Save Faith Save Constitution

All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPL), an apex body of Muslims in India, has announced to launch a nationwide campaign opposing the Centre’s attempts to impose a particular culture and religion on all Indians, especially on minorities and marginalised sections.

In a media interaction on Saturday, board’s national general secretary Maulana Sajjad Naumani said that a national campaign ‘Save Faith Save Constitution’ would be launched across the country against the Centre. “As part of the campaign, public meetings, symposiums and awareness programmes will be organised,” he informed. He said that all the minority communities include Sikhs, Jains, Budhists and Christians besides Dalits and Adivasis have extended their support to the campaign.

Explaining further about the campaign, he said that the Constitution of India allows every citizen to follow a religion and culture of his/her choice and a particular religion or culture cannot be imposed on all.

Naumani said that the people of India want the government to address physical issues rather than introducing Surya Namaskar, Vande Mataram, Yoga and others. He said that Muslim youth across the country are disturbed a lot because of Union government’s repeated attempts to provoke the Minorities at every level and promoting a particular culture.

The board’s general secretary said, “India is a country where people of various religions have been coexisting for centuries and this social and secular fabric of the country cannot be disturbed, which is guaranteed by the Constitution.”

Naumani said that India can be prospered only when ‘sab ka saath, sab ka vikas’ is truly implemented and religious freedom of the people is upheld.

He sought to know that whether Muslim and other communities did not play a key role in the freedom struggle. Replying to a query, Naumani said that a representation to the MHRD would be given for the New Education Policy and they would meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and others to explain their point seeking to stop the promotion of a particular culture.

He demanded the Central government to implement the Constitution with its true spirit. Maulana Khaled Saifullah Rahmani has been nominated as the campaign convener in the State.

Arresting the Speed of Youth

Mohammed Younus :

In an attempt create awareness on the number of road accidents in the city and also the road safety, a city-based social group is observing September 11 as World Day of Remembrance of Road Traffic Victims. It also celebrates this day as ‘Anti-Speed Day’ globally by organising events to create awareness among youth about careless & speed driving that results in fatal accidents. The organisation ‘Youth against Speed’ was started by the father of a road accident victim in the year 2012.

President of the group Mohammed Khaleequr Rahman said, “Earlier we started the group focusing only on speed, but as we have started campaigning for safety norms we came to know that there are several other reasons for occurrence of accidents.” In urban areas, improper engineering of roads, lack of lane driving, lack of road sense and lack of traffic sense among the people leads to accidents, which in some cases prove fatal, said Rahman.

Khaleequr Rahman’s son and his nephew, son of a noted cricketer and former Indian cricket captain Azharuddin, have died in a road crash on the expressway outside the city in 2011. This particular incident triggered Khaleequr Rahman to start a campaign against the speed riding by the youth. “We organise lectures, interactive sessions and awareness programs on 11th of every month in colleges, schools and localities,” said Rahman.

He has been using social media extensively to popularise his efforts in creating awareness among the youth. Facebook page and a YouTube channel are being dedicated for educating youth on road accidents. An oath is administered to the youth in each programme they conduct that they would not drive carelessly but responsibly. 

As per the data provided by the state traffic police department most of the accident victims during the year 2014 were between the age group of 15 to 40 years.

Age Group                Accidental deaths

15 - 20           ------            57

20 - 25           ------            122

25 - 30            ------            155

30 - 35           ------            109

35 - 40           ------            102 

So far he has conducted hundreds of placard awareness programmes in Hyderabad, Delhi, Dubai, Sharjah, Australia, Saudi Arabia and few other places. Rahman said that several international organisations including traffic management departments have consulted him and appreciated his work for spreading awareness on road safety besides inviting his group for participation. He has roped in several sports personalities like tennis player Sania Mirza and other dignitaries belonging to city to strengthen his voice in support of safety measures on roads.

Union Elections at Universities

Mohammed Younus :

Student groups and unions have been coming out in support of the student union elections on university campuses in the State ever since the University Grants Commission issued a directive regarding the same.

The directive of the UGC has given a push to the voice of students, who have been in favour of elections on varsity campuses. They have now come out strongly in support of the move seeking an immediate nod from the State government. Progressive Democratic Student Union representative Avula Ashok said that due to lack of proper representation of students in the Executive Councils, a decisive body in all the varsities, the decisions are being taken were not in favour of students rather in support of managements

The directive of the UGC has given a push to the voice of students, who have been in favour of elections on varsity campuses. They have now come out strongly in support of the move seeking an immediate nod from the State government. Students believe that if the ban on student union elections is lifted and fair elections are conducted, it would pave the way for establishing a young leadership among the prospective candidates in a democratic way.

No state university conducted union elections for students in the State for the past 30 years after it was banned by the then chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh. Student groups believe that student elections would definitely change the face of politics in the future. Progressive Democratic Student Union (PDSU) representative Avula Ashok said that due to lack of proper representation of students in the Executive Councils, a decisive body in all the varsities, the decisions are being taken were not in favour of students rather in support of managements.

He said, “Once a genuine student body is formed it would fight for the rights of students in all the forums and a democratic atmosphere would prevail in the higher learning centres.” However, he expressed doubts over the compliance of the State government to the directives of UGC for conducting union elections. University of Hyderabad student union leader Benny Vincent said that by virtue union students have been able to solve their issues in a more democratic way.

SFI State secretary M Nageshwar Rao said that union elections at college campuses would pave the way for producing future leaders in a fair manner. He said, “Today’s politics is flooded with the leaders whose background is not academic. Most of them are toddy businessmen or rowdy-sheeters. Elections at the varsity level will see greater participation from youth and also motivate them to part of the mainstream electoral process.”

He opined that leadership developed through academics would serve the nation better, besides working towards student welfare on education campuses. “Supreme Court and Lyngdoh Commission had recommended the holding of student union elections in colleges and we will strive hard to make it a reality,” he said. 

ABVP State secretary J Niranjan welcomed the directive given by UGC and urged the State government to facilitate the union elections as early as possible. In Telangana there are around 10 universities and scores of post graduate and degree colleges. Student leaders elected at degree and PG level would transfer to the universities and can directly enter into the electoral politics.

TSPSC Releases Syllabus

Days after the announcement of first notification for recruitment, Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) released the syllabus scheme for Group examinations on Monday. Syllabus Committee head Prof G Haragopal along with TSPSC chairman G Chakrapani among other members of the commission released the compiled scheme of syllabus. Haragopal on this occasion said more prominence had been given to the history of Telangana and the movement which had made the new State a reality.

He said, “As most of the applicants for TSPSC jobs would be State students, they need to know more about the social fabric, geography and history of the State.” The syllabus scheme of all the four groups (Group I, II, III and IV) has been put on the commission website www.tspsc.gov.in, informed TSPSC chairman Ghanta Chakrapani. The Group I services examination is of total 100 marks, of which major chunk comprises of Telangana State history, geography, economy, movement and State formation.

It comprises of six papers of 150 marks and interview for 100 marks. On the other hand, Group II examination carries 675 marks with three papers of 150 marks each and interview carrying 75 marks. A considerable part of the new syllabus talks about history for this examination too. Group III examination carries 450 and focuses on components of Telangana like the other examinations.

Group IV paper syllabus comprises of general knowledge and secretarial abilities and a total marks of 300. Scheme of examination for gazetted category posts include general studies, subject paper and interview with total 500 marks. Similarly, scheme of examination for non-gazetted category posts are 300 marks examination with two papers of 150 marks each.