Turning a citizen into 'terrorist' without trial: Role of Dainik Bhaskar, section of Hindi media in turning 'aaropi' into 'aatanki'

Role of a section of Hindi media in turning 'aaropi' [suspect or accused] into 'criminal' or 'terrorist' even before completion of trial and judgment, is something that has affected a large number of under-trials.

If someone is guilty of crime or terrorism, stern action is definitely needed. 

The person must be booked under harsh laws and all evidences should be gathered to get him convicted.

But, if you term someone 'aatanki' or 'apradhi' i.e. 'terrorist' or 'criminal', even before the trial has been completed--it makes a mockery of justice and the entire system.

Sadly, this has been happening in India for years now. In North India and Central India, the situation is even more acute. Certain newspapers [more than TV channels] are involved in this dirty practice.

READ: Who needs the courts when we have the media? [News Laundry report]

Violating Law of the Land

In central India, Dainik Bhaskar leads this trend. The law of the land says that a person is innocent till held guilty by the courts.

However, Dainik Bhaskar seems to have a right to call anyone terrorist even before trial is over. So police says, 'accused' but the paper terms it 'terrorist', which affects investigation.

Double standards

Aseemanand or Sandeep Dange may be accused in cases of bomb blasts but are not termed 'aatanki'. But the same newspaper terms even those Muslim youths 'aatanki, who face no blast or terror charge.

Just if there is accusation of association with a banned outfit, the Muslim youth is promptly termed 'aatanki'.  This is not the word police use after arrest. But newspaper creates scare and brands arrestd person.

Who is 'terror accused'?

Anyone who is involved in unlawful activities and association with banned outfits is booked under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

It is registered against suspected Maoists, suspected ULFA cadre and those with suspected SIMI [Islamist] links, right-wing [Hindutva] groups. There are dozens of organisations banned in India.

READ: Campaign against Dainik Jagran for communal, biased reporting

Apart from them, members of outfits that are not banned are booked under the law. Many of them are not members of any outlawed groups but are caught for explosion, blasts or other terror-related acts.

None of them is termed 'aatanki'. However, among most newspapers, Dainik Bhaskar seems to have the 'power', an extra-constitutional power to name anyone 'terrorist' as per its discretion.

Irresponsible reporting affects, destroys families

When someone is judged a criminal or terrorist, it leads to entire society turning away from the person's family. It affects court cases and also entire life.

Families are destroyed because of irresponsible reporting. It is unfortunate that there has not been a serious action against newspapers that act as courts and assume the role of judges.

READ: Campaign against Dainik Jagran for communal, biased reporting

The end of BJP in UP: Gets 1.35% votes in by-poll

Amid the blue hue that has swept UP, the humiliating defeat of BJP and its absolute marginalisation in the state has been totally overlooked.

In the three Assembly by-polls, the share of votes in Muradnagar, Colonelganj and Bilgram, the party has been extraordinary low. It could get just 1.35%, 3% and 5% votes in the elections, the results for which were announced two days back. The BSP won all the three constituences, as also the two Lok Sabha seats.

Surprisingly, the Lotus has wilted in the state where it emerged in the mid-80s pitting Hindus and Muslims against each other. And today it seems both Hindus and Muslims have forgotten this party in India's most populous state.

This is shocking for the party that it got such a low vote shate. And it has happened barely two decades after the Ram Mandir movement threw the country into communal flames. Clearly the electorate no longer considers BJP as a political option.

It was this state where the BJP had got 57 seats out of 85 at the height of Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir movement in 1989. And exactly twenty years after that, VP Singh' Mandal card has killed the BJP's genie.

It is now crystal clear that even the Brahmins have deserted the BJP. The OBCs were once a strong votebank and also section of Dalits. But that is an old story. Today, it's a reality that BJP has lost Uttar Pradesh.

Though it is also an irony that the party has reached this state at a time when it is believed the architect of Ayodhya movement, LK Advani has become politically 'touch-able' and hopes to become Prime Minister of India.

Maya Magic: BSP sweeps bypolls winning 2 Lok Sabha, 3 Assembly costituencies

The elephant's march continues. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) not only won both the Lok Sabha by-polls but also emerged victorious in the three Assembly constituencies were by-elections were held in Uttar Pradesh.

The counting began in the morning today and soon it was clear that Congress' prince Rahul Gandhi's whirlwind tours across the Hindi-Urdu heartland and his stays at the dwellings of Dalits, have failed to cut any ice with the electorate.

In Azamgarh, its maverick candidate Akbar Ahmad Dumpy won whiile BS Tiwari won the Khalilabad seat. Dumpy was once a close associate of Sanjay Gandhi. A turncoat, he had sometime back joined the BSP.

The party also won Bilgram (Hardoi), Karnalganj and Muradnagar seats--leaving the entire opposition raning from Congress to Samajwadi Party and the BJP stunned. Unstoppable Behenji!

Nehru's newspapers Qaumi Awaz, National Herald shut down in Congress regime

On April 1, Qaumi Awaz, the Urdu daily from national capital, New Delhi, which was founded by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, brought out its last copy.

The masthead, the photo of which is shown on the top left, will be remembered for a long time. Till its last day of publication, the words :"Baani: Jawaharlal Nehru" (encircled in red for those who can't read Urdu)", were printed in the same manner.

National Herald has also closed down. The papers were earlier published from Lucknow and nearly a decade back, the Lucknow edition was closed Pandit Nehru, the great visionary, and founder of modern India, had established these papers.

Ironically, the newspapers closed despite all possible resistance and the fact that Qaumi Awaz still used to sell and had a good circulation though there was no money.

And it all happened when Congress-led UPA is in the office and Sonia Gandhi's intervention would have saved the papers.

The English daily could also have been revived (Qaumi Awaz was doing well). But the Congress leadership preferred to look askance though they had a responsibility also. The party is not short of funds. Forever I will miss the newspaper that was once largely circulated in entire North India.


The last day of the National Herald editorial titled 'Herald hopes for a better tomorrow". This newspaper was founded in September 1938 and after 70 years, closed down.

The papers could have been given to private hands, which could have run them efficiently. Many people were interested in running Qaumi Awaz and restart its Lucknow edition, specially in view of Roznama Sahara's success.

Even today one could get Qaumi Awaz' late city edition in most Indian cities that reached in the evening. Employees have been given VRS and the era of National Herald, Qaumi Awaz, Navjivan, has gone.

Today BJP, which always needed a mainstream English daily, has acquired a newspaper after years of effort (The Pioneer) to propogate its policies and the Congress simply lost its established papers. The Hindi version Navjeevan was closed long ago. But who could have convinced the party! They have lost UP but can anybody put sense in their head.

I still remember it was once used to be published from Mumbai and Hyderabad also. And had tremendous circulation in Awadh. Qaumi Awaz, the nationalist voice, that got revived under Mohan Chiraghi's stint as editor, ultimately became history.

Nehru's dreams had died long ago. His papers also died. Alas!

[The other photo shows Qaumi Awaz (encircled) on the newspaper stands]

Stamp on Majaz Lakhnawi: Poet of romance & revolution

The postal department of the government of India, has issued a stamp on romantic-revolutionary poet Majaz (1911-1955).

It is a befitting tribute to the great poet who wrote the first verse on India's tricolour and also penned the famous Tarana-e-Aligarh.

Apart from his magical poetry, another important aspect is that he addresses [and looks at] women as an intelligent companion--a 'hamsafar'.

Majaz is also remembered for his Nazm [verse] 'Aawara' which had become the voice of youth in his generation and thereafter.

The Nazm that starts with the lines, 'Aye Gham-e-dil kyaa karuuN, Aye wahshat-e-dil kyaa karuuN' has been sung by Talat Mahmood and Jagjit Singh, both in their own distinct styles. Now, coming back to the stamp on Majaz Lakhnawi.

One can see the Tile Wali Masjid, the parts of Imambara and the skyline of Old Lucknow in the background of the stamp. It is this City where he grew up and where lost his life on the roof of a liquor shop on a winter night, abandoned by companions.

And where fifty years later people still recall his tragic demise. Majaaz Lucknowi couldn't marry his lady love, who instead chose a civil servant rather than an unemployed poet. Twice he was treated for mental breakdown and ultimately died at a young age.

He was barely 44 but was undoubtedly the most loved poet in India. Unfortunately he was forgotten soon after his death though Urdu world still fondly remembers this great poet. Vice-President Hamid Ansari formally released the stamp on March 18.

The stamp and the 'first day cover' were released in the presence of Majaz's youngest sister Hameeda, who has recently penned her autobiography in Urdu, and Majaz's nephew lyricist Javed Akhtar [son of Safia Akhtar, who was Majaz' sister].

I had earlier written a post on Majaz: 'The Keats of Urdu poetry'

Also, you can read Majaz' ghazals and nazms at BESTGHAZALS.NET

Closure of Biswin Sadi: End of an Era in Urdu journalism

The closure of Biswin Sadi, one of the most popular social-semi-literary Urdu magazine, has come as a shock for Urdu-walas in the country.

It was probably the oldest surviving Urdu magazine in India*. It was just ten years ago that the debate had begun whether the magazine should change its name as the Beeswin Sadi [20th century] was coming to an end.

But it was later decided that the old name would be continued and even after the arrival of the new millennium and the New century, the magazine continued to be published under the same name [It didn't become Ikkiswin Sadi]. Under the late Khushtar Girami, it had already became a great institution.

After his demise, Z Rahman Nayyar, brought out the magazine with the same passion. Until recently it was doing fairly well. Though Shama, Ruby and other similar magazines closed, Biswin Sadi remained the market leader in its own segment.

The satirical Teer-o-Nashtar, the Afsanas (Short stories) and selection of ghazals-nazms, apart from the columns 'selection on couplets based on topics' and the 'Replies to readers' columns were all unique. Ziaur Rahman Naiyar, despite his frail health, and age, was bringing out the magazine.

Stalwarts like Kashmiri Lal Zakir, Izahr Asar, Kailash Mahir and umpteen such names were still visible on the pages of this magazine that gave literary taste to several generations. It was in a different league: much above Khatoon-e-Mashriq and Pakiza Anchal in terms of literary standard.

Once, the great Ram Lal, used to write in Biswin Sadi. Though he was not seriously taken by literary world for the same reason, but he got immense popularity across the sub-continent, because his stories were published in Biswin Sadi.

Over the years it has become a rare sight to find an Urdu magazine outside ghettoes. But apart from Jaraem and Islamic digests, Biswin Sadi was found on AH Wheeler stalls at railway stations across the country. It didn't have religious overdose either and was in a true sense a social magazine.

The owner-editor Rahman Nayar is now quite old. But a magazine of such great history that was published for over seven decades, shouldn't be closed because of the mere reason that one of his kins, whom he trusted, ditched him financially. It must be revived. Otherwise it will be a big blow. A void that can never be filled.

[*I am not sure whether Delhi/Haryana/Himachal Pradesh-based Mastana Jogi and Nirala Jogi are still published. ]

Anti-Terrorism Convention at Deoband: Will it succeed or meet the fate of Lucknow conference

Darul Uloom Deoband is hosting a convention against terrorism on February 25.

Apart from representatives of hundreds of leading seminaries and madarsas, the heads of Jamat-e-Islami, Jamat Ahl-e-Hadis and All India Muslim Personal Law Board chief are going to attend it.

The agenda will be to send a strong message against terrorism. And also to counter the propaganda that links madarsas with terrorism.

The Darul Uloom Rector Maulana Marghoobur Rahman has said that fundamentalist forces, sections of media and fundamentalist organisations are spreading falsehoods.

Despite LK Advani's [in his capacity as Home Minster of India] assertion in Parliament that no Indian madarsa is involved in any such activity, the madarsas are regularly targeted and baseless charges are made, trying to defame the educational institutions.

The aim is also to urge the government to stop the excesses on Muslims. I wonder if any lesson has been learnt from the failure of the recent Lucknow conference.

Why the Islamic clergy never invite the cream of intellectuals, editors, social activists and leading lawyers from Delhi, Mumbai and other cities. Unless the madarsas reach out to them, all such exercises would remain futile.

The criminal act of lawyers in UP who refuse to take up the case of anybody accused by police of terrorism, hasn't become an issue yet. Youths are languishing in jail (Not many are fortunate like Aftab Alam, who managed to get back to his Kolkata home).

You discuss a issue among yourself and nobody is going to bother. The Lucknow conference had hardly found any mention in the media. [See my earlier post on Arrests of innocent Muslim youths and failure of Ulema] This is the era of Public Relationing.

Unfortunately Islamic seminaries remain out of sync with times in this country. And the great institutions, which played a leading role in freedom movement, are today in the dock and having to explain their case.

UPDATE ON HAJI ISHTIAQ CASE

The Court has ordered release of Haji Ishtiaq, who was arrested for issuing a 'threat to Mayawati'. The same police that was hell-bent on 'proving' his links with terrorism and had even charged him with National Security Act (NSA), has filed the report to end the case.

Do we need Muslim MLAs: Concerns over delimitation of constituencies in Delhi

There is lot of concern expressed regarding the de-limitation (had-bandi) of Assembly constituencies in Delhi.

The Muslim leaders are complaining that their constituencies have been worst affected and there are apprehensions that even fewer Muslims would make it to the Assembly.

Since independence the Lal Quila and Jama Masjid were part of the Matia Mahal constituency. The voters of these areas will now vote in Chandni Chowk.

 "The irony is that Matia Mahal is no longer part of the Matia Mahal constituency, and new areas have been added", says Shoaib Iqbal, who has been representing the seat for 15 years.


Many say that hardly Muslim MLAs would get into the Assembly, the elections for which are due in October this year.Delhi has 70 Assembly constituencies. Concerns are also visible in newspapers that Muslim presence will dwindle in the house.

But does the number of Muslim MLAs matter much?

Is it not better if the real issues--refurbishing of school buildings, cleanliness in slums, proper drinking water, opening of schools and dispensaries, registration of poor under the BPL list and similar basic needs--are raised.

And any candidate, irrespective of his religion or party, who promises to deliver on these counts, should be voted. Of course, the promise should be public and in presence of prominent citizens. I am sure, there is no dearth of dynamic persons, who can ensure basic amenities and at least make an effort towards that, after all, it's not a big bargain.

Kosovo's independence: Birth of third Muslim country in Europe, continent has Islamic link, history and heritage dating back to centuries

Though Europeans often see Islam as an alien religion, reality is that Islam has been a part of Europe for hundreds of years.  

Kosovo is the latest country to have proclaimed independence. After Albania and Bosnia, it is the third country* with a Muslim majority in Europe.

The reactions have been mixed. USA, France, Germany and some other countries have decided to recognise the fledgling nation. Some other countries including Spain, Russia and Serbia [that lay claim over Kosova] have criticised the move of Kosovan government, to unilaterally declare its independence.

The birth of Kosova should be seen as another sign of harmony between Europe and Islam. The fact that such large Muslim populace has existed in Europe for centuries, should also serve as an eye-opener for those who consider Islam as inco.mpatible with West. 

Kosovo has a population of 2.1 million (21 lakh) and 90% populace practice Islam. There is a Christian Serb minority in the country also. The new government has downplayed its religious affiliation and is all set to be a secular nation on lines of Albania.

After disintegration of Yugoslavia, and subsequent war in this region Kosovo was administered by United Nations. *Apart from these countries, Balkan region that includes Bulgaria, Macedonia and Croatia has substantial Muslim population.

Albania is a Muslim majority country in Europe. Besides, the European part of Turkey, is also part of the continent, geographically. Russia also has a sizable Muslim community. UPDATE: As per latest estimates in 2025, the Countries like UK, Germany and France have 4 million, 5 million and 6 million Muslims. 

Italy has around 3 million Muslims. This is followed by Spain that has nearly 2 million Muslims. Countries like Cyprus, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Holland and Montenegro too have a visible Muslim presence. 

[The photograph shows 'New Born' and banner of 'Kosova is born' in the capital city Pristina]

Note: The article has been updated in 2025

Reprinting caricatures: Extreme act of provocation by Denmark newspapers

The newspapers in Denmark have republished the same caricatures that had offended Muslims across the world. Their decision to print the cartoons is not a 'solidarity to the commitment to free speech, which they claim.

Rather, it is an act of provocation that shows extreme insensitivity, and criminal chutzpah. The newspapers have overstepped all limits of decency and their decision goes against the Danish values, which the Danes have been so proud of.

The caricature is not just offensive because Islam forbids pictorial depiction of Prophet, but also because the 'bomb-shaped turban' in the caricature is a fascistic attempt and such hatespeak is unimaginable in a continent where the mention of Holocaust and doubts on its veracity can land a person in jail.

Clearly, when it comes to Islam, things are different. Hurting sentiments no longer remains an issue. Given the kind of furore the cartoon controversy had generated in the past, the irresponsible reprinting can severely hurt the process of reconciliation between Muslim countries and Europe.

It will certainly anger Muslims in Europe and especially Denmark, who will naturally feel humiliated. The papers including Jyllands-Posten, Politiken, Berlingske Tidende and the Ekstra Bladet tabloid must be condemned for such cheap journalism.

Over a year ago when the caricatures were initially published, a photo and post was published on this blog about Muslims organising rallies in India and holding placards carrying the message, 'We believe in Jesus, can't you respect Muhammad?'. Any answers from Denmark?

[Photo: Picture of the office of Jyllands Posten newspaper]