TwoCircles.net - Indian Muslim news

Madhya Pradesh assembly passes strong anti-terror law
Gujarat cops with SIT threatening witnesses, says NGO
Rakesh Maria named new anti-terror squad chief
PDP stages walkout from J&K Assembly over food shortage
Kashimiri houseboats ready for tourism season
Asia’s largest Tulip garden open for visitors
Andhra Pradesh Muslim quota gets apex court nod
After 23 days, curfew lifted in Bareilly
RAW officer to depose in Babri case Friday
Supreme Court upholds 4% Muslim quota in Andhra Pradesh
Mr. Modi and the ghosts of Gujarat 2002
Indian Americans welcome SC order to probe Modi’s role in Guj riots
JD-U gives more representation to Muslims in state party
Bangladeshis widening communal divide in Assam: experts
Jamaat Islami may move court against Praveen Swami
Every second police encounter in India is fake
Obituary: Qazi Abdullah Maulvi: A traditional Islamic scholar, astronomer, mathematician
Karnataka anti-beef law affects food and employment of millions
Communal Violence Bill

Madhya Pradesh assembly passes strong anti-terror law

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 10:31 AM PDT

By IANS,

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh legislative assembly Thursday passed a stringent anti-terror law, despite strong resistance from the opposition Congress, the state government saying that it was the need of the hour and not targeted against any community.

While 61 members voted in favour of the bill, 26 voted against the Madhya Pradesh Terrorist and Disruptive Activities and Control of Organised Crimes Bill 2010, which has the provision of death penalty.

Gujarat cops with SIT threatening witnesses, says NGO

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 10:25 AM PDT

By IANS,

Gandhinagar: Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), a voluntary organisation supporting the 2002 Gujarat riot victims' quest for justice, has complained of manhandling of some key witnesses in the Odh massacre case by policemen assisting the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Rakesh Maria named new anti-terror squad chief

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 08:47 AM PDT

By IANS,

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Government Thursday appointed Mumbai Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Rakesh Maria, who headed the probe into the Mumbai terror attack, as the new chief of the state Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).

Maria will take over from the ATS chief K.P. Raghuvanshi, who has been transferred as additional director general of police (law and order) at the state police headquarters.

PDP stages walkout from J&K Assembly over food shortage

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 08:47 AM PDT

By Amit Khurana, AIP,

Jammu: The PDP on Thursday staged a walkout amidst pandemonium from the state Assembly as it slammed the Jammu and Kashmir government for shortage of food supplies.

The PDP members stood from their chairs and resorted to sloganeering and alleged that the government has failed to convene Centre enhancement of the ration resulting in huge shortage of the supplies.

Kashimiri houseboats ready for tourism season

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 08:46 AM PDT

By Sheikh Imran Bashir, AIP,

Srinagar: Houseboat owners in valley are busy renovating and cleaning their houseboats ahead of the tourist season in the Valley.

The 'shikaras', or houseboats have been the main attraction of Kashmir's main city of Srinagar, a beauteous town set amid snow-capped mountains, pine forests and verdant meadows.

Houseboat-owners who have been busy mending and beautifying the houseboats after the winter season are ready to welcome tourists on board their boats that have been carpeted and embellished like any five-star hotel.

Asia’s largest Tulip garden open for visitors

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 08:46 AM PDT

By Sofi Iqbal, AIP,

Srinagar: Kashmir's tulip garden, where the flowers are in full bloom, was thrown open for visitors in Srinagar on Thursday.

'The garden has become a major attraction and an ideal visiting spot for both tourists and locals,' said Sheikh Farhan, assistant floriculture officer.

'Red, yellow, variegated, pink, white, orange, light blue, and magenta are the main colours of tulips that are in bloom right now,' Farhan said.

Andhra Pradesh Muslim quota gets apex court nod

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 07:40 AM PDT

By IANS,

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday temporarily allowed job quota for backward Muslims in Andhra Pradesh, but left a final decision on the matter to a constitution bench.

With this, the Andhra Pradesh government is likely to go ahead with its proposal of reserving four percent of government jobs for Muslims.

A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices J.M. Panchal and B.S. Chauhan, has referred the issue to the constitution bench to examine the validity of the decision.

After 23 days, curfew lifted in Bareilly

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 07:39 AM PDT

By IANS,

Lucknow: Curfew in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district was completely lifted Thursday -- 23 days after it was imposed initially, an official said.

"With the situation now completely peaceful, we today (Thursday) decided to lift the curfew," Deputy Inspector General of Police Rajiv Sabharwal told reporters.

"Schools, colleges and educational institutes were reopened March 22," he added.

The curfew was imposed in several areas of Bareilly following a communal clash during a religious procession March 2.

RAW officer to depose in Babri case Friday

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 06:05 AM PDT

By IANS,

Lucknow : Anju Gupta, a police officer who had told investigators that senior BJP leaders, including L.K. Advani, were euphoric after the 1992 Babri Masjid razing, will depose Friday before a special court hearing the 18-year-old demolition case.

Gupta, a deputy inspector general of police (DIG), is currently attached to the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of the Cabinet Secretariat. Her deposition before the Rae Bareli-based special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court Friday will be recorded.

Supreme Court upholds 4% Muslim quota in Andhra Pradesh

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 05:58 AM PDT

By TCN Staff Reporter,

New Delhi: In a big relief to Muslims in Andhra Pradesh, the Supreme Court today upheld the validity of 4% reservation provided to backward members of Muslim community in jobs and education in the state. The apex court passed the ruling in an interim order, forwarding the issue to a Constitution Bench. Today's ruling was given by a Bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices J M Panchal and B S Chauhan.

Mr. Modi and the ghosts of Gujarat 2002

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 05:46 AM PDT

By Dr. Shah Alam Khan,

Indian Americans welcome SC order to probe Modi’s role in Guj riots

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 05:04 AM PDT

By TCN News,

New Delhi: Indian Muslim Council-USA welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court of India to order the interrogation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiring into the 2002 massacres. IMC-USA, an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India's pluralist and tolerant ethos, has demanded that an FIR should be registered against Modi in the light of Tehelka video tape confessions.

JD-U gives more representation to Muslims in state party

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 04:33 AM PDT

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Patna: Considering Muslim votes crucial for victory, the state ruling party Janata Dal-United (JD-U) has given good representation to Muslims in its newly constituted state committee. The state assembly elections will be held later this year. Since the last assembly by-poll in which several seats were won by Lalu Yadav's RJD and Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP pushing JD-U at No. 3, the party and its leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar have taken several measures to please Muslims.

Bangladeshis widening communal divide in Assam: experts

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 04:11 AM PDT

By IANS,

New Delhi : In the otherwise communally harmonious Assam, there is a growing divide between communities because Indian Muslims are often clubbed with the migrants from Bangladesh and are eyed with suspicion by others, experts said at a seminar in the capital Thursday.

Former union tourism secretary M.P. Bezbaruah, who hails from Assam, said: "The tradition of communal harmony existed in Assam from ages, beyond Independence and the partition. However, with the influx of Bangladeshi migrants, many Assamese Muslims are eyed with suspicion by others on the aspect of security".

Jamaat Islami may move court against Praveen Swami

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 04:07 AM PDT

By TCN Staff Reporter,

New Delhi: Taking notice of The Hindu's senior correspondent Praveen Swami's recent article, "Islamism, Modernity and Indian Mujahideen", Jamaat e Islami Hind may move court. In a letter written to the Editor of The Hindu English daily, Jamaat's media coordinator Dr. S Q R Ilyas said, "If this policy of maligning Muslim Organisations especially Jamaat e Islami Hind is continued, we will be left with no other alternative but to seek legal remedy".

Every second police encounter in India is fake

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 01:18 AM PDT

By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,

New Delhi: While there is strong resistance by the government and its agencies including police and even courts to a judicial probe into the infamous Batla House encounter – ignoring persistent demand, sharpened following the autopsy report, of the Muslim community and human rights groups – the official data available with TwoCircles.net says every second police encounter that takes place in the country is fake.

Obituary: Qazi Abdullah Maulvi: A traditional Islamic scholar, astronomer, mathematician

Posted: 24 Mar 2010 10:38 PM PDT

By Zubair Hudawi for TwoCircles.net

Muslims in North Kerala and South Karnataka accorded a tearful farewell to their great leader and brilliant scholar Qazi C. M. Abdullah Musliyar Chembarikka1, who died on February 14. Commonly known as Qazi, he was an influential social and spiritual leader who was approached by various people to seek blessings, get religious knowledge and solve personal, familial or social problems.

Karnataka anti-beef law affects food and employment of millions

Posted: 24 Mar 2010 10:05 PM PDT

By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,

Bangalore: Ignoring the agitation from several Muslim, Dalit and other Minorities organizations and protest by opposition parties of the state, Karnataka government led by BJP passed the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2010 which tramples upon the traditional food habits of people and reflects an attempt to impose Hindutva agenda in a democratic country.