The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

‘Terrorism has no place in Islam’
Tribune Reporters

Jalandhar, December 9
Maulana Mohammad Adnan Zamai, in charge of Nusrat-Ul-Islam Madarasa at the Imam Nasir masjid here, flayed the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai in strong words on the occasion of Bakrid.

Talking to The Tribune soon after his traditional address to a congregation of Muslims at Idgah on the Gulab Devi Hospital road, Maulana Adnan said Islam gave the message of mutual love and brotherhood. Terrorism had no place in Islam and jehad did not mean terrorism in Islam.

On the contrary, Islam gave the message of providing education to those who could not get it at their own and of providing help to the needy, he said.

Criticising terrorism in general and the Mumbai incidents in particular, Maulana Adnan said, “Massacre of innocents in the name of jehad is unlawful and it is merely terrorism.”

Going one step further, he said those responsible for the Mumbai attacks should be given stern punishment. “We express shock with those families in the bereavement who had lost their relatives in the Mumbai terrorist attacks and pray to Allah to provide them courage to bear the irreparable loss.”

At the same time, he did not forget to add that terrorists had no religion and they should not be identified with a particular religion.

Maulana Adnan said, “Prophet Muhammad clearly stated in ‘Hadis’ that ‘Hubal Vatani Sinal Iman’ which means any person who does not love his or her country cannot be a true follower of Islam and Allah did not even accept his or her prayers.”

Meanwhile, celebrating Bakrid with religious fervour, thousands of Muslims settled in and around Jalandhar city offered namaj at nearly 15 places in city and cantonment areas on Tuesday.

The biggest congregation was held at Idgah located on the Gulab Devi road in Jalandhar. Maulana Mohammad Adnan Zamai, in charge of Nusrat-ul-Islam Madarasa at the Imam Nasir masjid addressed the congregation.

Chief parliamentary secretary health and family welfare Avinash Chander, Jalandhar improvement trust chairman Baljeet Singh Neelamahal and several others persons from other religions congratulated the Muslim community on Bakrid at Idgah.

Besides namaj, prayers were also offered at Idgah in cantonment, Dargah Imam Nasir masjid, Jyoti Chowk masjid, Buta Mandi masjid, Muslim Colony masjid, Railway Road masjid, New Ashok Nagar masjid and Basti Danishmanda masjid.

Nearly three lakh persons belonging to the Muslim community are living in Jalandhar and surrounding areas presently, said Maulana Adnan.

Qadian: Id-ul-zuha was celebrated today with religious fervour, traditions, joy and happiness in the town, which has a substantial population belonging to the Ahmadiyya community.

Maulana Mohammad Inam Ghori led the Id namaz at the Ahmadiyya ground. On the occasion, in his Khutba Id, he said this Eid gave a lesson of sacrifice and love to humanity. After the Eid prayer and Khutba Eid, the members of the community greeted one another.

Thousands of men, women and children offered prayers on the occasion.

Former Congress minister Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa also greeted the members of the community.

Hoshiarpur: Id-ul-Zuha was celebrated with fervour here today. Thousands of Muslims thronged Jama Masjid and performed namaz. They also embraced one another and exchanged greetings.

Choked nullah giving hard time to ‘Neevan-Shahr’ residents
Parmod Bharti

Nawanshahr, December 9
The old nullah which was constructed to drain out storm water from the inner localities of the town like Geeta Bhavan Road, Kothi Road, Arya Samaj Road, Ghas Mandi and Sugar Mill Road, presently lies in a neglected condition, thanks to the apathy of the administration as well as the people.

It is worth mentioning that the town, which was actually called “Neevan Shahr”, as it is situated in a low-lying area, used to get flooded during the rainy season. The problem of drainage of water is associated with the town since its inception.

In the old days, a nullah passing through the inner localities was constructed to drain out storm water. But with the passage of time, the nullah has virtually become defunct.

Presently, the nullah has either become narrow at most of the places or is plagued by encroachments by residents or shopkeepers, making it rather difficult for the municipal council to undertake its cleansing or desilting. It is full of polythene bags and a thick growth of grass.

The dilapidated condition of the nullah can be witnessed at the Arya Samaj Road, Ghas Mandi and Sugar Mill Road localities. This has not only aggravated the problem of drainage of storm water in the interiors of the town where a flood-like situation could be witnessed during rains, it has also been posing a serious hazard for health and environment as it passes through the thickly populated localities.

Surprisingly, though the administration as well as the NGOs, including the newly constituted Environment Society, have been launching various awareness drives to sensitise the people about the menace of environment pollution, no one has ever thought of launching a drive to de-silt the nullah or to solve the problem of the drainage of storm water.

Intellectuals say that a dedicated personality like Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal or an NGO is needed to act as a catalyst for mobilising both the administration and the people to undertake the desilting work of the nullah. The people, especially those living in the adjoining localities, should also be made aware that the proper maintenance of the nullah can not only solve the problem of the drainage of storm water but it can also save the environment from pollution.

Big Plans
Panchayats to get Rs 153 cr for development of villages
Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur), December 9
The Punjab government has decided to distribute Rs 153 crore to panchayats for carrying out overall development of rural areas to bring them at par with towns and cities.

Disclosing this here today, Nirmal Singh Kahlon, speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, said the Punjab government was putting thrust on constructing buildings for schools, apart from providing basic amenities, including underground sewerage system and potable water to the rural areas.

Kahlon was here today to preside over a function organised in connection with the distribution of funds for the development of rural areas to 94 panchayats falling in this and neighbouring blocks. He distributed Rs 6. 87 crore to 94 panchayats.

Addressing the gathering, he said it was for the first time in his political career that such a big amount had been distributed to panchayats for executing development projects in respective areas.

He added that he had already distributed about Rs 6 crore for the development of school buildings and other infrastructures for various villages falling in the Fathegarh Churian assembly segment, represented by him in the Vidhan Sabha.

He said Rs 65 lakh had been given to farmers of the area whose standing crop was damaged due to untimely rains and other natural calamities.

He added that funds distributed today would be used for creating health facilities, pavement of roads, laying down of sewerage system and construction of flush latrines in the rural areas.

He disclosed that he would also give Rs 9.5 crore and Rs 5.5 crore for the municipal councils of Fathegarh Churian and Dera Baba Nanak so that same funds could be used for the overall development of the two towns.

When asked about his reaction to the resentment of farmers of border areas in connection with negative response of members of the union finance commission, who visited Punjab in the recent past, he said only the finance department of Punjab could comment on the issue.

He added that he could claim one thing only that the SAD had fulfilled all promises which the party had made to people in its manifesto released on the eve of the last assembly elections.

Bajwa: Govt filing false cases against Cong men

Pathankot, December 9
Anil Vij took over the charge of president of the local municipal council today. He was elected president at a meeting of the councillors on November 20. In the 33-member house the Congress had got the majority to elect its president.

Earlier Vij was taken to the municipal council office in a procession. Former PWD minister and senior Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa said Punjab was being run only by four Akali bigwigs - the Chief Minister’s wife Surinder Kaur Badal, Sukhbir Badal and his wife and Vikramjit Singh Majithia. He said there was no rule of law in the state and every thing was being done by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and his coterie.

Bajwa claimed that the Congress would sweep the ensuing Lok Sabha elections and would give the befitting reply to the SAD-BJP government which was out to make false cases against Congressmen. He said more than 50 false corruption and criminal cases had been registered by the government against senior Congress leaders and workers in Gurdaspur district alone. — OC

Group Fight
Bar dispute reaches police station
Our Correspondent

Batala, December 9
Two groups of advocates quarrelled openly on the court premises on Monday and thereafter both the groups reached the police station to lodge their complaints.

The group led by bar president Raghbir Singh Sandhu allegedly attacked senior advocate Balwant Singh Masaniyan which led to members of both the groups physically assaulting each other.

Sandhu stated that a year ago Masaniyan and his friends had assaulted him but no action was taken against them.

However, he said Supreme Court of Pakistan advocate Gilani was about to visit the town and the Masaniyan group was passing sarcastic remarks against members of the Sandhu faction.

In this connection they went to the chamber of Masaniyan which entailed in the scuffle.