Somalia, Turkey, Thailand and Sri Lanka have already arrived in the city and from many more other countries are expected to reach the Ijtima venue soon.
The huge main “pandal” has come up on about 20 acres of land to accommodate the Jamaats from all over India. In the main “pandal” tens of thousands of people will camp for three days listening to the holy sermons of Islamic scholars as how to inculcate the good values in life following the Islamic tenets in order to lead an upright life in this world and thereby be rewarded with Jannat-ul-Firdaus Hereafter.
According to Ateeq-ul-Islam, the spokesman of the Ijtima Organising Committee, the Ijtima is being organised on more than 170 acres of land. Out of this 70 acres are reserved for parking while 25 acre is covered by tents. Small shopping plots meant for eateries spread around the venue cover 35 acres of land. About 5,000 ablutions points for Wuzu, have been made. Venue is spotted with 170 water tanks of 5000 litre capacity. In all 21 tube-wells have been connected to ensure proper water supply. More than 600 makeshift urinals and 900 toilets have been put with a temporary sewage system. A separate closed tent is built for foreign Jamaats wherein separate toilets and washroom facilities have been provided for them.
The organising committee has also announced the Namaz timings at the Ijtima venue. As per the schedule announced the Fajr Namaz would be held at 6.30 am, Zohar Namaz at 2 pm, Asr Namaz at 4.30 pm, Maghrib Namaz at 5.39 pm while the Isha Namaz would held after the sermons are over.
On the second day separate special religious discourses will be held during the conclave for intellectuals, traders, farmers, students etc. and the participants would be asked to follow the Islamic religious tenets in their spirit apart from the message for universal brotherhood. Prominent “Akabreens” (Tableeghi elders) who will address the gatherings include: Maulana Zubair, Maulana Sa’ad, Maulana Yunus, Maulana Ahmed Laat, Maulana Yousuf, Prof. Nadir Ali etc.
Meanwhile, a special feature of the Ijtima is special arrangements for deaf and dumb people who come in Jamaats from all over the country and are housed separately. The sermons from the main “pandal” are translated to them in sign language. Their disability does not come in their way to leave their home and hearth to learn and inculcate the basic teachings of Islam to become righteous Muslims.
Over 400 Nikaahs is expected to performed in a simple manner in the spirit of Islam by the elders of the Tableeghi Jamaat on the first two days of the Ijtima after Asr Namaz. The formalities for the mass Nikaahs have been completed.
Extra security measures are being taken with nothing being left to chance. While within the Ijtima campus Tableeghi Jamaat volunteers will keep a tight vigil on security while outside and around the Ijtima venue the cadres of Madhya Pradesh Police will do their job of maintaining law and order. In a bid to boost security in and around the venue CCTVs are being installed at strategic points. Police have set up watchtowers and hundreds of policemen will be present on the spot. Apart from police, the personnel of Rapid Action Force, (RAF), the Traffic police will be in attendance along with hundreds of volunteers of Tableeghi Jamaat to streamline the vehicular traffic. (pervezbari@eth.net)

Indian Muslim Observer Story on Female Genital Mutilation among Bohra Muslims triggers healthy discussion

Indian Muslim Observer Story on Female Genital Mutilation among Bohra Muslims triggers healthy discussion
Bhopal, December 08 (Pervez Bari): The www.IndianMuslimObserver.com on Female Genital Mutilation, (FGM), among the Bohra community of India and Pakistan by Danish Ahmad Khan, the Founder-Editor of IndianMuslimObserver.com, New Delhi, on November 15, 2001 has been picked up and prominently highlighted by a number of other publications. The publications which have lifted the story highlighting FGM are: The Yin, Wounded in OUTLOOK magazine, December 5, 2011; International NGO – No Peace Without Congress; FGC in India and Pakistan in Orchid Project; Female Genital Mutilation among Bohra Muslims - A report in US-based World Muslim Congress and in The Ghouse Diary.The impact of the IMO story on FGM has been such that it has triggered a healthy discussion on Online forums across the globe on this unhealthy practice mostly prevalent in the Bohra community. Appalled at this horrendous practice many have called out for a ban overriding the head of the Bohra community Syedna Burhanuddin Sahib’s dictate, others have said to educate the people from the community among whom it has been handed down by tradition, while some say persuasion and not protest to overcome this primitive rite for Bohra women.Mike Ghouse, a US-based speaker, thinker, writer, optimist, educator and an activist of Pluralism, Justice, Islam, Peace and Civil Societies, has applauded the courage of Danish Ahmed Khan for writing on the FMG issue.In his November 27, 2011 blog “The Ghouse Dairy” Mr. Ghouse wrote:“I applaud the courage of Mr. Danish Ahmed for reporting this issue head on in his magazine Indian Muslim Observer. There is a lot that goes on in our societies, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and Sikh or otherwise, in this instance a large number of Bohra Muslim Women are being genitally mutilated in secrecy, as it is an illegal practice within several cultures.“Even if one woman, Muslim or otherwise, is deprived of her God given pleasures of life, it must be stopped. Standing up against oppression is one big aspect of being a Muslim. Injustice to anyone and particularly women will eat away the morality of the society from within. Oppression cannot go on for long. Every religion has been a medium to restore righteousness in the society, the guidance is universal including Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) who said, the least thing you can do against injustice is to speak up. Speaking up is the right thing to do.” Continuing further, he wrote: “Tasleem (the Bohra Muslim sect lady who has started campaign against FGM on Face-book) deserves the applauding, even though she has endured pain and suffering, she has decided to put an end to this. We need to join her efforts in putting an end to this misery. Certainly, a few men will ridicule it, but she will have her rewards from Allah and the Prophet for the doing the right thing, bringing justice to generations of women. May God bless her. This is a horrendous practice that all of us must stop. I can hear a few Muslims, just a handful of Muslims in each Muslim gathering asking this to the Danish Ahmed. 1. Why did he not talk with the community first? 2. Why did he have to feed the right wingers with more to belittle Muslims? 3. Is there an empirical data to claim 90% of Bohra community practices this? “It is quite possible that His Highness Syedna Burhanuddin, the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslims may not be aware of this practice happening right under his nose, just as CIA did not see Mubarak''s exit or the seedlings for the protests in the Middle East, ISI and Pakistani Military did not know Osama Bin Laden was hiding right in their own backyard and Mossad has been wrong about Iran and other pronouncements.Obviously the issue is simmering for a long time, but no one may have dared the establishment, and even possible that the protests were put down. As Muslims we need to give full support to this movement that is what makes us Muslims; to speak up and do everything possible to bring justice to every human in the society.If we don’t fulfill our responsibility, the suffering will go on further, but it will affect us all of us. This is not a Bohra issue, nor the Muslim issue; it is the human rights issue. It’s not them, it is us, we are all in this together to create a better society for each one of us and it reflects and affects us all”.“I do hope the Syedna will make a quick call to end this practice, if he has not already done,” he concluded. Some of the other views and opinions shared in the discussions which are as follows:- Dr. Zaheer Ahmed Sayeed wrote: “If the Bhora women come out in protest they would be rendered apostate by the concerned Bohra authorities, despite the mutilation does not carry validity and sanction in the Quran and to my knowledge in the Hadees. I suspect a single individual’s plight should be picked up, highlighted with the Human Rights and Women''s Commission requested to echo the barbarism and support the cause against this barbaric act”.Ghiasuddin Akbar''s opinion: “Well, the system of FMG (female genital mutilation ) among the Syedana Bohra community as existed for decades . This is an open secret, the head of the community enforces this practice vigorously .The community holds the Syedana as god incarnate , will man made rules override the Syedana dictate ? The members believe they should practice it, so who will enact a law against willful compliance?”Bangalore-based well known senior journalist Maqbool Ahmed Siraj thinks that social practices cannot be abolished. He wrote: “We must educate the people from the community among whom it has been handed down by tradition. However, since Bohra community has a central leadership of Syedna Burhanuddin sahib, they should move the proposal and get a ruling from him. Islam does not sanction female circumcision. Even the male circumcision has come from Abrahamic traditions. Prophet Abraham underwent circumcision at the age of 87, it is reported”.Delhi-based Sanjjeev Nehraa, a Professional Manager with Quest Development, is of the view that banning is No answer-- it works as a patch work. Bans are an extreme measure. He says: “These times people are conscious and a little persuasion works if they are made to understand it’s for their own good.. It is not ''Protest'' that can help- Its ONLY ''persuasion'' that can work. Protest is a negative way...while Persuasion is an organic method”.“Bohras are educated but they are lacking in wisdom..! Best is to educate the women/men about the hazards of FGM. We must provide the reason to the community leader/women/men to change their views. The only way is education and awareness and community based teaching and spread awareness through women. Educating through the help of community women/men will also add to the magic change backed by presentation/s on the perils of FGM”, Nehraa said. He said: “We must support them for protection of them/their rights by helping the community to understand the demerits. Women/men of community can better tackle the issue instead of hard talks! A tradition followed for times need time to be shunned or improved”.Mr. Imran says that nothing will change unless women from inside the Bohra community protest female circumcision. Currently there are few voices. If they persist the voices will grow and lead to change. The desire for change has to come from inside the community.Ghulam Mohiyuddin’s, who is based in Qatar, stand on FGM issue is that it should not be a question of either/or. It has to be both; a legal ban AND raising community awareness. A law banning FGM should be passed. Such laws already exist in many countries. Even after the passage of the law, it takes many years for the practice to eventually abate. He says that female genital mutation is a terrible procedure, has no religious basis, and must be made illegal. Male circumcision, or excision of the foreskin, is a minor procedure and has some possible health benefits. Contrary to what most Muslims believe however, circumcision is not mentioned in the Quran. It is in the Hadiths and is carried over from the Talmud, the Jewish Bible. Instead of making it a religious rite, it should be a matter of choice based on medical knowledge at a given time.Clitoridectomy, or female circumcision, on the other hand, is a more risky procedure, and can have long term sequel, including impairment of sexual functioning. It must be banned. Legal banning and the work of social reformers together were effective in abolishing Sati. FGM''s comparison to Sati may appear to be overreaching, but both entail expendability of women through taking life or a bodily organ necessary for full sexual fulfillment. Abolishing such practices takes a long time, but imprisoning some doctors who perform these procedures may hasten the process, Mohiyuddin opines.The stand of Er. A. Faizur Rahman, who is an engineer by profession, a social activist and Moderator of the-moderates@googlegroups.com Forum based at Chennai, on FGM issue is that female circumcision has no place in Islam. It must be banned. The first step would be to encourage the women to come out in protest and call for a ban from the self-appointed religious authorities. “I know that this may amount to recognising these authorities, but for the moment this is the only way out”, he says.Ms Subhashini Ali, an Indian politician and a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), who is the President of the All India Democratic Women''s Association, says Bohra is the most highly educated community. However, she is perplexed over as how can the ban on FGM be ensured? She acknowledges that some very brave Bohra women who are speaking out but the control over birth, marriage, death by the religious head in the community is absolute. Basically it is a community governed by non-constitutional methods...“As far as FGM is concerned, I''m very sorry to say that it is hugely increasing in South India – Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala”, she reveals.Ms Rohini Hensman, an independent scholar, writer and activist based in Mumbai, says FGM certainly should be banned - and anyone can call for such a ban, not just Muslim women.Meanwhile, seeing the resentment against the practice of FGM and the anger brewing against it following the publication of Mr. Danish Ahmad Khan’s report it is earnestly hoped that the Bohra community leadership will rise to the occasion and take note of it and act accordingly before it is too late. The inner circle of the advisers and aides of the HH Syedana Burhanuddin Sahab who advice him in crucial matters and on whom the Bohra Head has full faith and relies on them should prevail over him to issue an edict against the age-old practice of FGM so that womenfolk of the community could live in peace with their dignity and honour remaining intact. HH Syedana Burhanuddin Sahab should not make it a prestige issue with halo of egoism preventing him from taking the right step. (pervezbari@eth.net)

Date: 08-12-2011 Time: 14:03:23

"हेमा नहीं गौर के गालों जैसी है सडकें" : भूरिया

"हेमा नहीं गौर के गालों जैसी है सडकें" : भूरिया
भोपाल 13 दिसंबर 2011। विवादित बयानों के कारण सुर्खियों में रहने वाले मध्य प्रदेश कांग्रेस के अध्यक्ष कांतिलाल भूरिया ने एक बार फिर विवाद खडा कर दिया है। भूरिया के ताजा बयान ने एक बार फिर राज्य की राजनीति को गरमा दिया है। पहले उन्होंने राज्य की महिला मंत्रियों को नचनिया कहा था और अब उन्होंने यह कहकर एक नए विवाद को जन्म दे दिया है कि राज्य की सडकें हेमा मालिनी के गालों जैसी न होकर राज्य के बुजुर्ग मंत्री बाबू लाल गौर के गालों जैसी हैं।
भाजपा की महिला मोर्चा की प्रदेश इकाई की अध्यक्ष नीता पटैरिया ने भूरिया के बयान पर सख्त आपत्ति जताई है। उनका कहना है कि भूरिया कितने संस्कारी और शिक्षित हैं, इस बात का खुलासा उनके बयानों से होता है। जरूरत है कि भूरिया को प्राथमिक पाठशाला की शिक्षा दिलाई जाए। महिला मोर्चा को उनके रवैए के खिलाफ क्या करना है इसकी रणनीति जल्दी ही बनाई जाएगी। कांग्रेस मीडिया विभाग के अध्यक्ष मानक अग्रवाल का कहना है कि भूरिया ने जो बात कही है वह मजाकिया अंदाज में है, लेकिन केंद्र की राशि का दुरूपयोग हो रहा है यह तो सच्चाई। भूरिया द्वारा पूर्व में राज्य की महिला मंत्रियों को नचनिया बताए जाने को भी अग्रवाल ने सही ठहराया।
उन्होंने कहा कि भूरिया ने जो कहा था उसका जवाब भाजपा आज तक नहीं दे पाई है। कांग्रेस द्वारा मंदसौर में आयोजित जनसभा में भूरिया ने कहा था कि बीते आठ वर्षो में केंद्र सरकार से राज्य को सडकों के लिए 11500 करोड रूपए भेजे गए, मगर सडकों की हालत नहीं सुधरी। केंद्र सरकार द्वारा दी गई राशि का ईमानदारी से उपयोग होता तो राज्य की सडकें हेमा मालिनी के गालों जैसी होती मगर ऎसा हो नहीं सका है। उन्होंने कहा कि प्रदेश की सडकों का खस्ता हाल है, वास्तव में इन सडकों का हाल मंत्री बाबूलाल गौर के गालों जैसा है। इतना ही नहीं राज्य सरकार केंद्र से आने वाली विभिन्न योजनाओं की राशि का भी सही तरह से उपयोग नहीं कर रही है।

Date: 13-12-2011