It\'s Politics Uber Alles In Kashmir ..... And India Re: # 152
from

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES
India | Saturday, 16 August 2008
Reported by: Deepika Mitra

It\'s Politics Uber Alles In Kashmir ..... And India Re: # 151

"Fight fire with fire," is what Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray meant to say when he urged Hindus to form suicide squads to take on the Muslims suicide squads. However, his rhetorics bombed when both the secular Congress as well as political allies the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the RSS criticized him for his insensitive remark.


In an editorial in Saamna, Shiv Sena's mouthpiece, Thackeray said a "Hindu bomb" was needed to counter the "Muslim bomb." Thackeray's rhetorics was related to the bomb attacks in theaters in Thane, Vashi and Panvel earlier this month and the subsequent arrests of those suspected to be involved in planting the bombs. While the police managed to defuse the bomb planted in Vashi in time, bombs exploded in Thane and Panvel, injuring several people.


Initial police investigations revealed that the suspects belonged to the Sanatan Sanstha and the Hindu Jana Jagriti Samiti outfits.


Though the Hindu radical outfits have denied having any hand in the bomb attacks, yet, investigations revealed that the attacks were targeted against a controversial Marathi play Aamhi Pachpute, which was being staged in Thane and Vashi and was ridiculing Hindu deities. The attack on the Panvel theater was targeted at the screening of the movie Jodhaa Akbar, which, some Hindu hardliners claimed, portrayed the Hindu community in poor light.


Criticizing the two outfits, Thackeray said the two Hindu bodies should have "held talks with the playwright or the director on the vexed points" instead of orchestrating "ridiculous and stupid" bomb attacks that left several Hindus injured.


Thackeray said he was "happy" that the bombs were made by Hindus, but was saddened by the fact that innocent Hindus were injured. He also criticized the attackers for planting such a weak bomb. "No one but a Hindu could be responsible for a bomb that caused such little injury and was such a wasteful enterprise," he said.


"Think big," the Shiv Sena chief said. "[You] should prepare to meet the bigger task of combating Islamic fundamentalism."


"A Marathi bank clerk will lose his job by indulging in small-time misappropriation. If you want to practice corruption, then be a Ketan Parekh or a Harshad Mehta," he said.


"The need of the hour is to plant a strong bomb in Bangladeshi bastis (slums) that have mushroomed in Thane and elsewhere in Maharashtra," Thackeray said.


"The threat of Islamic terror in India is rising. The only way Islamic terror can be tackled was by unleashing Hindu terror. It is time to set up Hindu suicide squads to ensure safety of the Hindu society and to protect the nation," the firebrand leader said, quoting Manusmriti to prove his point: "Retaliate if under attack. Whether your father or a learned Brahmin attacks you, an attack is an attack."


"The Hindus were safe during the Mughal invasion only because the Maratha warrior Shivaji had the courage to raise his swords against them," he added.


However, Thackeray's rhetorics did not go down well with powerful BJP ally, which condemned his remark.


According to BJP vice president M. Venkaiah Naidu, Thackeray should be reasonable as the people "should not take law into their hands."


It's duty of the government to counter terror. There are more democratic methods to address the problem of terrorism," Naidu said.


Advising Thackeray to abide by the rule of law, Naidu said BJP believes in principles of "democracy and the Constitution."


Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also condemned Thackeray's inflammatory remarks, saying Hindu scriptures do not endorse terrorist activities or violence.


Congress also slammed the hardline Hindu party, saying the comments made by Thackeray were "subversive, anti-national and prejudicial to the secular fabric of the nation."


"The Congress strongly condemns the remarks said to have been made by Mr. Bal Thackeray with regard to the formation of suicide squads. This is a clear call not only to lawlessness and violence but will be also the death knell of peaceful democracy," Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said.


"We condemn this irresponsible remark and reject it with contempt," she said.


Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, though not directly condemning Thackeray's comments, said the arrest of the alleged terrorists belonging to the Hindu outfits proved that "criminals don't belong to any religion."


ABOUT SHIV SENA


Shiv Sena (Shiva's Army) is a Hindu right-wing extremist party that was linked in the past to waves of mob violence in Maharashtra and held power in Bombay from 1995 to 2000.


Under the garb of nationalism, Shiv Sena has long advocated attacks against minority communities like Muslims and recently was in the news for attempting to stir up native pride by demanding that more should be done to promote the rights of "local" people in the state rather than "outsiders" and threatening to oust the immigrants from the state.

Fissures in the Middle Re: # 251

As for your remark about any possible inferiority complex I might have regarding his English capabilities, I have none. Like I said before, I'd have been far happier had he chosen Urdu/Punjabi/Siraiki and gotten a decent interpreter.

Allah Nigehban

Fissures in the Middle Re: # 250

I was actually referring to your stand for that idiot Gilani.

Take care

Fissures in the Middle Re: # 248

tahmed32,

There are times when a dignified silence is far more to one's advantage.

Fissures in the Middle Re: # 208

hamidm2,

The more time I spend here at Chowk, the more I find your point of view the closest to reality.

As for Gilani, he was an embarrassment all around. I'd have respected him to have conversed in Urdu/Punjabi/Siraiki and got a decent interpreter. Instead he chose to disclose to the world what a fool he really is!

Dhokha and Being a Muslim in India Re: # 362

tahmed32,

It takes a great person to say all that openly for which I respect you.

And thank you for listening.

Dhokha and Being a Muslim in India Re: # 359

unlike you, I haven't had the opportunity to live in the west. "Kala habshi" is very commonly used where I live and recently Condoleeza Rice was open called "baander di boothi" alongwith many others like the "Williams sisters".

"Hindu banya" is only but one example same as "yahoodi sood-khaur", strongly believed to be the descendents of the "monkeys and pigs" based on distorted religious legends.

The chinese I have met are quite confident in themselves and don't mind "chink" anyway. It is considered to be similar to referring to the Americans as "yanks".

Do you really need more examples? It would appear you haven't really lived in Pakistan for some time or have a very distant memory of it and choose only to remember what suits.

Dhokha and Being a Muslim in India And as for Tahir, I have posed some questions based upon his interact on the same board, (No 90) on the page with my own reply (No 99)

http://www.chowk.com/interacts/14428

Dhokha and Being a Muslim in India Re: # 354

tahmed32,

Would you care to elaborate what terms are used by our own compatriots to describe other nationalities, including the "blacks" and the "Indians/Hindus"?

Government Wins Manmohan Singh Loses Re: # 90

Tahir,

Your post raises a few questions.

1) What do you mean by aloo-qeema and why that commodity would/could be used for any exchanges?

2) What/who is axe-man of NY?

3) What/who is a Q-cumber?

4) Do I understand it correct that you don't consider the Brailvis and Deobandis, or the "Raiwand people" as true Muslims?

5) Who is "Meiji baby"?

6) Please tell us how your post is relevant to the article being discussed?

Dhokha and Being a Muslim in India Re: # 322

tahmed,

I take it same sould apply to Mohammed Bin Qassim and the others too?

Dhokha and Being a Muslim in India Re: # 318

majumdar,

That is only because these happen to be "famous" and attract some tourism. Its only fair to tell out otherwise unsuspecting youth what the fuss is about!

We mention these places as if "these people" were some lost souls that had nothing whatsoever to do with us as individuals, let alone our possible ancestors.

Dhokha and Being a Muslim in India Re: # 316

Majumdar,

You must be kidding me! I don't remember any positive references to our so called Hindu past in our curriculum. Harappa, Moenjodaro an Taxila are mentioned but when I look at it in retrospect, it is all done very begrudgingly and dispassionately with no pride involved.

Swat: Can the deal work? Re: # 238

THE LAST SERMON OF THE HOLY PROPHET (PBUH)

This sermon was delivered on the Ninth Day of Dhul-Hijjah, 10 A.H. (632 CE) in the 'Uranah valley of Mount Arafat in Makkah. It was the occasion of the annual rites of Hajj (the pilgrimage). It is also known as the Farewell Pilgrimage.




After praising, and thanking Allah (The One True God) the Prophet began with the words:


"O People! lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore, listen carefully to what I am saying and Take These Words to Those Who Could Not Be Present Here Today.

“O People! just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your LORD, and that he will indeed reckon your deeds.

“Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your capital is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has Judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib (Prophet's uncle) be waived.

“Every right arising out of homicide in pre-Islamic days is henceforth waived and the first such right that I waive is that arising from the murder of Rabiah ibn al-Harithiah.

“O Men! the unbelievers indulge in tampering with the calender in order to make permissible that which Allah forbade, and to prohibit which Allah has made permissible. With Allah the months are twelve in number. Four of them are holy, three of these are successive and one occurs singly between the months of Jumada and Shaban.

“Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope of that he will be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

“O People! it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with anyone of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.

“O People! listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers, fast during month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat (obligatory charity). Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly.

“Do not therefore do injustice to yourselves. Remember one day you will meet Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not astray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

“O People! No Prophet or Apostle Will Come after Me and No New Faith Will Be Born. Reason well, therefore, O People! and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the QUR’AN and my SUNNAH (i.e., sayings, deeds, and approvals) and if you follow these you will never go astray.

“All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly.

“Be my witness O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people."

As part of this sermon, the Prophet recited them a Revelation from Allah which he had just received and which completed the Qur’an, for it was the last passage to be revealed:


This day the disbelievers despair of prevailing against your religion, so fear them not, but fear Me (Allah)! This day have I perfected for you your religion and fulfilled My favor unto you, and it hath been My good pleasure to choose Islam for you as your religion (Surah 5, Ayah 3).
The sermon was repeated sentence by sentence by Safwan's brother Rabiah (RA), who had a powerful voice, at the request of the Prophet and he faithfully proclaimed to over ten thousand gathered on the occasion. Toward the end of his sermon, the Prophet asked “O people, have I faithfully delivered unto you my message?" A powerful murmur of assent “O Allah, yes!", arose from thousands of pilgrims and the vibrant words “Allahumma na’m” rolled like thunder throughout the valley. The Prophet raised his forefinger and said: “Be my witness O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people."

Restoring the Civil Rights of Ahmadis Re: # 85

Masadi,

Thanks very much for answering my question.

I have a very similar take on this subject.