Open letter to Akhilesh Yadav after UP polls result: Now act as a strong Opposition, kindly ensure communal harmony is not disturbed in UP

Dear Mr Akhilesh Yadav,

                                     As Samajwadi Party's five year term in Uttar Pradesh comes to an end, I feel compelled to write you this letter, especially, in wake of the Assembly poll results.

Every citizen has hopes from the government and leaders. I too have such expectations and hence I felt that I should communicate my thoughts to you.

Five years ago, in 2012, your party had got overwhelming support from different sections of the society. Like other communities, Muslims had also voted for your party in a big way.

After SP won, the party didn't pay much attention to most of the promises made in the manifesto. The party had promised better representation to Muslims in police apart from reservation in jobs and opening Urdu schools, educational institutions in areas with Muslim population and action in case of youths framed in false cases.

One doesn't expect every promise to be fulfilled but there is always the hope that at least some attention will be paid to what was mentioned in the manifesto. Sadly, this didn't happen.

What came as a big disappointment was the handling of Muzaffarnagar riots. If, at all, top government functionaries had reached the spot immediately, got local administration to act tough and given call for Army promptly, the violence may have been controlled in the beginning.

It was the worst communal conflagration in this decade in the entire country and made thousands of people refugees on their own land. No other state, with the exception of Assam (where Congress was in power then during Kokrajhar killings) had witnessed such scale of killings and displacement in recent years.

I feel that even after the riot, due steps that could have helped people gain confidence, were not taken. People remained in camps through the harsh winter. Financial compensation can never be substitute for human lives, their sufferings.

Besides, there wasn't seriousness in ensuring justice for women who faced sexual violence during the Muzaffarnagar riot. I do not doubt your intentions for development. But the failure to control law-and-order and inability to rein in rabble-rousers was evident.

How could things turn communal every now and then? How could Dadri happen? The government had a full majority and yet the administration wasn't able to deal with communal elements sternly. If there is will, there can't be a riot. Strong governments don't allow riots and don't let incidents to take communal turn easily.

Many of my friends who are supporters of Samajwadi Party or are close to it, put blame on the 'rivals' for propaganda and for creating communal disturbances. They kept saying that things were given communal turn to pit communities against each other.

But that's what one expects a strong government to do--to deal with such elements in a strong way. I do remember an instance when a riot had begun and immediately the DM-SP were changed (new officers sent by helicopter). That was well over a decade ago.

Now kindly play a strong, constructive opposition

Now that your party is in the Opposition, I hope the experience during the last five years, will help you a lot.

We hope that the party that prides itself on principles of social justice, will take up issues of the ordinary people, the poor and backward communities in the state, work on the ground and ensure that there is no communal violence.

Your party has several MPs and scores of MLAs. SP has a strong organisation up to village level in every corner of Uttar Pradesh. I hope your party workers and leaders will join hands with common men, help raise their voice and redress their grievances.

An active opposition can do wonders in a democracy. I wish a party like SP could form communal harmony morchas that would take this message to people and ensure that harmony prevails.

Besides, I hope SP will be keeping eye on implementation of schemes and raising issues that affect people--health, education, employment opportunities and corruption. However, I wish your government had at least amended the Congress-era discriminatory law that bars Urdu as medium of instruction in UP schools.

If only you had taken this step, you would have taken a step which we would never have forgotten. Elections come and go. Lok Sabha elections aren't too far, barely two years from now. However, the issues remain and we do expect our leaders to come up with solutions.

As an Indian citizen with roots in Uttar Pradesh (hailing from Lucknow), I thought I would share my concerns. Hope you would take them positively. After all, your party plays the role of the main opposition in UP Assembly, now.

Best Wishes.

Regards

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi
Journalist

AN EARLIER POST ON THIS BLOG

1. Urdu must get its constitutional right in UP: Amend discriminatory rule that stops Urdu as medium of instruction in UP

2. Petition urging UP CM to change discriminatory Congress-era law that bars Urdu in state education

Lathi-charge on protesting AMU students: Anger against Akhilesh Yadav govt among Muslims in UP

The brutal lathi-charge on Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students has angered Muslim youth in Uttar Pradesh.

The students had organised a protest over disappearance of Najeeb Ahmed, the JNU student who has been missing for months and is yet to be traced. However, the police thrashed the protesters.

It has led to strong reaction among Muslim youth in the poll-bound state. For the last two days, photographs of injured students has been going viral on internet and are being shared by WhatsApp.

This has further irked the Muslims. Youths feel that such brutal cane-charge on students during the Samajwadi Party (SP) regime shows its attitude towards the Muslims--the community is taken for granted.

While Akhilesh Yadav is busy taking reins of the party from his father, there is a strong undercurrent among Muslim youths over the issue. Will it have an impact on poll prospects of the party when elections are drawing nearer!

This cant' be ruled out. The general question is that why students were treated so brutally. And, why district administration acted with such vengeance. Further, no action was taken against the officials.

Instead, youths were later booked for the protest. The feeling that under SP government, Muslims can't even raise voice, is getting stronger. Also, the Muzffarnagar riots haven't been forgotten.

People remember how Akhilesh Yadav government had failed to act when nearly scores were killed and tens of thousands got displaced. The feeling that SP considers Muslims as 'loyal votebank' who have no option, has gained ground.

But, the reality is that Muslims are in no mood to be treated as vote banks. The result of the fight over 'cycle'--the SP symbol, would be known in a few days. After that, Muslims would take a decision. In many constituencies, the decision would be taken on the basis of local candidates' strength.

The entry of AIMIM has also changed the scenario. MIM's leaders and its party workers' constant criticism of SP government, has dented the image of Akhilesh Yadav. MIM may not get a chunk of votes but its arrival has changed the manner in which Muslim electoate looked at SP.

Petition to UP Chief Minister to fulfil promise regarding Urdu medium schools in Uttar Pradesh

Barely two years after independence, Congress government in UP had taken the arbitrary a d strange decision to bar Urdu as a medium of instruction in the State.

As a result, the generation of Muslim students that was studying then, suffered.

It was not just unconstitutional but reflected the anti-Urdu mindset of the generation of Congress leaders in UP.

Even today, while Urdu is an official second language in UP, the Education board's rule stands.

SP didn't fulfil the poll promise. To understand the issue of this historic injustice, read THIS POST.


SIGN THE PETITION: TAKE A SMALL STEP FOR JUSTICE WITH URDU IN UP

Samajwadi Party (SP) must fulfill promise made in the manifesto to open Urdu medium schools or at least change the discriminatory education board rule that doesn't permit opening these schools, which came into force in Congress rule.

It is fundamental right of a child or student to be able to get education in his/her mother tongue. But Uttar Pradesh or UP is the sole state in India, where a discriminatory law of Education board said that medium of instruction can only be Hindi apart from English.

As a result, UP that has nearly 30 million or 3 crore Urdu speakers, have suffered. No other state in India has made such a discriminatory law. Further, Urdu is the second language in UP but this discrimination doesn't end.

Hence, even private Urdu schools are not present in UP while Southern states have thousands of Urdu schools which has resulted in educational uplift of Muslims. Poor kids who can't afford public schools can, at least, go to Urdu schools. Also, they help madarsa students in transition. Above all, this is a constitutional right which is being violated.

Please sign this online petition by CLICKING HERE

Urdu must gets its constitutional right in Uttar Pradesh: Amend discriminatory rule that stops opening of Urdu medium schools in UP

By Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

Urdu is the mother tongue of at least 40 million or 4 crore people in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India's most populated State. 

It is spoken and understood by many more in UP which is considered as the birthplace of Urdu.

But the sad truth is that UP is the only state in India where a discriminatory law doesn't allow opening of Urdu medium schools.

This rule is in conflict with international norms that a kid has the right to education in his mother toungue, as well as against national policy.

Tragic fact is that Urdu is the second official language of UP. Yet, this discrimination continues. 

Post 1947, certain politicians in Uttar Pradesh unit of Congress, acted against Urdu. All of a sudden, Urdu medium was abolished. The legendary poet late Pandit Anand Narain Mulla, strongly protested the decision to scrap Urdu. 

Today, many states have thousands of Urdu schools. In Maharashtra alone, there are 5,000 Urdu medium schools but in UP, Urdu schools hardly exist. Karnataka, AP, Bihar, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Odisha and even Tamil Nadu have Urdu medium schools, but not UP. 

1. Critics say that Urdu medium would not help the students. Wrong. They don't know the reality, having schools is better than not going to the schools at all. Not every one belongs to the affluent or middle class.

2. There are lakhs of families that can't even afford the basic fee of even small private schools. For them Rs 100-200 for a kid is too much, as it affects their monthly budget (this money can get them part of ration for a month). Especially, if family is poor and has two- three or more children, the kids go uneducated or merely end up studying a few years in maktabs and madarsas. Government Urdu schools or private Urdu schools in poor neighbourhoods are needed. For those studying in maktabs and madarsas, it helps a lot as they enter mainstream education through schools.

3. In states like Maharashtra, Urdu medium students have consistently done good and have topped the entire Maharashtra board, several times in the last two decades. Also, it's a question of your basic right. 

4. Samajwadi Party had promised that it would open Urdu medium schools in UP, if it came to power. But this promise has not been fulfilled. We don't expect the government to do this much as they haven't delivered on many counts, but they can at least, amend the law, so that private schools can be opened with Urdu medium.

5. Urdu is one of the major Indian languages and is recognised as an official language in the eighth schedule of Indian constitution, along with Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bangla, Kannada, Punjabi, Sindhi, Marathi et al. This injustice with the language shouldn't be allowed. 

6. It is also a question about your RIGHTS too. In a democracy, the manner in which Urdu was targeted in UP after partition, is deplorable. Successive governments paid no attention to the issue despite voices raised by sections of activists, intellectuals and organisations. The discriminatory law must go.

7. It is a sure shot way to hurt a community or group if you snatch their language from them. In post-1947 UP, certain leaders did exactly that and the result is that UP one of the most forward states, is now known for educational backwardness, especially, among minorities. 

Sadly, despite nearly 67 MLAs in UP Assembly, the issue has not been taken up in the Assembly even now. Politicians, litterateurs, activists and even poets with considerable influence haven't raised the issued at all. 

8. JUST ONE ORGANISATION URDU DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (UDO), which is based in Allahabad, has been fighting for the rights of Urdu in Uttar Pradesh. However, they also don't get much support from the society. 

UDO needs to hire the best lawyers, which needs funds, to fight cases up to the Supreme Court. It has taken up issues about banks not accepting Urdu cheques, government organisations not using Urdu in its communication, and consistently takes up the cause, One hopes that UDO will continue its fight on this issue too. But UDO is the lone group of such Urdu-walas in the entire country. 

9. Some people who have less idea about ground situation, especially, those who talk about imparting English education, easily say that English schools or Hindi schools (or private) should be opened. No body stops them, please open. But can you? 

Governments don't open English medium schools. Hence, we are talking about schools, at least the basic schools. In areas, in Urdu-speaking (Muslim) areas where there are no schools, at least, let the schools come up. 

Poverty levels are such that huge number of Muslims drop out as their parents can't even afford studying in the school that has the lowest fee. Muslim families, especially, poor are having a very tough time due to the inflation. 

A section of upwardly mobile class (even amongst Muslims) has little idea about the tough lives of majority of Muslims. The situation is such that millions of Muslim households are yet to get past the 'struggle for two square meals' stage. 

They can't even afford Rs 100-250 fee for the school, because if there are 2-3 children, they can have 'aata' for a month for the family, with this money. It is very easy to say that open schools or colleges. People are doing their best but the economic condition of poor Muslims is such that it is not possible. 

Such is the situation that even in this era of focus on education, the number of Muslim kids' who dropout after 5th and 8th is increasing. Land prices are skyrocketing, even constructing a room or two, takes lakhs.  

You can't open one school, forget talking about overnight change. [People are trying their best but it is very, very difficult]. This only government can do. And its their duty, hence we are demanding it. Also, they promised it and its our job to keep watch on what they deliver and what they did not.

Rather than criticising without understanding, please do something else if you can't support us in this demand. Please open one school and we will emulate you Sir.

10. Urge the Chief Minister, UP, to fulfill the promise of opening Urdu schools in UP, which hasn't happened even after his government came to power. Also, legal ways should be explored to deal with this issue that has troubled Urdu speakers for almost 65 years.

Sign the petition:

Change discriminatory rule that bars Urdu as medium of instruction in schools in UP

1. उत्तर प्रदेश हिंदुस्तान का अकेला सूबा है जहां लाखों-करोड़ों बच्चे अपनी मातृ भाषा में तालीम नहीं हासिल कर सकते. चार करोड़ उर्दू आबादी वाले इस राज्य में ये भेदभावपूर्ण क़ानून आज़ादी के चंद साल बाद ही कांग्रेस सरकार ने बना दिया था.
हिंदी और अंग्रेजी के अलावा किसी माध्यम में राज्य सरकार तालीम को रेकोग्नाइज़ नहीं करती. दशकों की जद्दोजहद के बावुजूद और समाजवादी पार्टी के वादे के बावजूद ये क़ानून नहीं बदला गया.

2. बोहत से लोग इस मसले से वाक़िफ़ ही नहीं, कई तीसरी ज़बान के तौर पर उर्दू पढने को ही उर्दू माध्यम समझ कर कन्फ्यूज़ हो जाते हैं, कुछ लोग इस मसले पर बात करते ही ये कहने लगते हैं कि उर्दू माध्यम स्कूलों की ज़रुरत ही क्या है. तो पहले इस मसले को समझिये. पहली बात ये खुला डिस्क्रिमिनेशन है. कांग्रेस के बड़े नेता, सम्पूर्णानन्द, पुरुषोत्तम दास टंडन और सेठ गोविन्द दास की उर्दू दुश्मनी मशहूर थी.

3. यकायक उर्दू माध्यम ख़त्म कर और स्कूल बंद कर, उन्होंने ये सिग्नल दे दिया था कि अब आप का यहां कोई काम नहीं. आपकी ज़बान, कल्चर सब बाहरी है. एक पूरी नस्ल जो उस वक़्त पढ़ रही थी, इससे मुतास्सिर हुई. उनके तालीमी सिलसिले को डिस्टर्ब कर दिया गया, कॉलेजेस के निसाब से उर्दू, पर्शियन ऑप्शन बोहत जगह निकाल दिए गए (ये बिहार या दूसरी जगहों पर नहीं हुआ).

4. एक ज़बान जो बेहद समृद्ध थी, उसे, उसके अदब को ख़त्म करने की कोशिश की गयी. ये लिंगविस्टिक जेनोसाइड थी जो एक डेमोक्रेटिक सरकार ने की. ये कांग्रेस की सरकार थी.

5. ये उर्दू दुश्मनी १९८८ तक खुले तौर पर चली. वीरबहादुर सिंह ने तो सीएम बनते ही पहले आर्डर ये दिया था कि उर्दू नेमप्लेट सीएम हाउस से हटाई जाये. कांग्रेस के वज़ीर वासुदेव सिंह ने तो यह कह दिया था कि उर्दू वालों को गधे पर बैठा कर घूमना चाहिए. साथ ही स्कूल न होने से, स्कूल होना बेहतर है.

6. मुस्लिम बस्तियों में इतनी गरीबी है कि प्रायवेट स्कूलों की २००-३०० तक की फीस अफोर्ड नहीं कर पाते, इतने में तो महीने भर का चावल या गेहूं आजायेगा, आखिर. राज्य का फ़र्ज़ है कि वोह सरकारी स्कूल खोले और ये यूनिवर्सल एजुकेशन राइट है. आज महाराष्ट्र में चार हज़ार उर्दू स्कूल हैं, कर्नाटक में भी तक़रीबन इतने ही और आंध्र में भी एक हज़ार से ज़्यादा. इसका फायदा होता है, माद्री ज़बान में पढ़ने से चीज़ें समझ में आती हैं. एक बेहद अहम बात. मकतब और मदरसे के बच्चों को भी मेनस्ट्रीम में आने के लिए उर्दू माध्यम स्कूलों से बड़ा फ़ायदा होता है.

7. यही वजह है वहां का मुसलमान आज तालीमी तौर पर आगे है. घर में अंग्रेजी का माहौल न हो तो अंग्रेजी स्कूल में जा कर तालिब इल्म सिर्फ रटता है, समझ नहीं पाता. संस्कृत-निष्ठ हिंदी भी उसके लिए कम मुश्किल नहीं. इस सब पर बहस हो सकती है, लेकिन एजुकेशन डिपार्टमेंट के इस डिस्क्रिमिनटरी कानून की वजह से प्रायवेट उर्दू स्कूल भी नहीं खोले जा सके. कोइ उर्दू स्कूल में पढ़े या नहीं, मगर ये रास्ता ही बंद कर दिया गया. बहरहाल ये लंबी कहानी है.

8. आज़ादी के बाद भी यूपी में क़द्दावर मुस्लिम नेता मौजूद थे मगर उर्दू के इस क़त्ल पर उनकी आवाज़ों का कोई असर न हुआ. नेहरू को सब मालुम था मगर उन्होंने इंटरफियर नहीं किया. जब बिहार में उर्दू दूसरी सरकारी ज़बान बनी, बेहद मजबूरी में एनडी तिवारी के दौर में आला कमान के कहने पर कागजों पर यूपी में उसको दूसरी ज़बान बना दिया गया. मुलायम सिंह के शुरूआती दौर में कुछ फैसले ठीक हुए.

9. मगर फिर मामला बिगड़ गया. दरअसल १९९० आते आते, कई जनरेशन्स गुज़र चुकी थीं जिन्हें न उर्दू आती थी और न उनको इस ज़बान से जज़्बाती लगाव था. अफ़सोस बड़े बड़े शायर अदीब जो मुख्यमंत्रियों के साथ डाइस पर मुशायरे और प्रोग्रामों में बैठते रहे, इस मसले पर खामोश रहे.

10. दुनिया की तारीख में शायद ही कोई ऐसा वाक़या हो कि एक ज़िंदा ज़बान को, करोड़ों लोग ,उसे अपने ही होमलैंड में इस तरह क़त्ल किया गया हो. मैं काफी अरसे से इस मसले पर लिख रहा हूँ. सिर्फ इलाहाबाद की एक तंज़ीम है जो इस मसले पर संजीदा नज़र आती है और क़ानूनी कार्रवाई कर रही है. पूरा मसला जान्ने और समझने के लिए इस लिंक पर जाएँ.

CONGRESS LEADERS IN UP AND THEIR POLICIES

Unlike the official policy of the Congress and the Government of India, the leaders of Congress in UP, were so adamant that they were not ready to give any rights to Urdu speakers in their own state. 

Purushottam Das Tandon, the Congress stalwart, was a strong Urdu opponent, who advocated education in mother tongue for everyone except Urdu speakers. Chief Minister Sampoornanand was so hostile that he openly said that Urdu walas need not be given any rights.

UP chief ministers Sampoornanand, Banarsi Das, GB Pant and Virbahadur Singh were vehemently anti-Urdu. The first order, Singh, gave after becoming CM in 1985, was to remove his name plate in Urdu. 

There was no hope for Urdu walas, as all legal fights were also stalled because of state's might, which was hell-bent to deny Urdu speakers any right. The attitude of UP Congress leaders towards Urdu was exactly similar to that of Bharatiya Jana Sangh. 

The stature of Purushottam Das Tandon and GB Pant, was such that high command of the party, couldn't take action against them. More than 10 lakh signatures were collected and sent to President of India, but nothing happened.

Congress leaders in UP were so harsh and hated Urdu, that in this blind hatred, that dug Congress' grave in UP. Over the years, Muslims, got so fed up that they stopped voting for Congress. Sensing the Muslim disenchantment, Congress leadership in late eighties forced UP Congress govt to act.

Urdu was made second language, on paper. The notification was done, but its language was so ambiguous that, legally it gave nothing to Urdu. You could still not open Urdu schools in Uttar Pradesh. MLAs were not allowed to take oath in Urdu in UP Assembly! 

SEE LINK to Congress leaders' objectionable statements on Urdu in Omar Khalidi's compilation HERE


ANINDIANMUSLIM.COM takes up this fight to ensure that justice is done with Urdu in UP. For years, people at different levels have been raising their voice but nothing concrete came out. We are taking it forward through social media. Call it a drive, a movement or a struggle, but the fight has now begun. 

Petition to Correct This Historic Injustice: SIGN IT HERE

You can tweet with the hashtag #JusticewithUrduinUP


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BACKGROUND: IF YOU DON"T KNOW WHY IT HAPPENED IN UP
Or for those who feel Urdu could be taught as third language, but have no idea that this is not possible in UP.

READ THIS POST WRITTEN A FEW YEARS AGO. CLICK

Communal riots in Uttar Pradesh: Transferring officers not enough, take tough action against bureaucrats who fail to control law-and-order

The first seven months of Samajwadi Party (SP) government has seen nearly half-a-dozen communal riots. Naturally comparison with the nearly riot-free BSP regime are inevitable.

To Mayawati's credit, communal elements were reined in during the five years she was in power at Lucknow.

After Congress was shunted from UP in late eighties, the SP governments were known for being tough on communal elements.

We still remember, how when a riot had begun during an earlier SP stint, helicopter was sent to bring back officers and their replacements were sent. But the present regime has failed to control riots. One after the other, there are communal conflagrations.

In Faizabad riot, it took 12 days for government to take action and shift DM and SSP. But is this enough? Why is the government not stern enough on bureaucracy. Fact-finding commissions reports suggest that violence was pre-planned.

Similarly, you will find Rihai Manch's Mr Rajeev Yadav's observations here in The Hindu's report. Even as there were inputs about impending trouble and even when rioters gathered, police hadn't taken action and remained mute spectators.

FIRSTLY, it's clear that no riot can occur if the district administration and police are really serious about maintaining law-and-order. There can be an exception. But generally, it is not possible.

Secondly, bureaucrats must be made accountable. They should be punished if they fail in their job. Why actions are not taken on middle-level officers. Why top officers are just shifted [a euphemism for transfer] or given a new posting?

1. Accountability must be fixed immediately. Transfer is no punishment. There should be immediate suspension.

2. Don't give a posting to tainted officers or those with poor record in any department for at least six months or year. This will send a strong message to the bureaucracy.

3. Suspensions in police are a sham. They are revoked a few months later. This shouldn't happen.

4. If the IAS officers who are in-charge, have failed to take stock of situation properly and are unable to run the district efficiently, it should reflect in their ACR. Once it starts getting into Annual Confidential Report, they will learn the lessons.

After all, DMs who basically have the responsibility of district, shun law-and-order part totally to SSPs or SPs for convenience sake. Forget checking corruption or implementing schemes, if you can't keep law-and-order, you are good for nothing. Such officers must get the boot.

5.  It is common knowledge that a tough administration can't allow riot to take place. Cops know troublemakers of their area of jurisdiction and when they know the message is not to let anything happen, nothing happens. Intelligence wings at all levels also collect information and send regular inputs. Troublemakers sense the gravity of situation.

They know when its safe to do a bit of rowdy acts or when even going out would lead to action under tough acts. But if there is a loose command, then it shows through the hierarchy. Citizens also sense that rumours are floated regularly and situation is not behind handled well because the officers are lax. 

In the light of above points, UP government must take serious steps to improve law-and-order, which is important not just for citizens but also for the overall image of the SP government.

First, Kosi Kalan in Mathura, then Asthan (Pratapgarh), followed by Barelli, Masuri town in Ghaziabad, Allahabad and now the latest is Faizabad.

Clearly, there is a pattern. Someone is responsible and if there is mischief, why local intelligence, police, administration fail to anticipate.

When it is openly said by top SP leaders that there is a conspiracy, why there is no action on conspirators.

DGP had also made a comment that his sub-ordinates didn't listen. Isn't it all an indication of the lapses that are occurring repeatedly.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that there are attempts to discredit the government. If it is true, then those who are responsible for these acts, should be caught. Law-and-order must be top priority.