Page 39 - English Tehelka Issue 12 - June 30, 2018

OpiniOn
minorities

Are rights of minorities in stopped Namaz, damaged prayer

mats and attacked the Imam. A year
India in jeopardy? ago, these elements had demol-
ished graves inside the mosque
compound. The DMC notices have
been issued to DCP South, SDM
What had started as an idea has today metamorphosed to a full- South and Delhi Waqf Board to
dilemmas fledged mission. Scope of Delhi Minorities Commission extends to file a report about what action has
been taken against the anti-socials
Dalit Sikhs in Shillong and anyone unwary of their minority rights who have attacked the Imam and
HumrA have stopped Namaz in the mosque
QurAISHI for few days. The notices have
he AAP government in has worked for several international also asked what action was taken
Delhi has achieved two organisations, told me recently that against the destruction of graves by
The Delhi-based writer wonders. First, a sizeable there has been no political interference anti-socials a year ago.
and columnist’s books number of government nor even the slightest trace of politi- DMC is reaching out to even
include Kashmir: The schools in the Capital city cal pressure. Perhaps, with that in the those residing beyond Delhi. Why
Untold Story. She co- T are running on par with background or foreground, this team not! After all, its duty is to protect
authored a series of the public schools. The examination is daring to do its utmost, to see that the human being. And, as the com-
writings with the late results of the last academic year and fair play and sense prevails to keep the photo: tehelka archives munal violence went uncontrolled
Khushwant Singh and the parents’ reaction have gone ahead fabric intact. • Protecting a “laboratory” of communalism and various Delhi areas over the dec- in Shillong, the DMC Chairman, Dr
her short stories are to show that if a government genuinely In May, DMC issued a notice to Zee of religion-based politics, that “Tali- ades…DMC has ordered the manag- Zafarul Islam Khan wrote letters
part of anthologies. wants, it can make the educational in- News where it pointed, “While by- Humanity: DMC bani thinking has crossed Afghani ing director of the channel to reply to the Chief Minister of Meghalaya
The views expressed stitutions stand out, even with the basic polling was on in Kairana parliamen- is reaching out borders into Pakistan and from by June 12 with proofs to show that Conrad Sangma and Deputy Com-
to those resid-
are her own fees and facilities. tary constituency, Zee News telecast ing beyond there it has infiltrated into India”. Bawana residents are “Bangladesh- missioner of Shillong Peter Sansan
The other sphere is the AAP govern- a report showing Kairana’s Muslim Delhi. Why Not! Such comments are a clear attempt is” and “Rohingyas”…The Commis- Dkhar asking them to take strict
ment’s earnestness to reach out to the women wearing Talibani burqas. The to defame a community, propagate sion has also issued a notice to DCP action against the mobs attacking
minority groups and communities. The report, anchored by Sudhir Chaudhry disaffection against it and concoct North District to file a report about Sikhs in Shillong: “We believe it is
indication became clear in last year July on May 28, repeatedly targeted elderly a fake story which has no root or the action taken against the said a clear failure of the law and order
when Arvind Kejriwal-led government Muslim women of Kairana who wear basis since the kind of burqas the broadcast, especially against one machinery to control the situation
appointed three fearless members in burqas which the channel dubbed channel refers to are centuries-old Ganga Ram who is allegedly behind and bring the culprits to justice.
the Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) as “Talibani burqas”. It alleged that in India. This clearly is an offence spreading rumours that residents The Delhi Minorities Commission
— Dr Zafarul Islam Khan as chairperson, the Muslim community of the area is under IPC Section 295/A (deliberate of the area are “Bangladeshis” and hopes your administration will rise
and Anastasia Gill and Kartar Singh inspired by Wahabism and that they and malicious acts intended to out- “Rohingyas”. to the occasion and discharge its
Kochhar as members. are trying to propagate the “ideology rage religious feelings of any class I am left amazed by the DMC’s responsibilities without discrimina-
Of course, it would have been too of Taliban.” Amid images of Muslim by insulting its religion or religious outreach. Even the slightest intru- tion. Mobs must never be allowed
soon then to write about this team but, women wearing burqas were flashed beliefs) and IPS Section 505 (spread- sion into religious places of wor- to rule the streets of any part of
now, as it has completed a year in the like “Bharat mein Talibani soch ki ghu- ing false rumours). The broadcast ships and dargahs has been halted our country. Rule of mobs means a
office, we can see that for the last several spaith?” (Talibani thinking’s intrusion was also an attempt to polarize by them. Two very recent cases: total failure of the lawful authori-
When news trickled down that
The DMC is not months the team has been taking on into India), “Talibani burqe ka itihasik communities and influence voters the land of Dargah Shah Kaleemul- ties to discharge their duties under
on communal lines while a by-
DNA test” (Historic DNA test of Tali-
the police and the administrative au-
Constitution and Law. We hope a
just directly thorities in matters related to minorities bani burqas), “Dekhein Kairana mein election was on in the area, which is lah in New Delhi would be convert- strict message will be conveyed
a punishable offence under Section
where their rights are sabotaged, dented Talibani burqe ka kya kaam” (Look, what
ed into a “heritage parking” to serve to the mobsters and their political
naming and or even bypassed. And now, more re- Talibani burqas are doing in Kairana). In 171/C of IPC.” the visitors of the nearby “Heritage supporters that their tactics will not
pinpointing the cently, the Delhi Minorities Commission addition to the broadcast, the channel the Sudarshan TV channel over a haveli”, the Delhi Minorities Com- be tolerated at any cost and for any
The DMC also issued notices to
has also issued notices to two particular also published a report same day on
mission has issued a notice to the
consideration.”
‘wrongdoers’ television channels for provocative and its website with the headline: “Dheere report it telecast about residents of Delhi Waqf Board to explain what While, the AAP government
but also issuing communal slants in their reportage. dheere Bharat ke Musalmanon ko kat- Bawana in North Delhi. The notice steps have been taken by the board is trying to reach out to the aam
to protect the Dargah land and why aadmi (common people)... I won-
tar banaya jar aha hai” (Slowly, Indian
reads, “The channel had aired a pro-
The DMC is not just directly nam-
notices so ing and pinpointing the ‘wrongdoers’ Muslims are being made extremists). It gramme on May 11 which dubbed this land is required when a parking der why we insist on playing fault
that the cases but also issuing notices so that the has claimed that Indian Muslims are be- Bawana residents as “Bangladeshis” lot exists nearby Subhash Maidan? finding game! It has become almost
and “Rohingyas” although these
cases reach a logical conclusion. In fact,
In another case, Delhi Minorities fashionable to find fault with every-
ing Talibanised which it called a “karwa
reach a logical Zafarul Islam Khan, a PhD holder from sach” (bitter truth) and said that attempt Indian citizens have been officially Commission has issued suo motu thing, even when it’s a doer!
conclusion Manchester University in Islamic Stud- is being made to change the DNA of In- settled here by the government notices regarding Gulshan Masjid letters@tehelka.com
agencies after relocating them from in Mehrauli where anti-socials
ies and Editor of the Milli Gazette, who
dian Muslims, that Kairana has become
Tehelka / 30 june 2018 38 www.Tehelka.com Tehelka / 30 june 2018 39 www.Tehelka.com
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