National Unity Communal Amity Cultural Identity Social Justice Rule of Law Dignied Democracy

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

Volume : 2 Issue - 2 Safar 1433 February- 2012 Pages - 8 Monthly Price : Rs. 10/Annual Subscription : Rs. 120/-

CRESCENT AND STAR FLIES OVER WEST OF VINDYAS

IUML elds candidates in UP and Utharkhand
Muscled with political power in the southern States, the IUML surges forward into the Northern belt, by elding its candidates in the most populous state of UP and in the new born uttrkhand State to contest the assembly election on its own symbol Ladder.

UP - IUML CANDIDATES

IUML ELECTION SYMBOL

State IUML Executive Committee meeting and ofce bearers meeting: Meeting held separately at Dehradun on January 4th 2012. Iqbal Ahamed Advocate, National Vice President, Naeem Akhtar, national secretary (both Central observers), Khorrum Anis Omer, National Secretary and K. Muhamed Kutty, Member Central Monitoring Committee attended. State Executive meeting was like a convention. Only some speeches. Ofce bearers meeting held separately. Serious discussions were held in the meeting.

Uttarakhand

Central representatives also had separate interview session with the proposed candidates to get an idea about the candidates and their proposed constituencies. Interaction was mainly on following points: the nature of the particular constituency, cast , religious wise details of voters, partys organizational strengthin the constituency, candidates image in the public, whether candidates possible nancial arrangement / capacity for an election , candidates previous experience in the social and political eld etc. General opinion of the ofce

bearers was to contest maximum possible seats and make use of election for the propagation of the Party. They also said that as Dr. Baseer Ahamed Khan, who claims that he is the President of the IUML continues his effort to confuse the party workers by constant contact and by offering seats. If we are not in a position to provide seats for those who aspire to become candidates of our Party it will create an opportunity for Baseer Khan to attract them. Organisation: Though the former State President of the Party, Munshi Shoukath has resentment

about the style of functioning of our existing State committee, especially towards the approach of General secretary Ghalibs alleged one-man show like leadership attitude, he is also co-operating with the committee. Internal tussles are not evident in the meeting except some murmuring here and there. Some Problems may arise after the elections as the party is not functioning as a Party, based on a committee structure. As we could identify the basic problem we also brought it in to the notice of the General Secretary
(Continue.... Page 4)

February - 2012

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

THE TIMES OF Monthly LEAGUE A Harmony of Hearts

Volume : 2 Issue - 1 Safar January - 2012 Pages - 8 Price : Rs. 10/-

B.J.P.s Hindutva Communal Politics

Elections are almost nearing to an end
Utharkhand, Manipur and Goa. The propaganda carried out by the B.J.P. in state of UP and Utharkahand was against National Integrity, Social Amity, Justice and Equality. The New Indian Express Daily in its 18.1.2012 Edition has published the Press Interview given by the B.J.P. Leader Nithin Gadkari. The BJP would not tolerate religion based reservation in the country, which was totally illegal and unconstitutional and would soon launch an agitation for your nation wide awakening. The B.J.P. Leader is sowing the seeds of communal poision in UP. The Tamil Daily Thinamalar in its 19.1.2012 edition has published a news item about The value of cow urine. The Tamil Daily Malaimurasu in its 18.1.2012 edition has published the following news item under the caption The BJP in its election manifesto promised to produce medicine from the collection of cow urine in Utharkhand. Hindus consider cow as their holy animal. If BJP comes to power again in Utharkhand it will produce various medicines from the collection of cow urine. New schemes will be launched to rear the cows. Steps will be taken to produce ark juice from cow urine and it will be supplied to the cancer patients. Steps will be also taken to produce medicines for the disease of eye and ear. In UP the BJP has commenced its communal propaganda and in Utharkhand it proposes that the drinking of cow urine compulsory. The above BJP propaganda is a tip of an ice berg of events that would unfold if BJP once again captures power in Utharkhand. The Madhya pradesh is under BJP rule and Gujarath is under BJP Leader Modis Rule. Daily we read in the media the atrocities committed in Gujarath against the minority and the humanity. In Madhya Pradesh the law banning cow slaughter has been promulgated and atrocities against the muslims have been let loose. Suriya Namaskar a part of Yoga practice has been made compulsory for all school students in Madhya pradesh. How can muslims accept the worship of sun? The country has been witnessing the long struggle against the song Vande Madharam - the worship of Bharath Matha. Sri Sidharth Varadarajan has taken up the Editorship of Hindu paper from Sri ram on 19.1.2012. The new editor on the day of taking charge as written an editorial under the title Playing the communal card. It is highly valuable and impartial editorial akin to a research analysis. Clearly, a stint in power and more than a decade of coalitional leadership have not changed the BJP., whose single pre occupation is Hindu sectarian politics. The people of this country has very well understood this. Do the Indian Muslims understand this. We hope the Election Results in UP and Utharkhand will answer this. in the northern states of UP.,

Holy Quran Speaks

who behave arrogantly on the earth in deance of right them I will turn away from MY signs; even if they see all the signs, they will not believe in them; And if they see the way of right conduct, they will not adopt it as the way of error is the way they will adopt; for they rejected Our signs, and failed to take warning from them. (Araf : 146) Sayings of Prophet Mohammed (Sal) The Messanger of Allah has said : There will be a ag near the head of every deceiver which he will raise in proportion to his deceit. Listen, there is none worse deceiver than the Air who deceives the public. (Muslim) Allahs Messanger has said : O Adams son! Spend your wealth, it is good for you. And do not block it, it is bad for you, and the wealth according to the need cannot be reproached. Spend rst for your family and dependents, and the raised hand is better than the lowered hand.
MUSLIM

Those

Editor
February - 2012

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

UP Muslims: the changing priorities

community is now focussed mainly on the core concerns of education and employment The 2007 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh were held against a backdrop of simmering communal tension as the Sangh Parivar worked overtime to provoke Muslims, portraying them as terrorists and traitors. But the community leadership religious, social and political acutely aware that a polarised election would benet the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), advocated restraint from all possible forums. The Muslims held their peace and were rewarded: the BJPs tally dipped from 89 to 51 seats, while the number of Muslims elected to the UP Assembly was the highest since Independence 56, almost 14 per cent in the 403-strong assembly, close to its real strength of 18 per cent in the state. Download the high resolution graphic (pdf) here. As political parties seek their votes for the impending elections in the state, Muslims remain focused on increasing their numbers in the assembly while vigorously demanding reservation in education and employment. Indeed, when this writer travelled through the state in November (before the Centre announced a 4.5 per cent reservation for minorities within the 27.5 per cent OBC quota), community leaders in the Muslimdominated western districts were already stressing that education and employment took precedence over issues of security and justice for them. In Rampur, for instance, the change in the communitys priorities was apparent even in Mohammad Azam Khan, the controversial star of the Babri Masjid movement in the early 1990s. Just back in the Samajwadi Party (SP), he admitted, Muslims no longer react physically to issues that upset them. They now respond politically. His own efforts to reinvent himself as a modern-day Nawab of Rampur, while being a minister in the SP government in UP in 2007, may not have been entirely successful. But his building spree, even constructing a university to rival the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), is a pointer to the communitys current concerns. Indeed, Muslim leaders I met on my trip from Abdul Qayoom, a physics professor at AMU, to Shabbu Mian, a Su leader in Bareilly, to Sayeed Masoom Ali Azad, the Imam of Moradabad city all agged education and employment as the top issues, criticising the Congress for failing to implement the recommendations of the Sachar Committee and the Ranganath Mishra Report. Belatedly, the Centre acted on the reservation issue last month: now, of course, following the controversy

The

over Union law minister Salman Khurshids promise of nine per cent reservation for OBC Muslims in UP, the Election Commission has stayed the Cabinet decision of 4.5 per cent quota for them. Little wonder, all political parties are rushing to either rubbish the Congress promise or top it: Mulayam Singh Yadavs SP has promised 18 per cent to the community, outside the OBC quota, to protect the interests of non-Muslim OBCs; chief minister Mayawati had also stressed that she had written to the Centre to pressure it on the reservation issue. If Muslims in UP are now focused on improving their lot, Delhis Batla House encounter and the Malegaon case, where Muslim young men were wrongly arrested and only belatedly released, and the Gopalgarh riots in neighbouring Rajasthan also frequently creep into their conversations, indicating a continuing concern with security and justice for the community. Meanwhile, the Congress, SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are battling it out for Muslim support, with approximately a fth of their candidates hailing from the community. Mr Yadav has apologised to the community for having tied up with Hindutva icon Kalyan Singh in the 2009 polls and is the frontrunner for the communitys vote. The Congress, which won 22 Lok Sabha seats in 2009, thanks to massive Muslim support, has now slipped to number two, despite the Centres nancial package for weavers, largely Muslims: its star campaigner Rahul Gandhi was recently heckled in Azamgarh on the Batla House encounter, while Mr Khurshid was shown black ags at AMU last year to protest against the Congress support to a corrupt VC. And the BSP has issued a booklet, listing all that it has done for the community. Adding drama is an appeal by the All India Ulema Mashaikh Board, a body of Barelwi-Sunni Muslims, asking people to vote against Deobandi candidates (this is the rst time a sectarian appeal has been made), the presence of Muslim parties such as the Peace Party and Welfare Party that could act as spoilers for the mainstream outts; and a fatwa from Deoband against allowing Salman Rushdie to attend the Jaipur Literary Festival. With Muslims constituting 20 to 45 per cent of the population in over a 100 seats, lobbying for the communitys support is bound to get even more frenzied as the elections draw near. Keywords: Uttar Pradesh polls, ve State Assebly polls, UP polls, minorities Courtesy : The Hindu, Chennai. 17.1.2012.

Alur Shanavas receives the blressing from E. Ahmed IUML National President for his proposed release of Quaide-millath documentry lm Thaslif Jakhan convenor Muslim Womens League T.N. State addresses the seminor on Muslim Womens Development at Puliankudi. February - 2012

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

(Continue.... from Page 1)

Ghalib and requested him to do it in a better way. After a couple of days there was a second sitting with the leaders to discuss about some additional candidates suggested by State leaders. This meeting held at State Sub ofce, Roorkee. Iqbal Ahamed, Khorrum and Muhamed kutty attended that meeting. Uttar PradeshState IUML State Executive meeting: Meeting held at Moradabad on January 8th. National Vice President Iqbal Ahamed and State observers Khurram and Muhamed Kutty attended. Serious discussions were held in the meeting. Held a separate meeting of ofce bearers and an interview session with the proposed candidates. Contrary to the stand taken by Uttarakhand committee, Uttar Pradesh committees approach was to contest minimum seats. It was a practical approach. Both President and General secretary (Moulana Kausar Hayat Khan and Dr. Mateen Khan) expressed their desire to contest the election from Moradabad and Ayodhya respectively. Kausar Hayat Khans desire was mainly because of a particular situation exists in Moradabad and the Party people are also pressurising him to contest as DM implicated him in a case connecting to a communal incident and he has to surrender before court as he was declared as an absconder. If he surrenders before court, the possibility exists to send him to jail atleast for few days. If this happens we should give him psychological support atleast. We should also provide him legal support. Our state ofce bearers also met us separately to express their anguish about the Kausars case and alleged that the central leadership did nothing to protect him from the case. Mateens argument is if he contests from Ayodhya it will be benecial for the party to gain publicity (Mateen could not le his nominations on time as he reached little later there to submit his papers on January 19th the last date for the nominations.) Kausars election was earlier scheduled to rst phase but now it is postphoned to last phase ie march 3rd 2012.

Election

Preparation:

Active participation and presence of central representatives in both the State Committee meetings and our constant contact with them has created a new enthusiasm and expectation among our workers and leaders. So our responsibility doubles now. Our active co-operation during the election is become unavoidable in this situation. Follow up action after the election is also needed. We should support them in elections by providing fund and materials. Otherwise it will create new problems. They are also expecting all our leaders for election campaign.

Dr. Baseer Ahamed Khan factor: He has become a nuisance

for IUML. He is issuing statements on daily basis and it appears in Urdu Media prominently. His people

are trying to register the Party in the name of IUML before State Election Commissions. It creates problem for our State Units. He is being considered by the media as the President of IUML. If the decision expected from EC getting late we have to start counter attack against his move through statements. It should be in a planned way from South to North. We should request our state units to issue statements. If you feel counter statements are not a wise idea as it will give due publicity to him again, we should at least issue positive statements to publicize our activities to show all our state units are intact. we should also be vigilant by keeping constant contact with our state units. Syed Shakeel Miyan: Syed Shakeel Miyan is a Former President of U. P. State IUML. He deserted us earlier when the new State Committee was formed in U.P. He was the State Party Patron when he deserted us. After that he was claiming that he is the President of the State Unit. Later he attended Baseers Delhi meeting and became his partys National treasurer and U.P. President. Recently he issued a statement vehemently criticising Baseer Ahamed Khan and revealing only 2 persons from IUML were with Baseer and E. Ahamed is the Original President of the Party. As we got some indication through a feeler we (Khorrum and Muhamed Kutty) went to meet him at his daughters house in Delhi and had a detailed discussion. Our idea was to explore possibility of making use of him against Baseer Ahamed Khan. He expressed his desire to

come back to the Party with an expectation he may get the State Presidentship again. He was expressing his resentment about our U.P. state Committee. Without any hesitation we told him that for us they are the sincere people who stood with the Party when you deserted us. We requested him to join and work for the party if he accepts our State committee. We also said that we are not against anybody including him to become any ofce bearer when the new committee comes through the membership. We also requested him to be with us in the election campaign. His response was encouraging. Information about this discussion was already conveyed to Iqbal Ahamed and U. P. State leaders. Madhya Pradesh: State Executive Committee meeting of Madhya Pradesh IUML and a Public Meeting was held in Indore recently. Iqbal Ahamed Advocate, National Vice President and Naeem Akhtar, National secretary Participated. South: Mr. K. A. Abubacker, State General Secretary of Tamil Nadu IUML, who is in- charge of the Organisation in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh visited those States and evaluated the organizational functions there. Details are expecting. Latest developments: We (Khorrum and Muhamed Kutty) arranged a meeting of Syed Shakeel Miyan with E. Ahamed Sahib and the meeting was cordial. Further developments depends upon the response of Uttar Pradesh State IUML.

Mr. E. Ahmed Minister of State for External Affairs and Human Resource Development delevering convocation address in B.S.A. Abdur Rahman University, Vandalur, Chennai.
February - 2012

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

IUML membership drive in Karnataka

Indian Union Muslim League Membership drive successfully Conducted in Karnataka State at Gulbarga, Belgaum Mangalore, Shimoga, Bellary and Bangaluru. It was inagurated by State election Observer K.A.M.Muhammed Abubacker and well organised by respective district Committees, our heartfelt thanks to all. The following primary election Incharges and co-ordinators nominated to look after membership drive, to elect of primary ofce bearers in their area 1. GULBARGA :- Co-ordinator: Moulana Muhammed Noohu M.C., In-chargers ward-1: Ameen Patel, ward-2: Muhammed Javid, ward4: Abdul Qaiyum, ward-5: Haz Muhammed Iqbal , ward-9: Minjaudeen Patel, ward-10: Mansoor Patel, ward-11: Muhammed Atheeq, ward13: Sadiq Ishaq, ward-15: Muhammed Azharudeen, ward-16: Khaja Sadrudeen, ward-20:Muhammed Sadiq , ward-25:Muhammed Rasid Lunji, ward-26: Abdul Salam Roogri, ward-27: Ashik Jansan, ward-32: Muhammed Asif Khan, ward-34:Khaja Ameerudeen, ward-48:Moulana Abdul Hamed, ward-54: Ilyas Ahamed. 7.BANGALURU: Co-ordinator:Siraj Ebrahim Sait Members:- Asim Afross Sait, Meer Saifullah Naeem, A.B.Kader Haji, T.C.Siraj, Noushad, D.Muhammed Ra, Abdul Rahman, C.Muhammed Naeem, Shamsudeen, S.T.Niamathullah, Ibrahim Jeothi. 8.DAVANGI : Co-ordinator:-Dastgir Ibrahim Aga 9.THUMKUR:- Co-ordinator:-N.A.Abubacker Co-ordinators can nominate some more primary In charges to Speed up membership drive. The above In-Chargers, co-ordinators are requested to complete membership drive and primary unit election before 15th Feb 2012 and send its ofce bearers address list (Filled in the attached formate) to the State election observers chennai address and a copy to

2.DHARWAD:- Co-ordinator:-Meer Mahmood Inamdar Chandarmundi: Rajasab Shikari, Kamarudeen Bijapuri, Kalkatti Taluk:- Kolkoppa Rajasab Kalkari, Kamsangvi Muhammed Ismail, Aruvathgi:- Fayaz Pattan, Ampalli:- Badrusab Mulla, Kulkoppa:- Bashasab Kalkori,Kovankoppa:- Maqbool Dastagirsab, Sandanmandi:- Muhammed Ghouse Zakirdar Muslim Youth League: Omer Farook Inamdar Muslim Student Federation: Jalaludeen Jakadi 3.BELGAUM: Co-ordinator:-Dastagir Ibrahim Aga Members : Ibrahim Shamsheer, Muhammed Ibrahim Lodhi, Banda-eNawaz 4.MANGALORE : Co-ordinators:N.A.Abubacker, C.Ahamed Jamal Benkara:- Abdul Shalih, Ibrahim B.C.Road: A.S.Shariff Ullal: Ibrahim Ilyas, Muhammed Jamal, Harakkala:-Ilyas, Joyakatta: Haji Shariff, Mangalore Bandar:- V.Abdul Kader, Basha Thangal, Muhammed Ismail, Banduval:-K.Ibrahim. 5.SHIMOGA: Co-ordinators:- Abdul Rahim, Parvez Ishtigar Ali Sagar:-S.M.Thangal, Munawwar Bandravathi:- Abdul Rahim Shimoga City:-Parvez Ishtigar Ali, Salman Ali Sarab:-Haz Abdul Haleem, Shikapur:- Abdul Hameed, Shiralakoppa:- Abdul Majeed. 6.BELLARY: Co-ordinator: Maqboob Pasha Members:Kappagal Rasoolsab Mansoori,Muhammed Farook,Muhammed Altaf Hussain, Syed Ahamed , Nazir Pasha.

Co-ordinators. All district election will be held in the presence of state president, General Secretary and State election observers or an election ofcer nominated by them. District elections will be held before Feb 2012, the dates will be announced later by State election observers. The state Ofce bearers are requested to constitute minimum 10 primary units in a district and minimum 10 district units in the State of karnataka before the State Ofce bearers election. Muslim Youth League (M.Y.L.), Muslim Students Federation (M.S.F.) Muslim Womens League , Suthantria Tozhilali Union (S.T.U.) wings have to form at all Units. One man one post have to be implemented in our Committees so as to give Opportunities for some more people to take responsibility in our Organisation. Karntaka State General Council ofce bearers election will be held on 17th March 2012 Saturday at Bangaluru in the presence of IUML National President Honble E.Ahmed Sahib and National General Secreatry Prof. K.M. Kader Mohideen Sahib.
M. Abdul Rahman M.P. with the Ofce bearers of Andhra Pradesh IUML - General Secretary AP Syed Azam Mohideen, Youth League Organizer Advocate Syed Ahamed Mohideen, Asst. Organizer Mohammed Athersha

February - 2012

6
THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

List of IUML Candidates who have led valid nominations for Uttarakhand Assembly poll
17-Sahaspur (Dist. Dehradun)- ZAMIL HASAN 18-Dharampur (Dist. Dehradun)- AJIJUR REHAMAN 27- Jwalapur(SC) (Dist. Haridwar)- SEEMA Advocate 32-Khanpur (Dist. Haridwar)- SADDAM HUSSIAN 34-Laksar (Dist. Haridwar) - ASRAR 35- Hardwar Rural (Dist. Haridwar) - GHALIB 63-Kashipur (Dist. Udham Singh Nagar) -SHAHZAD HUSSAIN Out of 13 Districts of the State, Party elded candidates in 3 Districts i.e. Dehradun (2 candidates), Haridwar (4 candidates) and Udham Singh Nagar (1 candidate). Party Candidate Gurmail Singhs nomination from Bhagwanpur SC constituency was rejected by the returning ofcer on technical reason but it was challenged before the higher authorities and the nal decision is expected today. As all other 7 candidates mentioned above will get ladder symbol as their nomination was accepted by the authorities as the candidates of MLKSC. Dr. Basir Ahamed Khans claim that he is the President of IUML and his request to consider his so called partys candidates as IUML candidates was rejected by returning ofcers. Some of the returning ofcers also warned his candidates not to use the name of IUML in their campaign. Couple of other candidates that were chosen by Mr. Ghalib without our information apart from the agreed list of candidates which were selected by us. One of them is Ms Seema Advocate, who led her nomination from Jwalapur SC constituency of Haridwar District. It was the State units own decision to eld her and this decision was conveyed to us later only. Bijendra Kumar Sansia (Jhabrera SC Resrved) and Munawar Hasan (BHEL Ranipur) didnt le their nominations. Dr. Hashim Malik (Laksar) was our candidate in the announced list. But now Asrar is the Mr. E. Ahamed, Minister of State for External Affairs and Human Resource Development, handing over a consignment of medicines worth approx. US Dollars one million to the Libyan CdA Mr. Jalal Alhadi Bairam. The consignment comprises life saving and speciality drugs meant for the victims in Libya. The medicines are likely to reach Tripoli by end of January, 2012. It may be recalled that in May 2011, Government of India had extended assistance to the tun eof US Dollar one million through the UN-OCHA. Further assistance is being considered for Libya by way of medicines, prosthetics and articial limbs, the options for which are being explored. candidate of the Party from that constituency. One Habib ur Rahman also led his nomination from the Ramnagar seat of Nainital District with the permission of State Unit. His name was not there in the earlier agreed list. Though he led his nomination papers in the name of the Party his nomination was accepted as an independent candidate. State General Secretary requests us to allow him to fax A and B form favoring him to the returning ofcer if we agrees to that. (even though it is mandatory to le original A & B forms). Alternately the State units intends to support him as an independent candidate. State Unit already decided to distribute Rs.22,000/- each to our candidates as a fund from State Committee and they are distributing that. They also decided to prepare and distribute Main ofce banner, Hand bill, poster, sticker and an appeal to the voters as a support from the State Committee to all its candidates. Mr. Naeem Akhtar, National Secretary of the Party, who is also ofcial observer for the state, is reaching Uttarakhand and we are also in constant touch with him and State leaders. Earlier list: Shahzad Hussain (Kashipur), Gurmale Singh (Bhagwanpur SC Reserved), Bijendra Kumar Sansia (Jhabrera SC Resrved), Saddam hussain (Khanpur), Master Sameel Hassan (Sahaspur), Ghalib Hassan Islam (Hardwar Rural), Su Azizur Rahman (Dharampur),Dr. Hashim Malik (Laksar), Munawar Hasan (BHEL Ranipur). (New development: Muhamed kutty, not as a Partyman but as a journalist in Delhi contacted one Mohamed Furqan a candidate of Dr. Baseer through telephone just to know their mood after returning ofcer rejected their claim as an IUML candidate and became an independent candidate. He was in a very desperate mood. Yesterday this Furqan contacted Our Uttarakhand State General secretary Ghalib and said that Dr. Baseer is a fraud and he misguided him. He also requested Ghalib for the support of our party in his election as he is a Muslim Leaguer. Ghalib requested him to give all this in writing. we are trying to make use of him to attract other such candidates also to break Baseers team there.)

Her Excellency Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand being received at by the Honble Minister of State for External Affairs and Human Reosurce Development, Mr. E. Ahamed 24th Jan. 2012 at Air Force Station, Palam, New Delhi

February - 2012

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

Science of meat
meat more tender, less cruel, say experts. Even as the UK Parliament refuses to servehalal meat at restaurants on its premises, fresh scientic opinion suggests halal is the better option. TOI investigates. For Mohammad Salim, owner of a tiny meat shop in the Gurdwara Road Market of New Delhis Kotla Mubarakpur area, business is just as its been for the last 15 years since he moved to the capital from Agra. There seem to be more takers for mutton that Sunday morning than for the fresh batch of Rohu thats just arrived. The practising Muslim packs half kilo curry pieces of a leg of mutton in polythene. For this seller of halal meat, the recent debate over the UK parliament rejecting demands to serve halal meat in its restaurants, on grounds of cruelty, is pointless. We read a kalma (Quranic verse) before the meat is cut. Lekin, marta toh murga hi hai (Finally, its the animal that pays the price). Its just a question of using different methods of slaughter, he shrugs. Early this month, British newspapers had reported that Muslim MPs and peers were told they wouldnt be served meat slaughtered in line with Islamic tradition - slitting the animals throat without rst stunning it since it was offensive to their nonMuslim colleagues. Even as voices of dissent grow louder among furious UK parliamentarians, experts are speaking in favour of halal meat. According to fresh scientic opinion, halal - the method of slaughter that kills the animal with a deep cut across the neck - produces meat thats more tender, stays fresh longer, and is less painful to the animal than say, the jhatka method that involves severing its head in one powerful blow. Dr V K Modi, head of department of meat technology at the Central Food Technology Research Institute in Mysore, says the halal method is effective in draining out most of the blood from a slaughtered animal, which is vital if its meat is to be soft. In jhatka, chances of blood clotting are higher. This could spoil the meat if its kept uncooked for a few days. It could also make the meat tougher to chew.

Halal

Halal has been the traditional method of killing animals for meat. Its only in the early 20th century that Sikhs of Punjab propagated jhatka as a less painful way of killing the animal, although it would appear that the alternative way of slaughter was propagated more to differentiate it from the Muslim way of killing the animal. Halal involves a swipe with a sharp blade across the animals neck, severing the windpipe, jugular vein and carotid artery. Contrary to popular belief, Dr Modi, who trains butchers in the art of slaughtering at the institutes abattoir, says evidence suggests that animals slaughtered through jhatka suffer more trauma than those killed by halal. The less an animal struggles, the better the meat. When animals face trauma, the glycogen content in their muscles is activated, leaving the meat tough. Stored glycogen is the agent that leads to rigor mortis (or, stiffening of muscles on death), Dr Modi says. For the meat to be tender and juicy, the pH count in the animal should ideally be around 5.4 after slaughter. Struggle leads to the utilisation of stored energy, making the pH count rise to as high as 7, In halal the struggle is lesser by at least 20 per cent, claims a Delhibased nutrition expert. Dr Modi has support from Dr Karuna Chaturvedi, consultant nutritionist at Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi. Halal is considered healthier because after slaughter, blood is drained from the animals arteries, ejecting most toxins because the heart continues to pump for a few seconds after slaughter. In jhatka, not all the

blood is drained, leaving the meat tougher and drier. Tracing the origin of jhatka, Jodh Singh, editor-in-chief of the Encyclopedia of Sikhism, says it was at the beginning of the last century that Sikh scholars compiled the faiths Rehat Maryada, or code of conduct. It clearly prohibits slaughtering animals through halal, he notes. Chapter 13 of Section 6 of the Maryada mentions four taboos, including eating the meat of an animal slaughtered the Muslim way. Food is a vital marker of identity, believes Sikh scholar, chair and Crawford Family professor, department of religious studies at Colby College in Maine, Prof NikkyGuninder Kaur Singh. Halal is prohibited in Sikhism to avoid both, the pain caused to the animal and the ritualistic dimension practised by neighbouring others. Ironically, in most Indian abattoirs, animals are rst stunned with 70 volts of electricity in the brain, leaving them unconscious. The animals state of unconsciousness reduces its struggle, says Dr Modi. However, Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiuddin Khan argues that the Islamic code of slaughter doesnt approve of stunning. According to Islam, the purpose of slaughtering is to release all blood from the animals body, leaving no room for growth of micro-organisms. When stunned, only a part of its blood is released. Flesh is lawful, blood, unlawful, states Islam, according to the Maulana. Stunning, in fact, puts the breaks on the blood drain due to a halt in the brains activity, freezing it mid-stream. But Mohammed Noman Lateef, GM, Halal India Pvt. Ltd., an February - 2012

established halal certication body in India, highlights a subtle difference in detail. We are not against stunning as long as it doesnt kill the animal before its presented for slaughter. By cutting the windpipe and the carotid artery, the ow of blood to the nerve in the brain that causes the sensation of pain, is stopped, says Mufti Obaidullah Qasmi, former teacher at Darul Uloom, Deoband. This leads to reduced pain. The animal may appear to struggle and kick but thats due to the contraction and relaxation of muscles decient in blood rather than pain. Lateef says halal is nding favour even among non-Muslims for the hygiene factor. Halal, a $2.1 trillion industry is growing at the rate of $500 million annually. By 2015, Muslims will account for 25 per cent of the global population. Even in a country like France, there are over eight million Muslims, who love meat. Their needs cannot be ignored. Given Indias sizeable Muslim population, its not surprising that most supermarket chains prefer to offer halal meat. Sreejith Mohan, headcategory, Godrej Natures Basket, says halal is practically standard operating procedure. Most slaughter houses in India have moved to the halal system, and the meat comes halal-certied. For fast food multinational McDonalds, using halal meat in its products makes practical sense. We respect cultural and local sensibilities, says Amrita Pai, McDonalds spokesperson for south and west India region. The HyperCITY chain of supermarkets that offers fresh produce, foods and grocery among other items, stock both, jhatka and halal meat. Ashutosh Chakradeo, head - buying, merchandising & supply chain, says jhatka works in the northern Indian market while its halal across most of the country. In a move thats perhaps betting the theory of leaving food, if nothing else, out of controversy, butcher Mohammad Salim nds company in leading Sikh scholar JS Neki: Meat in both cases is just that - meat !
- Courtesy : The Times of India Chennai .