Author: V. Sundaram
Publication: Hindu Jagruti
Date: January 3, 2010
URL: http://www.hindujagruti.org/news/8473.html
Paush Krushna Trutiya, Kaliyug Varsha 5111
I proudly assert my inalienable, indivisible,
immutable, and inexorable constitutional right to be a practicing Hindu. Yet,
seeing the conduct of E Ahmed, Union Minister of State for Railways, at a
recent public function organised by the Indo-Japan Chamber of Commerce and
Industry in Chennai, I am constrained to raise these questions. Are we living
in Islamic Pakistan? Are we living in Islamic Bangladesh? Or are we living
in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan? Let me move from this macrocosm to the
microcosm. Are we living in the Muslim-majority Malappuram District in Kerala,
rightly described by some journalists as a mini-Pakistan in India?
I am raising these issues because the Union
Minister of State for Railways, Ahmed who recently participated at a public
seminar on 'Status of Infrastructure', organized by the Indo- Japan Chamber
of Commerce and Industry in Chennai refused to light the Kuthuvilakku as a
traditional and well-established part of the inaugural ceremony. The Union
Minister caught the other dignitaries and the organisers of the function off
guard when he declined to accept the candle offered to him to light the kuthuvilakku
on the podium. It is reliably understood that one of the organisers told the
press that the Minister refused to light the lamp because it is an un-Islamic
action. It is understood that the Minister told some of the helpless and totally
clueless organizers; 'The Muslim community does not light lamps. It is against
Shariah, the code which governs Islam'.
I understand that some time back, P K Kunha-likutty,
a Muslim League leader who was Kerala's Industries Minister, courted controversy
when he refused to light the lamp while inaugurating a state function at Thiruvanan-thapuram.
The famous playback singer K J Yesudas who was also one of the guests at the
same function, walked out protesting against it.
The Cheraman Mosque, Kodungallur in Kerala
has an ancient oil lamp which always burns and which is believed to be more
than a thousand years old. Every day people of all religions bring oil for
the lamp as offering. This is one of the few mosques in Kerala which allow
entry for people of other religions. In recent years, the mosque has observed
vidyarambham, a Hindu initiation ritual marking the beginning of a child's
learning. I am mentioning this so that Union Minister E Ahmed can use his
authority for getting a fatwa issued against the managers of this ancient
Mosque for violating the tenets of Islam!!
The anti-Hindu ways of Ahmed were very well
known in Kerala even before he became the Union Minister of State for Railways.
After becoming the Union Minister of State for Railways, he is functioning
like a Mughal chieftain. Many organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad
have already publicly condemned this Hindu-hating Minister for having issued
instructions to Railways officers not to do Ganesha Puja, breaking of coconut,
etc before starting of new trains, inauguration of tracks, bridges, etc. He
has banned lighting of traditional oil lamps during inaugurations. Likewise,
garlanding of trains, anointing them with sandal paste, sindoor, etc. have
also been banned. Railway stations have been discouraged against doing puja
to electronic panels etc. during 'Vijayadasami' and 'Durga puja'.
Finally, he has ordered the closure of temples
in Railway compounds and is planning their demolition. This anti-Hindu move
of Ahmed has caused deep religious resentment and intense anger among the
25 lakh strong railway staff and Hindus at large. I am presenting below the
shining symbols of Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma which have been deliberately
denigrated by Ahmed!!
While crores are being spent on 'Haj' even
basic amenities are not being provided to the eight crore plus Sabarimala
pilgrims, by the Indian Railways. These Hindu pilgrim are treated as stateless
persons by the Ministry of Railways! VHP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan has
described this anti-Hindu attitude of this despicable anti-Hindu Union Minister
as a threat and challenge to Hinduism. He has rightly charged E Ahmed of communalising
a national asset like Railways. He called for immediate restoration of the
withdrawn ancient Indian customs and traditions, failing which RSS and VHP
will launch nationwide massive agitations. I spoke to a very important VHP
leader from Kerala to know more about the blatently anti-Hindu ways of E Ahmed.
He said: 'What more can be expected from Ahmed whose close relative is a jehadi
suspect in the Bengaluru blasts and who is hiding in Gulf, thanks to Ahmed
and the UPA Government!'
Seeing the conduct and opposition of this
Union Minister to the lighting of Kuthuvilakku at a public function in Chennai,
I am reminded of this savage manner in which the Talibans of Afghanistan destroyed
the two 6th century statues of standing Buddhas carved into the side of a
cliff in the Bamyan valley in the Hazarajat region of Central Afghanistan.
I am presenting below the photograph of President
of India FAKHRUDDIN ALI AHMED lighting a Kuthuvilakku while inaugurating Paraplegic
Rehabilitation Centre in 1974.
I am presenting below another picture relating
to the lighting of a Kuthuvilakku by Minister for Health & Medical Education,
Mian Altaf Ahmad lighting the lamp on 6th Annual Dental Conference on Sunday.
Agriculture Minister, Ch Mohammad Ramzan is also seen in the picture.
Finally, I would like to conclude this story
by giving a photograph of President Obama lighting a Kuthuvilakku in the United
States of America in the august presence of a Hindu Swami in Ochre robes.
Ahmed once spoke about the Bombay blasts of
November 2008, he took special care to avoid any reference to the fact that
a Jewish Rabbi and his wife were also killed by his beloved Islamic terrorists
from Pakistan!!
