A CULTURAL TALIBAN IN SECULAR BHARAT
and/or www.mantra.com/jai
Friday, January 1, 2010
A CULTURAL TALIBAN IN SECULAR INDIA
By V Sundaram
Friday, January 1, 2010
I proudly assert my inalienable, indivisible, immutable, and
inexorable constitutional right to be a practicing Hindu. Yet, seeing
the conduct of E Ahmed, Union Minister of State for Railways, at a
recent public function organised by the Indo-Japan Chamber of
Commerce and Industry in Chennai, I am constrained to raise these
questions. Are we living in Islamic Pakistan? Are we living in
Islamic Bangladesh? Or are we living in Taliban-controlled
Afghanistan? Let me move from this macrocosm to the microcosm. Are we
living in the Muslim-majority Malappuram District in Kerala, rightly
described by some journalists as a mini-Pakistan in India?
http://newstodaynet.com/images/stories/columns/sharpshot/2010-images/0101-sun1.gif
Union Minister of State for Railways E Ahmed
I am raising these issues because the Union Minister of State for
Railways, Ahmedwho recently participated at a public seminar on
'Status of Infrastructure', organized by the Indo- Japan Chamber of
Commerce and Industry in Chennai refused to light the Kuthuvilakku as
a traditional and well-established part of the inaugural ceremony.
The Union Minister caught the other dignitaries and the organisers of
the function off guard when he declined to accept the candle offered
to him to light thekuthuvilakku on the podium. It is reliably
understood that one of the organisers told the press that the
Minister refused to light the lamp because it is an un-Islamic
action. It is understood that the Minister told some of the helpless
and totally clueless organizers; 'The Muslim community does not light
lamps. It is against Shariah, the code which governs Islam'.
I understand that some time back, P K Kunha-likutty, a Muslim League
leader who was Kerala's Industries Minister, courted controversy when
he refused to light the lamp while inaugurating a state function at
Thiruvanan-thapuram. The famous playback singer K J Yesudas who was
also one of the guests at the same function, walked out protesting
against it.
The Cheraman Mosque, Kodungallur in Kerala has an ancient oil lamp
which always burns and whichis believed to be more than a thousand
years old.Every day people of all religions bring oil for the lamp as
offering. This is one of the few mosques in Kerala which allow entry
for people of other religions. In recent years, the mosque has
observed vidyarambham, a Hindu initiation ritual marking the
beginning of a child's learning. I am mentioning this so that Union
Minister E Ahmedcan use his authority for getting a fatwa issued
against the managers of this ancient Mosque for violating the tenets
of Islam!!
The anti-Hindu ways of Ahmed were very well known in Kerala even
before he became the Union Minister of State for Railways. After
becoming the Union Minister of State for Railways, he is functioning
like a Mughal chieftain. Many organisations like the Vishwa Hindu
Parishad have already publicly condemned this Hindu-hating Minister
for having issued instructions to Railways officers not to doGanesha
Puja, breaking of coconut, etc before starting of new trains,
inauguration of tracks, bridges, etc. He has banned lighting of
traditional oil lamps during inaugurations. Likewise, garlanding of
trains, anointing them with sandal paste, sindoor, etc. have also
been banned. Railway stations have been discouraged against doing
puja to electronic panels etc. during 'Vijayadasami' and 'Durga
puja'.
Finally, he has ordered the closure of temples in Railway compounds
and is planning their demolition. This anti-Hindu move of Ahmed has
caused deep religious resentment and intense anger among the 25 lakh
strong railway staff and Hindus at large. I am presenting below the
shining symbols of Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma which have been
deliberately denigrated by Ahmed!!
http://newstodaynet.com/images/stories/columns/sharpshot/2010-images/0101-sun2.gif
Garlanding of Railway
Trains disapproved!
http://newstodaynet.com/images/stories/columns/sharpshot/2010-images/0101-sun3.gif
Symbols disapproved by Ahmed!!!
While crores are being spent on 'Haj' even basic amenities are not
being provided to the eight crore plus Sabarimala pilgrims, by the
Indian Railways. These Hindu pilgrim are treated as stateless persons
by the Ministry of Railways! VHP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan has
described this anti-Hindu attitude of this despicable anti-Hindu
Union Minister as a threat and challenge to Hinduism. He has rightly
charged E Ahmed of communalising a national asset like Railways. He
called for immediate restoration of the withdrawn ancient Indian
customs and traditions, failing which RSS and VHP will launch
nationwide massive agitations. I spoke to a very important VHP leader
from Kerala to know more about the blatently anti-Hindu ways of E
Ahmed. He said: 'What more can be expected from Ahmed whose close
relative is a jehadi suspect in the Bengaluru blasts and who is
hiding in Gulf, thanks to Ahmed and the UPA Government!'
Seeing the conduct and opposition of this Union Minister to the
lighting of Kuthuvilakkuat a public function in Chennai, I am
reminded of this savage manner in which the Talibans of Afghanistan
destroyed the two 6th century statues of standing Buddhas carved into
the side of a cliff in the Bamyan valley in the Hazarajat region of
Central Afghanistan.
I am presenting below the photograph of President of India
FAKHRUDDIN ALI AHMED lighting a Kuthuvilakku while inaugurating
Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre in 1974.
http://newstodaynet.com/images/stories/columns/sharpshot/2010images/0101-sun4.gif
President FAKHRUDDIN ALI AHMED lighting a Kuthuvilakku in 1974
I am presenting below another picture relating to the lighting of a
Kuthuvilakku by Minister for Health & Medical Education, Mian Altaf
Ahmad lighting the lamp on 6th Annual Dental Conference on Sunday.
Agriculture Minister, Ch Mohammad Ramzan is also seen in the picture.
http://newstodaynet.com/images/stories/columns/sharpshot/2010-images/0101-sun5.gif
The Minister for Health & Medical Education, Mian Altaf Ahmad
lighting the lamp at 6th Annual Dental Conference. Agriculture
Minister, Mohammad Ramzan is also seen in the picture
Finally, I would like to conclude this story by giving a photograph
of President Obama lighting a Kuthuvilakku in the United States of
America in the august presence of a Hindu Swami in Ochre robes.
http://newstodaynet.com/images/stories/columns/sharpshot/2010-images/0101-sun6.gif
President Obama lighting a Kuthuvilakku
Ahmed once spoke about the Bombay blasts of November 2008, he took
special care to avoid any reference to the fact that a Jewish Rabbi
and his wife were also killed by his beloved Islamic terrorists from
Pakistan!!
(The writer is a retired IAS officer)
More at:
http://newstodaynet.com/printer.php?id=20828
Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti
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