Subedar Ishrat Ali, transferred from Raj Rif Centre Delhi for saying 'Jai Hind'
NB - Jai Hind was the slogan
of the Indian National Army. If this commanding officer considers it to
be a symbol of religious hatred, he needs psychiatric evaluation. To hound the
regimental maulvi for saying Jai Hind is mean-spirited
behaviour that seems to be calculated to disrupt the secular atmosphere of the
Indian Army - DS
By Saleem Siddiqui
Subedar Ishrat Ali’s wife has filed a written complaint
with National Minority Commission urging it to help her husband in getting
rid of the discriminatory attitude of the officers. In a letter sent to National Minority Commission, Shehnaz
Bano, the wife of Subedar Ishrat Ali, transferred from Raj Rif Centre Delhi to Rajputana
Rifles (3 Raj Rif bikaneer), has alleged that her husband is being
continually subjected to mental torture. According to her Ishrat Ali’s
Commandant Officer Chitra Sen says that as long as he is in his regiment he
will have to follow its rules and will not be allowed to salute with the slogan
of ‘Jai Hind’ but, instead, will have to salute his superiors by saying ‘Ram,
Ram’ and ‘Jai Mata di’.
Shehnaz Bano quotes her husband as saying that during his 22
years’ service he had always saluted with the slogan ‘Jai Hind’ and as a Muslim
it is impossible for him to utter ‘Ram, Ram’ or ‘Jai Mata di’. Because of this
her husband has been served an official notice. The notice issued on 31 August and signed by Major Lalit
Shering reads, ‘Your commanding officer has ordered you not to utter ‘Jai Hind’
as long as you are in this battalion. The C.O. had directed you to salute by
saying ‘Jai Hind’ when you are outside the battalion but while within the
battalion, following its rules you will have to address your superiors by
saying ‘Ram, Ram’ and “Jai Mata di.” In this connection a copy of a letter, No
B/42120/AG/CW-1, dated 25 September 2012, received from the Military
Headquarter that outlines the rules of saluting a superior, is being sent to
you for your information.’
The notice further adds, ‘You are a religious teacher and
your job is to enthuse patriotism, zeal and spirit of unity in the jawans
[lads]. 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. You are advised to rise above narrow-mindedness
and work to enthuse in the jawans the spirit of patriotism, zeal and unity
otherwise disciplinary action will have to be taken against you.’
According to Shehnaz Bano her husband under compulsion has
to salute his superiors by saying ‘Ram, Ram’ and because of that not him alone
but the whole family is suffering from mental tension. She said that Col.
Chitra Sen has also tarnished her husband’s ACR and asked him to sign it. When
her husband asked to give him the reason of doing so, the Col.
got it signed by other three officers (Adjutant, Subedar Major and Subedar
Adjutant) as witnesses testifying that Subedar Ishrat Ali had refused to sign.
Shehnaz Bano says that on 25 August when her husband
complained about it to the Commander of Infantry Brigade, on 17 August, Col.
Chitra Sen issued him a notice saying that, ‘Since you have refused to sign
therefore disciplinary action will be taken against you under section 27. You
are asked to reply by 4 September.’ According to Shehnaz Bano her husband has replied by saying
that he had not refused to sign but had requested to be explained the reason of
it and had requested to be interviewed by the Brigadier Commander. Col. Chitra
Sen has assured that ACR will be rectified.
Informing the National Minority Commission about an
earlier discriminatory action against her husband, Shenaz Bano has also alleged
that as per his seniority he was due to be sent to Sudan but a junior was
assigned the job instead. ‘My husband wrote a letter of complaint to the
Commander in Chief. After this complaint my husband was sent to Sudan
with 8 Raj Rif but because of this complaint a grudge was held against him and
transfer orders were sent to him while he was in Sudan .’
Shehnaz Bano says that her husband has left two more years
in service because of that he had requested to be left posted in the Centre. I
suffer from heart condition and am being treated at the Base
Hospital
She added, ‘After this we were ordered to vacate quarter No
P13/8, Ichamati Line, Raj Rif Centre, Delhi that compelled us to seek the help
of the Supreme Court where our petition against vacation orders and ignoring
all of the documents submitted by us, will be heard on 12 September.’
Translated from Rashtriya
Sahara, 10 September
2014 , by Urdu
Media Monitor.Com
