MR. JASWANT SINGH'S EXPULSION

Mr. Jaswant Singh's expulsion from the BJP for writing a book on Jinnah is surprising all secular and democratic people. One can appreciate or criticise his remarks based on facts. It is well known that Jinnah was once called as the ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity. He was also a staunch Congress leader. Situations changed him and made him an All India Muslim League Chief.

It is very unfortunate that Mr. Jaswant's 30 years of dedicated service as a leader has no value for the BJP leaders who passed a resolution to expel him. One can understand where the party stands and how its leaders analyse issues!

The fact is that the strong leaders who wanted to grab power were not willing to co-operate with Mr. Jinnah and his party and pushed him to a corner to demand Pakistan. No doubt he fought for Pakistan and got it with the consent of all leaders.The loss in every respect was immeasurable. It was his great blunder. No Indian will ever pardon him for this and more so Indian Muslims whose dedicated freedom fighters including ulema had to undergo great hardships during the freedom struggle. Many of them were even hanged to death by the Britishers.

One feels that Mr. Jaswant should have criticised him more for this tragedy. Even today we are suffering because of the division of the country. We would have been stronger if the country had remained one India. The only leader who was opposed to the division of the country till the end even when all agreed to it was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Even after partition he maintained his stand as the opponent of the partition.

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UNION BUDGET 2009-10: GENERALLY PEOPLE FRIENDLY BUT INDUSTRIALLY LACKLUSTRE

UNION BUDGET 2009-10: GENERALLY "PEOPLE-FRIENDLY' BUT INDUSTRIALLY “LACKLUSTRE”

V. M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN

The national budget announced on 6th July 2009 by the hon'ble Finance Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee is "people friendly" as it is stimulus-oriented focussed on consumption to sustain growth. Taxpayers who hail from different fields of activity received the benefits which they rightly deserved. The following are some of them:

Income tax exemption limit was raised by Rs.10,000 for men and women and Rs.15,000 for senior citizens. i.e. exemption limit for men and women is Rs.1.60 lakh and senior citizens Rs.2.40 lakh.
Interest on study loans after 10th standard is now tax deductible.
10% surcharge on above Rs.10 lakh is abolished
Wealth tax is now payable only for over Rs.30 lakh instead of Rs.15 lakh.
Advance tax is applicable only for tax liability exceeding Rs.10,000 against Rs.5,000 earlier.
There are also many other benefits such as cuts in customs duties for some life-saving drugs and medical equipment, abolition of commodity transaction tax on derivatives trading etc.

One can also invest up to Rs.1 lakh in some approved schemes under Section 80c and save taxes up to about Rs.30,000. The investment is deducted from taxable income.

Many disadvantages are also galore in the present budget. For example most gifts in kind worth over Rs.50,000 are to become taxable after 1st October 2009, excise on several household items to be increased from 4% to 8%, customs duty doubled on import of gold and silver bars, 5% duty on set-up boxes, MAT up from 10% to 15% , service tax on legal consultancy to firms, etc.


As far as businessmen are concerned, the benefits are in the form of extensions as detailed below:

Sops announced for exporters in December 2008 have been extended up to 31st March 2010
Tax Write-off on R & D expenditure has been extended to all manufacturing units.
Section 10A and 10B tax holiday for STPs and EOUs has been extended up to 31st March 2011.
Credit on Minimum Alternate Tax can be carried forward for 10 years instead of 7.

According to the Council for Leather Exports, the following benefits are there in the recent budget.

1) Inclusion of new inputs for manufacturer-exporters of leather garments, footwear (including non-leather footwear) and other leather products under the 3% Duty Free Import Scheme (DFIS). Though the Council had submitted exhaustive list of inputs for inclusion and also sought amendments in existing descriptions of inputs, only certain items have been included.

2) Amendments have been made in the list of machinery notified under list 34 of serial no. 257 of Customs Notification No. 21/2002 dated 1.3.2002, as amended from time to time, which allows import under 5% concessional duty (basic customs duty). These amendments were earlier sought by the Council so as to avoid customs interpretation problems.

3) The 2% interest subvention scheme for certain labour intensive sectors including the leather sector has been extended from Sept. 30, 2009 to March 31, 2010. This will facilitate reduced interest rates @ BPLR minus 4.5% for the leather sector on pre-shipment and post-shipment rupee export credit. The RBI is expected to issue the notification in this regard in due course.

4) Additional Benefits (coverage) under Export Credit Guarantee scheme have been extended till March 2010. As per current package of ECGC, the percentage of cover is enhanced by 5% under Export Credit Insurance Policies issued to exporters and by 10% under Export Credit Insurance Covers for Banks. Thus, the total coverage for the exporters will be 95% and for the banks to 85%.

5) The Excise Duty Exemption is being extended to Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) compound manufactured by a job worker, for further use in the manufacture of footwear, on par with PVC Compound.

6) Exemption of Service Tax on foreign agents’ commission and transport of goods through road. In respect of foreign agents’ commission, the exemption would be to the extent of service tax on commission up to 10% of FOB value of exports i.e. 1% of Service Tax +applicable cess. Thus there would be no need for the exporter to first pay the tax and later claim refund in respect of these services.

7) The refund of Service Tax for other services have also been notified, by replacing the refund scheme notified earlier vide Service Tax Notification No.41/2007 dated 6.10.2007 .

8) Fringe Benefit Tax on the value of certain fringe benefits provided by employers to their employees has been abolished. The Council had included this request in its pre-budget proposals.
9) To facilitate flow of credit at reasonable rates, Rs.4,000 crore provided as special fund out of Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). This will incentivise Banks and State Finance Corporations (SFCs) to lend to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) by refinancing 50 per cent of incremental lending to MSEs during the current financial year.

The industry is thankful to the government for the above benefits available in the budget but regrets that it is lacklustre as there is nothing special for the nationally important export-oriented and labour intensive leather and leather products industry which is endeavouring its best to face the present challenges in the recession hit world market and move forward producing and exporting more and more which is really a Himalayan task and hence governmental support is badly needed in the present circumstances.

Mr. Habib Hussain, Chairman, Council for Leather Exports rightly expressed his disappointment by saying that "the budget has just been a continuation budget. The existing stimulus package measures are continuing. The industry needed a big stimulus shot but nothing has been done. We now have to look forward to the foreign trade policy" which is expected shortly.

Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed, Chairman of Farida Group also expressed more or less the same views and said that there will be some incentives in the focused product scheme, import duties and import licences.

It is hoped that the forthcoming foreign trade policy will be based on the recommendations of the Council for Leather Exports and other associations and be of much help to the leather and leather products industry in its attempts for increased growth and exports. (Indian Leather, August 2009)


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VIT VOLUNTARILY OFFERS A FREE SEAT TO A MUSLIM GIRL

VIT VOLUNTARILY OFFERS A FREE SEAT TO A MUSLIM GIRL

The Deccan Chronicle in its issue dated 22nd June 2009 has published a pleasant news on its front page under the heading "Dream come true - VIT gives Nisha key to success". The story runs like this. S. Jennifer Nisha (17), daughter of a road-side hawker Shahul Hameed whose income is about Rs.1000 per month, hailing from a conservative poor Muslim family fought against all odds to become a district topper at the Melur Government Girls' Higher Secondary School by securing 1142 marks. Ms. Christopher Jeyaseelan, a tuition master gave her free tuition and encouraged her.

As her family background did not permit her to persue higher education, she was asked to undergo a teacher training course but VIT's STAR scheme which meets the entire education expenses of selected toppers, came as a blessing to her. Her school headmistress Ms. Roselin Mary took her to the VIT counselling for government school toppers in Madurai and she was one of the 12 successful candidates out of 38 poor rural toppers from the southern districts. She has chosen to study EEE in her B.tech engineering course.

The appreciable thing in this report is that a Muslim girl is helped by her non-muslim teachers and VIT comes to her help in making her dream for higher education come true. It shows the excellent atmosphere prevailing here for brilliant students -whatever may be their caste, creed or community. This is a shining example in the midst of reports of so many exploitations that we read in newspapers and come across in person.

It will be better if the Omeiat Journal makes a survey about scholarship schemes if any available in other institutions particularly run by Muslims for the benefit of the poor and needy.

We should be proud of students like Nisha and be thankful to her teachers, institution and VIT which encouraged her voluntarily with all interest and enthusiasm the like of which is rare now-a-days. One hopes that it will inspire students to study well, guide teachers to do dedicated service and influence institutions to serve better.

V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
(Omeiat Journal July 2009)

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LEATHER MARKET IS ON THE MOVE

LEATHER MARKET IS ON THE MOVE

V. M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN

The leather and leather goods industry which has seen many ups and downs depending on the international trends and financial crises and which came across the impact of the sudden worldwide slowdown due to the American economic doldrums is recovering fast. There are renewed activities in leather centres like Periamet, Pallavaram, Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Ranipet, Melvisharam, Erode, Dindigul etc. Many leading shoe manufacturers are in the market covering their requirements particularly in wetblue cow hides which witnessed more slowdown at recent times. There is upward tendency in the prices of wetblue hides and skins although the demand is particularly for higher grades and better qualities of these items. There is 10 to 15% increase even in prices of raw hides and skins throughout the country depending on quality, selection and pelt, according to reports reaching here.

The problem of measurement buyers face while purchasing wetblue hides and skins continues unabated. In almost all centres measurement of wetblue hides and skins is done manually and not by measuring machines. Many say with disgust that even in the present technologically advanced period, the archaic manual system is continued despite problems and protests from different buying sources. There is an urgent need to ponder over this burning issue. The associations concerned can take initiative in this regard and install measuring machines for job works wherever and in as many places as possible for smooth transactions in accordance with the need of the hour.

In the Periamet market arrivals of E.I. tanned hides and skins are restricted as many small tanners have stopped productions due to unworkable prices and uncertainty in the market. Td. goat skins, 4/7 sq.ft., Grain selections are sold at around Rs.48 to 50 per sq.ft., Garment suedes at around Rs.37 to 39 per sq.ft. and A suede, Shoe suede and Heel grip are sold at around Rs. 35, 32 and 29 per sq.ft. respectively. There is interest for Rejection items at around Rs.19 to 22 depending on the quality and selection.

Leading shoe units are going well trying to avoid layoffs as much as possible. It is well known that a sort of camaraderie is in existence between employers and employees in most of the units in leather and leather products industry in Tamil Nadu and this has given a room for smooth adjustments in pay scales etc. to the satisfaction of all concerned.

There are enquiries from the Far East as well as European countries for finished leathers for shoes such as goat glazed kid leathers, milled upper leathers, suede leathers and the prices quoted for them are at around US $ 2.00, 1.80 and 1.70 per sq.ft. C&F by sea respectively. As usual goat lining leathers are also of interest to regular customers in countries like Italy, Spain, Portugal, Hong Kong, Singapore etc. at around prices US $ 1.00 to 1.10 depending on marks. Demand for garment leathers is limited.
Some business is also reported in sheep cabratta leathers at around US $ 2.10 and lining leathers at around US $ 1.30 per sq.ft. C&F by sea.


Visit of Indian Delegation to Iran and Turkey from 10th to 13th August, 2009

The Council for Leather Exports has done well in proposing to organise a visit by Indian Leather Delegation to Iran and Turkey from 10 to 13 August 2009 to make a survey of the existing market situation and assess the market potential for securing raw hides, skins and leather from these countries. The Council has given all the necessary information along with a Format for company profile to enable interested members to apply to the Council and join the delegation.

A leading shoe industrialist said that such delegations are necessary to refurbish the development of the leather industry.

(V.M. Khaleelur Rahman in Indian Leather, July 2009)

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PLURAL LAWS FOR PLURAL SOCIETY

PLURAL LAWS FOR PLURAL SOCIETY

On the question of Common Civil Code (CCC),one feels that the judiciary has not created a conducive atmosphere for its enactment. Rather it continues to give a gratuitous suggestion about its necessity. It is this attitude which has made the minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians worry.

In a plural society like India only plural laws can give a strong feeling of nationality. Ours is a country of people belonging to different faiths and cultures and of course they must have the laws of their respective choice. The different personal laws in vogue now should continue to exist for the purpose of unity and solidarity of the country. If a CCC is imposed on the unwilling minorities, it will not only be of no use, but also weaken our country. The best way is to make the different personal laws uniform as much as possible. There is no attempt in this respect by any quarter just because the uncalled for obiter dicta of the Supreme Court is being exploited by communal parties to their selfish political ends and the Muslim intellectuals who have the interest of the community and country at heart have lost their grounds for reforms of the Muslim personal law in the midst of rampant communal atmosphere.

There is an urgent need for creating a right atmosphere in the country where people can feel free to think and decide their issues. Moreover there is mention of a uniform civil code in the Directive Principles of the Constitution and not of a common civil code.

It is well known that the Hindu laws are not the same everywhere in the country. The tribals also enjoy their own laws and they continue to receive support from all politicians. As the first step let the Hindu laws be made uniform.

This writer asked many ulemas about this issue. They say in so many words that they cannot oppose a common civil code if it is within the framework of the Islamic laws but there is no possibility of this and hence their opposition. It is wrong to say that Muslims oppose a CCC. They only oppose any imposition of unwanted laws on them because they feel and rightly so that Islam provides better laws which are not only for them but for all human beings of all times. On the contrary the laws found in the Indian personal laws are not perfect.

The Muslims should consider that the Holy Quran has given excellent laws about marriage, divorce, inheritance etc. which are indeed far better than the modern laws and so they should adopt them in spirit and letter.

A majority of Muslims oppose the unilateral and instant triple divorce system and prefer the rational Quranic laws. The Ulema belonging to the Ahle-hadees school of thought simply consider this system un-Islamic and invalid. All other Ulemas also consider the instant triple system an act of the days of ignorance (Ayyamul Jahiliyya) but "occured" if it is practised even though it is not an approved system in the light of the holy Quran and Ahadees. All Ulemas say that divorce should only be the last resort and there should not be any hasty decision.

There are many books written on this subject. Moreover almost all Muslim intellectuals, including Justice V. Khalid, former judge of the Supreme court, disapprove this system and consider it un-Islamic.

Islam provides laws for all situations and it is our inability to make use of them properly. And it is this inability of ours which often lands us in trouble. If Muslims follow the Islamic laws in spirit and letter, not only they will be benefited, but even people belonging to other faiths will come forward to follow them because of their fairness.

V. M. Khaleelur Rahman in Radiance dated 4-10 January 2004

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GUJRAL'S SHINING EXAMPLE

GUJRAL'S SHINING EXAMPLE

The Prime Minister Mr. I. K. Gujral's remark that he has never consulted any palmist or astrologer so far (The Hindu, Jan. 4) must have brought some cheer to the people, often informed of the superstitious beliefs and practices of our Ministers and politicians by the press, television and radio. If the rulers and political leaders of our country are wise, we can find solutions to many of the ills of our society.

The press would do well to publish more and more reports of this sort to create a scientific temper among the people, particularly the poor masses, who are often exploited by quacks and other tricksters because of their deep-rooted superstitious beliefs which are detrimental to their well-being.

The Prime Minister's frank and bold expression should inspire other Ministers and political leaders to follow his shining example and be rational in their behaviour and approaches to various national problems so that they are easily solved and our people become rational and modern. The adage is yatha raja tatha praja - as the king so are the subjects

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman in The Hindu dated January 6, 1998)

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SAYINGS OF PROPHET MOHAMMED (SAL-AM)

SAYINGS OF PROPHET MOHAMMED (SAL-AM)

1. HEART: Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) said, ‘Listen carefully, there is a lump of flesh in the body. If it is set right and made good, the entire body becomes good and healthy, but if it becomes diseased, the entire body becomes diseased. Remember well: it is the Heart.’ (Muslim, Bukhari: Nu’man ibn Bashir)

2. LIVING IN GOD’S PRESENCE: Someone asked: ‘How can one purify and develop himself, O Messenger of God, pbuh? He replied: ‘He should always remember that God is with him wherever he is.’ (Tirmidhi: Abdullah ibn Busr)

3. SEEKING GOD’S LOVE: Hazrat Mohammed (Sal-am) said: ‘ Anyone who possesses three qualities finds thereby the sweetness of faith: that he loves God and His Messenger, pbuh, more than everything else; that when he loves a human being he loves him for God’s sake alone; and that he abhors returning to unbelief from which God has rescued him, as he abhors being thrown into fire.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Anas)

4. FINDING GOD BY SERVING MANKIND: Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) said: God will say, ‘Son of Adam, I fell ill but you did not visit Me.’ He will say, ‘O Lord, and how could I have visited You! You are the Lord of the worlds!’ He will say, ‘Did you not know that My so and so servant had fallen ill and you did not visit him? Did you not know that had you visited him you would have found Me with him?’‘Son of Adam, I asked you for food but you did not feed Me’. He will say, ‘O Lord, how could I have fed You! You are the Lord of the worlds!’ He will say, ‘My so and so servant asked you for food and you did not feed him? Did you not know that had you fed him you would surely have found that with Me?’‘Son of Adam, I asked you to give Me to drink but you did not give Me.’ He will say, ‘O Lord, how could I have given you to drink! You are the Lord of the worlds!’ He will say, ‘My so and so servant asked you to give him to drink and you did not give him. Had you given him to drink you would surely have found that with Me’. (Muslim: Abu Hurayrah)

5. OUTWARD RELIGIOSITY AND OSTENTATION: The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: Many a one fast, but gain nothing from their fasting except hunger and thirst, and many a one pray all night, but gain nothing from their night prayers except sleeplessness.’ (Darimi: Abu Hurayrah)

6. HYPOCRISY: The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: ‘Three characteristics are the signs of a hypocrite, even if he fast, performs the Prayer and claims that he is a Muslim: when he speaks, he lies, when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays his trust.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Abu Hurayrah)

7. MERCY TO GOD’S FAMILY : The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: ‘Allcreatures are God’s family; and God loves them most who treat His family well and kindly.’(Baihaqi: Anas)

8. The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: ‘Only those who are merciful will be shownMercy by the Most Merciful. Show mercy to those who are on earth, He who is in heaven will show mercy to you.’ (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi; Abdullah ibn ‘Amr)

9. THIS TOO IS CHARITY : The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: If a Muslimplants a tree or sows a crop, then whatever bird eats of it, or a human being, or an animal, it counts as charity for him. He also said: ‘Whatever is stolen from it, that too counts as charity.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Anas, Jabir)

10. GOLDEN RULES FOR HUMAN RELATIONS: The Prophet (Sal-am) said: ‘No one among you attains true faith, until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Anas)

11. CARING FOR THE FAMILY: The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: Anyone who desires his earnings to grow and his life to be prolonged should treat his relatives well.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Anas)

12. Hazrat Mohammed (Sal-am) said: ‘One who breaks the ties of relations with his relatives shall not enter Paradise.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Jubayr)

13. The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: ‘A person who merely reciprocates when doing good, is not really the one who maintains ties with his relatives, but the one who does good and maintains relations even if others do not do good, is a good relative.’ (Bukhari: Abdullah ibn ‘Amr)

14. CARING FOR CHILDREN: The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: ‘No father can give a better gift to his children than providing them with a good education.’ (Baihaqi: Ayub ibn Musa)

15. CARING FOR WOMEN: Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) said: ‘The most perfect in faith among the believers are those who possess the best morals, and the best among you are those who are kindest to their wives.’ (Tirmidhi: Abu Hurayrah)

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