Bikaner (Rajasthan): Wife of a Muslim priest in Indian Army has written to the President of India alleging that her husband has been censured for saying ‘Jai Hind'.
Talking to a leading newspaper, Subedar Ishrat Ali, the man in question, has also said that his commanding officer has reprimanded him and served him a notice for saluting Jai Jind. He says he has been warned to instead salute by using "Ram, Ram" and "Jai Mata Di"
Subedar Ishrat Ali alleges that his commanding officer served him a notice warning him to ‘rise above narrow-mindedness' or face disciplinary action.
The official battalion slogan is Ram Ram and Jai Mata Di, but the Ali has time and again informed officials that it is impossible for him to use the said salutes as they are Hindu religious chants and he is an Islamic priest.
In protest, his wife Shehnaz Bano has written a complaint to the President of India and the National Commission for Minorities. A copy has been sent to Akhilesh Yadav as well. The letter states that he is being mentally tortured and harassed. It demands justice.
Ali's commanding officer Colonel Chitra Sen refused to comment on the issue and said Army HQ had all the relevant information. "Army is absolutely secular. We respect salutation of Jai Hind and all battle cries," said Major General Shokin Chauhan, additional director general, public information, without getting into the details of Subedar Ali's complaints.
Leading lawyer Rajeev Anand, who took premature retirement as assistant commandant of Border Security Force, was critical of the notice issued to Ali. "This is totally wrong. Salutations are in the name of the country and not in the name of a religion. They all are soldiers of India. Passing such directives are totally untenable."
The notice issued to Ali asks him to change his salutation. "The task of Army's religious teacher is to enthuse the spirit of patriotism, zeal and unity in the jawans, while the slogan of Jai Hind (Long Live India) sends a message of religious hatred and extremism.
If you do not rise above narrow-mindedness and do not salute by shouting 'Ram Ram' and 'Jai Mata di', as per the rules of the battalion disciplinary action will be taken against you," it says.
"You are a religious teacher and your job is to enthuse patriotism, zeal and spirit of unity in the jawans. Your action (the utterance of Jai Hind) does not only send a message of religious hatred and extremism but also reflects upon your lack of knowledge; and that will not be tolerated."
In his 22 years of service as a Maulvi, Ali claims he was never asked not to use "Jai Hind" until July when he was verbally "warned" to shun the slogan and resort to shouting "Ram Ram and Jai Mata Ki" or else face a court martial.
"I have served the Army for 22 years, saluted many chiefs including General VK Singh and others who never objected to it. Jai Hind is a slogan, which marks patriotism. How can I be faulted for being a patriot?" he asks.
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