Letter writer should get his facts right first
WHO is Saber Ahmed Jazbhay trying to bully, in his letter “Writer can’t ‘kosherise’ theft?” Could it be the editor of the Sunday Tribune?
Or is he just trying to “halaalise” the truth to make himself a victim here?
Fortunately, I keep most of the letters pages from most publications for some time before I dispose of them. And I cannot believe what a fibber Jazbhay is.
The Sunday Tribune Herald (and not the Sunday Tribune) published an article titled “Low-caste Indians poor, landless” on July 5. On July 12 there was a letter by Sanu Singh (again in the Herald), titled “Caste not exclusive to Hindus” in which it was pointed out that this type of discrimination was practised by all religious groups in India and Pakistan as well as people from countries such as Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Liberia, Ivory Coast and Ghana.
Then reference was made to a Lotus FM talk show (June 20) where the guest, Sherona Rawat, said that caste was “linked to spirituality”.
Singh rightly pointed out that this was “legitimising such discrimination”.
Islam or Muslims were not mentioned. That fact notwithstanding, Jazbhay promptly wrote a letter titled “Too much Islamophobia” which the Herald published on July 19.
Anyone can check this out with those in charge of the Herald.
So why does Jazbhay accuse the Sunday Tribune of not publishing his letter? Or does he believe he is so special that his letters should be published in the Herald and the Sunday Tribune simultaneously?
Incidentally, he was howling “Islamophobia” but did not say what was Islamophobic about that letter.
And if it is Islamophobic to believe in a two-state solution for Palestine, then the late former president of India, Abdul Kalam, was an Islamophobe too. He not only believed in a two-state solution, but he said both sides (Israel and Palestine) must be condemned for the violence, and he was vocal about closer ties between Indians and Israelis.
He visited Israel more than once. As for the other sanctimonious outpourings, is it not time for them to let their own hate go – hate for Israel?
KAMINI PRAKASH
Riet River