V. M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
Mobile : 9840462958
EXERCISE FRANCHISE
Muslim leaders including Ulama have been motivating Muslim voters – men and women – to exercise their franchise in elections stressing on the significance of the mandate in the light of the holy Quran. A Maulana even campaigned for it and said that, it is not allowed for a Muslim to avoid voting thinking that it is a worldly business." The All India Muslim Personal Law Board should interfere and tell the Muslims that there is no point in the argument of the petitioner and make its point clear to enable all Muslim women to get voter identity cards as per the rules and exercise their franchise in elections.
Published in Deccan Chronicle dated 24 January 2010.
MUSHARRAF
This refers to A Joke Too Far (DC, Sept. 16) That Mrs, Bhutto's credibility has already been eroded before her arrival in Pakistan and that General Pervez Musharraf has the strong advantage of not being branded by anybody as corrupt despite his many disadvantages after more than seven years in power are undeniable facts. However , one feels that the author is not right in assessing former cricketer Imran Khan. He may command the attention of the media for some reason or other. But he does not seem to enjoy any reputation among the masses. Perhaps he is notorious for his marital and other controversies. He cannot have any electoral advantages. Islamic parties like Jamat-e-Islami have made an inroad into Pakistan's political scene because of some failures of the present regime. There is every likelihood of these parties posing a big challenge to General Pervez Musharraf's coterie rather than any other party. The tragedy of Pakistan is that despite its 60 years of independence, there is no democracy there. It has not produced good democratic and secular leaders in the political arena. Pakistan has to go a long way to achieve secularism and democracy. It seems that General Pervez Musharraf will stay in power for some more years in one position or other, election or no election.
Published in Deccan Chronicle dated 17 September 2007.
HANEEF CLEARED
Dr. Mohammed Haneef's release from his 25 day detention in Australia is a big relief not only to his family but also to all those people who believe that no innocent person should be punished and no guilty spared. One can imagine the agony he must have undergone for no fault of his and due to the highhandedness of the Australian authorities. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh deserve all praise and thanks for his timely statement. Mr. L.K. Advani's criticism of the Prime Minister in this matter was in bad taste. The action taken against the doctor shows how biased the Australian authorities are when dealing with Indians. Australia should allow Dr. Haneef to return home to Bangalore and pay suitable compensation to him for keeping him in police custody for so long.
Published in Deccan Chronicle dated 29 July 2007.
VEIL ISSUE
This refers to A speck of dust (DC, June 24) Thank you Mr. Akbar, for your informative write-up on the 'veil issue' based on historical facts. One wonders how it was possible for Ms. Patil to make disparaging remarks about the veil, distorting historical facts. She didn't even think of the secular and pluralistic character of the country. It reminds me of the teachings of ancient Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar who once said: "One should use his/her tongue carefully without hurting anybody as the fire burns can be healed and not the burns inflicted by the tongue and that even an ignorant person is alright in the midst of the learned people if he or she keeps silence." Ms. Patil, if elected, is going to be the President of India. It is therefore necessary for her to be cautious while expressing her views. Let her take a lesson from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the most popular President of India, to understand how a President should behave and function.
Published in Deccan chronicle dated 25 June 2007.
MUSLIM MARRIAGES
Islam ordains men to give meher and not to take dowry at the time of marriage. The Muslim organisations particularly mosque Jamaats should try to reform the Muslim community by encouraging dowry free and simple marriages. The poor should not try to imitate the rich in conducting lavish marriages and the rich should become models in solemnising simple marriages as per Islamic doctrines. According to Islam, the rich and scholars must show the right guidance to the community.
Published in Deccan Chronicle dated 8 September 2008.
PROUD INDIAN
The clarification by filmmaker Akbar Khan on his brother Feroze Khan's excellent speech in Pakistan is really surprising to people like me who have read and appreciated it very much. I don't think there is anything wrong in his remarks. He said that he is a proud Indian and we endorse it as we also feel so. He said that Pakistan was formed in the name of religion but Muslims are killing Muslims there and we feel he is right. India is our motherland which is the most beautiful in the world. To a Muslim like me its beauty and importance is more and more because Prophet Mohammed endeavoured his best and and succeeded in bringing people of different backgrounds together by saying that there is no difference between man and man on the basis of colour, creed or any such thing except on the basis of good character and piety. A Muslim should willingly respect people of all cultures and religions as the humanity is the same and one.
Published in The New Indian Express dated 10 May 2006.
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