WB: Mamta announces sops for Muslims, honorarium for Imams *Bihar: Zakir Naik holds Peace Convention amidst protests

West Bengal, April 03, 2012: Raising the pitch for next year’s panchayat elections in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday announced pro-minority sops including a monthly honorarium for Imams.

“The government wants to give a monthly honorarium of Rs. 2,500 to Imams of the state which will be paid through the state Wakf Board.

“For the purpose a special task force comprising government officials and Imams from the city and districts will be constituted which will make the necessary recommendations for the implementation of the scheme,” Banerjee said here during a meet with the religious leaders.

Banerjee also said “homeless, landless Imams” will now be given the benefits under her pet project “Nijo Bhumi Nijo Griha (Own Land, Own House)”.

“There are more than 30,000 Imams in Bengal and a large percentage of them do not have a house or land. If they want and if their religious laws permit, then they can avail the benefits under the Nijo Bhumi Nijo Griha’ scheme and get 3 cottahs of land to build house. The government will also provide for the construction expenditure,” she added.

She reiterated her government stand of providing reservation to the Muslims.

Referring to the 10 percent quota that the previous Left Front government had announced for Other Backward Classes in the community, she said: “The survey has been ordered as the reservation will have to be made legal. What the previous government did in this matter has no legal basis.”

Stating that government was giving affiliation to 10,000 madrasas in the state, she said: “Although the state government cannot provide financial grants to these madrasas, affiliating them would enable them to get grants under various central schemes.”

– tcn

Bihar: Zakir Naik holds Peace Convention amidst protests

Bihar, April 03, 2012: Amid protests by different Muslim sects in Kishanganj, eminent Islamic scholar and televangelist Dr. Zakir Naik finished his 3-day Peace Convention with great success and positive notes. Dr. Zakir Naik who is spreading the message of Islam and true Hadith through his peace conventions for past two decades was highly excited over the response of people gathered in Kishanganj. In fact, in three days of convention (March 30 – April 1, 2012) about 8 lakh people from different parts of Seemanchal visited the venue to listen to Dr. Naik.

Without caring about the objection of self-proclaimed Mullahs, lakhs of people thronged at Kishanganj to clarify their doubts about Islam and knowing the religion of ‘Peace and Brotherhood’ from Dr. Zakir Naik, an accomplished student of comparative religion. All the trains originating from Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand and other parts of Bihar were full of people traveling to Kishanganj. The hotels and motels of Kishanganj have never witnessed full booking. Similarly, the owner of shops and restaurants in Kishanganj were highly happy of earning the high revenue in their life.

The very first day there was a crowd of about 2.5 to 3 lakh. Dr. Zakir Naik explained the reason of reading the Holy Quran by understanding it properly. After his lecture as usual he started the Question & Answer session. The non Muslims were given preference to ask the questions. Zakir Naik satisfied them with his logical answers.

On the second day of Convention, Dr. Zakir Naik after his brief session asked the audience to participate in Question and Answer session. The common questions asked were: 1) Why do you always claim Islam as the best religion? 2) Is eating beaf unethical? 3. Shall we respect our parents much more than anyone else? 4. What is Jihad? 5. Is Terrorism allowed in Islam? The entire session of 4 hours for three days spent in no time. And the people who have attended the convention said that they had never felt the session boring. In fact, they were ready to spend the whole night at the venue.

Dr. Zakir Naik presents the true religion of Islam in best way by quoting the verses from the Glorious Quran. He also put references from the Hadith before the people. Being a student of Comparative religions, Zakir Naik also has knowledge of other religious scriptures like Vedas, Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bible, etc. His personality and way of talking with people is also influential, and encourages people of other religions to accept Islam. During Kishanganj Peace Convention about 25 non Muslims including ladies accepted the religion of Islam without any type of pressure before the lakhs of people.

On the whole, Dr. Zakir Naik’s peace convention at Kishanganj has provided a new and positive identity among people of other religions. Many non Muslims present during the convention praised Zakir Naik for preaching the true Islam and clarifying their doubts. The followers of Islam attended the convention have also returned back to their home by carrying the real picture of their pious religion in their mind. Last but not least, the credit of Dr. Zakir Naik Peace Convention goes to Matiur Rahman, the Chairperson of Tauheed Educational Trust and his dedicated team. The 1800 volunteers who had worked day and night to make the convention successful also deserve plaudits.

– tcn