nationalism

'Islam is not a slave'

Syed Ali Shah Geelani is perhaps the most polarising figure in contemporary Kashmir. In his many avatars as Jamaat-e-Islami member, Hizbul Mujahideen's political face and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat's hawk, the octogenarian, bearded leader has led mammoth rallies, courted countless arrests and penned several books, including a passionate prison diary. On August 15 this year, Geelani donned the garb of Islam's saviour and declared to an azadi-chanting, green-flag waving crowd at Srinagar's Lal Chowk: "Our goal is azadi baraa-e-Islam (freedom for Islam)."

RSS chief against activists opting for 'MISA pension' offered by Raje

JAIPUR: Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh (RSS) has asked those of its workers who were arrested under Maintenance of Security Act (MISA) during the emergency from 1975 to 1977, not to accept the pension being offered by the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in the state. The scheme offering pension and medical assistance to MISA detainees was announced by the state government on Friday. "Erstwhile Jan Sangh and RSS workers, who were jailed for their opposition to the emergency, are disciplined workers, and accepting the pension would be like asking for money in lieu of what you did for your motherland," RSS chief Suresh Kumar said. His organisation would issue a formal directive to its members for not accepting the pension. Former BJP MLA Nawalrai Vachchhani, who was also jailed under MISA, is too against the RSS workers opting for the pension. However, Thanwardas, an RSS worker from Ajmer, said though the pension should not be taken, but medical assistance should be accepted.


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