LETTERS

This is with reference to the issue of Islamic Voice, January 2010 which was my first encounter with the magazine. It was informative and I found several of the stories providing entirely new perspectives. I found the magazine highly readable for everyone, including non-Muslims. The articles by Abdul Malik Mujahid and Sarah Joseph were highly appreciable from interfaith angle. I read with interest the piece titled "It is not a one-way street" by Maqbool Ahmed Siraj and found it something breaking fresh ground.

The recent quashing of reservations for Muslims in Andhra Pradesh by the Andhra Pradesh High Court has extinguished the hopes of the community. Various reasons are cited for not providing reservations to the community. The community has become a victim of "Appeasement bogey", without getting any concrete benefits. The fact is that the community has been marginalized and under represented in almost all the sectors of economy. Their representation is well below 3 per cent in a vast majority of organized sectors, even though they represent more than 13 per cent of the population. Economically a vast majority of them are placed in the worst situation. Reservation is essential for the community and 4 per cent reservation, to begin with would have been good. A 15 per cent reservation would have taken care of the denials and deprivation in the past. This can be provided to the most economically backwards among the community.

Despite being maliciously targetted, systematically stigmatised and marginalised, Indian Muslims remained patient, hopeful, and loyal to the country and the system. There is absolutely no confirmed charge against any Muslim boy or organisation from Pune of their involvement in any terror activity. On the contrary there are confirmed evidences to prove that there were/are Hindu fanatics who carried bomb blasts in different parts of the country. But with each bomb blast only Muslims are/were looked suspiciously. They become more vulnerable. It is a known fact that Shaheed Hemant Karkare had exposed a nation wide Hindutva terror network that included prominent figures from Pune and even from Indian Army. Needless to say, almost 11 such champions are now behind the bars. Can't the recent bomb blast in German bakery be another 'milestone' achievement of the disciples or the mentors of such Hinduvites? Can't it happen? Can't? Why not?

Medicinal plants play serve an important role in human life. The rural folk and tribals in India even now depend largely on the surrounding plants/forests for their day-to-day needs. Medicinal plant are being looked upon not only as a source of health care but also as a source of income. The value of medicinal plants related trade in India is of the order of 5.5 billion US$ (Exim Report-1997) and is further increasing day-by-day. The international market of herbal products is estimated to be US $ 62 billion. India's share in the global market of medicinal plants trade is less than 0.5 percent.
In 2002, Government of India set-up a national level body, the National Medicinal Plants Board for the growth and development of medicinal plants sector (MPS) in the country.

International Information Resource Centre has published a classified information of schemes and guidelines as a set of interventions to streamline the medicinal plants sector, achieve high quality commercial production and create post-harvesting infrastructure through financial assistance. These interventions should lead to increased production with emphasis on quality and entrepreneurship in every aspect of the medicinal sector industry and export.

This e. book will be useful not only for technologists, professionals, but also for farmers, traders, students, NGOs, institutions, exporters and importers of Medicinal Plants.

By killing Hamas member, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai, Mossad has proved yet again that its long arm can reach anywhere. It acts like an independent fiefdom, enjoying the backing of irresponsible prime ministers. Initially Israel was in a state of total denial about the role of Mossad but when the things started to become apparent, and the photos of the assassins appeared on TV worldwide, an old and proven Israeli method was brought into play: to take some marginal detail and discuss it passionately, ignoring the main issue. The impact of such operations by Israel is even more significant. Once upon a time it was possible to belittle this aspect. But the Molten Lead operation and the Goldstone report, the echoes of the antics of Lieberman, the growing world-wide campaign for boycotting Israel etc, all these point toward the fact that no nation can afford to ignore the opinion of mankind. The Dubai affair is reinforcing the image of Israel as a rogue nation that treats world public opinion with contempt, a country that conducts gang warfare, that sends mafia-like death squads abroad, a pariah nation to be avoided by right-minded people.

This refers to your two editorials titled 'victims of orchestrated Obsession' and 'Yet another hatchery of terrorism' in February issue of Islamic Voice. The twin edits highlight the stupidity of Arabs who are ready to walk into every trap laid by the CIA and the United States. No Muslim state can afford to the challenge the might of the US, yet the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was allowed the hospitality of the Jeddah University to issue dire warnings to Iran and set up confrontation between Arabs and the Iranians. The lady accused Iran for promoting terrorism at a time when Mossad was killing Hamas activist in Dubai. How long will the American fool the world by glossing over Israel's terrorism?