A billion Indians will fight Hafiz Saeed, Radical Islamism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Radical Islamism and Jihad

A billion Indians will fight Hafiz Saeed

By Aijaz Ilmi

22 Feb, 2010, Current News

Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear,” is Albert Camus’s favourite quote which should be India’s response to Hafiz Mohammed Saeed’s bluster on Kashmir. His statement regarding resolution of Indo-Pak troubles based on the “liberation of J&K”, failing which radical groups would resort to jihad should be seen as the frustrated fulminations of a deviant and desperate mind. The sheer veneer of charity that the Jammat ud Dawa chief uses to block action against his band of terrorists is clearly giving way to his earlier avatar as the head of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Since the gloves are off and the relative calm of the Kashmir valley is at stake, the timing of Hafiz Saeed’s statement needs careful analysis.

The coalescing of terrorist forces inimical to India’s national interest like the LeT, Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin and ISI sponsored rogue groups are aimed at unleashing a psychological propaganda offensive against us at the crucial juncture when the US-UK led offensive against the Taliban is tottering. The lack of will to tame the Taliban in Afghanistan as evident from last week’s London conference is probably re-energizing Hafiz Saeed’s agenda to come out of hiding and resume his cowardly strikes against India like the Mumbai carnage of 26/11. As the old adage goes ‘a cowardly cur barks more fiercely than it bites’ should strengthen our resolve to relentlessly pursue the perpetrators of 26/11.

http://newageislam.com/a-billion-indians-will-fight-hafiz-saeed/radical-islamism-and-jihad/d/2525

Deoband resolution on ‘Vande Mataram’ pointless, The War within Islam, NewAgeIslam.com

The War within Islam

Deoband resolution on ‘Vande Mataram’ pointless

Fatwa for nobody

By Aijaz Ilmi

Nov 10, 2009

The Supreme Court had managed to put a firm lid on the Vande Mataram issue, but, true to form, the religious clergy cannot desist from their desire to keep the communal cauldron boiling. When there is no compulsion, what is the need for any resolution or fatwa? Meanwhile, the reaffirmation of an earlier resolution of the Darul Uloom condemning terror is good news — but at the same time we must name the LeT, Jaish and others and send a strong message.

The home minister should be careful about the bouquets, as the brickbats can be as swift. As citizens of a secular democratic country with a vibrant judiciary, fatwas have little meaning in present-day India. Salman Khursheed’s timely rejoinder about the futility of a fatwa about non-issues and the need for addressing the real, burning issues — education and employability of Indian Muslims, for example — are laudable. I wish resolutions at Deoband had addressed the following questions: Why do Indian Muslims have the highest levels of illiteracy, both male and female, in the country? Why do we have the highest number of school drop-outs? Why do we have the lowest representation in both the public and the private sector? What steps are we taking to stop pernicious recruiters who lure young impressionable minds towards terror ideologies?

http://newageislam.com/deoband-resolution-on-%E2%80%98vande-mataram%E2%80%99-pointless/the-war-within-islam/d/2074

Indian Muslims: Hear the new voices, Islam and Pluralism, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and Pluralism

Indian Muslims: Hear the new voices

By Aijaz Ilmi

May 07, 2009

Steeped in a volatile mix of anger and destitution, subject to being “suspect” for far too long, Indian Muslim communities are finally showing signs of fighting back against preconceived prejudices. When respected Ulema start to speak out about secular traditions and democratic structures, a strategic shift based on community feedback is apparent. Whether this wave of positivity will turn into a tsunami of inter-cultural bonding is yet to be assessed.

The unceremonious dumping of Ajmal Kasab’s lawyer Abbas Kazmi by many community institutions — such as the Islam Gymkhana in Bombay — is best be read as another signal from the community to distance itself from terror. The earlier statement denouncing him from the local Shi’a council (“Defending a terrorist is also against the essence and teaching of Islam”) should be seen as a precursor to the avalanche of protest that will continue to follow Kazmi.

Those of liberal views might justifiably baulk: the Constitution of our country, and its time-tested judicial system, insist on presenting a fair defence for all accused; but it nevertheless is the case that the community is making a sincere effort to de-link itself from the misguided brand of Islam that the Taliban and the Indian Mujahideen propagate.

http://newageislam.com/indian-muslims--hear-the-new-voices---/islam-and-pluralism/d/1387