Already in a Catch-22 situation after the Calcutta High Court banned stipends to Imams and Muazzims, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee now faces Muslim clerics — who once backed her to power — more determined than ever before to defend their privilege.
In an unprecedented display of audacity — by trying to publicly dictate a Government decision — a section of clerics has asked the Chief Minister to forthwith promulgate an Ordinance legalising allowance to the Imams and Muazzims.
Whereas another section of Imams has threatened a stir, taking out a public rally on September 10 to begin with.
Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Mosque in Kolkata Noor Ur Rehman Barkati has asked the Government to “see that the poor Imams and Muazzims do not become a victim of the conspiracy hatched by some political outfits.”
Barkati who was all praise for the “Chief Minister’s good intentions to help religious people”, said “Bengal is the first State in the country to introduce such a reform providing stipends to the poor clerics and all credit for this goes to Mamata Banerjee.”
As “some communal minded political outfits have conspired to rob the Muslim religious people of their benefits we would ask the Chief Minister to promulgate an Ordinance and later get it passed in the Assembly as she has sufficient majority.”
Curiously another section of clerics led by Md Mahroof Salafi called upon the Chief Minister to move the Supreme Court without wasting time.
Without naming the ruling Trinamool Congress he said ,“No political party should play game with any community to garner votes. It is the question of the survival of the poor Imams,” Salafi said.
Another association of Imams held the Government responsible for their loss of privilege. “Had the ruling party not played politics with the issue and had they based their decision on firm legal footing, things would not have come to such a pass” said Shamsuzzaman another Imam adding the Government would have to clear the mess or face the consequence “because the polls are not far away.”
This group will take a rally on September 10 in support of their demand when they would ask the Government to resume their privilege.
The BJP had filed a PIl against an order passed by the Government in April 2012 providing monthly stipend to 30,000 Imams and Muazzims out of a clan of clerics of about 75,000. Subsequently, the Calcutta High Court on Monday struck down the Government order terming it unconstitutional as it violated Articles 14 and 15(1) of the Constitution.
The court ruled that public money should be used for public purpose only and providing allowance to the clerics did not fall within that category. Imams’ allowances could be paid only out of Wakf Board funds, legal counsels appearing for the BJP said.
Though the Chief Minister was planning to continue the allowance by routing funds meant for minority development through the Wakf Board, experts said it could “finally hamper the cause of minority development like setting up schools and providing scholarships etc, thus creating a rift between the Imams and the poor Muslims.”
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After the Congress came to power in Karnataka, a delegation of the Muslim league had met CM K Siddaramaiah and Home Minister George to request for steps to help Madani, charged under several provisions of the law including the Unlawful Activities Act, to get bail.
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Kerry said that the credibility of US is at stake.
“It’s fair to say that our interests would be seriously set back in many respects if we are viewed as not capable, or willing to follow through on the things that we say matter to us,” the Secretary of State said. Describing the use of chemical weapons a violation of theworld’s “red line”, Kerry said that no action by the US would set a dangerous precedent.
“We would be opening Pandora’s box with respect to a whole set of dangerous consequences as a result of the United States not keeping its word. And it would make our life very, very difficult with respect to North Korea and Iran,” he said.
Ahead of US Congress’ debate on whether to authorise President Obama to take military action against the Assad regime, a key Senate committee is expected to vote on the resolution.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Robert Menendez said that the draft resolution has been closed and the members are expected to vote on it later.
The resolution is under consideration after last week Obama stepped back from a strike on Syria to first seek approval from Congress, which returns from recess next week.
Given the strength of the Democratic Party, the resolution is expected to sail through easily from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with even key opposition Senators like John McCain announcing his support for it.
Even as Russia and China oppose unilateral action outside UN’s mandate, France has stood beside the US, calling for strong action against Syria.
France has vowed to “punish” Assad for the alleged attack and this week released an intelligence report that blamed for the assault on the Syrian leader’s regime.
French officials today said a punitive military response would help shift the balance in the two and a half-year-old civil war in Syria.
“If you want a political solution you have to move the situation. If there’s no sanction, Bashar Assad will say ‘that’s fine, I’ll continue what I’m doing,’” France’s foreign minister, laurent Fabius, told France Info radio.
Syria’s parliament speaker, in a letter to French lawmakers, today urged them not to support military action.
“We ask you not to hasten to commit a heinous, senseless crime, as you must steer the French republic away from the war path and towards diplomacy,” Jihad lahham said in a statement published by the SANA official news agency.