Khaleequr Rahman: Free speech: Only an act in India?

Khaleequr Rahman: Free speech: Only an act in India?: The story of two college-going girls being arrested for an innocuous post depicts an intolerant India and a dangerous trend. Shah...

Free speech: Only an act in India?

The story of two college-going girls being arrested for an innocuous post depicts an intolerant India and a dangerous trend.

Shaheen Dhada and Renu Srinivasan, the two arrested girls

Slightly overcome by sentiment, one is reminded of iconic American singer Johnny Cash's famous line: 'I don't know where we went wrong...'

Doubtlessly, millions of netizens in India too would today be identifying with Cash's emotion even as the story of two college-going girls being arrested for an innocuous Facebook post dominated news headlines across the print and electronic media. Almost thumbing their noses at the rights provided to Indian citizens under the nation's sacred Constitution, Mumbai police had on Monday arrested two girls.

Shaheen Dhada was held for posting a Facebook comment that questioned the logic behind shutting down an entire city in the wake of a Bal Thackery’s death. She had written: 'People like Thackeray are born and die daily and one should not observe a bandh for that. We should remember Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev, two martyrs of India's independence struggle.'

Her friend, Renu Srinivasan, was arrested for merely 'liking' the Facebook update.

Bizarre? Well, welcome to 21st century India, the global powerhouse in information technology and the land of astonishingly inflexible I-T laws. It is only here that one can be arrested, no matter how young or harmless one is, for as insignificant a thing as questioning something that does not really make sense.

And we take pride in calling ourselves the world's largest democracy!

The arrest of the two girls - who were later granted bail following nationwide furore and outrage over the 'illegal' confinement - also brings into sharp focus the Section 66 of the amended Information Technology Act.

This almost Draconian law states that transmission of any text, audio or video that is offensive or has a menacing character can land a sender in jail. The punishment will also be attracted if the content is false and has been transmitted for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger or insult.

Nowhere have any clear definitions of these purportedly offensive words been given, leaving everything wide open to contrasting interpretations.

The girl who posted the post got her Facebook account deactivated for fear of a further backlash from the Shiv Sainiks. She and her friend both apologised profusely, regretting the incident and saying that Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray was a great man.

However, they also wonder what wrong, or crime, did they actually commit. 

This sets a bad, and dangerous, precedent and shows India in poor light in the world. Such instances demonstrate that despite its 'unity in diversity' slogans and 'tolerance towards all' axioms and 'fastest growing economy' claims, India largely remains shackled to archaic beliefs and dogmas and one has to think twice before expressing one's view on any eminent personality, irrespective of how innocent the opinion might be.

The two girls who were arrested were told by the Mumbai police that they had 'hurt religious sentiments'. We already know what the girl had posted: one wonders how in the world can it be construed as something that hurts religious sentiments.

The scared girls say they have apologised for their actions because they fear for their and their families' safety and hurting someone was not their intention.

These should not be the words of a fearless 21-year-old girl who posted what she thought was the correct thing to do. But what other alternative does the poor girl have when a violent mob of vandals attacks and ransacks her uncle's orthopaedic clinic in Mumbai, causing damages over Rs 2 million. 

The police action of arresting the girls and the goons' violent act were criticised profusely and under heavy pressure, the girls were granted bail. A probe too has been ordered into the arrest, but will that be enough to heal the scars on a young mind? 

We are taught to be fearless and say the right thing. We have been told that free speech is our fundamental right. Wonder if these are just plain words, or is their import more significant: something on which the foundations of this nation were laid.

Such incidents tend to shake up our belief systems and question all that we learnt about our democratic values.

Meanwhile, Union Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal -- who is the main architect of the I-T Act that has been giving Indian netizens ulcers -- termed the arrests of the two girls 'illegal' and said that the cops had acted in haste and were wrong in detaining the girls. Minister of State for IT and Telecommunications Mr.Milind Deora slammed the Mumbai police for acting in haste for arresting two girls for their facebook post. Mr.Deora said that the question isn’t about amending 66A of the IT (Information Technology) Act, its about preventing misuse by the police, who clearly acted in haste and applied wrong section of IPC and the IT Act. This was written by Mr.Deora on his social networking site Twitter. The statements of people like Mr.Sibal and Mr.Deora do make us feel that we have the right people sitting at the right place but they need to change the wrong people from the right place.

Be that as it may, even as cyberspace and right-minded people criticise this abhorrent act, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has said that his party supports the arrest of the two young women. 

"We support the police's action," Sanjay Raut said, adding, "the Facebook comments could have led to a law and order situation."

A global PR campaign to sell India as a tourist destination to foreigners has the tagline 'Incredible India'. But lately India hardly appears to be incredible; it seems to be metamorphosing into an intolerant entity.

From our leaders fuming at the slightest provocation to khap panchayats doling out punishment to those who dare go against their 'rules', India is in danger of slowly turning to a regressive state.

Why does the Pakistan cricket team that will soon tour India to play three ODIs and two T20 games have to wait for clearance from religious fanatics? Why does someone get arrested merely for jotting their thoughts on Facebook?

Threats like this are a grave danger to India as a few self-appointed moral guardians seek to stifle our freedom and have taken it upon themselves to correct all that is 'not correct' in their antiquated books. Trends like these if not nipped in the bud will not only embarrass at the global high table that we aspire to sit at, but also push us to the brink of a Talibanised society.

And we will not be remembered for being the largest democracy but as the largest anarchy in the world.

Courtest Anirban Choudhury

Khaleequr Rahman: Sonia Gandhi ji asks partymen to work together for...

Khaleequr Rahman: Sonia Gandhi ji asks partymen to work together for...: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Smt.Sonia Gandhi and Shri Rahul Gandhi Congress president Smt.Sonia Gandhi made it plain and simpl...

Sonia Gandhi ji asks partymen to work together for 2014 elections

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Smt.Sonia Gandhi and Shri Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Smt.Sonia Gandhi made it plain and simple to leaders and ministers that they will have to work in cohesion if the party has to retain power in the next general elections scheduled in 2014 but not ruled out next year. "With 18 months left for the next general election, both the government and the party will have to work cohesively together to secure a renewed mandate," Mrs.Gandhi said in her concluding remarks at the party's review-cum-strategy meeting held in this Haryana town bordering the national capital.

Billed as an informal 'Samvad Baithak' (brainstorming session), the meeting discussed ways to create better synergy between the Congress and the United Progressive Alliance government, particularly in the months ahead of the 2014 general elections. 

The meeting was attended by 66 people, including ministers and Congress Working Committee members.

To facilitate better coordination in the party for various activities, a coordination panel with three specific groups have been formed and will be announced shortly. Mrs.Gandhi also said that the party and the government needed to do much more so that benefit of the various flagship social welfare programmes reached the poor and the needy. Earlier, Mrs.Gandhi asked all ministers to get cracking on fulfilling the promises made in the 2009 manifesto.

"Those of you who are in the government should get down to implementing the work left from the promises made in the 2009 manifesto," Mrs.Gandhi said.  "Sometimes, party leaders are dissatisfied as the ministers do not pay attention to their concerns and suggestions," said Mrs.Gandhi.  "There should be a continuous dialogue between party leaders and those in the government." She asked ministers to spend more time at party offices and at party events whenever they travelled to a state, especially those ruled by the opposition.

Mrs.Gandhi did not mention foreign equity in retail but said the government had to take some difficult decisions recently and this must be explained to the people. She also urged the party and the government to rebut false charges being levelled by the opposition. 

Shri Dig Vijaya Singh ji is the only leader in the Congress party who has exposed Anna and the Kejriwal besides exposing the RSS and the BJP.

Khaleequr Rahman: Mohammed Azharuddin thanks Almighty Allah for the ...

Khaleequr Rahman: Mohammed Azharuddin thanks Almighty Allah for the ...: Mohammed Azharuddin celebrating the AP High Court's Verdict with his brother in law Mohammed Khaleequr Rahman and his staff at his offic...

Khaleequr Rahman: Mohammed Azharuddin celebrating the AP High Court'...

Khaleequr Rahman: Mohammed Azharuddin celebrating the AP High Court'...: Mohammed Azharuddin celebrating the AP High Court's Verdict with his brother in law Mohammed Khaleequr Rahman and his staff at his offic...

Mohammed Azharuddin thanks Almighty Allah for the court Verdict

Mohammed Azharuddin celebrating the AP High Court's Verdict with his brother in law Mohammed Khaleequr Rahman and his staff at his official residence in New Delhi

As the Andhra Pradesh High Court Thursday overturned the life ban imposed on him by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin humbly said he was grateful to the board for whatever cricket he played.

Azharuddin said he always believed in the "almighty Allah" and his conscience was clear during his 12-year long battle to clear his name of the match-fixing charges.

"I am grateful to the Indian cricket board for whatever cricket I have played. It is all because of them. I had no complaints against the board during my playing career. I have got a lot in life from cricket," Azharuddin told reporters at his official residence here.

Azharuddin said he was never hurt with the BCCI's action. "I was never hurt with their action. That was their line of thinking. I can't blame them for that," he said.

Azharudding said he was looking forward to work with the BCCI to develop Indian cricket.
"I am open to working with the BCCI. But it is up to them," he said.

Azharuddin, now a Congress MP from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, said he played the game honestly and was a relieved man as the court struck down the BCCI's ban as "illegal". The BCCI Dec 5, 2000, banned Azharuddin and Delhi cricketer Ajay Sharma for life from playing professional cricket on charges of match-fixing.

"I have always played the game honestly and with command. Today I am a relieved man after what I have suffered for the last 12 years. I fought this battle for so long with patience. It has been a tough battle and I am grateful to everyone who has supported me during this difficult period."

As soon as the news broke out, Congress party workers and fans burst crackers at his residence near Lodhi Gardens. Amidst the huge media presence, party colleagues and friends came with bouquets to congratulate him. It was certainly early Diwali at C-1/12, Lodhi Garden.

But amidst the celebrations and cracker fire, Azharuddin remembered his younger son Ayazuddin and his nephew Ajmal, who died last year in a road accident.

"The last year has been very tough. Today I want to be happy with my elder son Abbas. I wish the judgment had come a bit early, I celebrated the news with my brother in law Khaleeq who was with me when I got a call from my advocate informing that the AP High Court has set aside the ban imposed by BCCI and termed it as illegal. We thanked Allah for this verdict and then I remembered my grand father Mohd.Vajehuddin. The first call I made was to my father and mother and then I spoke to my son Abbas and my sisters and brothers and the near and dear ones" he said.

Asked who all from the cricket fraternity supported him during the last 12 years, Azharuddin said: "I always got support from Raj Singh Dungarpur, Kapil paaji and Kamal Morarka." When the BCCI banned him, Azharuddin was left stranded on 99 Tests. Asked if he regrets not having completed 100 Test matches, Azharuddin said: "I think I was probably destined to play 99 Test matches, hence played that many. I believe what has to happen, will happen." Azharuddin, however, regretted not having scored more than 22 Test centuries. "I have 22 centuries. I think the way I started with three consecutive centuries, I should have got around 27-28 centuries. But I have no regrets. I led the team for nine years with success. That is how life is," he said. The former India captain also thanked the Congress party for its support. "I am grateful to the party for the support. Three years ago when I decided to join politics, they always believed in me. I didn't know abc of elections but the party stood by me during the tough time," he said.

Azharuddin had challenged the Indian cricket board's decision in the Hyderabad civil court, which upheld the ban. He then moved the Andhra Pradesh High Court against the lower court's order. His lawyers argued that the BCCI imposed the ban without any evidence. Azharuddin, one of India's most successful captains, played 99 Tests and scored 6,215 runs during his career. He also played 334 One-Day Internationals scoring 9,378 runs in his 15-year international career.

Courtesy: News Agency

Khaleequr Rahman: A Tribute to the Great son of India Moulana Abul K...

Khaleequr Rahman: A Tribute to the Great son of India Moulana Abul K...: Maulana Azad was born in Mecca on 11 Nov 1888 and died in New Delhi on 22 Feb 1958. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad ranks among the top build...

A Tribute to the Great son of India Moulana Abul Kalam Azad

Maulana Azad was born in Mecca on 11 Nov 1888 and died in New Delhi on 22 Feb 1958.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad ranks among the top builders of modern India and among the top freedom fighters, who dedicated his entire life to liberate India from the British colonial rule. Much has been written about this legend among Indians of his century. He was not only enlightened, erudite, wise and humble, he was also a man who often led from the front and set personal examples for others. Much has been written about Azad in the last six decades. Today let us explore how some top Indian leaders viewed him, and what were his own views.

How Others Viewed Moulana Azad:

Mahatma Gandhi: "Maulana Azad is the most forceful, truthful, and fearless satyagrahi and fighter against oppression and injustice that I have come across".

Jawaharlal Nehru: "Though I am grateful to all my companions, I would like to mention especially Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, whose erudition has delighted me incredibly, and has sometimes overwhelmed me. In Azad along with the good qualities of the past, the graciousness, the deep learning and tolerance, there is a strange and unique mixture of the urges of today and the modern outlook".

"Maulana Azad was a very special representative in a high degree, of the great composite culture which has gradually grown in India. He represented the synthesis of various cultures which had flown in and lost themselves in the ocean of Indian life and humanity, affecting and changing them and being changed themselves by them. In that sense, I can hardly conceive of any other person who can replace him, because the age which produced him is past."

Moulana Azad's Own Views:

"I am a Muslim and profoundly conscious of the fact that I have inherited Islam's glorious tradition of the last fourteen hundred years. I am not prepared to loose even a small part of that legacy. The history and teachings of Islam, its arts and letters, its culture and civilization are part of my wealth and it is my duty to cherish and guard them. But, with all these feelings, I have another equally deep realization, born out of my life's experience which is strengthened and not hindered by the Islamic spirit. I am equally proud of the fact that I am an Indian, an essential part of the indivisible unity of the Indian nationhood, a vital factor in its total makeup, without which this noble edifice will remain incomplete."

" If the whole world is our country and is to be honored, the dust of India has the first place. If all mankind are our brothers, then the Indians have the first place."

"Not only is our national freedom impossible without Hindu-Muslim unity, we also can not create without it, the primary principles of humanity. If an angel were to tell me: 'Discard Hindu-Muslim unity and within 24 hours I will give freedom to India' I would prefer Hindu-Muslim unity. For the delay in the attainment of freedom will be a loss to India alone, but if the Hindu-Muslim unity disappears, that will be a loss to the whole humanity."

"It was India's historic destiny that many human races, cultures, and religions should flow to her, and that many a caravan should find rest here... One of the last of these caravans was that of the followers of Islam. This came here and settled for good. In India everything bears the stamp of the joint endeavors of the Hindus and Muslims. Our languages were different, but we grew to use a common language. Our manners and customs were dissimilar, but they produced a new synthesis. No fantasy or artificial scheming to separate and divide us can break this unity."