by Ram Puniyani
Can terrorism be labeled or given the prefix of a holy color associated with religious sentiments? This debate came to the surface with P. Chidmbaram stating, "There has been a recent uncovered phenomenon of saffron terrorism that has been implicated in many bomb blasts in the past. My advice to you is that we must remain ever vigilant and continue to build, at both Central and state level, our capacities in counter-terrorism," to the top policemen (August 25, 2010). There was a strong reaction to this from the Hindutva parties, parties working for the goal of Hindu Nation, BJP and Shiv Sena. The Congress spokespersons were also in a quandary, one of them supported the statement and the other one disowned it, saying that terrorism has just one color black. BJP spokesperson demanded apology. Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray demanded resignation of Mr. Chidambaram, while his father, the supreme dictator of Shiv Sena Bal Thackeray, demanded to know the color of bloodshed in Kashmir and Delhi anti Sikh violence.
Chidambaram’s statement has a background of multiple acts of terror coming to light since the Malegaon blast of Sept 2008, when role of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Swami Dayanand Pandey, and Swami Aseemanand came to surface. It was Hemant Karkre, Chief of Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad, who successfully unearthed the whole conspiracy by these saffron clad people. They had other associates in Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit, Retired Major Upadhayay and many others, who are working for the goal of Hindu Rashtra. This blast was preceded by many similar one’s in which associates of Abhinav Bharat, Sanatan Prabhat and Bajrang Dal were suspected. Just to recall, when this conspiracy by all those inspired by the ideology of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ came to surface, there was a great discomfort in BJP-Shiv Sena RSS quarters. Shiv Sena mouth piece Samana stated ‘we spit on Karkare who is investigating this case’. On the other hand a major BJP leader stated that Karkare is anti National (Deshdrohi). Same Karkare was killed when the terror attack took place in Mumbai on 26/11, 2008. The real undercurrent of this complex story is yet to be unraveled and recognized fully, still the situation leading to the death of Karkare led the then minority affairs Minister A R Antulay to say that there might have been terrorism plus something, which led to the killing of Karkare the man investigating these terror blasts.
It is after this event that the word Saffron Terror, Hindu terror came to be coined and got wide currency. This prefixing of religion and a holy color of a religion came in the backdrop of wide usage of another word Islamic terrorism, Jihadi terrorism, the words coined by American media and picked up world over. Surely these terminologies Islamic terrorism and Hindu terrorism are misnomers. The word Jihadi Terrorism and Saffron terrorism have been used to describe a pattern in these acts of terror. Jihadi word was a deliberate concoction as Jihad does not mean killing, it stands for striving for betterment etc.
What about Saffron Terrorism, the term used by Chidambaram and many other scholars-activists-journalists? It can be explained in the context of this word, saffron, being high jacked by the believers of ‘Hindu Nation’, the believers of Hindutva, a political ideology using the identity of Hindu religion. One knows that to use the word Hindutva is fraught with dangers. It is a politics but gives the impression of being a religion. This word was coined by Savarkar, the ideologue of Hindu Mahasabha. As per him it means whole of Hinduness, race (Aryan) geographical area between Sindhu to Seas and Culture (Vedic). This was a word parallel to political Islam, which was made the base of politics of Muslim League. Muslim League used a green flag, Hindu Mahsabha used saffron flag. Later RSS from 1925 picked up the ideology of Hindutva to attain Hindu Rashtra.
In contrast to Indian tricolor, RSS insisted on using Saffron flag. Saffron color which stands for renunciation and devotion in Hindu tradition was usurped for political goals, the goals which were opposed to the goals of Indian National Movement. Indian National Movement was struggling for plural, secular democratic India, while the bearers of green flag, Muslim league wanted and Islamic Nation and those waving saffron flag wanted Hindu Nation, both these political currents were a throw back to times when the concept of democracy, human rights was absent and the status of dalits and women was subordinate to men of high social status.
During the decade of 1980, RSS, VHP and associates launched their campaign for Ram Temple and there was a blatant use of religious imagery and symbols for political goals. As such the political goals of RSS progeny, the agenda of Hindu nation harps to the values of Manu Smiriti in modern form. Surely this politics asserts the supremacy of social system prevalent in ancient times. No wonder, Ambedkar burnt the Manusmirit and later drafted the Indian Constitution to project the values of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
RSS and company used the symbols of saffron flag in its mobilization campaigns all through 1980s and 1990s. There was extensive use of saffron stickers for political propaganda for Ram Temple and Hindu Rashtra. RSS has a whole wing of assorted saffron clad sadhus, asserting that Hindu holy books have a primacy over Indian legal system; Indian Constitution. VHP, to which these sadhus belong is the other major RSS associate. VHP stated that decision of the Holy, saffron clad, Sadhus is more important than that of Indian courts. In nutshell saffron color, the color associated with religious sentiments came to be abused by this political outfit for its political goals. No wonder its politics came to be associated with saffron color. During NDA regime when BJP’s Murli Manohar Joshi was communalizing the school text books and education system, it came to be labeled as Saffronization of education. It is pity that a holy color of renunciation has been associated with a political ideology.
The present statement by Chidambaram is just a continuation of the popular association of the word saffron with Hindutva-RSS politics in the political arena. In the present era of monopolar World, dictated by the ambitions of US greed for oil and plunder of the global resources, politics has been given the veneer of religion. That’s why they use the word ‘Clash of Civilizations’ for their political goals. That’s why so far Islam and Muslims have been demonized. U.S. and large section of globe, India in particular are in the grip of Islamophobia. It is time we see the sanctity of religions and oppose the use of religious symbols, colors and terminologies for political goals.
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August 29, 2010
August 23, 2010
People's Tribunal on Kandhamal opens in Delhi - Press release 22 August 2010
National Solidarity Forum
MEDIA RELEASE: 22 August 2010, New Delhi
`
TRIBUNAL ON KANDHAMAL OPENS IN DELHI
Initial Testimonies highlight abject failure of state machinery
New Delhi: The 3-day National Peoples Tribunal (NPT) on the Kandhamal communal violence began today at the Constitution Club, New Delhi here with some 400 people in attendance which included 95 survivors from Kandhamal. The NPT is being organised by the National Solidarity Forum, a coalition of over 65 organisations and peoples’ movements that have come together to highlight the plight of victims and survivors; and attempt to bring justice. The NPT includes 15 jury panel having expertise in the field of housing, law, media, culture and administration.
The NPT was preceded by the inauguration of an exhibition of paintings, photographs and burnt remnants from the carnage of 2007 and 2008. Lyricist Javed Akhtar while inaugurating the exhibition mentioned that it was shameful that incidents such as the Kandhamal carnage against religious minorities continue to happen with alarming frequency in India. ‘As citizens of this democracy, we should hang our heads in shame’, he said.
Father Ajay Kumar Singh from Kandhamal, himself a victim of the violence, provided a historical view on the emergence of right wing forces in Orissa which showed that their rise has been part of a systematic project by the Hindutva forces.
The first deposition was by Kanakalata Nayak whose husband was brutally killed by goons from the Bajrang Dal led by local politicians. Despite filing a case with the police and deposing before the court, she mentioned that the criminals were immediately given bail and continue to roam around the area, often intimidating her. Jury members including Former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court A P Shah raised several clarificatory questions in order to understand the response of the police and judiciary.
Among the people who deposed was the Archbishop of Cuttack Raphael Cheenath who spoke about how the constitutional right to freedom of religion has been violated in Kandhamal.
The other depositions by dalit and adivasi women and men from Kandhamal included several instances of killing, rape, destruction of churches and property. All of the varied depositions have one common thread. They point to the abject failure of police, judiciary and the Orissa Government to protect its weakest and poorest citizens.
The tribunal hearings will conclude on 24 August when the jury is expected to issue a set of recommendations.
For more information contact: Dhirendra Panda, Cell: 09437385757;
Email ID: nptkandhamal@gmail.com , dhirendrapanda@gmail.com, Address:
A-124/6, First Floor, Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi, India - 110 016
August 20, 2010
Mosque near Ground Zero!
Mosque near Ground Zero!
Ram Puniyani
The memories of 9/11, 2001 have haunted not only the US but the whole of the World, as it changed the direction of global politics and the way people look at Islam and Muslims. This debate was brought forward again recently (August 2010) by a section of US society in the wake of proposed Islamic Cultural Center, near ground zero; the place where the World Trade Center was located. It has been presented as if a mosque is being constructed at ground zero, this will add insult to the injury, it will be a victory of global jihad, and it is a sign of Islamic expansionism. The opinion amongst large sections as reflected in the statement of political figures like Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, opposed the construction. Barrack Hussein Obama initially pitched for the mosque and later in the face of hysterical attack from the likes of Palin, retracted to say that Muslims too have the right to practice their religion like anybody else, stopping short of openly supporting the construction of mosque as a part of Islamic Cultural Center, near Ground zero.
To begin with it is not a mosque; it is a cultural center, with prayer rooms as well. Also it is not at the ground zero; it is two blocks away and has been duly cleared by the competent authorities. The main promoters of the project, Cordoba Initiative1, named after the 10th Century Spanish City, where, Christians, Muslims and Jews lived in harmony; aim to reverse the extremist ideology, to promote American values of multiculturalism and peace. This initiative and its main movers are believers of moderate Islam, condemning the violence which some have perpetrated in the name of Islam. Few blocks away there is another mosque in the same area. In New York, where half a million (5 Lakh) Muslims live, there are many a mosques. So, why such a strong reaction to this proposed cultural center, mosque?
One recalls the attackers of 9/11 2001, were no representatives of Islam. Also in the attack on twin towers many a Muslims were also killed. Osama is not a representative of 135 Crore Muslims of the World. He was part of the Al Qaeda, which was propped up by US to counter the Russian attack on Afghanistan. The version of Islam used to indoctrinate the Muslim youth was the most orthodox and conservative version, the Salafi one, prevalent in parts of Saudi Arabia. Saudi regime in turn is an ally of US, as US has a long term contract with Saudi rulers to extract oil from its wells. This version of Islam is far away from humanistic interpretation of Koran and distorts the words, Kafir and Jihad in particular. As such word Kafir stood for one who hides truth, one who used to attack the new converts to Islam, in a hidden manner. This word was distorted to mean a non believer in Islam. Jihad means striving, striving for overcoming personal and social evils. It was distorted to mean killing of non-Muslims. The version of Islam used in Madrassas set up in Pakistan by US, led to formation of Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda version of Islam promotes killing of innocent people, while Koran, Sura5 Ayat 32, teaches that killing of even a single innocent person is like killing the whole humanity.
Unfortunately to pursue its interests in the oil zone US machinery merrily distorted Islam and also picked up the most backward version of Islam to be introduced in the US supported Madrassas. Now like Frankenstein’s monster, the products of these Madrassas are creating havoc in this region. In the aftermath of 9/11 US media also coined the word ‘Islamic terrorism’ and the result of this was that terrorism got associated with Islam and Muslims in the popular mind. Today time has come to reverse this process and harp on the liberal and moderate tendencies of all religions, rather than promoting the orthodoxies and extremism of religious tendencies. Those using religion for political goals use the extremist version of religions. In contrast the saints of all religions have harped on moderate, liberal versions, focusing more on moral values contributed by religions.
During last decade in US the Muslims have been demonized and singled out. The Muslims from Middle Eastern Region and South Asia have been the particular targets. The theory of ‘Clash of Civilizations’, the antagonism between religions has been made popular. The alliance of religions in the arena of morality and alliance of civilization in the arena of culture and material development has been undermined. The result is that in a section of people this negative image of Muslims has been drilled very deep down their minds. There is nothing like global Islamist authority taking over US through this cultural center. The proposed center aims to promote intercommunity relations and promote moderate version of Islam, far away from the one propagated by the likes of Osama bin Laden. In US itself most of the liberal Muslims and Muslim groups have condemned the act of terror by any name.
As such US state apparatus seems to have used the demonization of Islam and Muslims to enhance its lust for controlling oil wells in the area. It is due to the subtle policies of US state that the particular ‘picture’ of Muslims has been planted in average peoples mind. U.S. as a hegemonic power has been resorting to such demonization all through. As Noam Chomsky points out US state has been “Manufacturing Consent’ to pursue its imperialist goals. During cold war era, it had demonized the Communists due to which McCarthy launched his hunt of Communists in the era of 1950s. The “Hate” against Muslims propagated by various conduits is resulting in the present anti Mosque outbursts of various people in US. In this scenario, there is a glaring ray of hope in the form of Obama’s support for Muslims rights to practice their religion. Obama is appealing for de-linking of Al Qaeda from Islam, “The Al Qaeda’s cause is not Islam-it is a gross distortion of Islam”. Unfortunately even he buckled down under the pressure of section of society, to just reiterate Muslims right to practice their religion rather than an open support for Islamic Cultural Center, with Mosque in that. One hopes the path of peace prevails over the one of Hatred and there is an end to ‘Hate other’ propaganda, prevailing as an undercurrent in US, and pave the path for peace and amity amongst communities, pave the path for progress of mankind as a whole.
--
Ram Puniyani
The memories of 9/11, 2001 have haunted not only the US but the whole of the World, as it changed the direction of global politics and the way people look at Islam and Muslims. This debate was brought forward again recently (August 2010) by a section of US society in the wake of proposed Islamic Cultural Center, near ground zero; the place where the World Trade Center was located. It has been presented as if a mosque is being constructed at ground zero, this will add insult to the injury, it will be a victory of global jihad, and it is a sign of Islamic expansionism. The opinion amongst large sections as reflected in the statement of political figures like Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, opposed the construction. Barrack Hussein Obama initially pitched for the mosque and later in the face of hysterical attack from the likes of Palin, retracted to say that Muslims too have the right to practice their religion like anybody else, stopping short of openly supporting the construction of mosque as a part of Islamic Cultural Center, near Ground zero.
To begin with it is not a mosque; it is a cultural center, with prayer rooms as well. Also it is not at the ground zero; it is two blocks away and has been duly cleared by the competent authorities. The main promoters of the project, Cordoba Initiative1, named after the 10th Century Spanish City, where, Christians, Muslims and Jews lived in harmony; aim to reverse the extremist ideology, to promote American values of multiculturalism and peace. This initiative and its main movers are believers of moderate Islam, condemning the violence which some have perpetrated in the name of Islam. Few blocks away there is another mosque in the same area. In New York, where half a million (5 Lakh) Muslims live, there are many a mosques. So, why such a strong reaction to this proposed cultural center, mosque?
One recalls the attackers of 9/11 2001, were no representatives of Islam. Also in the attack on twin towers many a Muslims were also killed. Osama is not a representative of 135 Crore Muslims of the World. He was part of the Al Qaeda, which was propped up by US to counter the Russian attack on Afghanistan. The version of Islam used to indoctrinate the Muslim youth was the most orthodox and conservative version, the Salafi one, prevalent in parts of Saudi Arabia. Saudi regime in turn is an ally of US, as US has a long term contract with Saudi rulers to extract oil from its wells. This version of Islam is far away from humanistic interpretation of Koran and distorts the words, Kafir and Jihad in particular. As such word Kafir stood for one who hides truth, one who used to attack the new converts to Islam, in a hidden manner. This word was distorted to mean a non believer in Islam. Jihad means striving, striving for overcoming personal and social evils. It was distorted to mean killing of non-Muslims. The version of Islam used in Madrassas set up in Pakistan by US, led to formation of Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda version of Islam promotes killing of innocent people, while Koran, Sura5 Ayat 32, teaches that killing of even a single innocent person is like killing the whole humanity.
Unfortunately to pursue its interests in the oil zone US machinery merrily distorted Islam and also picked up the most backward version of Islam to be introduced in the US supported Madrassas. Now like Frankenstein’s monster, the products of these Madrassas are creating havoc in this region. In the aftermath of 9/11 US media also coined the word ‘Islamic terrorism’ and the result of this was that terrorism got associated with Islam and Muslims in the popular mind. Today time has come to reverse this process and harp on the liberal and moderate tendencies of all religions, rather than promoting the orthodoxies and extremism of religious tendencies. Those using religion for political goals use the extremist version of religions. In contrast the saints of all religions have harped on moderate, liberal versions, focusing more on moral values contributed by religions.
During last decade in US the Muslims have been demonized and singled out. The Muslims from Middle Eastern Region and South Asia have been the particular targets. The theory of ‘Clash of Civilizations’, the antagonism between religions has been made popular. The alliance of religions in the arena of morality and alliance of civilization in the arena of culture and material development has been undermined. The result is that in a section of people this negative image of Muslims has been drilled very deep down their minds. There is nothing like global Islamist authority taking over US through this cultural center. The proposed center aims to promote intercommunity relations and promote moderate version of Islam, far away from the one propagated by the likes of Osama bin Laden. In US itself most of the liberal Muslims and Muslim groups have condemned the act of terror by any name.
As such US state apparatus seems to have used the demonization of Islam and Muslims to enhance its lust for controlling oil wells in the area. It is due to the subtle policies of US state that the particular ‘picture’ of Muslims has been planted in average peoples mind. U.S. as a hegemonic power has been resorting to such demonization all through. As Noam Chomsky points out US state has been “Manufacturing Consent’ to pursue its imperialist goals. During cold war era, it had demonized the Communists due to which McCarthy launched his hunt of Communists in the era of 1950s. The “Hate” against Muslims propagated by various conduits is resulting in the present anti Mosque outbursts of various people in US. In this scenario, there is a glaring ray of hope in the form of Obama’s support for Muslims rights to practice their religion. Obama is appealing for de-linking of Al Qaeda from Islam, “The Al Qaeda’s cause is not Islam-it is a gross distortion of Islam”. Unfortunately even he buckled down under the pressure of section of society, to just reiterate Muslims right to practice their religion rather than an open support for Islamic Cultural Center, with Mosque in that. One hopes the path of peace prevails over the one of Hatred and there is an end to ‘Hate other’ propaganda, prevailing as an undercurrent in US, and pave the path for peace and amity amongst communities, pave the path for progress of mankind as a whole.
--
Why the Silence over the Rohini Mosque episode in Delhi?
The Hindu, 19 August 2010
In one corner of Delhi, an attack on religious freedom
Vidya Subrahmaniam
A year after mob attack, mosque remains unbuilt on allotted land
New Delhi: It's a mosque, but only in name. The corner plot measuring 361.86 sq. m. in Sector 16, Block ‘D' in Rohini is bare except for a half-raised compound wall and a temporary roof.
Construction here came to a halt on Friday, June 26, 2009 — after slogan-shouting Hindutva mobs set upon the namazis, critically injuring 40-year-old labourer Mohammad Moin, and assaulting dozens of others. Some policemen also sustained injuries in the attack.
The fact that such an incident could take place in the national capital and remain unreported and unresolved a year later raises disturbing questions —about the response of the administration, and about a minority's right to enjoy the freedom of religion in the face of majoritarian pressure.
Only 10 days prior to the violence, the Delhi Development Authority had handed over the plot to the Darsgah-e-Islamia Intezamia Committee (DIIC) specifying that it was for the “construction of a mosque.” However, in the aftermath of the violence, the DDA cancelled the allotment: “The competent authority has ordered that considering the objections of the local residents and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) it will not be desirable to continue with allotment of land for a mosque at its present location.”
It took several heated hearings at the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) for the DDA finally to restore the land to the DIIC a whole year later, on July 12, 2010. But it extracted a written undertaking that the mosque would be out of bounds for “outsiders,” including friends and relatives of local Muslims.
For Rohini's Muslims, forced to commute long distances for prayers, a mosque in the neighbourhood was a wish fulfilled. June 26, 2009 was to be a special Friday. But trouble had already started over the imminent construction. Overnight, inflammatory posters appeared urging Hindu residents to gather at the district park on June 26 to stop the mosque from coming up. “Jago Hindu Jago, (wake up Hindus)” said the text, warning Rohini's Hindu residents to awaken before it was “too late.”
Apprehending violence, the DIIC alerted the local police station, which posted a posse at the site. But saffron easily overpowered khakhi that day. With loudspeakers blaring hate messages, frenzied crowds lunged at the namazis. The hooligans abused Moin and slit his throat. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where his bleeding wound was stitched up. The fury of the crowds then turned to the policemen.
Curiously, despite the large-scale violence, the injured namazis were unable to file an FIR. The local Station House Officer informed them that he had himself registered an FIR against 19 offenders under IPC sections 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (guilt by association), 186, 353 and 332 (all relating to obstruction of official duty). The FIR made no mention of the injuries to the namazis. Nor would the SHO provide them a copy of the FIR.
Muslim residents of Rohini hold a good-conduct certificate from none other than local Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Kulwant Rana. In a letter to the DDA dated May 30, 2009, Mr. Rana made a strong pitch for the mosque, saying “community members here have endeared themselves to everyone with their love and affection.”
So when the case came up before the NCM, Chairman Mohammad Shafi Qureshi was dumbfounded that the DDA had ordered cancellation of the land allotment citing “objections from local residents and RWAs.” The land had been allotted after due diligence. And on June 26, 2009, the aggression was from the other side. So how could the DDA take such a drastic measure based on some flimsy objections? Besides, the DDA was no one to decide on law and order. At one point during the hearing, the NCM chairman caustically asked a DDA official: “If my neighbour does not like my face, would you cancel my allotment?”
The NCM succeeded in getting the land restored to Rohini's Muslims. Yet it is perturbed with the rider that the site be barred for non-Rohini Muslim residents. The Commission noted: “Their [Muslim] belief is that the message of their faith is for the entire mankind, including the non-Muslim. There is no restriction on entry of any Muslim in any of the Masjids not only in India but throughout the world for offering namaz as nobody is considered ‘outsider.' This condition is violative of Article 25 (Right to freedom of religion granted in the Constitution) and DDA has absolutely no right to impose such a condition.”
But such is the fear among Rohini's Muslims that let alone fighting for “outsiders,” they will not even say when they plan to build the masjid.
In one corner of Delhi, an attack on religious freedom
Vidya Subrahmaniam
A year after mob attack, mosque remains unbuilt on allotted land
New Delhi: It's a mosque, but only in name. The corner plot measuring 361.86 sq. m. in Sector 16, Block ‘D' in Rohini is bare except for a half-raised compound wall and a temporary roof.
Construction here came to a halt on Friday, June 26, 2009 — after slogan-shouting Hindutva mobs set upon the namazis, critically injuring 40-year-old labourer Mohammad Moin, and assaulting dozens of others. Some policemen also sustained injuries in the attack.
The fact that such an incident could take place in the national capital and remain unreported and unresolved a year later raises disturbing questions —about the response of the administration, and about a minority's right to enjoy the freedom of religion in the face of majoritarian pressure.
Only 10 days prior to the violence, the Delhi Development Authority had handed over the plot to the Darsgah-e-Islamia Intezamia Committee (DIIC) specifying that it was for the “construction of a mosque.” However, in the aftermath of the violence, the DDA cancelled the allotment: “The competent authority has ordered that considering the objections of the local residents and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) it will not be desirable to continue with allotment of land for a mosque at its present location.”
It took several heated hearings at the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) for the DDA finally to restore the land to the DIIC a whole year later, on July 12, 2010. But it extracted a written undertaking that the mosque would be out of bounds for “outsiders,” including friends and relatives of local Muslims.
For Rohini's Muslims, forced to commute long distances for prayers, a mosque in the neighbourhood was a wish fulfilled. June 26, 2009 was to be a special Friday. But trouble had already started over the imminent construction. Overnight, inflammatory posters appeared urging Hindu residents to gather at the district park on June 26 to stop the mosque from coming up. “Jago Hindu Jago, (wake up Hindus)” said the text, warning Rohini's Hindu residents to awaken before it was “too late.”
Apprehending violence, the DIIC alerted the local police station, which posted a posse at the site. But saffron easily overpowered khakhi that day. With loudspeakers blaring hate messages, frenzied crowds lunged at the namazis. The hooligans abused Moin and slit his throat. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where his bleeding wound was stitched up. The fury of the crowds then turned to the policemen.
Curiously, despite the large-scale violence, the injured namazis were unable to file an FIR. The local Station House Officer informed them that he had himself registered an FIR against 19 offenders under IPC sections 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (guilt by association), 186, 353 and 332 (all relating to obstruction of official duty). The FIR made no mention of the injuries to the namazis. Nor would the SHO provide them a copy of the FIR.
Muslim residents of Rohini hold a good-conduct certificate from none other than local Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Kulwant Rana. In a letter to the DDA dated May 30, 2009, Mr. Rana made a strong pitch for the mosque, saying “community members here have endeared themselves to everyone with their love and affection.”
So when the case came up before the NCM, Chairman Mohammad Shafi Qureshi was dumbfounded that the DDA had ordered cancellation of the land allotment citing “objections from local residents and RWAs.” The land had been allotted after due diligence. And on June 26, 2009, the aggression was from the other side. So how could the DDA take such a drastic measure based on some flimsy objections? Besides, the DDA was no one to decide on law and order. At one point during the hearing, the NCM chairman caustically asked a DDA official: “If my neighbour does not like my face, would you cancel my allotment?”
The NCM succeeded in getting the land restored to Rohini's Muslims. Yet it is perturbed with the rider that the site be barred for non-Rohini Muslim residents. The Commission noted: “Their [Muslim] belief is that the message of their faith is for the entire mankind, including the non-Muslim. There is no restriction on entry of any Muslim in any of the Masjids not only in India but throughout the world for offering namaz as nobody is considered ‘outsider.' This condition is violative of Article 25 (Right to freedom of religion granted in the Constitution) and DDA has absolutely no right to impose such a condition.”
But such is the fear among Rohini's Muslims that let alone fighting for “outsiders,” they will not even say when they plan to build the masjid.
Full Programme National People’s Tribunal on Kandhamal (22-24 August 2010)
National People’s Tribunal on Kandhamal
22nd, 23rd and 24th August, 2010
Venue: Speaker’s Hall, the Constitution Club, New Delhi
PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
Jury Members: Justice A.P.Shah, Justice Rajinder Sachar, Miloon Kothari
Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, Dr. Ram Dayal Munda, P.S.Krishnan, Ruth Manorama, Vinod Raina, Rabi Das, Vahida Nainar, Urvashi Butalia, Harsh Mander, Mahesh Bhatt, Vrinda Grover
22.08.2010 (Sunday)
10.00-11.00
Registration
12.00-1.00
Inauguration of the Exhibition (Deputy Chairman Hall, 2nd Floor) -By Javed Akhtar
1.00-2.00
break
2.00-02.10
Welcome and Introduction- Ram Puniyani, Member Secretary , NPT
2.10- 4.00
Session -1
Testimonies by Victims from Kandhamal Testimonies by experts
Study Report on ‘Impact of Violence on Adivasis and Dalits’ by NCDHR
4.00-4.30
BREAK
4.30-6.30pm
Session -2 (Police, Administration and Criminal Justice System)
Testimonies by Victims from Kandhamal, Testimonies by experts
Study Report ‘Law Must Change its Course’ by Ms.Saumya Uma
Role of NHRIs in the context of Kandhamal violence by Mr.Henri Tiphagne, People’s Watch
23.08.2010 (Monday)
09.30-11.00
Session -3 (Housing, Compensation, Relief & Rehabilitation, Food and Livelihood Issues, Displacement/Migration)
Testimonies by Victims from Kandhamal
Fact Finding Report on Status of Women and Children in Relief Camps by Ila Ben Pathak
Damage Assessment Report by Jan Vikas, Ahmadabad
Case study on Livelihood Status of Victims by Prof.Ashok Gladston
State of Housing to Violence Affected Persons by Bijay Singh, SFDC, Orissa
Report on Rapid Assessment of Present Situation in Kandhamal by Prof.Nirakar Mallik
11.00-11.30
BREAK
11.30-1.00
Session - 4 (Children and Education)
Testimonies by Victims from Kandhamal, Testimonies by experts,
Study Report on State of violence affected Children and their Rights by HAQ: centre for Child Rights
Case Study on Child Laborers from Violence Affected families by Mahendra Parida on behalf IRDWSI
1.00-2.00
BREAK
2.00-3.30
Session -5 (Women, gender violence and Human Rights )
Testimonies by Victims from Kandhamal,
Study Report on Impact of Violence on Women in Kandhamal by Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work
3.30-4.00
BREAK
4.00-6.00
Session -6 (Role of Media, Political Parties, Civil Society, Peace & Reconciliation)
Testimonies by Victims from Kandhamal, Testimonies by experts
Peace Training and Efforts after Kandhamal Violence by Irfan Engineer, IPSCR
24.08.2010 (Tuesday)
9.00-1.00PM
JURY FINALISES THE RECOMMENDATIONS
1.00-3.00
LUNCH & GETTING THE PRESS STATEMENT READY
3.00PM
PRESS CONFERENCE / RELEASE OF RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE JURY
22nd, 23rd and 24th August, 2010
Venue: Speaker’s Hall, the Constitution Club, New Delhi
PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
Jury Members: Justice A.P.Shah, Justice Rajinder Sachar, Miloon Kothari
Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, Dr. Ram Dayal Munda, P.S.Krishnan, Ruth Manorama, Vinod Raina, Rabi Das, Vahida Nainar, Urvashi Butalia, Harsh Mander, Mahesh Bhatt, Vrinda Grover
22.08.2010 (Sunday)
10.00-11.00
Registration
12.00-1.00
Inauguration of the Exhibition (Deputy Chairman Hall, 2nd Floor) -By Javed Akhtar
1.00-2.00
break
2.00-02.10
Welcome and Introduction- Ram Puniyani, Member Secretary , NPT
2.10- 4.00
Session -1
Testimonies by Victims from Kandhamal Testimonies by experts
Study Report on ‘Impact of Violence on Adivasis and Dalits’ by NCDHR
4.00-4.30
BREAK
4.30-6.30pm
Session -2 (Police, Administration and Criminal Justice System)
Testimonies by Victims from Kandhamal, Testimonies by experts
Study Report ‘Law Must Change its Course’ by Ms.Saumya Uma
Role of NHRIs in the context of Kandhamal violence by Mr.Henri Tiphagne, People’s Watch
23.08.2010 (Monday)
09.30-11.00
Session -3 (Housing, Compensation, Relief & Rehabilitation, Food and Livelihood Issues, Displacement/Migration)
Testimonies by Victims from Kandhamal
Fact Finding Report on Status of Women and Children in Relief Camps by Ila Ben Pathak
Damage Assessment Report by Jan Vikas, Ahmadabad
Case study on Livelihood Status of Victims by Prof.Ashok Gladston
State of Housing to Violence Affected Persons by Bijay Singh, SFDC, Orissa
Report on Rapid Assessment of Present Situation in Kandhamal by Prof.Nirakar Mallik
11.00-11.30
BREAK
11.30-1.00
Session - 4 (Children and Education)
Testimonies by Victims from Kandhamal, Testimonies by experts,
Study Report on State of violence affected Children and their Rights by HAQ: centre for Child Rights
Case Study on Child Laborers from Violence Affected families by Mahendra Parida on behalf IRDWSI
1.00-2.00
BREAK
2.00-3.30
Session -5 (Women, gender violence and Human Rights )
Testimonies by Victims from Kandhamal,
Study Report on Impact of Violence on Women in Kandhamal by Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work
3.30-4.00
BREAK
4.00-6.00
Session -6 (Role of Media, Political Parties, Civil Society, Peace & Reconciliation)
Testimonies by Victims from Kandhamal, Testimonies by experts
Peace Training and Efforts after Kandhamal Violence by Irfan Engineer, IPSCR
24.08.2010 (Tuesday)
9.00-1.00PM
JURY FINALISES THE RECOMMENDATIONS
1.00-3.00
LUNCH & GETTING THE PRESS STATEMENT READY
3.00PM
PRESS CONFERENCE / RELEASE OF RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE JURY
August 05, 2010
Pakistan: Flood Relief work by the Muslim Right an opportunity to expand their influence
The Times of India, Aug 4, 2010
JuD key player in flood ops in Pak
by Omer Farooq Khan, TNN
ISLAMABAD: A natural disaster or calamity in Pakistan always provide an opportunity for religious groups, including the ones internationally blacklisted, to gain sympathies of the masses by indulging in relief activities.
Volunteers of several religious organizations rushed for the rescue efforts when last week's floods affected tens of thousands of people in northern Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The most significant groups which were at the forefront in relief activities were Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Jamaat-e-Islami's Al-Khidmat wing. Both organizations had established relief camps on roadsides in the towns of Charsadda and Nowshera and their activists were collecting funds and providing food and shelter to the affected people. Around 2000 volunteers of the JuD were helping the victims across the north western parts of Pakistan where according to UN estimate more than three million people have become homeless.
"JuD and Al-Khidmat have local setups and it is much easier for them to mobilize their workers, said Jamal Asghar, a JuD activist.
JuD is the extension of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the group India blames for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The LeT was declared defunct by the former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in 2002. The organization was later renamed as Jamaat-ud-Dawa but its leaders deny it. In the aftermath of the Mumbai assault, the UN blacklisted JuD through its resolution. Under international pressure, Pakistan's government put its leader Hafiz Saeed under house arrest but the Lahore high court released him on the ground that there was lack of sufficient evidence against Hafiz Saeed in any terror related activity.
The relief activities in Charsadda and Nowshera towns are carried out by the Falah-e-Insaniyat wing of the JuD. The government's failure to cope with the situation brought the affected people closer to this organization, which had also played a crucial role last year, helping the people who were displaced by the military operations Swat and Waziristan.
The organization was also active in rescue efforts, when the October 2005 earthquake killed around 70,000 people in Pakistan's northern areas.
"If the government were doing this work, there would be no need for us," says Maqbool Shah, a JuD volunteer. "When the military operations displaced people we voluntarily helped the victims. Now, when floods came, we carried people out on our shoulders, to our own ambulances. Where were the government ambulances?" he remarked.
Yaya Mujahid, spokesman for JuD, said the group was working with Falah-e-Insaniyat. "We're present to help in all the places where the floodwaters have gone," said Mujahid.
Another religious group, Al-Khidmat Foundation, which is part of a mainstream radical party Jamat-e-Islami, was housing around 380 families left destitute by the floods, in two private school buildings in Charsadda.
"Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Al-Khidmat are helping us. They provided us clothes and shelter. We have not seen any help from the government," said Nabi Gul, a 58 years old victim who took refuge along with his family at a government school in Charsadda.
According to Charsadda's top administration official, Kamran Rehman Khan, around 500,000 people had been affected by the flooding in his district alone, out of a population of 1.7 million.
JuD key player in flood ops in Pak
by Omer Farooq Khan, TNN
ISLAMABAD: A natural disaster or calamity in Pakistan always provide an opportunity for religious groups, including the ones internationally blacklisted, to gain sympathies of the masses by indulging in relief activities.
Volunteers of several religious organizations rushed for the rescue efforts when last week's floods affected tens of thousands of people in northern Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The most significant groups which were at the forefront in relief activities were Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Jamaat-e-Islami's Al-Khidmat wing. Both organizations had established relief camps on roadsides in the towns of Charsadda and Nowshera and their activists were collecting funds and providing food and shelter to the affected people. Around 2000 volunteers of the JuD were helping the victims across the north western parts of Pakistan where according to UN estimate more than three million people have become homeless.
"JuD and Al-Khidmat have local setups and it is much easier for them to mobilize their workers, said Jamal Asghar, a JuD activist.
JuD is the extension of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the group India blames for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The LeT was declared defunct by the former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in 2002. The organization was later renamed as Jamaat-ud-Dawa but its leaders deny it. In the aftermath of the Mumbai assault, the UN blacklisted JuD through its resolution. Under international pressure, Pakistan's government put its leader Hafiz Saeed under house arrest but the Lahore high court released him on the ground that there was lack of sufficient evidence against Hafiz Saeed in any terror related activity.
The relief activities in Charsadda and Nowshera towns are carried out by the Falah-e-Insaniyat wing of the JuD. The government's failure to cope with the situation brought the affected people closer to this organization, which had also played a crucial role last year, helping the people who were displaced by the military operations Swat and Waziristan.
The organization was also active in rescue efforts, when the October 2005 earthquake killed around 70,000 people in Pakistan's northern areas.
"If the government were doing this work, there would be no need for us," says Maqbool Shah, a JuD volunteer. "When the military operations displaced people we voluntarily helped the victims. Now, when floods came, we carried people out on our shoulders, to our own ambulances. Where were the government ambulances?" he remarked.
Yaya Mujahid, spokesman for JuD, said the group was working with Falah-e-Insaniyat. "We're present to help in all the places where the floodwaters have gone," said Mujahid.
Another religious group, Al-Khidmat Foundation, which is part of a mainstream radical party Jamat-e-Islami, was housing around 380 families left destitute by the floods, in two private school buildings in Charsadda.
"Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Al-Khidmat are helping us. They provided us clothes and shelter. We have not seen any help from the government," said Nabi Gul, a 58 years old victim who took refuge along with his family at a government school in Charsadda.
According to Charsadda's top administration official, Kamran Rehman Khan, around 500,000 people had been affected by the flooding in his district alone, out of a population of 1.7 million.
August 04, 2010
Islamicist and Hindutva terrorists must be treated alike
Economic and Political Weekly, VOL 45 No. 31 July 31 - August 06, 2010
Discrimination in the Conduct of Justice
Islamicist and Hindutva terrorists must be treated alike in the administration of justice.
Read More
Discrimination in the Conduct of Justice
Islamicist and Hindutva terrorists must be treated alike in the administration of justice.
Read More
August 03, 2010
Term hindu Terrorism is a misnomer
The term ‘Hindu Terrorism’ is a Misnomer
Ram Puniyani
When many acts of terror by people like Pragya Singh Thakur and Dayanand Pandey etc. are coming to fore the word ‘Hindu terrorism’ is being used by many for such acts of terror. The investigations have shown that these groups, inspired by the ideology of Hindu Rashtra; Hindutva, Sangh Parivar, may have been involved in Malegaon blasts, Mecca Masjid, Ajmer, Goa and even Samjhauta express blast. One recalls that immediately after the blasts many Muslim youth were arrested on the ground that they have been part of the conspiracy. The victims were mostly Muslim in these blasts. The blasts were planned to at times when maximum congregation of people is there, around the time of Namaz etc. The voice of human rights activists that the reckless arrest of innocent Muslim youth must be stopped and real culprits caught hold of, took a long time for being heard as the bias of investigation authorities was too gross to look the other way around.
The tide turned with the Malegaon blast investigation when Hemant Karkare could lay his hands on impeccable evidence of involvement of Sadhvi Pragya and Company. Incidentally Hemant Karkare was called Deshdrohi and anti-National by Hindutva leaders. He also got killed on the fateful night of attack on Mumbai on 26/11 2008. The organizations like those associated with Bajrang Dal, Abhinav Bharat and Sanatan Sanstha have been accused of being involved with these acts of terror. At the same time the followers of Hindutva politics are stating that these acts of terror can not be linked to Hinduism as terrorism is the monopoly only of Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). According to some commentators these latter religions are associated with religious terrorism, while there is no history of Hindu terror.
As such the common factor of Abrahamic religions is that they derive their lineage from Abraham; believe in single God and single ‘book’. In Abrahamic religions there is a prophet who has brought the message of the almighty God to the human society. In contrast Hinduism does not have such a prophet as it went on evolving over a period of time and adding different traditions under its umbrella, Vedic, post-Vedic, medieval and many contemporary ones. In Hinduism the concept of supernatural power is very diverse, from Animism, to polytheism, Monotheism to even atheism, all can come under the spectrum of Hinduism. This also enables the interpreters to take liberty and present their version as ‘the Hinduism’. In the complex phenomenon of religion there are religious books, religious institutions and religious practices, which need not be precisely the same.
Religions have to be interpreted in the context of social situation of the time. There is mention of peace and harmony in most of the religions while one can also pick up the aspects related to violence from their scriptures. This aspect of violence again depends on interpretation. Same text is interpreted in different ways by different commentators. The isolated examples of violence in Abrahamic religions don’t make them preachers of violence and terror, as terror and violence both are the products of social situations, not religious doctrines. Many a times the rulers; kings, cutting across different religions, have used the cover of religion to expand their kingdoms, Crusade; Jihad and Dharmyudh. Surely the wars unleashed by kings cannot be called as religious acts or conforming to religions teachings in any way.
As such while on one hand Hinduism will talk of Vasudhaiv Kutumbkan, (Whole World is a single family) on the other there is an in built structural violence in the form of caste system, from Vedas to Manusmriti. Many a Hindu Holy Seers defend caste system even today. In Mahabharata Lord Krishna exhorts the hero, Arjuna, to take up arms, commit violence, to do the ‘religious duty’; to fulfil khstriya dharma (religiously ordained duty of a warrior) In Ramayana Lord Ram kills Shambuk to save Hindu religion. Pushyamitra Shung also did the massacre of Buddhists for saving Hinduism. Khap Panchayats today are giving death fatwas for young couples, in the name of religious-caste traditions. Girls are beaten up in Mangalore pub again in the name of Hindu traditions. The mass violence directed against minorities is instigated ‘to save’ the religious communities, to save Hindu religion.
The practices of many followers of most of the religions need not be exactly in accordance with the scriptures. In the same religion we have people like Hitler and Nelson Mandela. In the same religion we have people like Mahatma Gandhi and Nathuram Godse. In the same religion we have Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan and Osama bin Laden. To think that any violence is due to religion is a totally misplaced understanding of the religion and society.
Unfortunately in contemporary times US designs for controlling the oil wealth has resulted in a politics which has resorted to the cover of religion. It was in the US brainstorming centers that the core words of Islam, Kafir and Jihad were given deliberate twist to train the Al Qaeda for US goal of getting Russian army defeated in Afghanistan. US media also coined and popularized the word, ‘Islamic terrorism’ and it has become a part of the social thinking. To associate religion and terror is surely one of the biggest crimes against humanity. It is due to the popularization of the word ‘Islamic Terrorism’ that people started thinking of violence with religious prefix. So naturally when one after the other terrorist group, belonging to Hindu religion and inspired by the politics of ‘Hindu nation’ came to surface especially after the Malegaon blast, some journalists and others started using the word Hindu terrorism, and this also caught on.
This word is as much wrong as the word Islamic terrorism or Christian terrorism. Christianity also talks of peace and the word Islam stands for achieving peace by submission to Allah. One can say that life of Gandhi has been the epitome of practiced Hindu values. On the other hand people like Godse or Osama bin laden have political goals and they have been presenting these political goals in the language of religion. In the face of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit, Swami Dayanand Pandey and company, all those inspired by the agenda of Hindu Rashtra, the temptation to call this terrorism as ‘Hindu terrorism’ has to be resisted. Religion needs to be de-linked form politics and terrorism; both.
Ram Puniyani
When many acts of terror by people like Pragya Singh Thakur and Dayanand Pandey etc. are coming to fore the word ‘Hindu terrorism’ is being used by many for such acts of terror. The investigations have shown that these groups, inspired by the ideology of Hindu Rashtra; Hindutva, Sangh Parivar, may have been involved in Malegaon blasts, Mecca Masjid, Ajmer, Goa and even Samjhauta express blast. One recalls that immediately after the blasts many Muslim youth were arrested on the ground that they have been part of the conspiracy. The victims were mostly Muslim in these blasts. The blasts were planned to at times when maximum congregation of people is there, around the time of Namaz etc. The voice of human rights activists that the reckless arrest of innocent Muslim youth must be stopped and real culprits caught hold of, took a long time for being heard as the bias of investigation authorities was too gross to look the other way around.
The tide turned with the Malegaon blast investigation when Hemant Karkare could lay his hands on impeccable evidence of involvement of Sadhvi Pragya and Company. Incidentally Hemant Karkare was called Deshdrohi and anti-National by Hindutva leaders. He also got killed on the fateful night of attack on Mumbai on 26/11 2008. The organizations like those associated with Bajrang Dal, Abhinav Bharat and Sanatan Sanstha have been accused of being involved with these acts of terror. At the same time the followers of Hindutva politics are stating that these acts of terror can not be linked to Hinduism as terrorism is the monopoly only of Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). According to some commentators these latter religions are associated with religious terrorism, while there is no history of Hindu terror.
As such the common factor of Abrahamic religions is that they derive their lineage from Abraham; believe in single God and single ‘book’. In Abrahamic religions there is a prophet who has brought the message of the almighty God to the human society. In contrast Hinduism does not have such a prophet as it went on evolving over a period of time and adding different traditions under its umbrella, Vedic, post-Vedic, medieval and many contemporary ones. In Hinduism the concept of supernatural power is very diverse, from Animism, to polytheism, Monotheism to even atheism, all can come under the spectrum of Hinduism. This also enables the interpreters to take liberty and present their version as ‘the Hinduism’. In the complex phenomenon of religion there are religious books, religious institutions and religious practices, which need not be precisely the same.
Religions have to be interpreted in the context of social situation of the time. There is mention of peace and harmony in most of the religions while one can also pick up the aspects related to violence from their scriptures. This aspect of violence again depends on interpretation. Same text is interpreted in different ways by different commentators. The isolated examples of violence in Abrahamic religions don’t make them preachers of violence and terror, as terror and violence both are the products of social situations, not religious doctrines. Many a times the rulers; kings, cutting across different religions, have used the cover of religion to expand their kingdoms, Crusade; Jihad and Dharmyudh. Surely the wars unleashed by kings cannot be called as religious acts or conforming to religions teachings in any way.
As such while on one hand Hinduism will talk of Vasudhaiv Kutumbkan, (Whole World is a single family) on the other there is an in built structural violence in the form of caste system, from Vedas to Manusmriti. Many a Hindu Holy Seers defend caste system even today. In Mahabharata Lord Krishna exhorts the hero, Arjuna, to take up arms, commit violence, to do the ‘religious duty’; to fulfil khstriya dharma (religiously ordained duty of a warrior) In Ramayana Lord Ram kills Shambuk to save Hindu religion. Pushyamitra Shung also did the massacre of Buddhists for saving Hinduism. Khap Panchayats today are giving death fatwas for young couples, in the name of religious-caste traditions. Girls are beaten up in Mangalore pub again in the name of Hindu traditions. The mass violence directed against minorities is instigated ‘to save’ the religious communities, to save Hindu religion.
The practices of many followers of most of the religions need not be exactly in accordance with the scriptures. In the same religion we have people like Hitler and Nelson Mandela. In the same religion we have people like Mahatma Gandhi and Nathuram Godse. In the same religion we have Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan and Osama bin Laden. To think that any violence is due to religion is a totally misplaced understanding of the religion and society.
Unfortunately in contemporary times US designs for controlling the oil wealth has resulted in a politics which has resorted to the cover of religion. It was in the US brainstorming centers that the core words of Islam, Kafir and Jihad were given deliberate twist to train the Al Qaeda for US goal of getting Russian army defeated in Afghanistan. US media also coined and popularized the word, ‘Islamic terrorism’ and it has become a part of the social thinking. To associate religion and terror is surely one of the biggest crimes against humanity. It is due to the popularization of the word ‘Islamic Terrorism’ that people started thinking of violence with religious prefix. So naturally when one after the other terrorist group, belonging to Hindu religion and inspired by the politics of ‘Hindu nation’ came to surface especially after the Malegaon blast, some journalists and others started using the word Hindu terrorism, and this also caught on.
This word is as much wrong as the word Islamic terrorism or Christian terrorism. Christianity also talks of peace and the word Islam stands for achieving peace by submission to Allah. One can say that life of Gandhi has been the epitome of practiced Hindu values. On the other hand people like Godse or Osama bin laden have political goals and they have been presenting these political goals in the language of religion. In the face of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit, Swami Dayanand Pandey and company, all those inspired by the agenda of Hindu Rashtra, the temptation to call this terrorism as ‘Hindu terrorism’ has to be resisted. Religion needs to be de-linked form politics and terrorism; both.
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