By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: An eminent marketing research and consulting organization is conducting a survey in the country to know about the condition, rather, thinking of the Muslim youths and students. For this, the organization is approaching Muslim community and religious leaders with a very malicious and close-end questionnaire. Just have a glance at the questions, and you will conclude the move is not to know about Muslim youths rather to malign them.
Do Muslim youths get inspired by religious leaders or by market forces? Are you using Internet more than before or less to establish contact with Muslim leaders in India and abroad? Should Muslim youths take more interest in politics or preaching of religion? With a set of 25 such questions, a representative of Delhi-based Marketing & Development Research Associates (MDRA) approached Sirajuddin Qureshi, President, India Islamic Cultural Centre in Delhi, on June 10, 2010. But he could not meet him and the representative was sent to Qureshi’s media advisor Wadood Sajid.
MDRA survey on Muslim youth
“The questions were set to get intended response. They were very objectionable and malicious in nature,” Sajid told TwoCircles.net on phone from New Delhi. There were 25 questions in the form, all sought answer in one syllable. “The nature of the questions, the hurriedness the representative was showing to get yes-no answer and his word that his company asked him not to leave the form with anyone created doubt in my mind about the real intention of the surveyor company or those hired it for this work,” added Sajid. Sajid responded all questions one day later in the prescribed form with raising question over some questions.
Of 25 questions, three were related to Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive during Mumbai terror attack and after a trial of one year recently awarded death sentence. The questions related to Kasab wanted the responders show sympathy with Kasab. Is capital punishment to Kasab justified? Should it be turned into life sentence through fresh hearing? Does your friend think Kasab had not got fair trial?
The beginning of the questionnaire form reads: “I am from MDRA, a leading research and consulting organization. At present MDRA is carrying out a study among religious leaders on their opinion on current plight of students and youth. We request you to cooperate with us by providing the information requested in the questionnaire. We assure you that the information collected will be kept confidential and only aggregate data would be used for analysis purpose.”
Have a look at some questions:
1: Is Sachar Committee report benefiting Muslims or harming them?
2: Is the number of fans of religious leaders increasing or decreasing?
3: Do Muslim youth get inspired by religious leaders or by market forces?
4: Are you using Internet more than before or less to establish contact with Muslim leaders in India and abroad?
5: In social issues, does your community follow political leaders or religious leaders?
6: In your view, why are violence, illegal and terror activities spreading? Do you think this thinking is getting support?
7: Should Muslim youth take more interest in politics or in preaching of religion?
8: Did you see film My Name Is Khan or have heard about it
9: If saw, what is its message?
10: Some say TV channels are keeping Muslim youth away from religion. What do you think?
11: Is religion becoming weaker or more extremist?
12: Why is there negative image of Muslim youths all around?
13: Some people say news media and foreign agency are recruiting educated Muslim youth for illegal activities. Do you believe it? Is there any such incident in your knowledge?
14: Is capital punishment to Kasab justified?
15: Should it be turned into life sentence through fresh hearing?
16: Does your friend think Kasab had not got fair trial?
17: What do you think about the Deoband fatwa that prohibits women from working in office with men?
18: Do you think Muslims are being blamed for terror in India without any evidence?
25: Some say ISI is recruiting Indian Muslim youth for terror activities. Do you agree with it?
Reacting on the Q. No. 4 (Are you using Internet more than before or less to establish contact with Muslim leaders in India and abroad?), Wadood Sajid says the question is misleading and questionable. “We do not need to contact foreign Muslim leaders. “The question exposes the mindset of the survey company about the Muslims. They have assumed Muslim youth of India are in contact with foreign Muslim leaders and getting instruction from them. Now they want to know if modern technology is being used to spread terrorism.”
On questions related to Kasab, Sajid says he wrote in the response sheet that this is a legal issue, court has given verdict on the basis of evidence and Muslims respect court. “This is not the business of Indian Muslims to think whether he faced fair trial or not, Kasab is not a relative of Indian Muslims that they should think of lessening his punishment. He has been described as terrorist and you want Muslims support him.”
Answering the last question (Some say ISI is recruiting Indian Muslim youth for terror activities. Do you agree with it?) Sajid wrote if the surveyor has such information, he should immediately inform the Home Ministry.
Talking to TCN, Sajid says: This survey is part of a big conspiracy to implicate Muslim youth. I ask the government and Home Ministry if they are not aware of such surveys. Has any non government organization such right to do such survey on sensitive issues within a particular community?
TCN sent a query to MDRA and we got a confirmation of the receipt of our message but no reply to it.
The website of MDRA says about the company: “Marketing and Development Research Associates (MDRA) is a premier marketing research and consulting organization in India with focus on quantitative and qualitative research. We provide strategic business planning solutions based on research findings and historical data analyses of our clients’ business. Over the years, MDRA has strived to help organizations bring vital market data into their strategic planning processes in order to improve customer satisfaction and enhance competitive advantage. Our research provides an in-depth insight, which helps companies in knowing the market and their customers better.”
http://www.mdraonline.com/index.aspx