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Evening NEWS DIGEST
16 Nov. 2016: 15 Safar 1438: Vol: 8, No:37
INDIA
Terming illegal and unjustified ban on IRF, Zakir Naik’s counsel to move tribunal against Centre move
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/zakir-naiks-counsel-to-move-tribunal-against-centres-ban-on-ngo-4378138/
Mumbai:Following the Centre’s ban on Zakir Naik’s NGO, the Islamic Research Foundation, for 5 years, the counsel of the preacher, has asserted that it is an ‘illegal and unjustified’ ban and added that they will move the tribunal against the order. Naik’s lawyer, Mubin Solkar, told media, “So far, we have not been served with any such kind of notification under Section 3 of the UAPA. We are clear that this ban is not justified at all and is an illegal ban, because, the provision of the UAPA has been wrongly invoked in this case. According to us, it is a clear misuse of the provisions of UAPA.”He further said that in order to declare an organisation as unlawful, it has to reveal, highlight and promote the offence under Section 153A, that is promoting enmity on grounds of religion which the IRF has not done.“IRF since its inception has promoted peace and harmony, charitable, sociable and humanitarian activities. This ban is wholly unjustified. So, even if this notification is issued, it does not normally take effect unless it is confirmed by the tribunal,” he added.A confident Solkar said he is sure that the tribunal would cancel the ban. On Tuesday, Centre banned the IRF for 5 years and asked law enforcement agencies to maintain a strict surveillance on activities of all establishments of the organisation. The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security after Naik was found to deliver provocative speeches.ANI / indianexpress
Will rehabilitate IRF students: Maha Edu.Minister
http://newstodaynet.com/nation/will-rehabilitate-irf-students-tawde
Mumbai: Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde assured the students of a school run by Zakir Naik-promoted Islamic Research Foundation that the Centre's decision to ban the NGO would not "adversely affect" them."Ban on IRF will not adversely affect students studying there. Measures for rehabilitation will be instated," he said in a tweet.newstodaynet
IRF & police yet to get notification of 5-year ban
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/IRF-police-yet-to-get-notification-of-5-yr-ban/articleshow/55445367.cms
Zakir Naik saga: IRF ban marks end of an eventful story for Dongri preacher: firstpost
http://www.firstpost.com/india/zakir-naik-saga-irf-ban-marks-end-of-an-eventful-story-for-dongri-preacher-3108000.html
Zakir Naik’s IRF banned for 5 years under UAPA
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/zakir-naik-irf-ban-islamic-preacher-peace-tv-4377897/
Mahatma Gandhi, Pt Nehru, believed Jews had legitimate claim for Israel; India looking forward to intensify partnership with Israel: Prez Mukherjee
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/india-looking-forward-to-intensify-partnership-with-israel-4378731/
New Delhi:India is looking forward to intensify partnership with Israel for “mutual benefit” and both the countries should work collectively to respond to global challenges, President Pranab Mukherjee has said. He also said that India needs to develop several sectors including homeland and cyber security in which Israel has “proven capabilities”. Speaking at a banquet hosted in the honour of visiting Israel President Reuven Rivlin at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mukherjee said challenges of 21st century call for a coordinated response from the global community. Terming as “historic” the visit of Israel President, as it came after a gap of 20 years, Mukherjee said Rivlin represents the people who Indians admire, with whom Indians feel a strong and unique bond as both are ancient civilizations that have made significant contributions to humanity.“To effectively respond to global challenges, including climate change, we will need to collectively work for efficient solutions. We must leave our children a world that is better, cleaner and healthier. A world that is at peace, where diverse people live and flourish side-by-side in peace, respectful of each other’s beliefs and in total harmony with each other. I am confident that together, India and Israel can realise this important goal,” Mukherjee said.He said as the two nation celebrate 25 years of diplomatic relations next year, India looks forward to further intensifying partnership for mutual benefit and good of the world. Lauding Israel’s accomplishment, Mukherjee said,“Your leadership, past and present,has inspired your people to overcome unspeakable tribulations and emerge stronger. Through sheer hard work and determination, you have built a highly progressive, confident and self-reliant nation. Your passion for innovation and your entrepreneurial spirit has earned you the title of a ‘Start Up Nation’.” Mukherjee said “Both our peoples gained independence after World War II. Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation, had believed that the Jews people had a legitimate claim for Israel. Pandit Nehru, too, believed in this. He had said, in 1950 and I quote, ‘Israel is a fact’.”PTI
Pakistan's Sartaj Aziz Says He's Visiting India Next Month, Could 'Defuse Tension'
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pakistans-sartaj-aziz-says-next-months-visit-to-india-could-defuse-tension-1626029
Islamabad: Sartaj Aziz, who functions as Pakistan's Foreign Minister, said he will travel to India early next month for a conference, describing his visit as "good opportunity to defuse the tension." Despite hinting at a possible detente, Aziz said there was no meeting scheduled with Indian officials. "It's early to say.Depends upon the situation," he said to a Pakistani TV channel.Aziz is the adviser to Pak PM Nawaz Sharif on foreign affairs; his trip to India would be the first by a senior Pakistani official since in Uri camp attack in Sept. NDTV
Online ads on pre-natal sex tests: SC cracks whip on Google, Yahoo, says must act in 36 hrs of complaint
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sc-google-yahoo-online-sex-test-kits-ads/1/812006.html
New Delhi: Cracking down on online advertisements on pre-natal sex determination tests, Supreme Court today directed the Centre to form a nodal agency to address complaints pertaining to sex-determination kits being sold online.The Supreme Court's order came on a public interest litigation filed against leading search engines Google, Yahoo and Microsoft. Once brought to the attention of the nodal agency, the request to remove content will be forwarded to the search engines, who will now have to act within 36 hours.Earlier the SC had directed the companies running these search engines to hold rounds of consultation with the govt on how such advertisements can be controlled online.Google, Yahoo and others told the SC that they were mere aggregators and it was difficult for them to monitor all online content.india today
CURRENCY crunch
DNA: SBI writes off loans of Rs 7,016 crore owed to 63 wilful defaulters
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-sbi-writes-off-loans-of-63-wilful-defaulters-2273834
New Delhi: With efforts to recover its dues hitting a virtual dead-end, State Bank of India (SBI) seems to be have started a clean-up of its balance sheets by writing off loans worth about Rs 7,016 crore owed to it by more than 60 of its top 100 wilful defaulters. While 63 accounts in the list have been fully written off, 31 have been partially written off and 6 have been shown as non-performing assets (NPAs), reveal documents accessed by DNA. As on June 30, 2016, SBI has written off Rs 48,000 crore worth bad loans. The documents, however, don't specify the entry time of these "write-offs''.India's largest public sector bank has dropped the money, mostly wilfully defaulted, into a specially created dustbin for 'toxic loans' called Advance Under Collection Account (AUCA), technically known as a write-off. Information on the bank's clean-up comes a week after the govt said it was targeting black money hoarders by demonetizing high-value currency notes, a move that has seen millions queue up outside banks across the country to exchange their money.Now, loans given to Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines, which heads the wilful defaulters' list with outstanding dues of almost Rs 1,201 crore, and 62 others will not be shown in the bank's balance sheet.Following the defunct airlines in the top 20 write-off list are KS Oil (Rs 596 crore), Surya Pharmaceuticals (Rs 526 crore), GET Power (Rs 400 crore) and SAI Info System (Rs 376 crore). Most of these write-off accounts are those of wilful defaulters.SBI has put all such accounts into AUCA, says its internal report seen by this correspondent. "The main advantage which the bank will have by transfer to AUCA is that banks gross NPAs amount and net additions in NPAs during the quarter will be reduced to the extent of the amount of transfer to AUCA. It will bring down gross advance by the same amount," the reports states. SBI did not send any reply to several emails and reminders sent by this reporter. Questions sent to top 5 "write-off" companies also didn't get any reply. DNA exclusive
SBI writes off Rs 7,016 crore loans owed by wilful defaulters, including Vijay Mallya’s defunct airlines
http://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/sbi-write-off-npas-wilful-defaulters-list-vijay-mallya-kingfisher-airlines-4378210/
Birla, Sahara Documents Link ‘Gujarat CM’, Other ‘CMs’ to Alleged Payments in 2012, 2013-14
http://thewire.in/80492/birla-sahara-files-link-gujarat-cm-cms-alleged-payments-2012-2013-14/
New Delhi: Sahara Group and an Aditya Birla Group company allegedly made massive payments to prominent BJP and Congress politicians in 2013-14 and 2012 respectively, according to a set of documents bundled along with an application in a pending writ petition filed by advocate Prashant Bhushan.Bhushan’s 2015 petition against appointment of CVC and vigilance commissioner is currently pending in the Supreme Court.The allegations over payouts to politicians made in the application, filed on Tuesday, have been cited by Bhushan as proof of KV Chowdary’s unsuitability for the post of CVC. The application alleges that he did not pursue the matter in his earlier job as head of the income tax department when junior officials first unearthed evidence of wrongdoing. Sahara payments were allegedly made to well-known political leaders. Among the entries against which large sums of money are listed are ‘CMs’ of Gujarat, Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in 2013-14. The Wire is not in a position to confirm whether these entries in the documents Bhushan has filed refer to the CM s of those states. Bhushan’s application calls for a probe into the sizeable set of documents allegedly seized by the income tax department (IT) and the CBI during a search operation of Hindalco Industries’ offices in 2013 and a raid of Sahara India group offices in Delhi and Noida in late 2014.On Tuesday, The Hindu first reported the existence of these documents.Alleged payments made to politicians, for reasons not immediately known, are detailed in the form of Excel sheets and cryptically-worded emails in these documents.Records of the Aditya Birla Group seized during the 2013 raid apparently “revealed that a payment of Rs. 7.08 crore was made during the period from 09.01.2012 to 02.02.2012 under the heading ‘Project-J-Environment & Forest’ ”.Bhushan has alleged that both CBI and income tax department buried serious evidence of corruption against prominent politicians. He said that the documents recovered during CBI raids on Sahara group(2014) and Birla group (2013) show that the corporates may have paid bribes – running into crores – to politicians in exchange for various favours, which are presently unknown. the wire
NGO moves SC for probe into 'bribes' paid to politicians by business houses
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/NGO-moves-SC-for-probe-into-bribes-paid-to-politicians-by-business-houses/articleshow/55446732.cms
Appraisal report after raids: Birla text message shows payoff to ‘Gujarat CM’ in 2012: Kejriwal
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/narendra-modi-bribe-arvind-kejriwal-aditya-birla-group-demonetisation-black-money-4377928/
Demonetisation woes? Really? Check out Mukesh Ambani’s lavish party thrown for niece’s wedding
http://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-in-india/mukesh-ambani-isheta-salgaocar-residence-wedding-celebration-party-niece-at-his-mumbai-home-4376432/
New Delhi:Reliance Industries Limited chairman and managing director Mukhesh Ambani hosted a grand, star-studded party at his home in Mumbai. Reportedly, the party was a pre-wedding celebration for his niece Isheta Salgaocar, who is getting married next month to Neeshal Modi, younger brother of ‘diamong king’ Nirav Modi. Going by Instagram posts of many celebrities, the party at the Ambani’s lavish home Antilla had a really long guest list including several Bollywood celebrities. As per a report by The Quint, at least 500 guests made it to the party on Saturday. indianexpress
Income Tax dept sends warning note to religious & charitable trusts, societies
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/income-tax-department-sends-warning-note-to-trusts-societies-black-money-ban-currency-4377715/
New Delhi:Income-Tax dept.has started sending notices to societies and trusts, including religious and charitable trusts, asking them to inform it about cash balances as on Nov.8, the day the govt announced the decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.Sources said more such notices will be sent in the coming days. While the move is being dubbed as a “preventive measure”, sources in the I-T department said the govt has decided to take “strictest possible action” against those who are found to have violated the law.The notices are being sent under Section 133(6) of IT Act, 1961, which empowers I-T authorities to compel banks and other authorities to furnish information which could be useful in connection with any pending proceeding or enquiry.“Submit cash balances as per your books of accounts of all institutions being run by you as on 31-03-2016 and as on close of 08-11-2016 to this office,” says a notice.The reason for seeking the information is mentioned in the notice itself. “In the backdrop of this demonetisation of old currency notes, the department is also aware of the pressure or temptation that may be there on trusts and societies to accommodate others,” says the notice. Stating that all deposits made in banks after Nov.8 “shall be part of scrutiny by the department after 30th Dec.2016”, the notice also advises the management of such institutions not to deal with Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes, “by either accepting cash or paying in cash for any of your activities after Nov.8, 2016”. “There are indications that some persons and/or organisations have prevailed upon managements of some trusts and societies to accept their currency notes of high denomination and show the same as cash in hand. This is a much abused way to turn black money into white. indianexpress
33 Demonetisation Deaths In 7 Days: Hospital Casualties, Suicides, Heart Attacks, Even Murder
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2016/11/15/33-demonetisation-deaths-in-7-days-hospital-casualties-suicide/?utm_hp_ref=in-homepage
As demonetisation completed a week, the death toll has reached 33. These are confirmed death reported in the national media. The number of unreported deaths may be higher. 4 days before his daughter's wedding, Sukhdev Singh died of heart attack in Tarn Taran, Punjab. Surjit Kaur, wife of the deceased, said, "Nobody was accepting the money we had saved for daughter's marriage. My husband was tense due to this. He had complained of chest pain and died." Sumit, a 17 year old son of a BSF jawan in Bulandshahr, UP, committed suicide as his mother won't give him small denomination notes. A 2-year-old unwell child died in Sambalpur, Odisha, as an autorickshaw drivers refused to take the family to the hospital for want of smaller denomination notes.Family had now-illegal Rs.500 notes. Lakshminarayana, 75, collapsed and died while waiting in a long queue for over 2 hours at an Andhra Bank branch Secunderabad, Telangana. He had gone to deposit Rs 1.7 lakh. The bank didn't have a separate queue for senior citizens. In Aurangabad, Bihar, an elderly man, Surendra Sharma, died while waiting in a bank queue. Halke Lodhi, a farmer in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, committed suicide as he didn't have money to buy fertiliser and seeds in time for the Rabi sowing season. "Had he got money from the bank in exchange of his old notes, he would not have committed suicide," said his relative Bhupendra Lodhi. Aziz Ansari, a 60 year old factor worker in Meerut, died of a heart attack in a bank. It was his third day of trying to exchange currency notes. Raghunath Verma, a 70 year old retired school teacher in Jalaun, eastern UP , died at a bank queue. His son Ravi said, "We needed Rs 2 lakh for the marriage expenses. My father went to the bank for 3 days. He had spoken to the bank manager many times asking him to help with the withdrawal and exchange. Manager did not listen to him. He even fell on the manager's feet on Saturday." Rizwana, a 24 year old woman in north-east Delhi hanged herself to the ceiling fan with her dupatta as she was upset about not being able to exchange currency for 3 days.Shabana, a 20 year old woman in Shamli (UP) committed suicide. Huffington Post
Demonetisation: 33 deaths since govt scrapped Rs 500, Rs 1000 notes
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/demonetisation-suicides-heart-attacks-and-even-a-murder-among-33-deaths-since-decision-4378135/
UP: Farmer kills self, family blames cash crunch ahead of daughter’s wedding
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/demonetisation-cash-crunch-farmer-kills-self-daughters-wedding-4377900/
UP: Retired teacher dies after standing in bank queue for 8 hours
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/up-retired-teacher-dies-after-standing-in-bank-queue-for-8-hours/story-S0rE12z3PIL20DbqkQtHNM.html
UP govt will accept old Rs 500, 1000 notes for land registration till Nov24: Akhilesh
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/up-govt-will-accept-old-rs-500-1000-notes-for-land-registration-till-november-24-akhilesh-yadav-116111501479_1.html
Lucknow: After joining chorus of cries criticising PM Narendra over the tectonic step of demonetisation, UP CM Akhilesh Yadav has announced a relief measure for farmers in the state saying that old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes will be accepted for land registration till Nov.24th.This announcement came after Akhilesh called on the Centre to to at least keep the farmers out of the currency scrapping move as they needed the money to purchase fertilisers and seeds.ANI
Mamata, Shiv Sena, AAP seek President's intervention against demonetisation
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/mamata-shiv-sena-aap-seek-president-s-intervention-against-demonetisation-116111601384_1.html
New Delhi: TMC supremo and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and leaders of three other parties including Shiv Sena on Wednesday sought President Pranab Mukherjees intervention over the problems faced by people following the "financial calamity" unleashed by the demonetisation move. Joined by the leaders of National Conference, AAP and BJP ally Shiv Sena, Banerjee and 40 of her Trinamool MPs marched to Rashtrapati Bhavan demanding rollback of demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes.However, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal gave the march a miss, with MP Bhagwant Mann representing the party.Dubbing demonetisation as a "big black scheme", Banerjee said the currency spike decision has led to the deaths of around 20-30 people across the country and resulted in a loss of Rs 2 lakh crore to the GDP."This is a big black scheme, today there are no vegetables in the market, no milk for babies and no medicine for the sick and the ailing. Around 20-30 people have already died, many of them due to stress," said Banerjee. She also called for a probe into the rise of the banks' non-performing assets(NPAs)."In last 6 months, nonperforming assets (of banks) have increased substantially, there should be a probe into this. Even the govt 's income declaration scheme did not attract a single paisa," she claimed.IANS
Mamata, Shiv Sena join hands, march to Rashtrapati Bhavan
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/live-november-16-2016-fallout-of-demonetisation/article9353132.ece?homepage=true
Live: Govt selectively leaked information & BJP units withdrew money before announcement, alleges Cong.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/live-parliament-proceedings-november-16-2016/article9351846.ece?homepage=true
Chaos, long queues continue at banks; most ATMs run out of cash
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/demonetisation-move-chaos-long-queues-continue-at-banks-most-atms-run-out-of-cash/article9352897.ece?homepage=true
Banks start using indelible ink to check repeat money exchange
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Banks-start-using-indelible-ink-to-check-repeat-money-exchange/articleshow/55455610.cms
‘Rollback Demonetisation’, Say Eminent Citizens
http://thewire.in/80449/rollback-demonetisation-citizens-demand-statement/
Demonetisation slices off Rs 1.43 lakh cr from realty, auto, consumer stocks in 4 sessions: ET
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/55454519.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Raghuram Rajan preferred other ways over demonetisation to tackle black money
http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/rajan-preferred-other-ways-over-demonetisation-to-tackle-black-money/story-vlTbd6oixy6M4DnH65dWxI.html
Mumbai:Even as the govt defends the demonetisation exercise amid growing opposition, it has emerged that ex-RBI governor Raghuram Rajan didn’t think much of it. He said there are other ways of tackling black money.In August, at annual Lalit Doshi memorial lecture, Rajan said, “I am not quite sure if what you meant is demonetise old notes and introduce new notes instead. In past,demonetisation has been thought of as a way of getting black money out of circulation. Because people then have to come and say “how do I have this 10 crores in cash sitting in my safe and they have to explain where they got the money from.It is often cited as a solution. Unfortunately, my sense is, clever find ways around it.”HT
Dont need ID copies to exchange old notes:RBI
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dont-need-ID-copies-to-exchange-old-currency-notes-says-Reserve-Bank-of-India/articleshow/55446458.cms
New Delhi: Reserve Bank of India and head offices of most commercial banks have not asked banks to collect photocopies of customers' identities for exchange of old currency notes.TOI
PM Modi, please take note: These countries tried demonetisation and failed
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/55453335.cms?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ETFBMain&utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
No ID proof, Muzaffarnagar riot victims bank on friends to exchange banned notes
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/No-ID-proof-Mnagar-riot-victims-bank-on-friends-to-exchange-banned-notes/articleshow/55442963.cms
Meerut: Haji Dilshad and his family have fallen on hard times ever since leaving their home in the aftermath of the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots but now, the Kairana resident is finding it difficult to meet even his basic expenses. Dilshad is one of the riot-displaced persons who don't even have basic documents in place. That is why he cannot go to the bank to deposit old currency notes. Instead, he exchanges them for valid notes from fellow riot victims who have managed to open bank accounts."TOI
OTHERS
Looking at reform of family laws across religions, not uniform civil code: Justice BS Chauhan:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/family-laws-across-religions-uniform-civil-code-says-justice-b-s-chauhan-4377676/
New Delhi: Clearing the air on the controversy surrounding the Law Commission of India’s recent ‘Questionnaire on Uniform Civil Code’, Chairman Justice BS Chauhan has said the commission’s aim is not to recommend imposition of a uniform civil code but look at reform of family laws across all religions, mainly with gender justice in mind. “We are looking at the codification and reform of all family laws. We are not looking at a uniform civil code. People have misconstrued it (the questionnaire) as one law for everyone. It doesn’t mean that everyone must follow the Hindu ritual of saptapadi (7 steps around the fire) for their marriage to be valid,”he said. “Gender discriminatory practices such as maitri karar, nata pratha and polyandry among Hindus also need to be examined,” said Chauhan.He clarified that the commission is not opposed to triple talaq as outlined in Shariat but is against the practice where the word is uttered thrice by the man immediately, ending the union. “We are not concerned with triple talaq that is done as per the Shariat over a period of a few months, allowing time for reconciliation and mediation and observation of iddat period.We are only against practice of instantaneous and spontaneous talaq.” Validity of the latter practice, known as talaq-e-bidat, is currently being examined by the SC while hearing the Shayara Bano petition. indianexpress
No hearing of Triple Talaq case in SC yesterday
http://www.siasat.com/news/no-hearing-triple-talaq-case-supreme-court-yesterday-1066202/
Hyderabad: There was no hearing of Triple Talaq case of the Muslims in Supreme Court yesterday. The parties were not intimated to this effect. For the past few days, rumours were making rounds that the hearing of Triple Talaq case in Supreme Court has been scheduled for 15th Nov.which was not true.In fact, 15th Nov.was the last date of receipt of responses of questionnaires of Law Commission. This triggered the rumours. Advocate of Jamiatul Ulema informed that this case was not scheduled for hearing in Supreme Court yesterday. Such rumours should be avoided.Siasat
Exclude Nagaland from UCC: Nagaland Tribes Council
http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/exclude-nagaland-from-ucc-ntc-urges/
Dimapur: Nagaland Tribes Council has urged the chairman of Union Law Commission to exclude the State of Nagaland from the purview of Uniform Civil Code in his recommendation to Union Govt so that the inalienable provisions of Article 371A of the Constitution of India remain undisturbed.In a representation to him on Tuesday, NTC president Lendinoktang Ao and general secretary Nribemo Ngullie pointed out that Nagaland is wholly a tribal State which came into being under Constitution(13th Amendment)Act, 1962, following an agreement arrived at in July 1960 between Govt of India and erstwhile Naga People’s Convention. easternmirrornagaland
Don't leave me until I find Najeeb: Mother's passionate call to students
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/dont-leave-me-until-i-find-najeeb-mothers-passionate-call-to-students
New Delhi: "What do I say? I have no words. Please stand with me. I will thank you all when Najeeb is back. Please don't leave me," said missing JNU student's mother Fatima Nafees while addressing hundreds of students gathered at JNU on Tuesday to mark one month of Najeeb's mysterious disappearance from hostel room. MSc biotechnology student went missing on 15th Oct, days after his scuffle with and alleged subsequent assault by some members of Hindu-right students group ABVP.JNU Students Union and other students groups have since been holding protest demonstration inside and outside JNU demanding the safe recovery of Najeeb, who had got admission in JNU just two weeks before his disappearance. indiatomorrow
Protest marks a month since Najeeb went missing
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/581363/protest-marks-month-jnu-student.html
Police raise reward to ₹5 lakh for info. on Najeeb
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2016/11/16/police-raise-reward-to-5-lakh-for-information-on-missing-jnu-s/?utm_hp_ref=in-news
New Delhi: Delhi Police has raised the reward from ₹ 2 lakh to ₹ 5 lakh for anyone providing information that could help locate JNU student Najeeb Ahmed, who has been missing from the university for over a month now.The force had initially announced that it will give ₹ 50,000 to anyone providing information about Najeeb and had later increased the amount to ₹ 1 lakh and then to ₹ 2 lakh.A senior police officer said the amount has been increased to ₹ 5 lakh. huffingtonpost
Malkangiri encounter: No evidence of crossfire at site
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/malkangiri-encounter-no-evidence-of-crossfire-at-site-maoist-killed-odisha-4377912/
Hyderabad :A fact-finding team of 26 research scholars has concluded that there was no evidence of retaliatory firing at the spot of the alleged encounter in Malkangiri district on Oct. 24,when 30 Maoists were killed.The team, comprising students from 12 universities from across India, questioned the version of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha Police regarding the alleged encounter. After a visit to the site last week, the team said that the police had burnt all the belongings of the Maoists at the spot and mutilated the bodies. The number of deaths is not 30 but 32, and 11 tribals are still missing, they said. indianexpress
Bhopal: Outfits seek SC-supervised probe in encounter
http://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-secular-outfits-seek-sc-supervised-probe-into-simi-encounter/972491
Bhopal: A public meeting was held and a candle march was taken out by political parties, organisations, social workers and intellectuals here on Tuesday demanding judicial probe, under supervision of the Supreme Court, into police encounter of 8 undertrials. In the public meet,it was claimed that the statements of police related to encounter were contradictory, which generate suspicion about the role of the govt. Media reports also put the relevance of encounter under question. It was alleged that the govt is not only trying to cover up the matter but CM , along with the ruling party and organizations linked to RSS are trying to get communal polarization done and fulfill their vested interests. Among others, representatives of CPI, CPM, CPI(ML),Janwadi Lekhak Sangh, Progressive Writers’ Association, Bharat Gyan Vigyan Sabha and others took part in the meeting.Those who addressed the gathering included Badal Saroj, Dr. Anil Sadgopal, Madhuri, Shailendra Shaili, LS Herdenia, Dr Sunilam and Abdul Jabbar. free press journal
Bhopal's SIMI activists might have survived if they were not Muslims: Ex- IPS officer VN Rai
http://www.catchnews.com/india-news/bhopal-s-simi-activists-might-have-survived-if-they-were-not-muslims-former-ips-officer-vn-rai-1479039170.html/fullview
Known for calling spade a spade, writer and former IPS officer Vibhuti Narain Rai has said that he sees no hope for justice to the victims of the recent Bhopal encounter of eight SIMI activists.In his session at the ongoing Chandigarh Literature Festival 2016 while discussing his book Hashimpura May 22, Rai drew parallels between the happenings at Hashimpura and the recent one at Bhopal.Pointing at the communal, casteist and gender bias of the police, he also said that 8 SIMI victims would have had more chances of survival had they been non Muslims. Rai has also taken a strong view on the security forces, particularly the Army, getting away with killings in the name of patriotism and on the plea that questioning them would demoralise the forces. catch news
4 witnesses turn hostile in Mecca Masjid blast case
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Four-witnesses-turn-hostile-in-Mecca-Masjid-blast-case/articleshow/55447999.cms
Hyderabad: NIA probing the 2007 Makkah Masjid bomb blast case was dealt a blow on Tuesday after four important witnesses turned hostile. The prosecution witnesses, hailing from Indore in Madhya Pradesh, identified as Akash Singh, Praful Methi, Pavan Sule and Swapnil Joshi denied that they had given statements to the NIA in the past.The four appeared before the designated NIA Courtcum-fourth additional metropolitan magistrate judge in Nampally and also denied knowing the two accused -Devender Gupta and slain Sunil Joshi -who are said to be RSS workers. It was during cross examination by NIA counsel that the four witnesses also denied that the accused had used their mobile phones.TOI
'Sold like cows and goats': India's slave brides
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/11/cows-goats-india-slave-brides-161114084933017.html
Thousands of girls and women in India are sold into marriage and often face a lifetime of abuse and hardship.The first time Muklesha was sold, she was just 12 years old. Her buyer was a man in his 70s.Marriage and a baby quickly followed. But, three years later, the man died and Muklesha was again put up for sale.This time, her buyer was a horrific abuser."He didn't feed me. He'd take me to the fields and stuff my mouth with mud and then beat me," shesays.Muklesha is one of thousands of India's slave brides - girls and women sold into marriage, often destined for a lifetime of abuse and hardship, as this 101 East documentary reveals. In India, sex-selective abortions and female infanticide, due to a preference for male babies, has created one of the most severe gender imbalances in the world. Now, the shortage of women is generating a dangerous demand for brides among men desperate to marry, especially in states like Haryana, which has one of the country's worst gender ratios. Traffickers are stepping in to meet this demand, kidnapping women from other states and selling them to men in Haryana.I couldn't run away or bring my life to an end. There was nobody whom I could ask for help. A survey of 10,000 households in this northern state found more than 9,000 married women had come from other states. Al Jazeera discovered that some women living in villages in Haryana have been sold as many as 3 times.aljazeera
Kashmir unrest: Normal life remains disrupted in valley
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/kashmir-unrest-normal-life-remains-disrupted-in-the-valley-4378325/
Srinagar:Normal life remained affected in Kashmir Valley for the 131st consecutive day on Wednesday due to the unrest triggered by the killing of Burhan Wani in July. PTI
Kashmir: Shelling forces thousands to flee their homes
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/kashmir-shelling-forces-thousands-flee-homes-161115130914863.html
After 14-yrs, Maharashtra to conduct survey on Wakf land
http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/after-14-years-maharashtra-to-conduct-survey-on-wakf-land/story-hUEkxguVNMyBVs2HWmx6hI.html
Maharashtra govt has decided to conduct a survey of Wakfland in order to ascertain encroachment on Wakf properties.Survey is going to be conducted after a gap of 14 years and is expected to be completed in the next two years. Maharashtra has around one lakh-acre of Wakf land. HT
Rahul Gandhi gets bail in RSS defamation case
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rahul-Gandhi-gets-bail-in-RSS-defamation-case/articleshow/55452514.cms
World
Assad says Trump a natural ally if he fights 'terror'
http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/bashar-al-assad-says-donald-trump-a-natural-ally-if-he-fights-terror-1625950
Damascus: Syria's Bashar al-Assad said in an interview aired on Tuesday that Donald Trump will be a "natural ally" if the US president-elect fulfils his pledge to fight "terrorists".In his first reaction to Trump's election victory last week, the Syrian president struck a note of caution and said he was unsure the American billionaire would be able to keep his word and step up the fight against jihadists."We cannot tell anything about what he's going to do, but if... he is going to fight the terrorists, of course we are going to be ally, natural ally in that regard with the Russian, with the Iranian, with many other countries," he told Portugal's RTP state television.Asked about Trump's campaign comments suggesting the US should focus more on fighting the ISIS, Assad said he would welcome such a move but was cautious."I would say this is promising, but can he deliver?" said Assad. AFP
With Trump's victory, Assad has been given free rein in Syria: Michael Petrou, for CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/trump-victory-syria-1.3849775
Muslim girl's hijab ripped off in front of students in US
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Muslim-girls-hijab-ripped-off-in-front-of-students-in-US/articleshow/55454807.cms
Chicago: A Muslim student's hijab was allegedly ripped off and her hair pulled down by a classmate at a school in Minnesota, the latest in a series of assaults and threats reported against headscarf-wearing women in the US following Donald Trump's win.The incident took place at Northdale Middle School in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, prompting Anoka-Hennepin School District to launch an investigation into what Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is calling an assault.PTI
Noam Chomsky: Trump's election will accelerate global warming and humanity's 'race to disaster'
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/noam-chomsky-donald-trump-climate-change-denier-global-warming-race-to-disaster-republicans-most-a7418296.html
Islamophobe Frank Gaffney Joining Trump Team, Considers Himself Great Friend of Israel
http://www.haaretz.com/world-news/u-s-election-2016/.premium-1.753512
Rohingya Advocates Say Myanmar Deaths Exceed 100
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/rohingya-advocates-myanmar-deaths-exceed-100-43570988
Bangkok : Advocates for Myanmar's Muslim ethnic Rohingya community said Wednesday that more than 100 members of the minority group have been killed in recent govt counterinsurgency sweeps in the western state of Rakhine.Ko Ko Linn of the Arakan Rohingya National Organization said that according to villagers, at least 150 people had been killed by security forces since Saturday. Independent verification of both army and activists' claims is difficult because the govt has restricted access to the area."The reason why the international news agencies and aid groups are not allowed to go there is because the military is trying to cover up what they are doing there, the killings and other things," Ko Ko Linn said by phone. "They are lying."Nay San Lwin, a blogger based in Europe who has closely monitored Rohingya developments since 2012, said reports from a network of activists in Rakhine said that more than 100 bodies had been discovered by villagers, some covered by hay or burned.AP/abc
Hundreds of Rohingya flee Myanmar army crackdown to Bangladesh - sources
http://in.reuters.com/article/myanmar-rohingya-idINKBN13B1IL
Northern villages on run after Tatmadaw kill 'hundreds'
http://myanmarobserver.com/index.php/news/rohingya-news/395-northern-villages-on-the-run-after-tatmadaw-kill-hundreds
Rockets rain down on Rohingyas, children thrown into fire in front of mothers: Myanmar Observer
http://myanmarobserver.com/index.php/news/rohingya-news/391-at-least-60-killed-as-rockets-rain-down-on-rohingyas-children-thrown-into-fire-in-front-of-mothers
Blame game heats up over Rohingya town fires
http://aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/myanmar-blame-game-heats-up-over-rohingya-town-fires/686843
Turkey names new envoy to Israel in reciprocal move
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161116-turkey-names-new-ambassador-to-israel-in-reciprocal-move/
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan named a new ambassador to Israel today, reciprocating a move by Israel a day earlier.Israel and Turkey said in June they would normalise relations – a rapprochement driven by prospect of lucrative Mediterranean gas deals as well as mutual fears over security risks in the Middle East. middleeastmonitor
Israel names first ambassador to Turkey since 2010
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/israel-names-first-ambassador-to-turkey-since-2010-116111501771_1.html
Israel storms Palestinian neighbourhoods in Jerusalem
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161116-israel-storms-palestinian-neighbourhoods-in-jerusalem/
Israeli settler group looks to evict Palestinian families
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161116-israeli-settler-group-looks-to-evict-9-palestinian-families/
Russia, regime pounding Syria’s Aleppo: Local sources
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/russia-regime-pounding-syria-s-aleppo-local-sources-/686896
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:01 PM)
