Panjab & Kashmir Uphold Communal Unity

At a function to mark appointments of alternative medicine doctors in Patna, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulled a young Muslim doctor’s hijab (face cover) on 15 Dec. Kumar is the leader of Janata Dal (United) which is in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the union and state governments. As Muslims groups protested across India, in Mandi Ahmedgarh, Panjab, the Istri Bhalai Manch (Women Welfare Group) raised slogans against the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (BJP’s parent body). Panjab Minority Commission member Nadeem Anwar Khan handed over a memorandum addressed to President Droupadi Murmu through the district administration. Meanwhile, in village Jakhwali, Fatehgarh Sahib, 75-years-old Rajinder Kaur has donated land for construction of a mosque. Sikh and Hindu families have pitched in with money. Bibi Rajinder said, 'Our Muslim friends here didn't have a mosque and had to go for namaz (prayers) to the next village, so I thought of giving them 5 marlas of land (around 1360 sq.ft.) so that they also have a place to pray. Bibi Rajinder's grandson Satnam Singh said, 'They (Muslims) also participate in our programs like langar (community kitchens) and they do sewa (service). We believe we should respect every religion.' His brother, Monu Singh, who is a village council member, said that since government land cannot be given for construction of any religious place, they discussed it within the family and decided to donate their own land. Also, in Umarpura, Malerkotla, the Madinah Mosque was inaugurated on 7 Dec on land earlier donated by Sikhs. Panjab’s Shahi Imam, Maulana Muhammad Usman Ludhianvi led the prayers. Additionally, in Kashmir, the local Muslim community came together to perform the last rites of Kartar Singh, a Sikh resident who passed away on 27 Dec at Gadoora area in Ganderbal district. Soon after the news of his death spread in the area, local Muslims made special arrangements in performing his last rites. Touched by the gesture, the deceased Sikh’s relatives said, 'We have been working in Kashmir for the past many decades. I am overwhelmed by the approach of locals' (earlier coverage).