MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

Famous play back singer K. J. Yesudas is an ardent devotee of Guru-vayurappan and Ayyappan, and has
sung several songs for the deity. But he was denied entry in the temple on the ground that he was born a
Christian. Similarly, poet Yusufali Kecherry, who has penned some of the best songs on Lord Krishna, is
not al lowed to enter the Guruvayur temple because he is a Muslim. Two years back, when Congress
general secretary Vyalar Ravi's son's mar riage was held in Guruvayur Temple, a purifica tion rite was
performed to cleanse the temple premis es since Ravi's wife is not a Hindu. (Hindustan Times 12.11.02)
Godhra Muslims boycott yatra (7)
Nov. 11. — Muslims in Godhra boy cotted Mr Narendra Modi's Gaurav yatra today, the first visit by the
chief minister to the town after the carnage of 27 February. Communal violence flared up again in Gujarat
today with at least four persons being killed and several injured in stray incidents across the state. Irked
by posters showing General Pervez Musharraf on one side and Mr Modi on the other, members of the
minority community in Godhra won dered why they were being identified with the Pakistani President.
"We are Indians and our forefathers fought for Independence too," a Mus lim living near the station said.
(Statesman 12.11.02)
15 th Nov.
VHP tells Modi to ban Iftar parties (7)
Ahmedabad, Nov. 14: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad wants the Narendra Modi govern ment in Gujarat to
"co-oper ate" and take out the contro versial yatra despite the Elec tion Commission ban. "If there can
be Iftar parties why can there not be Hindu pro cessions," the VHP has asked. Dr Pravin Togadiya, the
brain behind the yatra will be announcing the VHP decision tomorrow noon. A section of the VHP led by Dr
Togadiya wants to violate the Election Commission directive and go , ahead with the yatra but the RSS is
of the opinion that the VHP should give up its stance. The RSS feels that the ban could actually
benefit the BJP and VHP if they are able to "market" it well. An RSS leader told The Asian Age, "The ban
could bring gains to the BJP for it could help in consolidating the idea of Hindutva." (Asian Age 15.11.02)
17 th Nov.
Legal eagles worry about minority institution order (7)
New Delhi, Nov. 16: Suggesting that the recent Supreme Court judgment on the minor ity educational
institutions has not satisfied all segments of society, legal luminaries and educationists on Saturday held a
threadbare discussion on the judgment and expressed concern over the "powers that it has conferred on
the. state." While some of the speakers were of the opinion that the judgment has "further whit tled down
the rights of the minority," others said the vulnerability of the minority institu tions has now increased.
(Asian Age 17.11.02)
18th Nov.
2500 students to act against Gujarat riots (7)
Mumbai, Nov. 17: NGO Rashtriya Yuva Sanghatana has picked up more than 2,500 college students
from all over India to stage plays against communal forces in Gujarat. These street plays will take place in
all the districts of the state in its run-up to the Decem ber elections. Former national convenor of the
Sanghatana and a member of its national com mittee Prerana told The Asian Age that batches of students
and youths are being sent to Gujarat who will work in 40 constituencies upto December 12 and educate
the people on the risks of a communal government. (Asian Age 18.11.02)
20 th Nov.
Conversion charges fall apart in TN (7)
THENI, NOVEMBER 19: WITHIN weeks of the passing of the anti-conversion or dinance in Tamil Nadu,
police in Theni district in the state re ceived two complaints against Christians. But police have concluded
that there is np ba sis for the complaint in either case and do not intend initiat ing any action against those
in volved. So much so that not even an FIR has been regis tered in the two cases. First, Sivan Seyal (55)
of Vengala Nagar, near here, lodged a complaint with the Allinagaram police, objecting to a church that
was coming up near his place at the instance of pastor Paul Manickam. Seyal said in his complaint that
the pastor was construct ing the church without any per mission, as well as alluring the public of Vengala