Victory in ‘surrender’: Lesson from 1,400-year-old treaty

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: While everyone knows about the Allahabad HC’s verdict in the Ayodhya title suit, not many are aware that one of the three judges referred to a 1,400-year-old treaty between Muslims and their ‘rival’ groups, while pronouncing the judgment. “When Prophet Mohammad entered into a treaty with the rival group at Hudaibya, it appeared to be an abject surrender, even to his staunch supporters. The Quran described that as clear victory and it did prove so. Within a short span, Muslims entered Mecca as victors and not a drop of blood was shed,” said Justice Khan.

Hudaibya is a small village located 35 km from Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Hudaibya treaty was inked between Muslims and their rival groups. Narrating the treaty, Mufti Mohammed Ismail, chief imam of Jama Masjid in Malegaon and an MLA, said that the Prophet and his followers were not allowed to enter Mecca after they migrated from Mecca to Madina. “Muslims were not allowed to enter Mecca for Haj or Umrah rituals. For this, several battles were fought. One day, when Prophet and his followers prepared for Umrah and reached Hudaibya, they were stopped by their rivals from entering Mecca,” said Ismail. He added that when Muslims’ rivals came with an offer of reconciliation, the Prophet said that he would accept their conditions provided they respect Baitullah (Kaaba Shareef) and Mecca. “Most of the terms in the 15-point treaty were against the Muslims. But the Prophet agreed to the treaty because the rival groups had agreed to respect Mecca and Baitullah,” said Ismail.

The rivals breached the treaty by attacking a tribe which was staying with the Prophet. It led to a battle in which the Muslim emerged victorious.

Times Now most watched channel on Ayodhya judgment day

Mumbai: Times Now notched up record viewership in the English news category on the day the Ayodhya title suit verdict was pronounced. According to viewership data released by AMAP in the males above 25 years category in medium and large cities, Times Now notched 7.61 rating points compared to 3.77 of NDTV 24x7 and 4.06 of CNN IBN. According to TAM data, Times Now has consistently maintained the Number 1 position among English news channel winning in 101 out of last 120 weeks. TNN

The Times of India, October 3, 2010

Relieved govt, police to remain on high alert

Yogesh Naik & Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: The state government and the police heaved a sigh of relief on Thursday as the city survived the Ayodhya judgment without any incidents of violence or protests.

“More than 4,000 people were arrested as a preventive measure and additional forces were deployed across Mumbai,” said deputy commissioner of police (operations) Rajkumar Vhatkar, adding that there was no violence in the city. “The same security level will be continued for the next three days.”

About 38,000 police personnel were deployed on city streets for the Thursday bandobast. Officials said the state and the police would continue to remain on maximum alert on Friday. Mumbai police commissioner Sanjeev Dayal said that joint commissioner of police (law and order) Rajnish Seth met RSS functionaries on Wednesday and asked them to maintain peace.

Nevertheless, there was a stray incident of celebration in the saffron camp. Soon after the verdict was announced, a few party workers began shouting slogans, dancing and distributing sweets outside the state BJP office in Nariman Point, forcing chief minister Ashok Chavan, deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal and home minister R R Patil to intervene.

Sensing trouble brewing, police officials reported the festivities to the CM’s office and, according to Chavan, he, along with Bhujbal and Patil, spoke to state BJP chief Sudhir Mungantiwar.

Addressing journalists in a press conference in Mumbai, Chavan said that the judgment was a step forward and everyone should help maintain law and order.

Soon after the verdict, Chavan had a meeting with home department officials, where they discussed strategies to contain any untoward fallout of the verdict.

Officials said the police have been told to keep an eye on Shiv Sena and the BJP and ensure that their party members do not burst firecrackers or celebrate the verdict.

The chief minister asked citizens to honour the verdict and ensure that the spirit of nationalism always precedes caste or religious considerations. Chavan’s deputy Bhujbal said that the victory should not been as a win or loss by any community. He asked all citizens to exercise restraint and not create law and order problems.

The Times of India, October 1, 2010

Cops to be out in force, schools to remain open

As part of security measures, the police (below) have decided to use plastic bullets to disperse violent crowds

Intel Fears Violence In Karnataka

Yogesh Naik & Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government deployed unprecedented security measures across the state and secured state borders to ensure there is no communal disturbance, but refused to shut down educational institutions.

Police officials said they have received intelligence reports that communal trouble could brew in BJP-controlled Karnataka and have told collectors and police superintendents in Kolhapur and Solapur to be on constant alert.

On Wednesday, home minister R R Patil held a meeting with additional chief secretary (home) Chandra Iyengar, home secretary (special) Praveen Dixit, director-general of police D Sivanandhan and police commissioner Sanjeev Dayal at Mantralaya for three hours to map out a security plan. Patil later told reporters: “We have heightened the bandobast. I do not think there will be any trouble in the state. Maharashtra suffered a lot in the ’92-93 riots and the subsequent bomb blasts. No one wants a riot. I am confident that the state will be peaceful.”

Mumbai joint police commissioner (law and order) Rajnish Seth said: “In view of the verdict, a general alert has been sounded.”

But the government ruled out shutting down schools, and said the final decision has to be taken by the educational institutions themselves. “In case we get an intimation from the government in the morning or we find the situation unsafe, we will declare a holiday for the afternoon school,’’ said Fr George Athaide, principal of St Michael’s High School in Mahim. Avabai Petit Girls High School in Bandra, though, has decided to close after 1 pm. “We don’t want to take any chances. Anyway our students have their examinations Monday onwards, so this will give them extra time to study,’’ said principal Sandhya Balakrishnan.

The city police have served notice to about 1,200 troublemakers under section 149 of CrPC, warning them to refrain from indulging in any activity that causes law and order problems. So far, over 4,000 preventive arrests have been made, Seth added. Officials said the police will use plastic bullets to disperse troublemakers.

“Prohibitory orders were also issued under section 144 of CrPC, putting restrictions on the assembly of people and preventing people from carrying out any activity that hurts religious sentiments of a community” Seth said.

Patil said the government met various political and religious leaders last week and everyone promised to maintain peace, barring the MNS.

On Wednesday, chief minister Ashok Chavan cancelled this week’s cabinet meeting and asked all of them to go to their respective district. Home minister R R Patil will stay behind in Mantralaya and monitor the situation from there.

In a bid to ensure peace, the government has banned bursting of firecrackers and celebration of the verdict. The home department has also told not to float rumours or send incendiary text messages. Thursday and Friday have been declared dry days and all bars have been ordered to remain shut.

Judgment Day The government ruled out shutting down schools, but said the final decision has to be taken by educational institutions

Home minister R R Patil withdrew the government advisory warning people against travel and urged citizens to attend work

The administration asked Mumbaikars to report suspicious incidents to the police

All ruling party legislators and ministers have been told to travel to their districts

A ban has been imposed on celebration of the jugdment and bursting firecrackers

Citizens have been warned not to float rumours or send incendiary text messages, which might be screened by the police

Thursday and Friday have been declared dry days and all bars have been ordered to stay shut

The Times of India, September 30, 2010

Unprecedented security laid out

SHOW OF STRENGTH: The city police have taken a rash of measures to ensure peace in the aftermath of the Ayodhya verdict

Mateen Hafeez & Yogesh Naik | TNN

Mumbai: Wary of a repeat of the 1992-93 riots, the Maharashtra government has put the state on high alert and, for the first time, carved Mumbai into three regions under joint commissioner-ranked officers to maintain law and order.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, home minister R R Patil appealed for peace and asked people to refrain from hurting the sentiments of other communities. “A repeat of 1992-93 riots has to be avoided. Maharashtra is a progressive state and we have to guard that image,” said Patil, adding that the state has been put on high alert.

A senior police official told TOI that on Thursday crime branch chief Himanshu Roy will monitor law and order in north and west region (Bandra-Dahisar), joint commissioner Rajnish Seth will be oversee south and central region (Colaba to Kurla),while joint commissioner Bhagwant More will be posted in East region (Chembur to Mulund).

“So far 3,500 people have been arrested as preventive measure. Also, we have issued notices to more than 900 people and 100 others have been externed from city limits,’’ said a police official.

In a bid to thwart troublemakers, the state also declared Thursday and Friday as dry days (Saturday is already a dry day due to Gandhi Jayanti).

Chief minister Ashok Chavan on Tuesday reviewed the government’s security measures and held a meeting with religious leaders where he urged them to maintain peace. He has called a meeting of the cabinet on Thursday. “We’ll assess the situation. If the judgment comes on Thursday, we may cancel the cabinet and ask ministers to go to their respective districts,” Chavan said.

Education secretary Sanjay Kumar said a decision on whether to keep schools and colleges in Mumbai open on Thursday will be taken on Wednesday. The city police, meanwhile, have deployed cops from all 90 police stations and have decided to take help from the armed police force, Rapid Action Force, State Reserve Police Force, Riot Control Police and Quick Response Team. “We have spotted several sensitive areas and additional forces have already been put there,’’ an officer said.

Schools await order
While the government is making up its mind on whether to shut educational institutions on Thursday, many colleges in the city have unofficially given their students the option to skip lectures. Schools are waiting for a word from the government. “Parents, if worried, can choose not to send their children,” said Fr Francis Swamy, principal of Holy Family School in Andheri (East).

The Times of India, September 29, 2010