Khudai Khidmatgar | SabrangIndia

Charges against Faisal Khan are wholly misplaced: Hindu Voices for Peace

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 12:21:38 +0000

Image Courtesy:hindusforhumanrights.org

As he continues to be in judicial custody, Hindu voices are also rising to seek justice for inter-faith peace activist Faisal Khan. A group of concerned citizens, named Hindu Voices for Peace, has written to express their “dismay and sadness” at the arrest of Faisal Khan, and three other members of Khudai Khidmatgar. Khan was arrested on October 29, 2020, following a complaint filed after he took permission and offered namaz in a temple compound after an interfaith peace and solidarity pilgrimage. Khan, the convener Khudai Khidmatgar was sent to 14-day judicial custody by a Mathura court. As he had tested positive for Covid-19 and he was sent to institutional quarantine. Khudai Khidmatgar, the NGO that works for communal amity in society, was revived by Faizal Khan to promote interfaith dialogue.

Khan had returned to Delhi the same night, the Uttar Pradesh police arrested him on November 2, and charged him under section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 295 (defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) and 505 (public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.

The FIR, which was registered on November 1 with the Barsana police station in Mathura, names Faisal Khan, Chand Mohammad, Aalok Ratan and Nilesh Gupta. The FIR stated, “Faizal Khan and Chand Mohammad offered namaz within the temple premises without the permission of the priests and hurt the sentiments of the Hindus. Their associates clicked their photos and made them viral on social media. They might be receiving foreign funding and it might be an attempt to create communal tension in the region.” His arrest came as a shock to the secular society.

Members of the Hindu Voices for Peace stated, “ Khan has been working tirelessly over years for the cause of inter-religion peace and harmony… they humbly prayed to Sri Krishna, who taught that God is the same to all beings – Srimad Bhagavadgita (9:29) “samoham sarvabhuteshu”. They added that “We cannot emphasize enough that Faisal Khan performed namaz in the temple only after the Nand Baba temple priest invited him to do so. We therefore believe that the charges of promoting enmity and defiling a place of worship against Faisal Khan, are wholly misplaced.”

The group has stated that they while they seek the release of Khan and his associates, they are also “earnestly requesting the government to release from custody, the Hindu men who were arrested for reciting Hindu scriptures at a mosque,” as they believe that “such an action will contribute immensely to shared values of peace and compassion which are at the heart of all religious traditions, and thereby promote communal harmony in the interest of our nation.”

The letter has been signed by eminent citizens including monks such as Brahmachaari Aatmabodhanand of the Matri Sadan Ashram, Haridwar, historian J Devika,

Hindus for Human Rights co-founder, Deepak Gupta, Prof. Ritu Priya from the Center of Social Medicine and Community Health, JNU, Swami Sandeepanandagiri, Gita Ashram, Thiruvananthapuram, Swami Shivananda Saraswati, Founder President, Matri Sadan Ashram, Haridwar, Goswami Sushil Maharaj – National Convenor of Bhartiya Sarva Dharma Sansad (Parliament of all Religion), Thakur Dwara Mandir, Noida, Mahant Yugal Kishore Shastri, Mahanth, Ram Janaki Temple, Ayodhya and many others from India and abroad.

The statement may be read here:

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Faisal Khan was asked to offer namaz in the temple: Khudai Khidmatgar

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 04:17:25 +0000

Image Courtesy:timesnownews.com

Faisal Khan, runs Khudai Khidmatgar, an organisation that aims to promote communal harmony in the country. He and three others from his team were arrested on November 2 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. An FIR was registered against him and the others for allegedly offering namaz, the Muslim prayer, in the Nand Baba temple premises without permission.

Khan has been on a communal harmony tour, visiting many places, including temples, meeting people and on the last day of the ‘84 kos’ trip had visited the famed Nand Baba Mandir on October 28. Initial videos of his interaction with the attendants, and the priest at the temple showed that it just takes a warm gesture to start relationships. His interactions with the Hindu men seemed to be what the millennials call ‘friendship goals’, the banter ranged from anecdotes from socio religious history illustrating communal harmony. The clip ends with the priest offering him a small leaf bowl of prasad, and inviting them to stay for a meal.

https://www.facebook.com/469281336977664/posts/802857553620039/

However, soon after this video, some more images of Khan and an associate offering namaz in the temple courtyard went viral. It was then that things took a turn for the worse. It was alleged that Khan offered the namaz in a Hindu temple without permission of the authorities. The priest who had been talking to Khan in the earlier clip then reportedly registered an FIR, following which Khan was arrested on November 2. According to Khan’s associate as it was noon and time for the Zuhr namaz the Hindu priest himself said the Muslim visitors could offer their prayers in the premises. “We thought we would leave the place and offer namaz, but after they said it was a prayer of devotional songs we offered our namaz after their permission,” stated Khudai Khidmatgar.

Peace activist Faisal Khan, is the National convenor of Khudai Khidmatgar, an organisation founded by freedom fighter Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan better known as Frontier Gandhi. According to the organisation’s statement issued after Faisal Khan was arrested, he was on a five-day yatra or pilgrimage, from October 24-29, 2020, to Braja, or the land of the Hindu god Krishna.

The photos may be seen on Khan’s social media pages, posted on the day of the visit: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000984213442

Pawan Yadav, spokesperson Khudai Khidmatgar has stated that those present at the temple allowed Khan to offer namaz in the temple compound itself. He stated that the temple priest and others told Khan, “You are already in the home of God so why do you need to go anywhere else?” After Faisal Khan completed his prayers they stayed on and accepted the lunch invite in the same temple.

Khan returned to Delhi, but three days later he was told that “some people” were “not happy” with what happened on October 29 and will lodge a police complaint. The Uttar Pradesh police arrested Khan on November 2, charged him under section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 295 (defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) and 505 (public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code. The FIR, which was registered on November 1 with the Barsana police station in Mathura, names has been registered against Faisal Khan, Chand Mohammad, Aalok Ratan and Nilesh Gupta, reported The Quint.

The organisation has opposed “all the allegations put on Faisal Khan, his associates Chand Mohd., Nilesh Gupta and Sagar Ratna.” They state that Khan and the team focus on communal harmony, and work to “counter any forms of religious extremism in this society”. They added that “many Hindu religious institutions have appreciated and acknowledged the work of Faisal khan for his uncompromised work for peace and brotherhood.”

However the organisation has apologised for any sentiments hurt and stated, “If anybody individual or organization feels that we have hurt their sentiments then we are sorry for that but still want to add it was never our intention.”

According to a report by The Quint, after his arrest in the evening on November 2 Khan was taken to Jamia Nagar police station, and then handed over to Uttar Pradesh police. The news report quotes the FIR stating: “Without informing or taking permission from those at the temple premises, they offered their namaz here. Those who came with them took photos of them praying and posted it on social media, after which it became viral. This is also being shown in the news. Because of their acts, the sentiments of the Hindu community have been hurt. We are apprehensive that they will incorrectly use the image of the temple. We also have our apprehensions regarding this organisation and if it is getting funding from foreign Muslim institutions and has relations with them. We would like an investigation as we are worried that they did this to hurt the harmony in the area.”

It quotes Yadav refuting all charges adding, “Selective pictures are being shared on social media. Those in the temple are right there behind them when they are offering prayers. No one was hiding anything and nor did anyone at the temple have a problem at all. If they did have one, they would have stopped them right there right?”

According to India TV news, the temple authorities, meanwhile, conducted a ‘purification’ ritual at the courtyard where Khan is shown to have offered namaz. The India TV, headlines it as ‘2 Muslim’s among 4 named in FIR’. The men at the temple are now demanding ‘strict action’ against Khan and his team for ‘hurting religious sentiments’.

The entire statement of Khudai Khidmatgar may be read here:

*Khudai Khidmatgar Statement on the Arrest of Gandhian Peace activist Faisal Khan*

November 2, 2020
Delhi

Gandhian social activist Faisal Khan, National convenor of Khudai Khidmatgar a Gandhian Organization being established by Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan was on a five-day pilgrimage (Yatra), dated 24-29 October 2020, to the holy land of Krishna, Braja. He was participating in the ancient Chaurasi Kosi Yatra of Govardhan. In his Yatra he met with several peoples as well as the priest of various temples.

One can see the videos, pictures of his yatra which are available on his Facebook profile. There were great discussions about the philosophy of Hinduism, verses of Tulsidas g, Raskhan g and Rahimdas.

On the last day of his pilgrimage, Faisal Khan visited the holy temple of “Nand Baba”. He paid his obeisance there. That was the time of his afternoon prayers, so he asked for a suitable place. The people who were there in the temple allowed him to offer prayers in the temple compound itself by saying that you are already in the home of God so why do you need to go anywhere else. Hearing it, Faisal Khan completed his prayers. After it he and other members stayed in the Temple for some more time and they had their lunch in the same temple.
Everything was fine. On 29th October the Yatra was completed and he returned to Delhi with all. After 3 days he got the information from some local media people that there are some people who are not happy with the incidents which took place on 29th October and they are going to complain to the police.
Then today on 2nd of November he has been arrested by UP Police under section 153A, 295 and 505 and being taken to Mathura. In few TV Media false stories are being shown. We strongly oppose all the allegations which are put on Faisal Khan, his associates Chand Mohd., Nilesh Gupta and Sagar Ratna.
Khudai Khidmatgar believe in Peace, Love and Communal Harmony, Faisal Khan as an individual has been working, for the last three decades, on these issues and the objective of Khudai Khidmatgar is also the same. We focus to counter any forms of religious extremism in this society. Many Hindu religious institutions have appreciated and acknowledged the work of Faisal khan for his uncompromised work for peace and brotherhood.

Faisal Khan and we all as the members of Khudai Khidamatgar have full faith in Humanity as well as the Rule of Law. Our efforts were, are, and always will be for the betterment of the society.

We are continuously trying to put our views from different platforms through a disciplined and inclusive approach.
In the end. we also want to say that if anybody individual or organization feels that we have hurt their sentiments then we are sorry for that but still want to add it was never our intention.

Thanks and Regards
*Pawan Yadav*
Spokes Person
Khudai Khidmatgar

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Mobile ‘Goodwill centres’ to promote secularism

Fri, 24 Aug 2018 06:23:59 +0000

New Delhi: ‘Mobile Sadbhavna Kendra’ an initiative to promote love towards everyone and spread peace and harmony was launched by Khudai Khidmatgar. A couple of Khudai Khidmatgar volunteers will be travelling in the vans to the outskirts of Delhi and rural areas of the neighbouring statesand spread the message of brotherhood/sisterhood, peace and love.

The mobile sadbhavna Kendra van was flagged off jointly by by Shri Acharya Pramod Krishnam (founder Sarthank trust and Kalki Foundation) and Dr Sayeda Hameed (Activist and former member of planning commission) in Jawahar bhawan, New Delhi where the office of the Khudai Khidmatgar a NGO working exclusively for peace and harmony is located.
Faisal Khan,the national Convener of Khudai khidmatgar, mentioned that there is a great need to reach out to people with messages of peace and love in today’s turbulent times where hate and violence is rising at alarming levels. It is our responsibility to carry forward the legacy of Meera, Raskhan, Kabir, Gandhi and others who preached love and unity.

The Khudai Khidmatgar (Servants of God) team comprises people from all walks of life such as students, farmers and other activists. They will commute to the villages in the vans and interact with the people, distribute literature with messages of Gandhi and Frontier Gandhi Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and try to spread the understanding that generates love for all and empathy for the disadvantaged and the discriminated.

This article was first published on twocircles.net.

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#AmarnathTerror Attack – Candle Vigils in Delhi today by Khudai Khidmatgar and #NotInMyName

Tue, 11 Jul 2017 08:00:52 +0000

We are saddened by the news that seven pilgrims on their way to Amarnath have been killed in an attack by people who can only be described as enemies of humanity. The Kashmir police has issued a statement that the attack was on a police van and the yatris died while the fleeing attackers fired indiscriminately. The Amarnath Yatris have never feared an attack even when the situation in the valley was worse than what it is at present. Kashmiri people have always taken pride in the fact that the Yatra was always safe and never came under any threat. It is tragic that this faith and trust today stands shattered by elements who obviously want to kick start a chain of incidents that will bring more tragedies, more deaths and more hatred.

We as citizens have to intervene in this situation and mourn the death of those civilians who unexpectedly became collateral damage and also take a firm stand against politcal violence no matter who the perpetrator. Kashmiris in the valley have been caught in a vortex of violence and it is not too long back that we saw all those disturbing images of young people carrying pellet wounds over their bodies. All lives matter and dead bodies should not become part of a politcs that divides people on the basis of religion. The seven dead did not deserve to die and it is only when we stand up and demand an end to this politics of hatred that we can prevent the deaths of innocents going on a pilgrimage or returning from Eid shopping.

Not In My name campaign gives a call to gather at Jantar Mantar and stand in vigil against hate and in grief with the families of those killed. Please carry posters of #Notinmyname and solidarity with families of those killed. We stand against hatred and our posters too should reflect our stand. We call upon all citizens to ensure peace and resist any call to violence. #Notinmyname

Date – Tuesday, 11 July, 2017
Venue- Jantar Mantar
Time- 7:00PM

Khudai Khidmatgar strongly condemn the brutal killing of “Amarnath Yaatrees”, We are organising solidarity meet and candle vigil to condemn the shameful Terrorist attack on the yatrees and will pray for the peaceful Yatra and well being of Yatrees…
We request your participation or your representatives to do the coverage of the event.

The candle vigil will be held at Babe-Mahmoodul Hasan Gate no-17, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi.
Date: 11 July 2017@ 06:30 PM
Contact:
Rizwan khan-9990473885
Sahil Ahmad- 9808068062
Javed Malik 8512892342
Ehtasham Hashmi 9891010736

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