Haji Ishtiyaq's arrest: Anger against Mayawati govt

Haji Ishtiyaq, a shopkeeper, in Baghpat, was picked up by the police on January 27, just because of a 'prediction' in a mocking tone, that Mayawati government may not last long. His arrest has now become a major issue in Western UP.

The conversation between Haji Ishtiaq and a BSP worker who was drinking near his shop, that ultimately led to the arrest, is reproduced here*:

Haji Ishtiaq: Making merry, aren't you!
BSP Worker: Ya, it's our government & we will make merry for next 15 years in the state. (two more terms)
Haji Ishtiaq: Let's see how long Mayawati and her government last

On the complaint of the BSP worker, Ishtiaq was later arrested, charged under sections meant for anti-national activities, linked with terrorists and thrown into jail. He was even charged of conspiracy to kill Mayawati.

But the issue has now snowballed into a major controversy. Nearly 50,000 attended the Mahapanchayat, which was addressed by Ajit Singh and Kokab Hameed. Maulana Masood Madani has criticised the arrest and lambasted the Muslim MLAs of BSP for betraying the community.

'Democracy has been murdered in UP', he said. Haji Ishtiyaque's arrest is just an example of the high-handedness of UP police and its zeal in linking Muslims with terrorism. Political parties and several groups have come out in support of Ishtiaq.

(*on the basis of newspaper reports and statements of Haji Ishtiaq's supporters)

List of Hindi Blogs: Directory of Hindi bloggers

Hindi Blogosphere is quite an interesting place. I often read a few Hindi blogs and the directness of the language and the angst of some bloggers apart from the intensity of their emotions strikes me.

Many of my friends in vernacular media keep asking me about Hindi blogs. I promise that I will recommend them a few names but then I forget. There is no directory though there are aggregators. Here is a list of some interesting Hindi blogs which I read:

Mohalla [Avinash]
Nirmal Anand [Abhay Tiwari]
Masijeevi [Masijeevi]
Udan Tashtari
Hashiya

Qasba [Ravish Kumar]
Dhai Akhar [Nasiruddin]
Tuti Hui Bikhri Hui
Ravi Ratlami
Bhadas

And a few more blogs:

Azdak [Pramod Singh]
Ashiyana [Rajeev Ranjan]
Kakesh by Kakesh
Saasta Sher
Maykhana [Munish]
Radiovani
Nahar
Kabaadkhaana
Amir Dharti Gharib Log [Anil Pusadkar]

If you are not content with the list, which is a personal collection of the best blogs. You can go to blog aggregators and read dozens of blogs every day and scores of fresh posts.

Blogvani
Narad

I can remember these bloggers right now. Later this list may be extended. But for someone who is new to Hindi blogosphere, it is advised to go to the links in the sidebar of the above mentioned blogs and find new and interesting blogs.

Though I belong to Lucknow and my mother tongue is Urdu, I find it disturbing that there are hardly a few blogs in Urdu from India. However, it is gladdening to see Hindi blogs increasing in numbers and devanagari script getting popular on the web especially among the bloggers

Will Azharuddin enter politics, join TRS!

Former Indian captain, Mohammad Azharuddin had a meeting with Telengana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader K Chandrashekhar Rao, and the latter gave him an invitation to join his party.

KCR wants Azhar to contest as Mayor for the election of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. Later he told jounralists that Azhar is quite keen on politics. 'Azhar is interested in politics and as he belongs to the region, I extended him the invitation to join our party', said TRS leader.

Azhar was also informed about TRS' programmes regarding minorities, schemes for protection of Waqf properties and promise of more reservation for Muslims in jobs. Though Azhar hasn't given any indication, sources indicate that he may take a pluge in politics, after testing waters.

TRS wants to make inroads into MIM stronghold of Old Hyderabad. But it is debatable whether Azhar will have any impact on the voters. He may have millions of admirers for his batting but Hyderabadis haven't forgotten the divorce given to Naureen and his disgrace in the aftermath of the matchfixing controversy.

Arresting innocent Muslims in UP & failure of Lucknow Conference

The "Allegation on Muslims and Terrorism" conference in Lucknow, had raised expectations among Muslims that their voice would be heard.

And though the event could be considered successful in terms of the participation of over a hundred Ulema and Muslim intellectuals, the desired objectives couldn't be achieved.

Firstly, it failed to make any impact on State politics. The decision not to invite any politician was laudable but the event didn't make any headlines in the media. The fact is that situation is UP is quite bad at the ground-level.

Everybody wants sternest possible action against terrorists but it is unacceptable the way police implicate innocent (of course, poor) youths in false cases, just to show their success in cracking a case.

But this is happening in UP regularly. The arrest of Aftab Alam Ansari was one such incident. There have been several such cases. Ironically, those arrested are immediately branded terrorists and even the lawyers refuse to fight their case.

This is the perhaps the most unique situation where a person who gets framed, has no option, but to accept the verdict. The cops are forced to make such arrests because of the politicial pressure after any major strike.

In the case of Aftab, who was subjected to torture for over two weeks, and later DGP Brij Lal had to admit that his arrest was a mistake and he was innocent, the government didnot take action against erring cops and nobody apologised.

What they fail to realise is the extent of anger among Muslims, who feel leaderless and voiceless. The communalisation of policemen in UP is an old story but the lawyers have now taken the lead, and branded the community as radical, giving no option of justice to the arrested person.

It is bad for the psyche of any community. And it was in this backdrop that the seminar-cum-national conference was held. Maulan Rabe Hasan Nadwi and leading Islamic scholars spoke at the conference, which was organised by All India Milli Council. Unfortunately the organisers failed to draw attention towards the state machinery's brazen bias towards Muslims.

Two reports in the Hindu about this conference here and here.

The 'communal' scrap-dealer

A junk-dealer comes at your door and when you ask the price at which he will buy the old newpapers, he says "Don't worry, I will give the right money, I am not like Muslims, who are cheats".

Now, if you are a Muslim, will you be angry, hurt or get into a serious introspective mode about yourself, your community and the society?

Let me explain the situation. It didn't happen to me. We are the single Muslim family in the entire locality. I was away. My wife was selling the papers and a neighbourhood lady (not Muslim) who was passing by, asked my wife 'yeh log taulne mein be-imaani karte hain' (Take care these people don't weigh properly).

It was in this context that Mr Kabaadi said that 'ham nahin karte, yeh sab Musalman karte hain' and a bit more. My wife was too shocked and couldn't control her anger. She said that she was also a Muslim and questioned him, how he could be so judgemental about the entire community.

The guy appeared embarrassed but still went on to say...'maiN voh daadhi wale musalmano ki baat kar raha hun'. (I am talking about the beareded Muslims...not the ones like you!).

To this my wife gave him a piece of her mind. Some other neighbours and our domestic help also scolded him. Later he left in a huff. Had I been there, I may not have scolded him but my wife, who is much more rational and always considered it too to petty to judge someone on the basis of religion or caste, was astonished at the manner the junk-dealer could spell out his biases so openly.

She also gave him the rest of the papers without accepting the money, saying that 'hum log to be-imaan hote hi hain'. She took it to her heart and was upset the whole day. I think in her place I may not have reacted so strongly. But I can understand her anguish. It's better to give vent to your anger in such situations.

Though I don't think the guy was communal. Firstly, he was not expecting to come across a Muslim family in the slightly posh locality. Secondly, it could be his business rivalry with Muslim junk-sellers (there are lot of Muslims among kabaadis). But the ease with which he could spell it out, openly before any stranger, was surprising.

It simply illustrates the inherent biases in our society. In Maharashtra blame the Biharis for the ills or in Kolkata, the Marwaris. Of course, it is even better to blame Muslims for all the ills. Muslims are already branded, as fundamentalists, producing too many kids and found more in jails.......ek aur tohmat sahi....be-imaani ki

So what should I, as an individual do, to lessen this impression.... Try to be even more fairer in my dealings, which I think I already am. Blaming others won't help. Isn't it time Muslims at all level seriously address this image problem.

Shall we not try for more interaction with people belonging to other communities and go extra mile in helping everybody. Ghettoisation has already divided Hindu and Muslim localities in most cities and that's the reason for growing hatred and misconceptions. Let's try and make more friends....

Or if you have any suggestions, readers of this blog!