News Analysis India

Tag: Quran

  • UP police book rioters who went on a rampage after sacrilege incident 

    By PTI

    SHAHJAHANPUR (UP): An FIR was lodged on Saturday against 18 named and 300 unidentified people for rioting after a copy of the Quran was found burnt in a mosque here, police said.

    A large number of people gathered at the mosque and held a demonstration on Wednesday after the Quran was found burnt.

    With the help of CCTV footage, the accused, Taj Mohammad, was identified the next morning and arrested.

    When police reached there, the demonstrators raised slogans and tore the banner, and posters present in the area and set them on fire, Superintendent of Police S Anand told PTI.

    Citing the FIR lodged by Beri chowki incharge Pranjal Singh Yadav, the SP said the demonstrators also blocked the road.

    The shopkeepers of the area downed their shutters and the residents closed their doors and started running around for safety which led to hindrance in government work.

    After lodging the case against 18 named and 300 unidentified people, investigations have started in the case, the SP said.

    On Friday, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Rajesh Awasthi had given a memorandum to the Superintendent of Police and demanded that action should be taken under the Gangsters Act and the National Security Act (NSA) against those who tried to disturb peace over the incident.

    SHAHJAHANPUR (UP): An FIR was lodged on Saturday against 18 named and 300 unidentified people for rioting after a copy of the Quran was found burnt in a mosque here, police said.

    A large number of people gathered at the mosque and held a demonstration on Wednesday after the Quran was found burnt.

    With the help of CCTV footage, the accused, Taj Mohammad, was identified the next morning and arrested.

    When police reached there, the demonstrators raised slogans and tore the banner, and posters present in the area and set them on fire, Superintendent of Police S Anand told PTI.

    Citing the FIR lodged by Beri chowki incharge Pranjal Singh Yadav, the SP said the demonstrators also blocked the road.

    The shopkeepers of the area downed their shutters and the residents closed their doors and started running around for safety which led to hindrance in government work.

    After lodging the case against 18 named and 300 unidentified people, investigations have started in the case, the SP said.

    On Friday, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Rajesh Awasthi had given a memorandum to the Superintendent of Police and demanded that action should be taken under the Gangsters Act and the National Security Act (NSA) against those who tried to disturb peace over the incident.

  • “Muslims welcome at Garbas, if Quran permits them to pursue idol worship,” says MP Usha Thakur

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: Just five days after she stated that entry in Garba Pandals will be allowed only to those possessing authentic ID proofs to prevent such venues from becoming a medium of ‘Love Jihad,’ Madhya Pradesh’s culture and tourism minister Usha Thakur has now said, “Muslims will be welcomed at Garbas if their sacred scripture Quran permits them to pursue idol worship.”

    “Muslims are most welcome to Garbas, provided they have faith in idol worship and their holy scripture Quran permits them to pursue idol worship. They aren’t being invited to Garbas, but if they are so high in faith for the Garbas, then they should have faith in idol worship, which should be allowed by their sacred scripture Quran as well. Also, Muslim men, who’ve faith in pursuing idol worship will only be welcomed at Garba venues, if they come along with their female family members,” Thakur told journalists in Bhopal on Tuesday.

    She reiterated that no one will be allowed at any Garba venues across the state without authentic identity proof. “We’re writing to all district collectors, requesting them to ensure that entry at Garbas during the coming Navratri celebrations is only allowed to those, who carry authentic ID proofs. This will stop those who hide their actual identity from entering the Garbas.”

    Just five days back, Thakur had said in Gwalior, “Whoever comes to the Garbas should possess authentic identity proofs, without proper ID proofs, entry will not be allowed in Garba Pandals.”

    “Garbas in the past had turned into a big medium of Love Jihad activities, but now all concerned stakeholders have become very alert about it. Just to ensure that no one enters the Garba venues, hiding real identity, no one should be allowed entry into the Garba pandals without proper ID proofs,” she had added.

    While asking the Garba organisers to ensure strict implementation of ‘No Entry without ID proof at Garbas,’ the minister had said, “This is a salaah (advice) as well as naseehat (instruction).”

    Importantly, in 2013, while she was the BJP MLA from Indore-III seat of Indore district, Thakur, ahead of Navratri celebrations had demanded a ban on entry of non-Hindus, particularly Muslims at the Garba venues, for preventing Muslim men from seducing Hindu girls and women. She had then demanded making Aadhar and other ID proofs mandatory for entering the Garba venues to prevent Muslim men from entering the Garba venues, by posing themselves as Hindus.

    In 2017, an umbrella group of Hindu festival organisers in Bhopal, the Hindu Utsav Samiti too had demanded from the district administration in the state capital to make possession of Aadhar documents necessary as ID proof for entry into the Garba pandals to prevent the entry of non-Hindus (particularly Muslims) at those venues.

    Garbas which form a seminal part of Navratri celebrations are organized across Madhya Pradesh during the Sharadiya Navratra, but they are most popular in Malwa-Nimar/West MP region, including Indore and adjoining districts.

    BHOPAL: Just five days after she stated that entry in Garba Pandals will be allowed only to those possessing authentic ID proofs to prevent such venues from becoming a medium of ‘Love Jihad,’ Madhya Pradesh’s culture and tourism minister Usha Thakur has now said, “Muslims will be welcomed at Garbas if their sacred scripture Quran permits them to pursue idol worship.”

    “Muslims are most welcome to Garbas, provided they have faith in idol worship and their holy scripture Quran permits them to pursue idol worship. They aren’t being invited to Garbas, but if they are so high in faith for the Garbas, then they should have faith in idol worship, which should be allowed by their sacred scripture Quran as well. Also, Muslim men, who’ve faith in pursuing idol worship will only be welcomed at Garba venues, if they come along with their female family members,” Thakur told journalists in Bhopal on Tuesday.

    She reiterated that no one will be allowed at any Garba venues across the state without authentic identity proof. “We’re writing to all district collectors, requesting them to ensure that entry at Garbas during the coming Navratri celebrations is only allowed to those, who carry authentic ID proofs. This will stop those who hide their actual identity from entering the Garbas.”

    Just five days back, Thakur had said in Gwalior, “Whoever comes to the Garbas should possess authentic identity proofs, without proper ID proofs, entry will not be allowed in Garba Pandals.”

    “Garbas in the past had turned into a big medium of Love Jihad activities, but now all concerned stakeholders have become very alert about it. Just to ensure that no one enters the Garba venues, hiding real identity, no one should be allowed entry into the Garba pandals without proper ID proofs,” she had added.

    While asking the Garba organisers to ensure strict implementation of ‘No Entry without ID proof at Garbas,’ the minister had said, “This is a salaah (advice) as well as naseehat (instruction).”

    Importantly, in 2013, while she was the BJP MLA from Indore-III seat of Indore district, Thakur, ahead of Navratri celebrations had demanded a ban on entry of non-Hindus, particularly Muslims at the Garba venues, for preventing Muslim men from seducing Hindu girls and women. She had then demanded making Aadhar and other ID proofs mandatory for entering the Garba venues to prevent Muslim men from entering the Garba venues, by posing themselves as Hindus.

    In 2017, an umbrella group of Hindu festival organisers in Bhopal, the Hindu Utsav Samiti too had demanded from the district administration in the state capital to make possession of Aadhar documents necessary as ID proof for entry into the Garba pandals to prevent the entry of non-Hindus (particularly Muslims) at those venues.

    Garbas which form a seminal part of Navratri celebrations are organized across Madhya Pradesh during the Sharadiya Navratra, but they are most popular in Malwa-Nimar/West MP region, including Indore and adjoining districts.

  • Syed Wasim Rizvi has filed review against dismissal of his plea on holy Quran’s verses: SC told

    The plea of Rizvi has drawn massive backlash with several Muslim outfits and Islamic clerics protesting against the former chairman of the Waqf Board.

  • Muslim outfits welcome SC’s decision to dismiss Rizvi’s plea seeking removal of Quran verses

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: Muslim clerics and organisations on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision of rejecting a plea seeking removal of 26 verses from the Quran, saying this proves that religious books are treated with honour in the country.

    The apex court termed as “absolutely frivolous” the petition filed by former Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi and dismissed it with a cost of Rs 50,000.

    “We welcome the decision of the Supreme Court. This proves that religious books are being treated with honour in the country. It will increase the confidence of Muslims in the Constitution and in the judiciary,” All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Mulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali told PTI.

    He also demanded that the government take strict action against Rizvi so that “no one can raise questions on religious books in the future”.

    FULL REPORT | ‘Absolutely frivolous’: Supreme Court on Rizvi’s plea to remove Quran verses, hands Rs 50,000 fine

    All India Shia Personal Law Board spokesperson Maulana Yasoob Abbas said that they congratulate Muslims of the country on this verdict.

    “We trust our judiciary and it will continue to give justice in the future too so that no one can raise a finger on Islam or any other religion,” he said.

    On Monday, a bench of Justices R F Nariman B R Gavai and Hrishikesh Roy rejected the petition in which Rizvi alleged that these 26 verses of Quran promoted terrorism.

    In his plea, Rizvi stated that Islam is based on the concepts of equity, equality, forgiveness and tolerance but due to extreme interpretations of the said verses of the holy book, the religion has been drifting away from the basic tenets.

    Majlist Ulema-e-Hind’s general secretary Maulana Kalbe Jawwad termed the Supreme Court’s decision “historic” and said it will increase the trust of Muslims in the Constitution.

    “I expected the same from the Supreme Court. It will be a lesson for forces creating disturbances. By imposing a cost, the court stopped other such elements from doing such things in the future,” he said.

    Jawwad demanded strict action against Rizvi.

    Terming Rizvi an “opportunist”, he said, “I hope he will be sent to jail soon for corruption in Waqf properties in his regime.

    Last month, an FIR was registered in Bareilly against Rizvi for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of Muslims with his petition in the top court.

    The FIR was registered at the Kotwali police station following complaints by Anjuman Khuddam-e-Rasool secretary Shan Ahmed and an organisation known as Ittehad-e-Millat council.

  • ‘Absolutely frivolous’: Supreme Court on Rizvi’s plea to remove Quran verses, hands Rs 50,000 fine

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Monday termed as “absolutely frivolous” a petition filed by former UP Shia Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi seeking removal of 26 verses from the holy Quran and dismissed it with a cost of Rs 50,000.

    A bench of Justices R F Nariman B R Gavai and Hrishikesh Roy rejected the petition in which Rizvi alleged that these 26 verses of Quran promoted terrorism.

    In his plea, Rizvi has stated that Islam is based on the concepts of equity, equality, forgiveness and tolerance but due to extreme interpretations of the said verses of the holy book, the religion has been drifting away from the basic tenets.

    ALSO READ | Muslim outfits welcome SC’s decision to dismiss Rizvi’s plea seeking removal of Quran verses

    The plea of Rizvi has drawn massive backlash with several Muslim outfits and Islamic clerics protesting against the former chairman of the Waqf Board.

    Last month, an FIR was registered in Bareilly against Rizvi for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of Muslims with his petition in the top court.

    The FIR was registered at the Kotwali police station following complaints by Anjuman Khuddam-e-Rasool secretary Shan Ahmed and an organisation known as Ittehad-e-Millat council.

  • Row erupts as viral video shows Congress leaders pledging allegiance to Quran in MP

    Express News Service
    BHOPAL: A political row erupted in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh over a viral video that showed Congress leaders and workers in Indore pledging allegiance to the Quran to fight the upcoming municipal polls.

    Not only the ruling BJP leaders but a prominent Muslim religious leader in Indore has also objected to using the Quaran’s name in political activities.

    On the other hand, while the state Congress leaders have tried to play down the matter by saying that the Indore city party unit president committed the act by mistake, the Indore city unit president himself has said the religious oath was rendered to party workers at the internal party meeting, keeping in mind the demographic nature of the municipal ward/locality.

    The viral video pertaining to an internal party meeting possibly pertains to the Muslim-dominated Chandan Nagar locality in the western part of Indore. A bunch of local Congress leaders, including possible mayoral candidates and Indore-I legislator Sanjay Shukla, and the party’s city unit president Vinay Bakliwal, are seen standing on the stage.

    In the video, later the city unit president Vinay Bakliwal is seen administering the holy Quran’s oath to the party workers and leaders for unitedly backing the party’s official nominee for local municipal councilor’s post and the Indore-I legislator Sanjay Shukla for the mayor’s post.

    Ruling BJP leaders, including MP minister for tourism and culture Usha Thakur, Vidhan Sabha’s Pro Tem speaker Rameshwar Sharma and state BJP spokespersons Umesh Sharma have slammed the Congress leaders for rendering the Quran’s oath to its Muslim party workers in Indore for preventing the possibility of sabotage by its own ranks in the coming municipal polls.

    “The video once again exposes the Congress’s long-standing tradition of pursuing the politics of appeasement,” said MP minister Usha Thakur, who had won in 2003 from the Indore-I assembly constituency (in which the minority community dominated Chandan Nagar area is located).

    The Indore-based state BJP spokesperson Umesh Sharma, meanwhile, said “The video show that Congress leaders don’t trust their Muslim party workers, which is why they are rendering oath of the Quran to their party workers in the minority community dominated area.”

    A prominent Muslim religious leader of Indore, the Indore’s Shahar Qazi, Dr Ishrat Ali, objected to the use of religion in politics. “Use of religion by anyone from any community is impious. What’s the need for rendering oaths in religion’s name at any political event, it’s totally wrong and condemnable,” he maintained.

    Embarrassed by the viral video, Narendra Saluja, the state Congress leader and media convener of state party president Kamal Nath said, “Congress believes in all religions and all religious texts, our city unit president has committed the act mistakenly out of ignorance.”

    The Congress’s Indore city unit president Vinay Bakliwal (who is seen rendering the oath over mike in the video), however, termed the entire issue an internal matter of the Congress, which is being unnecessarily politicized by BJP. 

    “The video pertains to the party’s internal meeting held around 20 days back. Indore houses 85 municipal wards. Similar internal meetings of Congress workers to unitedly back the party’s official candidates in the upcoming municipal polls have already been held in around 48 municipal wards, where depending on the demographic nature of the area different oaths are rendered to party workers.

    “I can send you videos in which party workers have been rendered oath of Lord Mahavira, Lord Parshuram, and the sacred river Ganga and Narmada at other similar meetings to unitedly back the party’s official nominees in the municipal polls,” Bakliwal said on Tuesday.