From a Correspondent
NAGAON, April 12: An alleged incident of forceful conversion of people from Islam to Christianity has been reported recently from Kasalukhuwa, Pani Gaon and Islam Patti areas of Nagaon town. According to reports, a section of pious believers of Islam were enticed to accept Christianity by a shrewd manner.
It has been alleged that one Noorjahan Begum (50), her sons Salim Ahmed, Rajiv Ahmed, Pinku Ahmed, Biju Ahmed and her son-in-law Rafik Ahmed of Chatribari, Guwahati had taken two groups of more than 30 Muslims from various villages of Nagaon to Guwahati on the pretext of training in Jamat. The Begum family lured the innocent ones by giving them sewing machines, BPL cards, Kalpataru schemes and saying that they had received orders to take the groups to Saudi Arab and America for training.
The groups were made to stay at the Louis Memorial Hostel Mission for the Christians at Panbazar, Guwahati where they were allegedly forced to accept Christianity.
The groups, however, raised a hue and cry when they were forcefully asked to accept the Holy Bible, the religious book of the Christians as a part of the conversion.
Among others, 11 persons somehow managed to escape from the hostel and later filed an FIR against Noorjahan and her family at the Nagaon district police station.
The accused are still absconding. Police investigation is on.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
It’s uncultured: Sarat Sinha on Madani
GUWAHATI, April 12: Former Assam Chief Minister and veteran politician Sarat Chandra Sinha has joined the chorus against the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind for its way of serving ultimatum to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi as well as the State Government.
"The incident itself has exposed the bad taste of Jamiat," Mr Sinha said in the sideline of the recent public rally of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) held at Japia village under Hajo Assembly constituency.
"We also have grievances against the State Government due to its inaction and apathetic attitude towards the development of the minority community of the State," said the State unit president of NCP.
However, Mr Sinha condemned the way in which Jamiat leader Moulana Asad Madani served a threat to the Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, by inviting him to their rally held at Sonaram High School Field in the city on April 3.
"One can not serve threats to someone by inviting him to his house. This certainly does not reflect good taste and culture," he quipped.
Besides, Mr Sinha said, the threat of Jamiat is also in no way a rational one, as the government was elected by the people of Assam, not by Jamiat’s people alone.
It may be mentioned that Jamiat chief Madani had threatened to overthrow the Tarun Gogoi Government if it did not fulfil its 18-point charter of demands within the next six months.
"The incident itself has exposed the bad taste of Jamiat," Mr Sinha said in the sideline of the recent public rally of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) held at Japia village under Hajo Assembly constituency.
"We also have grievances against the State Government due to its inaction and apathetic attitude towards the development of the minority community of the State," said the State unit president of NCP.
However, Mr Sinha condemned the way in which Jamiat leader Moulana Asad Madani served a threat to the Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, by inviting him to their rally held at Sonaram High School Field in the city on April 3.
"One can not serve threats to someone by inviting him to his house. This certainly does not reflect good taste and culture," he quipped.
Besides, Mr Sinha said, the threat of Jamiat is also in no way a rational one, as the government was elected by the people of Assam, not by Jamiat’s people alone.
It may be mentioned that Jamiat chief Madani had threatened to overthrow the Tarun Gogoi Government if it did not fulfil its 18-point charter of demands within the next six months.
Remove Osmani from APCC minority cell, Sonia urged
GUWAHATI, April 12: At a time when the Assembly elections are nearing, the ruling Congress is busy quelling fresh dissidence which has surfaced in the party. In an apparent move to impress upon the Congress high command that all is well within the Tarun Gogoi-led Government in the State, all the Congress ministers and MLAs belonging to the minority community last night submitted a memorandum to Congress president Ms Sonia Gandhi, urging her to remove Barpeta MP Md Golam Osmani from the post of the chairman of the APCC minority cell for his alleged anti-party activities. A similar memorandum, separately signed by 60 ministers and MLAs, was also submitted to the Congress supremo.
In their memorandum, the Congress ministers and MLAs of the State alleged that Osmani was trying to malign the image of the party by speaking against the State Government in several public meetings. Citing the various instances when Osmani was critical of the Tarun Gogoi Government, the memorandum said that the Barpeta MP had openly stated that the Congress Government had done little to better the lot of the minority community in the sar areas of the State, and that it was indulging in corruption. Refuting these allegations levelled by Osmani, the memorandum sought to give a clean chit to the Chief Minister by stating that his Government had been providing land pattas to the people living in the sar areas, besides arranging for drinking water facilities.
The Congress MLAs and ministers alleged that Osmani was trying to incite the minority people to float a new party. The chairman of the Minority Affairs Department of the Congress did not attend the party’s ‘Gramodaya Yatra’ held recently in the city.
It has been learnt that Ms Gandhi had assured the delegation of minority MLAs and ministers that no anti-party activities within the Congress would be tolerated. The matter relating to Osmani’s activities will be investigated at the intra-party level, the Congress supremo reportedly told the delegation.
Meanwhile, Congress MLA Chandan Sarkar, said from New Delhi today, said that he would raise the matter regarding Osmani’s charge that he (Sarkar) was instigating the minority ministers and MLAs against him at the disciplinary action committee of the Congress. "It is clear case of anti-party activity on the part of Osmani," Sarkar said, adding that Osmani should air his grievances at the party forum instead of going public. Sarkar further alleged that despite withdrawing an amount of Rs 14 crore from the MPs’ Local Area Development Fund, Osmani had utilized only Rs 2 crore. He demanded a CBI inquiry into this.
It may be mentioned here that the minority ministers who included Rockybul Hussain, Wazed Ali Choudhury, Ismail Hussain, Nazrul Islam and Misbahul Islam Laskar, and MLAs Aftabuddin Mullah, Sajid Majumdar, Dildar Reja, Sukur Ali, Nazrul Umar, Ms Hussainara Islam, Idris Ali, Sultan Siddique, Nurzamal Sarkar, Sheikh Shah Alam, Ms Sarifa Begum, Samsul Haque and Jamaluddin Ahmed also met Union ministers Pranab Mukherjee, Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi and Arjun Singh, and Congress functionaries Ahmed Patel, Digvijay Singh and Chandan Bagchi and submitted a copy of the memorandum.
In their memorandum, the Congress ministers and MLAs of the State alleged that Osmani was trying to malign the image of the party by speaking against the State Government in several public meetings. Citing the various instances when Osmani was critical of the Tarun Gogoi Government, the memorandum said that the Barpeta MP had openly stated that the Congress Government had done little to better the lot of the minority community in the sar areas of the State, and that it was indulging in corruption. Refuting these allegations levelled by Osmani, the memorandum sought to give a clean chit to the Chief Minister by stating that his Government had been providing land pattas to the people living in the sar areas, besides arranging for drinking water facilities.
The Congress MLAs and ministers alleged that Osmani was trying to incite the minority people to float a new party. The chairman of the Minority Affairs Department of the Congress did not attend the party’s ‘Gramodaya Yatra’ held recently in the city.
It has been learnt that Ms Gandhi had assured the delegation of minority MLAs and ministers that no anti-party activities within the Congress would be tolerated. The matter relating to Osmani’s activities will be investigated at the intra-party level, the Congress supremo reportedly told the delegation.
Meanwhile, Congress MLA Chandan Sarkar, said from New Delhi today, said that he would raise the matter regarding Osmani’s charge that he (Sarkar) was instigating the minority ministers and MLAs against him at the disciplinary action committee of the Congress. "It is clear case of anti-party activity on the part of Osmani," Sarkar said, adding that Osmani should air his grievances at the party forum instead of going public. Sarkar further alleged that despite withdrawing an amount of Rs 14 crore from the MPs’ Local Area Development Fund, Osmani had utilized only Rs 2 crore. He demanded a CBI inquiry into this.
It may be mentioned here that the minority ministers who included Rockybul Hussain, Wazed Ali Choudhury, Ismail Hussain, Nazrul Islam and Misbahul Islam Laskar, and MLAs Aftabuddin Mullah, Sajid Majumdar, Dildar Reja, Sukur Ali, Nazrul Umar, Ms Hussainara Islam, Idris Ali, Sultan Siddique, Nurzamal Sarkar, Sheikh Shah Alam, Ms Sarifa Begum, Samsul Haque and Jamaluddin Ahmed also met Union ministers Pranab Mukherjee, Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi and Arjun Singh, and Congress functionaries Ahmed Patel, Digvijay Singh and Chandan Bagchi and submitted a copy of the memorandum.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
A tribute to Sujjuddin Ahmed
Death came to him so swift that it was a bolt from the blue for his near and dear ones and a host of friends and relatives. Md Sujjuddin Ahmed (79), a noted poet and literary pensioner, died at his residence due to cardiac arrest on April 1 at Moran town. He leaves behind his wife and brothers.
Ahmed was born in Dibrugarh in 1926. He passed MA examination in English from Gauhati University in 1968. He was appointed the vice-principal of Tingkhong Higher Secondary School and soon became the founder principal of Tingkhong College. He was the secretary of the Student Federation of Dibrugarh in 1948.
He was also sent to jail in 1952 during the Labour Movement. He published his poem Letter to Mohim in 1973 while Erabatar Sur (a book about culture) was published in 1990. Besides, a number of articles and poems were published in different journals, magazines and newspapers. The Kabi Sanmilan of Axom Xahitya Xabha, held at Biswanath Chariali in 1990, had elected Ahmed as its president. In the year 1992, he was conferred with State Government’s literary pension. He was also the president of All Assam Kabi Sanmilan for the 1996-98 session. Suman Kabi Chakra, a local literary organization, bestowed upon him the title — ‘Kabya Pran’ in 1999.
He was associated with many socio-cultural organizations. Being a soft-spoken gentleman with amiable disposition, he was loved and respected by all sections of the people. His death cast a pall of gloom in Moran town.
For us the world would definitely be a poorer place without him. I pray to God for giving peace to the departed soul.
Ahmed was born in Dibrugarh in 1926. He passed MA examination in English from Gauhati University in 1968. He was appointed the vice-principal of Tingkhong Higher Secondary School and soon became the founder principal of Tingkhong College. He was the secretary of the Student Federation of Dibrugarh in 1948.
He was also sent to jail in 1952 during the Labour Movement. He published his poem Letter to Mohim in 1973 while Erabatar Sur (a book about culture) was published in 1990. Besides, a number of articles and poems were published in different journals, magazines and newspapers. The Kabi Sanmilan of Axom Xahitya Xabha, held at Biswanath Chariali in 1990, had elected Ahmed as its president. In the year 1992, he was conferred with State Government’s literary pension. He was also the president of All Assam Kabi Sanmilan for the 1996-98 session. Suman Kabi Chakra, a local literary organization, bestowed upon him the title — ‘Kabya Pran’ in 1999.
He was associated with many socio-cultural organizations. Being a soft-spoken gentleman with amiable disposition, he was loved and respected by all sections of the people. His death cast a pall of gloom in Moran town.
For us the world would definitely be a poorer place without him. I pray to God for giving peace to the departed soul.
Booing Biharis not enough, slogging to save is!
GUWAHATI, April 11: A whopping amount of almost Rs 15 crore has gone out of the State in the first two months of 2005. The reason : Assamese are an incorrigibly lethargic lot. A bitter truth. The amount, Rs 14,48,50,713, had been money ordered (MO) by various daily-wage labourers who belong to different States of the country.
Even though it may not be of great concern to those at the helm of affairs as well as the hoi-plloi, it does ring a bell of warning as far as the State’s economy is concerned. Out of the Rs 15 crore, Rs 7,54,27,825 was sent outside the State through MO in January and Rs 6,98,25,861 in February. Thus, if on an average Rs 7.5 crore is sent out, then a huge amount of Rs 90 crore is money ordered outside the State every year.
This statistics brings to light another fact. In January, 59,688 persons had sent money to their respective States whereas in February the number was 76,241. This clearly indicates an increase of almost 17,000 labourers who had entered the State in a month’s time. This, by any standard, is alarming.
But at the same time it also brings to the fore the fact that the Assamese will never learn. The bitter truth is that the Assamese are primarily a lethargic lot. An average Assamese would rather laze around than take up a shovel and clean up the mess in his backyard. But he would love to watch an ‘outsider’ do the work for him. This negative trait is well-known and the ‘outsider’ is making the most of it.
Statistics say that the amount sent through MO in 2003-04 was Rs 187,64,07,286.
It may be mentioned that the lion’s share of such amounts every year is sent to Bihar. Next comes Uttar Pradesh in the list. It is a well-known fact that the Rickshaw-wallas, thaila-wallas, barbers etc. are mostly from these two States. A single worker sends Rs 500 to 1,000 home by MO every month.
Incidentally, MO is not the only catalyst which carries the money outside the State. A section of the labourers have accounts in banks and they send their money home through Bank Drafts, cheques and TMOs alike.
It has been alleged that it is because of the failure of the politicians to create lucrative schemes to attract youths that such an age-old habit of shirking work still lingers among the Assamese. But then, what the so-called progressive youth organizations in the State are doing about promoting work culture in Assam remains a million dollar question.
Even though it may not be of great concern to those at the helm of affairs as well as the hoi-plloi, it does ring a bell of warning as far as the State’s economy is concerned. Out of the Rs 15 crore, Rs 7,54,27,825 was sent outside the State through MO in January and Rs 6,98,25,861 in February. Thus, if on an average Rs 7.5 crore is sent out, then a huge amount of Rs 90 crore is money ordered outside the State every year.
This statistics brings to light another fact. In January, 59,688 persons had sent money to their respective States whereas in February the number was 76,241. This clearly indicates an increase of almost 17,000 labourers who had entered the State in a month’s time. This, by any standard, is alarming.
But at the same time it also brings to the fore the fact that the Assamese will never learn. The bitter truth is that the Assamese are primarily a lethargic lot. An average Assamese would rather laze around than take up a shovel and clean up the mess in his backyard. But he would love to watch an ‘outsider’ do the work for him. This negative trait is well-known and the ‘outsider’ is making the most of it.
Statistics say that the amount sent through MO in 2003-04 was Rs 187,64,07,286.
It may be mentioned that the lion’s share of such amounts every year is sent to Bihar. Next comes Uttar Pradesh in the list. It is a well-known fact that the Rickshaw-wallas, thaila-wallas, barbers etc. are mostly from these two States. A single worker sends Rs 500 to 1,000 home by MO every month.
Incidentally, MO is not the only catalyst which carries the money outside the State. A section of the labourers have accounts in banks and they send their money home through Bank Drafts, cheques and TMOs alike.
It has been alleged that it is because of the failure of the politicians to create lucrative schemes to attract youths that such an age-old habit of shirking work still lingers among the Assamese. But then, what the so-called progressive youth organizations in the State are doing about promoting work culture in Assam remains a million dollar question.
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