06-03-2008, 06:56 AM
<b>Pak leader links terror to madarsas</b>
http://www.telegraphindia.com//1080602/jsp...ory_9351779.jsp
NISHIT DHOLABHAI
New Delhi, June 1: A politician whose party is a partner in Pakistanâs ruling coalition today <b>surprised a conference on terrorism here by declaring that madarsas in his country were âbreeding groundsâ of terror.</b>
Hasham Baber, additional secretary-general of the Awami National Party, said political sermons, not just lectures on Islam, were delivered in such institutions in the federally administered tribal areas, bordering Afghanistan.
<b>âThe breeding grounds should be removed because on Fridays, it isnât Islam that is taught but political sermons. Both Afghanistan and India will benefit,â</b> he told the conference organised by Jama Masjid United Forum. The Speaker of Afghanistanâs senate, Safghadullah Mojaddedi, was also present.
<b>Most reacted cautiously to the comments. </b>The Jama Masjidâs imam, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, made it clear that Baber had only expressed his âown viewsâ about affairs in Pakistan.
<b>Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi disagreed with Baber</b>, saying madarsas in his state werenât teaching terror.<b>Social activist Teesta Setalvad spoke of the threat from âRight-wing Hindu schools in tribal areasâ and about the kind of âmob terrorismâ seen during the Gujarat riots</b>. <!--emo&:roll--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ROTFL.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ROTFL.gif' /><!--endemo-->
http://www.telegraphindia.com//1080602/jsp...ory_9351779.jsp
NISHIT DHOLABHAI
New Delhi, June 1: A politician whose party is a partner in Pakistanâs ruling coalition today <b>surprised a conference on terrorism here by declaring that madarsas in his country were âbreeding groundsâ of terror.</b>
Hasham Baber, additional secretary-general of the Awami National Party, said political sermons, not just lectures on Islam, were delivered in such institutions in the federally administered tribal areas, bordering Afghanistan.
<b>âThe breeding grounds should be removed because on Fridays, it isnât Islam that is taught but political sermons. Both Afghanistan and India will benefit,â</b> he told the conference organised by Jama Masjid United Forum. The Speaker of Afghanistanâs senate, Safghadullah Mojaddedi, was also present.
<b>Most reacted cautiously to the comments. </b>The Jama Masjidâs imam, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, made it clear that Baber had only expressed his âown viewsâ about affairs in Pakistan.
<b>Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi disagreed with Baber</b>, saying madarsas in his state werenât teaching terror.<b>Social activist Teesta Setalvad spoke of the threat from âRight-wing Hindu schools in tribal areasâ and about the kind of âmob terrorismâ seen during the Gujarat riots</b>. <!--emo&:roll--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ROTFL.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ROTFL.gif' /><!--endemo-->