MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

for the Dhariwal seat, while the ruling Akali Dal followed suit by declaring Munawar Massih, another
Christian, who is also member of Punjab State Services Selection Board, from the Gurdaspur
constituency. Both parties ignored the claims of candidates from the majority communities. (Times of India
30.1.02)
30 th Jan
Temple at Ayodhya will end secularism: CPI (7)
PALAKKAD, JAN. 29. The State secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), Veliyam Bhargvan, has
said that if the BJP Government at the Centre permits the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Sangh
Parivar to construct the Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, it will end secularism in the country.
Addressing a press conference on the deliberations of the ongoing State conference of the party here
today, the CPI veteran said the growth of fundamentalism in the country was threatening its very
existence. The people of the country were greatly concerned about the threat to national security. He said
that the RSS chief, who was using every opportunity to foment communal extremism in the country, was
now demanding the review of the Constitution. When the NDA Government came to power, nobody
suspected that it would create such serious problems that would threaten the secular and democratic
foundations of the country. Now, the BJP was pursuing its own policies making the NDA ineffective. Its
constituents were opposing some of the policies pursued by the Government to suit the interest of the BJP
and the RSS. (Hindu 30.1.02)
30 th Jan
8 suspected SIMI activists arrested in Vadodara (7)
VADODARA: The city police cracked down on suspected Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)
activists here late on Sunday night and arrested eight persons. The raid followed the recovery of
documents indicating that the eight persons were active SIMI members. According to sources in the city
police, officers of the Olpad police station of the Surat police had recovered the documents in a nullah.
Last month, 121 persons from various parts of the country had been arrested by the Surat police on the
ground of attending a meeting organised by SIMI. The arrests had invited criticism for the BJP
government that it was targeting Muslims. The documents were recovered in a trunk and a plastic bag.
"Scrutiny of the documents revealed the list of SIMI members. This list included the names of those from
Vadodara," said Vadodara commissioner of police D.D.Tuteja. (Times of India 30.1.02)
31st Jan
Muslim law board seeks ban on Ram temple activity (7)
NEW DELHI, JAN. 30. The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board has demanded that the Central and Uttar
Pradesh Governments ban all activity and meetings related to construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya.
The Board wanted them to take into their possession all construction material collected near the disputed
site and the 67 acres of land acquired by the Government. The Board said that as per the order of the
Supreme Court, not a square inch of the acquired land could be disposed of or given to anyone or
anybody till the main suit in the case was settled. In its view, the Prime Minister's assurance to Vishwa
Hindu Par-ishad leaders that he would try and resolve the issue by March 12 was an indirect pressure on
the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court where the dispute is being heard. However, the Board
said it would welcome an application for a daily hearing on the case and its quick disposal. (Hindu 31.1.02)
1 ST Feb
Buddhadeb’s madrasa tirade angers Muslims (7)
Kolkata, Jan. 31: West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's tirade against unaffiliated
madrasas has sparked off a wave of resentment among the Muslims in the state, who traditionally support
the Left Front. Ms Mamata Banerjee, who had admitted that one of the main reasons for the Trinamul
Congress' defeat in the Assembly election was its failure to secure a sizeable Muslim vote is, however,
unable to cash in on this anger. There are two reasons for this. One, she cannot defend the madrasas
because it will upset the BJP and may block her return to the Union Cabinet. Two, even she is supportive,
the Muslims will not be convinced given her alliance with the BJP. (Asian Age 1.2.02)