Khaleequr Rahman: Shanti Bhushan-A controversial figure. Can he be j...

Khaleequr Rahman: Shanti Bhushan-A controversial figure. Can he be j...: " Shanti Bhushan The man claims to be having the clean image and the ofte..."

Shanti Bhushan-A controversial figure. Can he be justified to be on the Lokpal panel

                                                                    Shanti Bhushan

The man claims to be having the clean image and the often alleges every second person, politician, beaurucrat and the Judiciary corrupt and the same man is now standing in the cotorie and with so much of dark clouds looming over him allegedly invloved in the CD controversy, Voilation in the procedure of Farmhouse land in Noida and undervaluing the property and using undue pressure to sell the property in Allahbad therby saving stamp duty causing loss to the exchequer. This is what in brief today Shanti Bhushan is? Can a man with so many controversies be justified to be on the Lokpal bill drafting panel? This raises many questions on the integrity of Shanti Bhusan.

The CD in question has already been submitted by Amar singh to the police and the copies have been sent to different Forensic labs in France, Sweden and other places and the truth will come out soon which Mr.Bhushan has been denying. The next case is that of the voilation of the procedure by Mayawati govt. in the allotment of 10,000 sq.m farmhouse land in Noida for a meagre sum of Rs.35 lakhs thereby Bhushan influencing and blackmailing the Mayawati govt to win this favour.

The blatant incident which has come to the fore is the under valuing the property in Allahbad and forcing the owner of the property to sell that property to Mr.Bhushan. Thereby he has saved the stamp duty causing loss to the exchequer and mis-representing the facts.

The serving of the legal notice to Shri Dig Vijaya Singh ji is nothing but to divert the attention and hide the guilt. We all condemn this act of Mr.Shanti Bhushan, who is clearly involved in the above cases and have no right to continue till he is proved innocent. Where have the principles of Anna ji gone now. Why doesnt Anna ji come out in open and tender a public apology for  having proposing the name of Shanti Bhushan and defending him very diplomatically. I wonder, with these type of people representing the civil  society, we all know where we are heading. Anna Hazare should also tender an apology on behalf of Shanti Bhushan for his comments on Dig Vijay singh ji. The entire country knows his stature and the principles. In case of Karkare, he disclosed that he spoke with Karkare a few hours before the tradegy and the entire opposition created a big scene but when presented the proof, no body had the guts to apologise in public and I strongly beleive that they might have called Diggy Raja and with folded hands and apologised with him.

A lot of responsibility now comes on Anna Hazare to explain to the nation what he calls a civil society why did he propose such names for the Lokpal drafting bill.?



Khaleequr Rahman: Why Muslim Dominated seats are reserved for SC's

Khaleequr Rahman: Why Muslim Dominated seats are reserved for SC's: "It is very surprising and a well planned strategy of the people with the safron colour mind in the government that the most of the Muslim D..."

Why Muslim Dominated seats are reserved for SC's

It is very surprising and a well planned strategy of the people with the safron colour mind in the government that the most of the Muslim Dominated Seats have been reserved for SC's during the delimitation process before the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Unfortunately the muslim leadership was mum on this issue. The very unfortunate part is that the muslims take pride in organising huge rallies, massive public meetings and the next day coverage in the media and then everybody forgets that. What is important is not the show of strength on the cross roads in a public meeting but the numbers in the Assemblies and the Parliament. I would like to quote an example here that at one point of time about two decades ago, there were 29 Muslim MLA;s in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and presently the number is reduced to just 11 MLA's. Out of these 11 MLA's, seven are from the city representing the Urban population. In the entire telangana region comprising of 119 Assembly seats, except the seven MLA's from the Hyderabad city, we dont have the muslim representation either in Assembly or in Parliament from any party except the lone Muslim MP from Hyderabad. After independence, the country has achieved the secularism socially but not politically. What is the need of the hour is the Politically Secular Country for the where there is propotionate representation of each community in the State Assemblies and the Parliament. When the delimitation process was underway, our muslim leadership of the country was totally silent and those powerful succeeded in retaining their seats and the others had to sacrifice and lose in the name of the Reservation for SC's. I am not against the reservation of seats for SC's but why only the muslim dominated seats why not the other seats. A peculiar example in Andhra Pradesh in the Telangana region is that of Zaheerabad. Since 1999, a muslim MLA has been getting elected and after the delimination, this seat was reserved for SC and the Muslim MLA who was also a Minister in the Cabinet had become homeless and was dumped into the BJP's den to fight against the sitting BJP MLA.  What do we understand by this. Is this the justice meted out to muslims or is it the conspiracy of the safron brained politicians or the bearueacrats in a very well planned manner to keep the muslim represenation away from the Houses. It is a serious issue and it is high time that our muslim leadership should rise above their political affiliations and raise a collective voice in the parliament and force for reversal of these seats. I firmly believe that the SC's should get their due share but not at the cost of the muslims. SC's cant be blamed for this. Rather, it is the backward classes and SC's who need their due share which they have been getting since independce and we muslims fully support that and at the same time our interests should not be suppressed. I am quite surprised that not even a single MP of any party has raised their voice so far in this regard or even if they have, their voice has been ignored. The election commision should take cognizance of this and since we have the best electoral system in the world, it becomes all the more responsibility of the Election Commission to look into these issues and take the corrective measures which would mean justice.

It’s like killing of two birds with one stone. Constitutional requirement for one community is fulfilled at the cost of the other. Seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes in legislative bodies in the country – a constitutional obligation – but it is done in effect by diminishing the Muslims representation in the very legislatures. It’s an irony that the very constitution debars Muslims from being included in the category of Scheduled Castes. There are scores of assembly and parliamentary constituencies across the country which are reserved for SCs though Muslim population in those constituencies far outnumbers the SCs. The charge of some design against Muslims gets stronger when one finds a number of seats unreserved (general) though SCs are majority community in those constituencies. Six years back, the issue was highlighted by the Sachar Committee. “Another issue emphasized before the Committee was that a number of Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies with substantial Muslim voter population are reserved for SCs while the SC population was not high there. Contrarily, constituencies with comparatively lesser Muslim voter population remain unreserved even though they have sizeable SC population,” says the Sachar Committee Report. Attention of the Committee was drawn to the issue of Muslim concentration assembly constituencies being declared as ‘reserved’ constituencies where only SC candidates can contest elections. By this move, it was argued that Muslims are being systematically denied political participation.

The Sachar Committee went into the issue. While the Committee could not look into the issue of voter lists, an effort was made to ascertain the facts on the issue of reserved constituencies. The analysis relating to the reserved constituencies for the SC candidates in three states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal suggests that there is truth in the allegation. Data relating to the reserved constituencies for the SC candidates in three states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal was analysed by the Committee. These states have a relatively large share of the Muslim population in India. The data shows that constituencies which have been declared reserved for SCs by the Delimitation Commission in these three states are by and large those constituencies where Muslims live in greater numbers often more than 50 per cent as well as their proportion in the population is higher than that of SCs. On the other hand, there are quite a large number of other constituencies within the respective states, where the share of SCs is large, often closer to or even more than one half but these are declared as ‘un-reserved'. Arguably, this can be seen as discriminatory and certainly reduces the opportunities that Muslims have to get elected to democratic institutions.

List of Assembly constituencies with high population of Muslims but reserved for SCs and constituencies with high population of SCs but are unreserved

Assembly seat	Total Population		Muslim Population	SCs Population	STs Population	% of SCs Population	% of Muslim Population
Reserved Assembly Constituencies
Basanti	278592		114736	107602	17462	38.6	41.2
Rajarhat	145381		60108	52233	938	35.9	41.3
Nanoor	193775		64827	61803	3834	31.9	33.5
Kulpi	242752		88230	77380	141	31.9	36.3
Ketugram - I	145859		64975	39011	582	26.7	44.5
Sankrail	290924		92942	73191	1761	25.2	31.9
Keshpur	288489		76866	72536	17012	25.1	26.6
Khargram	234780		120557	55320	1918	23.6	51.3
Sagardighi	252293		156870	44992	16882	17.8	62.2
Kaliganj	290957		161705	49349	1447	17.0	55.6
Un-Reserved Assembly Constituencies
Sitai		96347	26491	64869	8	67.3	27.5
Haldibari		93867	30036	58070	254	61.9	32.0
Jalpaiguri		280927	40519	170394	16774	60.7	14.4
Kaliaganj		190019	39334	114922	8656	60.5	20.7
Khejuri - II		117438	8306	66658	819	56.8	7.1
Kharibari		88230	4128	44863	17099	50.8	4.7
Tufanganj – II		167455	22083	84790	3176	50.6	13.2
Bamangola		127252	11287	63459	25083	49.9	8.9
Gaighata		300588	18841	144293	4401	48.0	6.3
Bongaon		344044	69777	161918	10245	47.1	20.3

The Sachar Committee table is based on data from Election Commission of India, 2004 and Census of India, 2001. It was suggested to the Committee that it would be more equitable to reserve those constituencies where voter population of SCs is high rather than those where it is low and, instead, Muslim presence is high.
And the Sachar Committee had recommended establishing a more rational procedure for delimitation of constituencies.

“The Committee also recommends the elimination of the anomalies with respect to reserved constituencies under the delimitation schemes discussed in Chapter 2. A more rational delimitation procedure that does not reserve constituencies with high minority population shares for SCs will improve the opportunity for the minorities, especially the Muslims, to contest and get elected to the Indian Parliament and the State Assemblies. Apart from these two initiatives it is important to evolve other methods to enhance political participation of the Community,” the Sachar Committee had recommended but it seems no step has been taken in this regard so far. I urge our Muslim MP's to rise above their political affiliationsto raise this issue and fight for justice.



Khaleequr Rahman: Saurav Ganguly likely to replace Jayawardhane in K...

Khaleequr Rahman: Saurav Ganguly likely to replace Jayawardhane in K...: "I am happy to learn that Saurav Ganguly is likey to replace Jayawardhane as the captain of the Kochi Tuskers Kerela (KTK). Shahrukh Khan h..."

Saurav Ganguly likely to replace Jayawardhane in Kochi Tushkers Kerala(KTK)

I am happy to learn that Saurav Ganguly is likey to replace Jayawardhane as the captain of the Kochi Tuskers Kerela (KTK). Shahrukh Khan had done the biggest injustice to Saurav Ganguly by not picking him for Kolkotta Knight Riders. Ganguly should have been retained by KKR and Shahrukh Khan should not have gone in for the change of the captain by not picking up Ganguly. He is a wonderfully lovely guy and there were few players in the Indian side I used to sit and watch leaving all my engagements and Ganguly was one of them. I am happy that KTK will get a new strength and the experience with Ganguly coming as a captain.

There were few players whose game was a treat to watch. They were Azharuddin, Jadeja, Ganguly, Sachin and Laxman. I am happy that the Kochi team has realised that the services of Ganguly is inevitable in IPL for KTK. The BCCI also should seriously think of utilising the servcies of the above players for the development of the game. With the world cup victory, we should not remain on cloud nine. It is indeed a greatest victory which has brought the feel good factor in the entire country especially amidst the scams hogging the limelight and now we have something great to cheer about with the World cup victory. I am sure, the services of Azharuddin, Jadeja and Ganguly will be immensely beneficial to the youngsters and IPL also should seriously consider utilising their services. They can surely enrich the teams with their experience. The ban on Azharuddin is another issue which is long pending and it is high time that the BCCI should lift the ban freeing him to participate in the game he dedicated his life to. It is going to be in the larger interest of the game.

All the best Ganguly and we would like to see you in action again...our best wishes are with you.

Khaleequr Rahman: Joint Drafting Committee on Lokpal Bill meets toda...

Khaleequr Rahman: Joint Drafting Committee on Lokpal Bill meets toda...: " Lokpal Team Eight days after Shri Anna Hazare called off his fast demanding a stronger Lokpal law, the joint committee to draft t..."

Joint Drafting Committee on Lokpal Bill meets today in New Delhi

 

Lokpal Team

Eight days after Shri Anna Hazare called off his fast demanding a stronger Lokpal law, the joint committee to draft the bill met here today for the first time amid a controversy over a CD allegedly involving eminent lawyer and panel co-chairman Shanti Bhushan.

The meeting chaired by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was held at North Block and attended by Ministers P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal , M Veerappa Moily and Salman Khurshid from the government side and Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Santosh Hegde, Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan from the civil society side.

The deliberations came in the backdrop of a controversy over a CD in circulation which purpotedly has conversations with senior Bhushan, a former Law Minister, and politicians Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh . Bhushan has termed the CD as "clearly fabricated" but there is always a question mark about this which needs to be probed first before the committee goes ahead with the drafting of the bill to be introduced in the Monsoon session of Parliament. The main concern of everybody is how can a bill be drafted and finalised without taking the parliament into confidence.

It may be mentioned here that Anna Hazare had on Saturday last called off his fast-unto-death agitation after government conceded his demand for a Joint Drafting Committee on the legislation showing its earnestness and the commitment towards eradicating the corruption.  Rahul Gandhi is committed to pave the way for the younger generation and root out the corruption from the country.

Government said it had an open mind on the proposed legislation and hoped that discussions will pave the way for a convergence of ideas. The activists on their part said they would want the Jan Lokpal Bill to be the base for the discussions and would press for videographing of the proceedings.

The activists' side also made it clear that they would press for bringing within Lokpal's ambit Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India and bureaucrats. Though Anna Hazare was of the view that the higher judiciary should not be under the ambit of Lokpal, the activists rejected his argument and decided to argue for pressing its inclusion in the legislation.  Kejriwal said only criminal misconduct by the judges is being sought to be probed under the Lok Pal bill and not not professional misconduct.  First there has to be consensus among the civil society representatives of the lokpal bill. It seemed as if they had not done there home work properly before coming to the meeting.

Khaleequr Rahman: Gulbarga Utsav Mushaira held on April 13, 2011 in ...

Khaleequr Rahman: Gulbarga Utsav Mushaira held on April 13, 2011 in ...: "Lighting the Lamp to mark the opening of the UtsavSeen in the Pic from L to R : Mr.Ashfaq Ahmed Chulbul, Mayor Gulbarga City, Mr.Allam Prabh..."

Gulbarga Utsav Mushaira held on April 13, 2011 in Gulbarga-Karnataka

Lighting the Lamp to mark the opening of the Utsav

Seen in the Pic from L to R : Mr.Ashfaq Ahmed Chulbul, Mayor Gulbarga City, Mr.Allam Prabhu Patil, M.L.C., Khaleequr Rahman, Senior Congress Leader from A.P., Qamar ul Islaam, M.L.A. & Former Minister amd Khusru Qureishi, Chairman-Karnataka Minorities Comission

The Gulbarga District in Karnataka state is celebrating the four day long Gulbarga Utsav. It opened with the All India Mushaira on 13th April 2011 at 9 PM and went on till 2 AM. The unique feature of the Mushaira was despite the heavy rains, the entire audience sat throughout enjoying the rains. The Mushaira started with the lighting of the lamp as can be seen in the above picture. The Chief guests of the Mushaira were Shri Dharam singh saheb M.P. and former Chief Minister-Karnataka, Qamar ul Islam, M.L.A and former Minister Govt.of Karnataka, Khaleequr Rahman, Senior Congress Leader and Member-High Level Committee of Govt. of Andhra Pradesh for Monitoring and Computerising the Wakf Properties, Janab Khusru Qureishi, Chairman, Karnataka Minorities Commission and others. It looked as if the entire Gulbarga had gathered in the National College grounds in the bacdrop of Haft Gumbad.

Azm Shakeri reading his poetry

Justaju Milne ki hai...woh mere rubaru hai

Azm Shakeri read his favourite and the selected poetry. He created the lively and the electrifying atmosphere with his poetry in the heavy rains. The compering and the Mushaira management was done by Janab Mohib Kauser saheb, a very senior poet from Gulbarga, renowned internationally. The other poets who attended the Mushaira were Salahuddin Nayyar, Anjum Barabankavi, Afzal Manglori, Sohail Lucknowi, Bedharak, Shyama Singh Sama, Hina Taimuri, Zartaj Hasmi, Naeem Akhter, Hamid Akmal, Fazal Afzal, Khaiser Razzack, Khaiser Rahman, Mazher Mohiuddin, Suleman Qamar, Akram Naqqas and Jabbar Jameel.

Janab Bedharak Saheb in his typical style

The highlight of the Mushiara was the urdu dosti of Janab Dharam singh saheb. Despite the heavy rains, he sat all through and even made farmaish from Azm Shakeri and Hina Taimur. They presented their best kalaam and the crowd was cheering them and applauding them. It was as superb atomosphere and a unique experience for me. I never had thought that Gulbarga would be such a urdu loving city but I was highly impressed and the hospitality, the spirit and the respect for poets really touched my heart. Gulbarga has produced one of the best poets in India. On of them and my favorite in Mizhaiya kalaam is Suleman Khateeb. My favorite of Khateeb is " ek dost dosre dost se kehta hai: Unh barasti hai meri biwi bhi, oole girte hein jaise teenon par, Usko start kar ke dekho na. Dosra dost: Shukar Allah ka kar bhai usko start karna padhta hai, meri biwi hai self starter."

Khaleequr Rahman, Dharam Singh saheb and Qamar ul Islaam enjoying the great poetry in heavy rains fully drenched as can be seen in the picture

A view of the Dias Khaleequr Rahman

                                               One of teh poets presenting his Kalaam

                                              A great view of the audience of the Mushaira

It was a very memorable Mushaira and the poets who were at their best were Salahuddin Nayyar, Azm Shakeri, Hina Taimur and Sama ji. The Mushaira ended aroung 1.30 am.

Khaleequr Rahman: Urdu Lovers Demand Bharat Ratna for Mirza Ghalib

Khaleequr Rahman: Urdu Lovers Demand Bharat Ratna for Mirza Ghalib: "Mirza Asad Ullah Khan Ghalib Great Urdu poet Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib on gets an unprecedented support from judges, politicians, bureauc..."

Urdu Lovers Demand Bharat Ratna for Mirza Ghalib

Mirza Asad Ullah Khan Ghalib

Great Urdu poet Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib on gets an unprecedented support from judges, politicians, bureaucrats and lovers of Urdu in the recently held 12th edition of Annual International Muhaira Jashn-e-Bahar in New Delhi. They all unanimously demanded Bharat Ratan, the highest India's award, for the legendary poet posthumously. Speaking at the beginning of annual international Mushaira  Jashn-e-Bahar , a senior judge of  Supreme Court of India Justice Markandey Katju made fervent appeal to the government to bestow Bharat Ratna to Mirza Ghalib. He said that it would be a befitting and due honour for the 19th century immortal Urdu poet.

He said many eminent personalities were conferred the highest civilian award postmousehtly. His views were equally and forcefully shared by Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi, Janab Salman Khurseed and others. Justice Katju said that the Urdu was living and thriving language despite it was subjected to many injustices after independence.

Justcie Katju quoted a shair he used in a recent judgment. He said “using just one Urdu couplet led to the release of a long term Indian prisoner from Pakistani jail, this is the power of Urdu”, he said.  In a judgment justice Katju quoted Urdu couplet from a poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz: "Qafas udaas hai yaaron sabaa se kuch to kaho/ Kaheen to beher-e-khuda aaj zikr-e-yaar chale".  “Urdu was dubbed as ‘foreign’ language and certain vested interest tried to suppress it but they cannot succeed in it as the Urdu lives in the heart of the people”, he underlined.

Speaker Meira kumar said it was unfair to identify Urdu with a particular community as it lives in the hearts of Indians.  “The new generation must learn Urdu as it is best example of India’s composite and secular culture”, she said amid applause. The chief election commissioner of India S Y Quraishi said Urdu was alive and would flourish despite facing many odds. “Urdu is only pan-Indian language and linguafranca of the country” he said while admiring  Jashan-e -Bahar’s commitment to reaching Urdu to ever wider audiences..

Founder of Jashan-e- Bahar Trust, Kamna Prasad said the mushaira in its 12th year now, brought the best of contemporary Urdu verse to more than 3000 lovers of Urdu poetry. She also insisted that learning Urdu should be part of school curriculum as this language reflects India’s composite ethos.

This year’s Mushaira brings  the voice of ‘new’ Egypt to India for the first time. When Ahmad Alqadi from Cairo's Al Azhar University rendered his Urdu translation of an Egyptian poet's ode to the martyrs of his country's revolution, a sense of gloom descended over the gathering of Delhi's poetry lovers. Alqadi, who studied Urdu at the Delhi University, now teaches Urdu at the Al Azhar University, and his presence at the annual Jashn-e-Bahar mushaira brought a taste of the Egyptian revolution to Delhi.

"For the cost of a bullet, we can buy a piece of bread...," went out his translation of Egypt's famous poet Farooq Juwaida's verse that he wrote following the January 25 revolution. The mushaira jashn-e-Bahar is the biggest non-official, non-political event in the capital’s cultural calendar and brings Urdu poets from across the globe and lovers of Urdu irrespective of religion and creed. Javed Akhter, Wasim Barelvi and Shaheryar brought the evening alive with their Shayari.

Khaleequr Rahman: Karnataka Zakat and Charitable Trust - A solid fou...

Khaleequr Rahman: Karnataka Zakat and Charitable Trust - A solid fou...: "Mr.Khalil Ahmed, a successful and an internationally acclaimed entrepreneur, founded the Karnataka Zakat an..."

Karnataka Zakat and Charitable Trust - A solid foundation for a noble cause by Khalil Ahmed

Mr.Khalil Ahmed, a successful and an internationally acclaimed entrepreneur,  founded the Karnataka Zakat and Charitable Trust last year on the wisdom of collective zakat with the strong belief that such an initiative can bring about a dramatic change in the lives several of the underprivileged sections of our community through investment in their education. Mr.Khalil Ahmed, is a success story in the India's Bio-Tech industry which has given sleepless nights to the worlds established players in the Biotech industry. He worked for over a decade in the Sultanate of Oman before returning to India in 1994 to establish India's most reputed biotech firm Shantha Biotechnics. He is a true inspiration for the youth of the country in general and community in particular and specially for those who feel that they are discriminated in the society because of their minority status can take a lesson from his success and change their mindset. It was not easy for Khalil Ahmed to compete with the world leaders and the established brands in the country and the overseas markets, but his sheer dedication and hard work made him a great entreprenuer and the success touched his feet and he never let that travel to his head. There has always been a spark and spirit of the community service in him which resulted in the birth of Karnataka Zakat and Charitable Trust. Islam attaches so much importance to education that the first Ayah of Quraan e kareem which came was about education that is IQRA which means READ. The first revelation was the first five verses of Surah (chapter) Al-Alaq: "Iqra bismi rabbikalla dhi khalaq. Khalaqal insana min alaq. Iqra wa rabbukal akram. Alladhi 'allama bil qalam. 'Allamal insana malam ya’lam, " which means "Read in the name of your Lord who created, created man from a clot. Read, for your Lord is most Generous, Who teaches by means of the pen, teaches man what he does not know." This Ayah beacme the guiding force for Khalil Ahmed.

He got inspired by Hyderabad Zakat & Charitable Trust run by Janab Ghiasuddin Babukhan and Mr.Khalil Ahmed modelled KZCT on the successfully established & path breaking initiative in Andhra Pradesh by the Hyderabad Zakat & Charitable Trust (HZCT). The initiative Karnataka by KZCT will attempt to emulate the successes achieved in the past 17 years in Andhra Pradesh through the hard work of the HZCT. KZCT believes that empowerment of the underprivileged sections through education is a sure formula to eliminate poverty, establish social justice and thereby help in the nation building effort of our country. Karnataka Zakat and Charitable Trust is working across the State of Karnataka and elsewhere under the guidance and direction of the Hyderabad Zakat & Charitable Trust, in its initial formative years.

It is the monetary disadvantage that acts as a stumbling block desisting those children and youth with intellegence, zeal and track record to persue their dream of higher education and better themselves in life. The Karnataka Zakat & Charitable Trust (KZCT) is putting in all the effort in seeking and identifying these gems and assist them to glow with education and become responsible citizens capable of ferrying themselves and their families to better demographic levels while making a positive and meaningful contribution to society.

Modeled on the successful and path breaking initiative in Andhra Pradesh by the Hyderabad Zakat & Charitable Trust (HZCT) and through its invaluable assistance KZCT has launched itself in Karnataka in September 2010 with an initial outlay of around Rs. 2.5 Crores. KZCT has planned to distribute a total amount of Rs 2.2 crores among over 3,000 students in Karnataka and in the month of December 2010, about 1,200 selected students from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada received the scholarships. This a tremedous work undertaken by Khalil Ahmed and his team and I wish them and the KZCT all the success in their endeavors. Let us spread this message to one and all.

Those who would like to contribute to this great noble cause, may send their donations  by crossed cheque or DD payable to "Karnataka Zakat Charitable Trust " A/C 007605003187, ICICI Bank Limited, Jubilees Hills Branch, Hyderabad. Indian Resident Donors can also trasfer money to our bank account using the information below.

          ICICI Bank Limited

Address:Jubilees Hills Branch, Plot No.1259, Road No.36
Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad - 500033, A.P, India

• Account Name - Karnataka Zakat and Charitable TrustAccount No. 007605003187IFSC code- ICIC0000076

 May Allah swt may always allow the fire of faith burn inside us all. Ameen

Khaleequr Rahman: Congress shows its seriousness and determination b...

Khaleequr Rahman: Congress shows its seriousness and determination b...: "The Congress led UPA government under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan SIngh on Saturday showing its determinati..."

Congress shows its seriousness and determination by issuing the notification to eradicate the corruption

The Congress led UPA government  under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan SIngh on Saturday showing its determination and seriousness and standing by its commitment to fight against the corruption  issued a gazette notification constituting a joint committee headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee to draft an anti-graft Lokpal (ombudsman) Bill. Excerpts from the notification: "Government of India here by constitutes a joint drafting committee to prepare a draft of the Lokpal Bill. The joint drafting committee will consist of five nominee ministers of the Government of India and five nominees of Anna Hazare, including himself.

The five Ministers are Pranab Mukherjee, P. Chidambaram, Veerappa Moily, Kapil Sibal and Salman Khursheed. The five civil society members are Anna Hazare, Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Shanti Bhushan, senior advocate, Prashant Bhushan, advocate and Arvind Kejriwal of Parivartan.

The chairperson of the committee is Pranab Mukherjee and co-chairperson Shanti Bhushan, convener Veerappa Moily. The joint drafting committee will commence its work forthwith and involve its own procedure to prepare the proposed legislation. The joint drafting committee shall complete its work latest by June 30, 2011. The gazette notification has been signed by V.K. Bhasin, secretary of the legislative department of the law ministry. Social reformer Anna Hazare, who sat on a fast-unto-death demanding for a stringent anti-graft law Tuesday morning, broke his fast on saturday thanking the government for its commitment to implement the Lokpal bill  after the government said it would introduce the bill in the monsoon session of parliament in July 2011.

We all must hail the governemnts decision and must applaud the Congress government for this historic decision. There was negative campaign against the government's intention in implementing and enacting the lokpal bill but the government has shown and proved to the people of India that it is determined to fight against the corruption and eradicate this menace from the country.

Khaleequr Rahman: Anna Hazare should give reasonable time to governm...

Khaleequr Rahman: Anna Hazare should give reasonable time to governm...: "Intensifying his fight against corruption, noted anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday started a fast unto death demanding th..."

Anna Hazare should give reasonable time to government to implement the LOKPAL bill

Intensifying his fight against corruption, noted anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday started a fast unto death demanding that his draft of the Lokpal bill be accepted by the government.
 Ignoring an appeal by the prime minister's office (PMO), Hazare started his protest at Jantar Nantar

What is Lokpal Bill?
Lokpal Bill is a measure to conduct an investigation regarding involvements of people with high profiles (Prime Ministers, Chief Justice of India (CJI) and so on). The bill will provide speedy, cheaper form of justice to people.

The Lokpal bill will not wait for any permission from the high commission to begin the inquiry into the alleged irregularities and corruption charges against political leaders, judge's or even the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

In the proposed system, politicians will not have any say in selections of chairperson and members of Lokpal. Loss caused to government will be recovered from accused. The punishment, if found guilty will be 5 years to maximum life term in the proposed system. Right now the punishment is 6 months to maximum 7 years.

However, Lokpal Bills were introduced in the Parliament several times (1969, 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and in 2008) but failed to be passed all these times. In septemebr 2004, the Prime Minister  Manmohan Singh said that the Congress-Led UPA government would lose no time in enacting the bill. The Lokpal bill 2010 now awaits an okay from a select committee.

Present scenario:

Despite requests from many leaders including the PM Manmohan Singh not to proceed with his decision of indefinite fast, Anna Hazare kicked off his protest. Anna Hazare should have given the reasonable time to the government to implement this bill. He knows the seriousness of the Congress-led UPA government and our Prime Minister in enacting the bill.

The movement has irked various political parties that had to bear the brunt of Hazare's fiery rhetoric that doesn't seem to spare anyone. Pawar added on the future of the campaign, "The chain hunger strike will continue till April 11 and a 'Jail Bharo' agitation will be launched on April 12, whereby people and activists will court arrest."

Many star campaigners have joined the protest besides 40 or more organizations showing support to the cause. In a statement issued by the All-India Anti-Corruption Committee, "There is a need to get rid of corruption and the Lokpal bill has to be very stringent. Even the prime minister should come under the purview of this bill."

Meanwhile, one of the main targets of Hazare's criticism, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar chided, "I will be happy if you relieve me from all GoMs, including that GoM (on corruption)."

I humbly request the Hazare ji to concede to the request of the Prime Minister and co-operate with the government in implementing the bill. His hunger strike fast unto death would irk the situation and the opportunist forces would take advantage of this situation.

Khaleequr Rahman: Will Shri Rahul Gandhi's dream of a new India come...

Khaleequr Rahman: Will Shri Rahul Gandhi's dream of a new India come...: "Despite having so many communities, casts and complications, India, as a nation has achieved a lot. There is tremendous improvement in lite..."

Will Shri Rahul Gandhi's dream of a new India come true?

Despite having so many communities, casts and complications, India, as a nation has achieved a lot. There is tremendous improvement in literacy, reduction of poverty, plenty of employment opportunities, technological advancements and the world is looking at India as a future super power. But, considering the population and the competition, we need to go a very long way. We have real challenges. We need to concentrate more on integrity of the nation. We need to defeat divisive forces. We need to concentrate on reduction of corruption and we need to improve the working of our Public Distribution System. We need to focus on our R & D. We need to ensure quality education and medical aid affordably to the people below poverty line. Likewise, we have so many challenges.

Despite all the developmental activity in India, there is no much improvement in our political system. We are seeing leaders who wears costly clothes, use costly cars and who maintains thousands of people to support all their deeds. There is nothing wrong in wearing costly clothes, using costly cars and there is also nothing wrong if people support them. But, thats not the issue. Many of our leaders lack the basic understanding of our political set-up, administration and the challenges facing the country. They know as to how to influence the police officials at their locality, how to maintain relations with rowdy's and gundas and how to organize rallys to show their strength. With these kind of leadership though we have few exceptionally good leaders, India can not move further and India can never become Super Power in the world. When the politicians are attacked, they take a defence that the people criticizing politicians should enter into politics and should make the difference. Its true that our society is so complicated and its true that illogical caste or creed etc. still plays a dominant role in the society. With overall development, now, even educated are focusing at the political developments in the country and they do have the understanding of what is going on in the society now. Many educated now are in a position to make their own independent judgment of an issue irrespective of what political parties or the leaders say. But, though these people are committed for public service and though these people have all the qualities to change the system, the avenues for these committed, young and educated people to enter into politics are dismal and its a fact. There can be some extraordinary people who will make a strong push for change, but  even these people are humiliated though nothing happens to them personally even if they fail to achieve their objective.

Some leaders are making lot of money through politics and with their money; they can bring thousands of people together for their personal goals. Its shocking to Indian democracy and the people had to see all these things as silent spectators. A person who knows nothing except the wrong-deeds are making thousands of crores using their power, whereas the brilliant people and scientists are struggling to even have a decent livelihood. Good teachers make good students and we know as to how teachers have moulded many great personalities in the society. These teachers only get salary and they may struggle in life too. All these great scientists, teachers etc., are serving the society and making this country strong though they get a measured life-style. Whereas the people who are weakening this country are having a luxurious life and making thousands of crores and they are regarded in this society as VIP's. Unfortunate and this situation should change.

To change this situation and for the able and committed to enter into politics, there are two ways. Either he should contest as an independent or he can also start a political party with clear objectives. Otherwise, an established political party should recognize and allow this able and committed to service the public in one way or other. The first option will not work with the illogical perceptions of the people and the attitude of the media. There can be good media, but we have reached a situation where many political parties own media houses either directly or indirectly. Now a days, it is very difficult to find an independent media. The media has become a corporate business and there are so much overheads and the establishment expenses for them, they need to rely on the ad business and in a way, whoever is giving much business to them would demand more time and sometimes would influence the news.  This is a very dangerous issue. Media should appear to be independent and also should be independent. When compare to the other parts of the world where the media is indirectly controlled by few people, fortunately here in India, media is very much independent and the quality of news what is shown is by and large very good and impartial.

Thus, there is no chance for a person to enter into politics on his own and with his own party unless he is deceptive and unless he is wealthy. The only good option now to service the public in a meaningful way is to work under some established political party. If anyone wants to work for the betterment of the people through politics, he should understand the limitations and complications and should do his best for the people. The only prominent political leader speaking on this issue is Shri Rahul Gandhi. He is constant on this and it is very rare to see statements from Shri Rahul Gandhi which carries only politics. He talks about the importance of secularism, need to fight against divisive forces, talks to young people constantly and appraises of their responsibility to enter into politics, and also talks about the overall development and development of all regions in the Country. Though Congress is not in power in Bihar, Shri Rahul Gandhi talks about the underdevelopment in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. I firmly believe that he is trying to change the politics in this country despite the limitations and complications. Shri Rahul Gandhi is the only prominent politician asking young people to work with him and ensuring them a chance to work for the people soon. No other politician speaks on those lines. There can be critics criticizing Shri Rahul Gandhi illogically, but, he rarely responds to those and he is focused on his job.

As Shri Rahul Gandhi believes, young and talented should enter into politics if possible and should service people and should become a part of change in the country’s political system.

We can not venture having this joker like politicians who knows nothing. India is aiming to become super power in the world and for that we need to change this politics and we need to have able and efficient leaders at all levels. Pushing for right change is also very difficult in this society. The people pushing for change will struggle and the vested interests groups very often succeed. Unfortunately. Vote Bank politics should change and our politics should change. The opposition should be in a position to co-ordinate with the Government in administration and they should not always think about destabilizing the government and coming to power at any cost. We should confine our politics only to election time. As we have been seeing that for the last two parliament sessions, the opposition has not allowed any business to be transacted in the house and despite the sincere requests from the Prime Minister and the Speaker, the opposition never bothered and have wasted the important time of the parliament and the also costed exchequer very dearly on account of this. It is important that the opposition should play a more constructive role in the democratic set up and we being the largest democracy in the world should set the example for others and for those nations who are struggling to establish the democracy in their countries.

Khaleequr Rahman: Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani Congratulates Manm...

Khaleequr Rahman: Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani Congratulates Manm...: " Smt.Sonia Gandhi, Mr.Gilani and Mr.Manmohan Singh Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has displayed a good gesture and co..."

Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani Congratulates Manmohan Singh on India's World Cup Victory

 Smt.Sonia Gandhi, Mr.Gilani and Mr.Manmohan Singh

Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has displayed a good gesture and congratulated our Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on the Indian cricket team's victory in the ICC World Cup 2011 agianst Sri Lanka. India, which had reached the final stage after defeating Pakistan on March 30, won the World Cup for the first time since 1983 with a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on Saturday. Prime Minister Gilani commended the excellent performance of the Indian team throughout the tournament as well as in the final match. In his message to his Indian counter part Shri Manmohan Singh,  Mr. Gilani said that the World Cup successfully brought the cricketing fraternity even closer and made the game more popular around the world.

He also expressed the hope that the sports links between India and Pakistan would be fully restored in the near future, and that the sportsmen from both sides would continue playing their important role for peace, friendship and amity between the people of the two countries. Mr.Gilani had visited India last Wednesday to watch the Indo-Pak World Cup semi-final match in Mohali, accepting the invitation of our Prime Minister, who had also invited Pakistan President President Asif Ali Zardari as part of his 'cricket diplomacy'. Let us hope that the game of Cricket will act a catalyst in bridging the gaps between the two countries and bring them closer and like two bodies and one soul.

Khaleequr Rahman: Dhoni a great achiever

Khaleequr Rahman: Dhoni a great achiever: "Dhoni and Tendulkar in emotions Since the World Cup 2011 is concluded and Team India did an excellent job to bring the World Cup to India af..."

Dhoni a great achiever

Dhoni and Tendulkar in emotions

Since the World Cup 2011 is concluded and Team India did an excellent job to bring the World Cup to India after the waiting of 28 years. This could become possible due to the hard work, commitment and intigrity and cohesion among the players. India has shown the superb spirit of sportsmanship and the team work. The credit for all this goes to none other than one man, the darling of the nation M.S.Dhoni. What an innings he played in the finals and shown to the world how a captain should be. He has demonstrated every trait of leadership. He made all the Indians proud. He created the feel good factor in the country with this historic victory. He has re-written the history of cricket in India. He has definately been lucky but luck comes only to those who make an effort and out in their best. And thats what exacty he did. All the youngsters must learn from this victory that the victory comes only to those who beleive in themselves, have the guts to face the challenges and who lead from the front. Thats what makes DHONI a Great Achiever. We are proud of you Dhoni.

Khaleequr Rahman: India Wins Cricket World Cup - A tribute to Sachin...

Khaleequr Rahman: India Wins Cricket World Cup - A tribute to Sachin...: "India played like champions and we deserve the win.This is India's historic World Cup triumph after a gap of 28 years today.&nbs..."

India Wins Cricket World Cup - A tribute to Sachin Tendulkar

India played like champions and we deserve the win.This is India's historic World Cup triumph after a gap of 28 years today. Indians batted like truely like champions and won the World cup. No it is not unbeleivable. Indians have been favourites from the beginning of the world cup.

India beat Sri Lanka to win the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni guiding the run chase Saturday to deliver the great Sachin Tendulkar his first title in six attempts. What a gift Sachin! Dhoni scored an unbeaten 91, sharing a 109-run stand with Gautam Gambhir (97) and finishing with a giant six, as India chased down Sri Lanka's 274-6 to win by six wickets in front of an ecstatic crowd at Mumbai. India became the first team to win batting second in a final since Sri Lanka beat Australia by eight wickets in 1996. The victors passed the 275 target with 10 balls to go. There was no winning farewell to international cricket for Muttiah Muralitharan, the only survivor from Sri Lanka's '96 winning squad. Tendulkar didn't get his 100th international century but earned a cherished Cup title and he was lifted onto the shoulders of his teammates for a victory lap. "It's the proudest moment of my life," he said.

Muralitharan, the leading wicket taker in international cricket, was visibly hampered by niggling injuries that slowed him down and didn't allow him the spring he needs for the extra spin that has bamboozled batsmen for a generation. The result also made Mahela Jayawardene the first batsman to score a century in a World Cup final and end up on a losing team. The match tilted twice, with India on top at the start before some late hitting led by Jayawardene helped the Sri Lankans to a challenging 274-6. Lasith Malinga removed both Indian openers in an express pace opening spell to keep the visitors on track, but India's long batting lineup remained calm enough to keep grinding the target down.

Malinga dominated early

Malinga removed Virender Sehwag, on a leg before wicket on the second ball, and Tendulkar (18) to silence the partisan Indian crowd. But Gambhir and Virat Kohli (35) combined to revive the innings in an 82-run partnership that took some momentum away from the Sri Lankans.Gambhir was on 30 and the total at 68-2 when he played an ill-advised shot to Suraj Randiv's third ball and was lucky to survive as Nuwan Kulasekara was unable to take a catch at his feet near the long-off boundary. Tillakaratne Dilshan broke the partnership, plucking Kohli's leading edge out of the air as he lunged to his right to take a stunning return catch. Dhoni promoted himself up the order with the total at 114-3 when a captain's steadying influence was required. He passed 6,000 runs in ODIs when he reached 42 and brought up his 50 with a backfoot cover drive against Muralitharan.


Dhoni and Gambhir combined for 118 balls before Thisara Perera finally ended the first century stand of the match when Gambhir succumbed to another rush of blood, stepping down the pitch in a bid to reach his hundred with a boundary, only to lose his middle stump. That left India requiring 52 runs from 52 balls with six wickets in hand. Yuvraj Singh, named the player of the tournament for his contributions with bat and ball, held his nerve with Dhoni and finished 21 not out.

Sri Lanka's innings strong

Earlier, Jayawardene scored a calm and composed 103 from 88 balls to post only the sixth century in a World Cup final. The 1996 champions made an uncharacteristically sluggish start after winning the toss, the top three of Upul Tharanga (2), Dilshan (33) and Sangakkara (48) slightly misfiring for a rare time in the tournament. Zaheer Khan bowled impeccably and didn't concede a run in his first three overs, taking a vital early wicket to remove Tharanga as the Sri Lankans crawled to 31-1 in 10 overs. But he was expensive toward the end when Jayawardene brought up his century with consecutive boundaries in the 48th over.


And while he finished as the equal leading wicket taker in the tournament with 21, he'll be disappointed with his last figures of 2-60 after his first five overs cost him just six runs. The Sri Lankans scored 63 runs in the last five overs in a batting powerplay, including 24 in the last nine balls. Nuwan Kulasekera (32) shared a valuable 66-run sixth-wicket with Jayawardene and Thisara Perera pulled Zaheer for six on the final ball to finish unbeaten on 21 from nine balls. The match started amid some confusion when match referee Jeff Crowe ordered a second coin toss because he couldn't hear Sangakkara's call. Sangakkara won the second toss, a rarity in the international game, and was relieved to be batting first. Sri Lanka moved from 17-1 to 60 in the 17th over and Dilshan had just taken his tournament-leading tally to 500 runs when he played a Harbhajan Singh delivery onto his stumps. That brought Jayawardene to the crease, the ex-captain averaging just 33.5 in his previous six overs but the ideal man for the job. Sangakkara's dismissal, caught behind off Yuvraj Singh, could easily have been a gamechanger. At 122-3 in the 28th over, India had done much of the hard work, removing three batsmen who were among the five leading scorers in the tournament. But Jayawardene, the ex-captain, marshalled the middle-order and progressively lifted the run rate with a mix of finesse and flourishing boundaries and at least ensured a contest

Khaleequr Rahman: Khaleequr Rahman appointed on the State Govt. Stat...

Khaleequr Rahman: Khaleequr Rahman appointed on the State Govt. Stat...: "The Minister for Minorities Welfare Mr.Ahmedullah is handing over the copy of the G.O. to Khaleequr Rahman on behlaf of the Government of A..."

Khaleequr Rahman appointed on the State Govt. State Level Co-ordination committee

The Minister for Minorities Welfare Mr.Ahmedullah is handing over the copy of the G.O. to Khaleequr Rahman on behlaf of the Government of Andhra Pradesh appointing him as the member of the High Powered Co-ordination Committee.

The State government on Friday constituted a High Powered State-level coordination committee for monitoring the computerisation of records of the Andhra Pradesh State Wakf Board.  The computerisation programme, funded by the central government, is aimed at digitising all records pertaining to the Wakf Board properties for their protection and better management.  The coordination committee, headed by the principal secretary, Minorities Welfare department, comprises Finance additional secretary M Bhupal Reddy, Revenue deputy secretary V Ravi Shankar, Law deputy secretary Manmohan, and director (Communications) of IT department JV Parthasaradhi apart from the regional officer of the National Informatics Centre, Hyderabad.  President of the Foundation for Progress and Development Mohd Khaleequr Rahman and Muslim Association secretary Syed Maqbool Hussain Basha will represent non-governmental organisations in the committee. The chief executive officer of the Wakf Board will be the convener of the committee.