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http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/sep/11/slide-show-1-separatists-incite-mob-in-kashmir-on-eid.htm#contentTop Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar Fresh violence and pro-independence demonstrations rocked Srinagar after the Eid congregational prayers at the end of violence-filled holy fasting month of Ramadan. The city also witnessed violent clashes and arson by protestors, who torched a police barrack at the historic Hazratbal shrine and a police vehicle. The mobs also torched a police post and an office complex in the civil line area, meters away from the civil secretariat, the state's seat of power. The protests erupted spontaneously as the Eid prayers ended late Saturday morning with thousands of people marching to the city centre, Lal Chowk from various parts of the city. Click on NEXT to read further... A huge procession led by the moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq started from the Eidgah grounds where tens of thousands of people offered the Eid prayers. Passing through the various old city areas, the procession made its way to the city centre covering a distance of five km in nearly three hours. The rally at Lal Chowk was organised jointly by several separatist leaders, including Moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and acting chairman of hard line faction Nissar Hussain Rather. The Mirwaiz called for an half-an-hour sit in protest in the heart of the city and later left for his home despite assurances made by him that the crowd will disperse quietly after the sit-in. During his Eid sermon at Eidgah, where thousands of people offered prayers, the Mirwaiz asked them to march to Lal Chowk to stage a 30-minute protest against the recent killing of people in Kashmir. Chanting 'we want freedom' and anti-India slogans, the procession comprised of mostly youth with scores of them wearing masks to hide their faces. As the procession reached Lal Chowk, massive sloganeering by cheering mobs greeted it. Earlier groups of youth climbed the clock tower and hoisted flags on it. They damaged the woodwork of the clock tower, which was recently undertaken as part of the chief minister's Lal Chowk beautification plan. Hundreds of people had seated themselves in the buildings around the clock tower. Processions had started flowing into Lal Chowk since early morning with people on foot as well atop vehicles shouting slogans and thronging the area around the clock tower. A huge procession of youth riding motorcycles and carrying banners and flags made rounds of the city centre, as the authorities chose to withdraw the police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel from the entire city to avoid clashes and casualties. Next Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar Fresh violence and pro-independence demonstrations rocked Srinagar after the Eid congregational prayers at the end of violence-filled holy fasting month of Ramadan. The city also witnessed violent clashes and arson by protestors, who torched a police barrack at the historic Hazratbal shrine and a police vehicle. The mobs also torched a police post and an office complex in the civil line area, meters away from the civil secretariat, the state's seat of power. The protests erupted spontaneously as the Eid prayers ended late Saturday morning with thousands of people marching to the city centre, Lal Chowk from various parts of the city. Click on NEXT to read further... Image: People watch as government buildings burn after being set on fire by protesters in Srinagar Photographs: Danish Ismail/Reuters Next Prev Next A huge procession led by the moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq started from the Eidgah grounds where tens of thousands of people offered the Eid prayers. Passing through the various old city areas, the procession made its way to the city centre covering a distance of five km in nearly three hours. The rally at Lal Chowk was organised jointly by several separatist leaders, including Moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and acting chairman of hard line faction Nissar Hussain Rather. The Mirwaiz called for an half-an-hour sit in protest in the heart of the city and later left for his home despite assurances made by him that the crowd will disperse quietly after the sit-in. Image: Kashmiris march during an anti-India protest in Srinagar Photographs: Danish Ismail/Reuters Prev Next Prev Next During his Eid sermon at Eidgah, where thousands of people offered prayers, the Mirwaiz asked them to march to Lal Chowk to stage a 30-minute protest against the recent killing of people in Kashmir. Chanting 'we want freedom' and anti-India slogans, the procession comprised of mostly youth with scores of them wearing masks to hide their faces. As the procession reached Lal Chowk, massive sloganeering by cheering mobs greeted it. Earlier groups of youth climbed the clock tower and hoisted flags on it. Image: Government buildings burn after being set on fire by protesters in Srinagar Photographs: Danish Ismail/Reuters Prev Next Prev Next They damaged the woodwork of the clock tower, which was recently undertaken as part of the chief minister's Lal Chowk beautification plan. Hundreds of people had seated themselves in the buildings around the clock tower. Processions had started flowing into Lal Chowk since early morning with people on foot as well atop vehicles shouting slogans and thronging the area around the clock tower. A huge procession of youth riding motorcycles and carrying banners and flags made rounds of the city centre, as the authorities chose to withdraw the police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel from the entire city to avoid clashes and casualties. Image: Kashmiris raise their hands while chanting anti-India slogans during an anti-India protest in Srinagar Photographs: Danish Ismail/Reuters Prev Next Prev Next Addressing the huge gathering, Mirwaiz said that 'his efforts to forge unity among the various separatist groups will shortly bear fruit'. Soon after a protest rally organised by separatist leaders at Lal Chowk, a group of youth barged into the office of Chief Engineer Power Development Department near Exhibition Crossing in Srinagar and set it on fire. The adjacent building housing the Crime Branch office was also engulfed in flames within no time and the blaze spread rapidly as the building is mostly made of wood. Image: Protestors on top of the clocktower Photographs: Umar Ganie Prev Next Prev Next Police had been clearly instructed that there should be no firing on the mob. Several rounds were fired in air to disperse the mob and fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames. The protestors also indulged in stone pelting on the fire tenders rushed to the area to control the blaze. The security forces are now patrolling the city centre. Image: Kids chant pro-freedom slogans during the procession Photographs: Umar Ganie Prev Next Prev Next A strong mob also tried to torch the office complex of superintendent of police at Rambagh in the city uptown. In the historic Hazratbal shrine, where Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was initially scheduled to offer the Eid prayers, mob violence was witnessed after the prayers. Omar, however, cancelled his programme to offer the prayers there on the advice of the security top brass. The mobs, shouting pro-freedom slogans, torched a police barrack and a vehicle as the security forces fired volleys of warning shots to disperse the protestors. Image: Thousands took part in the processions Photographs: Umar Ganie Prev Next Prev Next A police spokesman said that Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq had assured that there would be no violence. The assurances proved false. "Mirwaiz incited the situation by leading a procession to Lal Chowk taking the advantage of Eid congregation and thus vitiated the Eid celebrations in Srinagar," the spokesman said. "Today's protests were uncalled for as people wanted to celebrate Eid after a month long fasting. But violence like today's will result in set back for any initiative that the government can think for breaking the impasse," Omar said, reacting to the violent protests. Image: A government building on fire Photographs: Umar Ganie Prev Next Prev Next Accusing the Mirwaiz and JKLF Chief Yaseen Malik of failing in their duty to maintain peace, Omar said, "It was the Mirwaiz's office, which approached a senior official in my government and requested for permission to have a march to Lal Chowk." "They were repeatedly asked whether the mob will go out of control, but the repeated insistence from the separatist camp for allowing them a political space for peaceful march made me overrule the suggestions of my police officials. However, whatever has happened later in Lal Chowk can be termed as betrayal of trust," he said. While the Chief Minister refrained from naming the close aide of the Mirwaiz, but sources said the offer was made by the Hurriyat Chairman through Shahid-ul-Islam, a former chief of terrorist group Hizbullah. Image: A policeman fires warning shots to disperse the mob Photographs: Umar Ganie Prev Next Prev More The Mirwaiz aide reasoned out that the march was a political necessity for them as the space for separatists in the Valley was shrinking fast, the sources said. However, as the mob in Lal Chowk started turning hostile, the Mirwaiz and his aides quickly disappeared from the scene. Asked whether such incidents would cast a shadow on the talks about partial removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Omar said: "While we want the changes to take place, such incidents would definitely have a bearing on any moves to restore peace." Reacting to the Chief Minister, the Mirwaiz said it was people's anger that was playing out on the street though he would not justify the violence. Image: Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq addressing the gathering Photographs: Umar Ganie Prev More Police had been clearly instructed that there should be no firing on the mob. Several rounds were fired in air to disperse the mob and fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames. The protestors also indulged in stone pelting on the fire tenders rushed to the area to control the blaze. The security forces are now patrolling the city centre. A strong mob also tried to torch the office complex of superintendent of police at Rambagh in the city uptown. In the historic Hazratbal shrine, where Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was initially scheduled to offer the Eid prayers, mob violence was witnessed after the prayers. Omar, however, cancelled his programme to offer the prayers there on the advice of the security top brass. The mobs, shouting pro-freedom slogans, torched a police barrack and a vehicle as the security forces fired volleys of warning shots to disperse the protestors. A police spokesman said that Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq had assured that there would be no violence. The assurances proved false. "Mirwaiz incited the situation by leading a procession to Lal Chowk taking the advantage of Eid congregation and thus vitiated the Eid celebrations in Srinagar," the spokesman said. "Today's protests were uncalled for as people wanted to celebrate Eid after a month long fasting. But violence like today's will result in set back for any initiative that the government can think for breaking the impasse," Omar said, reacting to the violent protests. Accusing the Mirwaiz and JKLF Chief Yaseen Malik of failing in their duty to maintain peace, Omar said, "It was the Mirwaiz's office, which approached a senior official in my government and requested for permission to have a march to Lal Chowk." "They were repeatedly asked whether the mob will go out of control, but the repeated insistence from the separatist camp for allowing them a political space for peaceful march made me overrule the suggestions of my police officials. However, whatever has happened later in Lal Chowk can be termed as betrayal of trust," he said. While the Chief Minister refrained from naming the close aide of the Mirwaiz, but sources said the offer was made by the Hurriyat Chairman through Shahid-ul-Islam, a former chief of terrorist group Hizbullah. The Mirwaiz aide reasoned out that the march was a political necessity for them as the space for separatists in the Valley was shrinking fast, the sources said. However, as the mob in Lal Chowk started turning hostile, the Mirwaiz and his aides quickly disappeared from the scene. Asked whether such incidents would cast a shadow on the talks about partial removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Omar said: "While we want the changes to take place, such incidents would definitely have a bearing on any moves to restore peace." Reacting to the Chief Minister, the Mirwaiz said it was people's anger that was playing out on the street though he would not justify the violence.

Converted Hindu ultra is Hizbul commander Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, September 6 For the first time in the history of the Jammu region, a Hindu, who converted to Islam, has become a divisional commander of the banned militant outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). After Firdous Ahmed Mattoo, alias Prince, was nabbed by the Anantnag police in Kashmir on September 3, Hindu militant Subhash Kumar alias Wafif alias Qamran has become the divisional commander of the banned outfit in Kishtwar, intelligence sources told The Tribune. After Mattoo, who had been active since 1998, Subhash was the seniormost militant and hence he had been given the charge of the HM in the Jammu region, they said. From 2003 to 2010, Subhash had been involved in serious offences like killings of two civilians, two Army jawans and a police constable. In the backdrop of new development, he would now try to revive the HM in the Jammu region, said the sources. But on the other hand, security forces have intensified their operations to eliminate him. “Last week, we had launched an operation in the Dacchan area where we had a brief encounter with Subhash and his group. Though they managed to escape, our troops seized one SLR and one AK-47 rifle from the site of encounter,” said Kishtwar SP Hasib Mughal. “Subhash has been operating with a group of three to four of his close aides in the Dachhan-Lidri-Pinjrari area but we are trying our best to eliminate this entire group”, he added. “His family had already disowned him while our efforts to bring him back into the mainstream via village elders proved futile and considering the nature of serious offences committed by him, he and his group will meet their fate”, said Mughal. A class 10 dropout, the 25-year-old ultra belongs to Razna in the Palmar area of Kishtwar and is eldest among four siblings.

Dara Shikoh: Still Persecuted History’s false and biased version has fully been exploited for the ulterior motive of strengthening the elite’s hold over all facets of life and implementing their version of Islam. To add to the woes, this distorted history has been made the staple diet of all students since 1947 History heads the list of disciplines that have been grossly exploited and abused worldwide, but its treatment in this region has been especially brutal. Historians served the rulers or their own prejudices and in both cases, truth and justice became the primary casualty. Historical narratives wilfully misrepresented some personages and to add insult to injury, this went hand in hand with the glorification of the most undeserving and iniquitous individuals. Dara Shikoh, Emperor Shah Jahan’s heir apparent, has been undeservedly maligned or entirely neglected by historians who found the cruel and bigoted Aurangzeb and marauders before him as true icons of manliness representing, according to them, true Islamic glory and grandeur. Accused of apostasy, he was murdered on August 30, 1659 by his brother Aurangzeb. He patronised fine arts, music and dancing, which were frowned upon by Aurangzeb. His paintings compare well to professional artists of his time. He commissioned several exquisite examples of Mughal architecture, notable among them the tomb of his wife Nadira Bano and the tomb of Hazrat Mian Mir, a famous Qadri sufi saint whose follower he was, also in Lahore. His most famous work, Majma-ul-Bahrain (‘The mingling of the two seas’), was devoted to the mystical and pluralistic affinities between sufic and Vedantic speculation. Dara Shikoh championed cultural interaction among people of all faiths. Quintessentially a liberal, he understood the need for harmonious coexistence of heterodox traditions on the Indian subcontinent and as such he presented a serious threat to orthodoxy. Dara was not just an individual; he represented a world outlook that bigotry detests. The elite have invariably supported bigotry and Dara’s agony continues unabated, but the struggle continues. Ajoka Theatre deserves credit for initiating the historical rehabilitation of Dara. I was graciously invited to the play’s recent presentation in Karachi. ‘Dara’ is exceptionally well written and directed by Nadeem Shahid and extremely ably acted out by the entire cast. It keeps the audience riveted for over two hours with its powerful dialogues, excellent music, a wonderful mix of Amir Khusro’s and Sarmad’s poetry, flawless choreography, enchanting lighting effects and seamless stage management, and all this with minimum props. It is a political and social statement, which needs to be supported for its implications for efforts to recognise and understand history in its proper perspective. Ajoka, in its effort to challenge the existing social and political norms, has faced a lot of opposition, including a ban on one of its plays, but commendably it has shown courage under fire. Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/islam/32173-dara-shikoh-still-persecuted.html Dara, born in 1615 AD, was to succeed Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan was not an epitome of generosity and benevolence that his buildings like Taj Mahal would symbolise. He was cruel and unforgiving. Shah Jahan’s sudden illness in 1657 triggered a war of succession between his offspring. Though he recovered enough from his illness to remain a strong factor in the struggle for supremacy, Aurangzeb at the battlefield of Samugarh defeated Dara, 13 kilometres from Agra on May 30, 1658. Aurangzeb then deposed Emperor Shah Jahan on June 8, 1658 and incarcerated him at Agra fort. His eldest daughter Jahan Ara Begum chose to stay with him. He died aged 74 after a confinement of seven and a half years on January 22, 1662. Aurangzeb never forgave him for supporting Dara. He was buried by eunuchs and menial servants beside his beloved Mumtaz Mahal. Defeated, Dara went to Gujarat and then to Sindh but was betrayed and handed over to Aurangzeb. He was brought to Delhi and paraded through the streets in chains. This inflamed the people who attacked some courtiers. Fearing a people’s rebellion, Aurangzeb summoned a convocation of spineless nobles and clergy that expediently declared Dara as an apostate from Islam. He was beheaded on the night of August 30, 1659. His popularity among the people and the threat that he posed to Aurangzeb’s bigotry had decided his fate. Sarmad, the naked mystic poet, who had a huge following among the people of Delhi, would come to Dara. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, in his biography of Sarmad, quotes a pro-Aurangzeb historian Sher Khan Lodhi, the author of Mirath-ul-Khayal, “Sultan Dara Shikoh had an affinity for mad people so he became friends with Sarmad.” Maulana comments that “he (Lodhi) does not know that there is a set of scales in which this madness would outweigh all the wisdom in the world”, adding that “anyway he (Maulana) prefers the madness of Dara over Alamgiri wisdom, which is tainted with the blood of innocents”. He adds, “Dara was probably fed up with the pernicious wisdom of the likes of Aurangzeb that he preferred the company of Sarmad.” Sarmad too suffered the same fate as Dara, but more on Sarmad in another piece. Maulana also says: “Dara Shikoh had a unique mind and temperament and all should forever mourn the unfortunate day when his enemies triumphed.” Maulana Abul Kalam understood that Aurangzeb’s victory meant the supremacy of intolerance and bigotry, not only in its immediate aftermath, but also the ominous implications for the future of the region and religion. It was for this reason that he minced no words while presenting Aurangzeb, though a hero for others, in his true colours. It should be understood that the day Aurangzeb succeeded, the die was cast for eventual ascendancy of the bigoted ideology. History’s false and biased version has fully been exploited for the ulterior motive of strengthening the elite’s hold over all facets of life and implementing their version of Islam. To add to the woes, this distorted history has been made the staple diet of all students since 1947 and has had the expected results. Those who are surprised at the intensity of the bigotry and intolerance that is the hallmark of all relationships in our society should take a closer look at the way history has been presented and revisit the deeds of all who have been projected as heroes of Islamic history. Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=32173 History, true or fabricated, moulds attitudes, sets values and creates mindsets. The potential of it being instrumental in moulding mindsets has been used in a sinister manner by our rulers and they have created Aurangzebs in their millions. People emulating Aurangzeb certainly cannot be expected to be benevolent to their Daras. And Daras will remain persecuted as long as fabricated history reigns supreme. by Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur The Daily Times, August 1, 2010:

It is because extremists win all the time.Liberals are biggest losers of world. Look at bombay after the emergence of marathi regionalism everbody is bowing to them.Banks now have sites in marathi,outsiders are learning Marathi,Radio channels recently agreed to That there will be programmes on marathi songs ,So one can clearly see the victory of Maratha extremism

according to report land worth rs.1.2 lakh crore was sold by waqf board for mere 6000 crore rupees so this is the type of corruption muslims in India have. I have seen so many people blaming corruption in SGPC and other gurdwara committes for the downfall sikhism.If we compare this type of corruption I don't think our Gurdwara's will come close to it.

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New Delhi: A Minority Affairs Ministry report accessed by CNN-IBN reveals that land belonging to various Wakf boards in India are being misused and even sold at throwaway prices. The report contains nationwide details of prevailing corruption in Wakf boards. It exposes a nexus involving politicians, community leaders and private developers. In Maharashtra's Aurangabad district a 14 acre plot of land belonging to Wakf Board was allegedly sold to Nirman Bharati developers for just Rs 8 crore when the actual market rate for it Rs 60 crore. The land was with the board since 1973. What highlights the possible nexus between the politicians and those in-charge of using the land for the betterment of the Muslims is the fact that Diliprao Deshmukh, a Congress MLC and brother of Heavy Industries Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was one of the directors in Nirman Bharati, when the deal was signed. Those who are aware of this practice allege collusion between the trustees and the builder lobby. "Such blatant sale is common. The trustees are hand-in-glove with builder lobby and Wakf board looks the other way or sometimes even gets a cut," says lawyer Sana Baugwala. After a furore against the sale, the matter is now pending before the Aurangabad High court. "I can't talk about this case since it is subjudice. I was Director in the said company for 18 days only," Diliprao Deshmukh told CNN-IBN. Meanwhile, allegations of sale, shockingly low rental rates, under-hand land deals continue discreetly. The Maharashtra Wakf Board owns and maintains over 23 thousand Wakf properties spanning 92,000 acres. As per a government survey report, 60 per cent of this has been encroached upon. The three-storey mall, Citi Centre which is worth Rs 300 crore, stands on what used to be an orphanage under the Haji Zakariya Ahmed Patel Mohammadan Orphanage & Asylum Trust. According to documents with CNN-IBN, trustees of the orphanage in Mumbai Central, sold 13,800 sq m or 3 acres of land for Rs 1 crore in September 2004 to Neel KamalRealtors & Builders Pvt Ltd. Its market rate is estimated to be Rs 100 crore. When CNN-IBN spoke to the trustees, they defended their decision saying that the land property was sold off for commercial use since it had become a liability to maintain. Since the property was registered under the Bombay Public trust, the sale was allowed. The then Wakf Board CEO MA Aziz ratified the sale. "The charity commissioner gave permission for the sale of the property to Citi Centre after Wakf Board issued notice," says Haji Ahmed Pathan, Wakf Board member. The Pir Baghdadi dargah in the heart of Mumbai's Dadar area is also currently under the scanner for allegations of financial irregularities in its lease agreement.

http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/sep/07/slide-show-1-are-pakistans-youth-giving-up-islam.htm#contentTop A handful of Pakistani Muslim youths are beginning to question the existence of God and are in the process of giving up Islam to become atheists. Still a small number, the trend seems to be telling of the pressures that the image of militant Islam has had on them. A Facebook group has been floated for Pakistan's agnostics and atheists by Hazrat NaKhuda, a former Pakistani Muslim. Hazrat is a young computer programmer from Lahore. At last count, the group had over a 100 members. In a thread started on the discussion board on "How did you become an atheist", Hazrat writes, "I used to be a practicing Muslim. I used to live in Saudi Arabia. I have done two Hajs and countless Umrahs. I used to pray five times a day. When I turned 17-18, I realised that the only reason I was a Muslim was because my parents were Muslims". Text: PTI Photographs: Adrees Latif/Reuters Next Next A handful of Pakistani Muslim youths are beginning to question the existence of God and are in the process of giving up Islam to become atheists. Still a small number, the trend seems to be telling of the pressures that the image of militant Islam has had on them. A Facebook group has been floated for Pakistan's agnostics and atheists by Hazrat NaKhuda, a former Pakistani Muslim. Hazrat is a young computer programmer from Lahore. At last count, the group had over a 100 members. In a thread started on the discussion board on "How did you become an atheist", Hazrat writes, "I used to be a practicing Muslim. I used to live in Saudi Arabia. I have done two Hajs and countless Umrahs. I used to pray five times a day. When I turned 17-18, I realised that the only reason I was a Muslim was because my parents were Muslims". Text: PTI Photographs: Adrees Latif/Reuters Next Prev Next Ahmed Zaidi (name changed), another member, posted on the discussion board: "I am an agnostic simply because I see little or no evidence for the existence of God. Some time ago I decided that I'd never believe anything unless it has a firm basis in reason and as far as I know (and I admit I know very little and that there's much to be learnt), there's little or no evidence for the existence of God." The group, which is open strictly to members, has young Pakistani students studying in New York University to Oxford University to the prestigious Lahore University of Management Sciences as members. Saeed Ahmad (name changed), who used to be a "practicing Ahmedi Muslim", started questioning his beliefs at the age of 17. "I don't think there is any more detail to be added," he posted on the Facebook community for Pakistan's atheists and agnostics. Photographs: Tim Wimborne/Reuters Prev Next Prev Next Nawab Zia (name changed) wrote that the moot question is not "how did you become an atheist" but "how did you become a believer". He wrote, "I was a born atheist like every human being until my parents corrupted me with faith. Every child is born free and pure." Ali Rana (name changed), who loved Islamic preacher Zakir Nair and hated author Salman Rushdie, has had a change of heart too. He now thinks Nair is an 'idiot' and Rushdie a genius. There are other threads on how the members 'wasted' their years as theists. Photographs: Adrees Latif/Reuters Prev Next Prev More More serious issues, like whether there should a column marked 'no religion' while applying for passports, have also been discussed. "Last time I went to get my passport renewed, I found that there is no option called 'no religion'. Next time I go to make my passport I don't want to put in Islam as my religion," said one member. What connects members, who range from O-level students to computer professionals to architects, is their urgent need to question religion. "I vacillate between atheism and agnosticism. I'm currently an atheist but I feel like it is more reasonable for one to be agnostic. After all, there is no definitive way to disprove the existence of a God. I don't mean God in the religious sense because one can say with certainty that science has ruled that out, but a Cartesian God, the non-interventionist creator of the world," wrote a member. Photographs: Zahid Hussein /Reuters Prev More Ahmed Zaidi (name changed), another member, posted on the discussion board: "I am an agnostic simply because I see little or no evidence for the existence of God. Some time ago I decided that I'd never believe anything unless it has a firm basis in reason and as far as I know (and I admit I know very little and that there's much to be learnt), there's little or no evidence for the existence of God." The group, which is open strictly to members, has young Pakistani students studying in New York University to Oxford University to the prestigious Lahore University of Management Sciences as members. Saeed Ahmad (name changed), who used to be a "practicing Ahmedi Muslim", started questioning his beliefs at the age of 17. "I don't think there is any more detail to be added," he posted on the Facebook community for Pakistan's atheists and agnostics. Nawab Zia (name changed) wrote that the moot question is not "how did you become an atheist" but "how did you become a believer". He wrote, "I was a born atheist like every human being until my parents corrupted me with faith. Every child is born free and pure." Ali Rana (name changed), who loved Islamic preacher Zakir Nair and hated author Salman Rushdie, has had a change of heart too. He now thinks Nair is an 'idiot' and Rushdie a genius. There are other threads on how the members 'wasted' their years as theists. More serious issues, like whether there should a column marked 'no religion' while applying for passports, have also been discussed. "Last time I went to get my passport renewed, I found that there is no option called 'no religion'. Next time I go to make my passport I don't want to put in Islam as my religion," said one member. What connects members, who range from O-level students to computer professionals to architects, is their urgent need to question religion. "I vacillate between atheism and agnosticism. I'm currently an atheist but I feel like it is more reasonable for one to be agnostic. After all, there is no definitive way to disprove the existence of a God. I don't mean God in the religious sense because one can say with certainty that science has ruled that out, but a Cartesian God, the non-interventionist creator of the world," wrote a member.

http://www.upbulk.com/media/video.php?id=263965

http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/sep/04/slide-show-1-kerala-professor-lost-hand-first-now-his-job.htm#contentTop In yet another blow to Professor TJ Joseph, who was allegedly attack by radical outfit Popular Front of India for preparing a Malayalam question paper allegedly having derogatory reference to prophet Mohammed, the authorities of the private New Man College have removed him from service. The colleges authorities have informed Joseph that he had been removed from service from Sept 1, source said. PFI activists had allegedly hacked the right arm of Joseph on July 4 after he prepared the controversial Malayalam question paper. The lecturer has injuries all over his body and is currently recovering at his residence at Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district. The college authorities had issued a showcause notice to Joseph asking why he should not be removed from service for hurting the religious sentiments of a section of the people. Though Joseph had replied to the notice, the management apparently was not convinced and decided to remove him from service. Meanwhile, reacting to the management decision Prof Joseph said this was an unexpected blow to him and his family. "I have not thought of any legal action so far against the management," he said.

There is nothing sikh community can do apart from parents becoming strict

Well It is not only sikh Girls.Thousands of Hindu Girls too marry muslim men. bollywood actresses are leading in this way

Well I am no expert of SEO but I can tell you that key to increase pagerank is Link exchange with other sites.Especially with the Quality sites. may be this site could help http://www.linkmarket.net They have free and paid programme.In free programme they restrict your Link exchange requests upto 5 per day

Well its easy to say that izzat is garbage but those who undergoes these type of trauma's Whether it is because of Girl or some another cause could understand. Just tell me if this Girl has a sister do you think that any decent sikh family will want there boy to marry her.Forget about marrying even many will tell there daughters don't befriend her or don't go to her home even

Because These type of cases mean izzat of Girl's family gone forever .They become laughing stock in the eyes of everyone.It is like social Death for them

CHANDIGARH: In a first, inter-religion live-in partners have got security from the Punjab and Haryana High Court after religious heads refused to solemnize their marriage unless they converted to one religion. That left them with the only option of marrying under the Special Marriage Act, which requires their parents to be informed. This has posed danger to their lives as their families are opposed to their marriage. Jagroop Ali and Kulwant Kaur of Moga district in Punjab sought protection from the high court. The couple, who decided to settle into a live-in relationship after refusing to convert, was granted legal protection from the girl's enraged parents. Kulwant, who belongs to Jat Sikh community, and Jagroop Ali left their village on June 22 because Kulwant's parents were unwilling to allow their marriage. Both of them approached gurdwaras and mosques to solemnize their marriage, but both refused as they belonged to different religions. Kulwant and Ali then pledged to live together for life. Apprehending threat from Kulwant's family, the couple moved a petition before the high court on Wednesday. Hearing the couple's plight, Justice Daya Chaudhary asked the SSP, Moga and other respondents to ensure their life and liberty. Read more: Sikh-Muslim couple gets cover - Chandigarh - City - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Hindu-Muslim-couple-gets-cover/articleshow/6482615.cms#ixzz0yS8gLJUg

When Sikhs captured the Red Fort The Sikhs attacked the Red Fort on March 11,1783, and hoisted the Nishan Sahib. The Emperor offered a treaty, and accepted their terms, writes Major-Gen Kulwant Singh (retd) NADIR Shah’s brutal offensives and eight invasions by Ahmed Shah Abdali had made the Mughal Empire fragile and weak. Sikhs had emerged as a strong and powerful force in northern India. The Sikhs eventually halted Abdali’s invasions. Under the leadership of Dal Khalsa chief Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, the Sikhs refused an alliance, and instead challenged Abdali for battle. They were anxious to avenge the killing of over 20,000 Sikhs, mostly women, children and old people, and also destruction and desecration of the Golden Temple. Sensing defeat, Abdali called it a day, and finally returned to Afghanistan, never to come back again. The vast area of the Indian subcontinent lying between the Indus and the Yamuna was free from foreign rule. When the Sikhs surrounded the fort, the Emperor and his guards hid themselves When the Sikhs surrounded the fort, the Emperor and his guards hid themselves With no enemy in the North, and Shah Alam II at the head of the decaying Mughal Empire at Delhi, the powerful 12 misals had a free run in increasing their influence in all directions, from the Indus to the Yamuna, seeking rakhi (protection money) from various small chiefs, nawabs and rajas. The Marathas, after their defeat by Abdali in the third battle of Panipat in 1761, were marginalised, and the Rohillas were a spent force. The English were in the process of finding their place at Delhi. It was easy for the Sikh misals to cross the Yamuna and make forays towards Delhi and beyond. The misals did not owe any allegiance to each other, except when the Sarbat Khalsa, through a Gurmatta, resolved to attack a common target. Baghel Singh’s Karor Singhia Misal was operating in south-east Punjab. He was a very able leader of men, a good political negotiator, and was able to win over many adversaries to his side. The Mughals, the Marathas, the Rohillas, the Jats and the British sought his friendship, and, above all, he was a devout Sikh; amrit prachar was his passion. Karor Singhia was one of the strongest misals with 12,000 well- trained horsemen. The combined strength under Baghel Singh, including soldiers of a few sardars who joined him, was well over 40,000. He captured territories much beyond Delhi to include Meerut, Khurja, Aligarh,Tundla, Shikhohabad, Farrukhabad, Agra and many other rich townships around Delhi, and collected tributes and rakhi from nawabs and rajas. He captured Saharanpur and overran the Rohilla territory in April 1775. In March 1776, Baghel Singh’s forces gave a crushing defeat to the Mughal army near Muzaffarnagar; thus Sikhs extended their influence on the whole of the Yamuna-Gangetic doab. Baghel Singh invaded Delhi on January 8, 1774, and captured the area up to Shahdara. The second invasion was on July 17, 1775, when the Sikhs captured the area around the present-day Pahar Ganj and Jai Singhpura. Bulk of the fighting took place where present-day New Delhi is located. Sikhs temporarily withdrew due to shortage of supplies, but they kept the agenda of the Red Fort alive, and continued domination and intrusions into the Emperor’s territory surrounding Delhi. By early 1783, the Sikhs commenced preparations for the capture of the Red Fort. A force of 60,000 under the leadership of Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Sardar Baghel Singh assembled at Ghaziabad, continuing their attacks and capturing rich towns around Delhi. Enormous booty was collected by Sikhs, which was sent to Punjab with an escort of 20,000 soldiers. One-tenth of this booty was sent to the Golden Temple as offering to the Guru. On March 8 the Sikhs captured Malka Ganj and Sabzi Mandi. Prince Mirza Shikoh, on orders from the Emperor, tried to stop the invaders but suffered defeat, and fled. On March 9 they captured Ajmeri Gate. There was a panic in the city; many took shelter in the fort. Jassa Singh Ramgarhia joined the Sikh forces at the last moment with 10,000 soldiers. As many as 30,000 Sikh horsemen of Baghel Singh’s army were camping at a place now known as Tees Hazari, location of the Delhi High Court. The Sikhs attacked the Red Fort on March 11,1783. The Emperor and all his guards, in fact every one in the fort, hid themselves. The story goes that an insider informed Sikhs of a weak spot in the wall of the fort, where the soldiers made a hole by ramming it with wooden logs; the place is named as Mori Gate, the location of Inter State Bus terminus (ISBT). The Sikhs entered the Red Fort, hoisted the kesri Nishan Sahib, and occupied Diwan-e-aam, a key location in the fort, where the Emperor, sitting on the throne, used to have audience with the public. In a symbolic gesture, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was made to sit on the throne, which made him the Emperor. His old rival and his name-sake, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, joined by some other chiefs, opposed Ahluwalia’s sitting on the throne. Before the event took an ugly turn, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia gracefully vacated the throne and, thus, avoided a controversy amongst the chiefs at a critical moment. The Emperor was quick to reconcile with the Sikhs; he offered a treaty and accepted their terms. The Emperor was to pay Rs 3 lakh as nazrana. The kotwali area was to remain the property of the Sikhs. Baghel Singh was allowed to construct gurdwaras on all sites connected with Sikh history. Baghel Singh was to retain 4,000 soldiers till his task was completed; the Emperor was to pay all expenses. The Sikh army left the fort after the treaty. The Sikh conquered the Red Fort, but they missed a great opportunity and failed to exploit the advantage of being the strongest force.

Three blasts targeted Shia processions in Lahore [ Images ] on Wednesday, killing at least six persons and injuring nearly 70 others in the latest wave of deadly terrorist attacks across the country. The first two blasts, both of low intensity, went off near the Karbala Gamay Shah imambargah or Shia prayer ground after 6.35 pm. The third and more powerful blast occurred at Bhatti Chowk at about 7.15 pm. Both sites are located close to the Data Darbar shrine that was recently targeted by suicide attackers. At least six persons were killed and dozens injured, said officials of the private Edhi ambulance service. Fahim Jahanzeb, the spokesman for the state-run Rescue 1122 service, said a minor girl was killed and 25 others were injured. Television images of the two blast sites showed people running helter-skelter following the explosions with some of the injured victims writhing in pain. Officials at the Mayo Hospital said they had received nearly 70 injured. The two blasts near Karbala Gamay Shah triggered a stampede among members of the Shia procession that injured several persons. Many members of the procession attacked policemen, saying they had failed to provide adequate protection to the gathering. The procession was making its way from the old quarters of Lahore to Karbala Gamay Shah to mark Hazrat Ali's death anniversary when the first two blasts occurred. The third explosion went off as rescue workers were rushing the injured to hospital. A senior police officer told PTI that the first two blasts were caused by explosive devices hidden in motorcycles. Reports said the third blast was caused by a suicide attacker though this could not immediately be confirmed. © Copyright 2010 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.

Before comparing Sikhs with Hps or Pak punjabi's you have to understand the difference between them.Unlike sikhs Hindu Punjabi's are hardly from rural background.Even among sikhs you will not much found caste discrimination the sikhs that lives in urban cities of India.Among corruption level Hindu Punjabi's are known worst than sikhs. I don't know much about pak punjabi's so can't comment much on them but I have read that jatt punjabi's too there are very much caste conscious

Could you please tell people here what is the source of what you are saying.Is it what you have people told you or you have read this news somehwere

Well to prepare and organise for future sometime you may have to do unethical things like what sikhs did in 1947.Imagine if sikhs had not kicked out muslims from east Punjab what could have been the present secnario, clashes between hindu/sikhs and muslims over petty issue's. Anyway I agree with you that if muslim world is future then we have to accept it as god's will

Well may be Hindu's themselves will want to divide India when they see ground realities going against them and muslims may want an undivided India when they sense that they are in majority .Who knows what lies in Future?

You are totally forgetting that in future ,the demographics of India will much favour muslims rather than Hindu's.Already Muslims are officially 13.4% and this does not include 40-50 million illegal bangladeshi's .so Unofficially there population could be around 20% at present.Hindu and sikhs are much more money minded and look to western type of model which means less and less kids in Future for these communities While muslims believe in sharia and more kids.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-hughes/balkanizing-pakistan-a-co_b_635950.html Balkanizing Pakistan: A Collective National Security Strategy Michael Hughes, Geopolitical journalist Posted: July 6, 2010 05:43 AM Breaking Pakistan to Fix It The argument for Balkanizing Pakistan or, more specifically, fragmenting the Islamic Republic so it's easier to police and economically develop, has been on the table since Pakistan's birth in 1947 when the country was spit out of a British laboratory. And lately, the concept is looking more appealing by the day, because as a result of flawed boundaries combined with the nexus between military rule and Islamic extremism, Pakistan now finds itself on a rapid descent toward certain collapse and the country's leaders stubbornly refuse to do the things required to change course. But before allowing Pakistan to commit state suicide, self-disintegrate and further destabilize the region, the international community can beat them to the punch and deconstruct the country less violently. To quell any doubts about Pakistan's seemingly uncontrollable spiral into darkness, just recently, Foreign Policy Magazine ranked Pakistan as the tenth most failed state on earth and it would seem its leaders are hell bent on securing the number one slot - an honor it can add to their already dubious distinction as the world's largest incubator of jihadist extremism. Afghanistan will never see peace or prosperity with a neighbor like Pakistan and the U.S. will always be threatened by terrorist plots spawned in Pakistan's lawless regions - like the most recent Times Square bombing. The most popular approach to fragmentation is to break off and allow Afghanistan to absorb Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), which would unite the Pashtun tribes. In addition, the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh would become independent sovereign states, leaving Punjab as a standalone entity. Balkanization is based on the premise that the weak central government in Islamabad is incapable of governing Pakistan's frontiers, which have become the number one source of regional instability. The governing Punjabi elite have neglected the other three major ethnic groups - the Sindhis, Pashtuns, and Baluchis, primarily because a majority of Pakistan's budget is spent on the military rather than economic development, schooling or infrastructure. Only 2% of Pakistan's GDP, for example, is spent on education despite the fact Pakistan's literacy rate stands at 57%. Minority groups have also been underrepresented in institutions such as Pakistan's military - which is the country's most powerful entity. Punjabis who represent 40% of the population constitute 90% of the armed forces. Pakistan's own history provides a prime case study of what happens when an ethnic group can no longer tolerate political and economic disregard. After a quarter century of strife the Bengalis rebelled, seceded and founded Bangladesh in 1971. If the Balkanization solution is ever put in motion, accusations will surely fly that it's yet another example of U.S. imperialism and neoconservatism run amok. However, this would be a diplomatic and multilateral effort, plus, it is more about reversing the inequities of British colonialism than it is building some new world order. Inherent Instability Pakistan's problems began when the British drew its boundaries haphazardly, which was primarily a product of incompetence and haste than maniacal design. According to an article in the New York Times last year, British colonial officer, Sir Cyril Radcliffe was given six weeks to carve a Muslim-majority state from British India although he had never even been there before. Radcliffe's private secretary was quoted as saying that Sir Cyril "was a bit flummoxed by the whole thing. It was a rather impossible assignment, really. To partition that subcontinent in six weeks was absurd." It would be a comical anecdote except for the fact that hundreds of thousands of people died in the ethnic cleansing that followed as a direct result of British carelessness. Pakistan's border with Afghanistan - the poorly-marked Durand Line - had been drawn in 1893, also by the British, but it was never meant to be a long-term legally-binding boundary. The faux demarcation split the Pashtuns in half. By reinstating the original natural boundaries, Pakistan's western provinces would be returned to Afghanistan and the Pashtun tribes would be reunited. Such a move would also remove a strategic advantage for the Afghan Taliban, who can easily blend in amongst fellow Pashtuns on the Pakistani side of the border today. The British did not only gift Pakistan with lethal boundaries, according to renowned Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid, Pakistan inherited a "security state" from British rule, described by scholars as "the viceregal tradition" or "a permanent state of martial law". Intellectual Christopher Hitchens asserted Pakistan has been a fiefdom of the military for most of its short existence. As was once said of Prussia: Pakistan is not a country that has an army, but an army that has a country. Hitchens also said the country was doomed to be a dysfunctional military theocracy from day one - beginning with the very name of the country itself: But then, there is a certain hypocrisy inscribed in the very origins and nature of "Pakistan". The name is no more than an acronym, confected in the 1930s at Cambridge University by a NW Muslim propagandist named Chaudhri Rahmat Ali. It stands for Punjab, Afghania, Kashmir, and Indus-Sind, plus the suffix "-stan," meaning "land." In the Urdu tongue, the resulting word means "Land of the Pure." The country is a cobbling together of regional, religious, and ethnic nationalisms, and its founding, in 1947, resulted in Pakistan's becoming, along with Israel, one of the two "faith-based" states to emerge from the partitionist policy of a dying British colonialism. Far from being a "Land of the Pure," Pakistan is one of the clearest demonstrations of the futility of defining a nation by religion, and one of the textbook failures of a state and a society. Pakistan deteriorated throughout the decades because of its focus on building the military and developing Islamic extremist groups to use as weapons in their eternal obsessive struggle against India. It's true the U.S. helped Pakistan build these groups since the beginning of the Cold War, but America learned on 9/11 they had created a Frankenstein monster that now needed to be slain. Many analysts have suggested India is less of a national security threat to Pakistan than its homegrown terrorist groups, many of which have openly declared their mission to topple the state, which would allow jihadists to secure nuclear materials. Yet, based on its strategic decision to foster extremism and its recent public support for Taliban rule in Afghanistan, it appears the biggest existential threat to Pakistan is its own political and military leaders. The Last Straw With that being said, Balkanization does seem like an extreme step at first blush, and perhaps Pakistan should be given another chance. Yet, after considering Pakistan's historic and current relationship with Al Qaeda - it becomes much easier to justify. Since the war began in 2001 the U.S. has asked Pakistan to root out extremists from sanctuaries in a Rhode Island-sized area called North Waziristan, chief among them being the lethal Haqqani Network. However, Pakistan's army chief General Ashfaq Kayani asserted his forces were too bogged down fighting the Pakistani Taliban elsewhere in places like South Waziristan, Orakzai Agency and various districts across the NWFP. I contacted an Afghan intelligence analyst about this and he assessed General Kayani's claim with one single word: rubbish. The Pakistan army consists of 500,000 active duty troops and another 500,000 on reserve. If Pakistan truly wanted to capture the Haqqani Network they would be able to drag them out of their caves by their beards within a few days. In a movement that should have floored U.S. policymakers, Kayani was brazen enough to try and inveigle Afghanistan to strike a power-sharing arrangement with the Haqqanis. And Kayani, apparently the spokesperson for the Haqqani group, said they'd be willing to split from and denounce Al Qaeda, which is President Obama's primary rationale for the war. However, there is a higher probability of General Kayani converting to Hinduism than there is of the Haqqani Network ever being decoupled from Al Qaeda. According to the Long War Journal, Siraj Haqqani, their leader, sits on Al Qaeda's decision-making body. Haqqani's friendship with Osama bin Laden dates back to the war against the Soviets in the 1980s and it was Haqqani that ensured safe passage into Pakistan for many Al Qaeda figures after the collapse of the Taliban in 2001. An Institute for the Study of War analysis concluded that Haqqani was "irreconcilable" and negotiations with him would actually strengthen Al Qaeda and would undermine the raison d'etre for U.S. involvement in Afghanistan over the past decade. In other words, the Haqqani Network is Al Qaeda. Pakistan has had a close relationship with the Haqqanis for over 30 years, who are still seen as a crucial anti-Indian asset. So, for nine years the Pakistanis protected the Haqqanis and claimed ignorance as to the whereabouts of Mullah Omar, Osama bin Laden and the Quetta Shura. Nine years, nearly $300 billion dollars and 1900 dead coalition soldiers later, the U.S. has officially verified that the entire war effort has been focused on the wrong side of the mountains. A stable Afghanistan is in Pakistan's best interests, but this message has been preached time and again with little to no results, and the U.S. has waited long enough for Pakistan's leaders to uproot the extremists that orchestrated 9/11. But now, it appears as if the international community will have to do it for them.

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